Dollar Girl

Chapter 67 Abandoned

Usually every night the road was quiet without a single person, but that night from the road to the front of Ardi's house was filled by many people. They were all dressed in black and to the shock of the yellow flag there, Ratna quickly ran to the house and found Amus and Jimy standing with sad faces.

"Master.

"Ratna, did you.. just come home?" ask Jimy.

Amus and Jimy also took Ratna to go elsewhere and reported that Ardi's father died this afternoon, the body is still at home and will be buried tomorrow morning.

"What about Ardi?" ask Ratna.

"He's inside" Jimy replied.

"Alright, I'll go first" Ratna said.

Amus could only stare at Ratna's departure without a word, he remembered Ardi's request to support her relationship with Ratna. Now after the departure of his father Amus realized Ardi desperately needed Ratna beside him.

"Auntie." call Ratna into the house.

"Ratna." replied Ardi's mother.

"I am in mourning, may he be received by His side" Ratna said while hugging.

Tears were increasingly spilled, making the eyes that had been swollen more and more. There was nothing Ratna could do, but she would still be there just to hold Ardi's hand tightly so that he could share his grief with others.

Ratna deliberately did not enter the school just to participate in the burial of Ardi's late father, after the burial ceremony was completed they returned to their respective homes. Ratna left Ardi alone so that he could rest, while cooking for the Ardi family lunch.

"Auntie.. I've made vegetables, eat so that aunt does not get sick" said Ratna brought her cooking.

"Thank you, sorry to bother you. But aunt isn't hungry yet, you keep it in the kitchen"

"Hungry or not but aunt still has to eat, please do not hurt aunt's body with sadness. I'm sure even uncle wouldn't be calm if he saw an aunt like this"

"Auntie understands, then yes... "

Ratna knew what it was like to lose a loved one, and when her late mother died she lost her appetite for food. Even then he was completely alone without anyone caring about him, therefore he would not let the Ardi family experience the same thing.

He immediately went to Ardi's room and found Ardi daydreaming alone, in his store of food that he had brought on the table and sat beside Ardi.

"Do you want me to feed you or eat alone?" ask Ratna.

"I'm not hungry yet" replied Ardi quietly.

Since yesterday Ratna had not seen Ardi crying, but her empty eyes clearly said the sadness in her heart. That makes Ratna more worried because no emotion comes out, he is afraid Ardi is getting dissolved and lost cheer.

Ratna took the plate and began to scoop the rice, directing the spoon filled with food to Ardi's mouth.

"I'll eat later" said Ardi.

"You may be sad, you may cry but do not ignore the life that goes on. Look at your mother, you still have someone you should be happy with" Ratna said.

Consciousness began to fill Ardi's eyes, he looked at Ratna who was smiling at him. Suddenly he remembered that Ratna was one fate with him, Ratna first separated from her father by force and her mother died just like that when she was alone.

But the girl is still able to smile, still able to be angry and selfish when her back has been bleeding heavily accepting all the suffering of life.

"Can... I hug you?" ask Ardi.

Ratna was stunned for a while but then she kept the plate and gave a warm hug to Ardi, gently stroking her hair until tears just spilled on Ardi's cheeks.

"Take it out, you have the right to cry?I have no doubt" Ratna said.

* * *

Before returning home, Ratna bought some bananas from Hamdani's shop, she remembered Ardi liked the fruit and would eat it. He stopped by Ardi's house and handed the fruit to him.

"Why are you bothering yourself?" ask Ardi.

"I don't bother at all, how's aunt?" ask Ratna.

"He's better, now he's sleeping in his room"

"Thank God then."

Two passed since the funeral of Ardi's late father, now Ardi can move as usual as well as his mother. Although sometimes they suddenly sad because they remember him, but so far everything is still fine.

Ardi and Ratna were still chatting and even had a chance to joke when Amus accidentally passed by and saw all that, Ardi seemed happy to get the attention of Ratna who was realized by Amus.

There was a bit of heartache at the closeness but Amus tried not to bother, he immediately left the place as a form of support to Ardi.

"Well it's been the night you better go get some rest" Ratna said.

"You too, thank you for the banana"

"No problem, until later" Ratna waved her hand.

They split up but meet again in the morning, Ardi and Ratna walk together but split later because the road to their school is different.

Arriving at the school Rere asked Ardi because as a friend he was also saddened by the departure of his father Ardi, Ratna replied in accordance with reality.

"It looks like you're very considerate of him" Rere said.

"At whom?" ratna asked not to understand.

"Of course on Ardi"

"Oh, of course. He needs me as a friend"

"Jimy is also his friend but not as considerate as you"

"Women and men are different, though both friends, but you can't equate their actions."

Not satisfied with Ratna Rere's reply narrowed her eyes and looked at Ratna with a suspicious look.

"A-what's up?" ask Ratna clumsy.

"My gut feeling says that attention will lead to a different relationship"

"Don't talk like you're a psychic" Ratna said, not responding to Rere's remarks.

After school as usual Ratna went to work, but when he arrived Ardi apparently there.

"What are you doing here?" ask Ratna.

"Nothing, I just want to find a new atmosphere"

"Based on the dollar girl! you're very good at seizing opportunities" hardik Ardi but with a smile later.

Ratna laughed in response to that remark, Ardi himself certainly does not mind because at this time he does not want to be alone because if he is alone then there is nothing he can do except daydream to return late in sadness.

Ratna was cheerful as always, serving customers politely and gently. He invited Ardi to joke until he forgot his sadness, until it was time to go home they also say goodbye to Hamdani.

"Hey you want an escrim?" tawar Ratna's.

"What's? you want to buy me an escrim?"

"Of course, you wait here" said Ratna who left immediately.

Ardi looked at Ratna who cheerfully went to buy ice cream, usually he who always did that but now the opposite. If he thought that since the departure of his father Ratna became more attention, he often invited him to laugh and joke.

"This is for you" Ratna said, handing over one vanilla flavored ice cream.

They returned to walking while enjoying the ice cream that was cold but sweet, even though it was night but it still tasted good. No one spoke to each other until they arrived in the alley, the goodnight being their farewells that day.

"Where are you going?" ratna asked to look at Jimy who suddenly left the house in a hurry.

Without saying anything Jimy suddenly pulls Ratna's hand and takes her away from there, though confused but Ratna goes where Jimy goes.

"What's wrong?" tanya Ratna looked at the tense look on Jimy's face.

"Please help me" Jimy said after they arrived at the deserted spot.

"You why?"

"It's a problem with Rere"

"You mean your relationship with Rere is not good?" ratna makes it clear.

"I was caught smoking by Rere, he was so mad at me that he wouldn't talk. Even he threatened to break our relationship" Jimy told me.

"Aish... That's your business why are you asking me for help?"

"Why are you talking like that? help me... "

"Free, Rere will never listen to me"

"Then what should I do?"

"Of course I'm sorry, go see him and tell him you're so sorry" Ratna said.

Jimy was silent for a moment, he was apologetic but was left by Rere. Now it was night and it was possible that Rere's heart was calmer, he decided to try again.

He immediately went to follow Ratna's advice, his feet kept running down the road until he finally arrived at Rere's residence. He writes a short message to get Rere out and see him, but fifteen minutes pass without a reply or a sign of his appearance.

With a huff Jimy tried to call but Rere did not answer, he continued to try many times even though there was still no answer. Thirty minutes passed by, the air grew colder and made his body tremble.

Jimy tried rubbing both hands against the cold, but it didn't work. After a long wait, Rere finally came out of the house and wanted to see him, with pleasure Jimy smiled even though Rere still put on a cold face.

"Rere... I. "had not finished Jimy Rere's words already cut.

"Listen to me! I'll only say it once and I don't care how you respond"

"Jimy, let's end our relationship" he said, who a few seconds later Rere went back into his house.

Jimy wishes it were just an illusion due to his cold body, but a message he receives from Rere reads.

"Don't call me again."

Brucks

The instant Jimy fell to his feet, his heart suddenly blanked out instantly like something had taken him for granted. For a long time he was pensive there until finally with the rest of the strength he walked home.

Ardi, Amus, and Ratna find out about Jimy and Rere's breakup the next day after Ratna leaves school. That afternoon Ratna who had a work holiday gathered in Amus' room without Jimy, of course what they discussed was the problem of Jimy's romance that ran aground.

"If you think again, aren't we a pathetic gang?" ratna said suddenly.

"Why?" ask Amus.

"Think of it, I broke up with the tragic story of Jaya cheating behind my back, Jimy breaking up just for trivial things when he loved Rere so much, Ardi keeps flocking for girlfriends but there's nothing really serious about dating and you're an acute singles"

"You're right, our love story has nothing going smoothly" Ardi said.

Hhhhhhhhhhh

They exhale tiredly, it seems like their lives are just for a friendship without any other ties.

As much as possible they entertain Jimy even though it is difficult to make Jimy cheerful again, Ratna himself tried to persuade Rere but in this case Rere's decision was round and can not be bothered.

There was nothing else she could do, neither Rere nor Jimy were her friends so Ratna could not possibly choose one. In the end he did not want to interfere anymore and became friends as usual.

One week later, Jimy has now started to rise even though it has not been as cheerful as usual.

"I want to eat a big gulali" Ratna said suddenly.

"You just finished my cassava chips, give your intestines a minute to digest" hardik Amus.

"How about we go to the playground? haven't we been playing together for a long time?" ardi proposal.

"You're right, we can buy a big gulali there" Ratna said enthusiastically.

"I'm up to you" replied Amus as usual.

Now all eyes are on Jimy, only he has not given an answer.

"Ah well..I will treat you" said Jimy give up.

"Hore.". "the cheers of Ardi and Ratna together.

It was like repeating the events that had gone by, Jimy remembered like that the expression of Ardi and Ratna who were happy when going to play. Then Amus who always had a flat face but secretly enjoyed wherever they took him, the most important thing was his self that was always reliable.

In this environment, along with his childhood friend no matter what mistakes he made everyone would definitely rely on him.

He is always accepted even though stupid, not handsome and sometimes annoying. Ratna's remarks seemed to be true, they were one miserable gang but were always happy with each other's flaws and advantages as they complement each other.

Whether in times of sadness or pleasure they are with each other, when one is overwritten or abandoned by their loved ones, the other will be there to fill that void.