ENDRO, THE BODYGUARD

PLEDGE AT AGE SEVENTEEN

The first morning for Nummi in Endro's hometown for her holiday. And that same time, he was not accompanied by his Father and Mother.

In keeping with Endro's promise, they made a visit that morning to the family funeral of the middle-aged man, who had been his bodyguard for the Ghani family.

"Om End's..." Call Nummi lirih.

"Rummer..." Endro quietly.

"May Nummi ask you something?" Ask Nummi again with a little hesitation.

"What do you want to ask, honey?" Endro began to look towards the girl beside him at that moment.

"Nummi never knew about his mother Om Endro..." Nummi felt worse. But a sense of rudeness lodged in his mind, prompting his heart to ask his lips to ask the Omnya.

"Om never even saw him, honey... But you know, he is very good. Dad Om, always tell it." Endro's eyes looked red and dull at that moment.

"Sorry Om... Om no need to continue. Nummi understands, Om." Nummi stopped Endro's story.

"It's okay, honey. It's time to share Mom Om with someone. And that's you. Don't you want to know all the life stories, Om?" Endro smile. He seemed confident in his words at the time.

"But it's not really that stuffy, Om?" Ask Nummi again. He still felt bad at the time.

"Yes, Son. Let's take shelter under that tree." Endro's index finger pointed towards a large tree nearby and not too far from where they were standing at the time. "Om will start the story today. The story Om is so long. You'll get tired of hearing that."

"Nummi is sure, Nummi won't get bored." Nummi said so steadfastly wanted to hear the story of Endro.

Nummi and Endro sat under the tree. There is a big stone that makes them comfortable to sit and tell stories. Plus, the breeze cooled their bodies.

Endro. Her memory goes back to when she was a child.

*****

"Little edro. He was still in SD. The red white clothes looked neatly attached to his torso.

He was a quiet student at his school. Every day, there are always school friends who like to bully him.

They always mocked him, asking where his mother was.

But that's not what made him angry. He was only angry when his lips were unable to answer those trivial questions from his companions.

He could have answered, saying whatever was on his mind. It's just that, not answering the questions of his friends that is the cause of his disappointment. Except for the answer from his own father." Endro riveted. For a moment, he managed his breathing well. Then he let out a little smile.

"What does Grandpa answer, Om?" Nummi asked when she felt the story was hanging by Endro.

"In Heaven? Does that mean Grandma was dead by then, Om?" Nummi asked again, getting curious.

Endro nodded.

"That's a good answer... And Om should be happy then..." Nummi seemed to think.

"Yes... You seventeen year olds can answer like that, dear. But, at that time Om was a child." Nummi frowned her forehead increasingly clueless.

"What's the difference, Om?"

"Different, Honey. At first, Om was happy to hear it. And when Om's friends asked again, Om answered him so. But, Om's friends even more mocking him. He said 'Why don't you go with your mother to Heaven? Is that good?' As they say..."

Nummi. "So?"

"Dad Om finally promised, that He would tell Om, when Om was seventeen years old."

"Why is that, Om? It's like that with Nummi." The girl was getting curious.

"Because, Father Om said when we are seventeen years old, someone will start trying to think critically. He will think like an adult. And of course, he'll try to be strong, if he's under pressure."

"Is that so, Om?"

Endro nodded. "Om seeing that on you, honey. The good girl Om. The daughter of our pride all." Said smiling. He slightly stroked Nummi's head. "Since Father Om promised that, Om no longer wanted to ask. Om just keeps waiting and hoping, so that Om's age can reach seventeen years. Just like you, honey. You didn't charge it when you weren't seven dozen. But, after reaching seventeen years, you re-billed it and have not forgotten it at all.

Om wants to share a story with you at your current age, so you can feel and drift in Om's story. I don't want to cry alone..." Endro grinned a little.

"And Om also knows, you're exactly like your mother. He's the first person who wants to hear Om's story, without being asked. But, somehow Om can be comfortable after telling him." Endro looks good again. "And from that, Om is willing to tell you, dear. Because you're a good listener, so Om believes in sharing Om's story with you."

"Thank you, Om. Nummi will be happy to hear all about the life story, Om. The handsome bodyguard Father and Mother..."

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