Flavour Bias

Wrinkle Smile on Mama's Face

After I came home from Om Hasa's office, when I got home I was greeted with congratulations from Mama. The smile on his face made me feel sad. If only you knew what happened this morning, I probably wouldn't have seen her happy smile this afternoon.

“Where was that? Story dong,” says Mom enthusiast.

I stared in front of him.

“Cock her face is that, you want to play Mama?” the accusation.

I slowly tried to shake my lips.

“Tomorrow Mama want to cook a lot and share it with neighbors, ah.”

My forehead frowned. “What order?” many wonder.

“Size, ‘kkan you already got work.” Mama put her arm around my shoulder.

“Icha not welcome work there, Ma.”

I saw the smile on my face fade away.

“What do you mean?”

“Ma, Om Hasa does not exist, replaced by the same employees and Icha rejected,” aduku annoyed.

“Why can?” My mom started to panic. “Hasa has promised Mama.”

“That person seems like a great grudge with Icha, Ma.” I went inside and sat on the couch.

“Kok can?” My mom sat next to me.

I put my shoulders down.

“Ngak-no. Mama has to tell Hasa about this.”

“Udah is okay, Icha can find work elsewhere,” I said sure. This time I will not play games. I will make my application letter well until no one dares to reject me.

Mom fell silent and looked the other way. “Where do you want to work? Indeed looking for easy work?”

“Icha just graduated from college, it's natural that you have to struggle a little to get a job.”

“Terus why yesterday messing around? Make a cover letter exactly?”

“‘Kan Om Hasa who said, it's just for formality because actually without a cover letter Icha can still work there.”

“Although only a formality, you should do well.”

I pensively stared at the annoyed wrinkle on Mama's face. “Ma, while Icha looking for work, Icha can help Mama sell kok.” I put my head on his shoulder.

“No need, Utami has helped Mama.”

“Mama mah gitu. You do not have to pay Icha. If Utami, ‘kan should be paid.”

Mom was silent for a few seconds. “Mama want you to have your own income.”

“Iya, but it can be from other places, it does not have to be in Om Hasa place too, ‘kan?”

“Mama is eager-wanti so that you do not waste this opportunity.”

“Mama why the hell, company, ‘kan much.”

“Ih, you are, Mama knows you can work anywhere, even in a company larger than the company owned by Om Hasa. But the problem isn't just that, Cha. You should have told the employee if you used to work there until Papa bet his life, until finally Papa died on the project due to their negligence.”

I looked up at Mama's soft face. Although, soft-faced like that, Mama's attitude can be harder than the late Papa and sometimes more chatty than usual.

When Papa died I was in second grade Junior High. Papa is an architect at the Om Hasa company. After Papa died, Papa's work was handled by his son Om Hasa. Although quite close to the family of Om Hasa and Aunt Ira, but I have never met his son who supposedly studied in Valencia Spain and became the best graduate there.

“Mama thinks this is the most correct path.” Mama patted my knee. “Do not disappoint Om Hasa. Papa would also be proud and would thank Om Hasa if he knew that Om Hasa had kept his promise. Before he died, Papa had entrusted Icha with Om Hasa and Aunt Ira. You're like their daughter.”

“This is all the best for you. Maybe being a singer might not be your destiny, Cha.”

“Not to be discussed, Ma.”

Honestly, I'm the laziest when Mama's been talking about this. Every time Mama brought that up I remembered Papa. Papa doesn't want me to be a singer, even though when I was in Elementary I was singing, but it was just a challenge from Papa to Mama, Mama wanted to prove that I could. However, Papa has vowed not to acknowledge me as his son if I become an artist. Papa's just afraid I'm involved in promiscuity, Papa says the world of artistry is not like what is shown on a television screen.

“Mama doesn't want you to find work. Mama is old, Cha, Mama is afraid of not being able to help Icha again.”

I took a long breath. “But, Icha's self-esteem trampled, Ma.”

“More than in other companies. Mama often heard employees invited staycation with their superiors. Mama does not want it to happen with you,” said Mama softly.

Heart's sniffing.

“Mama does not want the incident of Kak Nana repeated with you. Now all Mama has is you, Cha. If Kak Nana there might–”

I stopped Mama's words by hugging her tightly. I can't hear that anymore.

Kak Nana is the first child of Mama and Papa, but there is one incident that makes Kak Nana go away from our lives. I could only hear the story and imagine what her face looked like, whether it looked like Mama or Papa. When I was born Kak Nana was no more.

“Mama will call Ira,” Mama said as she took off her arms from me.

“Nevent gone, Ma. Icha not good,” hold me slowly.

“Why should not be tasty. Ordinary, this is a form of responsibility Om Hasa.”

“During this Icha taste is enough. Time to stop depending on Om Hasa.”

“Ngot able.” Mom got up and waited for her call to be received.

“Ma.”

Mom turned and looked at me. “What?”

“When Ashilla's wedding I met the employee Om Hasa.”

Mama dropped her intention to make a call to Aunt Ira, as if she was getting interested in my story.

“How to?” mama asked, sitting back next to me. “You mean Ashilla pounded Om Ben?”

I'm nodding.

“Hmmm, Mama often heard about him from Aunt Mila.”

“So, at that time I crashed the same time he continued to accidentally spill coffee onto his shirt.”

“Douh, how can you?”

“Yes, I think he became a grudge, so now I am not accepted in the office Om Hasa.”

“He who the hell, Mama so curious?”

“Neighborhood.”

“Canty isn't?”

“Ahhhh.” I'll get up soon. “Then nanyain,” snorted me while leaving the chair.

I heard Mama's naughtiness before I went to the room.