Flavour Bias

Congregate

Exactly ten o'clock after a few minutes, Om Hasa and Aunt Ira, don't forget Mama too, she really came. Getting off the car his face looked pale. Mama looks silly, maybe Aunt Ira and Om Hasa are happy to laugh at her.

“Mama like to die,” Mama said excessively.

I laughed at her messy expression and appearance.

“Ira ask Mama to last one and a half hours.”

“And Mama succeeded,” as while hugging her arm.

“Do not spindle, Cha, heavy, Mama limp.”

Aunt Ira laughed. “Sini.” He pulled my hand. “Same defection Aunt aja.”

I saw everyone laughing, except Brother Iyash. Forget it, I don't know what makes him laugh. No one understands his mind.

Grandma and Grandpa really welcomed Mama. I told you they just wanted to meet. Maybe Grandma asked Om Hasa to bring Mama here.

Mama told me everything that Mama experienced after Papa was absent, of course she mentioned the services of Om Hasa and Aunt Ira. Already expected and I'm lazy Mama will definitely repeat everything from A to Z, except maybe Om Rudi's proposal.

“Where, Yash?” ask Om Hasa to Brother Iyash. I didn't mean to eavesdrop just by chance when I turned to a different place, Om Hasa asked Iyash.

Suddenly I see Brother Iyash nodding. “Originally you are not separated,” said the man.

Both of my eyes immediately broke into hearing what Brother Iyash had just said to Om Hasa. I didn't want to miss a single word of them, so I tried hard to listen to them, without feeling pestered by Mama's chatter.

“Is Mama too bad until Papa could leave Mama?”

Hmm. .. I think this is one of the reasons why Iyash is cold and hard on himself. And maybe this is why Iyash's sister left the hospital secretly.

“Icha.” Suddenly I heard Mom's voice. Both my eyes are wide open. I failed to listen to the talk of Brother Iyash and his parents.

“You sleep where, Mama want to rest.”

“Loh, is that okay? ‘And again chat with Grandma.”

“Udah kok,” Mama replied.

“Iya, already. Poor Mama you're airsick, better get some rest,” Grandma said.

I'm nodding. “Yes, come on. Icha take Mama to room.” I got up and helped Mama up, then took her slowly.

 “Mama's head hurts. You brought no medicine?” ask Mama slowly as she steps up.

“There, pain reliever has Kak Iyash.”

“That time?”

“Same to ibuprofen.”

Finally we got to the front of the room and Mama quickly entered. I can't wait to return to the room where Brother Iyash and his family are gathered.

“Cha, help Mama take off socks,” said Mama who had laid her body on the mattress.

“Mama ih.”

“Open socks, Cha, not undress, so you don't need to protest.”

“Iya.”

I felt Mama's breath. Maybe Mama still feels like she's in the clouds.

“Once it feels like boarding a plane,” muttered Mama while staring at the ceiling of the room.

“Sssshhhh, have a break, Ma. Said a headache.”

“Mana? Said there was ibuprofen.” Mom opened her palm.

“Indeed Mama didn't bring medicine?”

Mom was silent and trying to remember. “There was like it was in a bag, but Mama's bag missed in the living room.”

I finally had a reason to listen to their conversation again. I immediately went back to the living room and passed them.

“As long as Papa keeps his promise.”

Both my eyes are wide open.

“Treat him well.”

“As Papa treats Mama?” said Brother Iyash.

“Icha, any?” mom shouted from the room.

I'll be right back with my Mama's bag. “Mama bring a suitcase, how many days do you want?” my many.

“It's got you.”

“Hah?”

“Iya.”

“Tomorrow also Icha home, Ma.”

“Udah already brought. Where is the cure.”

“Mama is exactly like her mother bear,” snorted me while giving a bag of the drug to her palm.

“Water, Cha.”

I took a breath, then went to the kitchen. Our room was in the back, so we didn't have to go back to the living room to get to the kitchen.

I gave you a glass of water. Mama downed the medicine, then ignored the glass at me.

“Bone this morning.”

“Go back?” Mama frowned.

“Why?” many wonder.

“Sgratitude.”

“What gratitude?”

“Ya thanks you didn't come home.”

“Kan Mama called, when I came home if Mama wanted to come here.”

“Ah, that's not it, you're not going home with Edgar because of Iyash, ‘right?”

“Hmmm.” Lips throbbing.

***

We had lunch together. With Aunt Ira, I was relieved of my extra duty of caring for the baby bear. I hope I can go home tomorrow and leave this place.

“Papa has sent the address,” says Om Hasa. “Later in the afternoon he got here.”

Maybe I'm the only one wondering what Om Hasa's talking about. My mother looked ordinary and asked nothing.

“Thank God, the sooner the better,” timpal Grandpa.

I think it's just a job or maybe it's about their other families. I should finish my food immediately.

“Passionate and her husband when to come?” ask Aunt Ira.

“On the road, same Iqbal also.”

“Wah? Surprise. I'm glad our family can get together,” Grandma said. I stared at her carefree face, plain and just like a child.

“Mas Irwan and his wife will also come, Mom,” says Om Hasa again.

“Pak, usually we gather only on holidays.” Grandma's lips are back.

“Iya, Mum.”

Grandpa may also be no less happy, his eyes sparkle like Grandma, how long did Grandma and Grandpa not gather with his children? Suddenly I was curious.

“You said the same Icha?” Suddenly Aunt Ira asked Mama that.

Of course I cringe not understanding. “Say what?”

“Om Rudi,” replied Mama briefly.

“Oh.” I went back to eating. Maybe about that proposal.

“Later I told you everything,” Mama told Aunt Ira.

“Mama thank Om Rudi?” My lips teased him.

“Sstttt.” Both of my eyes were wide open.

“Eh.” I quickly fell down and went back to eating. Maybe Mama's embarrassed, if the others knew about this.

***

At three o'clock in the afternoon before the Ashar adhan roars, all of Grandma's children and grandchildren gather at home. Aunt Ira never stopped introducing me to everyone. Not a few who tease me by calling me as the future wife of Kak Iyash just like when Kak Rasya teased me.

“This is your candidate, Yash?” tanya Om Irwan, Grandma's second child.

Brother Iyash smiled faintly, however, looking cynical. I feel upset, if I don't like why he just shut up and not deny all this drama? Maybe it was Grandma too, last night she introduced me as Kak Iyash's future wife to Doctor Seto. I think Grandma said the same thing to her kids now.

Suddenly while playing with the little ones, Mama pulled my hand and took me to the room. “Mama want to talk to you.”

I think Mama's starting to realize this awkwardness.

“Since when they–”

“Mama Icha is also confused,” I said cutting Mama's question. I then sat down near him. “Suddenly last night Grandma Alma introduced Icha as Kak Iyash's future wife to Doctor Seto.”

“You happy?” guess Mama.

“No,” reject me fast. “From last night Icha wanted to say that Grandma misunderstood. But, maybe because Grandma was senile times yes.”

Mama shook her head, then grabbed both my hands. “Cha, about Om Rudi it Mama just made up.”

“Hah?”

“Two days ago Om Rudi did come home, but it was Mama who asked. Mama asked Om Rudi to be a marriage guardian for you.”

“Ma?”

Mama nodded.

“You, ‘kan know, Papa grew up in an orphanage and only Om Rudi is the only friend of Papa that Mama knows, besides Om Hasa.”

I nodded because it was from there that Papa and Aunt Ira began to make friends. Aunt Ira herself is the son of the orphanage owner and Papa is one of the less fortunate children.

“But, why should Om Rudi, why not Om Hasa alone, instead of Om Hasa who took over Papa's responsibility?” my many.

“That's impossible, Cha.” Mama gave a pause and she clasped my hand even tighter. “Because you will marry his son.”

“Hah?” Heart's sniffing. I was so shocked that I could say nothing.