Flavour Bias

Mourning

At night I can just visit the residence of Aunt Miranti. There's Aunt Milla and Om Ben. I offer my condolences to the family of the deceased. However, I did not see Aruna there. I sat next to Aunt Miranti who looked so sad, her face pale and her passion gone.

Until the time showed ten o'clock at night I was still sitting there seeing how sad they were. Many times I've circled my eyes, hoping I can see Edgar tonight. I want to be the antidote.

“Cha, want to go home now?” ask Aunt Mila.

“After Aunt,” I replied. I really want to wait for Edgar to come home.

“Ya we have gone home first, be careful you yes, do not go home too late,” message Aunt Mila.

I'm nodding. After the departure of Aunt Mila and Om Ben, several people still came to express their condolences, including my super arrogant boss. However, with her humility she came and expressed her concern. I think he also has a fear of dying. It is natural to feel human, though perhaps a proud person like Pharaoh never felt it.

I can't stop looking at his arrogant face. However, as she looked at me, I turned my eyes and pretended not to see her.

He then got up and left the place not even chatting anything with the family of the deceased. Only I saw before he had a chance to talk to Angkasa.

Not long after the departure of Kak Iyash, I saw Om Hasa also come to say condolences, they came apart, just like me who after the project returned to the office and went home on a motorcycle, as for Om Hasa and Kak Iyash who I know they are one house, but, bring a car each. This is the beginning of congestion too many cars are boarded by one person only.

“Mir, I'm so sorry.” Om Hasa sounded so familiar when saying condolences to Aunt Miranti. He called Aunt Miranti simply Mir. I think Om Hasa is good enough to know Aunt Miranti.

“This is all because of you.” With that said, Aunt Miranti had just rejected the condolences from Om Hasa.

I saw Om Hasa grieving for Aunt Miranti's accusation. “You mean I don't understand.”

I'm getting curious, but on the other hand I'm sure there's something between them.

“Cha,” call Aunt Miranti to me.

“Yes, Bund?” I leaned a little on him.

“Help Mommy to room.” Slowly I helped Aunt Miranti stand up. I know his body is so weak, maybe he's too tired of his sadness tonight.

“Mir, if this is my fault, I'm sorry,” said Om Hasa while standing. I stared into Om Hasa's dewy eyes. “Miranti,” call him once again.

I helped Aunt Miranti lay her body on the bed. Then pull the blanket and cover it. He seems shivering, too much sadness does sometimes make our bodies feel cold.

“Still, Cha.”

I'm nodding. “Then, Icha back home yes, Bund.” Suddenly, he held my hand.

“The man was his father Edgar.”

Heart's sniffing. It felt like being struck by lightning several times. “Kok can, Bund?” Instantly I thought that Aunt Miranti was Om Hasa's affair.

“The story is long. Because of this Edgar left the house and Mother does not know where he is. You can, ‘kan, help Mommy find out where Edgar is.”

I wet my throat which suddenly felt so dry. I just didn't expect that Edgar wasn't born into a legitimate family. It was only right after seeing Om Hasa, Brother Edgar immediately turned off the video call and did not answer my phone again.

“Still, please keep this a secret.”

I had to nod.

“Mother, Icha farewell, yes, Mommy rest aja, do not mind much.”

Aunt Miranti nodded. I got out of that peach-scented room. My mind was in control, as soon as my curiosity was answered, maybe this was the reason why Brother Edgar never offered a single book to his father.

When I came out of Aunt Miranti's room, everyone was staring at me. I'm confused, what really happened?

“What's mother?” ask Brother Ashilla.

“Post sleep.”

“He said what's with you?”

I'm shaking. From the very beginning when Aunt Mila introduced me to Brother Edgar, I knew Brother Ashilla didn't like me.

“Do not lie, Mother must tell something to you.”

I let out a breath. “If you do not believe, Brother mending in and ask directly to Mother,” I said calmly.

I'm nodding. “Then Icha excuse me.”

I passed the couple, then went out of the house. Everything seemed quiet, the wind was blowing so cold. My house is quite far from here, while it's too late to go home on a motorcycle.

I was about to go inside the house to ask permission to keep my bike here and I came home in a taxi. However, just two steps towards the door, someone held my hand.

“Kak Iyash?”

“Ikut.” He pulled me to the front of his car. “Log in,” his word after opening the car door.

“No way, I want permission first nitipin my motor here.”

“Most, now you're in.”

“Notes from.” I was about to run away, however, she held back my hand.

“Log.”

I sighed and muffled myself so as not to be provoked by emotions.

“If you want to anter me home, okay, I will be happy to thank you, but thank me for one minute for the same permission of the owner of this house. Let my motor also be safe.”

“I just want to ask you something.”

“But, while anter me home, ‘kan?”

“Ngak.”

“Keep, why tell me to get in the car?”

“Let no one see.”

“Yes if so, all anterin me home.”

“Ya is fast!”

I straightened my body. I saw a woman standing in front of the window staring at the dark sky that night. From her short hair, I'm sure she's Aruna's sister. From my point of view, Aruna is better than Ashilla.

I waved to him. However, he had not realized that. I took a step and approached the window of his room. He finally saw me and opened his window to the side.

“Kak,” call me slowly. “Icha want to go home, but nitip motor here yes, tomorrow Icha take.”

“Whose home?” I heard his raucous voice.

I quickly looked back. Brother Iyash is already in the car, so I can't show his arrogant face to Brother Aruna. “Sama friends. Which white car it.”

“Yes, be careful. Later I ask Mr. Yayan to keep your motor in the garage.”

I gave him the keys to my bike, then clenched both hands. “Still, Brother Aruna.”

“Iya both. Be careful yes.”

I'm nodding. “May Aruna and her baby continue to be healthy. Later Icha news if it's already lahiran.”

His smile seemed so soft. However, said Aunt Mila, she rarely smiled, even she was not friendly at all, but different from her attitude to me, at the wedding of Brother Ashilla only a few times we had a chat.

“The plan is for me to be born in Bali.”

“Icha promise direct fly. Icha will help decorate her baby's room. Stay said aja.”

“Still, Cha. Quickly your friends wait tuh.”

I nodded and waved my hand. “One more time, thank you, Kak.”

Brother Aruna nodded and replied to my hand.