Grizzled
#S2 Episode 14
The dishes on the dining table made my smile feel widened to the ears. No, nothing special compared to my deluxe meal at Alba Castle. Really common, corn parchment, vegetable soup whose contents are dominated by carrots, as well as thick omelet mixed with flour and leeks. Mother did not include spicy chili in the breakfast menu because .. well, too risky, but most of all, a glass of warm milk that never makes me sick.
The breakfast atmosphere at the dining table with the complete family members I stared at the goal while continuing to stroke Shiro in my sling –the beast did not refuse. The relationship between father and mother had improved over the past year and a half, but only this time did I realize I had wanted one, wanting the scene before me.
However, someday –besok more precisely– one seat will be empty at the dining table, my chair, my chair, but they will continue the routine without remembering that one girl is no longer in their midst, without surprise, without being sought. Would at those moments they think, “Like nothing less ya?”
Shit, why do my eyes have to get wet thinking about that?!
“So why are you still standing there? Let's have breakfast! Well, you also have to wear a uniform, do not mess with Shiro again, later the fur tacked everywhere!” my mother told me from daydreaming.
“Why is Brother crying?” maurin asked at once to make Dad turn his attention to me.
“Si ... who?!” I hurriedly removed the wet traces on the cheeks. Mom immediately got up checking my forehead while Shiro came down from my sling, waltzing out.
“Kakak still hurts?” ask Mom worried. The father across the table there despite being tired of advising me not to stay up late apparently hid the same anxiety. Ah, it's over! I lose! I could no longer hold back the tears that flooded my face, sobbing in my arms, starting the first episode of this new drama in the family.
Really, man! I couldn't bear it when an attention-hungry boy like me finally realized my wish was granted along with my imminent departure. Tuh, right! The drama! Hey, Shiraaa! You'll still be back! What's the need to cry like you won't see them again?! I regretted my carelessness.
“What's up, Brother?” asked Mom stroked my head slowly. I just shook my head, struggling to swallow back the sobs that had already been released. The next clear drop that fell also surprised me, it belonged to Mom. Ah, nice! I made Mom cry too! Dad was just scratching his head, coding Maurin maybe he knew something. My sister just sniffed her shoulders, for a moment watching over me and Mom.
“Say if there is anything, Brother!” she said, Your “ cry for no reason made Mom feel much worse. It was like the old Brother, who wanted something, but ..”.
“No need to explain that part!” cut Dad half a piece. Maurin has always been the best and most honest translator of situations.
“But Maurin was right,” said Ibu lirih, “when Kak Shira cried for no reason, So I thought if Mother had made a mistake? These parents often do, but rarely realize it. So please if it is true ...”
“No, Mom ... Nothing, really! Everything's fine. Too good in fact. Sorry, yes, for ruining the morning mood ..”
I promise I'll be back in the middle of this dining table!
Thus my promise is quite spoken in the heart because if they hear it will only invite anxiety. I sat in my seat next to Maurin, trying to act normal as if nothing had happened. The situation melted again after Dad was always as usual, who knew the most about the sense of humor in this house. At that time I was very tortured for forcing a laugh while holding back the crying explosion.
***
I've hugged Mom, but not Father and Sister. The three of us were already in the car, heading for their respective destinations. The first one to go down is Maurin, so I can still be with Dad longer –a little longer to be exact. Maurin came home before I got home, I can still see him again later in the afternoon before picking up the Eagle. Dad usually comes home at night. I'm afraid Luska has suddenly picked me up tonight.
“Eh, Brother,” said Maurin in the backseat as my head was busy thinking.
“What?” answer's short.
“I said this because I happened to remember. The brother said it's okay, everything is fine, even too good, yes ‘kan?” tanyakanya. My answer is just a slow murmur.
“Other times don't use that term again,” says Maurin, “don't say everything is too good. Pretty good, just like that. Because something too good is not entirely so, it could be that it is even a sign that the opposite will come.”
Maurin's words have always been like revelations that bring mixed feelings. Too true, too impossible to deny, but it gave me no reason to run.
“Wah, if not wrong Brother member club mading in school huh?” ask Dad.
“True, editor of literary fiction and poetry content,” replied Maurin mentioning his post without being asked.
“It is fitting that the words of Sister so it sounds poetic, rather weighty as well,” replied Father I know is actually just deflecting the topic of conversation until Maurin has to get off in front of the junior high school building. The next five minutes were just me and Dad. I know that during this silent pause Dad was trying to find some talk, but losing fast, I found him first.
“Oh yes, Well,” my word cleared for a moment, “what of my grandparents or great-grandfather is there a descendant of the magician?”
That's her! Good talk ‘kan?
“Eh? Why did you ask that?” ask Daddy looks once held back a laugh, “tangis Brother earlier had nothing to do with it ‘kan?”
“No, absolutely not! Perhaps it is true,” I replied. Silence filled the cabin for a few seconds.
“Why if there really is?” father said that should be curious if the sentence was spoken with a mysterious tone, but Dad showed an expression of confident smile that is very annoying.
“What is definitely not Dad!” my tukas. My parents chuckled and pulled the car over near my school gate.
“Sister still asks when the person is next to Brother,” replied Father who as I suspected turned out to be only joking, “what is the secret of good looks and youth Dad if not the magic itself?”
I laughed freely afterwards. I just rolled my eyes.
“Iya, deh, yes! Whatever!” I answered lazily, grabbed Dad's hand and kissed him.
“Dad will be home in the afternoon, so can pick up. If Yasinta wants to be together can also be all.”
“Oh? Um, Shira is this week's practice exam. Maybe after noon can already go home.”
“Ah, Dad still can't pick up Brother huh?”
“Ti ... It's okay, really! Anyway Shira will also be home late .. and no need to be picked up.”
“Where is Brother going?”
Meeting Eagle.
“Invited to study together at the home of Nike,” my work while praying that Dad does not ask questions to Nike himself.
***
The MIPA twelfth class corridor started to get crowded as I paced through it. A few of my acquaintances from the next class had scolded me kindly and I replied equally kindly while Yasinta who was sitting in front of the terrace waved at me. Before entering class my name is written on the attendance board with a tick in the description of pain. Luska did not deny her words turned out.
“Hai, Ra! You don't wear glasses?” ask Yasinta. Oh? Whoa! I just realized it! Tumben dad doesn't remind me? If I remember too, I haven't worn glasses since Alba because my glasses bounced out of nowhere when Luska opened a portal to Alba in the back yard of the campus during edufair.
“Ra?! Even dumbfounded!” reprimand Yasinta once again, “still sick huh? Why force entry? Today's test schedule our practice sports, you know! You will definitely achieve again!”
“Um, yes ... I don't want to practice sports alone, as long as you know! My pain is not serious, anyway! It's been a lot better!” my answer.
“Yes, I know your pain is actually just sulking because I accidentally left it in edufair last Saturday ‘ right? Dih, just worry until hard to contact!” reply Yasinta.
“Oh, I don't know! Suddenly I forgot and kept walking home with Yuanda. Upon arrival at home, geez, I want to get back out before there is finally a message from you that you are home,” replied Yasinta. I was still grumbling at his answer, plus the message I never sent, it must have been Luska.
“Hehe, sorry, Ra!” yasinta said that I entered the class. The furore of my friends immediately greeted me.
Please, deh! I don't want to start another whiny drama with sadness and think about having time to go back to school before the National Examination? Enough is enough, my resolve must be stronger than that cowardly thought! I've agreed with myself. I will definitely be back before the graduation exam!
“Change first, yuk, Ra! If the change later approached the entrance bell will certainly be crowded,” invite Yasinta. I was just about to say okay with spirit, but that spirit soon broke. Oh, well, did I get to put in my gym clothes this morning? Obviously not! But after I checked the bag, sports shirts and long training complete with sports shoes were already in it. When my family was under the influence of a hypnotist who did not remember me for the past three days, it was definitely Luska who had bothered to take the time to prepare all this for me. I'll thank him later.
Yasinta's estimate proved to be missed. The bathroom was full and we had to wait in line. Today's sports practice exam schedule is indeed for three classes. Yasinta and I were the last to change clothes. Many classmates have worn sports clothes from home when in fact it is not allowed that way. Just when the bell came in, we just got two empty bathroom cubicles to change clothes. Five minutes later I was out early, tidying my hair into a simple ponytail while waiting for Yasinta.
“Already, nih! Yuk!” bring him.
“Your hair is not tied, Yas?” ask me because you know it will certainly interfere with doing physical activity with long hair dyed so.
“Shortly, deh!” yasinta said suddenly putting my horse's tail to the shoulder. My feeling was suddenly not good.
“What is this, Ra? Since when is there a tattoo on your neck?”
Well, true.
I forgot the existence of the tattoo. Anyone, please give me a free idea to explain the story to Yasinta!
“Ah, look, Yas ..” said I turned around not allowing Yasinta to observe the tattoo for longer. My best friend was a little surprised when I suddenly cupped both cheeks together.
“You won't tell anyone that there's a tattoo on my nape, okay?” my door looked into her eyes straight, “you also don't need to remember. Understand ‘kan?”
Yasinta's answer was just a slow nod. I was shocked when he suddenly hit the floor. Heehs?! What did I just do?!
“Yes ... Yasinta's! Ouch, Yas!” I shouted half in panic, half in alarm. Lucky – or unlucky– no one saw the incident earlier. Not long ago I shook Yasinta's shoulder, suddenly he woke up aghast along with the sound of a Mr. Aji whistle which was quite heard because the position of the bathroom with the sports field was close together.
“Eh? Why am I sleeping downstairs?!”
“Ta ... earlier you ...”
“Aduh, don't be dumb, dong, Ra! We're late to the field! Come fast!” he hurriedly dragged me away. My one hand was free to remove the rubber hair, letting my hair fall back.
***
Being under a fan after exhausting physical activity is indeed a pleasure in itself. My body that felt burning with wet sweat gradually cooled down. The position of the bench under the fan is indeed steady!
Yasinta hasn't returned from a change of clothes. The empty chair next to me used to straighten the achy legs. While resting, I checked my phone which was somehow still intact even though I had brought it when I met Luska for the first time.
“Lang, this is Shira. Sorry to disturb you all of a sudden. I'll see you after school. Significant. Please don't go anywhere.”
That's the message I sent to Eagle this morning. Until now still shows tick one, there has been no reply. Last seen not seen, default profile photo. I know his contact number change, could it be that my contact number has not been resaved? I called him, hoping that when he came online he would call me back and answer, “Really? You're going to come here? How important is it that you have to go all the way to see me?”
It was very important and now he is very difficult to contact. Ah, I can't calm down!
“Your number is saved, really, Ra!” said Yasinta suddenly appeared to surprise me, “Elang once appeared in the group, saying that he still keeps all the contacts of friends here including your contacts. Don't worry, it's just getting busy. Later your message will also be replied, kok!”
“Oh, so ...”
“Oh, so? What important business do you have to go all the way to see him?”
“But! Not polite! You peeked at my message huh?!” protest's bad. Yasinta just grinned without guilt.
“Not accidentally see,” she replied, “mu I company? You will get lost, you know!”
“Thank you, no need. Even though going with you is no guarantee that I will not get lost.”
“If it would be lost it is not alone, Ra!”
“Have it, getting lost wasn't part of my plan! I'll keep going myself!” insisting.
“You don't want to tell me why you met the Eagle? I'm not teasing you, but I'm really anxious,” Yasinta said more and more seriously demanding my answer, “things like this have happened in the early days of your closeness both of the eleventh grade first. I'm sure you're in trouble and you're keeping everything from me, Ra, making me curious half to death. After something happened, your memory was gone and I'm even more sorry I couldn't help. You want that to happen again?”
Right, what Yasinta said at a glance was indeed true. The information about the Grey World that was not in my head I could have asked Yasinta if I had chosen not to keep it a secret, but because it turned out that I was so strong I did not tell Yasinta, my closest friend, means the Grey World is not at all a trivial thing that deserves to be told like a regular nightmare. Indeed, worse still. That's why even now I still won't let Yasinta know. It is too dangerous if he is involved.
“You still want to play secrets, Ra?” ask him again. On the other hand I can't pretend not to understand his anxiety. Just a long breath I took off.
“I'll go far, Yas,” I replied looking straight at his eyes, “but you better not need to know ... and not remember what I said earlier, also my plan to meet the Eagle today, okay?”
Yasinta's answer was just a slow nod. After that his head lay on the table. Anyone would have thought Yasinta was exhausted after a draining assessment of the sport. The second time I did the same trick to Yasinta, hopefully it could be called hypnotism .. and hopefully it really works!
***
At half-hour one afternoon, the hot air is not playing grilling. Ngadem for a moment, I just came out of the minimarket on the side of the highway which is an intercity bus line while sipping a cold tea bottle.
Ah, I was trying to start my mission, but before I wanted to nag first even in my heart. First, the Internal Council was all I wanted to do by asking me to return to Alba before twenty-four hours. They didn't ask –and I didn't tell– that Eagle doesn't live in the same city as me anymore. The trip to the city next door only takes an hour less. Me and the Eagle could also immediately tear through the cross-dimensional paper after I explained all the situations, but my problem wasn't there.
I have never gone out of town alone, do not know the residence of the Eagle, and have not heard whether the Eagle has time to meet me –yah, who knows he has to be a stand or any other business. The eagle must not be ready to go in such a sudden situation. Ah, my problem is a complete package!
I checked my phone for the next time. In the call history there are dozens of missed calls to the Eagle contact out of reach and the one I contacted has not responded yet. It's too weird for an eagle to just be busy. At least I need a short answer. Several buses to the next town passed by repeatedly, but I did not decide to leave before I could contact my old friend.
As the muddle of joking feelings continued, an unfamiliar figure appeared waving from across the street with another person next to him. The two crossed the zebra cross to get to where I was standing.
“Kak Garuda ..”
“Hai, Shira!” greet Kak Garuda with a carefree smile that is his trademark. Contrasting upside down with another person with a sour face with a not passionate look.
“Aquila ..”
.Seriate.
