Hello, Lecturer Sir!
Chapter 32's
...'I'll keep you, even if you don't want me to take care.'...
...—Arsen Megantara—...
Dewi has reason to be overprotective with her only daughter. Past events incised many of her physical and inner wounds, the depraved man, her ex-husband, had a habit of light-handedness and had betrayed her trust.
Dewi thought she was still able to survive even though her body was repeatedly turned into a samsak when her husband came home late at night drunk. He thought he could still hold it for Bianca's sake, so that his daughter would not lose her father figure. But the night of the first rainy season, the man betrayed her before his own eyes. Don't ask how painful it was at the time.
Therefore, Dewi did not want Bianca to feel what she felt. It was his job to look after his daughter. The goddess did not forbid Bianca to be close to men, but she kept a close eye on Bianca's male friend. As of now, his daughter came to see him with a man named Arsen.
Dewi researched Arsen intensely, hearing if the man accompanied Bianca to Surabaya was enough to make her feel calm. As well as the warm, attentive gaze that Arsen gave to his daughter made himself confident that Arsen was a good man.
“Can I have one request with you?” ask the Goddess while staring expectantly at the man sitting on the chair beside her safe.
Arsen frowned deeply, unmindfully he nodded. “What is the request of Mother?”
The goddess smiled thinly. “Mother wants you to take care of Bianca. Can you keep Bianca for Mom, Arsen?”
Arsen silently pensively heard the request from the middle-aged woman beside him. “Bu, why did Mom ask me to take care of Bianca?”
“Because I believe in you,” Reply Goddess. Before Arsen asked further, he continued, “you willingly accompany Bianca from Jakarta to Surabaya to visit Mom, that makes Mother believe if you can keep Bianca.”
Seeing the radiance of hope in the Goddess' almond brown eye bead, Arsen let out a long sigh then nodded. “Iya, I will take care of Bianca for Mom,” he said.
The goddess smiled widely, she felt calm now. Honestly, he felt his life would not be long. His illness has reached the final stage, he hopes to accompany his daughter even longer. Now the feeling is better, at least if he goes there is someone guarding Bianca.
The sound of the door creaking makes Dewi and Arsen suddenly focus attention on the door leaf that opens, then Bianca appears with a swish pouch in her right hand. Feeling that there was a stiff atmosphere in the room, Bianca stared fixedly at the Goddess and Arsen alternately. "What's wrong?" tanyakanya.
The goddess shook her head and then displayed her warm smile. "There's nothing, nduk."
"What did you buy in the hospital cafeteria?" tanya Dewi shifted the subject.
Bianca put a scraped pouch on the side of the vault. "Bianca buyin mom's porridge, want to eat now?" The goddess responded.
Bianca turned to look at Arsen and offered her a box of food. "I bought dry opor chicken rice for you."
Arsenic mangosteen, he received the feeding box Bianca gave. "Thank you," she replied briefly.
Arsen ate in silence, but his eyes did not stop staring straight at Bianca who was busy feeding the Goddess. He stared fixedly at the look of his student's face, the words of the Goddess returned to his mind. Arsen felt strange with himself, lately he was disturbed when he saw the full look of crying Bianca until he bothered to take the woman to Surabaya. And again, he responded to the request of the Goddess to look after Bianca.
What's with him, Arsen doesn't understand his own way of thinking. Ah, or maybe because Bianca was a student, she felt responsible for the woman. Yes, maybe because of that, he thought trying to convince himself. He tried to deny the feeling that began to creep in his heart.
"Bi" call the Goddess.
Bianca, who was cleaning her lunchbox and her mother's, turned her head. "Why, Mom?"
"Tomorrow you return to Jakarta, Mother's condition has improved," said Dewi reassured.
Bianca clucked, she clearly refused out loud. The middle-aged woman had just regained consciousness, where she could leave her mother at a time like this. "Mom, Bianca can't be per—"
The goddess shook her head, she stroked the top of the princess' head just her wayang. "Mother is okay, you've been out for three days. Besides Mother is not alone, there is Miss Dya who nemenin Mom. So you don't have to worry."
Her memory goes back to a few days ago, where her mother was sprawled weakly on top of a gurney. Bianca felt it was hard leaving her mother. He was afraid that the condition of the Goddess was deteriorating again. "Mom, Bianca ngga—"
"Yes, we are back in Jakarta tomorrow. But I promise Bi, take care of your health do not enter the ICU again," break up Bianca relented, reluctant to argue further. The goddess only nodded but she could not promise, she was afraid to deny it.
***
This morning Arsen had booked a plane ticket and contacted Mr. Grace to pick her up and Bianca. He glanced at Bianca who was still sleeping on the sofa. His job this time was to wake up the wayward student, then leave for the airport.
"Bi," Arsen called to try to wake Bianca, and she shook her arm slowly. But nil, Bianca is still asleep.
"Bianca." I don't know how many times he woke his wayward student, but still Bianca still closed her eyes.
Dewi poultice with the habit of Bianca who always wake up bad luck, he spoke up. "Arsen" called. "Try you sprinkle water on Bianca's face, I assure you she wakes up."
Arsen grinned, he stepped into the bathroom to fetch some water. Then he sprinkled water on Bianca's face according to the instructions of the Goddess. And sure enough, the woman woke up with a red face filled with anger. Arsen could not hide his gelatinous look, Bianca looked adorable while being angry.
"Ar—" Bianca pursed her lips realizing that there was still a Goddess in the room. He took a deep breath and then moved from sitting, he walked lazily to the bathroom to clean himself. Just watch out, his mind is cobbled. He will surely avenge Arsen.
"Nak Arsen." The goddess patted the chair beside her safe, hinting that arsenic should sit there. The man also complied.
"Yes, ma'am," Arsen replied as he stared at the Goddess.
The goddess patted Arsen's shoulder slowly. "Do you remember our conversation last night?" Of course Arsen remembered out of his head, he nodded in understanding.
"Mother please take care of Bianca," repeated Dewi reminded.
Bianca, who initially wanted to get out of the bathroom, now abandoned her intentions. Why did her mother ask Arsen to look after her. He's grown up, he can take care of himself.
"Yes, Mom. Arsen will take care of Bianca" Arsen said.
Bianca came out of the bathroom, she put on an ordinary look as if she had not heard the conversation between her mother and Arsen. He draped a slingbag over his shoulder, ready to leave for the airport.
"Mom, Bianca departed," said Bianca, her eyes glazed with tears.
The goddess smiled, her hands outstretched rubbing her daughter's cheeks. "Yes, careful. Learn the right thing, don't sneak."
Bianca nodded. "Mom's health."
Bianca turned towards the middle-aged woman who was sitting on a chair not far from her, she walked over. "Mom Dya" he called.
Bianca gently grasped both of the woman's thin hands. "Bianca, please take care of Mom. If there's anything or need anything, Ms. Dya can call Bianca, "he said.
"Yes, Bi. Mother must take care of the Goddess, if there is anything Mother directly contact you," said Bu Dya with a thin smile.
After saying goodbye, Arsen and Bianca walked out of the Dewi treatment room. Mr. Rahmat called Arsen if he was waiting in front.
Bianca pulled Arsen's fingers, making the master stop and turn to look at her. "You don't have to listen to me" he said.
Arsen raised his eyebrows in an incomprehensible manner. "meaning?"
Bianca grunts. "Don't listen to me, you don't have to take care of me."
"I'm a big boy, Arsen. Anyway I can defend myself, so you don't have to take care of me" continued Bianca and passed away.
Arsen stared at the woman in silence. He will still take care of Bianca, even though the woman does not want him to take care. Since he had promised the Goddess, he would not destroy the woman's trust.
