Home For My Soul

53|Short Holiday

“Do not look back and there. Later he knew Brother was aware of his presence,” Matt said when I intended to find the person he meant.

“Male or female, what clothes to wear, and can you guess her age?” my many.

“Female, she always wears a shirt and jeans, seems to be deliberately wearing the clothes that most students wear. I can't guess his age. To be sure, he is older than Brother,” he replied as he tidied up his stationery.

“Maybe there's a rich man who's after me to be his wife and tell people to look after me from afar,” I said, joking.

“Or she's the messenger of the woman who likes the man and wants to find out the weakness of the Big Brother that she can spread,” her reply, accept the challenge.

“Have you okay too,” praise me.

“Yuk, home. I have to practice tomorrow morning in the orchestra.” He stood up, so I followed him. He came home on his motorcycle, while I was on my bike.

Matt's warning made me alert. Even though I was calm and tried not to see the figure that was following me, my chest rumbled. Who told people to follow me?

There are too many people I suspect, Theo, Aunt Ruth, Aunt Wibowo, Chika, Rahma, and Nisa. If there's someone outside of them, then I can't guess. Only they have the motive to do this, whether for noble or evil purposes.

The final semester exams arrive, Matt is very nervous. I teased him more so he would be scared. It's also delicious to make him restless. Instead, I relaxed about taking the test on campus. All I can do well, just like the first two semesters.

My family in Medan called and informed me of their plans for this year-end holiday. I prepared everything they would need while in the capital. I found two rooms, one for my parents and one for Hercules.

Fortunately, I found a location not far from where I live. They can go anywhere by train and bus later. It is close to stops and stations. I get a lot of work to perform at fancy events so there's more money to help them.

“Why do we take a taxi?” mom said when I picked them up from the airport.

“It's okay, Ma. Riding the bus will be more troublesome, because it has to go up and down public transport,”, I explained, keeping the door open.

He also got into a taxi. Papa was sitting next to the driver, the three of us in the back seat. I sat in the middle, so Mama and Hercules could look around at the conditions around them. An hour away, we arrived in front of their house, where they stayed during their vacation.

Mama is satisfied with the condition of her room and Papa, but she is confused to see the house is deserted. I explained that the other occupants of the room were working or returning home to vacation with family. Hercules was also pleased with the state of his room.

“I have to keep working, so I'm sorry I couldn't accompany Papa and Mama for a walk,” I said slowly, feeling bad.

“You have never traveled around Jakarta, the same. You definitely do not know the way to the tourist attractions. Take it easy, we will not interfere with your activities. But you have to spend a day with us. We will celebrate your papa's birthday,” Mama said enthusiastically.

“Good, Ma.” I'm so glad to hear that.

The showman Hercules posted photos of them wherever they were. So, I don't have to worry about them getting lost or having trouble. I'm not friends with anyone on social media, just my family.

Keeping the promise, I set aside a day to be with them. We celebrated Papa's birthday by taking a walk to Bogor Botanical Garden. They tried every other tourist spot we went through, including the up-and-coming restaurant.

Mama ordered a birthday cake at lunchtime and we made a small show for Papa. The man smiled happily. Even though we had been together for a year before I went to college, I didn't feel close to this family. I felt like I was watching a broadcast where they were the main players.

“How's your lecture? Everything smoothly?” ask Mama.

I who was looking out the window turned to Mama. We were on our way back to Depok by bus. “Currently, Ma.”

“Good. Enough money to finish college?” ask again.

I'm nodding. “How about Mama's cake shop? What's all smooth?”

“What news is spread, Ma?” manyworry.

“Anything. My product uses expired ingredients, the kitchen where the cake is full of rats and cockroaches, even I cooked cake or bread the rest of the day before and sold like it was still warm,” he said sadly.

I should have comforted him by holding his hand, but I was not used to it. During our stay together, she only touched me in the first days I was in their house. As soon as I recovered, his attitude changed completely.

So, I can only use words to comfort her, not touch like a mother's relationship with her daughter.

“Mama lost a customer?” my guess.

He nodded slowly. “We will think of a way to dismiss all the gossip so that customers do not run away all. I noticed some of the bakeries, restaurants, and cafes we went to. They have a unique way that I can emulate.” His spirit is back again.

“What is it, Ma?” aska interested.

“We will open the dividing wall between the store and the kitchen. Some parts of the wall need to be replaced with glass. So, all visitors can see directly the condition of our kitchen. I never let the kitchen get dirty, let alone until it becomes a nest of cockroaches and rats.”

It turns out that their vacation has other advantages as well besides staying away from problems for a moment. Mama got an idea that can be used as a way to overcome problems in the store. Hopefully by being transparent, your business can be crowded again as before.

“That's a great idea, Ma!” happy say. “Do Mama have any fees for renovation?”

“There. As long as the store is in demand, I do not share our income,” Mama replied proudly.

Thank goodness, then. Hopefully the way that Mama thinks it can help dismiss the rumors circulating. Because if left unchecked, Mama and Papa who will lose big. Moreover, Papa has focused on working in the bakery as well.

This is obviously the work of people who don't like our family. Is there anyone who is jealous of your success? Wh who? Why use this lowly way to bring down the efforts of others who are built with difficulty?

If anyone doesn't like the success of my parents, make a counter effort, dong. Don't ruin the hard work of others. If there is a grudge, face them with a man. I alone who was young dared to face my enemies one on one. Old age still use childish ways to express envy?

“Do you have a boyfriend?” I asked my mom after a while, we were silent. This was the first time he had asked me about anything personal.

“Not yet, Ma,” I replied honestly. Theo and I broke up, we don't have any relationship anymore. Not even friends. I don't lie about my status. “I want to focus on college.”

“You're a smart girl, hang out with smart men.” She smiles. “You will not find a young man like your friends if you look for him at work. You'll change later. See the partner from the contents of his wallet, not the sincerity of his heart anymore.”

“I followed Mama's advice, therefore, I chose to postpone the relationship, Ma.”

“I advise you to take care of your body until you get married later, not not dating.”

On the last night I was at their house, Mama went into the room and gave one piece of advice as a mother. He asked me not to give my body to any man before he married me. Advice I appreciate very much.

He must have learned so many things from people's experiences that he only gave me that one piece of advice when I was about to go far. I happen to agree. Let alone giving my body to a man, even dating I do not want to, before all my dreams are achieved.

The plan that was shaken because I want to immediately avenge Chika's evil deeds. Making her jealous was what I managed to do, but I retreated for a moment. She and Theo getting engaged is the way out that I've been waiting for to get away from Theo.

I can now refocus on my studies. All my time is for myself and my studies. Although Theo's presence was not entirely a burden, I was relieved not to have to have lunch with him twice a week. There is also no need to engage in a love triangle drama with Chika. I don't have any power yet, so I need to stay out of trouble.

I also need to keep my family from being troubled by people because they have a grudge against me. The shop business that that guy was rumored to have had something to do with me. There are only two people who can do it.