Hope? : Between Dreams and Reality
Between Money and Mussel
Some days he seems to be reading books. Yesterday he finished a book by "Pramodya Ananta Toer" in 1 day. Maybe it was because he had a lot of free time, so to finish a book alone was not difficult for him. Today he is planning to buy a new book. The books in his closet he had read all and that was enough to make him a bit uneasy. Zero is a book enthusiast.
That morning Father Zero was busy with his activities at home, so the motorbike was not used for today. Zero's father looks to be making prints to sabblon. Zero approached his father. He looked out of the house, it was very bright today, he thought.
“Daddy can I borrow the motor?”
“Where are you?"
“I want to buy something. Just for a second. Not long.”
Zero's father just nodded. Maybe because he was too busy with his work.
Zero immediately took his jacket hung in his room, then rushed to pick up the helmet and climbed onto the bike.
Zero someone who's a bit embarrassed. So he felt less confident if he had to buy in a bookstore alone. He remembered the muslih at that time, he also intended to go to Muslih's house.
Zero walked through the village, a village more fittingly called housing. Seen houses lined up neatly, sometimes he saw school children who were walking to go to school.
“Happy child..,” says Zero.
His voice was so small from being muffled by his helmet that outsiders could not hear what he was saying.
He turned around that corner, a bend with a slightly blackened wooden archway, probably because of paint marks or something like that.
The motor is now stopped, in a house so small but neat, outside it looks a bird cage with a bird that is constantly squeaking. Zero looked at the house, presumably not too sure that the occupants of the house were in it. But it was not a problem, he still got off his bike and several times formed the door.
“Mus..”.
Someone seemed to open the door. His eyes were still blurred with reddened eyeballs. His hair was very messy, as well as his clothes that only used color and clothes that look torn in the armpits.
“Buwn up?” ask Zero.
But Muslih just nodded, he allowed Zero to sit in front of his porch. Then he went back to his house.
After a while, Muslih came out of the house. His face looks washed with water until now his face looks fresher.
“What's so early in the morning Ro?”
“Again? The sun is already hot like this you call morning?”
Muslih smiled a little until he saw his teeth were still yellowing.
“God for an unemployed person like us instead of this is still morning.”
Zero did not answer that statement. He turned his gaze towards the house, the house was very quiet even though in fact Muslih's mother was still lying on her bed.
Muslih looked at Zero, whose eyes were exploring his home. He looked somewhat doubtful, his face was very agitated.
“Ro, I borrow your money. Can I?”
“Hmmm,, make what?”
“Gini, you know my sister is still in school and will be afraid again there will be exams at her school. Lu also know the income of my parents can be said mediocre lah..” He has not had time to finish his speech.
“Live to the point, do not convolute,” said Zero who cut the words muslih.
“Gw want to borrow money.”
“How much?”
“Yes, I have not paid my sister's school for 3 months. And yes you know the condition of my family lately how. My mother from yesterday was sickly and she needed to cost quite a lot. While earning dad I still pasan”
“How much?” intercept Zero.
“600 thousand”
“Crazy! You asked for that kind of money to an unemployed man.”
Zero seemed to shake his head. Actually in his pocket there is some money maybe about 100 thousand, but the money will be used to buy the book he wants.
“Gw don't know who else to ask
“Even stock of medicine mother Iw hampi exhausted. And the price is quite expensive.” Now the face of the muslih is slightly reddened. His eyes looked sparkling but he tried to rub it with his hands.
But he tried to toughen up. Although it is very visible the face of the muslih is so sad.
“Ouh yeah. What did you come here for?”
“Ah. I'm just gonna ask. You have been able to call yet?” Zero Seems a little unwell with her friend. He felt that his friend needed time to be alone. And it's not time to take her to the bookstore.
“But”
“Ouh that's it. Yaudah I go home first.”
Zero hurriedly got up from his place. He immediately rode his motorbike. He realized that his friend was not wanting to be disturbed, all he wanted was money to pay for his sister's school fees and also to buy his mother's medicine. Zero was not strong hearted over it, he was eager to help his friend but in his pocket there is only 100 thousand money and will be used to buy books.
But inexhaustible he was remembered by Rehan. Zero immediately plugged the gas into Rehan's house. But after he reached Rehan's house his friend was not at home. Her mother said she didn't know where her son was and from yesterday he didn't come back home. His mother told him that if he met Rehan, he was asked to persuade him to return home. Zero just agreed.
But under such circumstances, Zero knew where he should go. He knows his friends because they are good friends. It's clear what Rehan's parents don't know he knows.
“He must be going to Mamat Kojek,” Zero thought on the way to the coffee shop.
He has now arrived at Mamat Kojek's coffee shop. A coffee shop with walls made of woven bamboo. The roof is covered with rusty zinc. However it was enough to protect the person inside from the heat and rain.
The door was left open so anyone passing in front of it could figure out what was going on inside.
Sure enough, Rehan was seen sitting there. He appears to be talking to Mamat Kojek, a conversation that seems fun.
Zero got off his bike, he went straight into the shop. But before he said something Rehan hurriedly grabbed him.
“This is it. My best friend.”
He embraced zero with his tightness. His right hand was seen draping itself on Zero's shoulders. Zero was a bit uneasy and with his hand he tried to remove Rehan's hand from his shoulder.
“Sitting.” Rehan told his friend to sit in the long chair.
Please Criticism and Advice
From A Beginner
