Hot Daddy: My Beautiful Morning

Tough Girl

Despite not saying anything, I was sure that Daddy and I both knew that each of us was trying to avoid intimacy when we were just the two of us in the cabin. We try to restrain each other even if there is no agreement or agreement between us. I know Daddy did it, and I think Daddy knows I did the same thing.

Including at dinner, after taking a plate of dinner for Daddy, I sat a little far away from him, and he didn't bother about it at all. At that dinner we only discussed two things, the first of our activities tomorrow. Daddy took me on a bike. I know it's one of his hobbies, and I agree. He told me where and how the route we were going. Then, the second, about the call came in this afternoon before we rode. Daddy said it was a call from his college friend first. Mr. Alpian. He who just gave up his bachelor status will hold his wedding reception which will be held the next night. He found out from Oom Hendri that Daddy was in Malang, so he called him and intended to invite Daddy to his wedding reception.

"You want to come, right? Daddy doesn't feel good if he doesn't come."

I didn't answer right away. Surely I do not want to say it, because there will be many friends of Daddy: adults, fathers and mothers who are almost four heads. But I'm not good at resisting.

Then, as I did not give an answer, Daddy stretched out his hand, he grabbed and clasped my hand tightly. "I want you to come. I'm afraid I'll leave you alone. Please, huh?"

Yeah, I don't want Daddy to feel bad for his friend, and I don't want to see fear in Daddy's eyes either. Without him saying it, I knew that he had a deep regret for once leaving my mother alone in his boarding house until something bad happened that he could never forget. I even came to understand why he was so strict to take care of me all this time, coming home and going to school I was always escorted and picked up by Mr. Ujang. Never allowed to go anywhere alone, even with friends. I can only go with Oma. And even if there is group work or study together, and requires me to go to a friend's house, Mr. Ujang will wait for me, he said, no matter if he would die of boredom in the car or hang out at the stall near my friend's house until the b*cong was overheated, he would wait for me and watch me super tight.

I used to defy once, I ran away, followed my friends to the mall and went home at night. Oma and Daddy were so angry at Mr. Ujang. Not just getting scorned, Mr. Ujang really received the anger of Daddy and the anger of Oma. Though at that time his son Pak Ujang was sick, and he had to go to the hospital in place of his parents to take care of the child who was being treated. But because of me, Mr. Ujang to have to mollor go to the hospital. I just came home and saw Mr. Ujang with teary eyes, feeling slapped and pinched by guilt. Come to think of it now, how foolish my former prilak was, or rather: how ungrateful I am to the affection of Daddy and Oma who took care of me to such an extra extent. In fact, who the hell am I? Only the son of a woman, who was abandoned by her family, continues to be pregnant by a criminal - who does not know whose seed is planted by the three immoral perpetrators. Luckily, I was not too late to open my eyes. From that day on I never tried to disappoint Oma and Daddy. I always obeyed whatever they said and I never insisted on saying no to them.

"All right," I said. "I'll come along."

"But I don't bring a dress. Keep me?"

"Emm..," Daddy seemed to think, "Mom Rani is coming too. Later Daddy asks him to accompany you shopping first morning. It's a break, and we're going to the party tonight. Okay?"

I nodded, and I began to think about preparing myself - as well as mentally, to deal with other guests who would question who I was - - rather I was ready Daddy? Moreover, of the many invited guests, there will surely be guests who recognize my face - the face of Kejora, the lover of Gibran Aditama who died seventeen years ago. Or those who do not know that my mother is dead, they will wonder, how can the Kejora survive so easily? Or maybe someone thinks that Daddy and Kejora are married and gave birth to a child whose face is very similar to that of the mother. And more horribly, those who know nothing, may think - plus judge: that I am the figure of a young woman teasing a lonely om-om.

Oh my God, I can't stop thinking about that. I'm not sure Daddy's friends know about Daddy's seventeen-year life, let alone about me being the foster kid. The proof, when Oom Hendri first saw me, was that he was shocked to death, as if he had seen the Kejora that was now alive again.

And that night, I was trying to relax in front of Daddy, like I wasn't thinking about the party. But after I was alone in the room, it made it hard for me to sleep. However, I am only a seventeen-year-old girl who has not eaten much salt acid, and the bitter tingling of life. I was so afraid of being the spectacle and talk of the people at the party. What should I do?

The answer lies with myself. I took a deep breath and said, "Whatever happens later, whatever the judgment of others, is up. Face the world without fear. This is an era where women need to be tough. Tears may flow, the heart may feel pain, fate may feel bad, but you must not fall. Everything's gonna be fine. Aamiin's."