Hot Daddy: My Beautiful Morning

Past Times

How would it feel if you saw your name written on a tombstone?

I'm goosebumps. Maybe you'll feel the same way. Moreover, the date and month of birth on the tomb is the same as the date and month of my birth. Moreover Daddy said that my late mother who was lying in there - her face was one hundred percent exactly the same as mine. Geez, if it wasn't my mother's grave, I might have run away from there thinking I was dead. But it was my mother's grave and there was a relief inside me because I was finally able to make a pilgrimage there, even though the rest was just a feeling of emptiness.

Honestly, I can not deny, other than his name, all this time I did not know and did not know anything about the figure of my mother. That is why I do not know affection, love, even longing for him. All this time I only mentioned his name in my prayers - and it was as if it were just a habitual pronunciation. Really, I also want to have a sense, at least a sense of longing - but can't because I don't know the "existence" of the person I missed. In my mind all this time, if only later after I die and we meet, I wish we could get to know each other and have that feeling in our hearts. Well, hopefully. That's what I was hoping for.

Unlike me who can't feel anything, Daddy just looks sad. There was a deep longing I saw from his eyes. He prayed solemnly. In fact, in addition to the sprinkles, he also bought a bouquet of red roses and put them on my mother's grave. Looking at it all, a little bit I can judge that my late mother was a meaningful figure for Daddy.

"Know not, if your mother is still around - Daddy wants to say that Daddy has run his trust. Raised and educated you well. She must be proud that her daughter grew up to be a beautiful and smart girl. Isn't that right, honey?"

I'm nodding. "Yes, this is all thanks to Daddy. And. thank you Daddy for keeping the promise to bring Kejora here. After this Daddy's gonna tell me, right, about my mom? I want to know why my mom died, and why I was adopted by Daddy? Daddy's gonna tell me about that today, right? Aye, right?"

He was silent. A few moments later he looked at me. "Come, we'll get to the car."

I nodded, and I guess that was the answer yes: he would immediately tell me the story of the past. I also eagerly stood up to follow Daddy. But...

"Secret promise someday to be here again." I smiled at the tombstone before leaving.

Arriving at the parking lot, I quickly opened the door and sat in the passenger seat, as well as Daddy who had been sitting relaxed behind the wheel and unexpectedly he told the car engine.

"Lo's? Dad...?"

"Why?"

"Let's tell...."

"Later, Honey. Time at the funeral?"

"It's parking...."

"Yes, but the time-"

"Please... Kejora please?"

Daddy turned back the car keys and the car engine died. Like Daddy, he was silent. "Daddy was confused where to start this story," he murmured.

"From my mother's figure. Who her? Daddy's girlfriend, huh? It's because the Kejora knows Daddy married her just once."

The answer is a nod. Like I thought, they were lovers in the past.

"If you don't mind, please tell me what my mother looks like? Answer, yes, Dad?"

Daddy breathed heavily. I saw him trying to smile. "A woman is great, strong, and she is independent. We met on a farm. At that time Kejora was sixteen years old, second grade High School. In order to finance his life, school and boarding house, he worked as a farmer in the apple orchard. While Daddy, at that time was in college, only nineteen years old. Daddy's doing some research there. After we got acquainted, there was a sense of wonder in Daddy's heart at your mother. We were friends, finally familiar. You could say, we're dating."

He was quiet, a little long. I got impatient and forgot about Daddy's rules that shouldn't be asked much. "Continue, Dad. What happens next?"

He nodded, and his eyes glazed. "All the good memories are gone, honey. Only the bitter ones Daddy remembers." He closed his eyes, practically tears flowing from there. "It was mid-July, Oma fell ill, and happened to be on semester break. Hearing the news that Oma was sick, Daddy immediately returned to Jakarta. Though at that time Daddy promised to fulfill the demands of Kejora."

"What's that?"

"Having his seventeenth birthday."

"Seventeen?"

"Emm, the sweet seventeen she's looking forward to."

"Certainly? Daddy...?"

She shook her head. "Not yet" he said. "Daddy promised to keep celebrating after Daddy returned to Malang in October, when the new semester began. But when Daddy came back, your mother disappeared."

The deg!

I was stunned, and started to fret. "What happened to my mother?"

Now it was my turn to take a deep breath. "Who set him up? I mean, someone must have forced her, right?"

Daddy shakes.

"He still has a family? But why...why does he live alone and have to slam his own bones like that?"

He raised his shoulders, and heaved another heavy sigh. "Your mother once told me that she lost her mother while she was still sitting on the Junior High School bench. After that, his father married again. And that's why he had to drop out of school if he wasn't looking for his own money."

Oh my goodness, that's cruel. "His father's marriage had to sacrifice the life of his own son?"

"No need to think about that part."

"Okay, up here I get it. Then, how-"

"Daddy is trying to move on and focus on college. A few months later, Daddy graduated, then graduated, and returned to Jakarta. As simple as that."

At that time Daddy's voice was getting choked up. And I took the initiative to get her to drink first, even though in my heart I can't wait to know how the story goes.

"Just on his eighteenth birthday, the day that Daddy remembers a promise that never materialized. Yeah, about our failed wedding plans. That's why Daddy was supposed to marry her that day and bring her back to Jakarta. But promise is only promise. Daddy could only remember him. But on that day Daddy even got a phone call from Surabaya, a phone call from a maternity clinic. The day you were born into the world, and the day your mother returned to the Almighty. Your mother had severe bleeding during your birth. He had no money to go to the hospital. And. she. she was forced to secretly give birth to you in the clinic toilet. Maybe she hopes to get medical help after that without having to pay for maternity expenses. I don't know, who knows."

Oh my God, it hurts my heart. Bemoan. Now my tears are as hard as Daddy's. "Why did she give birth alone? Where's her husband?"

I didn't get the answer. Daddy just shook his head weakly. "Daddy didn't get to see your mother. Just looking at his corpse that must be buried quickly. But he left a letter to a nun, where it was written that he left his daughter to Daddy if Daddy would care to raise her. But if you don't, he's asking Daddy to take you to an orphanage. But honestly, that time after your mother's funeral, Daddy was looking for his family. And meet. Her father is there, healthy, her stepmother is healthy too. Everything healthy. But. they. I'm upset. But I can't do anything. There's nothing I can do. There's nothing I can do there. Finally, I decided to take you back to Jakarta. Thank God, after a long explanation, Oma was willing to accept. He's willing to take care of you."

Cry broke. I am the same. At that time I thought, it was only natural that I was rejected if my mother was left alone. They might even want to be merciful to me. "Daddy knows about my father?"

"We'll talk about it next time, yeah, honey. Not now."

I nodded, I knew he couldn't tell me about my real father - the man who had taken his lover, I thought. And I'm not gonna force Daddy to tell you that now.

"Kejora, now Daddy wants to ask you."

"What?" my many. "What would Daddy ask?"

"Now you know you have a grandfather. Do you want to look for him? Mumpung you're still here? If you want to...."

I shook with certainty. I don't want to look for them because I'm not part of them. They're not my family. I used to be rejected, and that was enough to break the blood relationship between us. "I don't want to know them, Dad. Not necessary. I've had enough of Daddy and Oma. You're my family. Just you guys."

This time he smiled. "Here, Daddy hugged." He grabbed me, stroked my back and kissed the top of my head. "Promise, once you know this bitter story, don't make it a burden on your heart and mind. Don't let this drop you, your school is distracted, and whatever it is. Okay?"

"Yeah, Daddy. Kejora promise, Kejora will be fine. There's Daddy next to Kejora."

And I must be as strong as my mother. Aren't I lucky-wasted of them, and got Daddy also Oma instead? Aye, right?

That bitter past will not change anything, it will not ruin my happiness now or in my future. Everything's gonna be fine. I believe that.

"So, will you marry me?"

"Ah, Daddy..the timing is not fitting, you know!"

"Jawab first, honey... You want to, right? Hmm?"

Hm....

"Yeah, yeah, I will marry you. Satisfied?"

"Trims. Daddy's waiting for you eighteen."

"That's not funny, Daddy...."