I'm Not a Wild Grass

Mr. Kiman's Story (POV Laila)

In the afternoon, Erlan came home to pick me up and take me to work. On the way, we had stopped by our subscription fried chicken outlets first, while we were still OB staff.

Before entering the booth, Erlan handed five hundred bills into my hands.

"uh? What's this for, Lan.eh. Which one?" Ask me confused.

"Buy as many chicken as you want, and share it with your friend, Yang. Consider it alms for our marriage yesterday" Erlan explained.

"Gope? Not most?"

"Oh! That's mostly it? I thought it was less."

"So much, Yang. Friends who are familiar with the same I will at least ten people. With this kind of money, I can get 50 pieces of chicken."

"Well, it's up to you, Yang. Anyway, it's money for you. It's up to be made for whatever. Want to buy chicken all yes may.want to buy enough also may. And.."

Erlan is seen picking something up from inside her purse. Shortly after, he took out an ATM card, then put it on top of my hand that was still holding the money sheet from him earlier.

"This one, all my payday money is in this ATM. You hold it. Every month I receive 70 million. Usually directly cut the same electricity and other money. I don't know how clean it is either. You will check it yourself. Like less, you say yes," said Erlan at length.

And I was only able to gape, when I received that piece of ATM card from Erlan.

'70 million? 70 Million words? Can you buy digital gold how many grams?' and my wishful thinking went straight to hell.

"It's actually 70 million in this ATM, Yang?" I asked to be sure.

"Yes." Yeah."

"Is this a card for me?" Ask me to repeat.

"Yes, Yang. I bought some chicken!"

"Hmm. Very dear, Yang. I invested my money, right?" I asked permission.

"Do you like investing?" Erlan asked with a surprised look.

I nodded excitedly.

"I bought digital gold. Can ya??" Please I expect.

"Buy digital gold? Instead of buying gold, why not invest in stocks? It's more developed" Erlan gave advice.

"But I don't understand buying shares. The safest would be to buy gold," I insisted.

"Being buying gold is a pretty safe investment. But the profit gained is not too big. Or try to invest in land that is still developing. The prospects are pretty good that, Yang," Erlan suggested back.

"Tauk ah's. Dizziness. I knew I would buy gold first. So, can you?" My question started to get upset.

Erlan who caught the irritation in my voice finally softened. He gave up on giving me a proposal.

"May.of course you can dong, Yang. You are free to buy anything!" Persuade Erlan in a hurry.

"Well! That's dong from earlier. Judekah. I bought some chicken first!"

I decided to buy 25 pieces of chicken. Plus an additional 2 pieces of chicken wrapped separately that I accidentally bought for my husband, Erlan.

"Now, for you, Yang!" I extended a small package of fried chicken to Erlan.

"Make me?"

"Yes. You want to go back to your apartment first, right, just later tonight pick me up and go home to Mama's?" Ask me with a bright smile.

"Yes. It's not good if I go home, but you're not there.."

Erlan's words made me feel a little guilty. Therefore, I spontaneously gave a short man to Erlan's cheek.

"I'm sorry, Yang. I just want to enjoy my last days at work. I'll be ready to welcome you to our house every day.."

Erlan covered my mouth with two fingers of her hand.

"Shuut. yes. Ja. I know, Yang. Hitherto. We leave now. You'll be late for work again, if we talk here later?"

I looked at my husband's face. I was reminded again, how lucky I am to be Erlan's wife.

"Thank you, Yang.." I said with sincerity.

***

Day after day goes on. Not feeling like a week has passed.

This Sunday morning Erlan and I were planning to visit Mama Ilmaya's house. And about eleven o'clock in the afternoon we finally got there.

According to Erlan, Papa still wants to work as a yard guard at his extended family home. And he did not want to get any special treatment, even though his status as my biological Papa was known by his employer's family.

I looked at the figure of Papa who seemed focused on his current job.

"You want us to go there?" Erlan asked beside me.

"Huh?" I turned to Erlan with a confused look.

"To your Papa.. You want us to go there first?" Erlan asked, repeating.

I looked back at Papa. And he still seems not to have noticed my arrival.

I then shook my head too.

"No. I'm not ready to say hello anymore. You know what I mean, Yang? I'm.."

"Yes. I-i understand. But I was hoping, Yang. Later you will be able to forget the negative feelings in the past towards your Papa. Because it's for your own good. Ok?" Erlan with her wisdom.

I bow my head. And just followed Erlan's statement a moment later.

"Yes.I also hope that the day will come soon, Yang.." said me with a smile that still keeps the squeeze.

Erlan pulled my shoulder into his embrace. Then in his kiss my forehead peaks slowly.

"I love you, La. (i love you, La.) you were loved (you were loved). so don't you have a thought as if you were alone all along, okay (so don't have a thought that you're alone all the time, okay)?"

"...okay.thank you, Yang.."

***

As soon as we reached the entrance, we were both greeted by the Chief Servant, Mr. Kiman.

"Mom is there, sir?" Erlan asked in pleasantries.

"The big lady is in the tea room, Young Master. There is non Arline also with him," said Mr. Kiman politely.

"good. Thank you Mr Kiman!" erlan said later, with me following in silence.

But, I had not yet entered the house, Mr. Kiman held me back with his call.

"Sorry, Non Laila. Can we talk for a minute? I promise, this will not be long," said Mr. Kiman with his shady gaze.

Erlan looked at me, and I gave her a slow nod.

"You go up first, Yang. I'll catch up" I told Erlan.

Erlan nodded, confirming my request. Then he walked first to meet his mother upstairs.

After the figure of Erlan disappeared from my view, then I turned to face Mr. Kiman.

"What's up, sir?" Ask me politely.

"Look, I just found out about Mang Ulum's status as Papa Non Laila." said Mr. Kiman slowly.

I held my breath. Didn't expect that the conversation meant by Mr. Kiman was related to Papa.

Heavy, I exhale again. While saying, "yes. Then?"

Mr. Kiman was seen observing my expression first, before he finally continued to say.

"I just want to convey what I know about Mang Ulum. I mean, Papa Non Laila."

I'm speechless. Waiting for Mr. Kiman to continue his speech again.

Mr. Kiman sighed deeply, then looked at a distant point beside me. With a pondering expression, Mr. Kiman continued to speak.

"I've known Papa Nona for ten years. At that time, he looked so thin and brought Darman who was also small and thin as well.

Mr. Kiman is a quiet man. He rarely interacts with other officers. Even so, he finished his job very well. And he is also a good father to Darman," said Mr. Kiman told me about Papa.

"But, once upon a time I accidentally found him asleep on the back porch of the house. It seems he was exhausted after planting a new variety of flowers in the backyard. Then I overheard him delirious. He cried in his delusion, Non.."

"He.. crying?" Ask me not to believe.

"Yes, Non. And in that delirious position, I clearly heard him mention two names. Mutia and Laila.."

"..?!!"

***