I'm with you, Mr. Teacher

Variety of Unrest

"Take me to a quiet place, sir. Anywhere. Whatever!" Thus the demand of Sandalwood when Jati managed to catch up with him before getting into the car.

So here Jati brought Cendana, in a mosque located on the edge of Semarang City. Jati invites Cendana to pray Isya to pray. It was just the two of them, because the other congregations had just disbanded when they arrived.

Sandalwood did not expect to be brought here. Teak anchors the choice in a very appropriate place. Sandalwood managed to calm down after complaining as much as possible to the Creator.

After praying, Cendana invited Jati to eat. They deliberately left the car in the courtyard of the mosque and walked on foot looking for meatball stalls around the place.

"Is it better?" Teak breaks the silence.

Sandalwood smiled weakly.

"Other times, if you need a quiet place, there is nothing quieter than a mosque. Prostrate. Because in life that does not escape this problem, we do need a pause, to simply remember what is wrong, or set the next step."

"Thank you for tonight. Sorry, for involving you."

"I can only help this extent. The rest of you know best how to solve your problems."

"Right, right, sir, they don't remember my birthday." Sandalwood said as he lowered his head, as if there was something on the sidewalk that really caught his attention.

"I'm sure, they don't completely forget, just don't find the right time to really celebrate in the middle of the rush. It finally seemed like he didn't care." Jati try not to be a little seed of hatred grows in the heart of Sandana for both parents.

"So grown-up, does it have to be that busy?"

"Hustle is not a reference to maturity. It's about responsibility. If you want to look at it from the positive side, they work day and night because they want to try their best for you. What's wrong isn't his busyness, but his pattern."

Teak talk like this is what always makes Sandalwood feel comfortable beside the guy. It is like a quilt of fur that is always powerful to warm, or a pointer when he starts to get lost. Either on what basis, Cendana is sure to be fine while with Jati.

"I was afraid of growing up. Better as this continues."

"The future is beautiful, full of surprises. Believe that! Because life is a journey, then you don't really live if it's just a road in place."

Sandalwood turned his head when suddenly Jati held his hand.



"Some day, there will be someone who will hold your hand like this, and then invite you to continue walking without hesitation."

Cendana held her breath for the sake of not misrepresenting the Teak smile that accompanied the flow of meaningful sentences earlier.

Can that man be Father?

"Don't think this is gonna be complicated. You can start with the simplest way, as simple as filling out my gift paper."

Sandalwoods. He had not written a single word on the paper.

"Don't tell me you haven't filled it yet" Todong Jati seemed to be able to guess the mimic shown by the girl he still held his hand.

"Do you have future plans too?" Sandalwood deliberately avoids.

"Sure! It's here." Teak pointed at his chest.

Can I put my name there?

***

It was this late Hajir was still silent in his room. Outside, the lights have been extinguished, as well as dozens of computers lined up in empty cubicles left behind by residents. On the table made of the best quality wood, emblazoned company cash reports are decorated with red streaks. Company profits are freefall, due to debt that is getting swollen here and there. Because he had several times failed to handle large projects that resulted in unstable funding, as a company engaged in construction, Hajir company began to be left behind by several investors.

The fate of the company he built for decades is on edge. But that is not what makes Hajir dissolve in meditation. He sneered at his temple when the words Sandalwood in the restaurant was back ringing.

Is that how far I have gone? Ask yourself.

With all the tangles in his head, he tried to gather the memories of his friendship with Cendana and Cakka. No matter how hard he tried, there was no memory that was truly worth remembering. He was sure, this was not because of a diminished memory, but the memories he expected never existed.

Not yet desperate, Hajir turned to self-testing, the extent to which he knew his children. He was increasingly frustrated when just a favorite food from his baby, he did not know. Hajir let out a long sigh while straightening his legs and tightening his back on the back of the premium leather single sofa that accompanied him stretched fretfully. He started thinking about doing something.

***

Sandalwood's steps momentarily stopped as Mama greeted him so warmly. Not only was his tone of voice different this time, but Mama also greeted while looking at him. There was no cell phone or any files in front of him. After the incident at the restaurant last night, Cendana did not expect to find this scene at all.

Sandalwood stepped back. Upon arriving at the dining table, he immediately pulled one of the chairs and sat down without answering Mama's greeting.

"Where's dad?" tanyakanya.

The movement of Sukma's hand that was taking fried rice for Sandalwood, momentarily stopped. "Papa has departed, dear," replied Sukma while trying to keep the cheerful bright mimic that he showed.

Upon his arrival at home last night, Sukma accidentally went straight to his Aunt in his room to tell him about the incident at the restaurant. For some reason, after a long time, this time Sukma felt the need to tell Bibi, the only person closest to his daughter.

Bibi considers it as a golden opportunity to convey all the complaints of Sandalwood which is often shared with him, making his mistress know the condition of the child. Then there's nothing left of Bibi, everything she said. In fact, Bibi deliberately dramatized the quiet spaces that often covered the days of her young employer.

Seeing indirectly the condition of his firstborn through the story of Bibi, Sukma's mind was really hit. Instead of being unconscious all this time, he just did not expect it to have come this far. Last night's incident confirmed that the boy had arrived at the point of barely being able to survive. One thing Sukma should be grateful for, Sandalwood does not escape to negative things. In order not to get to that point, as soon as possible he had to rearrange his work patterns.

Sukma has prepared the latest smartphone for the birthday gift of Cendana. But Bibi said the boy needed simple things that were not material. Therefore Sukma was present as a mother at the dinner table this morning.

***

From the first time Fatimah stroked her hair, Jati found a mother figure in her. It is natural that then the shady-eyed woman is used as a place to share for any problem. Including events that dragged him into a trough of prolonged guilt.

On the first day he took Cendana to the orphanage, Jati had spoken before, that the girl was the sister of the child who was the victim of the riot. Every time he brought up the incident, Fatimah understood, what kind of guilt was eating away at the humble young man. He can only affirm that guilt should not exist. And if indeed Jati had the intention to take responsibility in her own way, she suggested as soon as possible. He said, the sooner the better. In order that whatever form of guilt was lodged in his chest, it immediately subsided and disappeared slowly.

Remembering the words of Fatimah, Jati steadied her heart to say it this morning. Yes, on this road, the point that if he could want to claim as his own with Cendana. For the umpteenth time Jati observed the position of the clockwork on her left wrist. Sandalwood is not late, it is impatient.

Teak took a deep breath, filling his lungs with as much oxygen as possible when he saw Sandalwood had appeared at the end of the road, as if he wanted to immediately reveal everything without pause once the girl arrived.

Upon arrival, Cendana deftly lowered his bike kickstand, then rushed to the side of Teak. Jati was surprised to see the movements that have never been this series.

"Guess what happened this morning?" The vibrant sound of Sandalwood is complemented by the flapping of the perfect smile.

"This morning?" Jati pretended to think while stroking her chin with her index finger. "This morning there's a PR from me. You've been struggling, haven't you?" he said then while pretending to put on the typical look of a killer teacher who was charging assignments to his students.

"We are still far from school, but maybe you even think about the task," replied Cendana with a serious look pretentious as well.

"That's because you won't stop calling me "Sir"."

Sandalwood lost a landslide. He doesn't have the right words to say at the moment.

"So, what's the matter this morning?" instead of Teak, before the stiffness has already clumped.

"My mom's having breakfast until it's over. He also ran to the door when he left earlier." Cendana's smile is wide. A flash of happiness filled the look in his eyes.

"Alhamdulillah. I'm so happy."

"Oh yeah." Sandalwood opened his bag and took something out of it. "This nitip mama is for you." Cendana offers a food box with fried rice.

Teak did not immediately accept it, even gawking.

"Mom asked, who was the guy I was with last night."

"Continue?" cut the teak with a look of shock.

"I answer for what it is."

"So you're saying I'm your teacher?"

Sandalwood. "What else should I answer?"

Teak tepuk jidat. "Dead, bye!"

"Mother why?" Sandalwoods.

***