If You Love
Eps. 33. Reaching To The Next Level
“Hei, handsome..”.
The rector always greeted Brill in the same way, and indeed this physique and face was arguably the most perfect of all the ponakan plus his son. And among his puppets he somehow always paid more attention to Brill. Maybe this child carrier tends to be moody and closed when there is a large family gathering event like now that makes this Rector sir more attention to Brill.
“Om Manuel.
Brill approaches Manuel's smiley om and is also closer to his bangs. Brill then sat with his omnya in a lounge chair that was on the edge of the fishing pool owned by his omnya who was the Governor of this province. Dicky's birthday was held at one of the family's rest houses in an area close to the airport.
Brill always chooses to talk to his om rather than with his cousin, he always feels insecure when it comes to talking to them. All of them were always talking about things he could not reach, all of them were speaking fluent English, like being on another planet sitting with them.
Brill did not not know he had also been nursed by the mother since toddler and her mother uses more English when talking to her, and her mother, but she feels inferior when her cousin talks to a hot and popular topic and she doesn't understand about it. Understandably Brill is not a figure who pays attention to his surroundings, his world is very narrow and the center is only himself.
“It looks like this year we just met now huh?”
Om Manuel patting Brill on the shoulder.
“Iya om... om busy right..”.
Brill replied while looking at the many goldfish and mojair fish in the pond in front of him. Indeed, the water is not too clear, so that the group of fish that swim only faintly visible, the movement of the fish can be known from the ripples caused in the large lake.
“Where is the experience of being a student?”
Manuel still pats Brill on the shoulder, one of the ways he familiarizes himself with his bangs and that makes the ponakan feel close to him.
“Regular aja..”
“Ssenior lecturers in your majors friends om everything..”.
“It is, papi friends are also some, so I'm lazy, I like to be bandingin same om also papi.. I guess I was wrong to follow om choose the majors, I'm the Rector of Sam Ratulangi University.”
Brill explains the disturbance in his heart during his university years.
“Hahaha.. om think you will lose the popularity of your papi in that department..”.
“I have no intention to lose your prestige, too high, I do not like it, I want to move faculty, om Manuel help ya?”
“Why move, om instead want to see you change your image, out of the shadows om and your papi, appear as a different Brill Ratulangi.”.
“Means om?”
“I mean om, it's normal that there are comparisons thrown out, even though it's as if we are the benchmark of others to judge you, don't be distracted, you can have your own achievements.”.
“That's exactly it om, I once told Mner Kaparang like that, but he told me at length, I was stupid very, nothing I remember from Mner's sentence.”.
“Hahaha.. om already horrified that..”.
“They reported me to Manuel?”
“To be exact not so, om who is the truth, do om sometimes like to be invited to events to meet them, well when discussing about you, hahaha, do you, they shake their heads when the story about your behavior is too indifferent and too stupid, because say the same om and papimu aja.. hahaha..”.
Brill looked at his face, did not seem to be judging him or reprimanding him, just telling something without any embarrassment this university Rector has a bangs that can not be proud of his achievements, he said, forced to be given a little better value by his colleagues is like not bothering Om Manuel. Brill grinned because he saw that Manuel was laughing to think it was funny.
“Om not ashamed of me like that?”
Brill asked in a low tone, the value that was in him immediately said that it was not something good actually, if it was his mother must have different reactions.
“Why should I be ashamed? Om is also not possible to defend you right by giving a reason why you are like that, although at least know why you are not enthusiastic about following the lecture. Or... om deny that you ponakan om? It's more unlikely.it's obvious the public knows the university rector Sam Ratulangi the same brothers wife Mr. Mayor and the Governor, and more your picture appears everywhere before the mayoral election.”.
Om Manuel said the sentences with a slightly slow rhythm and light pitched, now rubbing Brill's back.
“Why? What is boring campus life too?”
“Do not know om..”
“Om so challenged, how to make this handsome om ponakan like the campus, but according to om anyway, you have not found anything challenging, just, haven't found anything interesting and especially no girl has attracted your heart hahaha.”.
“What the hell is om..”
“Hahaha... That's what you think of you..”.
“Students there are thousands, why think of me?”
“And you nephew om most dear..”.
Brill was stunned for a moment, began to think about the words of Markus, there are many who love him, is he alone who does not care so feel otherwise?
“But.. lest om emang really embarrassed because many people know ponakan om not bebecus so a student.”.
Brill tries to figure out his views and feelings towards her.
“Gak lah... om honest when say not ashamed, why shame them? They only know a small part of your life. If they judge you with just that, they're naive. They don't know yet another side of your life, they haven't heard your sweet voice, they haven't seen how you play music, who knows if you are actually Mozart of North Sulawesi?”
“Ah om overestimate, It's the usual om, not something that can make om proud of me. different if I'm a famous singer who makes millions of dollars a year, mami-papi is ashamed to have a child like me.”
“Eh... uh.. you only think that way.”
“Mami said it herself, mommy is embarrassed to see my IP om..”
“What is your IP this semester?”
“1.7 or how much forgot..”.
“Hah? Seriously not up to two?”
“Iya.”
“IP semester one?”
“Same as it is, om..”
“Hahaha..”.
Om Manuel was crumpled while patting Brill's thigh. Very different from the response of his mother, om who was a rector actually made this a funny joke for him. Manuel's long laugh stopped Brill laughing at something embarrassing about him for his size.
“What's funny? Mami gets angry when she knows my IP..”
Brill asked when Manuel managed to ease his laughter while rubbing the wet end of his eyes, Brill inexplicably did not take offense to being a laughingstock om Manuel.
“It is precisely because of that, om do not laugh at you loh, hahaha, om laugh at your parents, they forget to pray this when making you, they forget to ask that your genes are also equipped with academic achievements.. hahaha.”.
Mr. Rector improved his attitude, he must be serious now, although there are still things that tickle his heart that make him laugh like before.
“Indeed people still measure academic achievement as a benchmark of success, whereas try to see young entrepreneurs who are successful in our country now, do not have any degree or degree.”.
“Means I don't need to go to college dong om?”
“Not so... still remember the advice of om first?”
“Gak... nothing I remember...”.
Brill replied lazily, honestly it is hard brain to remember many things, which stuck in his memory from the past is just a name, Rilly. ahh.
“Hahaha, naturally, your IP that much shows you are still lazy to use your brain, naturally you do not remember what om said, but yes now om actually wants to tease your perfect mama that. turned out she was not able to educate you to be as perfect as her or as perfect as your papa, hahaha.um used to be jealous with your mama, you know… since his achievement SD bejibun, buaaanyak..but now he can not create his world to be as perfect as he wants, you become a stain for him, hahaha.”.
“What the hell is om... om insulting me yes, so my parents' disgrace?”
“Not Brill, no. om. I mean, your mama sometimes speaks too high, as if the world was in her grasp, as if in her hands everything could be good, she said, yeah sometimes om likes to say your mom is too cocky and overconfident. It turns out that he can not dictate to you, can not make yourself as he wants.. hahaha, do not be offended yes Brill. This only comes from the sentiment of the rivalry of the brothers first.”.
Brill just nodded as if he understood, then continued compared to what he said there were things he wanted to know from his own mouth.
“So according to om?”
“What.... eh we again discuss what yes? Sorry, bothered to remember your mammary character.”.
“Soal need not I continue my lecture, I am very lazy om..”.
“Om once said that you have another way that is more interesting for you to develop your potential, please go ahead, maybe now it has not felt the benefits, but om make sure you will not regret it later.”.
Brill was silent, trying to understand what Manuel explained, since Markus asked him to change, he did not know what he had to change. So he listened to his clever words.
Om Manuel continued as he looked as if Brill was listening to him.
“Learning is a lot of use, if you master something even if it is just a theory, you will definitely be able to say it with confidence, it is simple. Try to pay attention to people who smoothly talk about something in a conversation, look smart right, when he might just read it is not purely the result of his thinking.
“Ribet om... I don't understand...”.
“Hahaha.. om simplify, learn to make your insights grow. Clear?”
“Iya..”
“So... ajalah lecture.. enjoy your life as a student, engage in BEM activities, there are activities that specifically explore the creativity and potential of students there. try to open Brill to another world… be open to friends with new friends.om make sure you will enjoy..Om challenge you deh..”.
”What's om?”
“Two semesters ahead..You are involved in BEM activities at your faculty, participate in lecture activities..um will not sue you or force yourself insistent to get all A values, as you can… it means more serious than ever... well... if in the next two semesters you can not enjoy too, please stop college, om will defend your desires in front of your fathers? Want to accept the challenge?”
Om Manuel said in a soft tone so as not to impress dictating. While Brill listened in silence while contemplating his words.
“Brill?”
“OK om... I agree..”.
Brill replied, although not sure enough.
“Appointments yes...om will keep your promise..”.
“Iya om..”
Brill gazed up, staring at the clear blue sky this afternoon, he was trying to commit now, maybe he should try this. Om Manuel smiled next to him then patted him on the shoulder…
“Hei... handsome, do not be dumb... Yuk we sing-singing on stage there, the instrument is complete pity if left idle. Coincidentally om kangen playing keyboard.you guitarnya yes.. Joel drumnya... ask mama who sang.. must be exciting..”.
Om Manuel pulled Brill's hand towards the small stage reserved for the excitement of the Governor's pack show today.
“Nobody plays bass om..”
“You can, right? Yes bass does not need guitar.”
And the excitement of this family event began, om Manuel can liven up the atmosphere, become a keyboardist as well as an impromptu mc that rotates all family members to sing. The atmosphere that soon intertwined familiar and slowly Brill who always closed himself among his family began to blend, and, come laugh when Bierna forced to sing the song The Power of Love owned by Celine Dion when her voice was far from melodious, and sing a duet on the standing mic when there is a song that provokes him to make his merdunya sound.
Governor Dicky Gontha wanted to complain about his voice and singing talent…
“Om Want to sing with Brill.. let the less melodious sound of om be covered..”.
Successive older family members asked for a duet with Brill. Last of mama.
“Singing with mommy too huh Brill?”
Brill stared at his mother's face for a moment. At a time like this, somehow his gaze towards his mama changed slightly, that smile in his eyes became different.
Brill nodded.
“What song? You only choose Brill..
Mom's voice why turned soft? Or is there something wrong with his ears?
“Song.. 'Mother' Melly Goeslaw by mam...”.
Brill said after thinking for a moment, that song alone immediately entered his brain.
“Oh... can-can.. mami likes that song...”.
The song began to be sung by the mami, in the refrain section, Brill's voice filled with his tenor voice, only as an accompanist, still letting his mama stand out. When finished and just I repeat again from the beginning suddenly the Governor went up to the stage and asked for a mic from someone who set the soundsystem.
“Shortly... briefly... I want to sing this song too, we sing three... mama... go up here... we want to sing to mama... because mama I can be there to this day, and can achieve many things for my life.”.
Mr. Governor asked ifa Susan to go to the stage, then the song Mother then finally sung by three children ora Susan with Brill…
There is something going on while the song is being sung, several times Brill and the mami who are standing nearby stare while singing. Mom's hand rubbed her back several times and it felt different.
Brill's heart warms, after so many years of being alone in his world, this afternoon he feels a new way among his family, especially he feels on this stage he is the star, he is the star, all such families gave recognition of his abilities above those in this field, and he felt that the recognition was accompanied by their pride towards him.
Yes this stage feels like his, looking down on himself. Like stepping foot up to reach the next level for his own life, Brill gained confidence.
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