In The Rain
CHAPTER 11
Raden ran after Gemintang at the end of the hospital hallway, he was leaning against the wall. Raden approached him from behind, slowly raising his hand about to touch him, but paused for a moment to consider his actions, but then thought, Fuck it, then he put his hand on the shoulder of the Star. “You all right?” tanyanya is attentive.
Oh, my God, Inner Star. Why did he ask that question, in his distinctly soft voice? The tone of his question and the question Raden asked were exactly the same as he had once asked. The same words, the same words, the caring that touches the feelings, with the same raucous voice shakes.
Slowly the Gemintang turned his head slightly and looked at Raden from behind his shoulder. Eyes glazed. It could be her tears because of the humiliation her husband threw, but tears full of memories with Raden. The star gazed into Raden's eyes, hooked into old memories, into the past, into that first night…
The falshback
The light of the car lights panned behind him, the Gemintang accelerated the pace. She almost died of shame when Raden found out that she was the daughter of a man known as a drunk in the city. Raden will know they live in a rickety house, his mother becomes a wash porters in order to serve food at the dining table and they can afford to buy used clothes worth using from his subscription to Gemintang.
“Hai, Gemintang.” The car passed from behind the Star and stopped at his side. In amazement Gemintang looked at Raden's smiling face as he tilted his body toward the passenger seat next to him and opened the car door. “Come aboard. I'll take you home.”
The stars looked left and right, like people who had just made a mistake. “No need Raden.”
Raden laughing. “Why?”
Because he didn't want Raden to know his real home and a guy like Raden shouldn't be taking a girl like Gemintang around in a sports car, which is why. But the stars did not say it. He didn't say a word. His heart palpitations felt down his throat, making him unable to say‐kata.
“Come, go up,” persuade Raden with a very charming smile to make Gemintang according to sit in the leather seat and close the car door. The padded car bench swept him into the realm of luxury, and he had to try hard to resist the desire of his heart to stroke the softness of the car seat.
“You like chocolate milk shake?” ask Raden.
Only once did the Starling taste it during her life. When her mother was on payday and they had lunch at a local tavern, she bought a chocolate milk shake for them to enjoy together to celebrate the special day. “Yes," she replied shyly.
“I stopped at the cafe and bought some drinks. You choose yourself.” Raden tilted his head towards the plastic glass tucked between the seats. The glass was closed, but the suction was sticking out of the hole at the top.
“Thank you,” said Gemintang shyly. He took the glass and sucked the contents through a straw. It's cold, sweet, and delicious. The star smiled happily. Raden smiled back.
Raden did not turn on the music and he did not open the roof of his car, he did not want anyone to see him with the Gemintang. Gemintang understands and does not mind this. Raden came to pick her up, and he bought her a chocolate milk shake. That is enough for the star.
“How did you work earlier?” tanyanya started her chat.
“I sell one set dinner plate.”
“Criminal furniture. I guess I can't eat with a plate like that.” Raden laughing. “But you don't want to sell plates for the rest of your life?”
“Of course not.”
“Then what do you want to do?”
School, replied the Gemintang inwardly with a feeling of despair. “Entahlah. I like math. I've been champion two years in a row‐.”
Gemintang felt the need to show his strengths, telling Raden about something that might make him not forget it, because Gemintang knew, he himself would never forget Raden for life.
However, maybe Raden does not care about the advantages, because Raden can choose whichever girl he likes, older and more fashionable than himself. Girls who dress better and like to gather in clubs, girls‐girls whose mother sits in a committee and rides a luxury car, girls who feel embarrassed talk to Gemintang Dahayu.
“Mathematics, huh? Maybe I need your help doing my college work. High School time I barely graduated due to math subjects, and it turns out on campus there are also basic math subjects.”
“You have passed?”
“Ya, this year.”
“What majors?”
“Technics." Raden came out of the highway to the small road leading to his house.
“You don't need to drive me home,” said Gemintang quickly.
“Here it is pitch dark as in the tunnel.”
“I'm not afraid, really. Please, stop here only.”
Without refuting, Raden braked his car. Gemintang did not want Raden to drive him home. Because if so, he had to explain everything to his mother. Today is too special. He did not want to share the privilege of this day with others. He especially did not want Raden to meet his mother and his rickety home.
