In The Rain
CHAPTER 14
"I'm sorry, Raden. I didn't know you were here.”
“Nothing,” he replied in dimness. “This is your home.”
The starter let the door behind him close and sat on the rocking chair. He took a breath, inhaling deeply the cool night air. He closed his tired eyes while leaning his head against the back of the rocking chair. “This is your house, Raden. I'm only a guest during...”.
“As long as my father is alive.”
“Ya.”
Raden did not respond. He was too tired to argue. “Didn't you go back to the hospital?”
“I just called the hospital, the nurse said if they finally managed to inject the drug earlier so that your daddy can sleep. The doctor said I didn't have to come. Thunder does not recognize anyone, and I think it would also be better if I stayed at home, a lot of factory business to be done."
“I don't like being in the hospital when daddy's sober."
Gemintang stroked his forehead as if his head was already sick from the angry scream that Thunder would throw while in the hospital earlier. “I also.”
“So she treated you rough like that?”
“No. Never does. I've seen your daddy scold people. Then I secretly met the man and calmed them down. Today is the first time I've been the target of her anger.”
“Then you are lucky,” Raden said. “He always did that to my mother, always, even a small thing can ignite her wrath.”Raden punched the arm of the chair. ”There was a time when I wanted so badly to hit his evil mouth that it was as strong as it was. Even as a child, I hated her so much for making my mother unhappy when she gave everything to her. Everything.” Raden glanced at the Gemintang. "You want me to make you drink?” ask Raden.
“No, thank you.”
Raden breathed in the darkness. “I'm sorry, I forgot. You don't like hot drinks?”
“Although my father is a drunk, I do not like alcoholic beverages.”
“Then I also do not drink.” Raden leaned against one of the handles of the chair he was sitting on and placed the glass on the floor.
“Do not do that. I don't mind you drinking."
Raden's eyes clashed with those of the Star in the darkness that separated them, but the Star first threw away his face.
“Kata Heny, your father is dead,” Raden said, he did not touch the glass he placed on the floor.
“Yes. Five years ago someone found my father dead in a trench on the side of a motorway. He said, heart attack. I think he finally managed to also poison himself.”
“Your album?”
“He died a few years ago.” Unseen any emotion emanated in the eyes of the Starling, he looked far ahead. His mother was not even fifty years old, but his stooped and wrinkled body died probably of exhaustion.
Raden got up from the chair, then sat on the topmost rung, which was closer to the Gemintang seat. Crossing his legs, Raden tilted his body and rested on his elbows. His shoulder touched the skeleton of the rocking chair, almost touching the calf of the Starling. “Try telling me, Gemintang. What happens after I leave?”
How eager for the Starlings to stick out their hands and caress Raden's hair, waving the thick black hair with his fingers. Raden's body was sturdy and tall, his masculine aura so radiated.
“I successfully completed my SMU, and got a scholarship to continue to university.”
“Students? How can?” Raden turned to Gemintang.
“Entah.”
Raden waited for the explanation of Gemintang, so Gemintang was forced to tell a story. “One day, the Headmaster called me to the office. A few days before the graduation announcement. The principal said I got a scholarship from someone who didn't want to be named. That guy will cover all my college expenses. I even got five million extra dollars a month. To this day I don't know who gave me that scholarship.”
“Yes, my goodness,” Raden said with a breath, he remembered that Heny had told him in one of his letters which usually contained gossip, about 'A girl' who was going to college. (Raden, you probably don't know him, in this village there's a woman a few years old under you, she's the son of a drunkard. But, the girl went to the city and continued her schooling, everyone in this village was wondering how the girl was able to afford her college?) the letter of Heny.
Shortly after that Raden got a letter from Laura (“Daddy told me today, there is a girl named Gemintang Dahayu married to his college friend. Daddy said the girl used to work here, do you know her?).
“After earning my bachelor's degree, I returned to this village,” Gemintang continued.
“Your wedding definitely didn't last long.”
The gaze of Raden's eyes full of probing confused the Gemintang. “Wedding?”
“With your college friend.”
The star looked at Raden, as if Raden was dazed. “I don't understand the direction of your conversation, Raden. I never went on a date, let alone got married. In order to keep getting the scholarship, I have to maintain my college grades, at least my grades have to be B. I spend time constantly studying. How can you think I'm married?”
Raden surprised. Could Laura have made up that story? No. gabe. Laura does not know Gemintang, after working in a new daddy company she knows him.
Daddy.
A glance of suspicion slipped in Raden's mind. What flashed through his mind was too terrifying, even to think about. But when it comes to Daddy…
“I heard you got married. I forgot who broke the news to me.”
“Whatever that person is, he is mistaken. I never got married while in college, I just got married.”.
“With daddyku.”
A moment the Starling fell silent, then she asked about what had been buried in her heart for so many years. “What happened between you and Willona?”
“Third World War,” Raden replied with a laugh. The star did not respond a word. He sat in a tense manner, his fingers clutched. “Since the beginning it's been a mess. He didn't want the baby. She used her pregnancy to entrap me into marrying her, and after Alyssa was born, we took care of the divorce.”
“You ever see that kid? Alyssa?”
“No. Never,” Raden replied. His facial expression was hard to guess, but from his tone it was clear he closed the topic. His attitude was heartbreaking for the Gemintang, knowing Raden did not love his son, his only son. Could he have such a feeling? Years‐ years after the beautiful memories with Raden, Gemintang dreamt of having a child from Raden. The baby will be proof of Raden's specialness to him.
“At last we got divorced, a divorce that took a very long time because I focused more on the new flight business I pioneered.”
“I'm proud of you, Raden,” Gemintang comments gently and sincerely, making Raden turn his head.
Vibrant smile. “Yes, but I work like a madman to get to the target. That was the only thing that filled my mind and spared me from thinking. hal‐hal else.”.
“Another thing? Home?”
Long Raden's eyes were fixed on Gemintang. Highlight his eyes piercing sharp. “Ya,” answer is short then stand. With his back to the Gemintang, Raden leaned his body on one of the pillars of the house. “This house, Laura, Daddy, Factory, and this village. I never really wanted to leave it.”
“You have a new life in Jakarta.”.
“Ya," the answer is short.
