In The Rain

CHAPTER 26

Four people sat in the car, silent as the car drove under the trees growing along the road to the cemetery. Raden and Gemintang looked out the window. Laura sat between the two of them, playing a handkerchief between her fingers. Heny, sit in the back, observing them.

“Looks like a lot of people who skipped,” commented Heny, while looking at the motorcade that was lined up behind their hearse and car.

No one gave a response. But a few minutes later Gemintang finally said, “Most city residents, I guess.”

“Just like the time mommy died. Anything you remember, brother?” Laura asked kafar‐takut. When the look of Raden's eyes sharp to make Laura feel afraid.

“Ya,” Raden replied while biting his lip. “I still remember.” After realizing that he was talking to his sister, Raden turned his head and smiled gently at her, at Laura's hand, then kissed her and held her tightly. “Many people attend mommy.” funeral

“I guess so,” Laura replied, smiling, relieved that there were no more cold and anxious eyes on her brother's face.

“People will definitely be busy talking about it,” said Heny, guessing. “Because you did not make a death prayer event in the church. The pastor is shocked, and people will feel shocked.”

“Let them be astonished, I don't care what people say,” Raden said.

“Because you don't live here, Raden” is Heny. “But we stay here.”

“There is no mass in the church,” Raden said, affirming. “You heard, Heny?” Highlight his sharp and indisputable eyes, as well as his authoritative voice, made Heny not comment further.

“Good tuan” He raised his seat out of rage.

Raden looked out the window again.

The starry-eyed look at Heny and Laura, two innocent humans who must live with the likes of Thunder. They also do not understand why Raden was cold in the face of his father's death.

Heny held the hand of Gemintang and said, “You are very stoic, madam. But I guess when you're alone, this crowd is over, you're sure to cry.”

Heny was mistaken, the Gemintang would not shed a single tear for the man who had been her husband. Her tears were already dry as she left the room in the hospital due to her humiliation.

Raden followed him outside a moment later, his countenance tense, his gaze cold and frightening. Until that moment, he remained tense.

Over the night, they sat in the waiting room of the hospital. They do not talk and do not look at each other. How often the stars want to apologize for accusing Raden of betraying their love because Willona is pregnant. How much he wanted to stroke, hug her, cry over the days that separated them over the years. Which until now they still feel separated, but for now the Star decides to keep distance and still.

Thunder was unconscious after Raden left his room. The doctor clasped the hand of the star and said. “It won't be long. You can go home if you want. After all he will not know you are in the room or not.”

The Starling shook her head, she did not want to see Thunder's face again when the doctor told her that Thunder had died, the Gemintang left the hospital with Raden, with tears that had dried up and a heart empty.

Now he must pretend to be grieving, like most wives left behind by husbands. Car stopped. He was helped down by the funeral attendant and invited to a tent built near the grave. He sat in the chair provided, sitting stiffly, Raden next to him, Laura next to Raden. Heny chose to stand behind Laura, putting his hand on Laura's shoulder to calm her down.

The star tried to close his ears, not to listen to the preacher's sermon. His eyes pensively looked at the coffin filled with sprinkles of white roses. When the death prayer ended, he received condolences from mourners.

“Without a single tear.”

“Of course, since Thunder was operated on, he already knew all this was just a matter of time.”

“Ya. maybe he has prepared himself.”

“Soever, he should show sorrow, as the one who got the calamity."

“I don't know how the fate of the factory later.”

“Stars will still run it, I guess.”

“How about Raden?”

“Ia will stay here.”

“He will return to Jakarta.”

“I don't know for sure.”

Gemintang heard rumors‐ the mourners gossiped about as he walked towards the car waiting for him. But in the slightest he was not bothered by the rumors. The cunning and deceitful nature of Thunder against him is still fresh in his memory.Therefore he let them think of himself as someone who is good at resisting emsoi.

Gemintang will not pray or cry for the departure of Thunder. Thunder not only hurt her, but was also the only man she had ever loved. There was no apology in his heart for the crime he committed.

“Finally finished his funeral,” Raden said as he sat on the back bench shaking the priest's hand one last time, "Thank you for your prayers."

Actually the event is not over yet, throughout the afternoon people come to their residence to express their condolences.

Gemintang believes most of them come because they are driven by a sense of feeling. They wanted to see what changes the Gemintang made to the house Agatha left behind. He got the impression most of them were disappointed when he saw nothing had changed in the house. Do they expect the walls to be plastered with Disney wallpaper and dim lights‐lit?

They are also curious about Raden and his life in Jakarta. About his business, his personal life, his future plans. Raden handled all those questions cleverly and deftly.

So does their curiosity about the stars. The stargazer who sat with great dignity in gloom, silently watching the mourners who observed him.

Gemintang curious, what people expected that person. Did they expect to see him wearing something other than pitch-black clothes? Do they expect themselves to cry? Or do they expect to see her laughing because her old but rich husband is dead? How disappointed they saw no change in the luxurious house, they were disappointed to see the flat reaction of the Star.

Laura, meanwhile, did not give the mourners a chance to talk to her.

Finally, the mourners were quiet and finally the mansion was empty.