K&K (Taste Features)
24. Private Teacher
Jakarta, April 2017. The tenth day of the rainy season in that month.
As the manager said two weeks ago, the owner of Restaurant Familial has now arrived at the door with his son and granddaughter.
“Please bu. I have been waiting for you from yesterday. For a long time mother did not visit the central restaurant,” welcome the manager when she drove her boss family to the special table that had been booked.
“For what I often visit anyway I have given all the trust of managing a central restaurant to you,” said the restaurant owner.
In addition to having a central restaurant, the French restaurant has several branches outside the city, outside Java and even in Singapore. The owner is a native Indonesian, only former chef who studied in France. Until his early retirement as a chef, he opened his own restaurant in the country.
“Wah is mother's grandson huh?” the manager rubbed the head of the eight-year-old Niko.
“Yes, this is my son. Let's kiss hands first,” said Neny, the son of the restaurant owner.
The manager stroked Niko's round cheeks. Niko wears black box glasses, with a bow tie and a black suit.
Her body was thin but her face was round adorable. He looked timid and a little uncomfortable when his face was held. The manager invited them to sit down and call the waiter.
As they chatted, Kirana had been sitting in front of the piano and was ready to play. He started playing the piano. Unwittingly Niko is very interested in the young woman who plays the piano. He walked closer to Kirana who was still playing. Neny was confused to see his son who suddenly disappeared from the chair.
“Niko..” call Neny. Niko was still fixated on hearing the piano and the pianist.
The manager and the restaurant owner approached Neny.
“What's up?” ask Anna's mom. Neny pointed at Niko. For a moment they also fell silent to hear the song and looked at the beautiful face who played the piano.
“Ah, that's Kirana. I forgot to introduce my mother. She's the mute girl I asked to work here. At first he was just a errand boy or a rough clerk, but apparently he had a talent for playing the piano. So I hired him as a pianist here. Our restaurant design concept is classic, so after my mother told me to buy a piano, I also had to find a pianist who would work here. Turns out he can do it,” story bu manager. Miss Anna and Neny were smiling.
“Niko.. let's have dinner first,” reprimands Neny disperse her son's daydreams. Niko went to her desk. But he still did not stop staring at Kirana's amazement.
“Why doesn't Haikal come here, Ma?” Neny dyed while eating his apetizer.
“Looks like he's busy. Mama also did not know since returning from Sydney, she became so quiet.”
“Neny hope not a prolonged sadness due to the loss of Kezy.”
Anna nodded in agreement. He was tired of seeing his son who lived badly due to the death of his fiancee.
“That... Niko wants to learn piano can not?” niko said suddenly to make her mother choke and the eyang raised his head in disbelief.
“Since when did Niko like music?” tanya Neny laughed amusedly at the request of her son.
“Barusan,” answered Niko briefly while turning Kirana. The two adults looked at him.
“Will Niko seriously study piano? How are games, comics, and Taekwondoya?” change the eyang asked.
“Ya Niko keep playing it all. Niko wants to learn something else, right? don't you like to see Niko playing piano with Taekwondo?” Niko pursed her lips, pretentious.
“Hahaha. All right, tomorrow night between Niko and the music palace yes,” said Anna scooping her soup. The music palace is an informal school of music playing. More precisely a course.
“No want,” Niko frowned disapprovingly.
“Trus want you what?” ask Neny.
“Niko wants to be taught piano by her sister.” Niko pointed at Kirana.
“He's busy playing here, baby. Where can be your private teacher,” said Neny.
“Niko wants to be taught by her sister. Point. Otherwise Niko won't come home from here. Niko wants to learn piano with her beautiful sister here.” Niko had folded her hands, pretending to be sulking.
“Ya already.ya already. Later Eyang told his brother to become your piano teacher later. Now quickly spent his dinner.”
“Mama...!!!”Neny frowned disapprovingly. Niko is very happy now.
“What?”
“Why are all Niko's wishes fulfilled, Ma? And do not give promises that are uncertain.”
“Lho why? Niko is my mother's granddaughter. Mama has the right to give her the best.”
“Neny knows, Ma. But not gini way, mama so manjain Niko excessive and he..” Neny had not yet finished his sentence, Anna immediately cut up by raising her hand telling her to stop talking.
***
Saturday at 3 pm Kirana was preparing to go to the house of the owner of Restaurant Familial. At half-four he should be there.
Deep down, he hesitated to accept the new job offer or rather was a little forced to carry out the orders of the restaurant owner.
Kirana is good at playing the piano, but she never taught anyone. He was worried that he could not be a good teacher later, especially him who could not talk at this time.
The large and luxurious mansion stood majestically before Kirana. After pressing the bell once, Neny came to open the door and invited in kindly.
“Wah the beautiful sister came,” shouted Niko half-running to greet her piano tutor.
“Niko..” reprimand the mama. Niko shyly hid behind her mother.
“Come kiss hands first with her brother.”
“Niko.” Niko extended her hand. Kirana welcomed the hand. He slowly uses sign language to say “My name is Kirana. Niko's a sweet kid once.” Niko was a little surprised to find out that her tutor was moving her fingers. He took one step back feeling strange. Kirana wrote the same thing in her dinotes.
“Niko, who is polite to her brother. Kirana's sister can't talk. Later if Kirana's sister wants to talk she will write her dinotes or from now on you have to learn a little about sign language yes,” said Neny.
Niko's head was filled with questions as to why the beautiful sister couldn't talk? And how can he play and joke with his tutor if it turns out that his teacher can't talk. Niko hesitated, but seeing the comfortable shady smile on Kirana's face, she nodded in understanding.
Kirana and Neny smiled in relief. Niko takes Kirana to the piano in the living room.
An hour and a half, Kirana taught Niko to play the piano from scratch. Memorizing the low and high do parts that next try to play my balloon song there are five. Niko quickly mastered it.
“Thank you yes, have taught Niko patiently.” Neny delivered to the front door of the house.
Kirana nodded. After this he had to go back to the restaurant and prepare for his evening work.
Kirana sat daydreaming in a taxi to the restaurant. See the afternoon of Jakarta which was wet by rain a few hours ago.
When will he be able to meet his family again? he has returned to Indonesia, has lived in Jakarta, how could not be able to meet his family.
Should he go to Blume Musical School? meeting with your teachers and friends? can they help him find the whereabouts of mama and Citra? how did they react to meet him? maybe they were afraid to even run away because they thought they had seen a ghost.
No. gabe. Can't do. He had to meet his family first before other people he knew met him. Kirana whispers in my heart. The taxi stopped right in front of Restaurant Familial.
***
Bu Sita and Citra have arrived in front of the cemetery in central Jakarta. He carried a basket of flowers and rose water in a glass bottle.
“Some of you just got here huh, Ma?” Image wonder because the tomb papa and eyenya there is a flower that is still fresh. Bu Sita said.
“Who did you come here?” tanya Citra squatted with mom.
“Maybe aunt or friend papa,” replied bu Sita watering her husband's shady soil with rose water.
She wiped the headstone of her husband. After a few months he and Citra did not visit the tomb. It feels like for centuries he has not sent do’a in front of the headstone of his beloved husband and in-laws. Only four years after their death, Sita felt that it had been thousands of years.
“Mama has promised it will not cry in front of papa's tomb,” reprimand Citra.
Bu Sita nodded, he rubbed the ends of the eyes that began to get wet. They added fresh flowers on top of the tomb and did’a.
That afternoon after the photo shoot in Jakarta, Citra accompanied by the mother stopped by the tomb of papa and his eyes. Actually they really want to stay longer in Jakarta for a few days for example, but the shooting schedule in Bandung is waiting for Citra.
“Could not yes ma we look aunt at the house of Mr Anwar his new employer? We lost contact with aunt. Image also misses once with bibik.”
“Yes we try later after eating yes. Aunt must be so happy. Good thing she works in the same housing as us.”
They went to the hotel and packed up and went to dinner. That night the drizzle soaked the glitter of the capital's night. The lights keep flickering flirtatious greet the evening, making the star jealous until it looks faded in the sky of Jakarta.
Although floods still often hit Jakarta and surrounding areas, do not make the mobility of local people to stay silent even passive. Image's phone rang as the taxi was driving through the night rain. Call from his manager.
“What's mbak? tomorrow morning? yes-yes I go home soon with mom,” he said before breaking up the conversation.
“What's up?”
“Ya we have immediately to the terminal yes, Mr.” said bu Sita to the taxi driver.
“Yah.we did not meet bibik.”
“So pa-pa, next time you can come here again. Your work is more important.”
***
Today is the third Saturday for Kirana, a private piano teacher for the restaurant owner's son, with six face-to-face. Unwittingly Kirana becomes close to Anna's mother. Niko loved Kirana.
“Kakak came to dinner here only,” rayu Niko. Kirana just smiled.
“Colah. Can you have an eye, beautiful sister dinner with us?” Niko half yelled from the living room towards her eyes and her maid who was arranging the dishes.
“Iya. Why don't you have dinner here with us? Coincidentally today we cooked a lot to welcome the old Niko omnya not met,” said Neny to the living room. Kirana felt bad to refuse, but she herself felt hesitant to eat dinner together.
“Already, accompany us to dinner. So that Niko does not constantly whine.” Bu Sita came to give Kirana a drink.
“Colah sister. After dinner we learn the piano again,” Niko starts whining. He grabbed Kirana's arm. Kiranapun resigned to accept the family dinner offer.
While waiting for all the food to be ready, Kirana teaches some songs to Niko. Bu Sita and Neny seem to start preparing food from the kitchen to the dining room.
“Sister help mama and eyang for a while ya.” Kirana wrote on her notes. Niko nodded.
“There can I help?” bargained for.
“Ah, everything is done. You don't have to bother,” replied ma'am Anna put down a big bowl of soup.
“Neny forgot to make tomato sauce.”
“Let me make.”
“Ka..you can?” Neny hesitated. Kirana nodded excitedly.
He went to the kitchen and searched for cobek, fresh tomatoes, chillies and salt.
As Kirana was poking at the chili, she was suddenly startled by a large, warm embrace from behind and made her heart stop beating in a flash of shock.
“My dear sister. Do you remember my favorite sambal?”seductive voice of the man who was hugging Kirana.
Kirana wanted to move and turn around, but the man hugged her even tighter. Kirana's heart was racing with no direction, a voice she had ever known. A warm and comfortable hold but made him uneasy.
“Om Haikal!!” niko yelled half angry and half happy to see his presence.
“Why hug big sister Kirana?” Niko was already tracing her waist while glaring sharply.
Haikal was confused by his nephew's remarks. Behind Niko, Neny came hurriedly following. Haikalpun in surprise immediately let go of his embrace. Kirana also looked down. They both misbehaved. Kirana and Haikal's faces were red with embarrassment.
“Ah... You wrong person huh?” Neny half laughed amusedly. Haikal raised his chin, and acted normally. He immediately went out of the kitchen without apologizing or seeing the face of the person who had been wrongly hugged.
“Sorry yes. That's Niko's omnya. I really like it with me and Niko. But the guy is good.”
Kirana nodded. No problem with the incident. Although his heart was still pounding and the smile veins on his face were still tense.
***
“Om. How not to carry Niko anyway ?” Niko ran after Haikal who entered the room.
“Oh, there's a little hotshot. Here and there. Wow, you are already big, om not strong hold you.” Haikal picked up Niko and tickled her.
“Mana by-his?” Niko reached out after successfully escaping the clutches of Haikal's tickle.
“By what?”
“Kan om out of town.”
“Basic. Every om goes always ask for souvenirs.” Haikal rubbed Niko's head until her hair fell apart.
“Ah, basic om stingy.” Niko pouted as she folded her hands.
“Eh, who was a stranger?” haikal asked, beginning to think back.
“Oh, that's Niko's piano private teacher. Beautiful huh?” niko's hand creases begin to come off and she proudly tells Kirana.
“Since when does a whiz love to play music? can you play the piano?” goda Haikal's.
“Can donk. Kan Niko has learned many times.”
“Ayo..dinner is ready.” Ms. Anna went into the room interrupting the cool chatter between the men.
***
Haikal shouldered his beloved thin niece. Neny, Anna and Kirana have sat down first. Haikal was sitting right in front of Kirana.
“Oh yes before we start dinner, mommy introduce this Kirana piano teacher Niko. Well Kirana this is my son Haikal.” Anna officially introduced.
Haikal stared at Kirana's face for a long time, and Kirana timidly looked at him. They both squinted and pointed at each other.
“Lho.. You're the one at Balmain Point? the girl..” Haikal did not believe his vision.
Kirana confirmed her preconceived feelings. He gave Haikal an answer.
“Oh so you are Indonesian? I thought it was Malaysia.”
“You already know each other?” ask Anna's mom for wonder. Haikal and Kirana Kompak want to explain so that Anna, Neny and Niko are confused.
“Well, let me tell you. We met by accident while watching the fireworks of the new year in Sydney.”
“And he helped me back then from the drunks.” Kirana went on to write on the tearing of notes quickly.
“Oh. What a coincidence, huh? Well, glad you guys know.” Neny was happy.
“When do we eat it if we still chat continue?” Niko started sulking. The adults looked over and laughed at it. They started a warm dinner.
***
“Thank you for dinner.” Kirana greets Anna, Neny and Niko deliver at the door.
“Iya. Equally.” Anna's mom stroked his shoulder.
“What are you going home?” Neny was dizzy looking at the taxi that had yet to come and the drizzle that had suddenly descended slowly.
“Taxi is still on the way, may be stuck. I'll wait, I don't have to worry,” replied Kirana.
“But pity you have to go to the restaurant immediately. Emm...gini how about Haikal interracial?” tawar Neny coincides with the Haikal that just came. Kirana shook her head in a subtle refusal.
“What's up, Brother?”
“You want to get out, right? Can you please take Kirana to the restaurant? he has to work, pity if late.”
“ Yes it's mama's restaurant, later let mama who calls allow Kirana to come late,” said Anna, immediately Neny elbow her mama.
“I ride ojek online aja.” Kirana's starting to feel bad. He doesn't want to trouble others much.
“ Uh, no. Later you will be rained trus sick. Yes, Haikal please take Kirana with you?” Neny seduced in a pushy tone.
“ Yes..iya..let's go in,” said Haikal a little annoyed by the noisy voice of his brother.
“ Om, take care of your beautiful sister yes!” niko shouted as they got into the car.
“But the taxi..,”
“’Let me pay later,” Neny said.
***
