Kei And Layla

Chapter 38: The Silence.

A week has passed since Dinda's death. The atmosphere of Yuda's house became unsettled. Every day Judah lamented Dinda's death and did not stop casting blame on Kei and Layla. Every day Judah came home drunk.

Kei himself went awry. He could not have left Judah to return to his home while Judah was unstable. Every day Kei had to listen to the oath of Yuda. It was not just once that Yuda hit Kei while heavily drunk. Kei himself became guilty of Dinda's death. Even if it wasn't his fault.

Every night in Kei's silence try to be more meaningful than every journey he has traveled. All the events that have happened to him. Questions arise in him. 'What am I looking for? what did you find?'

The sound of chickens crowing in the distance sign of the morning. Kei woke up and opened his eyes slowly. He turned to his side hoping that Dinda would still be there and always greeted him every time Kei woke up. Maybe it will be another situation Kei thought.

"Geeh!"

Kei rubbed his face slowly then he got off the bed straight into the bathroom.

Thirty minutes passed, Kei had finished with himself. He immediately rushed outside the room. Today he plans to go to Layla's house for advice. Kei prefers Layla for discussion over her own parents. Since his parents' decision to force Kei to marry Dinda because of the treasure. Kei lost his trust in his own parents. But that does not mean Kei does not love and respect his parents.

"Where are you going? ask Yuda.

Kei turned his head to look at Yuda who was sitting on the chair in a state of heavy drunkenness. In her hand Yuda held a bottle of Vodka. Kei turned to look at the table lined with bottles of used drinks Yuda last night.

" I have business getting out." Kei looked at Yuda sadly.

Yuda chuckled, he got up from his seat and staggered closer to Kei.

"Meet Layla, don't you think?" yuda said with a scornful look.

Kei lowered his head for a moment. "Yes" Kei replied firmly.

"Prankkk!!

Yuda threw the bottle of drink on the floor until the bottle fell apart. "I thought you were my son's killer." Yuda looked at Kei with hatred.

"Pa, Papa don't misunderstand me first."

"Enough!" exclamation Yuda.

Yuda staggered back to the chair and sat on his back.

"You killed Dinda, Kei." she said softly, Yuda was crying like a child.

Kei sighed deeply, he walked up to Yuda and tried to lift him up to take him to the room. Slowly Kei grabbed Judah's body into Judah's private room and laid him on the bed.

Yuda continued to rumble, said the curse he continued to let out while crying, sometimes in a laugh. Kei silently stood staring at Yuda. Finally, Judah fell asleep with a puddle of tears still wetting Judah's cheeks which began to look wrinkles around the eyes.

Kei picked up a tissue on the table not far from the bed, then wiped away Judah's tears and covered Judah's body. After that Kei came back out, before he told his housekeeper to look after Yuda while he was away.

***

Fifteen minutes passed, finally Kei had reached Layla's courtyard. He glanced at his watch which showed at 9:30. Kei got out of the car and walked towards Layla's door. But before Kei knocked on the door, Mbok Darmi, coming from behind, told Kei that Layla was in the garden painting.

Kei immediately turned towards the garden where Layla painted. Arriving at the park, Kei sees Layla wearing a black sweater in contrast to her white skin color. Kei walked over to Layla.

"Layla" said Kei from behind.

Layla looked back at Kei who was already standing behind her.

"Key?" ask Layla. "When did you come?"

Kei bowed for a moment then he walked closer to Layla and sat down beside her.

"Just now" Kei replied

"Sorry, I didn't come to Dinda's funeral." Layla looked at Kei for a moment, then she lowered her head.

"It's okay Layla." Kei touched Layla's shoulder for a moment.

"Layla,"-Kei turned her head to look at Layla-" I was confused at this moment."

"Why?" ask Layla.

Kei began to recount all the situations in Yuda's house and the feelings he currently had in the situation went awry, from the moment of Dinda's death. Kei told her all of Yuda's anger.

"That's what's happening now Layla" Kei said at the end of the story.

Layla took a deep breath, she perfectly understood Kei's current position. And Layla can also understand the current situation of Yuda. But Layla was unable to give Kei the advice he asked for. Layla can only strengthen Kei's heart.

"Kei" Layla said. "Just do what your heart says, don't listen to what anyone else says." Layla grabbed Kei's hand and rubbed it slowly.

"But Layla-?"

"Kei, you live life not what others say, but you live what your heart says." Layla makes her statement clear again.

Kei silently lowered his head, staring at Layla's hand which rubbed her hand slowly. Either he should be happy now, or vice versa?"

"Why are you quiet?" ask Layla.

"I don't know why Papa hates me so much." Kei looked at Layla's face.

"You can't force others to like you, and you can't prevent others from hating you either." Layla pulls her hand from Kei's.

Layla stood up and walked towards the table not far from where she was sitting. He took mineral water to Kei, then gave it to Kei.

"Don't think too much, just do what you think is right, even if it's wrong according to others."

Kei took a bottle of mineral water from Layla's hand, looking up at Layla's face.

"Good" said Kei.

Layla smiled, then she sat down next to him again and said, "love is consistent, while compassion is giving without return." Layla looked at Kei.

Kei smiled, he nodded his head for a moment, then he opened the bottle of mineral water and downed it.

"So, do it all with love and affection. Take care of Om Yuda like your own father" Layla said gently and firmly.

"Thank you, Layla."

Layla nodded her head, then resumed painting. Kei tells Layla to return home.

"Be careful on the road" Layla added, smilingly staring at Kei.

Kei nodded his head, then he stood up and stepped his feet towards Layla's courtyard. Arriving at Layla's courtyard, Kei sees Raiden just exiting the car door and gazes at Kei.

"Key?" greet Raiden, his brows furrowed staring at Kei.

"Hi, how are you?" Kei greeted Raiden.

"Okay, I'm so sorry." said Raiden.

Kei nodded his head looking at Raiden.

"Then I go home first."

"Oh, please." Raiden lowered his head for a moment. Then he invited Kei to come home.

Raiden sighed in his eyes at Kei's car which left Layla's courtyard. He stood up and stayed long enough. There's something Raiden's worried about right now. Raiden is terrified that Layla will return to Kei after Dinda's death. Raiden is also very afraid that Layla will leave him. Raiden's not ready for that.