Lara's Frame

Mushroom Meaning

The break bell sounded loud. Pak Beni's lesson time has been used up

only to check the duties of grade IX-10.

"Cha, Bella why don't you ever be with you again? I think he always

avoid me. Do you know anything?" I said when Mr. Beni was

we left our class and were accompanied by some students who wanted to

out class.

Nacha shook his head, "Thank you, Kay. I'm confused too."

"I feel like he's avoiding me, Cha."

"Maybe, that's how you feel."

Just talked about, Bella was already standing in the doorway of my class. Seems

he's looking for someone.

I walked over to Bella who was still standing in front of my class. "Want

who, Bel?"

Bella didn't respond to me. Instead he gawked away from before me. Bella

nacha who was still sitting on his stool. Looks like they're talking

something important.

Shortly after, Bella left my class. Through me who is still standing

in front of the class. I'm sure Bella really is

evaded me. I was also curious about what Bella was talking about to Nacha

earlier.

"Cha, what did Bella say?" ask Nacha who is

put a headseat to his ear.

Silent. Nacha didn't respond to my words. Maybe Nacha's pretending not to

listening to my words or indeed the song he plays has reached the volume

maximal.

"Nacha," call me one more time, make sure. But Nacha is not

answered me too.

Due to his regret, I removed the headseat of Nacha from his right ear. Automatically, Nacha saw me.

"What did you say to Bella?" ask me with tone

probing.

"So Bella just said, she can't be together for a few days. He said, he

have other business. But I don't know what it is,” explained Nacha then he put up

back to the headseat that I had

take it off his right ear.

--o0o---

I waited ten minutes to be picked up. The school is also pretty quiet.

Most are still in school, children who follow extracurriculars.

Suddenly the phone in my school skirt pocket rang. 'I got a cell phone

that and read the name of the caller on the screen. Mamma. Take the call

that's.

"Yes, hello, Ma."

"Darling, you got back in a taxi, yeah. Mama can't pick me up. Mama

stuck in Binjai. It's so bad it's stuck." Mama langung snatched

from behind the phone.

"Papa can't pick up Kayla, Ma?"

"Papa went to Jakarta again. You took a taxi. Costs pake

your pocket money used to be left out. Mama will change."

"Yes, Ma" I replied in a sad tone.

"You're still sitting around, aren't you, sweetie?"

"Still, Ma."

"Yes my mom hung up, yeah."

Before long, the virtual conversation was severed unilaterally.

I walked to the front of the gate of Sinar Bangsa with mixed feelings

stirring. The feeling of annoyance because it has been waiting for a long time and the feeling of sadness because it is not

so picked.

Arriving in front of the gate of Sinar Bangsa, I wait for a taxi that will pass.

Teett....

The white Honda jess car that was familiar to me, stopped

in front of me suddenly. Someone opened the car's door. Yeah, he's

Defadan.

"Ga go home?" Defa pulled his head out a little from the door

the glass is wide open.

"Again waiting for a taxi, Def."

"Who's getting picked up, Kay?"

"Engga. Mama's stuck in Binjai."

"Go home with me," Defa bargained.

My eyes bulged and both of my eyebrows shot up so there was a slight frown on

my forehead. "You want my anter home?"

Defa nodded, then he got out of the car and opened the door

behind the car for me. "Come in, Kay," he said later.

I took a step, entered the Defa car followed by Defa who moved

sit. Yes, before Defa sat on the left side of the driver. But now he has

When it was sitting comfortably, the Defa car drove. But the atmosphere inside

silent car. No voice of conversation. All that was heard was the sound of the machine,

the noise on the road and the sound of music that was installed Defa.

All of a sudden, my stomach worms reminded me to give them

the meal. My stomach is sounding very strongly. From then on, I didn't eat, though,

because my appetite disappeared.

Defa held back his laughter, "lo hungry?"

I nodded and inwardly swore, "this fuck is the stomach. Again and again

be ashamed in front of Defa."

"We eat first, yes," he asked. "Sir, we're going to a little restaurant

it's near here first, yes" he told the driver.

The driver glanced at the front rearview mirror, and then answered Defa's orders with

one nod.

--o0o---

Defa and I took the corner seat, by the window and the piano

small in a restaurant that can be categorized, fancy restaurant. The waiter came

greet us, with a paper containing a food menu. We're picky

the food. Five minutes later, the food menu was already ours

specify. I ordered rice with sauteed mushroom ears. Defa ordered the menu

same with me, because I suggest a menu that I think is very good, though

I forced him a little.

Ten minutes later, the menu we ordered was delivered and

placed on our table. After that, the waiter left us with

carrying trays.

"Kay, can mushrooms be eaten? It's not dangerous, is it? Loamy

the color is dull." Defa has not dared to touch the food. She still is

hesitated to eat it, because of what she said; the mushroom

dangerous.

"That's a danger, Def." I tried to convince Defa. "Fungal

the ears are not poisonous, 'kok."

"really this?"

Defa was once again unsure of my words. What can I do, just one

the way I convinced him; eating that mushroom stir-fry. I immediately ate food

the one I ordered with great pleasure. But still my way didn't work, because

from earlier Defa just looked at me while laughing, because he saw the action

eat me - hungry people.

My food is gone, and the plate can be said to be clean, without any rest

slightest food.

"When are you eating that food?" I clean up

my mouth with the tissue from earlier was on the table.

"Li'd like to eat, I'm full, Kay, '" he said.

I know, the seduction was just to avoid sauteing that mushroom for

eaten it.

"What's so full?" I play both my eyebrows, up and

down's up.

"Yes. Really."

"Def, this is ear fungus, not russula ematica mushroom. Russula's mushroom

ematica is beautiful outside and the color is really beautiful, but it is not edible

because it's poisonous" I explained to Defa.

"Beautiful but poisonous?"

"Yes. From fungi we can learn, not to judge something from

just outside. The mushrooms you said were dull in color, it turned out to be good for

healthiness. And a mushroom that's beautiful in color, toxic in nature" I chanted.

I repeated my words again.

"Ooh...." Defa just said it like that, then he started

eat the food, though still with a somewhat forced feeling.

"Kay.. I swear, it's really delicious," he said as he swallowed.

his food.

"Really said I? Mushroom ear is delicious. Hence, stir-fry the ear mushrooms

come in as one of my favorite foods." I said like a person

the one who just won beat something. Yes, I won, defeated

ego Defa from earlier did not want to eat my favorite food.

"Crazy.. so good." Defa said while eating the food

devouringly.

I tried to hold back the amused laughter because Defa was like a village.

"Thank you, Kay" Defa said as she finished

his food. He smiled looking at my bead.

I frowned, a sign of not understanding with Defa suddenly

thanked. "Thank you for what, Def?"

Defa smiled faintly then said, "for that feeling

you have succeeded in sowing in my heart.”