Love for Faith
Mom's Secret
Iman and Ikhsan compactly glanced at the wall clock. The time has already shown at 07:00 p.m. However, there was no sign of the Mother coming out of her room. No matter how many times, they looked at the tightly closed door, but, still, there was no movement or sound that indicated the door was open. In fact, even the wind that blows hard, unable to make the gap from the locked door is very tight. Anxiety was clearly drawn on Ikhsan and Iman's face. Both can only be pensive at the dining table, staring at the fried rice they have made for their dinner with the Mother.
“Where, Brother? Mother, why not come out?”
“Iya, Man. I'm so worried, because Mommy hasn't eaten yet, ‘kan?”
“New mom eats once aja, it was early in the morning, just want to go to a meeting.”
“Yuk, take Mother to eat, Man.”
Faith nodded. Then, the two decided to knock on the door of Mother's room and invite their beloved woman to eat.
“Bund, eat yuk, Ikhsan same Iman make a special nasgor for Mother,” invite Ikhsan while knocking on the door.
“Iya, Bund, eat, yuk. Do not need to diet as well, your body weight is ideal, kok.” The priest tried to make a joke, hoping that the Mother would come out soon. However, still from within did not hear any sound or movement.
“Bund, eat yes, later Mommy is sick if you do not want to eat. Mother, ‘kan have maag. Open dong, Bund,” pinta Ikhsan with a face pengelasan.
“Iya, Bund, eat yes. Ramadan is also still a few months away, really, Bund, do not fast!” exclaiming Faith while looking softly at the brother. Ikhsan's face was no less sad with his sister.
After the fifth knock, Mother opened the door. Mother's condition is quite worrying. The style he had been wearing to school had not been replaced and looked tangled, while the hijab was no less messy, the position was tilted. Both eyes are puffy, nose and cheeks flushed.
“Yes God, Mother, do not constantly dissolve in sadness, later Mother is sick.”
Ikhsan looked at the Mother with a worried look.
“Sya, Bund. If there is something stuck, Mother can tell Kak Ikhsan the same Faith. Relax, Bund, will not spread to neighbors, let alone to lambe turah.”
Ikhsan glared at Iman. It could be that the sister is funny when their Mother is looking very sad like this. The faith is crybaby, even though he is only trying to comfort the Mother. Ikhsan and Iman led the Mother to the dining table. After Mother sat on the chair, Iman thrusting warm white water, the middle-aged woman took a sip, then placed the glass filled with water on the table. While Ikhsan scoops the fried rice he had made with the help of Iman on the plate, then gives it to Mommy.
“Bund, eat, yes,” pinta Ikhsan answered with a weak ring from the Mother.
“Bund, a little. The important thing is that your stomach is not empty. Want Faith bribe?”
Miss Lastri tried to smile. The woman was fervent with the attention shown by her two sons. Bu Lastri obeyed the orders of his two proud children, although actually reluctant. Untastefully, the middle-aged woman began to chew her food slowly. After nearly five spoons of fried rice entered his mouth, Miss Lastri stopped eating it. There was still a lot of rice left in his dinner plate.
“Gimana chef, fried rice collaboration ala Ikhsan and me, delicious, no? We will enter the pressure test or advance to the next round?” canda Iman is exactly like the participants who are being sampled by the jury at Master Chef Indonesia. The joke of Faith managed to make Mother smile small.
After sipping her drink, Mother looked at Ikhsan and Iman alternately. With a raucous voice, the woman began to speak. Many times Miss Lastri sighed.
“Ikhsan, Faith, actually Mother has a story of the past with Yudha.”
“Yudha, who is Bund?” Ikhsan and Iman asked almost simultaneously.
“Baratha Yudha, your principal. Mother called her name that way. In the past, Mommy and her were in High School. Our relationship is quite close, only limited as friends only.” Mother stopped for a moment to speak, then sipped water that stayed half in the glass. Then, the woman continued her story. Ikhsan and Iman looked seriously listening to the story of the Mother.
***
“Lastri, may I not know you any closer?” yudha asked in the middle of the school cafeteria.
“Lho, not from the first also we are close, Yudha?” Lastri asked back while observing the man who had long been close friends with him.
“No, I want us to be more than friends, like Galih and Ratna, for example.”
“You mean, we're dating, so?”
“I don't want to, Yudha. But, my mother's father forbade me to date. They want me to focus on school.” Lastri looked down at the cafeteria floor. He was worried that Yudha would be disappointed and would no longer be friends with him.
“Las, you don't think too plain, deh. We, ‘kan can backstreet. A lot of people in this school are doing that and they are fine. Relax, just go first.” Yudha clasped Lastri's fingers trying to convince the woman she liked.
“Iya, deh, try it first.”
From then on, Yudha and Lastri's relationship changed from being friends to being lovers. They live day by day happily. Where there is Yudha, there must be Lastri, as if nothing can separate.
However, as clever as hiding the carcass, the smell remains smelled as well. The backstreet relationship that Lastri and Yudha lived, finally sniffed also by Pastri's parents. Moreover, Pastri's father who initially felt suspicious, because lately Lastri often returned home late afternoon from school. Neighborly rumors about Pastri who likes to be escorted home by men his age on a motorcycle, to the ears of Pak Hamid and Bu Siti, Father and Mother Lastri.
“Las, I know you're close to a young man. I do not forbid, as long as you do not let kebablasan.”
“If you can, take her home. I also want to know, Las,” said Bu Siti to her daughter who was still looking down on the floor of the house.
“That's fine, your mother's advice, Las. a good man is the one who dares to come to the house of the woman he is dating and meet well with the parents of the boyfriend, who is, not the one who secretly invites to meet outside.”
Lastri mangosteen heard the advice of his father. He was determined that tomorrow he would tell this to Yudha. The girl was sure, Yudha who looked so in love with him, would not mind fulfilling the request of both parents of Lastri.
“Yudha, later stop by the house huh. My father and mother wanted to get acquainted" Lastri said as they sat in the back garden of the school.
“Duh, how, yes, Las. Not not want to. Relax, it is. We, ‘kan have only been dating for a few months. Don't be so serious. My parents asked me after graduation, focus on college first.”
“So, you, don't want to meet my parents?” asked Pastri in a disappointed tone.
“Not want, Las, but, not now. Later when I'm ready. I promise, Las, after graduating from college, I will apply directly to you.” Yudha clasped her lover's fingers tightly, trying to convince the sobbing girl. “Las, I'm serious about you. For now, just live like this.”
“Stay backstreet, mean?”
Yudha nodded, making Lastri remove her fingers from Yudha's grasp. Lastri's cries began to break. The advice of his father kept ringing in his mind. He was very disappointed with Yudha's rejection.
“Yes, already, then we break up!” Lastri runs away from Yudha who is also stricken with feelings of disappointment because of a unilateral decision from Lastri to end their relationship.
Though what is wrong backstreet first, after all later also after being ready, he will meet the parents of the boyfriend and keep the promise to propose to his lover. He just needs time to prove it all. However, Yudha who felt hurt and inexhaustible with the decision taken by Lastri, did not try to pursue and explain to Lastri.
Graduated from High School, Mr. Hamid betrothed Lastri to the son of his best friend, Muhammad Fatih Wicaksana, who was none other than the late father of Ikhsan and Iman. Since being met for the first time, I don't know why Lastri's heart immediately shuddered and said that Fatih was the right man for him.
It is evident that, after they were married, living a married life, Mr. Fatih was a good husband, who was able to lead his wife and children to be closer to Islam. A real example of the upbringing of her late husband, Ikhsan who was so obedient to worship. Miss Lastri hopes that Iman will soon follow in her brother's footsteps. Miss Lastri herself, she recently moved her heart to wear the hijab and began to often follow studies. Though long ago, her late husband told her to close the aurat. Ms. Lastri was very sorry why only now did she follow the advice of her husband who had gone forever before her.
“So, so the story.” Miss Lastri ended the story. The woman gently stroked the cheeks of Ikhsan and Iman alternately, two beloved children whom God entrusted through Pak Fatih and himself. Ikhsan and Iman, the most beautiful gifts present in the life of Bu Lastri and her late husband. Not felt, the clear circle plunged freely into the woman's cheek.
“Pantesan, heard the story of Faith this afternoon, Mr. Baratha just as much hate us, Bund. Maybe he hurt, Mother married someone else?” asked Ikhsan while holding the fingers of the Mother, trying to make it firm.
“Yes obviously nyesek, Brother. Same date with us, uh marriage with someone else. Mr. Baratha is like guarding the soul mate of our late father.”
“Hush, Faith!” Ikhsan was shaking the head of Faith, he was worried that his mother would be sad again to hear the words of Faith. However, when glancing at the Mother, Ikhsan could breathe a sigh of relief, because the Mother was able to laugh freely.
“Makanya, Man, reconsider your intention to date. A lot of good or bad? At an age like you, also Love, how much better to carve achievements first. Let it be later, it can be a proud story to be told to your child later,” said Mother at length, then moved from her seat to the room.
“Don't be dumb, it's time for elo hijrah, Man. It is difficult, to reach the direction of God. I support Mother's advice. Meningan elo enter DRI or HI, let's not upset.” Before entering his room, Ikhsan patted slowly on his sister's back, making Iman flinch from her daydream.
The beautiful face of Love complete with a sweet smile, flashed in the eyes of Faith. The guy's getting upset and worried. Faith rubbed her face. He must take the most appropriate decision, so as not to hurt Love.
Love, what are you doing there? Are you sad? Don't cry, Love, I suffer the most if I see you grieve.
