Ms. Dorky
Baras Stress
Marinah's words were not just a joke. Not long after Marina returned to Singapore the Laras family suddenly talked about marriage. At first it was just a guyonan, but gradually more serious, especially when Laras received a call from Susanto, his father.
[Father thought getting married to Angga was not a bad choice. You can still channel your intelligence to teach your children later and become a good housewife] Susanto said from the other end of the phone.
“Means you want Laras not to work? Baras kan want to work office like someone else”
[For what? In the end, you will come out to take care of your son]
“Laras does not want sir, Laras still has dream”
[Your dream can be supported by your husband and Angga is the best choice for you.]
Ah if you know what Angga has done, do you still dare to say Angga is the best? He's a jerk, sir! inner Laras shouted
[Learn, I'm not letting you. But you have to beat up dad. The filial son who wants to hear the words of his parents. My son's life will be happy.]
And Laras can only frown in annoyance. The wedding plan became more serious when Laras and Angga were asked to go to the village to ask for grandmother's blessing.
“Laras does not want Mom. Laras does not want to marry young, Laras wants to work,” Laras protests to his mother
[Laras mother understands you. But try this time you obey your father, after all just ask for blessing Mbah. After that you can go to college or work, I support you if Laras wants to work, but the important thing is to take care of the marriage plan first. I'm sure Mas Angga will also not forbid Laras to work] reply Ratih calm.
And the barrel is getting stressed!
...*****...
Hearing the ringing of the phone is now a gripping scourge for Laras. Every time there is a message notification, an incoming call, or even just the sound of an alarm makes the Baras really scared. He so often turned off his phone and was wary if there are family members who desperate to come to campus.
“Ra, so sorry lu” said Manda pity to see the sluggish look Laras. In a few days the chick looks like an undead with no purpose in life.
“Lu if I can adopt it as a child, I adopted it and Ra” added Amel patted Laras shoulder.
A small smiling barrel leaned on Manda's shoulder. Inner fatigue since yesterday made his life spirit slumped far. Laras so lazy to eat, lazy college, lazy bath, and worse if Laras can stop breathing he might do. Living with problems is not good, let alone the problems come from others.
“Continue this you want how Ra?”
“You avoid talking to father mom”
“Until when?”
Silent barrel. Right, how long will he keep dodging? Laras wants all his problems to be solved, he wants his family to know his relationship with Angga is over, Laras wants to decide for himself what his future will be like, Laras wants to have a choice in life. But, Laras did not dare to take the risk. Laras wanted freedom, but on the other hand he was afraid of failure. Laras had heard that the family is the best place to lean from all life problems, but what if his family is also the source of his life problems? When Laras is fragile, sad, and weak where will he lean?
A family that is complete and looks harmonious does not mean it cannot provide problems. Children are not the center of parental expectations, all are born and live in their own destiny.
The barrel just wants to be supported. After all, he never fought back, so why when he expressed his desire to be called a dissident?
Not all expectations of children in parents can be achieved and vice versa. So why bother to build expectations on others? Why do people not live quietly? Not necessarily living tomorrow.
“Ra!”
Barrel jerks, Manda's claps disperse her reverie.
“Yuk class. Five minutes to start”
“Hose back ya” peech Laras weak then follow his two best friends step away.
...*****...
“Ra, is your phone inactive? Mom nyariin you, I had to lie to say you're an extra class” said Angga when Laras just finished the evening class.
“Mother said what?”
“Worried, kirain you lost.”
Laras nodded weakly. “Makasi already told you” said Laras stepped away. Angga ran after the girl's steps, he knew that lately Laras looks grim because of their sudden marriage problems to be accelerated. Angga is confused as to what to behave, refusing the marriage is the same as taking Laras away from him and Angga has no other way out to return with Laras.
“Your mother asked us as soon as possible to Surabaya” said Angga made a step Laras stopped.
“Two days left. You I picked up.”
Laras nodded then without saying anything he stepped away leaving Angga astonished by his attitude.
...*****...
Dano put a stick on the drum when she heard the incoming call from Laras. Tumben, because usually the girl will only send messages and rarely want to call.
“Bentar chick I nelpon” kekeh Dano. “Where to love?”
[Where are you?]
“Sekre, have you finished class? here”
[Okay]
Dano continued his practice, about two songs later his eyes caught the figure of Laras sitting on a park bench near the srikandi sect. “Gue first yes, want to be friendly” kekeh Dano hastily run away.
“Woi next song how?” yelled Abel keki.
“Udah lu nabuh gendang aja” replied Dano cuek then stepped away regardless of Abel's cry.
“Why is your face?” Dano's forehead wrinkled to see the face Laras, the girl's eyes reddened and look like she just finished crying.
“What are you doing?” tanya Laras did not answer Dano's question.
“Nothing” geleng Dano hastily. There was actually a task to do a paper with Heru, but the appearance of Laras made Dano choose to charge the task to Heru. Any time Heru fights with his ex first, Dano will volunteer to do all their group chores.
“I want to play with cabbage can? Kangen”
“My name is not?”
“Kan I meet you almost every day” smile Laras. Dano nodded embracing Laras away.
Throughout the day Laras with Cabbage, he laughed but did not escape as usual. Laras more often daydreamed to see Cabbage running to and fro. The girl was like immersed in her own world with a grim face holding back the sad.
“You why Ra?” tanya Dano lay in the courtyard right near Laras.
“I was asked to marry” said Weak barrel. Her tears told her all the problems. Dano got up and sat watching Laras closely, now he understood the reason behind the grim face of Laras. In his heart Dano cursed Angga who until the end still chose to behave like a bastard.
“Let's tomorrow” said Laras slowly getting down. Dano patted Laras' back slowly, the girl was showing the most fragile side of her. Dano hugged Laras tightly, she wanted to protect the girl in any way. Laras is injured and Dano doesn't want to keep quiet.
“You don't want to go to Surabaya, I'm here waiting for you. Tomorrow, whatever your decision, I accept” whispered Dano slowly.
...*****...
At one o'clock Laras pulled his suitcase out of the room. Thirty minutes more Angga's car will be there to pick him up. Barrel stared at the clockwise seconds that were constantly moving, he sat on the sofa with teary eyes, should Laras give up her dream of becoming a career woman and give up her youth by living with a man she does not love?
The mind Laras became confused, his heartbeat beat unbecoming because of emotions that could not be channeled properly.
“Ra why? Pain?” tegur Sri is worried about seeing drastic changes Laras since the wedding plan was discussed.
“I want to buy bentar” medicine said Laras stepped away. His feet stepped steadily past the pharmacy at the end of the alley, somewhere, but the tightness in his chest made Laras want to run away, going to a place where no one knew him.
Baras's hand stopped the taxi in front of the house complex, and he decided to go to the big whitewashed house, where Dano was waiting for him. Just as Laras ran inside, his eyes saw Dano was feeding Cabbage in the side yard.
“Ra” called Dano rather surprised, he thought Laras had already left for Surabaya because there was no sign of the girl coming. The presence of Laras in front of him involuntarily made Dano breathe a sigh of relief.
Laras stepped closer, his tears falling staring fixedly at Dano. The sound of Laras sounded hoarse and slow. “Dano. I don't want to do anything, I feel sleepy, I feel tired, and sick here.” Baras' hand pointed towards the outside of his heart.
“I feel like some part of me is broken and something makes me feel tight. Sometimes it feels too bad to get up and breathe every day. I feel frustrated and that makes me sad. How should I go?”
The crying of Laras broke out, much more heartbreaking than yesterday. Dano pulled Laras into her arms, letting the girl cry all over there. The barrel is really fragile, he feels sick and sad.
“Now I will protect you in my own way” whispered Dano hugging Laras tightly.
