Naughty Child

Homesickness

ISKHA NARRATION

It has been three years since Mas Faiz went abroad. His father met me several times. I told him that Faiz was now in Havard for his own efforts and hard work. He's very proud. Frankly my relationship with his father is very close now. He already thinks of me as his own son. My father also began to have a good relationship with Mr. Hendrajaya. Sometimes Mr. Hendrajaya came just to stop by for a drink. He also offered to pay for my college, but I refused. Even the 700 million money given by Princess I gave back to her. But he said it was for me. 

Because I also refused, he finally gave the money to people in need. He also offered to be my foster parent. Even because it was so good, he suddenly gave me the freedom of tuition. I have desperately refused. I can only accept. 

Here I got closer to the Hendrajaya family. I also go to their house sometimes. Because it was asked by Mr. Hendrajaya to come. Sometimes invited to dinner. My family was invited to dinner. 

"Oh this is Iskha??" greet Bu Hendrajaya, her husband Pak Hendrajaya. "Look in son!"

I was wearing the best dress that day in my opinion, a long dark dress. I don't really like to wear dresses. I tend to tomboy. I think those trousers I like better than a skirt or a dress. My father and mother greeted Ms. Hendrajaya and her husband. I saw Faiz's sisters there. There's Icha and Rendi. At the dinner table, we were waiting for two people. There's Pandu and Miss Vira there. 

"Please, please sit down!" mr Hendrajaya's Order. 

We also sat down immediately. We also talked about a lot of things. Mr. Hendrajaya is friendly. My mom and dad were happy to talk to her. Mas Pandu and Mbak Vira just keep quiet. The suave event took place a bit stiff actually, but Mr. Hendrajaya always fishing to talk so that the situation was a little sluggish. There is something strange actually, I did not see Sister Princess. Where is he now? Does he not live in this house anymore?

"How was your lecture Iskha?" ask Mr. Hendrajaya.

"Alright sir, it has started the fifth semester, hopefully just in time for the completion," I replied.

"That's good, it must be spirit. Don't waste this opportunity" he said. 

"How's your relationship with Faiz?" ask wife. 

"We still have frequent contact via email and chat" I replied. 

"Oh, how is he now?" ask Bu Hendrajaya.

"Good ma'am, I see he's a little fat now. He said there was too much protein, too much diet" I replied.

"Oh yeah? Haha. Any recent photos? I want to see" he said.

I pulled out my phone. I opened a picture of him in style in front of Havard. Then I handed my phone to him. Bu Hendrajaya looked overwhelmed. 

"Oh...Faiz," he rubbed my phone. Looks longing emanated from Mas Faiz's mother. Mas Faiz completely did not contact his family, breaking up the relationship. And I am their intermediary. Maybe that's why they were so good to me. It was as if I was their main asset. 

"Heard you made Iskha's album?" chirps Miss Vira.

"I.iya mbak" I replied.

"Hmm...when did it come out?" tanyakanya.

"Fastly, it's been in production, it's been koq recording," I replied.

"Well, great yeah," said Bu Hendrajaya.

"Well, how else. It's been his hobby since childhood playing music" said my father.

"Must support that. Didn't you?" said Mr. Hendrajaya.

After that the event continued with dinner, because the dish had been prepared by the servants. I don't know how many servants owned by Mr. Hendrajaya. They're all professionals. Cuisine's great. Mas Pandu seemed to be served by Mrs Vira. And sometimes he was bribed because Mas Pandu's hands trembled. He can no longer hold a spoon. With painstakingness I watched Mbak Vira feed Mas Pandu. I feel sorry for them too.

After dinner, I went home with my family. At least that night Mr. Hendrajaya welcomed us. Their family greatly blesses my relationship with Mas Faiz. His mother's face was of course very happy to see the photos of his son. I'm still wondering where's the Princess? Even though his treatment was unforgivable, I felt sorry for him. She must have loved Mas Faiz very much. 

VIRA NARRATIVE

I met Iskha at the cafe. Lately I've been close to her. We are also friends now. Frequent venting, often sharing feelings. Iskha is friendly, kind. I became jealous of him. He is humble. Faiz did not want to be separated from him. He thinks I'm a life-enhancer for Faiz. 

The album is already out and it's about love and longing. Is this the outpouring of his heart? He's a solo career. Although her activities with her band The Zombie Girls were still active but she tried a solo career. Don't ask. The album has only sold two months 1 jt of coffee. Record indeed. Song's great. I even saved the mp3. 

"Hi Ma'am?!" sapana.

"Hey, still doing it in the cafe? You have a lot of jobs now" I said.

"I did take the initiative. Anyway, I offered myself. This cafe is my cafe of memories. I've asked the Director to let me fill in here whenever I want. They're very happy. I don't even want to ask for a big honor, I don't want to pay anything."

"Oh so, wow. I'm a friend of the artist, may I ask for his autograph" I said.

"Ah, this mbak. Ordinary ajah!" said. "If you want to sign here, I'll doodle my hand!"

"His son," we laughed. 

I talked a lot with Iskha. But one thing we always avoid from any talk is about Faiz. I don't think he wants to talk about it. And I am too. 

"Where did Mas Pandu mbak?" tanyakanya.

"He was unable to move his hand. At first he could not write, making straight lines could not. His hands were shaking violently when he was holding a pencil. Only his head could move. He's totally paralyzed" I explained.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am."

"Thank you. I don't know if Pandu can last how long."

Suddenly we were silent. Strange indeed. I can share my feelings with Iskha. But that's what happened. Iskha grasped my hand giving her calmness and patted her. 

"Thank you Iskh" I said.

"Tomorrow we go for a walk, both of us," he asked.

"Where?"

"Whatever. I'll deal with it."

"Who is afraid."

*****

PRINCESS NARRATION

Faiz is 2 years old. He's I'm a carry. He had just cried when the sound of thunder boomed so much that he woke up. It's quiet and dark outside. PLN again turns off electricity during heavy rain like this. I now live with my real father. Johnny Amartand's. My mother didn't want me to live alone, so she called my real father. At first my stepfather rejected it but there was finally no other choice. The only thing that made him agree was that my father promised to take care of me, because he also missed me a long time ago. 

We live in a tea garden. Far from Jakarta. Here the father's income is as a tea farmer's labor. That's enough for me. I still have Faiz's photo. I always showed Faiz, this is your father. Tomorrow if you respect him, right? I don't know why Faiz every time he saw the photo was always calm. He seemed to know it was his father. 

Dad turned on the petromak lamp. The room was back bright.

"Once again the electricity dies when it rains" said my father.

"Maybe afraid of getting booed well," I said.

"But not a gini either, right? It's almost certain that the rain dies" he said. "Faiz is still crying?"

"It's quiet" I replied.

For three years I left the Hendrajaya family. Mom still calls me once. Ask me and my son. I also asked Faiz, who is now studying abroad. Something extraordinary in my opinion. I always told little Faiz to someday imitate his father's college there. How does he understand? But I always talk to him. And what struck me was that he first said the word "dad". I wanted to see him and I showed him this little Faiz, I could say "dad" for the first time even if I just showed him a picture. 

I put him to bed again. He's already sound. Her face really looks like an ama Faiz. I kissed him many times. Hurry up, big boy. I am proud of you. Mom loves you very much.