Not a Choice
30
...******...
...“No struggle can exceed the struggle of a mother.”...
...~Tanaka Khandra~...
...******...
“I'm afraid,” said Runa to the man who was holding his fingers.
“We face it together, yes. I'm sure we can get through this.”
“He's a reckless man. I'm afraid he took Khan.” Runa looked at Khan who was studying in the middle room.
“No one has the right to take Khan from you, Run. You're mother. After all, religiously nasab Khan is with you despite Ata's biological father. Fear not! Ata won't be able to do anything to take Khan away from you. He's nothing more than a biological father.” Sandy kept convincing Runa that the woman next to her was calm.
Since Ata's presence in Runa's life, the woman has not stopped worrying about her son. His body weight dropped drastically in an instant. Runa's sad gaze on Khan disturbed the child's heart and mind so that he could not focus on learning.
Khan's not a stupid kid. He understands the condition of the city. Only, Khan did not want to add to the burden of Runa's mind became heavier, if he asked the truth about the person who claimed to be his biological father. Indeed, many questions are crammed in his small brain. But he chose to keep it.
Someday, Khan will know all the truth. He will accept everything that happens even if it hurts his heart, but not if it will hurt his mother. He will stand in the vanguard to protect Runa. The woman who had struggled to raise him alone.
“No struggle can exceed the struggle of a mother,” Khan whispered to himself. Khan recalled how Runa worked so hard to buy what he wanted. All of this is still clearly recorded in his memory.
“Khan promises will always be there for Mother,” lirih Khan who can only be heard by herself, “lak if Khan is an adult, Khan will make calculations on people who have made Mother cry.” One strong determination just appeared in the mind of the six-year-old boy.
***
“Hai, have you been a long time?” aela asked as she approached the figure sitting alone in Hasbi's cafe.
“Hem.” David only muttered lightly in response to Alea's greeting.
David was very lazy to get involved in the romance of his best friend. Ata avoiding Alea made David a target for Alea to spill all her frustration on Ata. Like today, Alea forced her to meet in order to find information about Runa.
“What Ata still hasn't come home?” alea asked after ordering her lunch menu, while David only ordered lemon tea and his favorite seafood fried rice.
“Why don't you ask him directly?”
“She avoided me. You know, he decided on me unilaterally after everything that happened. Shouldn't he have met me and talked about everything well?”
That pretty face looks moping. There was no longer Alea who was always as cheerful as she used to be, after Alea learned the facts about Khan. David breathed a rough sigh. This matter felt so strange to him.
“Do you love Ata so much?”
“Do you need to ask again?” Alea asked back. His face looked pias hearing David's question.
Again, David heaved a heavy sigh. Seeing Alea's fragile face made her pity. “What do you want to know?” tanyanya.
“Runa is like what?”
David was silent for a moment. His brain was trying to gather memories of Runa's figure. “She's a beautiful, tough, friendly woman, also smart. He is the perfect definition for Ata. Runa, she is Ata's first love. They have been in a relationship since the first semester. It is not difficult for everyone to like the figure of Runa because of his humble personality. That is why Ata does not want to waste time, so he does not give others the opportunity to approach Runa.” David smiled to himself remembering his time in college. For David, it was one of the most beautiful memories he had. Where Ata always explodes as David tries to get more familiar with Runa.
“Ata is so possessive when it comes to Runa. He didn't even let me get close to Runa. He is so crazy about the figure of Runa. He is determined to make Runa happy after his dream of becoming a famous architect was realized. Unfortunately, one mistake made his dream not come true. Ata decided on Runa when they graduated, because Ata wanted to focus on studying in England and was determined to propose Runa after he returned.”
David sighed again as he was about to continue his story. “unfortunately, after they broke up, Ata actually lost track of Runa. Ata was like a frustrated person when his college finished and did not find Runa, until he started to get close to you and gradually forgot about Runa. And as you know, they were reunited in Wonosobo accidentally, as well as the presence of Khan who is currently only known by Ata.”
“Do you think Ata still loves Runa? Or just a mere obsession?” asked Alea softly.
David remained silent. From his point of view, it was clear that Ata still loved Runa, only that he did not know how to convey that to Alea. He didn't want Alea getting hurt.
“For that, you just ask the person directly. He is walking here,” David said as he looked at the figure behind Alea's back.
And sure enough, Alea had not yet turned around, Ata was already sitting sweetly beside her. “I'm gone. Resolve well your problem,” said goodbye to David while bringing his lunch to Hasbi's room. He had already sent a message to Hasbi, after Ata sent him a message that he would catch up with David and Alea.
“Later tonight I'll be home. I'll talk to dad that our relationship can't continue anymore,” Ata said after David's figure disappeared behind the door.
Alea pulled a sharp. He did not believe that Ata would be serious about his words to break up. “Why are you so selfish? Why don't you ever think about how I feel, Ta?” said Alea with a pushy look and clear details already welled up in his eye pelup.
Let alone feeling pity, Ata even smiled strangely as if she did not care about Alea's sadness. “Yes, I'm very selfish, aren't I? And so, let's split up! I don't fit in with you being kind, Alea. I'm sure, someday you'll get a much better man than me.”
A swirl of clear liquid finally escaped from Alea's beautiful eyes, but she quickly removed it. “Then, do you think you match up with Runa who is also so good? That's impossible, Ata! You also do not deserve him,” circus Alea, as if you know Runa well.
Ata frowned, accompanied by her two sharp-linked eyebrows. Of course he didn't like what Alea said. “Runa is my business. You're just a stranger who doesn't know anything about our story, Al. The point is that we can't be together now. I just don't want to hurt you any deeper. Come on, we're parting ways! Let me take responsibility for Khan. We can still be friends.”
Alea shook his head in disapproval. “Friends?” tanyanya raucous, “become friends after what we passed? Just be right. Why are you so bad, Ta? I really love you. If you want to take responsibility for Khan, it could be without having to break our relationship. I don't have a problem. I'll also be a good stay-at-home mom to Khan. I'll love Khan as much as my own son. Believe that! I can do that.”
Perhaps it was too much love Alea had for Ata, so the woman consciously said so.
“I can't. Sorry. My decision is round. I will marry Runa and make us a perfect little family,” Ata said with her flat face.
“Job! You're really the definition of a jerk, Ta. And unfortunately my love is anchored to a jerk like you,” Alea growled
“Sorry. That's all I can do right now.”
“But I'm not just gonna give up, Ta. If you want to fight for your love for Runa, then I will also fight for my love for you.”
Finals. It was Alea's final decision. He just left Ata alone. Ata also did not expect that Alea would stubbornly maintain their relationship.
“Why should I love a jerk like you, Ta? My God, what's my fault for falling in love with her?”
Alea spilled her tears inside the cafe toilet which happened to look empty. He was no longer able to withstand the increasingly urgent clear details to go outside. If he could still hold it back because he didn't want to look weak, but not this time. He just spilled his tears, until the soft rubble on his back stopped his crying.
“Cry, if it can make you feel better. Don't be held back just because you want to look strong! God will never choose the wrong way for His people. Maybe, with this path you will be forged into a stronger figure,” said the woman with a genuine smile.
Alea just looked at that pretty face with a glaring look.
“Sorry if I interfere. But I feel sorry for your crying. Believe me, there is always wisdom behind the existing test.” The woman smiled before leaving Alea.
Just two steps the beautiful woman took, Alea interrupted, making the woman stop her steps. “I'm Alea, who are you?” Alea reached out and was reciprocated by the woman.
“ Ziya. My name is Khaira Ziya Zulima.”
...******...
...to be continued...
...Well, there's Ziya, here. ...
...Who does Ziya miss? Yuk, lift his legs 😂...
