OWNER OF HEART

The Eps 48

For the umpteenth time, morning has arrived in Muntilan City. But my day started with a shitty incident. Remnants of the problems I had debated with Rashid last night, it still seemed to flow warmly right in the heart.

"I'm sorry, Deck. I shouldn't be asking that question like you are."

A phrase full of melancholy tones was floated on me. The man, was drowning his face in his refuted fingers on a dressing table in the room.

I exhaled, then threw it wild. Slip a step out of the room. Looking for the existence of Mother who is now busy with kitchen furniture.

"Who do you think you are! I'm sorry, please." For me in my heart.

"What cooking, Mom?"

"Oh new manten, are you awake?"

I squinted my lips to the left, my hand playing a long bean lying on the table. Not been anything. I don't know, today I'm going to juggle what the material becomes.

"Mom's at Aunt's?" I raised a question, making Mother stop her activities to cut the leaves of the onion in front of us.

Mom was heard breathing out, she was throwing away. Then, continue the activity of cutting green leaves that can make both eyes watery.

"Mom?"

"Eff..."

"Why didn't you answer?"

She concluded with a smile, "that's it. But just got to the front of the fence. Bi Sum was already seen closing the door tightly."

Mother looks so focused on the knife and chives that are in the middle of the pox. But my mind denied, if in fact Mother was thinking about how to apologize to the Daffa family.

I tiptoed, walking towards the kitchen window that adjoined the refrigerator. On top of the fridge is a calendar, I look at the numbers. Count how long Daffa has been away from this beloved hometown.

Then I exhaled, right at the wide-open window. My gaze swept across all the visible corners of the house. Usually, this early in the morning Daffa always took the time to bring a bunch of grass to feed my parents' goats.

Still vividly remembered, where at that time Daffa teased me until my cooking was empty, then Mom nagged. It's not pity to see his friend get scolded. Daffa laughed until his big toe stumbled across a stone in front of the goat pen.

My smile began to expand, after recalling the incident. Where is my childhood friend now? Why did he have to change so quickly? Not just change. He even left his hometown. I don't know until when he'll be hardened in the land of people.

"Mheta wants to go to Bi Sum's house first, Mom..."

I set my foot toward the kitchen door that was open at dawn.

"Don't Nduk, I don't want you to be around like Mom. Just leave it. What matters is that I'm sorry. What else are you going to do there?"

I stopped my steps, turned around to Mother who continued her activities. She was still in her ear her words just now. Did Daffa really use her? Did I not hear wrong?

"Bi Sum cursed Mother? When?" My eyebrows are intertwined. Looking forward to the answer from my mother.

I re-expose the smile, the smile that was so good. I seem to be the owner of the smile that is so charming.

"Jawab Ma'am?"

I took the basin that Mother was holding. Trying to look through his cornea. However, Mom is indeed the greatest woman I know in this world. He was so good at hiding any sense of the look on his face and gaze. Mother is hard to guess.

"Jawab what is Nduk..." Mom took the purple tupperware basin out of my hand. "There don't bother Mom, I want to cook something special for you and your husband. You want to go to Jakarta later, right? All Mom make orek tempe and sambel fried you like to make in Jakarta."

"Wis tha there! Don't bother Mom." Mother kicked me out again.

It seems that I am more at home with this gentle female figure before me, than having to accompany the bald man in the room.

"Mas Rashid is still sleeping. Mheta help me out, will you?" I asked, but without waiting for his approval. I immediately picked up the knife that was still attached to Mom's grasp. He told the wingless angel to sit sweet.

"Think you're not feeling well Nduk.." I honestly threw the statement at me. Then I heard Mom laughing.

"Want your husband won't eat?" Rebuttals.

"If it's not good..Why have you been eating Mheta's cooking?" I threw a question that confirmed not to lose.

"Mother's tongue is immune to your cooking that sometimes to salty, sometimes sweetness, sometimes even bland no taste. You are stuck in front. Let me cook."

Back Mom whirled my nyaliku. I'm not very good at cooking. While wandering in Malang City alone, I bought a lot of food at the stall near the boarding house.

*******

Exactly at seven in the morning. All the raw materials were perched on the kitchen table. Already neatly arranged on the dining table, all conjured up in such a way by the two hands of the wingless angel. The aroma makes the stomach inhabitants beat the drum until timid.

"Let's have breakfast... I was waiting in the dining room..." I approached Rashid, who was reading in the room.

The man who broke the Gontor pesantren commented with a smile, "wait, Mas want to change his pants first.." he said, Rashid immediately changed the Donggala brand she wore with his knickers.

I don't know what I'm really thinking. That man, it seemed like he was indeed created as a gentle figure.

After changing his pants, Rashid grabbed me. "I'm sorry.." I don't know how many times, he popped a kiss on my right cheek.

I was surprised to see his treatment. Do you guys know? My whole life. I had my first kiss with the man who was now my rightful priest.

"Come on. Kasian I'm waiting for us." I distract Rashid. Don't want something I haven't thought of happening.

*****

"Have you thought about when you'd like to have a baby?" Mom opened the conversation with a question that made my heart break.

Rashid and I looked at each other, linking our eyebrows together.

"If I just what Dek Ayu said, Mom. If Dek Ayu is ready, yes I am more ready." What kind of answer is that?

I exhaled, looking with a cynical look towards Rashid.

"Mother... After you married Nak Rashid. That means, you're the right of Nak Rashid. All your actions will bear Yes Rasyid. Whether you be good or not, all who bear your husband. Not your late father anymore." Mother explained, after seeing my gaze so contains hatred for her favorite daughter-in-law.

I lowered my head, drowning my mind in the middle of the plate where there was little leftover food.

Lord... So arrogant of me? Close my eyes to my husband. Whatever has happened, this is all a line from God's Gusti, right? I shouldn't be arrogant and proud of God. To oppose all the destiny He has set for me.

Without feeling, the clear circles crashing fiercely on both my cheeks. My chest is so full of questions.

"Dek Ayu is just not ready, ma'am... Especially if we just got married. It's only been nine days." Rashid. Makes me breathe a little.

"Yes, I know... I was just advising your wife Le... Do not put forward the ego. Remember, what we think is good, all of it is not necessarily good in the sight of the Lord."