PRETEND POOR

AUNT SUKMA CEMETERY

Ardi's face looks pretty. His eyes were puffy and looked like a dazed person. He stood in front with Fero carrying his mother's coffin. While on the back there is Melvin and Rei who helped. They take Aunt Sukma to her final resting place.

"Ardi, are you strong? Your mother's body must not be tear-fed" said uncle Ardi.

"I can, Om." Ardi tried to push himself. He wants to fulfill his duty as a child by taking care of his mother himself until the final resting place.

His own father was not strong enough to talk to anyone so shocked. He was just sitting there watching his wife being buried.

Ardi went into a 2 x 1 meter burrow that would be used to bury his mother's body. He went down with his uncle, the younger brother of his mother. Some of the men above spread a cloth covering the grave, while some others lowered the body of Aunt Sukma to be accepted by Ardi and his uncle who was in the grave.

It was as if there was a blow to his heart when the mother's body was received in front of him. His strength almost collapsed. He wanted to cry so badly. But he has to hold it. He must be a filial son to the end.

Slowly Ardi and his uncle lowered the body of Aunt Sukma, positioned the body to the west of the hole, then tilted and faced it towards the qibla. Ardi put the earth circles at some point so that the position of the corpse does not change.

Ardi removed the knots of the shroud before covering it with slanted wooden planks covering the body. I held the last Adhan for his mother in a trembling voice. In the end Ardi's cry was unbearable.

After completing his duties, Ardi and his uncle went back upstairs. The people began to pile up the grave with dugout soil.

Melvin grabs Ardi's body while hugging her. Without saying anything, the two knew that they were both grieving. Fero and Rei embraced. The four of them were crying.

Although sometimes their relationship is not always good, but when one of them is sad, as a friend they will be sad. Rafa cannot attend because he is still abroad.

Meanwhile, Ruby was near them at a distance of several meters. He hugged his own father while crying.

Aunt Sukma is a kind and gentle person of her heart. Meeting him seemed to have a mother figure who had long abandoned him. Losing Aunt Sukma was as painful as losing her mother.

Their condition when they died was almost the same, they were both sick and lying in the hospital.

It was a sad morning for everyone present at the funeral.

Until the evening came, Ardi and his father still received condolences from the people. After the lecture, his close friends still accompany there. Even Fero stayed at Ardi's house because he came from out of town.

Ardi's brothers no one came. They've been informed, but may still be busy so they can't attend the funeral of their mother. The family from his mother's side came all, the family from his father's side mostly came, and even so because there is Ruby who is known to be a prospective daughter-in-law in their family.

"Relse .... " Ruby greeted Ardi who was pensive on the top porch.

"Hm, what's wrong?" Ardi tried to put a smile on his face.

"Don't forget to rest, brother. Last night you didn't sleep at all." Ruby tried to advise. He was worried about the condition of Ardi who still looked sad.

"Yes, if I'm sleepy, I'll sleep." Ardi patted the top of the head of the woman who was trying to fuss at him.

"Don't wait for sleepiness, Brother should have a maximum break at 10. Stop forcing yourself."

Ardi chuckled, "Why are you so noisy like a wife."

"Sister, don't make anyone who cares about you so hesitant to advise you." Ruby put on a pouting face.

"Yes, yeah. I'll keep your word." Ardi ruffled Ruby's hair. "You also don't feel guilty about your mother's death."

Ruby bowed. Ardi's words made her tears fall.

"Well, weep again .." ledek Ardi.

Ardi realized that he had lost his mother. However, Ruby also harbored a great guilt with the death of Aunt Sukma.

"After my mother passed away, your work is done, Ruby. I thank you for refraining from pretending to be my future wife. Seeing my mama happy during her life because of your existence, that was enough. Now, you can calm down to get away from my side."

"You can live your relationship with Melvin openly. I'm also sorry for interrupting your relationship all along. I hope you two can be happy."

"Relse .... " Ruby grabbed Ardi's hand and grabbed it.

"You should stop doing this to me, Ruby. I'm gonna have a harder time letting you go. Your every touch to me makes me want to have you." Ardi took Ruby's hand off her.

"I told you I like you. And it's not a lie. I really like you." Finally Ardi could say his true heart clearly. Although Ruby will not return her love, she just wants to feel relieved to express what she should have revealed.

"If I can, I want to keep you, take you to the bottom like my mother will. But, I realize. Forcing something to others will not produce good."

"You have to find your own happiness, Ruby. I'm also the same, will look for people who will be able to have the same feelings as me."

"With this, I say that the relationship between us is over."

"If it's time, I'll say this to your father and my father."

"Now, go home! You also need rest so as not to get sick. Don't worry, I'll also sleep as you advise." Ardi swiped Ruby's head.

Ruby reflexively landed a hug on Ardi. "I'm sorry and thank you, brother" he said once again.

"I told you not to touch me, Ruby. If this keeps up, I won't want to cancel our wedding."

Ruby immediately took off her embrace. Ardi laughing. "It's funny anyway. I was just kidding," he said.

"Yes already, Brother. I go home first, yeah," she said.

Ardi nodded. He smiled a smile, "Don't forget to be happy, yeah. Be careful on the road." the message.

Ruby turned. He walked past the people who were still there. Melvin was waiting for him at the door.

"It's over?" ask Melvin.

"Already, Brother. We go home now." replied Ruby.

"Fer, you still want to be here?" Melvin asked Fero, who had been his conversation partner since.

"Yes, tonight I want to stay again. Rafa said he'd come here tomorrow."

"All right, I'm ahead. Tomorrow, if there's time, I'll join you."

*****

While waiting for the next update, .almost first, yuk!

Title: I'm the Mafia Not an Angel

Author: Lovely Wu