Renjana Dusk Kala

Chapter 61. Pretty Woman, The Kind I Like to Meet

Pretty Woman, The Kind I Like to Meet

(Beautiful woman, whom I want to meet)

taken from the lyrics of the song 'Pretty Woman' which was first released by Roy Orbinson in 1964-

***

Jakarta

Pocktail

Tama took her to an exclusive restaurant in a star-rated hotel. But he refused and made another choice. Because going to a luxury place sometimes presents a sense of discomfort.

"Well, tough choice." Tama laughs. "Let's see ... Can I guess where you want to be?"

Tama began to mention one by one the names of parks, museums, and even art galleries. Explain the advantages, disadvantages, and in which corner they can speak.

Unconsciously, the two-way conversation continued to flow. Tama with his opinion, he with his stance. Until they find a single word of agreement.

"See you tomorrow .. ten o'clock?" Tama's voice sounded relieved.

He nodded. Even though Tama knows it's impossible to see it.

"Tama just called" he told mamak, who was rewriting recipes in a book.

Mamak.

"The plan .. tomorrow we want to talk" he continued, sitting next to his mother.

Mom was silent for a moment before answering. "Suggest someone to accompany. For your own honor."

"It's not good to go both before there is an official bond" Mamak continued writing. "It could be the entrance of temptation."

He took a long breath. If you had known, he had gone together with Tama to a restaurant in the Mall. Even once went with Mr. Raka to the children's playground. Despite the pretext of accompanying Sasa and Shaina. Now he feels very ashamed for ignoring his honor.

"You can take one of them." Mom understood his concern.

He nodded in not understanding. "Kids?"

Mamak. "Whoever you choose to accompany you will feel proud, it can be an important part of your life."

"Will remember anytime," added mamak. "Although we all don't know .. whether your relationship with Tama will be a bond forever or not."

He took a breath back. His eyes glared out the window, where the children were boisterously playing in the empty front yard of the house. Sasa was engrossed in playing hide-and-seek, Umay exclaimed cheerfully after winning to play mute, and Icad was sitting on the terrace reading a book.

"Yes, Mommy" he replied after silence. Consider who will be invited to go tomorrow morning. Then go to the room to contact Tama. "Accoland ...."

"Are we the same? Can't wait until tomorrow to call again?" Tama's voice sounded full of joy.

He sighed in disbelief. "I'm calling just to tell .. tomorrow there's a kid coming with us."

"Happy," Tama replied quickly with an increasingly beaming voice. "Take all three."

He shook. "Thank you. Just one more."

That night as soon as Sasa fell asleep, he called out to Icad who had just come out of the bathroom.

"Abang ... tomorrow there are plans to go?"

Icad. "You ngadem at home finished the semester exam."

He smiles. "You wanna accompany Mama?"

Icad. "Ke?"

"Meet me Tama."

Icad immediately shook his head. "No way."

He breathed a long breath.

"Why did you want to meet that mom?" Icad looked at him suspiciously.

"There's something we need to talk about."

"About?" Icad looked at him suspiciously.

"Don't know yet. Because there's a lot of things we need to talk about." He sighed.

Icad looked at him with his eyebrows linked together. "Don't like Mama talking for long with that."

He grabbed Icad's hand to sit on the bed. "Mama took Brother. Mama wants to involve you in every decision."

Icad. "Not like it."

He's running out of sense. "Yes, it's okay. Let's take Umay or Sasa tomorrow."

But the next morning, while he was cooking in the kitchen, the newly woken Icad approached.

"I'm coming along."

"What?" He had to immerse his hearing because the sound of a spatula colliding with an iron skillet was more audible than the murmur of an obscure Icad.

"I went with Mama to see him," repeated Icad with a wrinkled face.

He smiled with relief. "Thank you, Bang."

"Where are you going, anyway?" Ask Sasa for the last time when he was sweeping lip balm all over the surface of the lips.

"Kok Sasa wasn't invited?" Sasa protest with a sullen face. "So you want to come too."

"It's a big boy's event" replied Icad who suddenly entered the room and was looking neat.

"Did!" Sasa grew sulky as he stroked his arm. "Well, Ma?"

He finished the last sweep before putting the lip balm in the bag. Then crouch down while holding Sasa's shoulder.

"Sasa at home used to be the same bang Umay and grandma, yes. Mama will bring home some souvenirs. Sasa wants to drop what? Milk? Chocolate boy? Ice cream?"

"Everything, Sa. Everyone," as Icad was combing his hair in front of the mirror.

Sasa was getting sullen. "No need for souvenirs. Wants to come along."

"Sa!" Umay suddenly burst into the room. "You wanna see Iksi's new toy, right? Electric scooters can run on their own. Very cool!"

Sasa's eyes immediately paced. "The computer that I'm trying to get Queensha, Bang? Who has the bonce? Pictures flowers?"

Umay. "Yes. Come on!"

Sasa immediately hugged her. "Mama can go with Brother. But Sasa tipped by-by a lot. All the food Sasa likes. Yes yes yes?"

Then just ran away from the room. Following Umay who has gone to Iksi's house.

Icad who was still combing laughed. "Such a ngalihin attention is leaked."

While waiting for Mr. Agus who reportedly will come to pick up, he began to put pieces of chicken catch into the container. Hand fruit from mamak to Tama. Although he slightly objected and had time to prevent, "No need to bring souvenirs, Mak."

But mamak insisted. "It's okay to find people with empty hands."

When he was entering the last piece of chicken caught, from the direction of the living room there was the sound of people saying greetings.

"I'm Agus, Ma'am" nodded the man who had been sitting in the living room with his mother. "I told Mr. Tama to pick me up."

Along the way to the meeting place, he always clasped the hands of Icad. Even when they got out of the car. Meet Tama who has been waiting in front of the terrace of a stylish building in the past.

Tama offered her the best smile as they stared at each other. "We're coming in through here."

Icad, despite putting on an unfriendly face, but without being asked still grabbed Tama's hand to say hello.

"Well, there's a guard apparently." Tama patted Icad's shoulder. "What's up, hotshot?"

"Well," Icad replied briefly and stiffly.

Tama immediately invited them to enter the room with classic and modern nuances. "Have you ever been here?"

He shook. But Icad nodded.

"Come here?" This time Tama directly asked towards Icad.

"Again" Icad's answer was again very short. "School activities."

They walk across galleries and exhibition halls. See all things related to literature, books, reading, and characters from all over the archipelago.

After enjoying the art gallery, Tama took them out through the back door. And immediately greeted by a tall building that reads, National Library of the Republic of Indonesia.

Yeah, they'll talk in the library.

"There's a lounge and a soundproof discussion room" Tama said on the phone. "We can talk there without bothering anyone else."

"Cool, huh?" Tama glanced at her who was admiring the splendor before her eyes.

He unconsciously turned his head, making them back to meet each other.

"We're going to the locker first." While continuing to smile, Tama takes them to the daycare.

There, he got a key and a bag to hold important items to be carried. While entering the wallet and mobile phone, Icad left earphones on him.

"Titip, Ma."

He nodded. Never thought of armed with earphones so that Icad does not feel bored when waiting.

"We go to the second floor first." Tama invited him to take the escalator first.

When he looked back, he saw Tama talking to Icad. Although only a short answer a word two.

Once on the second floor, Tama takes her to the front of a computer screen. "We'll list as a member first. Let's access the entire facility."

"Icad's got a member's card?" Tama looked towards the nodding Icad.

"Bring."

"Good." Tama now looks at him. "Died by a mother who hasn't made it."

He immediately retreated backwards. Asking Icad to put his data on the computer screen.

But Tama forbids. "Let Mama fill her own, Cad."

He shrivels. "My typing is slow."

Tama smiled. "It's okay."

He finally came back to the computer screen. With a stiff and nervous movement start typing the data filling the entire available column. While Tama stood beside him. Tell him what answers to type in when he is a little confused.

***

Tama

His heart seemed to stop beating while standing on the porch of a batavia house, waiting for Pocut who was walking closer in slow motion.

'Pretty woman, walking down the street

(beautiful woman, walking down the street)

Pretty woman, the kind I like to meet'

(beautiful woman, whom I want to meet)

(Roy Orbinson, Pretty Woman)

He smiled looking at Pocut's face which seemed to emit light. Suddenly feeling very silly and ashamed of yourself. This is what it feels like to fall in love. Strange and quite ridiculous.

Not without reason he chose the national library. The idea was even sparked after they discussed a number of parks in the middle of the city, museums, art galleries. And the favorite place of one of his best friends, Rajas, finally became the right choice. Meet all the criteria Pocut wants.

He also did not mind at all, when yesterday afternoon Pocut called again. I want to bring one of her three children. He thought, if it could even be invited all. So that the task becomes easier.

But Pocut only invites one, he's the toughest guard, Icad. Be a pretty relieving thing. Before Sunday tomorrow, it's time to talk specifically with Icad and Umay.

With them meeting today, it would be a good start. Because Icad is still stiff and keeps his distance every time he tries to get closer.

And now, they were already sitting inside the soundproof discussion room. It was right in front of Pocut. With the Icad on the side, who deliberately and blatantly showed the earphones to her.

"I'm wearing this, Ma." Icad connects the earphones to Pocut's phone. "Not gonna eavesdrop."

He almost laughed to see Icad who was busy putting earphones into the ear. Then start reading a newly borrowed detective-themed translation novel.

He looked at the nervous looking Pocut. "Where do we start?"

Pocut. Quietly for a moment before asking, "How are you doing?"

Before he returned to Jakarta, Reka was allowed to return home. Platelets are at 120, the temperature drops, appetite increases, although still silent and reluctant to talk.

During his four days in the hospital, he and Reka almost never spoke to each other except for eating, drinking, going to the toilet.

Even so, he felt relieved. Because Reka wants to accept his presence around. No longer showing blatant rejection or avoidance.

"Tomorrow Daddy has to go back to Jakarta" he told Reka. "They should be healthy. If you need anything, call me directly."

The designer did not answer. But before he left for the airport, Reka had a chance to look at him. Like wanting to reveal something. Although it has never been spoken until now.

"It healed. Already back home," he replied as he continued to look at Pocut. "But I haven't had time to tell you about the plan ahead ...."

Pocut. "It's best to wait until it's fully recovered."

He agreed. Daily communication with a freshly fit design alone becomes a difficult job for him. Moreover, telling the plan to remarry with the health condition of the designer who has not fully recovered. It will be harder many times.

The atmosphere of the room was suddenly silent for a few moments. He looked at the looking down Pocut. Then it turned towards the Icad that was sinking in front of the book.

"What kind of family do you want?" The first question slides by itself without having to be processed first.

Pocut was silent for a moment. Before looking back at him and saying. "That has a strong foundation. Sticking to principles."

He nodded. "Faith."

He will certainly never forget, how his trust in Kinan did not go well. His decision gave Kinan the flexibility to make his own decisions turned into a boomerang.

"I trust you more than anyone." He stared at Pocut without pause. "Whatever you do, no matter what people think out there, I still believe you."

"I'm not someone who is easily affected by bad news from others" he added. "I've always looked at you as I've known you. It won't change. As bad as any situation and as difficult as any test we have to face."

"It's heavy." Pocut returned his gaze. "Am I capable of keeping this trust?"

"You can answer yourself." He smiles. "Because I can't force you to do the same."

"Everything will go well if we're with each other" he added. "But once again .. I have absolutely no power to regulate your attitude, feelings, let alone your decisions."

Pocut. "Sorry before, is this the reason for failure? For giving full trust but no words to each other?"

"Yes." Yeah." He nodded. Feeling happy because Pocut is no longer stammered or nervous.

"Whoever is the person .. if it has been given trust .. should be able to take care of it well." Pocut.

He smiles. Feeling increasingly happy because it turns out Pocut can balance his thoughts. "I'm sure it's you."

Pocut's face suddenly red. Before he returned down with a nervous expression.

"For me .. trust is more than enough." He stared fixedly at the charming face that was being bowed in front. "If you?"

Pocuts were seen to be weaving fingers on the table agitatedly. "Honesty, compassion, example ...."

"What do you want me to set an example for?" He is drawn and immersed in the charm.

From the beginning of talking at the dinner table, he was sure that Pocut was actually a smart woman. It is clear from the attitude and choice of words that are displayed.

It's just too pure. Not yet touched by the touch of the world. Maybe this is what erodes the confidence side of a Pocut. Lack experience. Until it always looks nervous and restless every time talking to people who are considered more.

"The role model that makes children feel happy and upholds the family principle" Pocut's reply sounded melodious.

Oh, now he's really in love. Anyone help me, please? Because this second also he wanted to drag Pocut tied the sacred promise in front of the ruler.

***

Icad

Nobody knows if the earphones are dead and not connected to any music. The book in hand is also just a distraction. So that eavesdropping activities are not too obvious.

Yep. He listened to my mother's chat from the beginning, all without exception.

Fortunately, the man did not say any ridiculous love words or disgusting seduction. The man looked really serious with mom. Talk about all things without exception. Until his face warmed up so much he felt moved. When hearing how mom put the feelings of the three of them above all else.

"Well, it's already sublime" the man continued while looking at the right wrist. "Icad, do we eat first or pray first?"

"Salat first," he answered with his eyes fixed in front of the book even though he was not reading.

The man immediately laughed. Including mama who looked at him in wonder, "Abang can hear?"

His face was as red as a thief caught red. And it gets more and more when you get out of the room. As the man embraced her while smiling meaningfully.

"Don't forget to send the tape to Om."

He howled.

Well, it turns out this guy knows everything he's done.

***