Replacement Ribs

8. Mentari Ask Sister

"You haven't left to teach?" tanya Tristan saw Kirana still in pajamas last night. The clock is pointing at the number eight.

"Where might I go to teach. While I was sick." Kirana puts down a tray containing breakfast for Tristan.

"Silvia is gone?" ask Tristan again.

"Already from earlier. Is he not happy with you?" Kirana's tone sounded a little cranky.

The presence of Silvia does make the atmosphere of the house even more uncomfortable. Kirana had no power to forbid Silvia from coming home. The pretext of work or meeting with Mentari will certainly be used by the woman.

Kirana started scooping the rice and then feeding it to Tristan. I don't know what's inside that guy this morning. She was so obedient that she opened her mouth and slowly chewed on the food that was fed by Kirana.But a few moments later her stomach felt nauseous. Until the rice that just managed to get in must come out again in the sink. Kirana also gave warm water after Tristan let out his entrails.

"Doctor Alan said, Mas should not drink alcohol anymore" said the woman as she grabbed a glass from Tristan's hand.

"It is not just Allan's doctor, our religion also prohibits drinking alcohol. Set a good example for mentari. What would he say if he saw Mas coming home in the same state as last night."

Tristan massaged his head hearing the morning lecture from Kirana. His body that felt boneless again crashed into the bed. And Kirana still continues to squeak like a mother is nagging her child. Tristan feels the more day Kirana is getting ugly.

"Tried to eat again, huh, Mas?" kirana said as she held out a spoonful of food. But rejected by Tristan on the grounds of nausea. Stomach disease suffered since the last few years is indeed very torturing him. His diet was very poor as no one noticed. All this time he had been dependent on the attention of Elita. No matter how busy his wife is it will always remind him to eat. Even send food if he does not have time to drive it himself. Losing Elita makes a neatly arranged pattern become a mess.

The man's gaze also led to the picture frame in front of him. Long time, until Kirana inevitably have to see the face of Tristan that looks sad. Although his heart was slashed, it could not be denied if he felt sad too. What Tristan felt, of course, he understood. But can't the man be touched by his heart. Just get to him a little bit. That beside him now there is a woman who has been bound by a promise to God. Maybe Kirana's not as perfect as Elita. But she also wants to give her best in her role as a wife. And that opportunity never seemed to be given by Tristan. If not for lying down, there was no way he could sit next to Tristan even to the point of having a long conversation with her.

Kirana packed food that was not spent by Tristan. Then left the room before the glass in both of his eyes broke. He did not want to look weak in front of Tristan. Kirana is too prestigious. He did not want to beg for the love of a man who might hate him so much.

Kirana checked out Mentari who was having breakfast by herself. This morning the boy was not too spoiled, so Kirana could more freely take care of Tristan.

"Papa still sick, Mother?"

"still. Mommy wants to make porridge first for Papa. The food was spent, baby!" Kirana rubs her sunken Mentari hair. The little boy nodded too.

In addition to the porridge, Kirana also made soup with potluck ingredients left in the refrigerator. He found a little beef to make the broth. Kirana nimbly prepared all the ingredients and cooked them. No more than an hour he returned to the room carrying porridge and a bowl of soup.

Mentari was already sitting on the bed when Kirana walked into the room. The tiny hand seemed to be massaging the muscular arms of his papa while chattering.

"Tomorrow Mentari if you are older want to be a doctor like Mama. Let's try Papa if it hurts." Mentari's words made her father smile.

"Gee, great ideals." Kirana chimed in while putting a tray on the nightstand.

"Are you a great doctor, Mommy?"

"Great, dong. Because it can help the sick."

The mentari looked to nod his head. "But Mentari wants to be like Mommy, a lot of little children's friends."

"Then, Mentari could be a pediatrician."

"Like Doctor Diana?" Mentari mentioned the name of the doctor who often examined him who was also his mother's friend. Kirana only agreed with Mentari's words because she did not know which doctor was meant.

Kirana sat on the edge of the bed carrying a bowl and stirred up the soup to make it cool faster. The smoke from the bowl is still billowing because it has just been lifted from the stove.

"Try the soup, Mas. Or do you want some porridge?" abugn. Because Tristan's stomach must be filled before taking the drug.

"Father, if you want to heal, you have to eat a lot."

Tristan chuckles to see Mentari speaking mimicking his doctor's style of speech.

"Alright Madam Mentari Doctor. But …. Papa fed it to the Doctor's mother, can you?"

"Papa is old spoiled!"

Tristan laughed off. Kirana could hardly believe seeing Tristan so happy just by hearing the babbling of her little lips. Mentari is adorable. Always make anyone who sees want to pinch his or her cheeks.

Mentari's little hands began to feed the soup to his father. Little by little the food went into Tristan's stomach. Although only a few bribes and Tristan asks Mentari to stop bribing him.

The drugs delivered by the courier were prepared by Kirana on the nightstand with a glass of water. The mentari also administered the drug. His daughter was the only temple when Tristan was running away. Staring at Mentari slightly treated her longing for Elita.

"Thank you, Doctor."

"Together, Papa. Now Papa rest, yeah. Let it heal quickly." The mentari fixes a messy blanket.

"Papa's embrace, dong. Papa hasn't slept in Papa's pretty, smart hug in a long time." Tristan is nosing Mentari's nose.

The sun poured into his papa's arms. The two lives since the last three years made the bonding of the two very tight. Mentari was very spoiled for her father. So can Tristan who can not be far from Mentari. Since the arrival of Kirana in the house, Mentari gradually becomes more dependent on Kirana. Sometimes that makes Tristan jealous. He was afraid that if Mentari finally really did not need him anymore.

"Mother! Here, dong!" Mentari called Kirana who was cleaning up the leftovers and medicines. He patted the side of the empty bed for Kirana to lie down next to him. Kirana rolled her irises glancing at Tristan. Although their relationship is a little fluid, sometimes Tristan can turn frozen instantly. It still made Kirana disinclined.

Mentari called Kirana back. She looked at her husband as if asking for approval. Seeing that Tristan was silent, neither refusing nor assuring, Kirana held up a tray filled with soup bowls and porridge to return it to the kitchen.

"Mother why, Pa? Afraid of Papa?"

Tristan laughed softly. "Emang Papa was bitten? Mother must clean the rest of her food. If it's not fast, then the ants come.,"

"But how did you not get up from that?".

A few moments later the sound of the door being opened made the two turn their heads. Kirana was standing at the door with her clothes changed. Her wet hair was swirled up with a towel.

Mentari also canceled sulking. She asks Kirana to get into bed but is again delayed because Kirana actually takes a hairdryer to dry her hair. And make the Mentari again wait until the long hair is dry.

"Long delay" protested Mentari.

"The shower first. If you have not taken a bath later Papa does not want to be close to Mother.," said Kirana. Tristan's face was suddenly irritated by the insinuation.

Kirana climbed up onto the bed ignoring Tristan who was still holding back in annoyance. He wrapped his arms around Mentari's body as the boy asked to be hugged. Again Tristan could not resist when his daughter asked him for the same thing. It may be true if a child can be the glue of both parents. Although Mentari is not Kirana's biological child, in fact the child often dilutes his relationship with Tristan.

"Pa, photo, Pa!" mentari Craps.

Tristan took his gawai on the nightstand to take a photo of the three of them. A photo shows the big smile of the three like a happy family was stored in the memory of Tristan's cell phone. The happiness of the Mentari is unstoppable. While the two adults beside him were raging with their respective thoughts.

"Mother, Mentari's sister when was she born?" The sudden Mentari curse made Tristan and Kirana look at each other unintentionally.