Since I Meet You's

Debts

"Excuse me!", followed by a familiar voice.

"Yes, for a moment" the father spoke a little loudly to the call from outside.

Dad started to open the door and looked like a middle-aged mother in her 40s. The mother was none other than Ms. Mirna, the owner of the rented house I shared with her father and Ardi. I'm quite surprised because it's not usual for Miss Mirna to come here.

"uh, Miss Mirna. Come on in, ma'am!?", I'm widening the door for Ms. Mirna.

"Yes, sir. Thank you!", Ms. Mirna came in and sat in the same chair as me, while dad sat in the other chair.

Ardi and I saluted Ms. Mirna's hand, as a form of respect for her. Miss Mirna just smiled.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. Once mom came here, what need is it!?", I asked politely.

"oh yes, I'm getting to the point. I'm here to remind you that you haven't paid your contract in 3 months. I think it is necessary to remind, because I think you forgot this", Ms Mirna immediately expressed the intention of her arrival.

"What's? not paid? 3 months?", I was shocked because dad didn't say anything about this. I looked at my father and looked at him as if asking for an explanation.

"I'm sorry mom, for the rent money insha Allah I'm great-granddaughter if it's there. I'm not forgetting, but the results of me taxiing every day is only enough for a child's allowance and gasoline only, and indeed my passengers lately are quiet", the father explained with his head lowered.

I was surprised by my father's answer. So all this time I kept stuff like this from us. I'm really sorry that under these circumstances I should be able to help you earn extra income. It's a pity that I kept all this alone. Looks like dad didn't tell me this because he didn't want to make me and Ardi worried.

"Well, then, there is no need to rush if the passenger father is lonely. And after all, it seems like Tika also needs more care and medicine", Ms Mirna stroked my hair while saying that.

I smile awkwardly at him. I dare not look at Father and Miss Mirna. I'm really upset that I feel useless at the moment. Suddenly I remembered the late mother who was eager to work to help my father make a living. What would you do if something like this happened? My tears suddenly filled my vision. Just blink a little, then it will just fall.

I kept my head down, then asked about my situation to break the silence that occurred.

"So why is this? how can it be injured like this!?", Miss Mirna grabbed my arm with a wound.

"Oh, this was accidentally dragged by someone in front of the alley earlier, ma'am", the father explained.

I know you must be worried and sad because your children know the problem. I looked up a little to see Dad's expression. Implied the look of the sad face of father with his sad gaze. My sister just kept listening to all this stuff without asking.

Ever since mom died, I've been taking care of Ardi and making him feel like he didn't lose anyone. Even so, I'm sure she must have felt how lost the mother figure in her life. Mother is the most understanding and also considerate of Ardi. I could've mimicked the way mom treated Ardi that way. But when I tried, it was very difficult.

Just let Ardi feel the affection of another version of me, I thought.

Mother is still a figure that I cannot replace in Ardi's heart. Miss Mirna who at that time saw our situation so awkward was begging for a farewell home. Don't forget me and Ardi kissed Miss Mirna's hand again. Dad took Miss Mirna to the outside of the terrace politely, then entered the living room again to meet me and Ardi.

I looked up and hugged my father while crying.

"No sir, it's not your fault. I should have told Tika, let Tika help me. But now Tika just added the burden for the father", I cried in the arms of the father.

Ardi was crying and we hugged each other in the living room. I heard Ardi's cry so loud that it was a hiccup. Ardi was a cheerful child and rarely cried, but this time his cries really made me sick. Even when my mother died, she didn't cry so hard.

I was really sad to see Ardi who usually looks cheerful and still a child can understand the difficulties of father and join in crying together. Now I'm really determined to make my family proud of my achievements. That way, I can help my father by easing my education expenses if I continue to get scholarships.

"Dad, it's okay if Ardi doesn't eat well today so that dad can save money to pay the rent", I was filled to hear the words of my sister who seemed more mature than her age.

"No, nduk. I promised Ardi a nice meal, and I'd make it happen", I tried to comfort Ardi not to think too much about our family's economy.

"No, dad. Ardi doesn't want to eat well. Ardi wants to eat bread alone", Ardi looked at father's face to reassure. I was surprised because Ardi thought so much about me.

"Look at this, I bought 2 packs of rice and brought it home. We eat together", I propose to mediate.

Anyway, I can't make my sister eat bread because she'll starve soon. Even then when my father said he would buy good food, he looked enthusiastic and very happy because our daily food only knows and tempeh. I don't want to ruin his fun and get him thinking about our family problems. He is too small to think about this, and now is the time to learn and play. Not thinking about the family economy.

"That's a great idea. So we can have a nice meal together here", dad agreed to my proposal.

"Alright, I will wait here with my brother" Ardi said again.

"Loh, didn't you want to come with me?" my father asked Ardi. Maybe I asked Ardi to give Ardi the freedom to choose the menu he wanted.

"No, dad. Ardi will accompany the brother and will compress the brother's legs with warm water", Ardi explained again.

My heart was touched to hear it. Ardi really thinks about me. I went to buy our lunch. After father's death, Ardi immediately went to the kitchen and turned on the stove to cook warm water that would be used to compress my swollen ankles.

With difficulty Ardi brought a basin of warm water to the front of the living room. I feel sorry for my little sister. At a young age, he had to live in difficulties like this. I really want to make her feel the beauty of childhood even without a mother. I don't want him to hold everything alone, there's me and dad who will look after him and love him. I want him to share his feelings with me.

I noticed that he slowly picked up a small cloth dipped in warm water, then pointed it at my feet that were getting flushed and swollen.

Tess!. The water droplets fell from my eye's crackers without me noticing.

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