Taint

Not a Trijaya University Student

Almost even half an hour I sat down while shedding tears in front of Ambar. After saying something about his parents, he no longer spoke. Only his rough roar of breath, as well as my sobs filled the void.

The creaking of the door that sounded loud, made my heart beat violently. It was as if he had jumped out of place. This body was getting weak and helpless, unable to look at the disappointed face of the old man. Tired and tired of their struggle, I replaced it with a stain. After burdening them with tuition fees, I now burden them with contempt. Ah, how cruel I am.

As the steps approached, I immediately moved and rushed towards him. I sat on the floor hugging Mom's legs tightly.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I'm sorry," I said on the sidelines of the increasingly broken cries.

I kept my head down and hid my face in both legs. Although this can't change things, but I'm really sorry and expect the word 'sorry' from her.

"I'm sorry Mom, forgive all my stupidity" I said to the umpteenth time.

The next second, I felt a warm touch on both shoulders. A touch that slowly becomes a grasp.

"Wake, Son. Wake up and wipe your tears!" I heard Mom's voice heavy and stifled. I'm sure he endured the tightness and disappointment.

Staying down, I stood up and stood in front of my mother. The grip on my shoulder stretched out, and within seconds it completely slipped off. Then I felt the warmth of the fingers rubbing my cheeks, wiping every point of tears that wet there.

I looked up, and braced myself to look at the old face of the Mother. I bit my lips, when I saw his pair of hollow eyes that kept on gnawing. Mom is holding back tears.

"Don't cry." Mother said while commenting on the fake smile, and it made my heart hurt even more. Although Mom tried to be tough, but I know that Mom is currently depressed.

"Where's the father, ma'am?" ask me slowly. I thought Dad was coming, but he wasn't. Only my mother goes to college.

"Your father is still busy, son," Mother whispered trembling. Whether my feelings are, or they are, the sadness on Mom's face becomes more real when I ask about Dad.

I no longer speak, but in my heart I say a prayer, I hope you are well.

"Mom Ambar, Daniel and his parents are waiting in Pak Akhsan's room" Rahman said from the doorstep.

Pak Akhsan is the head lecturer at Trijaya University.

"Let's come with me." Bu Ambar moved from his seat while looking at me briefly.

"Come, son." Mother smiled, while tidying my hair.

I nodded and started to swing my legs. In Mother's embrace, I walked after Ambar, picking up the part of the nightmare that had been unfolding before my eyes.

Shortly after, we arrived at Pak Akhsan's room. My net was immediately fixed on the figure of the man sitting at the very end of the chair. Daniel, his pair of eyes were looking at me with a sad look. Looking at the wrinkles lodged in his chocolate bead, this heart was increasingly sliced. Pain, pain, as if this wound was impossible to treat. The confusion seemed to affirm how steep the gap between us was.

Two years ago, the chocolate bead looked at me with a million graces. Thanks to him, I know the beauty of love and the sweetness of longing. But thanks to him too, I knew the pain of lara and the taint of her sin. Two years we knit romance, joke and laugh together. But now, all that beauty is gone. Faux hopes have been breathed in with the flow of time. The love story that once reigned, now ended with tears.

"Mama has reminded you many times, Daniel, decide Kirana. Not the look or position that makes Mama reluctant to approve you, but confidence. You and Kirana are different, there is no way for you to be together. In our religion, it is forbidden to pair with non-believers. Mama is sure, in Kirana religion as well. So what do you expect from this relationship other than separation, Daniel!"

I have not yet sat in a chair, my ears have heard the stifling words. Reality really forced me to realize that Daniel and I were destined not to be together.

"I'm sorry, Ma."

I heard Daniel's voice was so heavy, he must have regretted everything that had happened.

Why does the taste appear in the heart, if it ends up just being a thorn that hurts.

The next minute, I just sat pensively, lamenting the slowly scattered pieces of hope. Among the dreams that danced in illusions, the voices of people around faintly burst into hearing.

There's not much I can catch, but I understand that now Daniel and I are not students at Trijaya University. My name and name have been removed from the attendance list here.

My eyes blurred, tears welled up and ready to sag. At a glance I glanced at Daniel, his fingers tightly interlocked. His gaze was flat, and the roar of his breathing sounded heavy. Maybe right now, he's just as broken as me.

______

The sun is increasingly crawling high, the light is so hot even though it is not yet noon. Mom and I were sitting in the cabana, jostling with other mothers who were out of nowhere. Some of them, often steal a glance at me. Maybe they wonder about my eyes that are sweet and careless. I have no right to restrict their views, so all I can do is bow down.

Many times I let out a long sigh, calming down to face the time later. We were on our way home, and ever since I came out of Mr. Ahksan's room, I haven't opened my voice at all.

The closer I got to home, the faster my heart beat. How did Dad respond, how did Mas Bayu respond, how did Mas Denis respond. I had a hard time swallowing the saliva, when the worst possibilities started haunting my mind.

One by one the passengers got off at their respective places. My mom and I were almost home, just one more turn away.

"May all be well. O Allah, give the servant the strength to go through all this," my mind bitterly.

Angkot stopped right in front of the house, and at that moment my world seemed to stop spinning. A pair of netraku stared giddily at the long, white vehicle parked in front of the terrace. Not only that, I saw many male and female neighbors gathered at the house. What the hell is going on?

"Mother! Mama! What's up, Mom!" I screamed quickly.

"Let's go in! Apologize to your father, while you can still look at his body." Mom whispered while shedding tears.

"No! This is impossible! This can't be, Mom! Tell me if this is wrong, Mom!" I shouted beyond the limits of consciousness.

Seriate...

Hello Brother, thank you for your support and appreciation in my work entitled Noda. Hope everything goes well, so I can write this novel to the end.

The novel's episodes will be up periodically. While waiting, I would like to recommend the finished work. Three novels I wrote before I wrote Noda.

About Taste (a story of love and friendship)

The Sanctity of Tarnished Love (household drama)

A Piece of Asa In A Taste (love story of poor guy and rich girl)

If anyone would like, please click on my profile, and find my works there. Thank ye.

Sweet greetings from the author

Gresya Salsabila