Taint

Men of the Past

I don't know if my choice is right or wrong. I decided to stay with Ms. Fatimah. Apart from living without a family, I also feel guilty about the past. Mother also accepted my decision, she allowed me to stay with Ms. Fatimah, with a note to keep exchanging news and visiting each other.

Now, it's been three months since I gave birth to Dara. As long as there is no problem, everything is much better than before. Mother's health has fully recovered, she can peddle cakes as usual. I also visited him repeatedly.

The servant that Bu Fatimah hired, stayed there and helped Mother's work. Relationships in our family are getting better, even Mas Denis and Mas Bayu are now not cynical like they used to be. I really rediscovered the light of life that was then extinguished.

In addition to taking care of Dara, I fill my daily life by making cakes. I learned the tutorial spread on social media. Now I can make sponge cake, brownies, and also birthday cakes. Actually, Ms. Fatimah prevented me from doing this. But I insist on doing it. I want to have income, although it is far from enough. I am always grateful, at least there is still an opportunity to hone other talents, after failing to become a teacher.

This afternoon, I was sitting in the shop, next to the workshop. The motorcycle tyre I was carrying was leaking and being patched. I waited for him while sipping warm tea.

Sometimes I open a little sleeve of my shirt, to glance at the circular clock hand there.

"A long time, yeah. I've been waiting for almost an hour" I said slowly. I've been gone too long and I'm afraid Dara's crying.

I just delivered the order to the customer. There are only three places and it doesn't take long. But because of the leaky tire constraints and the workshop was quite crowded, I came home much later than expected.

"Kirana."

I looked up when I heard someone call my name. I frowned, not expecting to see him in this place. We've known each other, but haven't known each other in a long time.

"Sister Darren." I smiled when I greeted him.

"It turns out you, I was afraid of wrong people. Your appearance ... different." Darren's brother sat in front of me playing his car keys.

"Yes, I'm like this now." I answered while looking down.

"Beautiful, seen as more shady," said Kak Darren, who then made me more down.

"Thank you" I said, slowly.

"How are you?" ask Brother Darren.

"Good thanks, brother how are you?" I lifted a little bit of my face and stared at him for a glance.

"I'm good too. Mmmm you're alone?" ask Brother Darren.

"Yes, I came here by accident. My tires are leaking and have to wait." I smiled as I pointed at the grown man who was busy patching the tires.

"Where are you going?" Darren asked again.

"I've just delivered the order and I'm on my way home. Brother Darren himself, where are you going?" I answered while asking a similar question.

"Would've visited Aunt's house, but it's empty, nobody. I didn't pick up the phone either, there's another possible event" said Kak Darren.

I responded with a slow nod and murmur. Then I offered him a drink, but Kak Darren refused, saying there was cold water in the car.

"It's still a while, Ra?" Brother Darren asked as he glanced towards the workshop.

"It may soon be mine that is repaired" I replied.

"Am I gonna take you? Later let the workshop people who carry your motorcycle," Darren bargained.

"No need, brother, just stay back in my room." I refused with a smile.

"Kirana, may I___" Darren stopped his words, because the workshop man shouted to me.

"Oh yes, Bang, just a second, yes" I replied with a slightly high intonation.

Then I approached the shop owner and paid for my drink. Then I sat down in front of Darren.

"Sister, my bike is done, I'm back first yes," I said to Darren.

"You ... are in a hurry?" Brother Darren looked at me fixedly, I don't know what he was thinking.

"Mmmm actually yes, there is a little busyness at home," I replied, not lying. I have to hurry back because Dara is waiting for me.

"Yes, be careful. I'm going home too." Brother Darren moved and immediately stepped away from me.

I was still speechless as I stared at the back of Brother Darren who walked away. Either I'm the one who saw it wrong or it's the truth. I caught a pretty deep disappointed in Darren's netra. Wh why?

"Miss."

I woke up from a daydream, when the workshop people called back. I turned my eyes and put my foot in her direction. I smiled when I arrived in front of him.

"How, Bang?" my many.

"Twelve thousand, Neng."

I took two pieces of tens of thousands, and I handed them over to him, without asking for change. Then I picked up the red matic motorbike and took it on, down the street.

________

The sun was almost at the foot of the western sky, and I just stopped in the garage. I got off the motor while frowning in wonder. There's a white Ninja motorcycle parked in the yard. Who the fuck? I don't recognize him at all.

"What might be your friend Mother, yes. But ... It's like a boy's bike," I muttered alone. I glanced at Ms. Fatimah's car parked in the garage.

"Ahh, never mind, it doesn't matter who he is. Now I need to hurry in and see Dara. Poor him, I left him long enough." I said as I stepped into the main door.

I smiled when I heard the voice of Fatimah who was joking with Dara. In my heart I was grateful, because she did not cry, even though I was late to go home.

Shortly after, my steps stopped. I stared at the middle room. There was a very familiar figure of a man sitting sweetly on the sofa. The man with whom I had been close and trusted. A man who has been part of a story of the past.

"Why is he here?" my inner.

I was flabbergasted and trembling, I didn't expect we would meet so soon. I stepped back, and was about to leave this room. But because I was too nervous, I hit the wreath in the corner of the living room. The sound I made was not too loud, but it was enough to attract the attention of Fatimah and also the man I did not want to meet.

"Kirana." The man moved while looking at me fixedly.

As I immediately threw away my gaze, I didn't want to fall too deep. That was enough time that I was lulled by it.

"Kirana."

Again his voice melodious in the air, but my tongue was still mute to answer. I kept my head down while gripping the long skirt I was wearing. This heart and mind were suddenly muddled due to his presence.

I retreated, when I heard his approaching steps.

"Kirana, I want to talk" he said as he arrived before me.

Seriate...