Taint

Asking Answers

Five minutes later, Mom returned with a rectangular white box. Judging from the box, it seemed that the gift was small in size. What stuff about?

"Mom, just a second, I'll go to the bathroom first. Looks like Dara BAB," I said, as Mom handed the box to me.

"Already, let Mother take Dara. You stay here, and look at that stuff." Mother replied while reaching for Dara's body.

"But, Bu___"

"Already, Kirana. You can too, I can." Mom kept going and took Dara away.

I have no choice but to. I finally sat down and opened the white box that made me wonder. Mayra came closer, maybe she was also curious about the contents.

Then I opened it slowly, and there was a pink music box. In addition, there was a small folded piece of paper. I opened the crease and I read it word for word engraved in handwriting.

For Kirana

One sentence written on the top line.

Jasmine white

Blooming in the high sky

Semerbak.

Coloring dreamland

Flying beetles

Dancing in the shadows

Jasmine disappeared

Breaking beetle wings

"Ra, what does that mean?" Mayra asked while frowning.

"I. .. also do not understand," I replied, slowly.

Actually, I can guess a little bit about the meaning of the rhyme. But I'm still not sure. Moreover, I also do not know who the sender is. That's why, I don't want to rush to share the interpretation with others, including Mayra.

"So, who sent this?" Mayra asked again.

"Where I know, I don't know this writing," I replied, not lying.

"Who are you really close to?"

"Nothing, just Daniel doang. But this can't be her." I stared at the neatly written rhyme.

Of all the people I've ever known, the man who loved poetry was Daniel. But I'm not sure if this is him. In my heart I kept wondering, and strangely my heart was pounding every time I stared at the rhyme and the music box. What's wrong with me?

"Is it possible Reza?" guess Mayra.

"No way." I'm shaking. "He doesn't like rhymes" I said.

"Hopefully this is not from Reza" I said in my heart.

Then, I reached for the music box I had placed on the table. I pressed the on button and I heard a melodious guitar sound. Just simple music, but makes me drift in every tone.

Guitar tips that continue to flow, make me forget-forget-remember something. It felt like the melody was not foreign, yet I was completely unable to remember it. I don't know who the creator was, and I don't know where he played it.

"That means you know the sender, Ra," Mayra said.

"Is that so?" I lowered my head, calming an increasingly erratic heart.

Inwardly I grumbled in annoyance, cursing the heart that was getting more and more ignorant of the rules. Lately, he's been pounding a lot. Talking about Miss Fatimah's niece, staring at the gift of a mysterious person, always reacting. In fact, all this time only Daniel was able to shake it. Can't the three of them be the same person?

_________

Rattling rain sounded faintly from the bedroom bed. I sat down and held a pillow. The hour hand shows exactly at 10:00 pm, Dara has been asleep since two hours ago.

I was pensive as I looked at the music box and the rhyme scratch that I got this afternoon. I don't know why those two things really stole my attention. Many times I read line by line the lyrics he wrote. Judging from the series of letters, the author seemed to love someone in silence. Then the man went and broke the writer's heart.

"If he wrote this for me, then who is he? Who have I broken my heart? Daniel, he shouldn't have. We met yesterday, and everything was fine. Although we split up, but our relationship is still good. He can't possibly do this.

Or maybe Reza? If it's connected to Mayra's story, it makes sense. But ...he's not a lover of poetry. He shouldn't have been able to write this" I said alone.

I looked at the line of rhymes carefully. I wish there was a hint of the author's identity. Baby, I found nothing at all. Then, I turned on the music box that I had grasped earlier. Every time the melody plays, I feel familiar with the typical guitar passages. However, once again it is unfortunate, I fail to remember who ever picked it.

"Argghhh, sucks." I growled in annoyance. Curiosity is one of the most annoying things.

"Sok a very mysterious. If not sincere should not need to give, rather than like gini, make it all over." I kept grumbling, but I didn't let go of the music box or the sheet.

I kept holding that thing with a mind that kept glaring. Until I was unaware of the drowsiness that suddenly approached. That feeling led me to explore the lena realm, and to manifest all the passions and minds I could not reach in the real world.

_______

Three weeks had passed, ever since I received a gift from someone with no clear identity. All that time, I didn't find any leads. I still don't know who sent it to me.

From day to day, I start to forget. Although it initially made my heart flutter, but as time went on, I considered it unimportant. If he was serious, he would have come across with a clear identity, I thought.

This morning, after breakfast, Fatimah and I planted flower seeds in the backyard. It just so happened that Ms. Fatimah did not go to the store, and I also did not have a cake order. After making sure Dara was safe with Auntie, I started helping Ms. Fatimah, filling the pot with soil.

"Kirana" called Fatimah.

"Yes, Mother." I replied, without stopping my activities.

"Mother's offer when is the day, how? Is there an answer?" ask Ms. Fatimah.

I looked over and looked at Ms. Fatimah for a moment. So long as he never talked about it, I thought he had forgotten it, but he didn't.

Regarding the offer, I discussed it with Mayra and also Mother. But, I personally have not found the answer.

You and Daniel can't be together. If that guy really wants to accept you, there's no harm in you accepting it, Ra. Gradually, love will come by itself.

Mayra said as I asked her opinion.

Your mother is a noble hearted woman, I'm sure she can't possibly knock you out. Especially after hearing her willingness to accept your past, I don't think it's a bad thing, Kirana. When it comes to love, leave it to Allah, He is the One who turns his heart upside down. But ... I'm not pushy, it all depends on yourself, son.

Mother's advice, when I visited there and told her about the offer of Ms. Fatimah.

"Kirana," called Ms. Fatimah, when my lips were still tightly clenched.

Seriate...