Take My Heart's

KHALISHAS

The hour hand has been pointed at 06:30. A girl in a high school uniform casually walked out of her room. With a bag attached to his back, he stepped his foot into the kitchen. The atmosphere in the kitchen no longer sounded rowdy. Although there was still a sound heard, but not too severe as an hour before. His face looked so calm as he approached the dining table. Both of his eyes seemed accustomed to the scene that had always been seen there. Two people he loved were sitting quietly. Occasionally, there is intimacy that they do not hesitate to show like young people who are being drunk.

Seeing the arrival of the girl, the old woman who was serving her husband immediately stopped her romance. The woman smiled a little. There was a red hue visible on his face, more precisely the shame when he found out there were other people who saw his behavior earlier.

"Why are you standing there? Sit quickly! Grandma get me the food." Grandma immediately took out an empty plate.

"Grandma don't have to get food for me. Let me take it myself" said the girl, then sat down beside her grandfather.

The girl then took the plate in Grandma's hand and immediately filled it with rice and a few scoops of tempe fried sambal.

Both of the girls eyes stared at the old food that was in front of him. Again the side dish presented on the table is sambal fried tempe. No vegetables, fish or eggs on the table. Apparently, the tempe used for this morning's side dish was the tempe given by her next door neighbor yesterday afternoon.

If he could be honest in front of his grandparents, he was tired of his food that was so-so. Sambal fried tempeh, omelet, clear vegetables, and instant noodles, such foods that always take turns filling the stomach in the morning, afternoon, and at night. For him, the food that became his breakfast menu every day was not enough to meet his nutrition, especially for his grandparents who are old. Their bodies definitely need more nutritional intake to maintain their health. However, what could he do other than keep all his grievances in his heart. Seeing how their financial condition, could not bear if he asked a lot of things to his grandparents. It was enough to see them working hard in raising him. Although it feels heavy, he must be able to resist all his desires, as already so as not to trouble them.

"Khalisha, the food is just seen doang? Wh why? The food's not good, is it?" gently scold grandma. His eyes looked sadly at the girl.

The girl called Khalisha was awakened from her daydream. He looked at Grandma for a moment, not interested in seeing her sad face.

"Enak, kok," Khalisha replied with a flat expression.

"Trus why haven't you eaten? It's seven o'clock soon, loh. If you don't eat it, you'll be late for school."

Without saying anything else, he stuffed his food into his mouth. Bribe after mouthful of rice and chili fried tempeh gave relief to his empty digestion. He no longer let strange things come back to disturb his mind.

Grandma stared at khalisha. His face was even saddened to see his favorite grandson eating with a potluck side dish.

"Sorry Grandma, Lis. The food again. Grandma knows, you must be bored. Yeah, right?"

"No" he answered briefly.

Khalisha could understand how her grandmother felt at this time. It is not easy to serve the same food every day. But what he can do. He himself had no money to help. Just by eating whatever his grandmother cooked, at least that way could help reduce the sadness and guilt that his grandmother felt.

Grandfather who had been sitting quietly since noticed them smiling knots. Pleased, sad, and guilty, all of it was mixed up filling the space in his heart. It was good to see the two women he loved could accept their condition is all short. But on the other hand, his heart was so sad. As the head of the family and the only man, he still could not make his wife and granddaughter happy. He must be willing to see them downsize so that the daily needs that should be his responsibility are fulfilled.

"Lisha, eat it a little spout! You go to school on a bike, not a fast bike ride or an angkot. If you do not leave now, you may be late to school," said grandfather staring fixedly Khalisha.

"Yes, Cake. It's over soon" he said briefly. As her grandfather had said, Khalisha hurriedly finished her meal.

Grandma took out a small container, then put the rice and also the remaining tempe fried sambal into it. His two eyes occasionally glanced at grandfather.

"Grandfather, yesterday Grandma saw a rose in Miss Linda's yard. Very beautiful, the flower. If you buy, it will be expensive. If Grandma asks for one, Miss Linda will love Grandma no, huh?" grandma looked excited. Grandma was eager to plant some roses in her yard.

Khalisha sontak. It was obvious that he did not like the words that had just been thrown from his grandmother's mouth. He got up from his chair and moved his feet away from the table.

Khalisha immediately stopped her footsteps. Both of his eyes looked coldly at Grandma.

"I'm full. I'm leaving first. It's late."

"If so you bring this, yes," said the grandmother as she handed the food in her hand, "sorry Grandma yes, Lis. For today and the next few days, you have to bring supplies. Looks like for the next few days Grandma can't give you pocket money."

"Yes, Grandma," he answered briefly, then picked up some food and put it in a bag. But before leaving, he again said in a loud tone, "Grandmother, I hope next time Grandma no longer mentions the word in front of me, let alone to plant it here. Grandma already knows that I don't like it."

Grandma was shocked to hear that, "but, Lis—"

"If Grandma still loves me and wants me to stay here, never mention or plant the flower here" he said.

Sad, that expression was clearly on my grandmother's face when I heard Khalisha's words. Grandma did not expect that her beloved granddaughter would say that to her.

"Until when are you going to be like this, Lis? Grandma misses you the same old one."

Khalisha. There were no more words he wanted to get out of his mouth. He hurriedly kissed the backs of the hands of his grandparents, then left behind the grandparents who stared at his passing with a sad look.

Roses are one of the flowers that are liked by many people, especially by the girls. In addition to its beautiful shape, the rose was considered as a symbol of love. Unfortunately, not everyone likes it. Khalisha is one of them. This beautiful girl hated him. Even just hearing the word rose, he did not like it. When she accidentally hears the word rose from someone else's mouth, she prefers to go away. Same with his attitude this morning. He would rather rush to school than listen to the conversation of his grandparents who were discussing something he hated. He did not want his emotions to explode on the two people who had contributed to his life.

After Khalisha's death, sadness gained control of Grandma's heart. It was very sad to see firsthand the attitude of his icy grandson. Grandma herself did not know until when she had to see Khalisha living this miserable life.

"Alright, Grandma. You don't have to be sad like that. It's also not the first time Lisha has behaved like that, right? After all, you also started it first. You know for yourself that Lisha doesn't like us to talk about anything related to roses" said grandfather trying to calm his wife.

Grandma sighed heavily, "you're right, Cake. I can't forget that Lisha doesn't like us to talk about it the most. But still, it felt really sad to see Lisha's attitude earlier. When will Lisha live like that? I miss my old grandson so much."

"Patience, Grandma. Rest assured, someday our grandson will come back again," said the grandfather, hugging his grandmother tightly, trying to calm his wife.

"But when, Cake? How long should I be patient?"

Grandma's tears immediately fell down her cheeks. His mind drifted into the past, imagining what Khalisha was like.

Grandpa smiled wryly. Grandfather could feel the sadness and longing his wife felt. She also took care of and raised Khalisha. Everything Khalisha experienced, none of it was lost from her memory. Often times grandfather felt disappointed in himself. He who as the head of the family never did much to make his wife and grandchildren happy.

"All we can do is pray to God. We just pray that Lisha is always in His protection, given health, and given chest spaciousness in order to accept reality and come back again like before. That's the most important thing," said Grandpa as he rubbed the tears of grandma.

Again the grandmother breathed heavily. What had just come out of her husband's mouth was true. All he could do right now was pray and surrender to God. But still, the only hope that will not change is to see Khalisha become a cheerful girl.

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