Take My Heart's

GO WITH DANIEL

Khalisha's eyes continued to stare at the three groceries she had taken from the food cabinet. A stick of tempeh, two pieces of fried tofu left over for dinner, and a bunch of kale that had withered, only those ingredients were in his food cabinet. He heaved a heavy sigh as he looked at the kale on the table. If only there was a refrigerator in his house, the kale that his grandmother bought yesterday afternoon might not be this late.

Over time staring at the food, making him confused what to cook. Moreover, he is not very good at cooking like his grandmother. He did not know whether the results of his cooking will be in accordance with the tongue of his grandmother and grandfather or vice versa.

Usually, my grandmother prepares breakfast. But for this morning, Khalisha deliberately woke up early to prepare breakfast. There was no way he would let his sick grandmother prepare breakfast. He did not want Grandma's legs getting sicker because he was too tired to take care of the house.

As usual, after dawn prayers, the grandmother went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Although her legs were painful, Grandma could not just escape from her responsibilities. Preparing breakfast for her husband and grandchildren is one of her duties at home. However, upon entering the kitchen, his steps instantly came to a halt. Both of his eyes looked in shock.

"Lis, how are you here? You better go back to the room now. Let Grandma cook."

Khalisha turned her head in surprise towards the kitchen door. Because engrossed in his own thoughts, he was not aware of the presence of his grandmother. He walked over to the grandmother who was still in the doorway.

"Grandmother why is it here? Grandma should have slept in the room again. Grandma's legs still hurt. Let me make breakfast this morning."

"But, Lis, you'll be exhausted again. This morning you went to school. You will be in a hurry again."

Khalisha took a breath. "Foods that want to be cooked are only three. When cooked, at least two plates can be eaten. Cooking so little will not make you tired, let alone rush to school. So, now Grandma went back to the room and took a break. Breakfast business, let me take care of that."

"But, Lis—"

"There's no buts. Grandma rest in the room, "cut Khalisha fast.

Grandma sighed. Grandma can't stand against her granddaughter. What can be done, inevitably grandma obeyed what Khalisha wanted. With a heavy heart, Grandma stepped back into her room.

No clockwork has shown at 05:35. Khalisha did not have much time to worry about what food to serve to her grandparents. He had to take a shower and get ready to go to school. His hand then took the tempe and cut it quickly. Stupid time with the results of his cooking later. Most importantly, the food they cook can be eaten.

***

The hour hand has now shown at 06:30. Khalisha was already sitting quietly beside grandfather. Bribe by mouthful of rice, Khalisha is voracious with her fine. Fortunately, the cooking was a little. If the food he cooked was a lot, he could not imagine that he would be so hasty in preparing everything before going to school. He may also be late for school.

"Disn't the food good, Cake?" asked grandma smiling happily. Cooking is something Khalisha rarely does at home. Activities that Khalisha often does in addition to helping her sell cakes are learning.

"Of course it's good. But this one tastes better than usual, "praise grandfather, then put a spoonful of rice back in his mouth.

"So you mean Grandpa, the food Grandma used to cook was not good?" asked granny grunt annoyed.

Grandpa coughed up to him. His hand grabbed a glass of water and gulped it down. Both eyes looked at Grandma. Judging from his expression, it seemed that his wife was offended by his honest remark earlier.

"No. That's not what Grandpa meant, Grandma. For Grandpa, whatever food Grandma cooks is always good." Grandfather hurriedly explained. Of course, grandfather did not want his wife to get angry and ended up ignoring him.

"Good then" said Grandma satisfied with Grandpa's answer, "but it is only natural that Grandpa said this food is better. This morning the cook is not Grandma."

Grandfather was no longer surprised to hear it. At home there are only two women. If it wasn't his wife who cooked, it would have been his favorite granddaughter who cooked.

"Report alone tastes different. Your cooking tastes a lot like your mother's cooking, Lis. Grandpa was not expecting. Not only does your face look the same as your mother's, your cooking is similar. Grandpa is kangen with your mother, Lis," said Grandpa smiling.

His grandfather's words made his mind again think of the figure of his good mother. His face, his smile, his attitude, all of that was clearly recorded in his brain memory. He hastily brushed aside all that, trying to forget all those memories. The last meal he ate quickly. He wants to immediately go to school to avoid the words of grandfather that will make him remember the past he always wanted to forget.

Khalisha got up from her chair and left with her dirty dishes and glasses. After washing the dishes, he stepped quickly towards his room to pick up the bag.

Grandpa and Grandma stared at Khalisha's strange departure. They both feel that Khalisha's attitude is a bit strange, precisely after grandfather talked about his mother.

"Grandfather doesn't feel that Khalisha's attitude is strange?" grandma whispered.

"Yes, Grandma. Grandpa felt that way too. Did Grandpa say anything wrong?" suhut grandpa confused.

Tok...

Hearing the sound of knocking on the door, grandparents stopped their chatter. They are both astonished. There is not usually someone who visits the house in the morning, especially at the hour people leave for work or go to school. Grandma got up from her chair. It's not good to let guests outside wait too long.

"Grandma sat down. Let Grandpa open the door," stop Grandpa.

"But, Kek—"

"Udah, just sit down. Grandma's legs hurt again. For a while, don't move too much. Let Grandpa open the door, "cut Grandpa, then get up and walk away to the front door.

With a hasty step, Khalisha approached her grandmother who was still at the dinner table. Unbeknownst to him, the clock has shown at 06:40. He should go to school immediately. The distance between his home and school is quite far. Moreover, this morning he had to leave on foot, making it take more time to get to school. How else. The bicycle he used was broken. There is no other option but to walk. The money given by his grandmother must be able to be economical in order to be used for the next few days.

"Mom, I'm leaving first. It was late, nih," he said, then kissed the back of Grandma's hand. Both eyes then looked at the chair occupied by grandfather. However, the figure he was looking for was nowhere in place. "Where are you, Grandma?"

"Grandfather is ahead. Again receive guests," replied the grandmother as she picked up the dirty dishes.

"Guests? Tumben has a guest. Who's coming?" ask Khalisha wonder.

"Grandma doesn't know either."

"I'll go, Grandma." Khalisha then stepped out of her grandmother.

"The hawker was still there yesterday. I also brought provisions," said Khalisha without stopping his steps.

Grandma stared sadly at Khalisha's departure. At a young age, he cannot live like other children. When the other children squander the money their parents gave them, Khalisha instead has to save the money she gives and hold back whatever she wants. He even had to be smart to manage his finances a little. If only she was a rich man, grandma would not let Khalisha's life be difficult.

Khalisha who was heading to the front door saw her grandfather standing in the wide open doorway. It was obvious that his grandfather was talking to someone. It was just me, he couldn't see anyone talking to Grandpa. The curiosity of the guest instantly came back in his mind.

Suddenly, Grandpa turned his body. Seeing Khalisha walking towards him, the grandfather immediately exclaimed, "Khalisha, come quickly! It's your friend."

Grandfather's call of course made Khalisha shocked. He never told anyone his home address, including Mayang who is currently close to him. Rather than being curious, he quickly walked over to Grandfather.

Khalisha stared in disbelief. A man who was indirectly his employer was standing in front of his house. He was astonished and asked in his heart, "Why did he come here? How does he know my home address?"

"Lis, put your shoes on! If you do not leave now, it will be late again," said grandfather.

Khalisha put on her shoes. Though he understood nothing, he did what his grandfather asked him to do. When he finished, he immediately got up and kissed the back of grandfather's hand.

"Grandfather, I'm going to school."

"You guys be careful on the road. Don't speed!" he said, "Daniel, please take care of Grandpa's grandson, yes."

"Yes, Cake. Grandpa is calm. I'll take care of Khalisha" said Daniel, smiling.

Khalisha was shocked to hear the brief conversation of the two men standing nearby.

"Grandpa, what did Grandpa mean to leave you to Daniel. I can take care of myself, really. So, I don't need anyone else to take care of me."

Grandfather breathed heavily. There was sadness in my grandfather's eyes. Perhaps because Khalisha had always done anything alone, so she did not even think of relying on others.

Daniel then put on a helmet that he deliberately carried over to Khalisha. "Come aboard! It's late again."

"You mean.. I went to school with you?" khalisha asked confused.

"Trus you think, why would I come all the way here if not to pick you up" said Daniel. He then brought his face closer to Khalisha, then whispered, "You have no right to refuse me. Remember that! I am now your employer. You must fulfill all my desires."

Khalisha took a breath. With a heavy heart, he sat on Daniel's bike. It feels a little weird. This was the first time he went to school on a motorcycle, let alone an expensive motorcycle like Daniel's. Unbeknownst to Khalisha, Daniel smiled happily. No loss he came all the way to Khalisha's house. Again, luck was on his side.

***

This morning was strange. Since coming down from Daniel's motorbike, there have been a lot of eye gazes directed at Khalisha, especially the schoolgirls. Their gaze certainly makes Khalisha confused and also uncomfortable. Just this time he felt uncomfortable walking down the school corridor.

Khalisha glanced at Daniel who was walking beside her. Daniel looks relaxed walking the school corridor. It seemed, he was completely unaffected by the gazes that kept on pointing at him.

On the other hand, Daniel glanced towards Khalisha. Though the appearance of Khalisha looks ordinary, but somehow his eyes are very comfortable to look at him. In order to look convincing as an employer, Daniel took off his bag and handed it over by force to Khalisha.

"Bring my bag!" his orders.

Khalisha was silent with Daniel's bag. Daniel's bag turned out to be quite heavy, making his hands feel sore. It seems like there are a lot of books he has brought.

"Lis, by the way dong!" pinta Daniel's bored. He was lazy if every time he met Khalisha, he always took the initiative to start a conversation.

"What by the way?" tanyanya flat.

"As far as you are. What's the matter, cake."

Khalisha thought for a moment. Suddenly, he remembered some questions that stuck in his heart.

"Do you know where my house is? I never told you my home address."

Hearing the question, Daniel sighed. His mind recalls the moment he drove Khalisha home yesterday. Unlike others who are happy when driven home by him, Khalisha is just the opposite. He doesn't even look happy to be delivered by her. There, he instead urged her to drop him on the road. With a heavy heart, he complied with Khalisha's request. Until now, he did not understand why Khalisha did not want to be escorted by him to his home. However, because he wanted to know where Khalisha lived, he secretly followed Khalisha to his home.

"Daniel!" tegur Khalisha stared strangely.

Daniel suddenly woke up from his daydream. "Why, Lis?"

"Why are you dumb?"

"No. I'm not dumbass. What's the matter?"

"You still haven't answered my question. How do you know my home address?"

"That's none of your business. You don't need to know that" she said. He did not want anyone to know about his shameful actions, especially Khalisha. He could not imagine how Khalisha would react if he knew that he was following her, "already, ah. Don't talk too much! Bring the right bag! Don't let my bag fall."

Khalisha was really confused. It was Daniel who asked him to speak. He had not spoken for two minutes, he had been asked to be quiet. Rather than his head becoming dizzy at the thought of Daniel's strange demeanor, he preferred to shut up and ignore it. With Daniel's bag in hand, he followed Daniel to his class.

***