Take My Heart's

KANGENS

Grandma kept stirring her food. Not a spoonful of rice Grandma put it in her mouth. Grandma breathed heavily. His eyes looked at the empty chair in front of him. An instant of sadness flashed in his eyes.

This is the third day Khalisha is not home. The atmosphere of the house feels different. Although Khalisha rarely spoke, the house felt empty without her. No one helped him do his homework, no one helped him sell cookies, no one saw his affection for grandfather, no one got angry when he accidentally mentioned the word rose, and no one brought food. When morning came, the grandmother sometimes went to Khalisha's room to tell her to hurry to school. However, all grandmother got was a sense of longing when she saw Khalisha's room was empty. Grandma often forgets that Khalisha is staying at her friend Daniel's house.

Grandpa suddenly stopped eating. Both his eyes were on his wife. Grandpa knew that his wife was missing Khalisha. What can Grandpa do now. Apart from not knowing where Daniel's home address was, he also did not have a phone to call Daniel and ask about Khalisha's situation.

"Don't keep stirring up your food! Eat up! I don't want you to get sick," said Grandpa worriedly.

Grandma forced her smile in front of grandfather. His appetite is completely gone. How could he eat well at home, while his grandson was at a man's house. Grandma didn't get any news about Khalisha. There were so many questions running through his mind, but there was no answer to them. Is Khalisha okay there? Did Daniel treat him well? When will Khalisha be home?

"You don't have to worry about Lisha. I'm sure, he's fine there, "grandfather tried to convince grandma.

"Where am I not worried? My granddaughter stayed at the guy's house, and there was no news. Don't know if he's okay or not there" said grandma staring annoyed grandfather.

"Lisha is no longer a child. He knows what he's doing. He can take care of himself, for sure" said grandfather.

"But still, Khalisha is a woman. It's not good for him to stay at a guy's house. We have not known Daniel for a long time. Although Khalisha said she worked there, I still felt anxious. I'm afraid that Daniel's messing with Khalisha" said the worried grandmother.

"You calm down, yeah. I'm sure Daniel was a good boy. He won't do anything, much less endanger Khalisha."

"Why can you be so sure? You also haven't known Daniel for a long time" asked the grandmother, not understanding the way her husband thought.

"Because I believe in Lisha's choice. I'm sure, Lisha won't carelessly make a decision. He must have his own reasons. After all, Lisha would definitely not have made such a decision if she did not know who Daniel was. Even though I don't know Daniel completely, I'm sure he's a good boy. The proof alone, he came here to ask our permission. If he's not a good guy, he can't do that. He's probably going to get Lisha to ask us for permission, '" Grandpa said.

Even so, my grandmother was still worried. Grandma couldn't calm down before seeing Khalisha. Plus, he also missed Khalisha a lot. However, from childhood until now, she grew up in this house together with him. Almost all of my grandmothers knew about him.

"Are you angry with me?" I asked Grandpa, "i'm sorry I couldn't do anything for our grandchildren."

Grandma smiled wryly at her husband's words, then said, "Not apologize. This has all happened. But, I miss Lisha. I want to see him."

Grandfather looked at his wife sadly, then exhaled heavily. Grandpa could understand what Grandma was feeling right now, because even grandfather felt the same way. He also missed Khalisha very much, longing for her cold attitude. In a crucial moment like this, his mind felt deadlocked. He was even confused what to do to reduce his wife's grief.

The atmosphere at the dining table instantly felt awkward. Both grandparents are engrossed in their daydreams. Every now and then Grandma sighed, then returned to her daydream. An idea suddenly flashed through Grandfather's mind. A simple idea that should have been thought of since.

"What if we come to Lisha's school tomorrow? We can meet Lisha and ask Daniel's home address. So, if we miss Lisha, we can come to her house. How do you think?"

"Yes, yeah. Why don't I think about it, huh?" said grandma happy.

"That means you agree, right?"

"Yes, I agree," replied the excited grandmother.

"If so, finish your food quickly!"

"Yes. I'll finish my food. We'll see Lisha tomorrow."

Grandma ate her food. Bribe after mouthful of rice began to give relief to his empty digestion. Grandma's heart was very happy. I can't wait to meet Khalisha.

***

The school bell sign home finally rang loudly. All the class residents cheered because the lessons that drained their brains were finally finished as well. They hurriedly stuffed their books into the bag, then rushed out of the classroom. This happened to Daniel as well. His hands quickly stuffed his books into the bag. He was already impatient to approach Khalisha in his class.

"Hey, Daniel!" michael stood beside Daniel. Not forgetting the sweet smile she put on her lips.

Daniel did not respond to Micah's greeting. He just kept quiet. Even just looking at him, he didn't. Daniel's cold demeanor certainly disappointed Micah. He never understood why Daniel never once was so friendly with him.

"Daniel, we go home together, yuk!" take Micah with a pounding heart. He hoped that Daniel would accept his invitation.

"You go home alone" said Daniel coldly. He got up and left Micah.

For the umpteenth time, Micah swallowed disappointment. Although he knew the result would be like that, he was not at all determined to try to get close to Daniel. But at any time, Daniel's attitude will never change. He sighed. There was no point in him lingering by Daniel's chair. He finally stepped foot slowly leaving the classroom.

Daniel now stands in front of Khalisha's class. His eyes seemed to be tracing the room, looking for Khalisha. But unfortunately, the figure he was looking for never found. There were only a few students who kept looking at him inside.

Damn it. In fact, he had already walked quickly to get to Khalisha's class. Usually Khalisha comes home last, so she can pick him up in class. He sighed, disappointed that the person he was looking for was no longer there. Instead of lingering looked strange by the students who were left there, he moved his feet quickly back to the school parking lot. He hopes Khalisha has not left the school grounds.

Meanwhile, Khalisha walked leisurely towards the school gate. But this time, he was not alone. He was with Mayang. Having sat down with him, Mayang chose to go home with him. Mayang had told him that he was lazy to go home with Siska and Dita. Because of the fighting that occurred at that time, the relationship between Mayang, Siska, and Dita became damaged. Let alone chatting, mutually reassured no matter how they are reluctant to do it.

Both of Mayang's eyes suddenly pointed at one black sedan car that had just stopped in front of the school gate. A man got out of the car. He smiled looking at Mayang, then waved his hand.

"Lis, my papa's picked up. You want to go home with me?" ask Mayang.

"Maybe next time" said Khalisha, "you go first."

"Yes already. Then I'll go first, Lis." After saying that, Mayang left Khalisha alone.

Both eyes of Khalisha could not be seen Mayang who approached his papa. He could clearly see the happiness on their faces. Seeing their togetherness, the beautiful memories together with his parents once again revolved in his mind. How happy his childhood was. A hand suddenly just patted him on the shoulder, making his mind that floated into the past return to the real world. He turned around and looked at Daniel standing behind him.

"Why don't you wait for me in class anyway, Lis? I was looking for you earlier. I thought you went home first" Daniel said.

"I was with my friend. It's not good to refuse him" Khalisha said.

"Trus, where's your friend?" daniel asked while looking for his friend Khalisha.

"Udah home. He was picked up by his father."

"If we go home now." Daniel put a helmet on Khalisha's head.

Khalisha was silent when Daniel put the helmet on her head. However, as he was about to get on Daniel's motorcycle, his eyes were perfectly rounded when he saw two new people appear in front of the school gate. Without taking off his helmet and saying anything to Daniel, he ran small towards the school gate.

Daniel stared strangely at Khalisha's sudden departure. He turned on his motorbike and drove slowly after Khalisha.

Arriving in front of the school gate, Khalisha stood sculpting. He still could not believe that his grandparents were in school. They rarely go to school. The reason is only one. They don't want to embarrass themselves in front of their schoolmates, even if they don't care about it at all.

Without saying anything, Grandma immediately hugged Khalisha. His inner tormenting longing instantly disappeared without a trace. Her tears involuntarily flowed down both of her cheeks.

"Lisha, Grandma misses you" said the grandmother, then let go of her embrace.

"I miss Grandma too. Grandpa and Grandma are fine, right? How come you guys came here?" khalisha asked in confusion.

"Your grandmother has lost weight with you, Lis. Since we don't know where Daniel's house is, that's why we came here" said Grandpa smiling, "what are you? You okay there? Is Daniel being nice to you?"

"Grandma and Grandma don't worry about me. I was just fine there. Daniel treated me well, too."

"Thank God then. Grandpa was relieved to hear it," said grandfather relieved. Grandpa looked at his wife and said, "Grandmother heard Khalisha's words? I don't have to think no more about Daniel."

Grandma grunts annoyed. "How else. I'm worried about Lisha. At a long time, Lisha had never been away from home, let alone staying in someone else's house. Of course Grandma was afraid that Daniel would do something to Lisha. Moreover, Daniel is a man. No one knows what a man's mind looks like."

"But Grandma has seen for herself Lisha is fine."

"It's true that Lisha is doing well" said the grandmother as she looked at Khalisha from head to toe, "but still Grandma was worried."

"But Grandma doesn't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself, really. I'll be fine for sure" Khalisha said, trying to calm her grandmother.

Grandma hugged Khalisha. Khalisha also returned the embrace of grandma, venting the longing that for four days ensnared her mind. It's hard to take off this hug. Maybe for the next three days, he won't meet his grandparents.

Daniel stopped his bike not far from where Khalisha was. Both eyes are in no way separated from the figure of Khalisha who was with his grandparents. Now, he could understand why Khalisha had suddenly left him. He must have missed his grandparents. Seeing their familiarity, he did not have the heart to approach Khalisha. He was afraid that his presence would disturb them. An envy instantly perched in his heart, envy of Khalisha who was so dear to his grandparents. On the fourth day of Khalisha's stay at her home, her grandparents willingly came to school just to see Khalisha. If only it had happened to him. If only papa and his mother were like Khalisha's grandparents, it would be complete already the happiness he felt.

***