The Bitter Three's

Raka in the Past

"Where are we going to have dinner?" david asked while driving their car to the capital city crowd on the weekend.

"I still have a lot of questions" Susan said.

"Surely, of course" said David. The man was a little tired but he was still serving Susan. Because in the past, when he returned to Indonesia, to be honest, he even just knew that he had an unexpected inheritance. He asked all kinds of things that he missed to Suleyman. And Suleyman always explained it patiently even though his brother was in a state of death.

Fatigue after work does not mean anything, provided all slander can be straightened out.

"Because, David, I don't think this is true. You mean, Alwa and Hanifah are depressed? Because what? I thought it was healing when Suleyman married them!"

"They are very fragile. Only after being reminded that suicide will only bring sin, because no one has the right to take the life of a creature other than Allah. Even though the arrow has stuck in our bodies," said David.

"And, Susan, regarding everything related to this sin, I am tired of it. I'm not a religious person, okay? It's new to me, and I just ..." David took a breath. "Just want to keep them both but also not break my promise to Suleyman. Alwa and Hanifah have mental disorders that at any time when they are stressed can recur without them knowing,"

"Therefore you have always defended them?"

"Yes, more to, because your mentality is stronger. You're humbled like anything I thought could get up,"

Susan breathed to hear David. Did David think Susan had no feelings?! Who is not hurt in front of others? Especially in front of two young angel-faced women like Alwa and Hanifah.

"That's also why you restricted the motion of Alwa and Hanifa?"

David nodded, "The world is too vast for them. Many things will stress them out. Sometimes it's better not to know too many things,"

"Hoy! Sultan sir! Then there's no antibody dong! Until when will it continue?! They should know that the world is vast! Tell them slowly, they'll be able to learn to handle it!"

"I do not agree, the name of mental illness can one day arise again, by being released into society it means releasing them into a cage full of hungry lions!"

"They can hold on to religion! You said they were better than me in terms of taking you to Jannah?!" there's a satire in Susan's sentence.

"You think it's as easy as it says? You have studied religion since childhood, your mother is very happy, your father converted, did not spare you from adultery, even you look very much enjoy it,"

"Yes, it's a pleasure, it's the same boyfriend himself, the person we like. It's you, s-ks but full of inner pressure,"

"I'm just trying not to hurt them,"

"Oh yeah? In the end you will hurt them. Especially by bringing me here. I'll aim for them to become stronger!"

"Can't! They need to be simple!"

"This is why it feels like we have two girls anyway?!"

Then silence.

All with his own thoughts, until David automatically steps on the gas pedal and takes them to a Korean restaurant by the road.

"By the way you make laper" complained David.

"By the same way you're dizzy" Susan replied.

And without saying much, after the car was perfectly parked, they both got out of the car and got into the restaurant, taking as much meat as they could to burn.

-----***-----

"Mr Alwa, is that, Sister Hanifah not looking over?" ask Raka.

The man finished the maghrib prayer and realized that the house was quiet.

"Once Susan's mom's been taken in, she hasn't been out of the room yet, Mom,"

"Why's diomeli?"

"Suddenly, Kak Hani wanted to join Abi to work, then Susan said that Kak Hani would only interfere with work if he came,"

"Hem, is Ma'am Hanifah interested in the business world?"

"Eh, as far as I know, Mas, he even often told me if you don't want to know too much about Abi's work problems, will interfere. Why is he now turning around, yes I am even confused," Alwa scratched her non-itchy head.

It was then that Raka saw the sign.

It was clearly visible, a cross stroke in the area of Alwa's wrist, as the woman's sleeves blurred.

Raka was stunned and did not let go of his gaze, it made Alwa wake up and immediately covered her arms. When at home, the woman takes off her cuff because it is tight, it makes her sleeves become more loose.

"Eh, hehe, it's a used ..." I'd say a fallen mark, a lie. To say it's a former sin of the past, shame. Alwa is misbehaved, hoping that Raka does not mind him.

"I also have that sign, really." Raka sighed with a bitter smile. A sign that would not disappear until at any time, accompanied the sharp gazes of those who saw it. It is also another cause of him not being separated from Susan.

"Huh? Did Raka commit suicide?!" ask Alwa in shock.

Raka raised her eyebrows. Alwa was innocently lured to admit.

"Not suicidal, Ma'am," a grin adorned Raka's lips.

It is only fitting that Mr. David desperately keeps Alwa in a cage, this naive person, Raka thought.

But what, sweet huh?! Thought the man later.

"Eh? Bu-not yes, uh ... " Alwa realized her mistake. It even opens its own shame.

Raka unrolled the arm in her shirt. A thick tattoo adorned along his right hand.

Alwa looked up to see him.

"Take a touch," Raka thrust her pictorial arm at Alwa.

"Eh, hehe, not muhrim mas," Alwa hesitated.

"Touch it, you'll know" said Raka. His usually cheerful face, turned grim.

With trembling hands, Alwa pressed her fingers against Raka's arm. Touched a familiar step.

Scar incision.

Like Alwa's.

However,

So many in number! Scribbling filled Raka's arm. Covered with thick tattoos, but when touched feels real.

"Ma-ma-mas?" it feels like Alwa is getting dizzy. Instantly he realizes that Raka's joy is only a cover to cover up his black past. Alwa had learned this from Suleyman. One of the sins that self-destructs, and the consequences are fatal.

Drug.

Without being able to bear it, Alwa shed her tears.

"I covered it with a tattoo. Because it feels embarrassing. This happened when I was very young, at that time I had not been adopted by my mother and father, still living in a home. Hem ... Rather than being called a home, it is more suitable to be called a nest of criminals times yes, hehe,"

Alwa did not understand why Raka could even still laugh.

"Even schools don't graduate, life is disheveled. Finally, after being adopted at the age of 15, I went to school. It's starting to get a little cool. But the problem re-emerged when I graduated from the cottage and had trouble finding work," Raka sat leaning on the sofa. "You don't have any money, you want to find a job thought thugs, pounded here and there,"

Alwa sat next to him with concern.

"Mas Raka, why ... " Alwa gulps. "Why run into drugs?"

"I feel sick. It was just pain I could feel. I am also a victim of sexual harassment, Ma'am. But since I am a man and a street child, so no one wants to process it. We grew up just like that, in this cruel world, drugs helped me forget all that pain, even if it was fake,"

Until suddenly the ART came to bring dinner and arrange it in the clean kitchen pantry.

"Anuu, Ms. Alwa and Mr. Raka want to drink what?" ask Aunty.

The two of them turned towards aunt with the gaze still glaring.

Aunt, who immediately felt she shouldn't interrupt the chat, so felt bad.

"Eeeh, I make civet coffee yaaaa," he said as he disappeared into the kitchen.

-----***-----

"I'm all right. Miss Susan so kindly gave me a decent job, it even felt excessive," Raka raised her hand wiping off Alwa's tear marks on the woman's cheek.

"Because I'm okay, Madam Alwa is too, right? Is it okay?"

Alwa. Don't know what to answer.

It's not that Raka doesn't understand Alwa's situation. But he just didn't want to say it first for fear of offending.

That in fact, while conducting a secret investigation with Galuh regarding this family, David and his two wives, without ever telling the results to Susan until now, without ever telling the results, Raka and Galuh discover that Suleyman's accident actually has another story behind it. Therefore, here David put a lot of agents to keep an eye on the situation around.

However, we will discuss it another day.

"Abi who is now very different from Abi Suleyman," muttered Alwa.

Raka nodded, but he stopped the sentence that Alwa was about to say. "Mbak Alwa, don't expose family matters to others. Especially to those who are not muhrim. But I understand what Ms. Alwa meant and why she went to such great pains to imitate Ms. Susan" the man smiled gently.

"I'll help Ms. Alwa with all that. However, one condition is, please ask Mr. David for permission,"

-----***-----

Susan and David had dinner like they hadn't eaten in 2 days. In silence they turned back the meat, stuffed their mouths with rice, ordered the meat again, drank a few cans of soft drink, so it continued until the restaurant was almost closed.

"It really ruins my diet! Tomorrow should be able to survive with just coffee and cigarettes all day!" murmured Susan.

"I want to go to the gym a little early in the morning, it will definitely be dizzy because of unsaturated fats if not burned," he sizzled David while scooping the meat patty.

"I don't really like exercise, it's better to go to the sauna,"

"There's a sauna, would you like to come?"

Susan nodded. He wondered what David would look like if he was in the gym. Also, he began to be quite able to accept David as a friend.

"David," Susan put down her glass of warm water, "I don't hate Alwa and Hanifah,"

David nodded, "Yes I believe. I'm also not too worried about the whereabouts of your two assistants, actually,"

Susan sighed, all this time it turned out that they were arguing aimlessly. Just want to vent emotions.

"That God," Susan began to tell him, "Very loving his late wife. Even though she knew that Rika's life would not be long, she still married her. Since Junior High, Rika was diagnosed with leukemia, but can survive to adulthood despite frequent illness,"

David stopped his dinner and listened to Susan.

"Galuh actually did not really agree when Rika wanted to get pregnant. But Rika wants that after his death there are two of their children who will accompany Galuh until old age. After giving birth to the twins, Rika's condition became more severe, according to what was predicted," Susan took a sip of the water. Then take a long breath.

"Rika, is my friend from Junior High. Sweet and smart. Always encouraging me even if she's sick. He was always there when I was sad because of the difficulty of interacting with others, you yourself know how my character is,"

David nodded. This unique Susan, probably does not have many friends.

"And Galuh, Rika met Galuh while we were in college. Galuh has a coffee shop in the Tebet area. We often have beautiful nongki there. At that moment they started falling in love. After they got married, I gave Galuh a job at Amethys because I needed an assistant I could trust. Papa's business is a mess. Since then Galuh has always backed me up in everything. I was just trying my best for Galuh and the twins, my beloved Little Rika," Susan lowered her head, then snorted.

"Huh! Jesus," The woman wiped her tears with the tip of her fingers. "The meat effect times yes, so mellow like this,"

"What a hell, life is like a wheel. Then I know the truth too" said David, sitting leaning back. Frankly the man was relieved by Susan's story. Susan and Galuh's relationship was not what she had thought it would be. From now on he will stop accusing Galuh of all sorts.

"What about the other one? Raka?" ask David.

"We met in the hospital as Rika underwent her first chemoteraphy. Raka was injured by thugs and the hospital refused his treatment because he did not have money. Miris, that's why I gave her a little help. Especially when I hear his name. Rika and Raka, with the same smile. I assume it's my destiny to meet them both" Smile on Susan's red lips. "Then Raka's parents came, and told her that Raka was trying to find a job to help the family, but the thugs from Raka's past always came to disturb,"

"His past?" ask David.

Susan nodded, "So in the past, Raka was ..."

-----***-----

"Assalamu'alaikum Abiii! Sister Susaaaaaan," Alwa greeted David and Susan with a smile as bright as the morning sun, when it was almost midnight.

David to the point of slightly retreating because the twinkle of Alwa's eyes was too glare. "Wa'alaikumsalam" replied David.

"Hm, Greetings," Susan answered immediately badmood because the fullness of Alwa's voice made her ears buzz.

"Want to prepare bath water? Or do you want to pray at night? Ih smell of meat, I bet ya Abi! Evil if you two don't invite meuu," said Alwa while taking David's bag and suit.

David and Susan were stunned to see the behavior of Alwa who they thought was excessive.

"Mother Susan wants to be taken by the mouth? What tea would you like? Cammomile, let's sleep well!" And Alwa turned to the kitchen.

But Susan pulled his arm and directly cornered him against the wall.

"Hem," Susan brought her face closer to Alwa while squinting suspiciously. Alwa was like a rabbit being targeted by an eagle, docked and curled up to the wall vigilantly, and,

"My intuition felt something was strange. What are you covering up?!"

"Eh? Uh! What's this Susan talking about, anyway? Hehehehehehe,"

"Not pretend to laugh! What are you doing?!"

Alwa's eyes grew.

"You're overreacting, Susan," said David. But the man was also curious, and did not try to stop Susan.

"At least David, when it comes to feeling sensitive, I'm the master" Susan is like a mother who finds her daughter coming home from a nightclub when she's allowed to study in a group at a friend's house.

"So Raka came here?" ask Susan.

Alwa's eyes grew bigger, then he started glancing upwards, to the right, to the left, the core was out of focus. "Yes Ma'am, as usual, put down the documents and took out Ma'am Susan's laundry,"

Susan further narrowed her eyes, "Is there something important you're talking about?" Susan tilted her face, interrogating Alwa.

Nakutin bangeeeett!! Thought Alwa while covering her mouth in David's suit. Alwa's face grimaced with fear.

"So, uh hehe, um, akuuu ... " Alwa glanced at David fearfully. David now watched her with a stiff face.

"Akuuu ... Tomorrow ask permission to the salon and spa, and Mas Raka is willing to take me, hehe, can't Abi?"

David's eyes grew bigger.

Susan soon realized that,

This is a very good idea!

And the woman wears a grin full of cunning.