The Children's Story 17

Nani

Valentines! Valentines! Everywhere the valentine. Everywhere people talk about valentine. It sucks!' For me in my heart. I don't know why, but February of this year has made me so nervous. When I came home from school and found a deck of cards in the lobby, my heart was sliced. Because there won't be a card for me. Both my sister, and four of my mother's boarding children who are subscribed to get a card containing these loving words. Huh! My fate is really apes!

“Not ugly. Classical and modern. Contemporary.” According to Nani, my best friend in class when I asked if my face was not at all attractive to men. Well, even though Nani almost likened my face to the design of the building, but anyway, I was kind of entertained to hear it too. I'm not ugly, right? Just remember, the contemporary style that many people use to build. After all - again – to date, there are also those who desperately declare that I am the most cute girl on the planet. Well, who else if not my favorite bokap.

“Eh, pass by. No seneng dapet card sign darling?” Asked Mbak Yun who just happened to come out of his room.

I pout and sweep the sweat that's perched on the tip of my nose, “ card sign of affection? Maybe wait 3000 years, kali.”

”Loh!.” Mbak Yun chuckled, “it's aging, Non. Or...No feeling sentin card, yes?”

I'm whining no matter what. At most Mbak Yun wants to laugh at me because my record never got any card from anyone. But Madam Yun immediately held back my steps.

“Hei! Occasional lucky break, cake. Soldiers should never lose before being sent to Timor-timor.”.

“Boro-boro wants to go to the Teams, want to tour Puncak aje filled with lots of advice and wanti-wanti. It's mama. Gih having fun with her. Don't sneak aje.”

Once again Yun Ketiwi. That's loh, the sodas laughed. Rich doesn't know.

In the room, I immediately buried my school bag into the drawer of the study table so as not to crumble. Yep. My heart, my feelings, and my room are so cramped behind this. Just think, a week ago, I failed to become the chairman of OSIS. Even as secretary. Not the yau! The most anti-same whose name is nulis-nulis. Then, before a week ago I fell while chasing the bus to school. The pain in my neck that was injured was nothing. But shame on you! There are so many people who laugh when they see this bad accident. Well, lastly, my photos on my tour to the Peak a month ago broke everything. Nothing good when printed. Overall not, anyway? Added to that by Mbak Yun…

“Jen..”

I heard mom's voice interspersed with the knock on the door. That soft voice cools my soul whenever I feel ‘hot’.

“Jen...” I saw my mother's face adorned with a smile when I opened the door. “Why go straight to the room, baby. Have you eaten?”

“Tadi treated friend.” I replied, throwing my body back into the bed.

Mom came in and opened my window curtain. “Everytime you want to go to school, don't forget to open the window curtain, Jen. Let some fresh air come into your room. So no crushes.”

“Mother knows if I'm crumped.” I said a little unconcerned with the advice of the woman who was in her forties.

“If Jenny does not have time to clean the room before leaving for school, her room should not be locked. Let mom or bik Yem neatin. Don't forget it.”

I just took a heavy breath. That advice has been almost a year since I heard it. But I never thought I would care. Is because…

…

"Really, Mom?" I was surprised. If Madam Yun, it is indeed possible to joke about this important matter. Impossible with Mother.

"Well, I'm not so sure. But who else in this house has always been called Miss?"

"So really, ma'am?" I jumped out of bed and looked at my young-looking mother.

"Momust get it?"

"No!" quickly answer. But maybe even faster my footsteps when I took out a million steps ran out of the room. The stairs are flat to me. And sure enough! In the lobby, there was left one pink enveloped letter. Really a card! I thought in my heart. With trembling hands I grabbed the card. On the front I saw a series of neatly typed words that read: 'For Miss Jennyta.'

Thatme! Exactly my name. So Madam Yun was not lying. And although I still don't know who sent the card, I immediately flew back to the room and kissed my second mother's cheek.

Ohy. I call it that, because mother is really my second mother. She's 10 years younger than my late birth mother. My father's former secretary, Rahayu, came to this house a year and a half ago. During this time, she tried to enter the hearts of her husband's children. Me and my two brothers, no hypocrite, really hate that woman. Especially to Dad! We thought Dad didn't love Mom anymore. In fact, the patience of Ms. Rahayu in facing us finally gradually changed our stance. Indeed, there are certain things that we as children do not have to know what a parent means to do something. But in this case, we do have to shout that Dad needs someone to love him and take care of him.

"Congratulations?" suddenly my mother's voice sounded, "Open the card let me know from whom." 

I just grinned in embarrassment. Suddenly my face warmed. This is my first card. So I'm really very embarrassed.

"Or.mom can't know, huh?"

"No.." I said quickly, "Mom should know. I mean, I want you to know, too..."

Mom smiled gently and led me to sit on the edge of the bed, "Well, we open together, okay?"

I'm nodding. With trembling hands and a thumping chest, I tore the edges of the envelope. The first thing I saw was a picture of a cute panda doll, clutching a very beautiful red rose. Not only me, Mother also praised the choice of cards that are very sweet. And when I turned over the card, I saw a series of words that had been printed on the card. Valentine's words. It's the name in the lower right corner that makes me sweat.

"Gunadis!" Mother's voice was like repeating an echo in my soul.I don't know, nor mother, the influence of that name made a great turmoil in my heart.

*

Our school's Volley team won again. Captain Gunadi is absolutely dazzling on the field. Serve, smash, and the defensive jumps that he did so amazed the audience. Especially me! Ever since the guy's card came into my hand, to this day, day four, I've been paying extra attention to him, even though my friends don't know about it. they don't let me know that I'm falling in love with him!

***