The Dark Side of the Mentari

Punten pecel's

If you want to be a good boy, then you will obey what your parents say.

It was the message that Rania always remembered. That's why he's been so obedient all along. From childhood he always wanted to be a good boy, who boasts of his parents and family. To just say not only that he can't.

Although the sun did not appear because it was covered in thick cloudy, after breakfast his father took a ride around the city on a motorcycle, the first time after so many years. But unlike the first he who sat in the back, this time he shook his father because he did not know the streets of this city.

The good moments of his childhood passed again. When riding a bicycle he used to sit in the rear bonnet, his father would tie his legs with a rope so as not to get into the bars of the bike. Or sometimes wear a large jacket if you ride the motorbike, and turn both ends of the jacket's arms to his waist so that he does not fall when sleepy.

Why do I realize it now?

Rania sighed softly, her voice flying in the air with the speed of the motor.

You didn't say it, but I should have understood. Love doesn't have to be said, right?.

A speck of water rolled through his eyelids.

"Mother buy punten pecel in front of it yeah."

Rania woke up from her daydream. Indeed in front there is a street-side punten trader. There was a small banner in front of him.

"It just so happens to be open sir, usually seven o'clock is up."

"That means father's fortune." His father laughed, greeted with laughter by Rania as well.

Rania pulled the bike a little far from the punten trader because there was no parking. They went down and walked closer to the merchant who had already passed by several meters.

"Do you want to eat here or just pack it up, sir"?.

"Mother wants to eat here. It looks more coy."

They chose to sit on the back of the mother of the punten merchant, where there were several short plastic chairs in blue.

"Two buk, eaten here." Rania ordered as soon as the two sat down

"So remember at home. Sitting in front of the furnace while eating with your hands."

"It's been a long time, a time of rain while burning yams sir." They both laughed.

Like just yesterday. In fact, the incident has been over for more than ten years.

Shortly wait for two portions of punten already extended by the mother of the seller. Sambal beans are poured over the punten in a wide box cut and vegetables really make their saliva dripping. Especially served with banana leaf lime. An hour ago, they had breakfast at home.

The atmosphere of the stall was deserted, there were no other buyers besides the two of them. The seller's mother was busy packing the merchandise that stayed a little. Still a bit awkward Rania and her father focus on each other's spikes. There was no sound other than the sound of vehicles milling about on the road.

"Nduk," Rania looked up at her father.

"Surely you're here to discuss your relationship with the Hero."

Jedar!!!.

Don't you? You can't come here without an important purpose.

"If you don't want to continue, you don't force. The most important thing for me is that you are happy."

Unable to say anything as she was still shocked by her father's words, Rania took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He gathered the courage to answer, whether the answer would make his father happy or vice versa.

But what Rania felt all this time let alone love her, Wira did not even care if she had a wife.

"I don't know yet sir." Finally, Rania voiced her heart.

"Is there a man who has attracted your heart?."

Right, I must have misunderstood Dandy's brother.

"No sir, no."

"The choice is yours, there's no need to be afraid that you've found someone who can make you comfortable. Maybe my decision was wrong, but I married you at that time to take care of you. Because you live far away from my father." Rarely did his father utter a sentence that long.

"meaning?." Rania did not really understand her father's intentions.

The old man took a deep breath before continuing.

"Father doesn't want you to get along wrong. Not that I don't believe you, but I'm worried. So with marriage, I assume you'll set your own limits. However, since childhood you have learned a lot about religion, so you are sure, you will not take the wrong step."

Hearing the words of the father the girl's heart felt squeezed. This time he saw the other side of his father. The man she had always considered to be unattentive, who had turned out not to care about her since marrying again, who she wanted to avoid as far as possible until she rarely came home.

Outside the rain started to fall. Looks like the mother of the punten seller wants to go home soon too. The remaining trade is not how it has been put all into a large plastic woven bag.

Rania stood up, reached into her pocket to spend money to pay for the unseaten punten.

"How much buk?."

"Fifteen thousand with mbak tea."

Rania held out twenty thousand dollars.

"Don't be in a hurry, take shelter here. I went home first because I wanted to take the child to the hospital." The mother said while giving me change.

"Thank you buk." The middle-aged woman passed by with a large bag in her right hand.

That place has no doors. Only a small stall with short tables arranged in U-shaped, short plastic chairs as the seat. No mats or carpets for lesehan.

Rania again sat down to face her father, continuing to enjoy the punten with a neck that seemed to be strangled.

"So how?."

"I don't know if you like me or not sir."

"Have you ever talked to him?."

"Two times on the phone."

Wira did contact him twice, once, a few weeks after getting married. Talk about things that are not important.

"Never met?." Rania shakes.

After they got married, they met several times. The time of Eid, and the time when his grandmother Wira died. Just shake hands, don't talk to each other. Either because the Hero is indifferent and does not care, or because Rania who always avoids even just to look at.