The Fate Or Destiny

Eps. 38. The One Who Then Is Now

After lunch, there was a conversation at the dinner table, more precisely Keke who listened attentively to the story of papa Ramly about how to build a horticultural business so that it can be like now with sales turnover that makes Keke agape.

Actually Keke had a lot of questions, but he felt bad getting started and didn't know how to ask that. After all, papa's face from earlier looked very happy, disrespectful as if it was offensive to the past.

"Ike... How's mama doing?"

Finally the conversation changed. Now the two of them alone Lody's brother is out of sight. They sit in such a large living room. Papa was just two of Lody's sisters in this house but built a very large house. The workers in this house also seem to have their own place to live.

"Eh... Ike rarely calls mom..."

"But mom is healthy, right?"

Keke looked at the papa's face and saw a soft line appear on that face, different from the previous expression.

"Maybe, if you're sick, you'll tell us."

"I'm sorry, son..."

"That's over..."

"Papa had picked up Ike when he found out Ike was taken to Jakarta, but could not bring Ike home because Ike was legally adopted by Vosye. Although confused as to why Ike could be adopted, papa and biological mother still there should not be able to, but papa relented because maybe Keke is better with them than with papa himself..."

Papa ever intend to bring him home? Keke doesn't know this.

"Pa... Why don't you get married again?"

Keke asked very slowly, afraid to offend the father. Moreover, papa's facial rays since then are still the same.

"Ike was a child when papa and mama separated.well, papa told a little story, maybe Ike should know now because Ike was an adult, one day must be married, so don't be like us. Ike can ask mama also to complete."

"Mom and Dad met in Jakarta. Papa had worked in offshore oil drilling a one-month shift at sea one month on land. One month on land papa returned to Tanjung Priok there are relatives papa there. Acquaintance with mama because papa likes to hang out at the Bamboo Den restaurant with friends, mama manager there."

"Mama's divorced with Bonita's papa. In short we got married, papa's family disagreed. When Ike 2 years old, papa asked to go home because opa sickly, papa only son, opa wanted papa who continued the business of wood and opa furniture in Leilem. Papa brought us all home."

"Mama has difficulty adapting in the village, getting used to it in Jakarta, in addition to the papa family is still very conservative. How to dress mama, how to talk, the attitude of mama on opa and oma, all so gossip material. Especially the status of the mother when you marry is sensitive, it is the reason for opa and oma to receive less mama. In the values they profess papa considered berzin ah because the mama was divorced alive."

Papa paused for a moment, exhaled heavily, the streaks of sadness were now increasing, there were even puddles of tears in his eyes.

"Pa.. later, it's okay, we continue next time..."

Keke felt the sadness of his papa, even seeing the wound in those eyes.

"Papa keep going. Let Ike not wonder..."

"Because mama can't stand the pressure in the village, papa bought the house that Ike now occupies with papa's savings while working in a foreign company at that time."

"Move to Manado, papa thinks the matter is over. Opa falls ill again, and mama is attacked by the family as an unlucky carrier. Papa was also distressed by the efforts that had not gone well, we had frequent fights, papa returned to Leilem because critical opa was nearing death and also avoided arguments."

Papa breathed heavily, old wounds like rising up again, things he had kept to himself all this time...

"Finally my mom filed for divorce, papa did not want to, did not want to split, asked for time to settle with the family papa. But mama just sent papa a letter asking for a house in Manado for Ike, and you know the divorce deed already exists. It turned out that my mom was helped by Rommel's dad, he said his old friend. Papa can't do much for Ike because he's still a kid, he has to go with his mom. Papa was guilty of long abandoning you so mama finally chose to separate."

Now papa is crying.

"Sorry Ike. papa used to be weak and did not try to survive with mama also did not fight for Ike. forgive papa..."

"Papa did not marry again, for papa's wife only one, mama, although now not together anymore..."

"Lad..."

Keke moved from his seat, sitting next to his papa. Their meeting was always tinged with tears of remorse.

"Now there is an Ike with papa, do not be sad again ya..."

"Son..."

Papa Ramly hugged his son. A lot of time has been lost, but her son could have her again.

"Frequently come here yes. later papa will also often visit Ike."

"Yes pa..."

Papa finally calmed down again. Keke moved out of the room, he was curious about the view from the side terrace, besides that he did not want papa to continue to grieve remembering the past. Papa followed Keke.

"Papa purposely made a terrace here, because the view is good..."

"Yes pa.. The view from up here is very beautiful, the whole city of Manado is visible from here."

"Yes..."

"Not long ago, three years maybe. When oma died papa settled here."

"Oh that. Eh... Lody's brother has been with papa for a long time?"

"Lodys? How many years yes.since she was Junior High, 15 years maybe. He's the son of one of my old employees, he's an orphan. Papa helped nurture her, unlike the adopted Ike. But he's very helpful papa, he's S1 farm, his knowledge is useful for our efforts."

"Oh..."

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In the afternoon, the air is getting colder, Keke can not stand it anymore, even though he has used a sweater but he is not used to it. The skin of the legs below the knees is getting colder and feels sore in the joints.

"Pa... Ike would like to say goodbye, pity the children if Ike later go, especially the Lisya..."

"Oh... Ike dinner just got home..."

"Do not pa. later in Manado aja, besides Ike has not memorized the way, if the night is afraid of roughness..."

"To.. Ike's car has been delivered by employees..."

Lody who had just come out of his room approached Keke who was already sitting on the sofa again. The freer he is, the more Keke sits on that three-seater sofa.

"Eh?? You're leaving?"

"Yes, it just happened that there were some of our cars that were scheduled to deliver materials to subscription restaurants. Brother Lody tell one driver and one driver between Ike's cars, the driver will come back here with them..."

"Eh... How do I go?"

"You're brother interra. Want to go now?"

Keke was astonished that this big brother was doing something for him without confirming it first. How to try it now other than to go with it...

"Eh. i. iiyaa, now."

Keke stood up to take the bag on the table. Keke had been dominant in deciding things, changing after Ben was present and now his foster brother was also acting the same towards him.

"Father, Ike said yes..."

"Well, don't you bring anything from here?"

"Do not pa. kemaren which papa brought we have not used..."

"Oh.. okay... Lod be careful..."

"Yes pa..."

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The trip is shorter than when Keke departed, 45 minutes for Lody who is agile to bring a car especially the road that continues to decline and the road is not too crowded, without feeling they have arrived in Manado. Lody tries to build communication by telling stories about his personal activities, about some events with papa. Keke answered short and responded as necessary, Keke is not as comfortable as Lody here. Just sitting alone in the car makes Keke want them quickly to get to the destination.

At last...

At the side door of the shophouse, as usual on Sunday, the entrance was through the side door, Keke got off the car, Lody too. Keke opened the white sweater he had been wearing since noon and thrust it away when Lody was already nearby.

"Thank you, I guaranteed you the sweater..."

"Oh. This is for me..."

Lody put the sweater back on Keke's body. Eh.. geez deh this brother, it is not cold anymore, already in Manado the temperature has been 35 or 36° again. Keke who was a bit confused and still being oriented place again finally just took the phone from a bag that was covered in a sweater.

Someone from the terrace was upset left by the boyfriend who also regretted falling asleep for so long so he could not go with the girlfriend, who was also tired of waiting for the girlfriend to come home, where the phone was not answered... haduya.

Now she was flabbergasted to see her lover coming with a man and looking so close. And what the fuck is that? He disliked the scene of re-wearing the white sweater, brightly lit by the street lamp that looked like the romantic attitude of a lover. With a quick movement, he ran down from the terrace of his house and in a matter of seconds was already in front of the door of the shophouse that had not opened... Keke was still standing close to Lody.

"Mirror..."

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