THE MENTARY FOR THE ESTUARY

CHAPTER 35, A FATHER'S REGRET (SURPRISING STORY, PART 2)

“I was there, at the funeral. L am... I'm her father Elsa.” Riana was still digesting everything she heard today, more precisely, just now. Elsa Pramudita, then Dimas Pramudya. There is a similarity between the two names. So then... Maybe this is true.

“I'm serious, Riana, I'm not prank you,” said Mr. Dimas again, like know the contents of Riana's heart. Riana nodded several times, like a gesture that she fully understood what Mr. Dimas had said, and did not think that it was just a joke or prank. Only, he was still in shock with the reality and facts. A few minutes in silence, suddenly the waiter came to bring their order. After Mr. Dimas thanked her, she returned her focus to Riana.

“Eat first, Riana, as I continue the story,” said Mr. Dimas while washing his hands, preparing to eat his food.

“Iya, sir, I wash my hands first,” Riana said as she got up from her seat. Luckily, the distance of their table with the hand wash was not so far away, so Riana was able to return quickly.

“Elsa is my only child. He came with me, because from a small child has been left with his mother..”.

“Where to go, sir?” ask Riana carefully.

“Then, I wasn't the Dimas Pramudya you know today, Riana. Let alone companies and positions, even the lowest jobs do not exist, I am just a job that tries to support children in any way, of course, halal origin. In the past, I received a variety of freelance services, from the door, making custom tables, even to the point of being a faucet technician I do, all for the sake of family. My income wasn't much back then, but it should have been enough for the lives of the three of us, me, Elsa, as well as the wife. Why is there a word ‘supposed’ here? As it turns out, for my wife, all is never enough. My wife is a hedonist, her lifestyle is very high. And because of his lifestyle, all the money I gave him was never enough again. Until the peak, in the middle of the sixth year of our marriage, revealed a fact that made me really vengeful as a woman, a woman, then the trauma of remarrying and preferring ‘one night stand’ while in need of it. My wife – is now an ex, back in the arms of her ex during High School, who was already a businessman. The heartache of being betrayed and humbled as a man, made me rise up, I returned to my habits and hobbies, I loved music. Until finally, after saving for a while, I managed to build a music school called Big Star Music, which now has 14 branches in several cities in Indonesia.” Riana stopped eating, and she nodded at Mr. Dimas's story, which she thought was amazing. So this is the owner of Big Star Music School, where he studied music since childhood?

“But the good part is not there, Riana, I want to focus on Elsa. Long story short, my ex-wife left without taking Elsa, she handed over the responsibility of taking care of the 6-year-old Elsa to me. In those difficult times, Elsa often I entrusted to her grandmother, my mother. Until later, because I was too busy working and pioneering, I ignored Elsa, I forgot to pay attention to her, I let Elsa grow up in an abundance of undue affection, he said, because I always give him money, not the kind of attention a father should give. Big without affection from both parents, making Elsa a bad boy. And when she made a career as a model, I felt Elsa was really far from me, until finally.” Mr. Dimas did not continue his story. He drank his orange juice in a few gulps, relieving his suddenly blocked throat.

“I understand, sir,” Riana said softly. Indeed, the painful part was the times that Mr. Dimas lost his only child; the time of Elsa's death.

“I really thank you, Riana, for saving my son's life, although in the end it all ended with the will of fate. But had you not taken Elsa from the bridge at that time, I would have lost her sooner. Thank you for the opportunity you gave me, redeemed that little bit of guilt, enjoyed the last time with my daughter,”, said Mr. Dimas sincerely. And somehow since when, Riana had felt her eyes glaze over, when she heard Mr. Dimas' story.

“All that is the power of God, sir, I am only an intermediary,” replied Riana slowly.

“And you were the best intermediary at the time, Riana. Elsa told me a lot about you, including... About how he used to snatch your ex,” Mr. Dimas slowed down his sentence when it came to that part of the story, as if he wanted to make sure that Riana would not react to the unexpected, because he thought, he thought, maybe Riana is still hurt by her daughter's actions.

“Basically, Rey and I are not a matchmaker, sir. The presence or absence of Elsa in our love life, it seems like the toxic relationship must indeed end,” replied Riana. Mr. Dimas nodded. He believed that this girl was indeed a good girl. Precisely Rey – the young man, the former is not good.

After he dumped a girl as good as Riana, in the end, he also took the girl's paradise.

“Fixed, you are the hero here, Riana. Because you saved my son's life.” said Mr. Dimas. Riana nodded slowly. He does not argue, but does not argue. His heart mashgul heard this story from Mr. Dimas, about his whole life, and then, a piece of his story with Elsa. But, there was one thing that actually made him curious, and he had to ask that now.

“Terus sir... You know me, profession, then my students through where, sir?”

“I told my confidants to search for data about you, I want to invite you to talk actually long ago, but because of the binding busyness, I finally decided to postpone the desire, I decided to, until I know, that you are a teacher, and are taking your students to FPBP, which appointed me as its judge this year.”.

“But sir, you won my proteges not because of the connecting events between me, Elsa, and you right?” ask Riana worried. And a smile of relief reached his eyes, when he saw Mr. Dimas who shook his head strongly.

“I am an objective person, also selective Riana, which I see, your children are indeed geniuses, and they are talented. They've stolen my heart since his first appearance in the preliminary round. And they continue to show their charm, until the grand final, the consistency of the participants, it is one plus point that will increase the possibility of him becoming a champion.” explained Mr. Dimas. Riana nodded in understanding.

“Thank you, sir..” in the end, the girl can only say softly. Mr. Dimas just nodded. He again tells about his life with Elsa; about his regrets that cannot educate and love Elsa properly, and others. Until finally, Riana flinched at the question asked by Mr. Dimas.

“According to the data I know, you haven't gone to college, Riana. Is that true?”

“Be-True, sir, plan the hell of the year, god willing if there are no obstacles..”.

“Then, tomorrow meet me at this address, yes,” said Mr. Dimas, while giving a business card to Riana. Riana received, and rubbed it quietly, skimming. Wine Street II number 14, Star Corporation Office Building.

“That's my office,” obviously Mr. Dimas. “That time, Elsa's plan was to go to Bandung, to her grandmother's place, to calm down with me there, maybe a week or two, but.”.

“Yes, sir, I understand. Tomorrow, what time do I have to see my dad again?” ask Riana carefully.

“After you teach. And for tomorrow, you won't be alone to see me. Because there is someone so close in your life, who will also be there.”.

(BBC).