The Pawned Marriage
The Love of 2
Nafisa is grateful to receive daily orders of ten bushels for the new villa.
“This is for the guard dinner for one month, ma'am. So take it in the afternoon. So said Mr. Onde who made the order earlier.”
“OK, Sur. I made you a menu, you asked for approval. If it is okay, ask for a signature and send an invoice down payment.”
In his small office, Nafisa typed in some alternative food menu.
Once it feels right, it sends to Surya to be delivered to the customer.
In the afternoon Dimiko returned to stretch two branches to their subscription. A pair of grandparents who live together in the district next door.
Before he came home he stopped by the place yesterday to meet Love.
She saw the girl alone there.
“Dimiko?”
“Kok you know that it's me who deketin?”
“From your smell.”
Dimiko was stunned, secretly smelling the smell of his armpits.
“Not, that smell. Looks like in your basket yesterday there was food spilled. You must not clean it. I can kiss from here.”
“Hah! It stinks, Ta? Waduh said Mama if in the culinary business must be clean. Pimply. Yuk Temenin I wash baskets on the beach.”
“Bonceng?”
“Handle of my bicycle saddle, aja. My feet ache.”
Dimiko directs Love's hand to hold the bicycle saddle.
They walk in tandem. Dimiko parked the bike in the sand that was not hit by the waves.
“You wait here. Do not remove the handle from the saddle. Watch out for macem-macem. I'm going to wash the basket to the sea.”
“Cute, Dim.”
“Ngak. I'm not sure I can take care of you.”
Love obeys Dimiko. It didn't move unless its head shook with the wind.
Carrying the basket, Dimiko returned to his bike.
“Not smelly anymore.”
“Reacted you are the stink ..”
“What? You think I stink? I'm kitikin you.”
Love runs while Dimiko chases. Using her voice, Dimiko directed Love to run away from the sea.
Accidentally, Love twisted her own leg and she fell.
“Love!”
There was a male voice screaming.
“A .. Father.” The voice of love sounded frightened.
Dimiko helps Cinta stand up but Zayn immediately pushes him to the brink.
“You are my son, huh?”
“Dad ... father ...” The voice of love sounded frightened.
Dimiko got up and stood up.
The six-year-old was about to explain when his right cheek was hot. A loud slap from Zayn Malik landed on his cheek. The little boy fell.
“We're home, Love!”
Zayn took his daughter and took her away.
Dimiko tried hard to endure the pain and crying. His body trembled in fear.
He sat on the beach looking towards the departure of Zayn and Love. His hand held the right cheek that was still hot.
The tears finally escaped as well.
All his life, no one ever hit him. He rubbed the lip that turned bloody.
“Boy cannot cry. Strong!”
Dimiko got up and walked to his bike. At first glance he saw Zayn and Love who had gotten further and further away.
He took his bike to the street to find a stall selling ice. Didn't want to see his mother worried if the former slap left a bruise.
Slowly he pedaled his bike. The fingers of his father Love was still hot on his cheek.
At the rice stall he stopped to buy ice cubes and stuck them to his cheeks.
“Attem?” Ask the shop owner.
“No, misunderstand me.”
“Eh sotoy's. Stumped mahrange.”
Dimiko did not extend and chose to leave the stall.
Before long pedaling a bicycle, a car passed through it and stopped in front of it.
Heed, he passed the car and continued to pedal his bike home.
From inside the car Maryam observed the boy she saw yesterday.
“Now he's like Mika if abis nangis. Ah I must be a hallucination.”
When he passed by the little boy again, Maryam frowned.
“Could it be the son of Nafisa and Mika? After returning from Malaysia I have to investigate for myself who his parents are.”
***
Dimiko slipped into the house. At least one of these two days he had to dodge his mother.
“Mas Dim, where are the greetings. Why even mind-blowing?”
“Waalaykumussalam, Mama. Assalamualaykum. Take a shower, Ma. Sultry.”
At first glance Dimiko kissed his mother's reverence and prepared to run away.
“Stop! Mas Dim, what's your cheek?”
“Eeeh anu, it was just down there was a huddle I was shocked, so nyerosot hit the wall people.”
Nafisa frowned.
“You fight?”
“Ne-no.”
“Dimiko. What's up, honey? Mama won't be mad at you.”
“My most beautiful world. It's got a wall.”
“What wall?”
“Wwarung.” Dimiko stuttered in the face of his mother's interrogation.
“Warung who?”
“Ngak know, emang Dim is a regent, know all the people. The regent is not necessarily like that. Mama, it doesn't hurt. Just been shocked.”
“Pursued cuckoo?” Nafisa's asking still with a probing mode.
“The nuggets were also shocked so instantly blurred,” Dimiko replied quickly.
“Don't hit the wall too he.”
Dimiko scratched his non-itchy head.
“Mandi, gih. When you're ready, tell Mama everything, okay?”
Nodding, Dimiko picked up a towel and went into the bathroom. Confused how his mother knew he was lying.
***
“Just I have to apologize to Dimiko. Tomorrow we wait together.”
“Iya, Darling. Dad was also released. Father panicked see you fall.”
“Love the self foot serebucket.”
Tears glisten on both cheeks of Love. He could not see the incident, but he heard an unfamiliar sound and sobs from his friend.
“Cup cup. Tomorrow we wait for your friend. Now Love calm yourself first.”
“Sad, Dad. Dimiko was the first friend that Love had. He never wanted love. He's like Dad. He said he would be an eye for Love if we played together.”
Stunned, Zayn asked, “Emang what age?”
“Nknow. We are not playing age.”
Love answered on the sidelines the remains of the sobbing.
Lovingly, Zayn embraced Love who was still sitting on his lap. The girl leaned against her father's chest while rubbing his cheek.
“But Love also promises, if you want to go out the villa can not be alone,” he said gently.
“Sorry, Dad. Love will not quietly exit the villa.”
“For how can I, anyway? No one saw it?”
“Where does Love know? Anyway if anyone calls Love stop, if there is no way just keep going.”
“Love memorized the path? If Love the way even to the sea how?”
Zayn had no idea how his daughter who could not see could know the way to the beach.
“Yesterday Love ..”
“Burn?”
Zayn now understood why the day before he arrived at the villa, only a few bodyguards were in the front area.
Plain, Love continues, “Love out the window, then down the fence then sit on the roadside wall.”
Only able to massage his chest and shake his head, Zayn then clenched his daughter tightly.
“Daddy please, not again ya Darling. What if you mengginjek belling?”
“Kan Sendal Cane love, Dad.”
“Trees should be cemented.”
“Okay, ready. Whoaam, Love sleepy.”
The habit of Love if it starts to be scolded he will have a thousand and one reasons to run away.
“I love you, Dad. Bobok love first, yes,” said the little boy sweetly and kissed his father's cheeks.
“Love ..” Zayn holds his daughter's face. Make sure the little girl understands what not to do.
“Whoaam, have not sleepy kelulungan Daddy.”
Anxious, Zayn pinched gently the nose of the little bangir then walked carrying Love to the room.
Secretly the little girl smiled mischievously.
***
“Mas Dim, wake up, it's dawn.”
“Bu .. Not me Oom ..”
Hearing Dimiko's words, her mother turned on a small lamp. His son was still closed but his head shook to the right and to the left.
“Yes Allah, Mas Dim. Your body is hot.”
Nafisa immediately undressed her son and took a compress.
“Sorry, Oom. Love ... Love.”
Dimiko kept on delirious.
Nafisa checked to see if there were any injuries all over her son's body. Grateful there are only bruises on the cheeks.
“Mas Dim, Mas Dim, wake up yuk, Nak.”
“Ma, Dim is not wrong, Ma ..”
“Mas Dim, Mas Dim ..”
“Mama!”
Dimiko woke up from his nightmare. His eyes immediately found a stark look.
“Mama ..”
The six-year-old hugged his mother, sobbing.
“Mas Dim, istighfar can? Dim is just a dream. There's Mama here. Mas Dim Same Mama.”
“Mama. Here aja, me.” Dimiko hugged his mother.
“Iya Darling. Mas Dim drink first a lot, the body of Mas Dim hot because.”
After drinking half a glass of water that Nafisa gave, Dimiko put his head down.
“Dim sleepy. Mom temenin.”
Dimiko's eyes were then closed.
Nafisa holds her son's body.
“Alhamdulillah has gone down the heat. If it's going to go up again, we'll go to the doctor, Mas.”
“Dibalurin onion, Ma.”
“Yes, Mas Dim is here first, Mama made.”
“Do not long-long.”
Nafisa kissed her son's forehead. The sweat began to wash over the neck.
“Mama to the kitchen for a moment, yes, Darling.”
Closing her eyes, Dimiko nodded.
In the kitchen, Nafisa mutters, “Who's Love? Who is Oom Dimiko?”
***
Towards Maghrib, Cinta and Zayn sit on the badukan waiting for Dimiko.
“Dad, Dim didn't come, huh? The wind is getting cold, it means it's going to be night, huh Yah?”
“Udah wants maghrib, we go home to pray. Tomorrow we wait again.”
“Dad, hell ..”
Zayn looked around. From yesterday he regretted slapping an innocent child.
“Later Dad find. According to the story, he lives fifteen kilometers from here when it passes the coast?”
“Betul, Dad. If by road the car must enter the city of Banyuwangi first.”
“Whose Dim's name?”
“No idea, he just said his name was Dim.”
“We go home first, yes.”
Later that night Zayn finds out the whereabouts of a boy named Dim through his men.
The next day one of them sent a message.
There's a kid with a call Dim lives on the opposite shore. His parents worked at the Beach Restaurant.
At about the same time a message came in.
Sir, Sepuh's mother is in the hospital with a fever.
“Yes Allah, Cinta .. Cinta, we have to go to Malaysia now.”
***
A whole week Zayn went to Malaysia with Cinta to look after Maryam.
No one worries about fatigue. But for sure, Zayn asked his mother to rest in Malaysia before returning to Banyuwangi with him.
As soon as she arrives at the villa, Love reminds Zayn to look for Dim.
“Daddy ..”
“Siap Mr. Princess. I'll find your friend. Now take a nap. Don't run.”
Love chuckled but walked towards her room because she was already sleepy.
Zayn sits on the back porch facing the beach. Read the resort proposal file to be built when he hears the voice of a child.
“Assalamualaykum, Oom.”
“Waalaykumussalam.”
Zayn was stunned to see a small figure standing outside the villa fence in neat clothes and a bicycle beside him.
“I Dim, Oom. Want to talk to me for a minute?”
Zayn's spring opened the gate and let him in.
“This is for Love, is she okay? This week is invisible.”
“Oh yes, Love again sleep. What is this?”
“Kue brown made by My Mom. Many like.”
“Thank you. Sit here, yuk.”
“Here Aja Oom. Dim has to get home. Dim wants to apologize for neglecting to take care of Love. Dim shouldn't have loved that time. Sorry yes, Oom.”
Zayn was moved to see the manners and morals that the little boy showed in front of him.
He sits on top to two knees to equalize the height.
“Dim, Oom who apologized for hurting you. Panic over seeing Love fall. Later that night, Oom was scolded by Love. We didn't know your house was waiting on the bed. The next day Oom and Cinta have to go to Malaysia.”
Dimiko extended his hand.
“We're better yes, Oom,” said plain.
“Baikan-saikan. Sorry Oom, yes.“
There was an inexplicable sense when touching Dimiko's hand.
“Sometimes Dim will be here to play the same Love, yes.”
“Bby. Be able. Tomorrow comes Saturday. You off?”
“Comfort, really. Ooms. Pamit first yes, Mama likes to be confused if maghrib I have not returned.”
“Oom only, all your parents' acquaintances.”
“Dim bring a bike.”
“Most is. Yuk.”
The villa guard took Dimiko's bike and loaded it into his car.
Along the way, Dim tells about his daily life, school, study, and then take a row past the villa.
The boy also showed him cool places like the night market, swimming pool, and fishing arena.
“Oom I stop here. It's there's Mama!”
Zayn stops his car and pulls out Dimiko's bike. The boy crossed the road.
“Pamit, Oom. Assalamualaykum.”
Immediately, Dimiko disappeared amidst a crowd of people who were about to enter the afternoon market.
Zayn returns to his car, while Dimiko meets his mother who is bidding for fresh fish.
“Dor!”
“Mas Dim, coke here.”
Dimiko just grinned wide. The boy accompanied his mother on a shopping trip and the two of them walked home to the restaurant joking cheerfully.
In the villa, Cinta and Maryam are eating a chocolate cake that Dimiko brought.
Love nags Zayn short length for not waking up when his friend comes.
“Tomorrow, Dim promise to come here, kok.”
“Seriousness? Bener, yeah?”
Love slumped from her chair and immediately seemed to be excited.
Zayn and Maryam laughed.
On the sidelines, Maryam shoved a small plate containing pieces of chocolate cake.
As soon as Zayn ate, his body stiffened.
“Bu, this ..”
“Yes ..”
Zayn jumped into his car.
“Dad ...” Call Love.
Zayn no longer looked. He was very familiar with the taste of chocolate cake that he had never encountered anywhere.
“Dim .. Dim said the cake was made by his mother. Is Dim your son and Mika?”
***
