The Sun Becomes a Star

Another Surprise

At 6:15 I just woke up and Papa didn't wake me up! I was so exhausted and didn't have time to set off the alarm last night. Monday is the day of ceremony. If it is too late, it can be a long business. I had to write, meet BP teachers and a bunch of other useless things.

Of course I panicked. I saw from the window that the sky was already bright. I'll be late for sure. I tried to remember – remember, whatever happened all day yesterday. Starting from visiting Grandma's house, said – sweet words Aaron, I brought Aaron to the hospital Kak Kevin and chat before my sleep with Imelda. I looked at my HP and found Aaron's message.

 

“You'll be here later?”

 

She asked. I'm not answering now. I will when I get to school. Sayup – sayup I heard Papa was talking to someone in the living room, the voice of a woman, but not the voice of Aunt Nina.

I tried to go outside the room to take a shower immediately, but before I took the time to look at the living room to see who was visiting – this morning. It's unusual for Papa to receive a guest this morning.

I saw Papa talking to a woman, Papa's age. She is beautiful, she is tall, but not as tall as I am. He wears jeans that fit snugly frame his legs. T-shirts that seem expensive wrapped his body. He had a small bag he had put on the table. I know from the logo on top of that, that the bag is not a cheap bag. The model is simple but elegant. Next to the sofa, I saw a small suitcase. A small suitcase for people who travel a lot.

The woman had black hair. Not too much polish on his face but I'm pretty sure that his skin is familiar with a lot of treatments. The skin is clean and smooth. I'll bet that the fly must have slipped when it landed on his face. But what really caught my attention was not how beautiful she was. There was one thing from his face that I thought was very familiar. When I saw his face, I was looking in the mirror at a version of myself that was probably about twenty years older.

“I came here not to ask for it back, you sure know it,” I heard the woman talking. His voice was soft, like a person singing.

“Of course not. I know that very well.”

“I just want to meet my son,” he said again which then like opening all the doors in my brain, connecting all the red threads in knots – strong knots. Maybe the woman ….

The woman stopped talking when she saw my head goosebumps in the living room. He stood up, tears dripping from his two eyes. It's not wrong anymore. Samar – is faint I can still remember his face.

“Papa,” I said heart – hearts.

Papa stood up and panicked to see me in the living room at the time.

“Ah .. May ..., you're awake?” Papa stutters.

“May,” the woman came forward near me and I automatically backed off. Papa held the woman down and I heard her whisper, “Pelan – slowly. Don't rush – buru.”

The woman stopped. But from his face I saw a longing mixed with guilt. As if - would he want to pounce on me in his arms.

“May, this ..” Papa pause for a moment, like trying to find the right word – words.

The woman nodded – nodding while rubbing her eyes which were now very wet with tears.

“Betul Nak. Right, this is Mama,” she spread her arms wide – wide. What does he want? I'm squandering in his arms? After all this time he left then he came again and hoped we would be together like a harmonious family?

“May, this is your Mama. He came to see you,” finally Papa spoke. At that point, Papa must know that there is no longer anything that needs to be covered.

I stayed where I stood, like there was a big peg stuck my foot on the ground. I honestly don't know what to do. Should I be sad or happy. But even though there was something familiar on her face, this woman was still a stranger in my life.

“Papa, May wants to take a shower. May is late for school,” I can finally say – words. I saw the woman's face was disappointed. But of course, what did he expect?

Fast – fast I shower, flush my body with cold water. But still, I felt like it was a very hot morning. I feel unusual. My small house feels smaller. I quickly – quickly finish my bath, to the room, change clothes, put on moisturizer, a little powder, roll on snatching any book that is on the table and then cram into my bag, then go straight away.

“Papa, May departs,” I said without seeing Papa or the woman.

“May, .. “ Papa yells. But that's it. Papa wasn't trying to catch up to me. I've lived with Papa my whole life. In – times like this, he knew that alone was the thing I needed. Like in every quarrel we had where Papa was out of the house and old was just back.

But that woman, who had just come and declared herself my Mama, did not know me at all. He was trying to chase me. I took my bike and pedaled it with all my might. The woman screams – screams calling my name.

No wonder the commotion lured my neighbor – neighbors outside. The first of course, Ms. Caludia. But I don't care about everything. I gotta get going. I don't want to be in that place.

From the tail of my eyes I saw Papa holding the woman. The woman was crying, and several neighbors crowded in. Thank God I wasn't part of the circus that morning. I paddle my bike fast – fast. But I don't want to go to school. All my life I've never skipped school. Let this be the first experience. I just want to be alone. I don't want to meet Aaron, I don't want to meet Jell and Trisakti. I don't want to meet anyone.

I kept pedaling my bike through the city, going east towards the city of Malang. To a high place where I could see the great city of Malang, a city at the bottom of a valley surrounded by mountains, like a giant bowl.

I threw my bike in the grass. I picked a shady tree and sat under it. Then I cried as – became. I asked – ask, why don't I have a quiet life. After Papa had a girlfriend, Aaron was struggling with his addiction, and now I have to meet Mama who has been absent for most of my life?

Follow me on IG @eveningtea81 for daily quotes, short stories and more! 

Check out other stories written by Eveningtea81 in Noveltoon

1.      Play your guitar, Sophie

2.      The Sun Becomes a Star