This Is It?

Chapter 43: Revealed

The singing of the rooster in the morning woke me up. The heat of the sun also slipped through the windows and cracks of the bamboo cubicles. The most missed thing from the atmosphere of the village is its beauty like this.

I don't know why I feel the pleasure many times when my eyes look at the whole house and the atmosphere wrapped around it. Could it be because I've changed bodies? Ah, longing to save the books with a beautiful memory.

In the beginning of the day, I heard Mom calling me to take breakfast. I answered, and hurried down from the bed.

I slept really well last night, even though I slept in a room that I always ignored.

I washed my face, then headed to the living room. There is no special dining room in this house. If there is a family gathering event, chewing activities are done in a roomy place.

I see everyone gathered face to face. However, their gaze was busy on the thing that was each in front of the eyes.

“Gas, your sleep last night was not good huh? Sorry, Gas. This is the atmosphere in the coastal village, lots of mosquitoes and heat. Plus the bed is also hard,” said the Kunyuk like beating a war drum.

Father also chimed in on the speech of the Kunyuk. “If there is anything Nak Bagas needs to support comfort while here, Nak Bagas convey aja yes.”

I can only nod too. There is no way I would argue with the Kunyuk in this situation.

“Come tasting Adek-Adek. I hope you like this village breakfast. Here, I bring a corn basket made by Mutia,” explained Mother. Then, Mutia followed behind Mom while carrying a tray filled with tea water.

Waking up during the day seems to make me miss some important things. Mutia came and looked so familiar to Mother. I thought he wouldn't come here.

Meanwhile, Dita was busy playing the phone, and Metha sat speechless with her mouth shut. Really, I regret transporting them.

Kurampas mobile Dita. “Save first yes the phone. We eat together. After that, you and Metha help clean up these food marks,”, I whispered.

“What? Help settle? Babe, mending we foraging outside ya.” Dita threw a complaint that burned my eardrum.

“Dit, if you are not comfortable here, I can anterin you go home right now,” firmly Andy representing the contents of my mind.

Anyone, I think, must be careless to hear Dita's chatter. I want to throw him into the sea to be swallowed by a whale. Or I'll go down to the Java Sea to drift in the Indian Ocean and meet Patrick at the bottom of the Pacific.

“Iya, yes. Very repot really you same affairs people,” grumbled Dita.

After breakfast, the six of us gathered on the front porch of the house to discuss in detail the agenda while in this village. Activities that have been planned must be realized properly. Want to not want Dou Poison to contribute in this matter.

“Siang later we gather at Mr. RT's house. Father and mother Ardi have coordinated with Mr. RT to facilitate our activities during here,” said Andi opened the discussion.

“What are we doing here anyway? Devotional work? Social service? Or KKN? But we are still early semester students, still a long time to think about it.” Dita had an interruption that boiled my blood.

“Terus you want it here we do what, Dit? Vacationing at a fashion show? If so why do you follow,” Andy's circus. “Gue Equally Bagas has made plans to set up a small library here and do counseling on the importance of disposing of garbage in its place.”

“But the Ardi did not say that we are here to be an agent of change,” interrupted again Dita.

My hands are already itching to slap Dita's mouth.

“Ma. I only found out about this yesterday. I think Bagas has told you a lot,” explained the Kunyuk plain acting.

It seems that it is I who must act so that Dita is not fussy anymore. “Dit, you do not have to participate in this activity. I can take you to the terminal now or you can wait for my driver to come to pick you up back to Jakarta.”

Dita rests her head on my shoulder. “You want me to go home, Babe? I don't want to. If I am not beside you, I can be helped because here there is Mutia too.”

To be honest, my eyes are still more comfortable seeing Mutia than Dita.

“Dit, we as students should indeed start to get used to plunge into society. We practice the science that we have at once we learn the problems of the people around us,” said Metha – makes us all look at it amazed.

However, I felt that there was a taboo that sounded like he was hiding behind his strange attitude. He was quiet all day yesterday. Then, he floated the words of a pearl to hold Dita away. On the other hand, the jolly nature is lost as it expands in a plan.

Ah, my brain was rendered helpless in the face of all this. The more obvious that Dita and Metha were presented by the Kunyuk to tackle my happiness in holding Father and Mother.

“Gue to shower. You continue to discuss our agenda with friends yes, Dy,”, I asked Andy.

As I walked to the bathroom, I saw Mother sitting on a kitchen bed made of unbroken bamboo. Then, I approached him to get more familiar.

“Bu, What are you doing? I see Mom daydreaming,” I said slowly.

“Eh, Bagas Boy. Mother is happy to accept the presence of Nak Bagas and friends of Nak Bagas. All this time, I saw that Ardi didn't seem to have any friends. But it turns out, in Jakarta, she met very good friends and cared for him. Friends who look at him without social and economic status,” said Mother in a haru tone.

“True Dad, Mom. Jakarta is hard, but a lot of good is saved. For example, Nak Bagas and his friends. Our concerns about Ardi have been unproven. Ardi is not shunned or bullied his friends as we often think,” added Dad while putting firewood next to the furnace.

The statements of Father and Mother struck me. They did not know that Ardi did not live in the bliss that he now seems. Ardi is still Ardi who is rejected by the social environment.

“Mom and Dad don't have to worry. Ardi can adapt and socialize with every place he walks. Ardi is a tough kid. He also loves Father and Mother very much,” my heart is sad.

Haru slammed into our conversation. A great impulse of feeling moved my body to hug Mom and Dad in turn.

They were astonished, but I made sure this hug would not expose my identity. In fact, I never thought, in this way I would be more free to pour out love to them.

***

Out of Mr. RT's house, I was greeted like a celebrity. Then, they huddled together to take pictures with me.

They were also very enthusiastic to hear my and Andy's presentation of social activities that we will do in the next few days. Could this be the power of handsome and rich? Could be. Because if not these two things come to talk, then it can certainly be difficult to get attention.

Not to forget, Ardi was approached by neighbors who used to even throw their eyes away if they met face to face. The goal was clear, they wanted to know more about me.

I serve all the requestors who want to capture my portrait. Hopefully after this, Father, Mother, and also Ardi can be viewed better by the surrounding community.

The dream some time ago also gave me motivation to become a hero in Ardi's life. Yeah, about raising Ardi's life.

Nope. It's not about my preparation if my time runs out. It's just a form of return.

I walked home quietly. Permission for hands. Next, the execution should be optimal.

How about funding? My mom and dad gave me more than enough for this activity.

“Gue admits you are very, very genius. I do not think in the slightest that you will have this brilliant idea to meet with Father and Mother,” said the Kunyuk as I walked to the room to change clothes.

“Gue is more like your goal to bring Dita and Metha here. But whatever your plan is, I won't take heart. I'm here to present happiness to Father and Mother,” my response is smooth. Then I approached facing him. “Di, can we live by living each role without swiping the problem? You asked me to trust myself more. Then, you thrust me to be yourself. Are you sorry about your decision?”

Ardi pursed his lips. “Living each other's roles? Yeah, I did. It is precisely you who seem to be less grateful for my sacrifice. Why are you trying to disrupt my life that should be your past? Lu pinter is my. In fact, I only put limits on who we are now," he concluded.

“Gas, Di,” Excites Mutia.

His cry made panic chastise my mind. Did he just appear from behind the door? Or did he eavesdrop on our conversation?

“What are you arguing about?" tanyakanya. "Sorry, I heard you guys..”.

I immediately cut off Mutia's remark, “We didn't argue. We are just finalizing this activity. His name is a man, his voice sometimes sounds tight, even though we chatted normally. Aren't you, Di?”

“I. Ka.... we again talk about the division of duties,” thimpal Ardi with his hypocritical mode. The production of his voice is often stamped and slow tempo when speaking other than to me.

Mutia looked at me suspiciously and hesitated. I chose to go and change my clothes. Then, I walked towards the back of the house to play with the roll of waves. That's the usual way I do to relieve anxiety.

“Ardi!”

I'm sculpting. My heart doubled. I guess Mutia didn't follow me. However, of course, the thing that created my body cold hot instantly was the name that I placed in the air.

Does he know who I am? Did his attitude change that came back friendly to me because he already knew my identity?

“Ardi!” call him once more who makes my body weak and my soul anxious.