Trying To Be Faithful

Application for Puput

Although he has apologized, and Puput has forgiven Akhtia, it does not mean that the disappointment in the heart of Puput disappeared just like that. Being slandered, shunned, and gaining distrust from loved ones is indeed very painful.

The pupil pulled back. He was no longer as cheerful as before. He thought he was just someone else in the house. It is only natural that Achtians did not believe him because they were not strongly bound by blood. Puput felt inferior so he thought if he should be able to know himself more.

"Right of ya."

Puput only shook his head when he rejected Airlangga's offer. The boy returned to public transport. After breakfast he kissed the hands of everyone but God.

A god who was treated like that felt himself ignored and felt uneasy. That was why he decided to take Akhtia to his parents' house for good. Maybe until they have their own home.

"Let's go home with brother."

Puput waved at Chooki and ignored Airlangga. The girl prefers to go home by Chooki with her motorbike, rather than with Airlangga.

Puput attitude that is constantly like that makes Airlangga feel if Puput did not want to be with him. Maybe seeing doesn't want to.

"Pa, Bun."

"What's up, Bang?"

"I was offered a job in a branch office as a principal lawyer."

"Major lawyer? Alhamdulillah .. congratulations, Bang." Hasna was so happy.

"Which branch office?" asked Raden while cutting the steak.

"Sumatera Island."

The knife that was being used cut the steak stopped.

"Not far, Bang." Hasna was starting to feel sad.

"This house was deserted after Achtia moved to her father-in-law's house, when you wanted to go too?"

"What's wrong with you guys? Why do one by one papa's children leave this house?"

Airlangga's question apparently offended Puput.

"Right, it should have been me, right? Not brother or sister."

Raden closed his eyes deeply.

"Snakes."

Puput returned Hasna's call with a cynical look.

"That's not what papa meant, son."

"I'm full already."

He left the restaurant without finishing his meal.

"Why does Kak Puput Sama Tia fight continuously? Now the same brother?" ask Nay.

"They don't fight, son. Just brother there's a problem." Hasna tried to calm the sad heart of Nay to see her sodas go one by one.

"Come here!" Airlangga pulled Puput forcibly to get into his car when Puput was about to cross the road. The boy thrashed, wanting to break away but his strength was too small to fight Airlangga.

Now they sit on the beach on the outskirts of the city. staring at the expanse of the ocean that is brownish green. The wind hit their faces, carrying a peculiar smell of the sea. The hot heat was not felt because of the gentle breeze that cooled it.

Not talking to each other and just being quietly busy with his own thoughts. Many words are hidden, unable to be spoken. I don't know what's holding him back.

"Don't feel like you're an outsider at home. Papa, loving you is like loving Akhtia."

"I know."

Then, the silence came back. Until dusk greeted, they remained silent to each other.

Everything has changed. Things are getting better even though they are not what they used to be. Now, they're all grown up. Have a life each lived.

Akhtia and the gods have become the real husband and wife. Now Achtia is pregnant with the child of the God. He returned to live in Raden's house because he felt comfortable if it was near Hasna.

Nay and Shaki are already big. Shaki is now busy school and taekwondonya. Nay is busy with his talent for painting.

And Puput, now he is in college majoring in psychology. He wants to know more about how people behave, and why people behave, and what the solution is to overcome these attitudes.

Once a year they meet when Eid al-Fitr arrives.

"Seriously?" ask Akhtia. "Yeaaay, my son can often meet his Om."

"Alhamdulillah yes, Bang. So we can often get together like now. Mommy is happy if we can gather like this. You know that mom and dad are no longer young."

The conversation that was originally happy, turned into sadness when one of us talked about age.

"Makanya .. mumpung mother and papa are still healthy, I will introduce someone to you," said Puput.

"Eh, who? You want to bring your girlfriend here?" ask Akhtia.

"Emmm not a girlfriend, anyway. But a future husband. Ha ha ha."

"Oh, who the hell, who? You haven't told me about anyone since I moved into my mom's house."

"Where to tell, her sister's there. It's not good to know the story on the phone."

"Yes, anyway."

"Whoever the man is, papa will agree if you are happy. As long as he's good and responsible."

"Whoever, Pah?" ask Airlangga.

"of course. Anyone from not you. Ha ha ha." Raden laughing. He made a joke that unconsciously hurt Airlangga. Akhtia who knew how her brother felt could only laugh awkwardly at Raden's attitude.

While Puput busy chewing almonds, without giving any reaction.

Two days later after his promise, the man came to Puput's parents to get acquainted and propose to his lover.

"Feelings ..so it's not foreign to the same face." Akhtia commented.

Soup smile. "He's Chooki, brother."

"Ah, yes. Well, so you guys have been in touch since school?" ask Achtia not to believe it. She thought Puput had broken up because he never told her about his relationship with Chooki again.

"We broke up, then resumed communication." Chooki answered.

"Oh, that turns out."

"So what's your name, son?" ask Hasna.

"I'm Chooki, Aunt. I used to be a schoolmate's daughter."

"You didn't invite your parents here?" ask Raden.

"I doubt it will be accepted, so I came here myself first to make sure I get blessing or not, let my parents not be disappointed if in the end I was rejected da Om and Auntie."

Raden.

"Take your parents here later, let me have a good time talking about your marriage later."

"Papa agrees?" ask Akhtia.

"Of course, why not? The important thing is that you are happy, whatever you will give. You're happy yourself, Put?"

The pupil smiled meaningfully. He went back to picking up almonds. Hasna who knows how her son, can only look at Puput with a sad feeling.

"Why do you always eat those nuts?" hasna asked as they were both in the bedroom. There's a jar of almonds in the lap of Puput.

Puput did not reply, Hasna did not ask any more and let her son bear her own grief. Refrain from chewing nuts so that the sadness is not clearly visible.

"Should you say it to me, son?"

"Don't!''

"What would you say to me, papa?" tanya Hasna tried to fish for Puput to talk even though Hasna actually knew what her daughter was feeling.

"Don't be forced into marriage if you don't love that man."

"Then can I marry the man I'm supposed to marry? Maybe my heart will be happy, but that also means I will hurt a lot of hearts, right?"

Hasna smiled sadly looking at her son with the helplessness she had right now.