Two Ribs
#20
Time keeps going. My relationship with my father is getting better. But I still don't want to meet my father's wife. And it seems that the woman understood. Every time there is an event, the woman always chooses to go home.
But not with Eid this year. My heart was inflamed once I knew of existence. Somehow, the time that had passed by a year, made me still unable to accept his presence.
I refused to get out of the car. Surviving in the car even though my two children had run cheerfully into the house he said.
"So brother turn off the engine of the car, mom comes home using an online taxi"
I threatened to bang Handi who would shut down the car engine.
"When is mom?"
"As far as mother is concerned"
"He was good at taking care of my father".
"That means you're not good, don't take care of your father?"
"It's not like that. Context is different"
"So brother wants to come down, please. Mom's coming home, brother can ask to deliver Kakaf".
"This is Eid al-fitri bu, day of forgiveness"
"Pardon the forgiving brother inward"
Bang Handi breathed. His back and head in the chair.
"Okay, let's wait in the car. Let the child be satisfied to play. My brother will take them home"
Bang Handi held on to his position. I also played my phone. There were no more voices and conversations between us.
No one opened the back door. I kept quiet, motionless to look around and didn't want to know anyone. Someone stroked my head from behind.
"Sister kangen ade sister. But baby, Ade who is in kangeni does not want to meet his brother".
I heard Brother Andi's voice while continuing to stroke my head.
"Ade cute girl, who likes to ask for money, likes to ask this to her brother. Now it's getting farther, it can live alone without his older brother"
I remained silent, without realizing it, the edge of my eyes had already dewy. When I moved house. I only met Brother Andi when there was a family event. Or at a moment like this.
The warm atmosphere of our family disappeared, when the father decided to remarry. So whose fault is it? Was it my fault?
"Suppose you don't see it. Let's just say he came just for dad. Can it be like that?"
I still don't make a sound. Only the sound of my nose was heard. My tears are starting to seep out.
"The father of de. I also miss the same ade".
I'm getting sobbing.
"Your son loves to hang out with his cousin's cousin. It's good to see kaiya. Their kasian. Don't understand what's going on"
I took a tissue to clean the liquid coming out of my nose. That's when someone knocked on the car's glass door in the driver's section. Bang Handi opened the glass.
"You don't want to go in, just go home"
I heard Brother Alif's voice. I wanted to answer, but Brother Andi held my hand.
"Sir, you come in"
Brother Andi who answered Brother Alif.
"Hard-headed"
Brother Alif said as he turned inside the house.
"Dictator"
I shouted and Bang Handi quickly closed the glass door while looking at me.
"Muuuu "
Brother Andi breathed a rough breath. Brother Alif looked at me sharply and I replied to him. I don't know why since that incident I don't like the dictatorship.
Brother Alif turned around to come back to me. But Fani's big hand prevented it. I went out of the house and asked Alif to come in.
Before he entered the house, he turned to our car and looked at us with a sad look.
Bang Handi got out of the car and called.
Bang Handi kissed my father's hand, they talked for a while. Before long the kakaf also came out and talked to Bang Handi.
"You don't get along with your husband? It's all wrong for him to face this situation"
Brother Andi who is still sitting in the back seat of our car again made a sound.
I remained silent not answering all of Brother Andi's words. Bang Handi returned to the car and sat back as before.
"It's been a year. I thought your wife had changed. It seems the same ndi. Still in his heart formal. So it's still frozen. Brother down ya ndi".
"Yes brother" That's just a bang Handi's answer.
The back door of the car opened and closed.
"Abang is lazy to argue, even though Brother Alif and your other brothers think brother can not guide you. Can't change your head hard. Though they should be aware, from where hard your head is if not from the attitude of those who continue to spoil you".
"Children will be among Kak Izal. Where are you going home or where is this?"
"Home home, I'm going to bed"
"okay".
No talk on the way home. Bang Handi turned on the radio while humming a little. Several times also his hand stroked my head which was staring out the window.
The atmosphere of Eid outside the window is very felt. A smile of happiness emanated from all the faces I saw.
My tears are dripping. No one understands me. At the time of Eid al-Fitr this is my last memory with my late mother. At this time of Eid al-Fitr my chest always feels tight. I want my last eid with my mom to stay in our house without being covered by new memories including his new wife.
A message notification goes to my phone. From Mia's sister, Andi's wife.
"Assalamualaikum adorable sister-in-law"
I smiled and replied.
"Waalaikumsalam the kind-hearted sister-in-law. Sorry to be born bathin yes sis, forgive ade".
"Hmmm.. Effective leafan de hahahah"
"Sorry Brother 🙏"
I gave a two-cupped hand icon to the message I sent.
"Sister is also heading home. Brother Andi clashed with brother Alif as soon as you came home. Izal took the children all to his room. Brother asks, you call father. Kasian".
My tears are back.
"Speak apologies to my brother Brother".
"Say your brother, say it yourself. Don't have a mouth, keep quiet like a thrush".
"Yes, I'll call you later"
My phone was ringing soon. Brother Mia called me.
"Assalamualakum" brother"
"Ade on the road, I turned to bang Handi. Turn back bang !"
"Okay, waalaikumsalam".
"Sir Andi asked for a bang"
Bang Handi nodded.
"Good is not far away. Is Andi home?"
"Yes, said sister Mia, the storm with Brother Alif"
Bang Handi breathed. And keep driving to Andi's house.
######
As soon as I got out of the car, Brother Andi's son immediately hugged me.
"Momuu, kangen"
"Fuck, miss mom?"
"Well, miss seeing mom lashing the same papah"
"It can be you"
We also joined hands to enter the house. Brother Mia greeted me with a big smile and immediately hugged me. Brother Andi sat on the sofa of the television room.
I approached Andi's sister. Sitting to the right of Kak Andi and leaning my head against her shoulder while holding her with my right hand.
"Sorry, sorry ade sis"
I hid my face on Andi's shoulder.
Brother Andi moved his shoulders. Makes me shift. He moved his right hand and pulled my face to his chest. Hugged me tightly.
"Sorry, sorry ade sis"
I sobbed. Brother Andi kissed my head many times.
"Yes, don't be like that. I can't see you like that".
"sorry"
That's all I can say.
"Well, there's a Korean drama".
Sister Mia sat down beside me and rubbed my shoulders.
"Ray documented it. Just send it to Izal's om"
I lifted my face and looked at Ray, Andi's older son.
"You're with mom"
"Ray, not videoin mom. But papah. Said Izal, videoin! papah you cry what not"
I looked at Andi's face. There's a drop of water in the corner of Andi's eye. I rubbed it and kissed Andi's cheek.
Andi kissed my forehead repeatedly.
"Can't Mia's brother have Handi jealous of this scene?"
"Oh, kakaaaakkk"
I hugged Mia and kissed her cheek too.
"That's no martabak, Handi's already eating tuh. Hungry he said face his wife".
I nodded and headed towards the dining table. Brother Andi also stood following me and Brother Mia. We ate together. Without discussing what happened today.
Half an hour later Brother Fian and sister Nisa came. The scene of hugging and crying came back. And Ray again documented it even though it had been in the middle of the eel by his papa.
Kak Fian's arrival was followed by Kakaf with my son. Ray who was ready with his camera was disappointed, because there were no exciting scenes with Kakaf. Even the crying of azka that immediately sounded so see me.
We gathered at Andi's house. No one talks about what just happened. Neither me nor Brother Andi and Brother Alif.
Lebaran Eid al-Fitr this time did make new memories. Not at my father's house, but at Andi's.
