When Potatoes Fall in Love

2

Cip... chip...

The sound of sparrows in the morning seemed to be the music that accompanied Nadin's breakfast. Every now and then, he tried to inhale the scent of a red rose that he had picked up two days ago in his little garden. However, he could not smell it because his nose was still flu. His mother, who had been watching while preparing milk for him, decided to keep the little vase of red roses out of his presence.

“Mother, why are the flowers brought there ?” nadin asked as he continued to chew his food. His brows furrowed in annoyance as his mother had already disturbed his pleasure.

“If not removed, you can eat the petals to make a side dish, son,” Damara said then put a bottle of Nadin chocolate milk on the dining table. He does not want the previous events to repeat. Damara had found Nadin several times trying to eat rose petals in the garden.

“Nadin said he would never eat rose petals again. Nadin never swallowed it either. Nadin just chewed it, Mom,” timpal Nadin while stirring his fried rice.

“Oh yes ? If mom doesn't always come on time how ?” damara looked at Nadin.

“Y…. Maybe Nadin will try to swallow it,” replied Nadin smiling.

“What ?!” Damara's eyes opened wide when she heard her son's answer.

“The material is very beautiful and fragrant, Mom. So, Nadin was interested in eating it. If the flowers are beautiful, it might taste good too,” explained Nadin expressed his desire that was never achieved because it was always discovered by his mother.

“Son, you can't do that. I'm not calm leaving you home alone,” said Damara looks worried considering he had to leave home in the morning and go home at night to run a stall that he has managed six years.

“Iya, Yes. Nadin would not do it again, when Nadin was a child. But now Nadin is big. So, I'm calm,” said Nadin finished his food and then drank a glass of water.

The new sun rising from the east refracts its light into the kitchen, which also houses Damara and Nadin's dining room. Nadin grabbed his red backpack at the end of the table and put it on. Not to forget Damara immediately slipped a bottle of chocolate milk that he had made in a net bag that was beside Nadin's backpack.

“Nadin school first yes, Mom,” said Nadin kissed his mother's hand.

“Iya, darling. Be careful on the road yes,” said Damara then kissed Nadin's forehead.

“Iya, Mom. Oh yeah, why mom's eyes are swollen ?” nadin asked when he saw his mother's face.

“Ah... this... Last night the mother was sleep deprived,” replied Damara who looked surprised because Nadin realized that his eyes were swollen. He couldn't possibly say that his eyes were swollen from crying after seeing what Nadin was looking for last night.

“Ooh, yes already. Nadin left yes, Mom,” said Nadin then walked with his legs are still limping.

A few minutes had passed since Nadin left for school. However, Damara was still standing in the doorway to see Nadin who had disappeared behind the wall. His heart felt pity because it saw Nadin who still wanted to go to school despite being sick. In his mother's feelings, he was still thinking whether he would ask about the words that Nadin had been looking for last night or not.

Meanwhile, Nadin on his way to school on a cold Saturday morning made him shiver. He sneezed several times along the way. The rest of the rainwater that still stagnates in some of the curves of the ground makes it have to jump.

“Adudu…. It hurt so much,” ringis Nadin when he felt pain in his left leg because it landed too hard.

“Nadiiinnn,” call a girl in the same uniform as Nadin.

Heard his name called. Nadin turned to the right, from a distance he saw his friend Lala running towards him. His hair that was pinched in two resembled rabbit ears that descended up as he ran.

“Why did you run ? I can wait for you,” said Nadin staring at the face of Lala who was already sweating.

“I don't want you to wait long. You will always come early in the morning at school,” timpal Lala who is a close friend of Nadin. Since the first grade, Lala has known that Nadin is always the first to arrive at school. In fact, he once found Nadin standing alone in front of the school gate that was still not open.

“I always come in the morning because we will have to cross the highway. If it is still morning, the road is still empty. So, we can cross the road without the help of others” replied Nadin.

“Yes, I understand. Let's go,” take Lala.

Along the way, they talked about many things. Starting from a difficult PR, a fierce teacher, to a semester replay that will be held next Monday. They talked about it all the way up until it didn't feel like they were now in class.

“Is it true yesterday you fought with Joko ?” ranya Lala after she finished talking about the topic that always made her lazy to enter school.

“You know where ?” is from tanya Nadin then sat on his bench which was in the front row.

“Mmm, that... I know from Ami,” said Lala then sat next to Nadin.

“Ooh.” Nadin was just flat-faced hearing Lala's answer. He was not surprised that Lala until she found out about yesterday. Ami and his gang love to gossip. So, maybe one of them told Lala. Especially when Ami and his gang watched Nadin fight with Joko without any intention to divorce them both.

Tap...

Nadin and Lala turned to look at the owner of the footsteps. Nadin's eyes immediately panned sharply when he found Joko was staring intently at him as well. He did not blink an inch while watching Joko who was walking onto his stool with her legs limping from being injured. He is still upset when he remembers Joko who bullied him yesterday until he had to fight with him.

Bugh…

“Adoooh.” Joko screams in pain as she accidentally bumps into the teacher's desk as she continues to stare at Nadin while walking. He crouched down withstanding the pain in his waist bone that hit the table.

“Pftt...” Instantly Nadin and Lala averted their eyes and closed their mouths so that the sound of their laughter could not be heard by Joko.

At the same time, Damara was getting ready to go to his stall on the side of the highway that Nadin used to walk. Not to forget he brought a change of clothes for Nadin, because his son usually stopped by the stall and stayed there until he closed the stall.

“Mina, sorry I'm late,” said Damara who just arrived at her stall which has 11 employees including Mina who is Lala's mother.

“It's okay. I just lack sleep,” Damara replied and then drank the water he had brought from home.

“You can't possibly sleep less right ? You don't have to hide it,” timpal Mina who was Damara's best friend since childhood.

Damara was silent, he lowered his head and let out a few long breaths. The atmosphere of silence in the stall over time became noisy when the vehicle began to pass there.

“You know that Ms. Diah, Mr. Dali's wife who most often comes to my house to get angry. He was also the one who most often said rudely to me, assuming I was tuna****la, ja***g, and p***cur. I didn't know Nadin heard it. Last night, he borrowed my phone, and it turned out that besides he was using it to study, he was also using it to search for the words spoken by Ms. Diah and the other wives. I was afraid that Nadin would hate me and feel ashamed because of the words that were often spoken to me. I...” Damara was unable to continue her sentence anymore, her tears instantly spilled as soon as Mina embraced her in her arms.

“But Damara, I know what you really are. Not everyone thinks you are. I'll tell Mom Diah that she just misunderstood you. You calm down.” Mina tried to calm Damara down.

“Mina, let me solve this problem. I've also often explained to Ms. Diah that she just misunderstood. But, he still does not want to accept my explanation,” Damara said in his sobs.

“Alright, you are patient yes,” timpal Mina.

As a fellow widow who was left for dead by her husband, Mina knew what Damara was feeling. People will easily misunderstand if they are seen talking to men. Therefore, he and Damara always try to keep their distance from any man. Even so, there are those who speak not well about them so it is not uncommon for him and Damara to share his shoulders as a place to lean when faced with difficult times like this.

Ting tooong…

The bell that reads three times indicates that it is time to go home from school. The faces of children who were originally tangled because they were hot and hungry immediately turned cheerful.

“Kids, remember to learn yes. Next week we will begin class re-raise. Do not play too much and do not let anyone stay in class. Understand ?” tanya Mr. Anton who is a Mathematics teacher in Nadin's class and his homeroom teacher.

“Understand, master teacher,” replied Nadin with all his classmates.

After praying, each of the students in fourth grade shook hands with Mr. Anton and then came out of there. When it was Joko's turn, Mr. Anton advised that he not fight anymore, especially with girls. Nadin was also given the same advice when shaking hands with Mr. Anton.

“Nadin, it was during the afternoon break why are you and Joko called by Mr Anton to the BK room ? I saw that Ami and his gang were called as well. What's the problem ?” lala asked as she enjoyed her ice cream which was quickly melted due to the sunburn.

“Just talk about the problem yesterday,” replied Nadin who was also busy eating his ice cream.

“Continue ?” lala asked curiously.

Previously on break

“Nadin and Joko. Now who first explained why yesterday you two had a fight in class ?” ask Mr. Anton who is sitting at the BK room table. Meanwhile, Nadin, Joko and Ami and the gang stand in front of him. In fact, Ami and her gossipy friends had absolutely nothing to do with Nadin and Joko fighting. Only, they were called to the BK room to be witnesses.

Seeing Nadin, Joko, and Ami cs. not talking. Finally, Mr. Anton asked Joko to explain first. However, Joko's lips were silent a thousand languages.

How did Mr Anton know that yesterday me and this Potato had a fight ? ask Joko in my heart. Potatoes are the call Joko used for Nadin. Actually, it wasn't just him who called Nadin that name. All the children who like to disturb Nadin also do the same with Joko. They call Nadin potatoes because they know Nadin really likes to eat potatoes.

“Then Nadin explained. Come, Son. Don't be afraid,” persuade Mr. Anton.

“Yesterday after finishing tutoring, I, Joko, Ami, Mia, Siti, Caca, and Tari had picket cleaning class. At that time Joko asked me to help him finish his part of sweeping the bench because he wanted to go home early,”, Nadin said staring at Mr. Anton. While Joko starts to look restless as Nadin starts talking.

“Then what made you two fight ?” ask Anton patiently.

Nadin silently lowered his head while biting his lips which seemed to tremble withstanding the cry.

“Nadin,” call Mr. Anton as a gesture so that Nadin continues his story.

“I would definitely want to help him if he asked in a good way. But, he asked for my help while pulling my hair and calling me son p**cur and bastard child. He kept doing that until I fell. So, I hit him. About the vase in class, I accidentally broke it. I'm sorry. But, I have brought instead,” explained Nadin.

At first Nadin did not want to tell this problem to anyone including his mother. But, somehow the story of the fight reached the ears of Mr. Anton. Now, it was Mr. Anton's turn to be silent after hearing Nadin's confession, he took a deep breath because he did not expect Joko to be able to say that to Nadin.

“Ami, is it true that Nadin told you ?” asked Mr. Anton now turned his eyes to Ami.

“True, Sir. Yesterday my friends and I were in class while Nadin and Joko were playing.” Ami Reveals.

“Iya, correct Sir.” Welcome the gang Ami justifies.

“Alright, next time anyone among you sees someone fighting. Please you guys lerai. Let no one fight anymore. Understand ?” ask Mr. Anton while looking at his students in turn.

“And as for Joko, you should not ask for help in such a way, let alone to say something impolite. Understand right ?” asked Mr. Anton staring at Joko who kept his head down because his mistake had been exposed.

“Understand, Sir,” Joko said staring at her homeroom teacher.

“Oooh. So that's how the story goes. Basic Joko, just be careful if she dares to bother you again. It was my turn to beat him up,” grumbled Lala then threw away her ice cream stick violently because of emotion.

“But, do you know what p***cur and that bastard ?” mean ask Lala again.

“No. I've been looking for it on the internet. But, I still don't know what those words mean,” Nadin replied with a frustrated face. Now the two of them just looked at each other with confused faces.