Why Different?
The Early Birthday Gift
Patently, Juan fed spoon by spoon the porridge he made himself into his mother's mouth. Occasionally he would wipe the corners of his mother's lips affected by melted porridge, occasionally he would offer drinking water, and occasionally he would wipe the sweat grains that still continue to drip soaked his mother's pale face.
“Gerdnya relapse, it is definitely due to excessive stress, plus your mother who does not eat well so that the nutrients needed by her body are not met. But no need to worry, I have prescribed vitamins and supplements to help meet the nutrients that are not obtained with your mother for several days. Now your job is to make sure your mom is no longer stressed and wants to start eating regularly again.”
As stated by Doctor John before the man in his late 50s resigned. The recipe given by him even still Juan recognized in his pants until now, complete with the pain that he piled tightly in the heart.
No need to be clarified. Juan also knew that the stress that accumulates in his mother's head is mostly from him. From his decision to get out of the house. From his absence he was in various events that occurred in the Big House afterwards. Also from his turn he told the mother over the past few days because he was too busy with his own affairs.
“Log out of bed rest, yes. Tomorrow Juan can just go to the pharmacy to take the same vitamin supplement that Doctor John prescribed.” While saying so, Juan began to clean up the bowl of food that had been empty. He was relieved, at least the porridge he made for the mother could be spent even though it took a long time.
On top of the bed, where she could only sit leaning helplessly, Chyntia did not respond to the words of the son. He was even busy looking at Juan who seemed deftly collecting soft grains of porridge that accidentally fell on the floor near the bed, wiping it with tissue and then throwing everything into a garbage can near the nightstand.
Until Juan turned back to bring a glass of water to rinse his mouth that was porridge, Chyntia still did not take her eyes off.
“Pelan-pelan aja.” Juan said while helping his mother to drink. He made sure no drops had fallen off, then rubbed his mother's wet lips using her delicate thumb.
“Nah, already. Now Mama sleep.” After putting the glass back on the nightstand, Juan helped lay his mother's body, pulled the blanket to the waist and put a soft rub on the forehead of the woman who had given birth to him.
“Ju,” call Chyntia weak when Juan wants to move out of his chair.
Juan stopped moving, turning to look at his mother gently. “Mama need something?” tanyakanya.
“Mama wants to sleep with you tonight. Can?”
“Bby.” Juan answered without hesitation. Juan turned the same bowl of glass first to the kitchen, all hand washing, then Juan Temenin Mama sleep.
Chyntia just nodded. Then he let his son pass carrying dirty furniture until his sturdy body no longer seemed blocked by the door.
While waiting for Juan to return, Chyntia's focus was diverted to the existence of the paper bag her son had left near the nightstand. Now his position had changed, shifting far enough to the other side of— where he could no longer peek at what was inside.
At a glance, before his tears spilled like a faulty faucet,—Chyntia had glanced at the paper bag, and she found the logo of one of the luxury bags on the outside of the paper bag.
“What is possible buyin for his girlfriend?” he guessed. There was again a sense of dislike for his son's lover when he thought that Juan was buying it to give to his lover who was not how rich. Born to a family that all have it all, Chyntia is used to smelling foul scents from people who come closer just to make a profit. So that they can share the treasure he has by utilizing the status of friendship or courtship.
His experience that makes Chyntia so think that rich people like them should indeed associate with the same level. Because if you are friends with people who are also materially adequate, they will be more unlikely to take advantage of the situation, right?
“Among the many women, why did Juan have to meet the same who was far below him?” Chyntia wailed so much. He just does not want his son who seems sincere in loving his lover will end up disappointed when he knows that the lover he is proud of never has more intention than to master his property.
“Udah ready to sleep now?”
Chyntia retracted her gaze, then nodded the second her eyes met Juan's. “Sini.” Tell him, patting the empty space on the bed after he shifted to the right.
Juan according. Making sure her mother's bedroom door was locked, she walked to the bed. Like a baby about to suckle, she snuck into the blanket, grabbed her mother's warm body (because it was still feverish) and hugged her tightly.
Mama must have long ago not hugged like this Papa. In his heart, Juan grimaced. Sometimes, he likes to wonder, what is the purpose of his parents getting married first? Whether they get married because they really love each other, then the love fades over time, or they just never know what love is, and their marriage is just a legal way to get offspring?
Because, he was sad to see the condition of his mother now. Where she should be, her father was here to accompany her mother when she was sick. Not even go out of nowhere and spend money on useless things.
“Ju,” from inside Juan's arms, Chyntia whispered softly.
“Sleep, it's late. Juan is also sleepy.”
“Wait,” Chyntia tried to loosen Juan's embrace, just so she could stare at the handsome face of her son whom she had longed for so many days. “Mama wants something to do with you.”
Juan frowned, but the man kept asking, “You want what?” while creating the ideal distance so that they can chat more comfortably.
Juan followed Chyntia's index finger, and without first answering her question, the man got out of bed, picked up the forgotten paper bag and handed it to Chyntia.
Now it was Chyntia's turn to frown not to understand. What does that mean, Juan bought the bag for himself?
“This is for Mama, but not Juan who boughtin.”
That answer made Chyntia even more confused. Instead of receiving a paper bag still held out by her son, the woman was instead fixated on looking at her son with a questioning look.
“This is a birthday gift for Mama. Early birthday gift, special from Zahira.”
The appearance of the name back made Chyntia sigh low. His gaze went back down on the paper bag in Juan's hand. Should he accept it? Or did he just refuse, because after all he could buy something like that with his own money?
“Please do not see who loves and how nominal, but please also see the intention and sincerity in it.”
Back, Chyntia raised her head.
“Zahira bela-belain nabung to be able to buyin this for Mama, because she felt on her previous birthday, she can only love a gift that is not worth how—according to her. Juan already asked him to make love directly to Mama, let Mama know how loving and sincere she is with Mama, but her son does not want to. He is not ready if the gift he bought with a non-playful effort this Mama refused just in front of his eyes, so he nitipin this to Juan to be given to Mama.”
No one would have thought if what Juan said just now contained a bit of a lie. Yes, just a little. Because Juan knows Zahira is saving up to be able to buy a more luxurious birthday gift for Mama. As a good girlfriend, Juan only helped Zahira realize her good intentions, in her own way.
“Juan know exactly what Mama worriedin.” As if not willing to give a pause for his mother, Juan again voiced. Paper bag he put on the bed, right in front of his mother. “But you don't have to worry, Zahira is not like that. He is not matre. Five years of dating, Juan barely bought her anything, because she didn't want to. And Mama should also know, if that is also the reason why Juan can be as dear and loving as Zahira.”
“Juan will not maksa Mama to be able to directly give you blessing. Nothing, slow down. Juan is also wrong because it takes too long to be able to bring you closer. Because if you knew him early, you probably wouldn't have thought that there was a better woman than Zahira for Juan.”
Chyntia is still mute. He never saw Zahira as his own. All this time, he only saw her as a class of people who liked to take advantage of the situation and the love offered by lonely rich people like herself and Juan. But, are sincere people like Juan saying that really still exist in this deceitful world?
...🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁...
So bad his longing for Juan, Chyntia to move the loyalty when she could not find the whereabouts of Juan in her bed when she woke up at 5am. Panicked, Chyntia thought her son had already secretly left her when she was still sound asleep.
However, the panic gradually subsides when he discovers there is still a wallet, car keys and Juan's cell phone left on the nightstand.
Chyntia rubbed her chest, sighing in relief. Then, he got down slowly from the bed. Last night's paper bag came back to attention when he was almost at the door. After struggling with his own thoughts for quite some time, he finally decided to accept the gift from Zahira and keep it in the place where it was last left.
Taking a deep breath, Chyntia continued on. Before venturing into another corner of the house, he first checked into Juan's room. Because it is possible that the child feels uncomfortable and quietly moves into his own room after waiting for him to sleep.
Juan's door was not closed. There was a gap wide enough where Chyntia could peer inside without having to open the door wider. And at once, Chyntia did not know how to react. He does not know that Juan will go so far as to fight for his love for Zahira.
In his dimly lit room, illuminated only by a yellow-colored sleeping lamp, Juan appeared to be performing dawn prayers. Chyntia knew because she also often saw her domestic assistant do it before starting to move every day. Perhaps, Juan had also gotten the prayer mat he was wearing today from their domestic assistant.
Reluctant to disturb Juan's solemn worship, Chyntia decided to wait at the door. Then Juan arrived at the last rakaat and their gazes met when the man finished greeting.
Juan looked surprised at his presence, but it didn't take long, the shock was gone. Juan rushed to clean the prayer mat, folded it neatly then put it in the closet. Then, the boy walked up to her with a faint smile that adorned her handsome face.
As if reluctant to discuss more about the morning prayer service he did, Juan did not say anything when he arrived in front of Chyntia. The boy grabbed his mother's arm, took her mother out of the room.
Chyntia herself did not want to comment much either. He is also not a typical religious drunk and principled there is only one of the truest religions in the world. As long as her children still believe in God, Chyntia feels she will not mind even though now the way they communicate with God itself has been different. He only hoped, Juan would not just do this just for the sake of his lover
“Still in the morning, we continue to sleep, yuk?” bring Juan.
And because his longing is still a lot, and not necessarily there will come an opportunity where he can hug Juan while asleep, Chyntia agreed. They went back to the room, back to wading through the dreamland although not all night.
Seriate
