You Who I Miss

Gathering

That afternoon, in Jakarta, on June 5, 2010, after the rain, I walked out of my house and approached the red roses I planted with my mother in the front yard.

"Well, rose, you're taking a rain shower" I said plainly as I stroked the rose petals.

I smiled as I smelled the fragrant rose I named rose. I love flowers especially red roses even though the stems are thorny.

When I look around rose. I accidentally saw a handsome 10-year-old boy the same age I was. He was standing smiling in his house right in front of my house. It seems, he was watching me from earlier. I just kept staring at him in wonder. Even though I was there for almost a week. I didn't know him, I really didn't know, and that's when I saw him.

Who her?

"Hi." He waved his hand at me.

I silently looked at her. I don't know what to do, should I smile and greet him too. But I don't know him. From the back. I heard Mom's voice calling me.

"Rissa, let's go in, take a shower, it's late." shouted the mother from the terrace.

"Yes ma'am." I said.

I immediately ran into the house. I don't care what he thinks. I know, he'd want to get me acquainted. She was the first to see me as I had just seen her. He must think I'm arrogant. I left so without saying anything.

There is actually a little bit of regret in me. Because there was no good impression of me on him. I should have waved to him, at least I smiled before I went inside. Then how is this? Should I go out and see him. It's good that he's still there, if he's in his house, who am I supposed to call? I'll know him. In the kitchen, before entering the bathroom. I saw Mom pouring hot water in the cup. He's making coffee for Daddy who's coming home soon. I'd better tell my mom, who knows if she knows the person who lives in front of our house.

"Mom." I said to Mom before I went to the bathroom.

"Yes dear." answered the mother.

"Who lives in the house in front of our house?" I asked.

"Said father, who lives in the front house, his name is Mr. Rahmad, he just returned home vacation with his family, why?" asked the mother while looking at me.

"I saw a boy in the house, but I don't know who that was."

"Maybe it's his son, the mother has not had time to visit there and get acquainted with them" said the mother while putting a cup of coffee on the dining table.

A few moments later, the bell sounded. I know it must be my dad who just got home from the office. I ran as fast as I could while shouting,

"Dad."

I opened the door and immediately hugged my father who was standing in front of the door smiling.

"Dad." I said to Dad.

"Daddy's beautiful son." said the father, holding me.

"But I haven't had a shower" said the mother. I laugh.

"Uhm, the pantes from earlier smell asem." said Dad teasing me.

"Dad." I'm gushing. My mom and dad laughed.

"Let's take a shower" said Dad.

"Okay." I said. I immediately ran to the bathroom.

***

Malamannya. After dinner with my mother's special fried rice. I'm preparing for my school tomorrow. Starting from the book you want to learn tomorrow, pencils, erasers, rulers and others. I put it all in my pink bag.

After that, I met my father in the room. I saw Dad working on his office while leaning on the head of the bed. I was standing by the door. I want to get in. But, it seems like dad is busy. I don't want to bother him.

"Rissa, why's there, let's go inside" said the father, focusing on his laptop screen.

Because my dad told me to come in. I went in and stood beside my father.

"Yes, I'll take care of the report tomorrow, why?."

I'm silent.

"You want to tell me" said Dad looking at me. I smile.

"Yes." I said.

"Let's sit here" said the father, holding me up next to him.

"Why?, try dad's story." asked Dad.

"Last afternoon, Rissa saw the boy in the house in front of us" I said

"Certainly?" said father.

"He said hello to Rissa, but Rissa was cuek, it can't be like that" I said.

"Rissa, if there are people who say hello to Rissa, both parents or friends of Rissa, Rissa must say hello back, not like that, later Rissa said arrogant, arrogant, no one wants to be friends with Rissa" said the father. I silently looked at my father with a sad face. My dad smiled.

"Dear pa-pa, later, if Rissa meets again with the boy, Rissa must greet him, maybe she wants to be friends with Rissa" said the father. I'm still like that.

"Already ahh, don't kayak it his face." said the father while hugging my anxiety.

"Is it PR?." asked Dad.

"Even." I said.

"Good, smart boy." said the father, hugging and kissing my head.

In my mind, I was still curious about the boy I saw this afternoon. I wonder his name. I want to be friends and play with him. It's true what Dad said, if I ever see him again. I can't be that cute.

In the living room, my father and I accompanied my mother to watch her beloved soap opera. It is not wrong to call it loyalty. About those actors. I don't really understand that storyline. I was just watching, because there was nothing I was doing. And I think that soap opera is not really suitable for my age. But that's mom's favorite soap opera, yeah, how else. The TV only has one and it's late at night there's no cartoon at that hour.

Because the clock is in my sleeping hours. My eyes can no longer hold it. I think these eyes are too heavy to look at the TV. It's time for me to rest, especially tomorrow I go to school. But I was lazy to walk into the room. I lay my head on Dad's thigh. Dad gently stroked my head. It makes me sleepy.

"Rissa is sleepy?." asked Dad. I kept quiet while occasionally closing my eyes.

"Sleep in the room, go to school tomorrow" Dad said. I'm yawning.

"A little while" I said.

"Tomorrow to go to school, son, let's go to the room, go to bed." said Mom. I remained silent in my place.

"The textbook has been treated?" asked Dad.

"Had." I replied slowly.

"Yaudah, now Rissa sleeps there, tomorrow wants to go to school" said Dad.

"Yes" I said, heading to my room.

Chamberlain. I sleep on my bed in pink. Pink is my favorite color, that's why the interior of my room is all pink.

While I sleep. The sound of the door opening woke me up. But I stayed in my position. With my eyes half open, I saw my father walking over to me. He sat next to me. Dad gently stroked my head while saying:

"Father's favorite son" he said. I slowly fell asleep as my father gave me a kiss of affection on my cheek.

-oo-oo-