
“Lea has long been home to indo tan, but stay at home om. If the same papih had just come home about a month ago. Raka also came to Lea tan.”'s birthday Alea brightened with her bright face.
He glanced at Raka who had just fallen silent and looked at his phone.
“Mamih you have?” asked Niken doubtfully.
Alea just nodded. “Mamih is in the back garden. If papih again play golf with his business partner.” Alea explained carefully.
“Can aunty meet mamihmu?”
Alea was silent for a moment. He seemed to think hard.
“Bby tan..” Finally Alea agrees.
Alea takes Niken to meet Nida, his best friend since Junior High. While Raka, go to the front garden, a place that holds many memories for her.
“Nida...” clean Niken when he saw the figure of a beautiful woman who was tidying up some plants.
Nida turned around and looked surprised when she saw Niken who was in front of her. Niken threw a smile that only Nida nodded at.
“Lea stay a while ya tan..” whispered Alea.
Niken just nodded.
For a moment Niken and Nida looked at each other. 17 years they had not met since Nida decided to live in London. He looks much different from Nida who left when in a bad condition. Now he looks neater, his face is calm but the look in his eyes still shows the void.
Niken and Nida sat side by side looking at the ripples of water that were blown off by the tail of a fish that swam to and fro. Both are silent in their minds. In Niken's mind, he was sorting out which ones they could remember and which ones they should forget.
In the front yard, Raka was looking at the white rose which is a flower that she often planted as a child. His shadow of playing with the little girl repeated clearly in his mind. Her cheerful laughter, whining of her potion and her innocent babble completely filled Raka's mind.
“The rose flower still remains the same but the owner is different.” Alea said that surprised Raka.
Raka looked at Alea who was standing beside her. He thrust a glass of drink at Raka with a smile.
“Then, you came here just to play with me. You laugh, love each other even you carry him if he sleeps in the tent under the tree.” Alea recalled with her heartfelt gaze. “But gag ever though you come for me to play.” He continued, sipping a drink in his glass.
Raka looked at the sad face beside her. The former Alea was completely different from the current Alea. He is more open and can smile.
“You always learn if I play here, where dare I disturb.” Sahut Raka who looked back at the tree where he usually built a tent and tied a swing.
“Now I've learned gag, you can invite me to play anytime.” Timpal Alea while staring at the beautiful face that was always on his mind.
Raka just smiled without looking at Alea in the slightest.
“Sunday, There's only him in your mind right Raka? But I'm sure, one day you'll see me.” Inner Alea expectantly.
****
“We are both old, but you still look beautiful.” Niken said as she looked at Nida who was silent with her blank look.
Nida got up from her seat, picked up a bag of fish feed and threw it into the pond.
“You can always make me tired, niken..” Nida said without turning her eyes to Niken.
Niken went up and stood next to Nida.
“Next month, Raka will be exactly 28 years old. He's getting older but still like a kid. What about Alea?” niken said as he looked at Nida who was still glued.
Back there, Alea was eavesdropping on Nida and Niken's conversation. His face was reddish when Niken discussed it with Raka.
A smile on Nida's lips.
“Yaa, the children will forever remain our children. With all the behavior that makes us annoyed.” Sahut Niken who welcomed the nudity of Nida.
Both seem to be getting closer. They share stories about – each other's children. Occasionally there are laughs from both of them when they remember their silly behavior when they were young.
“You remember mr amir? She said my math score was always the ugliest but we were always her idols because I was beautiful.” Nida said with a crisp laugh.
“Yes, you liked a lot of teachers because they are beautiful, but remember I liked a lot of teachers because I was smart.” Niken who does not want to lose.
“Hahaha, niken you still haven't changed. Not to lose a bit.”
Nida nudged Niken's hand intentionally, her laughter really couldn't stand it.
It's a 17-year memory they've never met. For one reason, they shut each other down. And today Niken ventured to meet Nida, hoping that everything would change over time.
****
Niken was sitting alone in her private room. He opened the song score while humming. His picture with Lana was right in front of him. Occasionally he seemed to wipe away the tears that were dripping in the corner of his eyes.
“Mah...”.
Wira sat next to Niken who looks sad when chanting a song softly. For a long time he did not play a neat row of tuts.
“You can still forget it?” asked Wira while looking at Lana's face in front of her.
“What papah can ever forget?”
Niken looked at the now riveted Hero. True, the hero can never forget it. Every memory was recorded with a strong recollection.
The hero remembered as he was sitting in his chair, then the girl came in and sat on his lap. His face looked sad with a look full of sadness.
“Pah, why is it so difficult to play the piano with mamah Niken? My hands will still be short, so gag can neken black and white keys equally.” Lana complains while looking into the eyes of Wira.
“Honey, later if you are older, you can certainly be as good as mamah Niken playing his piano. So, eat a lot, practice regularly so that you get bigger quickly and get better at playing the piano.” Persuade Wira while gently rubbing the head of the girl.
“But pah, if Lana's birthday later, papah want to love Lana a piano gift? Later Lana mainin a good song for papah, mamah niken sama kak Raka.” Pinta Lana with her innocent face.
“Surely dear.” Sahut Wira while kissing the head of Lana lovingly.
Wira smiled in remembrance of his every conversation with the cheerful girl.
“Mamah asked Rudy to investigate again the incident 17 years ago. Rudy said, a lot of new things he found.”
Niken's face was starting to get excited. Wira tucked the child's hair that covered Niken's face then smiled gently.
“Honey, we gag will be able to ask anyone. Rudy still hasn't found any clues other than the news of the death of the man who met lana.”
“But the reward, we can find the whereabouts of his family, who knows they also know.”
“But mah..”.
“Pah, please just this once we try again. Whatever the result, mom will accept it.” Tukas Niken who does not want to be debated anymore.
Conscious, like her, Niken loved Lana very much. He positioned Lana like half his soul and losing Lana was a huge blow to Niken. In the end, he could only comply with Niken's request. He starts contacting Rudy and conveying Niken's wishes.
****