7 Virgin Blood
Oh... New Bride

The show is over. Everything has been fulfilled, both in administrative affairs and the signing of marriage documents, the delivery of marriage advice, and the reading of prayers. And, the series of events that morning ended with a sungkeman event, which colored the feeling of happy prayerful day. However, deep down in my heart, there was this bit of heart-wrenching pain, which was when I realized I had no family on my part. There is no old man where I should bow down, bow down to him. I'm a pathetic orphan. And just at that moment I wondered, did my father have a family in the other country? Grandpa, grandma, uncle, or aunt? Yeah, I mean that other than my father's first wife's family.

You know, maybe my current grief is just as big and deep as that felt by the orphans living in the orphanage. I think it's like their "pedigree ropes" or "identity demands" have been clearly disconnected since they were dropped into an orphanage. If I were a part of them, if I were a big orphan in an orphanage, I probably wouldn't have asked who my family was. I would think as the people think of them: orphaned means no parents, entrusted to an orphanage means no family. That extent. Then I won't want to think about where I came from. But the truth is that my life is like a dead tree, the upper part that no longer sprouts, without new branches and branches, but if I want to dig into the ground, maybe I can still find the roots. Like that if I find out who my father really is, maybe I will find my grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt, or anyone of my father's family. But baby, because of my status as a child as a result of infidelity, I don't have the courage to do that. I'm afraid of accepting rejection, maybe I'll never be considered. Unfortunately, that's what I deserve to say to myself.

"Stop crying" whispered Ak Jaka after we finished hugging the family elders and immediately preoccupied with receiving greetings and congratulations from invited guests in a long line. Ak Jaka understood the reason for the tears that came back. "You have me now. You don't need anything else, do you, honey?"

I nodded firmly, wiping away the tears that had been out of nowhere since when it was present in the eye patch. "Yes" I said. "I won't cry."

"good. After this long line is over, we must hurry to go to the room."

Eh?

Ahaha! I would be almost totally devastated if I didn't try to hold back considering there were a lot of people shaking hands and taking pictures with us.

"Basic is impatient!" ledek.

And sure enough, once the queue was over, and it felt like we had taken enough photos with the family, Ak Jaka immediately pulled me into the room.

"Sorry, Kang, the picture is not finished yet. Now we take a photo here, yes," said the photographer who took us to the room with Kang Solihin and Teh Husna.

Yea! Now it's time to pose!

I'm very enthusiastic. But baby, Ak Jaka is so stiff. Huh!

Yes, even though I knew the results would be unsatisfactory due to Ak Jaka's stiff expression, still, the camera shots continued.

After taking a picture, Kang Solihin and Teh Husna took us out of the room to have lunch with their extended family.

"First, we will follow later" said Ak Jaka.

Again he made me laugh. Basic mode....

"No, no, no" protested Kang Solihin. "Basic of your mode, yes. There will still be plenty of time for you both."

I smile at the smile. "I'm up anyway. Want to get out now, if you want later, okay. Whatever, I'll just go with how my husband wants."

Ckck! I got a prick.

"Duh.. mentang-matang already legitimate, yes...."

"Yes, dong, Tea. I'm a devoted wife."

"Prikitiv! Forgive the newlyweds." Kang Solihin chuckled.

"Already, yes...." Kang Solihin dragged Ak Jaka out of the room, followed by Teh Husna who also pulled me. "Rather than the two of you being protested by everyone. Come on, hurry."

Well, instead of arguing further and it seemed like Kang Solihin and Teh Husna didn't let the two of us continue in the room, we followed them into the dining room.

Outside the house, the sound of a single orgen reverberated with the singing voice of the hymn, comforting the invited guests who were enjoying lunch.

"Well, this is our bride" said Bi Fatma, and she pulled me from the side of Teh Husna and took me between her extended family, including her iron family, the family of Teh Husna's side, or besan from his family.

It should be like this, I thought. The more children who marry, the more families are bound - including between besan, which can eventually be referred to as besan as well. But by marrying me, this family doesn't add any new besan. It's just me, without anyone.

"Start again" protested Ak Jaka in a whisper. "Don't cry. I don't want my wife to shed a tear."

I smile. "It's a happy tear" I said in a whisper. "I'm glad I have a big family. Thank you," I said.

"Yes, Honey. But happy to wear a smile. Don't use tears, okay? Instead of you crying, you better pray a lot, may God give us many children in twelve years."

Huh huh? I grinned. "I mean how? You want me to get pregnant in twelve years?"

He was grinning wide. "Yes. No need to wear KB."

"Rubby, Ak. If I get pregnant every year, can I have a dozen kids, dong? How's it gonna take care of?"

Geez, in my heart I asked for a third. Four kids is enough.

"Jalani, honey. How much God gives, we receive. If given every year, thank God."

My lips are two inches forward. "Aamiin.." I said. "But I'm going to wear KB for six months every postpartum. My uterus needs to rest, right? And our son needs exclusive breast milk for at least six months."

"alright. Deals."

We shake hands.

"Eleh-eleh. Not even the first night has been discussed about children," commented Kang Solihin made us both blush in shame.

Oh, my gosh, Ak Jaka and I were talking in whispers, but Kang Solihin was talking so loud that everyone heard.

"What's that talk about the first night?" the Goda Bi Fatma. "Depart, Jaka. Wait night...."

Duh.. newlyweds even become the material of the family months.

Red on both of our faces. Embarrassed....