Annanta
Dead Lights

He continued to focus on cleaning vegetables. His gaze was only fixed on the vegetable, ignoring the breakfast Elvano while continuing to look at him. Actually he was scared and awkward at Elvano, considering the treatment of the man earlier.

Mas El just pretended, Anta. Don't take it seriously.

"Why aren't you fighting them? Just tell me what's going on" said Elvano annoyed.

"Explained however, if they already consider Anta bad, it will still be bad in their eyes," said Anta.

Elvano was silent to hear it. The mouth in his mouth also stopped. He looked at Anta inside. He became curious about Anta's life before marrying her.

"I'm just suggesting," replied Elvano, then continued to eat her breakfast.

After finishing his breakfast, Elvano headed for the living room. The man sat there watching his phone. He checked the email Risma sent.

"His coffee, Mas." He put the coffee on the small table and went back to the kitchen. As he was about to sip his coffee, Evan's cry sounded. Elvano stepped quickly into the room. Seeing Elvano who was already in front of the room door, Anta who was about to meet Evan stopped her steps.

"Let me. You continue cooking it."

"Yes, Mum."

***

After dinner, Anta, Elvano, Ricky and Evan sat together in the living room. Elvano and Ricky sat in the available seats. Anta and Evan were sitting on the floor covered in carpet. Anta deliberately stretches the carpet so Evan can play. Elvano watches Ricky working on PR and Anta watches over Evan. Every now and then the girl sees the PR Ricky's working on.

"Sister with Sister Anta if this hour why?" ask Ricky. The child is easily adapted to new people.

"We don't do anything. Brother continued the unfinished work of Brother in the office."

"Nights like this, still work?" Elvano.

"If Brother Anta?" ricky looked at Anta.

"Son's friend Evan until Evan goes to sleep."

"Why different?" muttered Ricky slowly.

"What did you say?"

"Huh? Notwithstanding. Ricky was just astonished. Why does Brother Elvano and Sister Anta not talk together at night? In the past, Ricky liked to see Dad and Mom talking every time they finished dinner. Ricky doesn't know what they're talking about?" said the 11-year-old innocently.

"Ricky, it's adult business. You were a kid anyway at that time. How can you remember what Dad did after eating?"

"I've been 7 years, brother. Even vaguely, I still remember."

Anta fell silent. He looked at Evan. The boy's eyes are sweet. It also evaporated a few times.

"Maa... Maa...."

"Evan's sleepy, huh?"

"Yes...."

"Come, let's go to the room! Mama Tamani Evan sleeps," said Anta then moved while holding Evan.

"Go to the room first, Mas. Ricky, Evan's best friend first."

"Yes, Brother."

Anta quickly passed to her room. Elvano kept watching him. While Ricky, he returned to work on his PR. A few seconds later, he finished working on it.

"Don't see what?" ricky's question made Elvano decide her gaze. Who originally looked towards Anta's room, now turned to look at Ricky.

"No. Don't see anything" he replied. Seeing Ricky, Elvano suddenly wants to know Anta's life before being with him. And Ricky is the right person for him to pry for information.

"Ricky, is the PR done?"

"Can't you ask me something?"

"Can. Ask what?"

"So don't want to know your life, especially Anta's life before marrying Big Brother."

"That, huh? eeemm.we were before Mom died, our lives were all right. But, after Mom and Dad died, our lives started to change, sister. Brother Anta is the backbone for me as Kak Tiara. He does what he can. Ricky and Kak Tiara want to stop school so they can help Kak Anta. But Anta's sister is not allowed. Ricky is also often sickly. Until Kak Anta has money, Ricky can only seek treatment. But Ricky was then convicted of kidney disease. Since then, Anta has been working very hard. Ricky had to have surgery. A lot of operating costs make Kak Anta agree with Mother's offer."

Elvano was silent to Ricky's story. Anta is a strong girl. He was at such a young age like Anta still enjoying his young life. But, Anta instead spent her life for her two younger siblings. And now sacrificing her future and being a connecting mother to Evan.

"Sister Elvano."

"Hmm...?"

"Ricky knows, Big brother's a good man. Take care of Anta, huh? brother Anta is a good and sincere person. Ricky and sister Tiara are none of her sister Anta. But, brother Anta sincerely loves us. Even after Mom and Dad died, Anta's affection never changed."

Elvano's forehead shriveled at Ricky's words. What else did he not know about Anta's life?

"You mean?"

"Ricky's the same sister Tiara is just a foster child. Our parents send us to Anta's parents. And until now, they haven't picked us up again." Ricky's face turned softly telling that. Still she remembers when her parents abandoned her and her brother, Tiara. She was 5 years old, and Tiara was 9.

Elvano looked at Ricky. The boy's fate was not as lucky as Anta's. And the fate of Anta and her two sisters is not as lucky as her.

Ricky took a breath and smiled at Elvano. "Ricky is done. Ricky go to the room first, okay?"

"Yes. Rest."

Ricky went to his room. He came in and closed the door. While in the living room, Elvano sat alone contemplating, thinking about Ricky's story.

Tak...

Suddenly the lights in the house went off. Not just in that house, but the whole house.

"Sister, tonight's scheduled power outage! There's an electrical repair. Ricky forgot to know!!" ricky shouted from his room.

Elvano stood up and approached Ricky's room. "You stay in the room. I'll take the phone first" said Elvano

The man rushed to Anta's room. However, before he reached the room, he passed by Anta who was carrying a candle.

Elvano. He was stunned to see Anta's face in the dim light of the candle she was carrying. That girl looks so pretty.

"Ricky must have been waiting for the candle. Let Anta through, Mas." Anta's soft voice resonated with Elvano's sense of hearing. Like a hypnotist, Elvano gave way to Anta, letting his wife pass.

"Anta is really pretty" she muttered as she touched her left chest, feeling her heart beating fast. After that he went into the room, laying his body next to Evan.

For almost 10 minutes, Anta had not returned. Elvano found it hard to close her eyes. He got up and sat his body. "Why was Anta so long? I have to see it" said Elvano and went down. Not yet had his feet touched the floor, there was the sound of the door being opened. As fast as lightning Elvano laid back his body and pretended to close his eyes.

Anta came in and sat her body to the left of Evan. In the dim light of the candle, Anta looked at Evan and Elvano. Anta rubbed Evan's head gently.

"Mama loves Evan. And forever will always love Evan." Anta lowered her head and kissed Evan.

His gaze then turned to Elvano. His hands stretched out gently rubbing Elvano's hair. Anta did it long enough without saying a word. He just focused on wiping the man's hair.

There was a deep breath that Anta did. His hand paused for a moment, then rubbed back Elvano's hair.

"We were put together by agreement, and finally we can be sure, which is divorce. This feeling should not exist, Mom. I should have kept my heart from loving you. But I can't control my feelings. I admit it, if I love you," said Anta.

"I love you Mas El.." she continued.

Elvano who had been pretending to sleep had been stuck. She was comfortable with Anta's soft elusan in her head, and Anta made her surprised by her expression of love. But not Elvano, he was happy to hear it.