Around Us
Chapter 23: Back

Over the course of a few days my relationship with my father grew colder. I tried to understand the meaning of his slap from various sides. However, it still could not remove the trauma in my mind.  I tried to be ordinary, but there was a glass wall called mindset that limited our relationship. Actually, I want to live in harmony with Dad even though not many words are intertwined from our mouths.

Could this be just the ego of men who instinctively feel awkward to show love and love again? I leave it in time to re-copy those feelings and evaporate the heartache I feel.

Sometimes, I can feel or read the thoughts of others. But for the closest people like Dad, it was quite difficult. Wh why? A lot of memory is stored in my brain about it, and it can obscure the perception that arises. For example, Dad slapped me for maybe getting carried away by emotions plus a lot of things were being thought about. It could be that tragedy is part of coincidence. Dad wanted to vent the burden of the mind, and subconsciously I made a mistake that blew up the anger. On the other hand, I thought Dad would apologize the next day. Apparently, his attitude showed no remorse. Or are you waiting for me to apologize first? Anyway, I'm in the position of “victim”. Quite ambiguous, isn't it? Because many judgments that arise based on the introduction of character and deep feelings.

Although our relationship is not so warm, but this is the first time we have been involved in a cold war. I understand, I need to understand more about Dad. He was past my age, but I didn't reach his time.

Alright. Coincidentally I was looking for a book for reading material, as well as a little refreshing. Asking him for permission may be the beginning of rebuilding the communication bridge. After that, I'll buy you a shirt or watch gift for his “ bribe”.

I approached Dad who was sitting casually on the terrace, “Yeah, Arya permission to go out first.”

“Where?” Ask Dad with a loud vocal.

“Carawaci, Dad. Want to find a book,” I reply with a soft explanation.

“Bring motor? Alone?” The tone is down.

“Iya.”

“Don't come home tonight!” father Message.

I replied by nodding and kissing her hand. Right, it's just a matter of ego and time to melt the tension between a father and his grown-up son.

I call the iron horse with great hope. Let the trauma as learning not be precipitated into revenge.

Arriving at the mall, I stopped by the batik clothing store first. I used to want to buy Dad a plain shirt, but after rethinking the stock of Daddy's batik shirt was not much. It didn't take long, I chose the brown long-sleeved Batik Keris.

Go to the bookstore. So cool, I see the clock has shown at 17:30. I immediately paid for two books on Psychology that I chose.

Out of the mall parking lot, my manyambut. Damnit damnit!

I decided to go through an alternate path, although I had to turn further. Fortunately – as expected – more smoothly. I also turned the gas until it was almost stuck to quickly reach the house before dark roll up the twilight. Huh! Just like this has raised my adrenaline.

Adzan. I just live past the public funeral street of my village. God is safe, I said in my heart.

I lowered my speed while relaxing the joints for a moment. However, I noticed – in the sidewalk saung of the entrance to the cemetery area – there was someone sitting alone. My mind tells me not to care about that person. There was an odd aura emanating from him.

However, as I passed by, I heard a voice calling my name. I was curious, and looked back. Whahuh? Adam's? What was he doing alone ba’da Maghrib in that saung?

He waved his hand and smiled at me. I still don't budge, worried about approaching or not.

“Arya, here!” call shouting.

Yeah, God. Why am I even prejudiced? That's right Adam, my childhood friend. Maybe he wanted to take a ride home, I thought,. I turned around and approached him.

“Dam, why here?” ask me from the top of the bike.

“Gue wants to go home, but my legs are still tingling. Waiting for one to pass by there was not one. Uh, it just so happens to be you, Yes,” he explained as he continued to throw a smile.

“Yes, let's go home!” take me.

“Let's go, Yes. I still want to straighten my legs first.”

“But I haven't prayed Maghrib, Dam.”

He pulled my hand, “Wait a minute, Yes. You go down first. We chat bentaran.”

I don't know why I followed, then got off the bike. His words seemed to hypnotize my movements.

As I watched, there was something strange about my little sidekick. He's a little different. “Dam, I think you're getting thinner. High you also now lose equal I.”

He grinned, “Maclum is, Yes. Since my parents divorced, life has become more difficult.”

“Oh.. But I rarely see you anyway, Dam.”

Adam patted me on the shoulder, “Lu aja who never maen to my house.  Though I miss playing together just as you like it first again. Bathe in the river, play marbles, play pictures, kite, find fish in the fields, anyway all the things we used to do with dah.”

“Gue has been 2 weeks at Dam's house, again college holiday.” I pondered for a moment. Why do I not remember Adam at home?! “But I've never seen you, Dam. What are you busy with?” Out of nowhere, my head hurt when I asked. Then, some of my memories of him seemed to be disconnected. I try to remember, but it's hard.

“We further chat on top of yuk, Yes!” He did not question me, but instead took me to the main area where the bodies were lined up in the ground.

“But, Dam...” I want to refuse, but instead my feet move following him.

“Yes, do you want to be my best friend again like first? Since you left, I have no friends. I feel very lonely”, he said sadly.

“Iya, Dam. We have always been in office. Tomorrow you play to my house yes,” I said trying to cheer him up.

“Then, what is your father?

“Means?”

“It looks like your father doesn't like you playing with me. Last time I went home from school, I was scolded for taking you to Timezone. He said, I bring bad influence to you,” he recalled.

“Dam, you know my father is fierce, the same (and) always apply a high level of discipline to me. I always have to follow his rules. Otherwise, he will tighten up and even add new rules”, uraiku for Adam to understand, “ Every time I go home, I have to nyampe home on time, continued this and that les, continued this and that, continuing to sleep at night should not pass from 10 o'clock, and waking up at half 5 A. D. My grades in every subject should not be below 90. But that was before. Now it is not so, although still conservative.”

“What conservative, Yes?” tanyanya polo's.

“Conservative is his thinking still refers to his time or kolot it.”

“Oh...”.

“Gue when returning home at night is still often interrogated. Continues that chatting with Dad is also still stiff, it is difficult to share opinions with him. Even when I majored in college, I was initially told to major in education. I understand, I did it for my own good, too. But I also have a principle that can not be broken unilaterally on his will,” kahku.

Adam breathes, “Lecture is like how the hell, Yes? Looks good huh?”

“Basically college is more about applying what we get during elementary and middle school. If during school we accommodate more knowledge and theory, well after college how to learn we are more to apply, develop, and criticize. If you say good, for me to learn is always fun,” my story.

“You're so good it's smart from school. So learning will not be missed,” he praised.

“Education is where we process. So, no matter how we learn and capture. As long as we want to work on developing ourselves, there will be space for us to know and explore our potential.”

“My dizziness, Yes. Not sampe my brain the same explanation lu.”

Adam scratched his head. I returned a smile.

“Why you, Yes?”

“No idea, suddenly my head hurts and I get sick.” My vision is a little blurry.

“Yes, we sat there first!”

Adam sat me down and sat me under a banyan tree.

“Dam, we go home now!”

“Lah, said you had a headache. Just wait until you're happy. Here I go.”

Adam massaged my head. Hem, it feels better. The pain had begun to subside, my eyes were capturing images normally again.

However, I was shocked when I looked at the tomb in front of me. On his headstone it says, “Iroh, died: 14 April 2012”.

What is the tomb of Mak Iroh? My heart is beating fast. What the hell is going on? The ground in front of me is the tomb of Mak Iroh. His position was the same as at the last funeral. About 10 meters west of the banyan tree I was sitting. But his tomb looked weathered, not like a new tomb.

I asked Adam to make sure. “Dam, that's right Mak Iroh's grave?”

“Iya.”

“I mean, Mak Iroh Mang Bahri.”

“Iya, right.”

“But there the writing died 14 April 2012?”

“Emang true. How come you're surprised, Ya?”

How come? Ah, I don't think the story of Mak Iroh needs to be traced anymore. “Dam, two weeks ago Mak Iroh was also newly buried.”

“Ya, you dream time.”

“Dam, I want to ask seriously.” I'm breathing deeply. “You know, when did Mak Iroh die? Keep him dead because of what?”

“Three years ago, by accident. Said he was hit by a motorbike fitting home from the celebration of his son.”

Aligned! I looked into Adam's eyes deeply, “You sure it wasn't two weeks ago?”

“In his tombstone it was clear that it was written when Mak Iroh died,” he said sure.

The look in Adam's eyes and speech does not imply a lie.

Suddenly I caught an unusual energy vibration. There's something weird about all this.

“Dam, actually where are we now?”

“Yes already, Yes. Time don't know where this is.”

“Dam, let's go home.” I pulled his hand hard.

“Where to go? Here first, yes. Let's have a chat in a minute. My legs are also still limp nih.”

Adam's leg limp? But why would he be able to climb up to the burial area by the usual road. I just realized that.

“Come, Dam! We continue to chat at my house.”

Adam let go of my hand. “Kot to. I'm afraid of getting scolded by your father. Yes, if you want to go home, just go home. Stay by myself. I know enough, people I considered friends since childhood turned out to have changed. I don't want to go anymore. In fact, all this time I was really lonely, had no friends.” Adam crying.

Adam made me go wrong. He didn't want to be brought home, and I didn't feel like I should have stayed in this place.

“Back! Anteupkeun, barrel rolled! Leumpang bae continues to do nempo ka handyman! Geurah! (Go home! Let it, don't mind! Keep moving, don't look back! Fast!” There was a voice of a man who whispered firmly to leave Adam.

I focused my eyes forward. If I turn around and see Adam crying, I will not have the heart.

My steps staggered. It felt like the distance from the banyan tree to the exit of the burial area was very far.

Finally, I'll see you at the saung where I met Adam. But, where's my bike? I sure parked it in front of the saung.

Wretch! As I recall, I didn't pull the motor key out of contact. Akkkhh! I'm so stupid. I was too late in the conversation with Adam to forget such details. Now, the bike may have changed hands. Dad will definitely scold me.

Gontai my feet walk home. I left Adam alone, and prepared for a new problem.

I see, Dad's standing on the porch with his waist ruffled. I was wrong.

I say hello with resignation, “Assalamualaikum..”

“Walaikum greetings. Login!” answer me in a high tone.

I can only duck.

Dad lifted my chin, “Where are you from? Go home in dirty clothes and sweat again? You out of the bookstore or out of where?”

“From the bookstore, Yah!” I dare not look at him.

“Book store? Then why do you stay in a motorcycle with a key hanging and complete with your bag also in front of the Mang Ade saung? What are you doing in the cemetery?”

“Arya..”.

Father let go of his grip, but his gaze still tempered like a wood that had just become coals. “Luckily there is a Mr. RT who takes care of your motor and immediately informs Dad. Mr. RT also said the computers were looking for you, but the cameras weren't around. Where are you actually going? Huh?”

I looked, it was true that my bike was inside the house. Spontaneously I say thank you, “Alhamdulillah.”

“Alhamdulillah what? The motor is not lost? You think Dad's more worried about motors than you?” The sound of Dad's breath was blowing fast. “You've started being a dissident lately!” Dad's palms were almost on my cheeks, but he dropped them again. “Mandi, clean your body. Keep praying. I'm sure you missed Maghrib.”

“Iya, Yah.”

“Daddy is really unexpected, the child you are always proud of can change in an instant. After the prayer, continue eating. Wait in the middle room! We're talking about everything seriously. I can't tolerate your attitude anymore.” Dad kept telling me about my attitude.

What's your mind on me? Why do I feel like I have committed a great sin? I cannot identify the main cause of this situation. My fault? Or an impingement? My mind hurts more to receive its wrath than the hardness of the blow it might give me again.