Cherophophobic
Mother's Messages

16 Years passed.

Kafka has grown up to be a kind, virtuous teenager, well mannered, hardworking, friendly and smiling. It was a trait inherited from his late mother.

"Mother!" call Kafka to Anggi.

"Yes? Why son?"

"Here Kafka help bring the basket." said Kafka while seizing the flower basket held by Anggi.

"Why not learn? Tomorrow, right, you're starting high school?" asked Anggi while smilingly looking at his son.

Kafka shook his head while smiling. "Kafka wants to help mom deliver flowers." replied Kafka. They are cheerful and like to help. That is the soul of Kafka.

Anggi smiled proudly to his son. Although Kafka was not his biological son, but thanks to Kafka's presence he was not lonely. She can feel how to be a mother. And of course he loved that boy very much.

"Sir Ahmad!!" call Kafka while waving his hand to his neighbor who is fixing the tile.

"Oh, where's Kaf?!" shouted Mr. Ahmad.

"Send flowers sir!" kafka replied while shouting as well.

Not far from that place. Kafka meets with Santi again. A friendly midwife who is very familiar with Kafka. The midwife was also the teacher of Kafka tutoring all this time.

"Mrs Santi!" greet Kafka kindly.

"Eh Kafka's. Where are you going to deliver flowers?" ask Miss Santi.

"Not far from Mom. At the crossroads of doang." replied Kafka. Smile and continue on the path.

Anggi is happy to see such friendly Kafka. His nature is really a photocopy of his late mother. During Vadya's life was also very friendly and smiling. Many customers come to the flower shop because they are happy with the service of Vadya which is always friendly to all customers. So is it now when we are with Kafka. Always many customers are happy to buy flowers at her place because it is nice to meet Kafka who is friendly and smiley.

After a long walk. Finally they arrived at a house that was at the end of the crossroad.

"The flower!!" kafka shouted while knocking on the door of the house.

After waiting for a while came out the little girl who was only as tall as Kafka's waist. Seeing the little girl who came out Kafka squatted in front of the girl.

"Where's the deck?" ask Kafka.

"Mama again out" replied the little girl.

"This is what brings the flowers?" ask Kafka again.

The little girl nodded as she reached into something from her pocket. "This is the money" said the girl while giving some money to Kafka.

"Sweet girl. Here are the flowers." said Kafka as he lightly ruffled the little girl's hair. "Oh yeah, what's your name?" kafka asked with a smile.

"Kaila sis."

"Thank you brother!!!" the little girl named Kaila received candy from Kafka while jumping for joy. Then immediately entered the house because it was called someone.

From the house of Kaila. They didn't go straight home. His mother took Kafka to a stationery shop to buy school prep because tomorrow was the first day Kafka would be in high school.

"Mom, isn't Kafka's book at home still there?"

"That's your book at Junior High" Anggi said with a smile.

"If the money is to buy Kafka books, then what will mother's capital be?" ask Kafka.

"Father, mother's money is still there."

Kafka's smiling. "Thank you, Mom.."

Kafka rarely bought books. Not because Anggi wouldn't buy Kafka a book. But Kafka didn't want to. The guy will usually cut the sheets of his book that is still clean and combine it to make it a book that can be used to write. According to him it can save expenses, and again empty sheets in the remaining book are very dear if discarded.

At night at Kafka's house. The guy is writing names and subjects in his new books. Suddenly Anggi approached while carrying two letters.

"Kafka.." call Anggi gently.

"Why mom?" Kafka immediately stopped his activities writing in books and noticed what Anggi would say .

"Open this after you leave, son." said Anggi while putting the letters in Kafka's hands. The woman's eyes look puffy. It means he just cried.

"This is what Mom? And where are you going?" kafka asked with a worried face.

Anggi shook his head while smiling. "Mom's not going anywhere.. Just a mother's message, never take off the necklace, always eat on time. Don't hurt. Wash your shoes every time they look dirty, do not wait for the smell first just washed. Do not sleep too late, not good for health. Do not be reckless also if in school, the same polite father and mother teacher. Do not be busy with your flower shop so forget to learn, remember your main task is to learn." said Anggi while stroking Kafka's head gently.

Kafka's feeling is really bad right now. She knew her mother was ringing something from her. Moreover, the woman gave advice that should not be given because Kafka always did that. Plus the woman's eyes look very puffy like she just cried.

"Mom didn't lie to Kafka?" ask Kafka.

"No." answered Anggi. "Jaudah mom wants to close the flower shop first. You finish the study." said the woman then left from there.

Kafka was silent, the man thought about every word his mother had just said. She knew her mother had slipped a lie between her words. Exactly in the sentence Mother will not go anywhere. "Why do you always lie to Kafka?" tanya muttered asking.

Since childhood, Kafka always wondered where his father was? Why has he never seen her? Is he still alive? But if you ask your mother the answer is always the same. "Dad's working abroad son." that's the answer Anggi gives every Kafka asks his father. Kafka knew her mother was lying, but she chose silence and pretended to believe.

The man's hand was moved holding a necklace attached to his neck. "What is this necklace? Why do you always say I can't take this off?" kafka murmur. He asked his mother about this necklace, but she just said it was someone important's legacy. After that he never asked anything about this necklace, because he knew his mother's answer must have remained the same.

"How many secrets did you hide from Kafka?" inward Kafka while looking at his picture with Anggi mounted on the wall of his room.

...***...

...Seriate......