Dusk (And Taste)
Chapter 28

”Pa, here's the tea.”

Mama put a cup of warm tea that she made for her husband on the living room table as a mandatory morning meal.

“Thanks, Ma.” Papa said without taking his eyes off the newspaper he was reading.

“Diminum first, Pa.” Mama held gently her husband's arm.

Papa put down the newspaper he had just read the sofa, next to him sat down and took off the reading glasses that perched neatly in his nose. Then sipping a little by little warm tea made by his wife.

“Today Reyhan and Nadhira will be home ‘kan, Ma ?”

“Iya, Pa. So, Papa don't go to the office today. Welcome the son and daughter-in-law of Papa.”

“Of course, Ma.” The reply was full of spirit.

Amid the conversation of two lovebirds who are said to be not young. The sound of footsteps caught by their sense of hearing was getting closer. The voice spontaneously made the head of the couple turned to the main door of the big house like a palace.

The scene that Mama and her husband caught was a young boy the age of their daughter-in-law walking closer towards the living room. With a disheveled look, T-shirts and jeans are deliberately torn right on the knee. Makes it look like an unkempt street kid.

Papa who did not like the attitude and behavior of his second child was angry. The anger piles up.

“Where have you been, Farhan ?” Ask Papa quietly by trying desperately to hold back his emotions.

“From home temen, Pa.” Lazy answer.

“Have a home. But, it's still crawling in people's homes. Not ashamed ?” The Grunts of Papa.

“Pa, already dong, Pa.” Mama gently stroked her husband's arm trying to calm down.

“If at home others Ibra is more seen, considered and appreciated as it should be. Why not ?”

“You too, Far. Udong.” This time Mama calmed Farhan with her gentle gaze.

Without regard to the words of the Mother. Farhan continued his words that had been stopped.

“Isn't Ibram home alone nothing more than useless dust grains ? And just wait for the time to be removed immediately. It could even be more than that. Culled.” Farhan continued with emphasis on his last sentence.

Farhan again set foot to leave the living room where the atmosphere began to feel hot towards his room on the second floor of their magnificent house.

“Where are you going ? Papa hasn't finished talking.”

“Farhan tired, Pa. Farhan needs rest.”

“Papa not done talking. But you just played live. Where is the courtesy that Papa and Mama have instilled since the first ?”

Farhan growled in heart.

“Speak, Pa.” Say it as softly as possible.

“You realize not what you're doing ? Cozy every heart every night.”

“Very conscious, Pa. And Farhan likes that. After all, why did Farhan stay at home if viewed with the same eyes of his own parents ? And only used as a comparison material only.” Farhan smiled miris. His heart felt pinched saying such a thing.

“What are you talking about, Farhan ?”

“Without Farhan say so. Farhan believes Papa knows exactly what Ibram means. If Papa doesn't talk anymore. Let Farhan to room.”

Farhan immediately turned over (again) and walked away from his parents.

“What is it that you get while wandering around out there ? How to fight parents only.”

Farhan's steps came to a halt just as his feet stepped on the first staircase.

“Papa sent you not for that, Far. Look at your brother, now he's successful at his young age. He always heard every word of his parents. Not like you!”

Papa's emotions are mounting. Same with Farhan. He felt, his presence at home had meant nothing more before his father.

With emotions still burning. Farhan walked over to Papa.

“Nah, that's one reason why Farhan is reluctant to be in this house.” Farhan circulated the gaze to the corner of the room.

“Farhan's presence is just for comparison,”.

Farhan's speech came to a halt as the phone was nailed to his pants vibrating. He picked up the phone and saw the name on the screen.

Farhan smiled wryly and answered the phone. And deliberately let the Caller hear the debate that occurred between him and the Papa.

“Look, Pa!” Farhan showed Papa his posel.

“Wah... It's a total coincidence. Look, Pa. Papa's favorite son called. Just be proud of him. So that he can hear and know. That, even today Papa still views him as a Super Hero in our family.”

Mama smothered her own mouth. I could not believe the words that had just come out of Ibram's mouth.

“Why are the more days your behavior becomes-so, Farhan ? Why ?”

Mama's tears shed to witness the debate between the child and her husband. Wanting to talk can't change the atmosphere to be calmer.

“What Papa never thought why Farhan is like this ?”

Farhan looked at his papa sharply with his eagle eyes.

“That's all because of Papa. Papa who can't see and understand what Ibram wants. Papa who always compared Farhan with big brother who obviously Farhan does not like it.”

Farhan's anger peaked and controlled himself completely. Until talking to his parents even though he was no longer able to not raise his voice.

“It was also because you didn't want to hear Papa's words. Papa as for your sake your kindness.”

Farhan smiled discordantly at the barrage of words coming out of Papa's mouth.

“For Farhan's sake or Papa's kindness ?”

Papa fell silent and stared intently at the second child. Two pairs of eyes also collided with a flash of burning emotions.

“Kakak!”

Mama who could only stay silent without action except crying watched the great debate her husband and son ran towards Reyhan who had just come.

“Please let them out, Brother. Mom please.”

“Mama quiet yes.” Reyhan stroked her mother's shoulders gently.

“Ah... Papa's favorite son finally came too. So, can Farhan go to the room ? Farhan is tired and needs rest.” Farhan said with a mocking smile.

Farhan's treatment is actually able to anger Reyhan provoked.

“What the fuck are you, Far ? Is that how you talk to your parents ? Where did you put your adab huh ?” reyhan cannot control himself.

“Ah. Try to follow brother blame Farhan like that.”

“Oh... Farhan forgot. Brother and Papa ‘kan same. Life in the same circle. It's only natural that what you did to Farhan made no difference. Cih.. son and Father are the same.” After pausing his words for a moment.

Reyhan and Mama glared in disbelief at Farhan's attitude.

Different from Papa. Seeing Farhan's behavior that was considered to be overreaching. Papa's emotions really can't be contained anymore. He approached Farhan and threw a fist full of anger.

Before the fist landed on Farhan's face. Reyhan reflexively pushed his sister. And...

Bugh!

Papa's fist hit Reyhan right which caused him to fall down. Fresh blood flowed from the corner of his lips.

“Kakak!” mama and Farhan shouted at the same time.

Reyhan wiped the blood coming out of his lips with the back of his hand. Then, he smiled smirk. How shiny.

It was not that he was upset at his miserable condition. However, miris with the reality presented where the Papa and his sister are always stuck in a debate without a solution. What he said was that the topic of debate between them was not a big one. But, the reality always gets big because it often involves anger.

“Kak is okay ?” Mama asked worriedly amid the stuff that had not stopped.

Reyhan just nodded. His heart ached to see the tears flowing with a rush on his mother's cheeks.

“Ma, don't cry anymore.” Reyhan gently rubbed off the traces of the Mama's tears.

“Sorry Papa, Son.” Sesal Papa while sitting near Reyhan.

“Already, Pa. Reyhan it's okay.” Answer smiled.

“Ma, can Reyhan ask for help to clean Reyhan's wound?”

“Come, Son. Follow Mama.”

“Here you are, Ma.”

“Iya. Sit above. Wait Mama get me the medicine box for a minute.”

Mama walked away leaving her three men in the living room. While he rushed to retrieve the medicine box to treat the wounds of his eldest child.

Reyhan tried to stand up to sit down again on the sofa.

“Farhan help, yes, Kak.” Tawar Farhan's.

“Kakak can be alone.” Cold answer.

The atmosphere of the living room feels gripping. The atmosphere of the room this morning was so different from the previous morning.

“Pa, Reyhan would like to speak. Can ?”

“Speak, Brother.”

Reyhan adjusted his breathing before speaking up.

“Pa, Reyhan and Farhan are two different people. Can you no longer compare us ? He has the right to determine his own life. Farhan is no longer a child, Pa. Reyhan is confident Farhan is able to determine the best path for himself.”

“Papa did that for the good of Farhan, Brother. As a parent, Papa doesn't want Papa's kids to get tangled up with the wrong things.”

“Reyhan tau, Pa. Reyhan understands Papa's concerns. But, is Papa conscious ? So far Papa has been reining in Farhan.”

Papa silences. His mouth was too faint to speak even if it was just one word.

“And you, Far. You have the right to find your own path. But, this is not how. Can't you use a better way than this ? Look at your looks now! Like an unkempt person.You are proud of that look ?”

“Papa who has made Farhan like this.”

“Why should Papa you blame ? Doesn't that want you yourself ? You should be able to prove it in a better way to Papap. Brother sure Papa will understand too.”

“But, Brother..”

“Not necessary but-need. You're already big. Brother believes you can still think well.”

“Pa, Reyhan to the room first yes. Wanna change. Tell Mama Reyhan wait in the room.”

Without waiting for any answer. Reyhan breezed off just leaving the living room .

Inside Reyhan's room sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his face rough. Her hair was frustrating. Wreaking out the anger that had been holding him back.

Geck. Geck. Geck.

“Kak, this is Mama.”

“Include, Ma. the door is unlocked.”

Reyhan's door opened and Mama entered with the medicine box in her hand.

“Sini let his wound Mama clean first.”

Mama began her activities to clean the wounds of her son's lips from the husband's fist. The ringisan after ringisan he heard from Reyhan made him feel even more pity.

“Ssshhh... Slow down, Ma.”.

Mama put the medicine box on Reyhan's bedside table. Then, she took a seat back next to her son. It was then that Mama realized that the clothes Reyhan was wearing were filled with dried blood.

“Dibaju kak much blood. Whose blood ?”

“This is Nadhira's blood, Ma.”

“Nadhira ? She why ?”

“Nadhira overnight allergy. Severe vomiting. And finally vomiting blood anyway.”

“How can it happen ?”

Reyhan did not answer Mia's question. His phone rings first.

“Shortly, Ma. Reyhan pick up Bara's phone first.” His permission was on the woman beside him.

“Iya, Bar. Why ?”

“...”

“Oh Yes, Deck. Excuse me. I thought it was Brother.”

Her lips smiled sweetly after hearing the voice of the Caller. The pain of the wound on the corner of his lips was not felt at all.

Mama smiled at the attitude of her eldest son.

“I'm home, honey. Wait a minute, yeah. I change clothes directly there.”

“...”

“Iya, Darling. Fine there.”

Phone disconnected.

“Ma, Reyhan clean up first. After that, Reyhan went straight to the Hospital again.”

“Nadhira in Hospital, Sister ?”

“Iya, Ma.”

“Self ?”

“Same Coke, Ma.”

“Iya already there gih cepetan clean-up. Don't let your wife wait too long. Besides, he's sick.”

“Good, Ma.”

Mama left Reyhan to clean herself up.

Before Reyhan actually rushed to the bathroom. The memory of his brain turned back the events of Papa and Farhan's debate.

“Until when will it continue this way ?” His whisper was on himself.

___To Be Continued__