Garden Benches
Two Birthday Cakes

Two Birthday Cakes

Every day will repeat until the time comes we start from the beginning. It depends on a poo what we're going through, memories or expectations

"For Gie!!!"

Sapto and Nania exclaimed with excitement.

"His longevity, his longevity, his longevity and noble, and noble ..... Yeeeaaa!!!!" Under the command of Bu Retno and Mr. Reno, the asset room in the corner of this building sounded boisterous this morning.

Wulan brought a birthday cake, black forest is round with a cherry on top. The young purple veiled woman was in harmony with the batik uniform we were wearing today, approaching me blushing. Did Wulan really blush?

"Blow the candle, blow the candle, blow the candle and glorious, and glorious...."

"Happy birthday, Gie. May it be in the age that remains."

Mr. Reno shook my hand and took me in his arms. Clapped the pat on my back like a father to his son.

"Thank you, sir. For all his attention ..., so this is the reason you were?"

"Hehehe .... Yeah, yeah, sorry, I told you in the morning to the BP2KAD office, actually so you wouldn't get too saggy, so we could welcome you together,"

Mr. Reno smiled loosely, I nodded in amazement.

"Thank you, sir... "

"Come Gie! Blow candles!"

Wulan approached me, I saw her cheeks blushing. The quiet girl with dimples on both her cheeks was slightly lowered.

Candles with the number 26 are stuck and lit on top of the black forest.

"Blow, blow, blow!!!" exclaim Sapto, Nania and Bu Retno with great enthusiasm.

But blow out the candles? We've never done that before, Laras. I hesitated to look at the flame of the candle, I remembered you shaking your head.

"Need help, Gie?!" cerocos Sapto approaching. I'm asserting.

"Ayooo, one two three!"

"Guss!!"

Sapto's head stuck out at the same time as mine. The flame that was burning in the candle was blown into a puff of smoke.

"Alhamdulillah... "

Ms. Retno greeted me, rubbing my shoulder while whispering.

"Hopefully get a new Mama for Ghifa soon,"

"Haaa?"

"Hehehe ..." Ms. Retno chuckled.

One friend of mine shook my hand.

"Thank you .., thank you .." I cupped my hands together while holding haru.

Today is exactly twenty-six years of my age. One year and five months since your departure left me and Ghifa. The day we used to go through with a simple, long prayer before dawn. At this time the friends give a surprise showing their affection.

"Come on, cut the cake, Gie!"

"Yeah, cut the cake, cut the cake, cut the cake now, right now!"

I think the birthday cake was placed on my desk. Just then Mang Zuki brought a napkin filled with glasses of hot drinking water and placed it on the table beside the door.

"Here first, Mang Zuki, come to the party first!" bring Mr. Reno.

"Party!?"

"Yes, birthday party." Sapto exclaimed as he waved his hand.

"Ooh ... Mas Gie's birthday? Ashiikk!!!"

I cut the cake following the dividing line of the number of hours. Friends threw their cheerful smiles. I took the first cut, then I handed it to Mr. Reno who had behaved like a father to me.

"Thank you for everything, sir."

"Wow, thank you, Gie. Right for dad? Not for Wulan?"

"Haaa?"

I can only be agape, for a few weeks, Mr. Reno and Ms. Retno often mention the name Wulan to tease me.

Spontaneous Sapto and Nania are more seductive. While the seduced are just downcast in shame. I did not respond, I continued to share the birthday cake with everyone present. No exception to Mang Zuki.

And when it came to Wulan's turn, we accidentally touched our fingers. I felt his hands cold and tremble.

"Cieee, cieee,...!"

Sapto's voice cheered with excitement. I punched him slowly, but the tall white young man was complaining as if in pain.

"Ohhhhh!!!"

"Lebay you!"

We chuckle.

"Oh yes, announcements, announcements,... "

Sapto started his speech, I was worried that he would talk that no, but I waited for the young man to continue.

"Please, this morning of the afternoon, we'll give you some good news!"

"Yeahahhh!"

Friends applauded happily.

Dag.

Digs.

Dugs.

May the good news not be his writing of me. But no matter what, my heart was waiting for what to say.

"I apologize, ladies and gentlemen, please allow today we beg your father's blessing for us. So that my marriage and Nania can go smoothly according to plan,"

"What?!!!"

"Alhamdulillah....!"

I approached Sapto happily, we hugged him full of laughter.

"Thank you, buddy. I'm waiting for the good news about you, yeah,"

"Mahaha ..."

"Hebaaat! This is a real man!" puji Bu Retno's.

Sapto chuckled, Nania blushed to her lips when Wulan, Bu Yanti and Bu Anik started teasing her.

"Ayoo, Gie when is coming" chased after Mr. Sis, senior under Mr. Reno. He was also a widower, but his daughter's son had all gone to college.

"Ah, I'll just wait for Mr. Sis first,"

"Hahaha .. You're always avoiding,"

We were still joking until a while. Nania pulled out the wedding invitation card that had been prepared. Complete with pre-wedding pictures with golden yellow shades. They are also smart to keep secrets. Although actually Sapto had invited me to accompany him at a photo shooting session. Unfortunately my type relapsed at that time, so I could not get out of bed.

"I'll say goodbye first,"

My whisper in Sapto's ear.

"Where?"

I just held up my watch that showed at 09:30. Then move out of the room. I saw Sapto hurry after my steps, holding his hand on my shoulder to the portico of Mushola.

"Gies,"

"Yes?"

I took off my socks, without looking at Sapto.

"Say Nania, Wulan has a taste for you ..."

"What?"

\*\*\*

It was almost three when I got home. A metallic car was already stuck in the courtyard. Get my black Vario out to the garage on the left side of the building. Then enter the house from the side door, after washing both my hands on the faucet in the corner of the garage.

"Acrasnodity ..."

"Maroshaaikumsalam ..."

"Happy Birthday Gie!" exclaim Citra excited.

I'm stunned. The girl covered her hair with a flower-patterned instant phasmina. Jeans still bulldoze his legs. Plain tunic gray is used as a top, seem softer than before.

"Cit ... Imagery?"

"Good longevity, my son,"

Mother greeted me with a hug, peeping my forehead and both cheeks. I slapped him by kissing both backs of his hands.

"Thank you Buk,"

"May you be blessed for the rest of your life, son ..."

I nodded, insisting in my heart.

Bik Nah rushed over, congratulating. I grabbed the tiny body of Bik Nah, the old man who had taken care of me since childhood, and I kissed the back of his hand, like a Second Mother to me.

The image stepped clumsy, extending its hand, I greeted with doubt as well. Both eyes watched us in a joke. I let go immediately, when I heard the special sound that I always missed.

"a yeah... A yes... "

"Assalamualaikum Ghifa," kubopong my pretty curly-haired little girl. I stuck his nose.

"He he he,"

The little guy chuckles. She stuck her two small palms on both of my cheeks.

"Gye..."

I'm turning.

"Look at this, son Citra that makes you know..."

"Bik Nah who help, den .." said Bik Nah do not want to lose.

I chuckled, still carrying Ghifa in a sling, I stepped towards the table in the living room.

A birthday cake with a pink cremer, all layers are rose-shaped with pink. Above is a brown slab that says "Gie ~ 26"

I looked around, a loving face looking at me sincerely.

"Thank you, Buk, Bik, Image. Thank you very much,"

"Look change your clothes first, we'll enjoy the cake, yeah" Mother patted me on the shoulder.

The image extended both of his hands towards Ghifa.

"Mam .. ma .. mam .. ma,"

"Yes, come with me first, I'll take a shower first,"

Citra said casually, Ghifa has moved into her arms. Just a moment ago we were so close, that the fragrance of his body infiltrated, making me tremble a little.

I hurried to escape, dispelling my awkwardness. Bik Nah chuckled at me wrongly, but I didn't care, my steps quickly towards the room.

I heard a cheerful joke in the living room, when I finished my bath and Ashar prayers. Laras, if you were here, your smile would surely make my happiness complete.

"Gie, haven't you? Ghifa is patient ... "

"Yes ma'am .." I called out to fret.

When he returned to the living room, Citra was overwhelmed by the hand of Ghifa who wanted to pull a pink cake on the table.

"Wait for Daddy, baby .." he said, peeping Ghifa's cheek.

Kuraih Ghifa returned to my deck and then I took a seat cross-legged to the cake that was his concern. The image also sat down beside me. Back the shakes came.

"Ghifa wants a cake?"

"Yam .. yam .. yam ..."

"Let's pray first, yeah,"

I offer you the best prayer for all, for you Laras, for Ghifa, for Mother and for our family. Then I took her little palm to cut the cake. Ghifa laughed happily.

*Today 2 birthday cakes I cut, by imagining a sweet smile decorating your face, Laras*.

.......