Garden Benches
Your Favorite Rose

Your Favorite Rose

Time will not wait for doubt. It will continue even if we are not ready to take a stand.

****

"Are you sure you'll start in tomorrow morning?"

Ardi rests his back on the mango tree. Under the tree was a chair of round molded concrete. That's where Ardi sat waiting for me.

I was pruning a red rose and a white rose in bloom. I put my caution in a flower basket you used to use. After, I previously cleaned the dry leaves around it. Although it's not as healthy as when you were, at least, I want this flower to keep blooming until later.

"You think I'm still sick?"

Ardi stared doubtfully, then leaning slightly, he said again.

"How about we go to see Dr Ferdhi?"

I fell silent, I took the flower basket, and I put it on the table in front of Ardi. Then I sat in the other seat.

This rose garden is located next to the house, there is a kind of roof cover of the canopy type. Some roses are creeping roses, creeping on the wall of the side fence that is one and a half meters high, facing the side terrace. While others are grown in potted pots. Then arranged in a row on the place of a multi-story pot made of iron. Being in a kind of small greenhouse room as a flower garden next to the house.

"I'm well, Ar. .., I can accept everything that's happened. I have a Ghifa I need to look after and take care of,"

Ardi looked at me sharply.

"Gie, I know what you do every afternoon in the park ..."

I jerked. But then flatly responded to the highlight of his concern.

"Everyone who sees you, will think the same, Gie."

"What do you mean?"

Ardi sighed then patted my shoulder.

"You talk to yourself a lot on that park bench, Gie. Sometimes you even laugh at yourself, until the person who sees you moves away,"

I cupped both hands on my face, then I got Ardi with a smile.

"So, you think I'm crazy, Ar?"

"Grand ...,"

"There's Laras there! Can't I talk and joke with my wife!"

My voice was a little loud, then I exhaled to throw away the anger that wanted to possess.

"Gye ... You're conscious and you know, it could be your hallucination. There are many factors related to that. That's why we need to consult with Dr. Ferdhi, lest your nerves be affected, too,"

"Haha ...!"

My laughter was loud, Ardi did not react until when my gel weakened and finally left tightness in the chest.

"The parade's gone, Gie. You can't cover up reality with your own wishes, by yourself,"

I got Ardi back, this time I faced my body straight with him. Seriously I said.

"He's still there, Ar, he wants to see and accompany Ghifa to grow up, can't he?"

"But... "

"He's Barrel, Ar ..."

"It's already ti . aa ..."

"Enough, you don't have to remind me that anymore,"

We were silent for a moment. Ardi cleared his throat twice.

Hmm! Hmm!

"Gie, why don't you just take her home, so she'll be more free if she's in this house.

Ardi grinned the horse, I clenched his forehead. Then I wiped away the water floating in my eyes.

"You mean, even if I laugh and talk to myself, no one sees that, huh?"

"Peace, Gie!"

Ardi pointed two fingers. I snort.

"Can't, Ar. I've asked him,"

"What he said ..."

"Repo!!!"

"Mahaha ..."

I moved, from my seat. Then step towards home. I saw that Mom was bathing Ghifa, which was getting worse.

"Oh, farewell to the tomb, yes,"

Mom looked up and nodded.

"Greetings to Dad and Laras, yes ...."

"Chiwi, Mother. Ghifa Drug ..."

I pecked Ghifa's still-wet forehead, kissed the back of Mom's hand and passed. I saw Bik Nah carrying a clothesline from the back door.

"Bik nah, send greetings too?"

"Yes, Assalamualaikum ..."

Answer Bik Nah on the sidelines of the shirt. I chuckle.

"Assalamualaikum." I cried, then stepped out of the house. Get down the stairs of the terrace and head for the maroon car, where Ardi is already behind the wheel. The front door opened, and I saw a flower basket in the front seat.

"Trims, mate. Blessed is Lidya tomorrow, if you dare to propose to her immediately!"

"Nhd!" his jotos on my shoulder with a reddened face.

You will laugh to see him then be quiet during the trip.

Only 10 minutes, by slow road, down the paved road between the houses of the close-knit residents. Towards a public cemetery on the outskirts of the settlement.

The burial ground was still vast, with the rice fields stretched out on one side. While the other side is clinging to the fence with the school building. Ardi stopped his car parked in the courtyard in front of the grave fence.

"When did you take Eyang Sukma to propose to Lidya? Me, Mom and Ghifa are ready to drop off!"

Godaku, and Ardi came back to punch me.

"Don't taunt me you!"

"Mahaha ..."

Kumasuki grave area, carrying a flower basket. Ardi was stalking behind me.

From the gate turn to the right. There are some visitors visible. Mang Kasno cleansed a tomb, which seemed to be rarely visited. Corner under the dense frangipani tree flowers.

"Good afternoon, Mang,"

"Eh, Mas Gie ..."

Look at him while throwing a smile. I put a fold of paper money in the pocket of the shirt he was wearing.

"Baby, Gie ... Yesterday is still .." It doesn't look good.

"Udah Mang, thank you for always cleaning the tomb of Father and Laras," I said slowly.

"That's my duty, Gie. Thanks for this, Mas... "

"Name ..."

Passing three headstones from Mang Kasno's place, I placed my basket next to the navel that was still full of roses. Then I stepped a little to his right, where Dad was buried. Prayers to our gravediggers, surrender to God to forgive all sins. Accompanied by the breeze that brings the fragrant Cambodian. Why is it that in this tomb, it always feels calm? Is it because I feel you in front of me. I put two roses near the gravestone with your name on it.

Ardi stared at me softly. When the corner of my eye glanced at him, he bowed.

"Laras, you remember Lidya, right? The quiet writer, who only likes to smile in the crowd. Who wasn't very capable but deft, you said at the time?"

Ardi glared at me, his hand must be itching to punch me, but of course it will not reach. We sit opposite your belly button in the middle.

"I'll take Ardi to propose to Lidya, you'll agree, Laras,"

I said again, Ardi's face turned red again. But suddenly Ardi asked about you.

"Is Laras here?" whispered Ardi quietly while looking around.

I went and caught it. But my head shook.

For a moment your navel, by offering a prayer in my heart. Rose looks cheerful near the scratches of your name.

"Laras ..., don't you like roses? I'll never get tired of bringing it, for you."

...........