Giving Birth to My Brother
30. Elin Gets Young Mango

"Patience, Neng," said Budhe Sarti as Elin regurgitated after lunch. Gently Budhe Sarti massaged Elin's nape while the girl leaned over in the sink.

Elin washed her face. He felt somewhat relieved after vomiting, but he was also so limp. "My stomach isn't good, Budhe."

"Sit down, Neng." Budhe Sarti helps Elin sit back at the dining table. He poured water into Elin's glass, but Elin drank only a little. "Neng has to eat, a little bit. But often. If you really mending to the doctor, say the same Mr. Ariel. Cassian."

Elin took a deep breath. "I'm not papa, Budhe. Eating fruit is okay. If my rice is often nauseous let alone noodles, it must immediately vomit."

"Try the bread, the potatoes, Neng. I'll boil some potatoes for Eneng." Budhe Sarti patted Elin's back gently. He was so worried to see Elin's pale face. Ariel and Sinta want him to wait for Elin since morning. Turns out Elin was really fussy. "Maybe Neng can eat if bribed with her husband. I used to be that, spoiled very much the same husband, but the husband is very painstaking. Strangely enough if it's bribed my husband can eat."

Elin chuckled softly at the thought of the middle-aged woman in front of her acting spoiled towards her husband. "Seriously, Budhe?"

"Yes. Pregnant people are all kinds, Neng. Just try it," said Budhe Sarti.

Elin just smiled faintly. Even yesterday when Ariel was about to bribe her, Sinta immediately looked so jealous. Ah, he was a bit upset if he remembered yesterday. In fact, he could only feel the delicious meat soto.

"Budhe, later tonight make fierce asem dong. I want it to taste good" said Elin.

"Ready, Neng! I'll cook for you with Mom."

Elin nodded. Well, later in the afternoon maybe Ariel will go home, he thought to himself. If only he could, he wanted to be as spoiled as Budhe Sarti had said, but it felt impossible.

***

"I go home first, sir," said Budhe Sarti when Ariel and Sinta had gone home. Time has shown past 7:00 p.m.

"Yes, thank you, Budhe. From dawn it was here nemenin Elin" said Ariel.

"Elin isn't papa, is he, Budhe?" ask Sinta.

Budhe Sarti just shook his head slowly. "Daily vomiting continues, sir, Mom. I wanted to eat but that's back again. If the fruits still come in. I don't want to make milk either."

"Geez, but not lemes, right?" ariel asked worriedly. He had seen how weak Elin was yesterday when he picked up.

"Yes that way, sir," replied Budhe Sarti. He looked at Sinta who made a gesture about to go up to see Elin's condition. Budhe Sarti approached Ariel as Sinta began climbing the stairs. "I feel sorry for Neng Elin. Again pregnant young usually likes spoiled same husband, sir. Try to eat it bribed and often cemented, sir. Maybe the baby wants the same deck as his dad, too, sir."

Ariel gasped at Budhe Sarti's words. He nodded because he did not know what to comment. Budhe Sarti was already very close to them. So, Ariel could share all the secrets about her marriage to Elin, but she did not mention about the baby she was going to take with Sinta.

"Thank you for the advice, Budhe," said Ariel.

"Yes, Sir. Understandably pregnant first child is so, especially Neng Elin is young," said Budhe Sarti.

"Yes, Budhe," Ariel said. He stared upstairs at his house when Budhe Sarti was actually home. Ariel became a bit uneasy as she had not been able to notice Elin as Budhe Sarti had said. Of course he is also worried about Elin's condition, but he also considers Sinta's feelings if he gives more attention to Elin.

***

"Well! It's really mangoes from home!" pekik Elin happy. He had just descended into the dining room after having a little chat with Sinta.

"Yes, really," said Ariel. He approached Elin, who was holding a mango and inhaling its aroma. "You want to eat? I'll take a pecker."

"I can do it myself. I haven't had a shower."

Elin put the mangoes back in and went into the kitchen. He took a plate and a small knife to peel the fruit. He turned his head in shock when Ariel followed him to the kitchen, but he had told Ariel to take a shower.

Elin smiled faintly at Ariel's actions. He became impatient to enjoy the mango fruit that he had imagined for days. Moreover, Ariel who picked the fruit for him, and again, Ariel who peeled for him.

"Well, you can eat, it's a bit deadbeat, but maybe still cool" said Ariel. He thrust a piece of fruit at Elin with a fork.

"I ate ya." Elin opened her mouth as Ariel fed the mango. Suddenly, both of Elin's eyes sparkled. "Ehm! So yummy. I'm a miss home, we used to do it with Mama and Gladis right."

"Yes, but Gladis is like Papa, not so like," said Ariel who also reminisced about the past.

"Ehm, they just like to be stuck. But it's exciting, I miss it." Elin chews back when Ariel feeds her. He felt very happy now, because he Sinta was still upstairs, he could be alone like this with Ariel.

"Would you eat rice, right? The fruit time continues. What was Budhe cooking?" ask Ariel.

"Garang asem's. I'm the one who asked" replied Elin.

"Yes, you asked. That means you have to eat a lot tonight" Ariel said in a demanding tone.

"OKAY. I'm trying, but ...." Elin bit her lip.

"I'm a bribe, just calm down" continued Ariel.

"Really?" asked Elin in shock.

Ariel nodded. He took a plate and filled it with a little rice and added chicken pieces and broth asem Budhe Sarti cuisine.

Elin turned her head towards the stairs as Ariel sat next to her. He was worried if Sinta suddenly appeared and would act as jealous as before.

"What do you think? Meal," said Ariel, offering a spoonful of rice to Elin. "Try on who knows you're eating it."

Elin did not protest. He immediately received the first bribe from Ariel. Either because of being fed by Ariel, or because he really wanted the food, he felt his stomach could work together. He really enjoyed the food he was on***** in his mouth.

"Nake?" Elin nodded slowly. "Well, that's dong. Eat again, but don't rush."

Elin, of course. He did not want to lose a moment alone with Ariel. He had already spent half the portion taken by Ariel when he realized Sinta was approaching the dinner table.

"You haven't had a bath, have you?" ask Ariel Sinta. Since coming down the stairs he had seen Ariel being with Elin at the dinner table. He also saw how Ariel was feeding Elin so painstakingly.

"Not yet, just pause. Elin just wanted to eat" Ariel said. He almost scoops again, but Elin's hand holds him back.

"I want to eat alone, no papa," said Elin who felt bad for Sinta. Ariel wanted to accompany her for a while, for her it was enough. He did not want Ariel and Sinta to fight over it.

"OKAY. I'll take some water, yeah," said Ariel.

"I am." Sinta first reaches the teapot and glass. "You take a shower, Mom. It's a shame."

Ariel glanced at Elin. Since Elin was really willing to eat by herself she immediately stood up and left the dining room.

Sinta put a glass of water in front of Elin's plate and sat down opposite her. "You why? These few days it looks like you've been getting a lot of attention from Mas Ariel?"

Elin raised her chin to look at Sinta. He could clearly feel the bias of jealousy on Sinta's face. "No, Ma'am. Don't misunderstand me."

"Where do I misunderstand, it's your turn to be bribed if you want to eat. Would you like to be bribed with my husband?"