Giving Birth to My Brother
34. The Sadness of Elin

Elin spent the day curled up in her bed. He felt unwell after the rain, he was also very sad because from today he can not work anymore. So, it feels like he's not excited.

When she was in school, Elin always got a mediocre rating, while her sister, Gladis, was a girl who stood out in all aspects. Gladis always participated in various tutoring, competitions and even organizational activities in school, but Gladis always got the class champion even the school champion. Elin was full enough if she had to compare with Gladis.

Now, when he started working for the past year, he thought he would be able to make his parents proud. But it feels like it's no longer possible. Gladis who just started college has often got additional work from various papers that he made. It felt like Elin was drowning in pain now.

"Neng, is the porridge not eaten?" budhe Sarti asked as she checked Elin in her room.

"Males. Later, Budhe," replied Elin who now closed her eyes. He hugged the bolster tighter.

"Oh my goodness, Neng. Do I want a bribe? It's cold, it's not good" said Budhe Sarti.

"Yes, let it cool, Budhe. If it's hot like the nausea it smells." Elin stretched out her body then looked at the middle-aged woman who was so friendly. "Why's Sinta mom, Budhe?"

"Below, Neng. Bake cake. I think there are many pesenan," replied Budhe Sarti. "Neng Elin needs what, Neng? Drink it."

"Yes, Budhe. I eat now" said Elin, sitting himself down.

Budhe Sarti painstakingly arranged the table for Elin, then placed the bowl of chicken porridge there. "Would you use fried onions, Neng?"

"No need, because it's as good as it looks," said Elin. He slowly stirred the chicken porridge and then spooned a mouthful to his lips. He nodded slowly when he felt the soft porridge slide down the esophagus. A bitter taste ran through his tongue as a sign that he did not like the food.

"Where, Neng? Not good, huh? What nausea?" ask Budhe Sarti.

Elin nodded. "I don't like it."

"What do you want to eat, Neng? Let me make it."

Elin seemed to think for a moment. He suddenly remembered Ariel once invited him to eat oxtail soup not far from his office. "I want some oxtail soup, Budhe. But I want to buy Brother."

"Sir Ariel will still be home in the afternoon, this afternoon should also eat dong, Neng."

"I'll eat it tonight if you come home" said Elin while trying to get rid of the table in front of her.

"Later lemes if you do not eat at all dong, Neng. I brought mango fruit yes, it's in the kitchen still there. The same bread?"

"Yes can, Budhe. Later if I want to eat let me eat, I want to call Brother continue to sleep first," said Elin.

Elin picked up her phone lying on the nightstand. He ignored several messages from his mother, Gladis and Mirna. He looked for Ariel's contact and was about to call her, but Elin was hesitant to press the call button. After last night he heard the chat, it would be very strange if he asked for attention from Ariel.

'For what, Brother Ariel only cares about the fetus in my stomach.' Elin saturate the heart bitterly. He re-imagined the oxtail soup when he put his phone back on. Elin did not give up, he tried to remember the name of the restaurant and then look for it in the food ordering application, unfortunately the restaurant only serves reservations on the spot.

'Damn damn it. It's what I want what a baby is, ' his grunts in heart.

Elin was still hesitating for Ariel's phone until Budhe Sarti returned to his room with 1 tray containing 2 small dishes and 1 jar of biscuits. 1 plate with young mango pieces and 1 more contains wheat bread and boiled potatoes.

"Neng, you'll eat it later. Earlier in the session, Bu Sinta, Eneng had to eat a little, if tired of rest, he said."

"Yes, Budhe. I'll eat soon" said Elin.

Elin decided to call Ariel after she lay on her bed for more than half an hour. He was very happy when he heard Ariel's voice across.

"Hello, El?"

"Ehm, you're still working?" tanyakanya.

"Still dong. Wh why? You need to be picked up?" ask Ariel.

"Oh, are you a spell?"

"Yes that. It's already been. Anyway, I also limp in every work," replied Elin with quivering lips.

"Ehm, that seems like the best option for us. Not that we agreed before. You have to keep your pregnancy a secret from everyone" Ariel reminded.

Elin did not comment as these tears came down again without excuse. He took a deep breath because he did not want Ariel to hear him cry.

"Hello? El, are you still there?" ask Ariel.

"Yes. I want something. I want a brother who bought it" said Elin. He rubbed his wet face.

"What's? You want to eat something?" ask Ariel again.

"I want the oxtail soup sold in the office deck of the big brother," replied Elin. "I really want to look like a drag-anget."

Ariel laughed a little across the street. "OKAY. Just wait. I'll buy it when I get home."

"OKAY. I can't wait for Brother to come home" Elin said solemnly. He was silent for a few moments. "Yes, I'm going to sleep first, brother. I'm sleepy."

"Yes. I still have work, too" Ariel said.

Elin turned off her phone after she finished talking to Ariel. He smiled faintly as he hugged his roll gently. He was annoyed by Ariel's words last night, but he also missed Ariel very much.

***

"You came home late, Mas," said Sinta when welcoming Ariel's return. He had been waiting for Ariel since then even some called Ariel, but the call was not connected.

"Yes, Honey. Sorry yeah. I stopped by to buy oxtail soup for Elin. It's been a long queue." Ariel embraces Sinta's shoulder and walks together towards the kitchen. "My phone's dead. Charger's left at the office."

"When I have cooked," said Sinta when he noticed with Ariel quite a lot.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to call earlier either. I want to ask you if you bought it, or if you want something else. So I bought it all," Ariel explained.

"When did Elin talk to you, Mom?"

"So he called me, he said he wanted to eat it so I bought it." Ariel put the oxtail soup on the dining table. He looked at Sinta meaningfully. "Let me bring it up for Elin. You don't have to bother."

"But ...."

"No papa. I just want to eat food, I won't do anything with Elin. I also want to entertain him, he was just sad for sure because he had to resign," said Ariel reassured.

"Yes, but you don't stay in Elin's room for long."

"No dong, honey. Have you taken a shower yet?" ask Ariel.

"Not yet, I picked up the cake. Just really new. This was while waiting for you, Mas, but no nonsense!" gerutu Sinta's.

Ariel landed a kiss on Sinta's pouting lips. He did not want Sinta constantly jealous of him and Elin. "We've taken a shower together, sweetie."

Sinta laughed a little. He nodded and hugged Ariel's arm. The two climbed the stairs while joking this and that. Ariel's two eyes swept over the door of Elin's room when she arrived on the 2nd floor. He was curious what Elin was doing, he was eager to greet Elin as well, but Sinta had already pulled her arm.

"Come, Mas!" bring Sinta.

"Yes. Yes, Sweetheart. Come on."