GROWINGS
52

"Where, good is my hape?!" With pride, Tita showed off the latest samsung galaxy note 8 on her four best friends.

"Know, who got the inheritance from his grandmother.." Eka elbowed Sheila slowly.

"If I was what? Just ordinary people.." Gabriel muttered while showing the iPhone 6 plus silver.

As the five were chatting in front of the classroom, Dafa suddenly flashed with his head bowed.

"B..!!" Eka shouted loudly. "What kabb--" Eka immediately fell silent and felt astonished. "Why Dafa?"

Gabriel reflexively pursues Dafa. Grabbing his pale and cold hand.

"Straight. Not squirming us, what?"

Dafa also looked. He could put on a thin smile. Before he left his five friends.

"Are there any more problems with him?" Sheila guesses.

"Did you know yet?!" A student suddenly came to them.

"Know what?" Julian asked back.

"Lied ah!" The student shook his hand. "You are close friends of Dafa, surely you already know the news.."

"Ehh Leo, seriously. We don't know at all. What's the news anyway?" Eka.

"Say our school is the same school next door want to be unified tablets.."

"meaning?" Sheila's forehead is wrinkled.

"Said Ms. Fatma, Mr. Martin Luther has spoken with Grandma Anggita and Om Ardiansyah. Said they agreed to unite these two schools.."

"Seriously?!" Tita squealing.

"Ask Mr. Inu if you don't believe it.."

Inu also approached them with an anxious face. "You see Dafa?"

"So he went there, sir.." Tita Sahut.

Just spoken of, Dafa has reappeared. But this time he appeared with his backpack and drinking bottle.

"Where are you going, Dafa?"

"No business, Mr. Inu!" Reply Dafa firmly.

"Of course it's my business! Because it's still school hours, and not a single student can just go home!"

Unexpectedly, Dafa punched Inu's stomach hard.

"Until now, I will never agree!!"

"Dafa, wait!" Inu grabbed Dafa's hand. But Dafa bit him.

"Don't stop me, you son of a bitch!!"

"Becch..." Inu clearly flinched. But he did not want to make his student's child more emotional.

Dafa went somewhere. But for sure, he still returned to his school, even with his attitude that changed completely.

...##### ...

Although it is not clear where the news initially spread, but certainly the big news was positively welcomed by the students of both schools.

"You can imagine, if Kak Dafa and Kak Kinno are united to be like what?"

"Of course no one can beat our school later...!"

"That's right!! They are both great people!"

Dafa completely withdrew from his friends. He felt that his struggle and hard work had been in vain.

His friends and teachers would never support his decision forever.

He was fed up, because every time he stepped foot in the school environment, not a few of his friends who continue to mention the problem of uniting the two schools.

Time keeps turning. Not only once did Dafa see Martin Luther visit his school once and have a light chat with Anggita Suryatama and Bu Nuriyanti.

Dafa pondered a lot in the library. Because according to him, this is the only place for him to calm his mind.

"Back.."

Dafa. He found Gabriel standing a few feet away from him.

"You're called Miss Nuriyanti.." Gabriel said slowly.

Dafa took a short breath. With a smile he developed. Because indeed, he was just about to meet the head of his foundation.

"Gabriel, may I ask you something?"

"Not a girlfriend, is it? You'll know that I haven't done it yet.." Gabriel grinned wide.

"Do you think it would be good if these two schools were finally united?"

Gabriel's face changed. "You know, if I can't do anything."

Dafa nodded. "Thank you for everything, yeah. It's good to be your friend and the others.." Dafa said as he patted Gabriel on the shoulder.

With slow steps and a straight face, Dafa walked towards the foundation headroom. Not like yesterday-yesterday who always avoid every time his friend asked. This time he answered all the questions of his friends with a bright smile.

"If that's what you want, what can I do..?"

Upon arriving in front of the foundation headroom, he was somewhat surprised that there were some of his closest friends standing up and watching him with serious faces.

But he was more shocked when he got into it. Because it turns out that in the room, there is not only Bu Nuriyanti. But the faces of people he was very familiar with.

"Sit down, Dafa.." Ms. Nuriyanti invited Dafa to sit on the chair offered by Ms. Fatma.

Dafa nodded once with a fluffy smile on his face. "OKAY. I agree." His voice broke the silence that enveloped the room. "It doesn't matter if in the end these two schools have to come together.."

"Becch..." Anggita Suryatama's voice sounded soft.

"Yes, grandma..."

"Where did you get this much money?!" Anindita immediately asked without a second thought.

"Slow down your voice, Anindita.." Danu tried to win your voice.

Dafa gasped when he saw his blue backpack. Didn't he hide the backpack as best he could? But...

Dafa looked at Inu. How did the teacher find him?

"Becch..."

Dafa swallowed. His body trembled violently. He did not know that the purpose Bu Nuriyanti called him was for this matter.

"Grandma and dad have been talking about this with Grandma Stevie, Uncle Anthony, and some of those guys-and none of them have said that they've given you that much money.."

"That--" Dafa sat in. "That's.. "

"Jawab, Dafa!! You have a mouth to speak to, right?!"

"Jeez, Anindita!!" Danu's voice also went up.

"Anindita, if you can't lower your voice -- then please get out of this room!" Anggita Suryatama said firmly.

"You have no right to expel me! Dafa is my son! My flesh and blood!" Anindita replied fiercely.

"Becch..." The hand of Dafa. Then in his hands tightly. "Dafa is not afraid. Because we're not all gonna get mad with --"

Dafa pulled his hand. "That's my money.." His voice was barely heard.

"Mom understands, Dafa. But where did you get it?"

Dafa was still down. Cold sweat started flooding all over his body.

"I--"

"ANSWER, DAFA..!!" 

"ANDCHINA!!" this time Anggita Suryatama did not mess with the threat.

"That-the-money-the-result-my sale.."

"SELLING RESULTS DID YOU SAY?!! YOU THINK YOU CAN FOOL MOTHER, HUH?!!"

"Astagfirullah, Anindita. I'm begging you..." Anggita Suryatama's voice sounded hoarse.

"EVERYONE IN THE WORLD KNOWS YOU'RE JUST SELLING CHEAP FOOD!! AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO EARN THIS MUCH MONEY!"

Dafa held his head up. His eyes are getting red and hot.

"Food is cheap - but they love it..."

Anindita rolled her eyeballs.

"Dafa, Mr. Inu found this money in his expenses.." Bu Nuriyanti connect.

"Pak Inu also suddenly had a lot of money. But Mr. Inu never told me.."

"YOU DON'T DISTRACT, DAFA!!"

Dafa's body trembled. He was bowed again with both hands clenched over his thighs.

"THIS KID IS REALLY HARD TO MANAGE! WHAT WILL YOU BE, HUH?!!"

"Anninth...!" The eyes of Anggita Suryatama are teary.

"LET THEM ALL SEE, NOW THAT YOU'VE GROWN INTO A WILD AND UNRULY CHILD!!"

"DON'T EVER YELL AT ME AGAIN!!" Dafa suddenly shouted while standing up. He pointed at Anindita with red eyes glaring.

"YOU SEE HOW INSOLENT HE IS! JUST AS HIS MOTHER HAD DARED TO FIGHT!!"

"YOU'RE NOT MY SOUND!! YOU'RE NOT MY PARENTS!!"

Anindita jerks not playing. Same with everyone in the room.

Dafa's tears began to fall down his cheeks.

"YOU ARE NOT THE WOMAN WHO GAVE BIRTH TO ME IN THIS WORLD!!"

"SUMMM..!!"

"YOU REALLY DARE TO BE WITH MOM!!?"

"YOU THINK I FORGOT, WHEN YOU FOUND ME IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR, HUH?!!"

Anindita jerks. The stiffening of his face, slowly loosened.

"WHY ARE YOU QUIET, HUH?! DON'T TELL ME THAT YOU AND YOUR EX-HUSBAND FORGOT THAT AFTERNOON!!"

"Becch..." Anindita's eyes glazed over. "You're Mother's son, baby..."

Dafa looked up while smiling widely. "Now I remember everything - - - I remember when the orphanage was on fire - - - I remember when the fat kid didn't keep his promise -- and I remember the old man who owned the shop the bread, which was very unpleasant - -" Dafa turned his eyes to Kinno and Martin Luther. "Why Kinno, are you surprised by me? Have you forgotten who always helped you from the bad boys who always pricked you back then?"

"My God, Kinno!! Why you should..." Danu was at a loss for words.

"I swear I didn't tell her anything, Dad..!"

"Do you like to see me locked up in that parlour? You like to see me being tortured by them?"

"William-" Kinno's face was pale not playing.

Dafa smiled cynically. "It turns out all this time, I've only lived among liars.."

"Becch..."

Dafa sat back down. He wiped away the tears and wiped his face. His face looked calm and relaxed.

"So, you want to know where I can get this kind of money?" Dafa folded his hands in front of his chest. "The answer is easy. I got it from the rich old lady who was currently sitting opposite me.."

Anggita Suryatama. Because he never felt like he gave his granddaughter a dime of his money.

"But Dafa, Grandma never gave you --"

"You once said that you would give anything, even all your possessions - as long as the life of your grandson could be saved. Is that right Mr Inu Atmaja whom I have great respect for?"

Inu's eyes widened. His tongue was thick and heavy.

"Pak Inu thought, I'll just shut up after knowing that Mr Inu will donate his kidney to Mas Rafa?"

"Dafa --"

"Sir Inu knows, what are the consequences of people living with only one kidney? Didn't Mr Inu ever think about this school? And did Mr Inu never think of all the students in this school?" Dafa keleng. "Ckckck, how selfish, Mr. Inu.."

"So Mr Inu donated his kidney?!" Ms. Fatma reflexes squealing.

"Of course not, Miss Fatma." Dafa. "Because I-will not allow the person I love most to live in prolonged suffering."

"Dafa-" A tear fell from the corner of Inu's eye.

"Assallamualaikum-excuse me..."

At that time, a couple came with a frightened and nervous face instead of playing.

"Mr? Mommy?" Tita was clearly astonished by the arrival of her parents.

Dafa took the seats for the two old men. And let them both sit.

"How's Jono doing, Mister-Bu? Is he okay?"

The middle-aged woman even shed tears. Then with trembling hands, he took out a plastic bag from inside the bag he was carrying.

"Pardon me and my husband, Ms. Anggita-Pak Ardiansyah. We-we-we-can't accept this money-and we-"

"What does that mean, Miss Erni? I don't really understand..." Anggita Suryatama said slowly.

"Son Dafa..." Ms. Erni stared fixedly at Dafa.

"Mothers do not have to worry. Even if they're gonna take this matter to the police, I'm the one responsible. And I'm ready to accept the punishment.."

"Son Dafa.."

Dafa wiped away Bu Erni's tears with his thumb. "Yes, don't be sad anymore."

"I'm sorry, son.."

"Mr-mother.." Tita slid in. "What does all this mean? I don't understand, sir-bu.."

"I'm the one who should be apologizing to you, Tita.."

"Becch..."

"I know that your sister is sick. And your family needs a lot of money..."

"Mom, Tita doesn't understand..."

"I asked your father to pretend to be the donor, Tita.."

It became very quiet and silent.

"I'm sorry, Tita... Forgive Father..." The beak man was crying.

"So--if not Mr. Edi-then..."

"I." Dafa stared fixedly at Ardiansyah. "I'm the donor, father.."

They're all lying around not listening to it.

"I'm the one who planned all this..."

"No way --" Ardiansyah glared away.

"Why can't it be, dad?"

"Hurry and call that doctor!! Ask him if--"

"The doctor asked me to go far away, Grandma.." Dafa cuts. "If grandma will punish her, punish me. Because I'm the one who deserves it.."

"Becch..."

"I think this is what is called destiny. I can be here -- to bring you all together.." Dafa sighed while complaining. Although his heart and feelings are currently claustrophobic not playing. "When I was so dizzy about having to earn money to take this school - - that's when I heard Mr. Inu talking to the doctor over the phone.."

The voice of Dafa is weakening. He fell back, and his tears fell back.

"And that's when I knew -- if it turned out that all this time I had been lied to by the two who claimed to be my father and my mother. Do you and grandma know how I felt when I saw you first in that hospital?"

"Sorry Grandma, Dafa... Grandma did you a lot wrong.."

"I don't know what's wrong with me, to the point that I'm deliberately thrown away and forgotten.."

"Grandmother never threw you away, Dafa..."

"Sometimes, I feel jealous of my friends' lives. Why can't I ever feel it--- why, grandma?" Dafa's tears came back unstoppable. "Even my own biological parents, don't want my presence in this world.."

"Dafa, until whenever-you are still the Mother's child..."

Dafa looked at Anindita. "Thank you for taking care of me and raising me. And I'm sorry, because I---- I---" Dafa couldn't continue his sentence because his crying got bigger.

"So, he's doing all this for us?" Sheila could not hold back her tears.

"The sacrifice he made-this is what the old grandmother meant?" Julian chimed in in a soft voice.

Dafa wiped away her tears. He tries not to let his voice wobble.

"I think my job here is done.."

"No, Dafa... Don't say that.." The conscious Stevie Wallerima was silent, finally speaking as well. "We're all here -- still in desperate need of you.."

Dafa shook his head. "I've managed to save this school---" Dafa's tears flowed back. "I've managed to make this school known everywhere -- and me..."

"We all still need you, Dafa.." Eka said from the face of the door.

"Really, Dafa. We won't be able to do anything without you.."

"We have to keep fighting together..."

Dafa smiled widely. "Friends-thank you... Without your support and assistance, I might not have been able to make it this far.."

"Sir Inu, we will continue to build this school together, right?" Eka asked with a forced smile.

Inu nodded slowly. He knew that he had to look strong in front of his students. Especially Dafa.

"But I can't, Eka. So sorry.."

"Becch..."

"When my work here is done, then I must go.."

"You're not going anywhere, my grandson .."

Dafa turned back to Anggita Suryatama.

"Ahhh - yes. I almost forgot." Dafa bowed his body to Anggita Suryatama and Ardiansyah. "Thank you for all the help. Hmm--- Grandma Anggita and Father Ardiansyah-I promise, if I have a lot of money later, I will return all the money I borrowed from you.."

"Grandmother's money is your money too, Dafa.. Please don't say such hurtful things again..."

"If I may ask for help again, will Grandma Anggita and Father Ardiansyah help Eka and her mother? Because all I know is that Eka's house would be confiscated by the bank if they couldn't pay off the loan.."

"Of course, Dafa, Grandma will help him.."

"Becch..." Eka was jolted not playing to hear it.

"And--- Julian... Sorry, I can't give you anything but mukena and new shoes for your grandma and sister."

"Becch..."

"Sheila..." Dafa Smile widened. And those who are called can only stare in silence. "You're very lucky, because you have very good home friends and care for you. My message is one, if you've succeeded later, don't ever forget them.."

Dafa rubbed his face with both of his palms. Then he turned his face to the blue sky out there.

"I've never felt this relaxed before. I don't have to pretend anymore in front of all of them. Hhhaaaahh..."

Dafa walked towards the door. "If this school comes together - I won't object and reject it. Because at the end of the day I know we're all one big family.

Thanks for everything..."

...##### ...