Hacking Flavors
Nunik Assessment

"Nunique..?" I greet a woman in a wide maroon hijab who is currently sitting on a wheelchair in the TV room.

I was really surprised. Because almost nothing has changed from Nunik. Whether it's her petite posture, as well as her slightly wrinkled face. If I were told to guess, then I would probably think that he was not around fifty years old. Except it was only the late thirties.

The face of Nunik yamg I remember the fur is always decorated with orange smile is now still decorated with the exact same smile. A shady smile called Laila as a dawn angel smile.

I unconsciously smiled when my memory returned to the past. When I heard many unique terms made by my Love it was once.

I refocused my gaze on Nunik. And I saw that he was watching me again.

Nila, Mark and Labib who accompanied us in the TV room like her were confused because me and Nunik did not even exchange words in a long time.

"Ehem! So, Auntie.he's claiming to be Erlan. The late Papa was Nila's and Mark's, too" Nila's blunt words.

I was embarrassed by Nila's words. A little sad too because it seems like Nila wants to rush to prove my 'lie' that has mushroomed for too long.

"Dh..." I took a deep breath. Feeling a little tired, even though all I did since then was just be quiet.

In the end I invited Nunik to talk in a relaxed tone. It was as if we were still meeting and exchanging words. Like old times.

"You know what, Nun? I'm astonished. My Laila looks just like her age when I met her back a few weeks ago. But I see you're not much different. Didn't Lail ever check you out for tips on youth?" I asked her casually to make her joke.

Nunik was silent for a while longer. Before he finally said something to Labib, his son.

"Mom, would you please pick up the album book on the nightstand in Mama's room, son?" Pinta Nunik with a polite voice.

The courtesy I used to ask him to teach it to my Laila. With his joking tone of course.

Labib followed her mother's request. He went to the room in the house. Not long after, Labib returned.

"This one is. Ma?" Labib thrust the album with a purple cover into Nunik's lap.

"Yes. Thanks, son.."

Then, Nunik offered the album to me.

"This is my album with Lail. You might want to see her?" Barat Nunik to me.

Without hesitation, I accepted the album and opened it slowly.

In the first sheet, there are photos that I think is when Nunik and also Laila was a teenager. Nunik wears a white-colored bergo veil. While my Laila was tucking behind her hair. Both of them smiled at the camera. With Laila who was grinning so wide.

Unknowingly I smiled broadly.

"I've seen this picture on my Laila's phone before. His word, you guys play to the mall just to have a photo box is not it? Four photos also failed, because either Lail's eyes are closed or you are also closed. Only one of these photos is considered good," I commented on the first photo on the album I was holding.

Then I saw the photo on the second sheet. This time is when Laila I think just graduated High School. It was evident from the graffiti on the gray white shirt that Lail was wearing. My Laila still had a big smile on the photo. So pretty!

I slowly turned the album page. The following photos are of the two taking a walk somewhere.

Sheet by sheet I keep turning. And I'm really happy to see my Laila transformation from a teenager to an adult.

Until then I came to my wedding photo with Laila. My netra was held back for a long time while observing the photo.

"I remember, when I took this photo, actually Lail was whining about eating. It was only ten in the morning! Hahahha, her stomach is always hungry. That's why I often bring snacks whenever I come home from work, first," my monologue commented on our wedding photos.

The following photo is during the four-month anniversary of Laila's pregnancy. In the photo, I'm wearing pink. The pink dress is also worn by Laila.

I felt a little upset at that moment with my Laila. Because he deliberately ordered pink koko clothes for me to wear at the ceremony at that time.

I scowl a little.

"Iishkk. If you remember this event, I'd love to pinch Lail's cheek again. It's true he forced me to wear that cocoa. Huh!"

My heart was suddenly struck by a thorny hammer. In the photo, there's only one Laila. The content looks very large. He was sitting on a white bed, which I thought was a hospital.

This photo seems to have been taken from a side position. So it only shows my Laila profile from the side. She was wearing a pale pink veil. Make her face pale so it looks more pale.

What makes my heart ache when I see this photo is because this is the first unsmiling photo of Laila, which I saw on this album.

His view looks empty. It was clear the suffering in every look of his eyes and also the lip line of his face. My Laila is deeply grieved in that photo. And I can guess what the cause of my Laila's grief is in the photo I'm seeing right now.

It's possible that this photo was taken when my Laila was hospitalized. Shortly after the day the accident that took my life happened.

I put my fingers on Laila's face in this picture I'm looking at. I could feel the pain Laila felt at that moment.

"This.. was taken when the accident happened, wasn't it?" Ask me stammering.

I didn't raise my eyes when I asked Nunik. My eyes seem locked on Laila's afflicted face in that photo.

Shortly after, I heard Nunik's voice reply.

"Yes. Lail had to bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy. About two months longer. His appetite slumped sharply. So Lail almost lost her twins, Mark and Nila at the time. The suffering caused by the accident was really too much for him," Nunik said.

Tests..

Tests..

Without being able to prevent it, I just cried.

My Netra was still fixated on staring at the photo of Laila who was being overwhelmed by grief at that time. While my fingers also do not want to stop wiping his eternal face on the sheet that I hold now.

The atmosphere in the TV room became silent for a moment.

I do not know what the expressions of Mark, Nila and Labib who had been listeners for my conversation with Nunik.

Then, I forced my hand to open the next sheet. This time it's a photo of Laila giving birth to our twins.

The photos were taken while they were at home. With Laila holding the twins in each hand.

Laila was already smiling again in the photo. Although, I can still clearly see the trace of sadness on her sweet face.

"You look so small, Mark, Nila. Hmm.. there is almost no difference," I murmured in a soft voice.

I turned the album page again. And I saw a picture of Laila with our two children. Where I thought Mark and Nila might be a year or two.

Then there were other Laila pictures I saw on that album. Until I got to a page that featured wedding photos of Laila and Kiyano.

Looking at the photo, my heart was immediately again wracked by jealousy. With emotion, I closed the album.

Brakes.

...

For a moment those jealous emotions were still burning this heart. And as long as it went on, I didn't look at anyone in the room.

Shortly after, I heard Nunik say,

"You really are the Erlan I used to know.."

Pause for a moment.

"Come, Mark, know it! He's Erlan, your Papa!" Nunik said in a loud and clear voice in the TV room.

***