I Don'T Want To Be Cinderella #1
66. The return of the nightmare

The return of the nightmare (The return of the nightmare)

The journey home was passed quietly, no one opened their voices. Outside the sky decorated the sky of Surabaya. We were in Pacet for a long time, more precisely Mojokerto because pakde Bayu forced us to come to his house in Mojokerto, to introduce Bude Ani, wife of Bayu sirde, a hijab-wearing woman who greeted us kindly, but unfortunately I could not meet my cousins because they were not home pakde Bayu magnificent.

Yes, behind the simple appearance of Pakde Bayu and his wife, their home is far from simple. The house is large and magnificent complete with luxurious facilities and some domestic assistants who were immediately busy when Bude Ani instructed them to prepare a meal for us.

We were at home until half-time and five in the afternoon and decided to return to Surabaya before nightfall. Pakde Bayu seemed enthusiastic to ask us about our situation so much he asked, but both I and Oka just answered just that, just like that, because we are still surprised by what we just heard about Bi or Anggi.

I stared at the streets with a raging mind, still shocked by the reality I just knew.

Now it makes sense when I can't find any trace of Bi anywhere, even when I can guess that dad is Andi Santoso, I still can't find Bi. That's why I had doubts and finally my doubts were further strengthened by the identity of Anggi Santoso who was discovered by Siska, which turned out to have been changed in such a way by my own grandfather.

Mr. Bayu had wanted to contact Ms. Mayang as well as Anggi to tell about me and Oka, but I forbid it. It is not without reason that I forbid Pakde Bayu to tell them about me and Oka, but considering that for 20 years Bi has been indoctrinated as Anggi Santoso, the only daughter of Andi Santoso and Mayang Wicaksono, then I can't imagine what kind of surprise Bi would have if she had known that she was Sagita Bentari, the daughter of Randi Prasetyo and Mega Puspitaningrum, the younger sister of Kirana Az Zahra whom she had always considered a rival.

For sure Anggi or Bi will be difficult to accept. This is not a trivial thing that can be solved by just picking up the phone and telling everything as if to tell the news about a friend who has not met for a long time.20 years is not a short time, but a short time, where she grew up with the doctrine of being the only daughter of a woman who turned out not to be her biological mother. Maybe it will be the same effect as someone who was adopted from childhood and after adulthood he was told that in fact he was just an adopted child.

That's why I decided to talk to my father first, ask my father to explain himself to Bi, and after he felt ready to accept the reality then I would meet him as a brother, as a brother, not the rival he had been thinking about.

I flinched from daydreaming, surprised when someone grabbed my hand, but a moment later I smiled as I looked at Caraka who was smiling while linking our fingers. I leaned my head on the shoulder of the man who must also be surprised to know the truth today.

“You all right?” Caraka asked making me smile.

“Do you think after knowing the truth, I will be fine?”

Caraka smiled.

“This is crazy!” pekik Oka from the front seat beside Mr. Supri. “So our real father is actually a successful businessman and Kakang knows him?” Oka looked at the back seat where Caraka and I were.

“Iya, I know him.”

“Is he really a successful entrepreneur?” Oka asked who got the nod from Caraka, making Oka snort. “I think all this time dad did not look for us because he was in trouble, but it turns out he did not intend to just look for us.”

There was disappointment from Oka's voice, and I can understand it because I once had the same thought.

“How about Kak Bi? Did Kakang ever meet with Kak Bi?”

Caraka looked at me who I answered with just a smile. It was too strange indeed the relationship between the three of us. I don't know what Oka and Mamah would have responded had they known the relationship between Caraka and Anggi first.

“Iya, have met several times,” answered Caraka made Oka more curious, her body is now half turned back.

“How is he? Is he like a little girl? It must be prettier, right, Kang? I hope he doesn't suck like Teteh, hihihi.”

I just snorted to hear Oka who was curious about the figure of Bi, the older sister she had never met.

“You have medsos, right? She is quite famous, you can look for her on medsos.”

“Totally he's famous?”

Caraka just nodded in response.

In the spirit of Oka began to open her social media, and began surfing for Anggi's account. Unlike me who was back in silence, my mind floated to Anggi and his feelings for the man whose hand was now holding me.

“You are not thinking of leaving me because ... she is?”

I smiled at her question, both of my hands were now hugging Caraka's waist with her head leaning against her square chest.

“In the fairy tale, Cinderella did not release the Prince to her sister or any other woman. So why should I let you go for my sister?”

Caraka smiled, her hands clutching me tightly. I could hear a sigh of relief when he heard my answer.

“If I knew how she felt about you, but I couldn't just give up on sacrificing how we both felt. Different story if you also like it then I will give up .. but at this time he who has to give up and start learning to accept the fact if not all he wants can he have.”

I sighed knowing that what Caraka said was true.

“At that time Bi was so small that it would be easy to doctrine him with all the lies, and he lived with those lies for 20 years. Not a short time .. she will definitely be difficult to accept the reality of the mother who had thought her birth mother was only a connecting mother. The name he used all this time was just a surrogate name, even the date on which every year he celebrated his birthday party with great fanfare was not his real date of birth.”

“At first it will definitely be difficult for him to accept this reality, but long ago he will be able to accept it.”

“He must accept it, regardless he wants to admit me or not, but at least he has to admit mamah.”

Caraka fell silent then nodded in agreement.

“Ka!” I called Oka who was still looking at her social media.

“Iya.”

“Let's not tell mamah everything we heard today.” I saw Oka lowering her phone for a moment and then nodding. “Mamah will definitely be very sad if you know the truth.” I saw Oka nodding back. “Quite say that today we met Pakde and bude, but we have not been able to meet father because he is in Singapore, understand?”

“Iya.”

And when he arrived in Surabaya, as I thought, mamah looked enthusiastic to see our return. After telling us to bathe and pray magrib, mamah began to question us various kinds.

“Did you guys meet Bi? How is he doing now? Did he ask mama? Does he remember mama?”

The mamah asked first was Bi, the daughter whom he had longed for, whose name he always called every prayer. How could I tell the real mama, I could not see the disappointment in the face of mamah who had sacrificed a lot for his children.

“So we only meet pakde and bude only, father and Bi are in Singapore accompanying eyang treatment.”

Mama was silent, a look of disappointment on her face. But then he tried to smile again, and asked us again.

“How did Mas Bayu after knowing who you are?”

“Shock, Mah, Oka hugged keceng terribly until tight earlier,” replied Oka made mamah smile. “Yang funny, pakde directly introgasi kakang after knowing that the brother of the future husband teteh, hahaha.”

“Masa?” mamah's face again seen sumringah heard the story of Oka and Caraka who told how pakde Bayu had interrogated Caraka.

I will tell the truth to mamah, but not now where mamah still very much hope that Bi still remembers her as her birth mother.

***

“Mamah was afraid how if their family did not receive you well.”

Right now I was talking together with my mother, while Oka and Caraka were buying dinner downstairs.

“But from the first Mas Bayu is good.”

I smiled while nodding.

“I was also surprised, Mah, I thought there would be a little drama but it wasn't.”

Mom smiled.

“Alhamdulillah, hopefully later if you meet your father, he will also easily receive you.”

I can only nod in doubt it will be this easy. There were too many questions I wanted to ask my father, as well as many explanations I wanted to hear from him.

The apartment bell rings. I walked to the door thinking that it was Caraka and Oka who came home to buy dinner made me without thinking straight open the door, but instantly my body froze to see who was standing in the doorway.

My nightmare a few months ago has now returned, with a grin on his face.

*****

Not been on the sipin yet? 😁