I'm Single Mom
ASM 24

We've all gathered at the dinner table, "just a minute, we'll wait for Dad. Za, you didn't call Akmal? Tell me to come over here let's have lunch together."

" Okay, ma."

" Why should there be Akmal anyway?" I murmured in my heart.

" Don't hesitate, Sa. Consider it your own ajanrah." Mama said.

I just nodded politely.

Not long after, I heard a step towards the dining room. My heart is beating fast, is it dad or Akmal coming? The longer it gets closer. Cold sweat started to wash over my face.

God help me!

" Dad, guess who's coming?" Zaskia made the atmosphere slightly melt.

Dad looked at us one by one. His gaze was very long when he saw El, maybe I tried to remember, now my father looks at me, looks at me for a long time, until the water droplets flow from both eyes of father.

" Did you dream?" Dad pinched his hand.

I stood up, not knowing what to do.

" Dad didn't dream, " cried Zaskia.

" salsa... Salsabila's father's son?" Ask dad to come near me.

" Yes dad." I sat in a voice that almost disappeared.

Dad hugged me tightly, he even cried until my clothes got wet.

" Dad misses mom.dad misses." Say daddy's whimpering.

This is the happiest moment I have missed.

" I'm sorry dad for nine years ago... Forgive me.ka-because it's been so hearty to throw you out."

" Father, I'm also sorry for the wrong that you did to me."

We apologize to each other, "O God, thank you for giving this wonderful story to your servant." I said in my heart.

" Now we eat ya." Said dad's new wife.

" Assalamu'alaikum," Akmal's voice entered the house.

I'm more surprised to see Akmal can be free in and out of this house.

With ease he joined us. Who is father's wife? And what is dad's job now? Why can you live like this?

" Sa, let's add more. Don't be shy." Said dad's new wife.

" Yes, aunty." Answer shy.

" Loh kok aunty, call mama dong. How about now I'm your father's wife."

" Yes, ma." My answer is a bit clumsy.

*

The joint tomb is over. There's no clean-up, 'cause Dad has some helpers in this house.

If you were rich, you would be happy. Not tired of doing it yourself. Why do I have such thoughts. Maybe God had already provided sustenance for father and mother, now with God's new wife added to the provision.

We gathered in the family room. My wife's life is really relaxing. To take care of her children she already has a baby sister, really perfect this woman's life. Another thing with me that has been stumbling since El's pregnancy until now.

Starting to finish eating El in his room, father's son. Sampe is not out yet. I'm sure there are so many toys that make El feel at home there.

" Eh Akmal, what are your plans for Zaskia? You've been in touch for quite a while." Ask dad's wife.

My butterfly suddenly heated up hearing the words coming out of my father's wife's mouth.

I don't know what makes me dare to look at Akmal, now our views meet each other. Long enough to throw my eyes away.

" Mad, just shut up. You're not serious about me?" Ask the spoiled Zaskia.

" I am not, not serious. You're still in college, how good it would be to finish our new education talking more serious things." Akmal.

" I agree with Akmal's opinion, it's better to finish your college first, just think about something serious." Father chimed.

" Huh. Me? A-i... Still thinking about El, huh. I-because El's everything for me, yeah."

Daddy's mangosteen, "father agrees with your principles, maybe a lot of men can love you, but not for El. Oh right, did El's dad never call you, or at least give El a living? Dad used to be so emotional that he didn't have time to ask who the man who impregnated you was."

" Dad, it's not important for you to know from the man. For Mbak, El's health, El's happiness is much more important. Maybe he's happy with his new life." I said bitterly, I glanced with the tail of my eyes, Akmal was looking at me sharply. But I don't care about any of this.

It was late in the afternoon, so I said goodbye to go home. El was also satisfied to play, he got a gift from his grandfather in the form of home-home toys that can be arranged. He's very happy.

" Well, let Akmal take Salsa home."

Basic Akmal! He could have called me mbak. Until now, he is still good at playing the show.

" You're fine, but look!" Father pointed towards Zaskia who was pouting.

" I'm jealous baby..." Shouted Zaskia.

" Same brother himself is jealous? Ck." Mama shook her head.

" Mama..." She was on my mom's shoulder.

We said goodbye, mama didn't forget to give me an envelope, "this is to help you buy necessities."

" Mama..." I hugged this good woman.

" It's been playing here a lot El." Mama said as she kissed El's cheek with anxiety.

" Yes oma, dadaaaa... Oh, um..."

The car driven by Akmal drove away from my father's palace.

We were silent, no one spoke.

" Yes..." Call El to Akmal.

" Yes dear." replied Akmal. He is focused on looking ahead.

" El can call dad? Mommy has a father, why doesn't El have a father?" Sissy speech.

Akmal pulled over the car we were driving, he pulled El in his arms. Akmal's eye angle is watery. Is it sad to see his son? A simple request from a child in need of affection from a father-titled man.

" El son father, from now on call om with the name of father, because until whenever El son father. Still dad's son." Vibrating Akmal voice.

" Thank you, dad." Said El happily.

El kisses Akmal's cheeks with affection.

After that El chose to lie down, it seemed like he was sleepy.

" Sa, I'm sorry for making you feel that life... It's a lot harder. Even I myself regret having chosen to be a loser and selfish man. If time could be turned back, I would have chosen you. I used to be afraid I couldn't support you." Regretfully.

" Give me one chance to fix everything." Say again.

" There are still some wounded, Akmal. I'm not ready."

" For El's sake, I'm ready to lose it all." Akmal yak.

*

For a few days I just wanted to calm down. Zaskia and Akmal never came to my house again. Only El alone looked fussy, he said he misses father.

Does he feel he has an inner bond with Akmal?"

" Bun, when the hell did you come?" Whine El this afternoon. He's got a little fever.

" Work again, later if you're not busy." I tried to calm El down.

" Let's try and stay here, El can hug every day." Complaints again.

" Patience to you! Patience must be in the love of God."

" It is true bun, if we are patient to be loved by God?"

" Yes dong, not only God but everyone will love." I said while hugging my daughter.

El looked back, I don't know what was on the mind of a child as small as him.