Jogja At A Time
26. Something That Shouldn't Be Told

Bening wiped Joko's half-sealed lips to endure the pain. The effects of chemotherapy make Joko's lips affected by canker sores and feel nausea in his stomach. Just being able to lie weak for two months in the hospital made Joko depend entirely on Bening to take care of her.

Bening decided to leave his job last month, so that he would focus on accompanying Joko.

Joko's serious illness inevitably makes her decide the choice to always be closer to Joko.

The presence of Asri who had been with him for more than a week slightly alleviated the burden of thoughts and anxiety about Joko's illness.

A small chat with Asri while together waiting for Joko cools her feelings. However, the two women both felt that something was missing during Joko's illness. The closeness of the two with Joko makes them closer and strengthens each other's hearts.

Staring fixed on her husband's face, Bening's eyes began to shed tears. The good times with Joko are still clearly imagined after their marriage. The presence of Joko revives the love in his heart that was once etched in love.

There was regret in Bening's heart about his indecisiveness regarding Seto which he still hid to Joko. If Joko had never been in contact with Seto at some time, he would not have kept the secret of his past love story.

To Silence, Asri, and Seti he also asked them to never mention the story to Joko.

Choosing Joko whole soul has become a determination to make peace with his past, close the story of togetherness with Seto. Until then Silence who accompanied him waited for Joko ever asked if he would like if Seto to see Joko after knowing the pain Joko from Seti.

The silent question was not answered at that time. And finally Bening decided to answer it later after meeting Silence.

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The sound of knocking on the door, diverted the Bening gaze from Joko. Replying to Asri's smile which then entered after the door opened.

"Good morning mbak Ning," Asri greeted Bening as she placed the breakfast box inside a small cupboard near Joko's bed.

"For As" Bening replied to Asri's greeting and kissed her cheek.

"How did Joko break mbak Ning last night ?" Asri helps Bening get rid of the rest of Joko's lip-cleaning cotton that is scattered near the pillow.

"Mas Joko has not been able to sleep soundly" whispered Bening. His eyes stared deeply at Joko who was still closed.

Asri was only speechless hearing Bening's reply. He knows Joko's condition is still not possible to be able to rest completely. Not want Bening later to be sick because too tired and too thinking about Joko, every day he accompanied Bening in the hospital after his semester break arrived.

This morning Asri knew Silence was going to the hospital. Bening told him last night. Hearing the silence stop first in Jogja, Asri's small heart felt sinful and blamed himself who had not yet dared to tell the issue of a further relationship with Seti.

"Baking and eating first mbak, let me replace it to accompany mas Joko," did not want to dissolve in many pandas between Seti and Silent while in Jogja disturbed his mind, he said, Asri turned her attention towards Joko and conversed with Bening.

Bening did not refute Asri's words, "Makasih As, take care of Mas Joko for a while, yes," then went to the bathroom leaving Asri and Joko.

Joko smiled towards Asri after opening her eyes. There are no words from the brothers like the past. Smiling seems to have relieved both of them. Asri hugged Joko's hand. Closer to her lips, and kiss her softly. Joko's body that increasingly looks skinny stifles Asri's chest.

"Mas Joko, don't be angry if Asri already has a girlfriend," finally Asri tried to tease Joko. Whispering quietly in her brother's ear.

Hearing the whisper of his beloved sister, Joko's smile broad, "Seti ya your boyfriend ?" Joko muttered softly still with her wide smile. Her hand tried to caress Asri's hair.

Asri nodded, letting Joko caress her hair, enjoying the caress. Ever since Joko married Bening, Joko has never stroked her hair like she used to.

Joko shook her head still with a smile unfortunately towards Asri. Letting and approving her sister grow into a woman who knows love. Getting to know and hear about Seti from Bening's story makes Joko easy to guess who the man who made Asri fall in love.

Asri felt her cheeks hot as Joko praised the choice of her heart as she muttered again about Seti. The two looked at each other with their own relief.

...----------------...

"Who cooked As ?" Ask Bening after finishing the breakfast rice that Asri brought.

"I mbak," replied Asri from next to Joko who began to shut down again.

"It feels good" whispered Bening, "So you've been cooking all this time ?" continued again.

"Yes, .. learn from Mom,"

The sound of knocking that sounded diverted the conversation of Bening and Asri towards the door. An increasingly mature and beautiful Silent figure smiled towards Asri after entering. Kissing her clear cheeks and approaching towards Asri, then kissing her cheeks.

"Include this my college friend Yuni, "the word Silence towards Bening and Asri, "This is my sister Ning, and that's my brother Joko's sister Ning," he continued to turn to introduce Bening and Asri towards Yuni who accompanied him to the hospital.

Yuni noticed Bening and Asri's faces alternating after their introduction just now.

Her little heart confirmed the Silent story of her closeness to her brother as well as praised the beauty Asri often heard from her silent mouth.

Not long after Silence took Bening outside the room. Asri and Yuni just watched the two leave the hospital room, letting the sisters talk about their personal affairs.

...----------------...

"When is he gonna be here ?" Bening asked after listening to his sister's story about Seto's return plan to see Joko.

"Seti said that if mbak Ning pleases, as soon as possible mas Seto will go to the hospital. It just so happened that Seto's mas ship was leaning on Batam," replied Silent, "Died mbak Ning allowed mas Seto not to visit mas Joko," he said again while looking gently at his brother's face. Her femininity felt a deep sense of self-doubt.

After a moment of silence, Bening finally answered softly affirming Seto's request delivered Silence.

The closeness of Seto and Joko's past does not want to be decided just like that just because of the past love story that he still hides from Joko. Moreover, Joko who is seriously ill really needs encouragement to recover from the closest and dear ones.

Silent smiled in relief, hugging tightly Bening. Knowing how close the past Bening and Seto could have made Joko's condition worse if the arrival of Seto later instead make the veil of his brother's past open.

After a while of letting go of each other's feelings without needing to put out a lot of words, the two let go of his tight embrace slowly.

The gentle greeting of the Doctor and Nurse who will do the visit of the patient resuscitates the Bening from his past daydreams. Standing up and leaving Silence entered the room to accompany Joko.

The silence that was still watching her brother's footsteps was stunned shortly after seeing Asri and Yuni exit the room heading towards his seat. "How do I explain to Asri if during Jogja yesterday, Seti accompanied me ?" Ask her little heart later ...

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