JUMPING HIGHER
MAMA'S BIRTHDAY

After her mother Mediana moved to Batam, practically my mother's adopted son had no place to live anymore. All this time she had only gotten her tuition from her mother and still stayed with her biological mother, but now that her mother had moved in, she had pulled her into our house. Mediana occupied Kak Farah's long-empty room because my sister was studying in Malaysia. I hope that the presence of Mediana can treat my mother's longing for Kak Farah who is far away in the other country. Or at least you have friends at home other than Bik Narti. If I wasn't expected to, I'd be a boy who'd be outside more often than at home.

Ever since Mediana stayed home, my mom has been getting less and less concerned about me, and she feels like she's getting a change. Mama is more familiar with Mediana than I am. Mom doesn't want to know if I'm home or not. Want to go to school, have eaten anything yet or I want to do whatever mama no longer care. It's up to me and Mama won't interfere anymore. Mama is silent a thousand languages when it comes to my business. Fortunately, he still fills my account every month. Maybe that's the only form of affection that's left.

I realized that Mediana was becoming clumsy and clumsy to deal with the situation at home. He felt so wrong when he met or passed me. Poor Mediana too, she was caught between my enmity with mama. Though not in the least I feel he has captured the attention and affection of mama. I was hated because I had greatly disappointed the woman who had given birth to me. My heart is now as hard as a rock. Let mama hate me, I don't care anymore. Bik Narti who always tried to persuade me to change into a good boy like before, diligent school and never wandering around the night.

"Bono, tonight is your Papa's birthday" Bik Narti said as he passed me in the kitchen.

"Oh yeah, my stepfather wants a birthday?" I'm not excited.

"Mrs asked Bibik to tell you, so that later tonight don't go out and stay home. Dinner with your Papa's family and friends" Bik Narti explained.

"Why didn't Mama say it herself, Bik?" How, use an intermediary? my protest.

"You don't love your mama anymore, Bono?" Bik Narti looked at me annoyed.

"Dear, Bik. Otherwise, dear, Bono has already left this house" I replied lightly.

Suddenly Mediana appeared in the kitchen.

"Bik, said Auntie later tonight cut her tumpeng in the backyard. So the concept is like a garden party."

"Means we have to prepare the place before the person from the caterer comes?" bik Narti said.

"Yes, Bik. We need to get ready" Mediana looks busy.

"Brokes, Bik. It must have been helped, but after that Bono was leaving. I promised you, man" I lied. Lazy to be present at my stepfather's birthday party. It's not that I don't accept him as my father's replacement, but I'm lazy to meet my mom.

"You better not be out tonight" suddenly Mediana said.

Bik Narti quickly left me with Mediana. He wanted to give us space to talk alone.

"Why?" many wonder.

"Every night you're out. What's wrong with this is staying at home, attending your Papa's birthday celebration" Mediana reminded me.

I did not reply or respond to Mediana. What I'm doing is starting to put the backyard together for a party tonight. We had a garden party in the backyard several times. So I knew what to prepare and Mediana helped.

"Bik, what is the event later tonight wearing a barbecue", asked Bik Narti who was arranging a long table with a Burberry-patterned tablecloth maroon striped white edge.

"If you wear a barbecue, let Bono prepare the grill,” me again.

"Just pile it up. The food was ordered from catering" Bik Narti said.

Without asking any more, I set up a garden umbrella to shade the table where I put the cutlery and drinks. While Mediana saw me arranging chairs with Bik Narti.

Finished arranging the birthday party venue in the backyard, I rushed to take a shower. It was almost four in the afternoon and I had to rush out of the house before my mother and stepfather came home from the office.

***