Love Lanterns
CHAPTER 78 ”Rindu”

“That miss feels so heavy. It is so painful when the soul and body cannot take care of it. when the eyes cannot look at it. when the lips cannot speak softly to him. Only the time machine keeps turning. And I look forward to meeting as an antidote miss.”

***********

Lunch time has arrived. Where the afternoon had already shown twelve o'clock over fifteen minutes. Even the sisters came while carrying trays containing porridge to serve as Aletha's meal that afternoon. Keenan painstakingly fed Aletha until the porridge was no longer left. Afterwards, Keenan asked Aletha for permission to pray at the prayer prayer prayer provided on the ship.

Although Keenan's duty as a state servant was an arduous task, Keenan did not want his name to leave the five prayers. He always prayed in a timely manner. So many women who admire Keenan, thick with Islam.

“Yes Allah, perhaps the soul mate whom You have destined for me is the man who always hangs my name in his every prayer. Keenan Malik Mahendra, none other than a teenage boy who had met me.” Aletha said so softly.

A smile also rose on Aletha's lips as she mentioned Keenan's name in full. There was a sense of pride in Aletha's heart when she looked at Keenan with her striped uniform and when Keenan wore a cocoa shirt, where the two distinctive clothes made Aletha unceasingly develop a smile.

“Why smile alone, hmm?” ask Wilona.

“I ... totally in love, Na.” Aletha smiled. “Maybe this is what destiny is, Na. Behind my love story that always ran aground before the yellow janur curved, it turns out there is something hidden.”

Aletha looked at Wilona with a developing smile. Aletha's heart is now really in the middle of flowers, her nose kempis feel the romance story that will soon bloom.

“I know the struggle of Captain Keenan, Al. He is so caring for his heart for one woman, which is you. I salute, there are still men who are loyal to a woman who is loved even if only once met. Look now ... how long they have been in a relationship, the ends are parting as well. Not many loyal men.”

Aletha mangosteen, it justifies what Wilona said. In fact, many men are willing to sacrifice the heart of a woman. Hurting a woman's heart seems to be a tradition for every man. Even now the treatment of both is the same. Abai will keep feelings for each other.

Wilona checked Aletha's condition post-surgery. Asking Aletha to slow down her breathing. And it was stated that Aletha's condition quickly recovered, but the scars of the operation still had to be maintained. If exposed to water, it is feared that it will seep and bleed again.

“You're a tough woman, Al. You can recover as soon as this, when still yesterday you had surgery.”

“Yes, I am a Doctor, and also the daughter of my Papa. So ... has to be a tough woman, right?”

“Lebay if it's his name, Al.” Wilona.

Aletha chuckled amusedly at Wilona's expression. During the eight months together again, Aletha and Wilona make an increasingly thick friendship. Even jokes and laughter always adorn their journey around the African island to serve as volunteer doctors.

Not only the friendship with Wilona is getting thicker, Laura has even been considered as a sister for Aletha. But it will turn around if Aletha is really a match with Keenan.

“Your health, Al!” pinta Wilona after checking Aletha's condition.

“Ready, Doctor Wilona.”

A moment of laughter echoed in the room. It made Leon feel interested to hear it. And when he found a perfectly fluffy smile from Wilona's lips, it was as if it was a smile. Leon's lips are expanding.

“Ngapain here?” asked Keenan while patting Leon on the shoulder. ”Ngintip ya?” keenan asked again after seeing two beautiful doctors chatting there.

Leon did not budge, he did not want to hear Keenan's words even looked at Keenan only reluctantly. Only her lips curved perfectly as her eagle eyes sharpened, staring at Wilona.

“Awas, ntar bintitan if you feel like it.” Screeched Keenan while holding back a laugh.

“Astaghfirullahalazim, evil true same friend himself. But Ke ... it looks like I .. fell in love with her.”

“If you feel down, just shoot. As I said before, if I meet a soul mate on Mercy Ship then ... I will shoot with my gun.”

“Crazy. It's called a shoot and he's gonna die, Ke. If he dies then who am I with? Time must meander as the author wrote for you. I am mah ogah.”

“Husstttt .. don't be noisy. Never mind, do not offend the author, if you hear then your fate will be apes, Leon.”

As soon as the two laughed, they were so happy if they had whispered about the author of love lanterns. But yes, the writer will write a beautiful scenario for their love story, but a little winding to reach the peak of love.

“Leon, if love just state it. Sat set so, do not let later mengesel because it has been gaet people.”

“Shortly, To. I'm waiting for the right time to state it.”

“Remember, tomorrow we have to go back to Washington. Two months there.”

Leon immediately shook his head, thinking about what Keenan said earlier. Surely his love story will be made complicated and winding by the author.

Forgive me, the author of the imaginary tale. I did not mean to offend you.’.

********

Aletha was getting bored just sleeping on the bunker. So he decided to just take a walk on the boat. While tracing the aisle of the ship he accidentally met with one of the residents who received hospital treatment there. His steps stopped and they talked to each other.

“Good day, Doctor Aletha.” Sapa Karina's.

Karina is a seventeen-year-old girl who is so young to be diagnosed with heart disease. But what is called human destiny no one knows, and it is by the power of God that Karina is still able to survive. Even a few days ago he was operated on by Aletha.

“Good day, Karina. How are you today?”

“Thanks Doctor beautiful, I've been much better.” Karina smiled. “Oh yes, I heard Doctor Aletha was hit by a gunshot wound huh?”

Aletha simply nodded, commenting on the sweet smile favored by Karina. Because for Karina Aletha's smile was an encouraging smile for her. Likewise with Aletha, he ceaselessly gave motivation to Karina when she felt her dream had been dashed after being convicted of having heart disease.

“Listen to me carefully, you can be sad just for today. And after coming home from here you should be able to revive the spirit that had disappeared.”

“You must be able to achieve the ideals that you dreamed of before. Never give up when you are in trouble. Remember one thing, God will always be there for you and .. all of us.”

“Good, Doc.” Karina nodded. “Thank you for the beautiful Doctor has given me such a wonderful spirit.”

Small talk kept rolling, sometimes laughter interspersed with the chatter between them. To the extent that Aletha was unaware of Keenan's presence that had been waiting for her. And Keenan only listened to every chat that was rolling, which made Keenan cluck in awe of Aletha's figure. It was still the same as before, the first time a meeting was created between them.

“Captain, why stand here?” ask Leon curious.

Because Keenan did not answer his question, Leon was increasingly curious about the attitude of Keenan who stared intently at someone, but behind his sharp eyes there was a sharp side.

“Tadi said can not Ngin .. tip. This way, the Captain himself is also looking at Doctor Aletha. Just watch out, be careful later can stintitan.”

“That's right, I told you earlier. But this time it was the same position as me. I was looking at my Doctor, it would not be wrong if I ngin .. tip.” Leon also scolded.

Keenan stepped his foot and left Leon still moving his lips mimicking Keenan's tone. It can be shadowed, like the lips of a duck. Wkwkwk...

Keenan approached Aletha, because the day had changed by afternoon. And Keenan wanted Aletha to return to her room to rest, because Aletha's health was still not fully recovered.

“Al, can you return to the room?” Keenan showed a clock coiled around his wrist.

“Yes God, I forgot the time. I'm sorry, Ke. I'll be right back, but wait a minute, just a second. Okay?” Keenan.

Keenan stepped back and headed first to Aletha's room. There faithfully Keenan awaits the coming of Aletha. While Aletha was still cool in chatting with Karina. Even the conversation did not want to end immediately. However, what is power if it is time that is not supportive. So that the chat was ended by exchanging mobile numbers.

Karina nodded, then gave her two thumbs up. Where indicates that Karina is ready to start a new life with a new spirit.

***********

“How, like it here?”

Laura just nodded.

“Have you been tired or not?”

“Already, Brother.” Laura grinned.

“If you are tired already, we go back to the ship. Tomorrow morning we return to Indonesia. There's a family there waiting for us. It is impossible right, if you are going to give birth here?”

“Yes not, Brother. Pity also om Bagas Kara and aunt Nina, must be lonely.”

“Well, it knows. Yes already, rest on the ship alone so that tomorrow is not tired. It's afternoon anyway.” Laura nodded.

The Guard patiently pushed Laura's wheelchair back onto the ship. Because of the heart that was already afternoon, the Guard asked Laura to immediately rest there. And the next day they will return to Indonesia, because considering the content of Laura who has been seven months.

********

“Why take a walk? Didn't I ask you to rest?”

“I'm just bored, so .. I decided to take a walk. Not far away either. Don't be angry, later the look is gone loh.” Tempta Aletha who makes Keenan nose kembis momentarily deflated.

“Who is angry too. I'm not angry, this is again a smile.” Keenan curled his lips perfectly.

Aletha who saw Keenan's smile immediately her lips joined in smiling, it felt like a null. And after a laugh accompanied them, Keenan would now tell Aletha that he would return to Washington tomorrow.

There was a sense of unbearability at a time when Aletha still needed time to be with him, but that was the task of looking after Mother Earth that could not be abandoned.

“Al, I'll be back tomorrow to Washington.”

“What's wrong, go back there. Continue your education, Ke.” Aletha commented a smile.

“What's really okay? Are you sure?”

“True, I .. am used to it. When Papa and Kak Kevin were on duty, I was always lonely. However, after moving to Jakarta I have a friend who is now my brother.”

After Keenan felt confident that Aletha would be fine and would not be angry at him, it made Keenan breathe a little relieved. And for two days of treatment on the ship, Aletha is now able to return to her duties.

As Aletha was examining the health of the citizens who needed the Ctscan examination, suddenly a nurse knocked on the door. Which made Aletha have to pause the examination.

“What's up, Sus?”

“There are guests for you, Doc.”

Aletha momentarily fell silent, thinking about who the person who wanted to meet her was. While Keenan and Leon have returned to Washington, Laura and Garda have returned to Indonesia. And the other doctor also stayed with him on the ship.

“Well Sus, thank you.”

The sister went and continued her work. As was the case with Aletha, she immediately completed the examination of the fifty-year-old male citizens. Those who have heart failure and must be operated immediately. And Aletha will run the operation before her contract expires which is less than two months away.

“Karina,” call Aletha down.

“Hai, Beautiful doctor. Whatnews?”

“Alhamdulillah, I am healthy. How are you doing yourself?”

“As beautiful Doctor see, I am healthy and I have also started my career.”

“What?”

Karina always puts a smile on Aletha that never fades, because Karina always. Even Karina regarded Aletha as her own sister. After two weeks of treatment on board, Karina began her career with painting.

Painting is a field pursued by Karina, even that afternoon Karina gave a beautiful painting to Aletha as a sign of her gratitude.

“Karina, this is so beautiful! But ... how can you paint me with Captain Keenan?”

“Reclaration.”

Laughter accompanied their conversation. And the painting Karina gave was a painting that was so impressed for Aletha. Where there is Keenan who was holding Aletha's hand on the beach with a romantic feel, before the big mission was carried out.

*********

Time continued to run so fast, that it did not feel like less than one month Aletha was bound to contract with Mercy Ship. And that night was a night devoted to a gathering of heart surgeons. Where they gathered in the restaurant under the ship. They deliberately planned to meet with the meeting, because after their contract expired they could be sure they rarely meet again and volunteer the following year.

“If we hadn't met here, maybe we would never have known each other, except Doctor Aletha and Doctor Wilona. They've known each other since childhood.” Edbert started a conversation between all of them.

“Yes, you are indeed Doctor Edbert. Even they are daughters of the military.” Connect the amazed Catrina.

“Already, it should not be discussed again. What do we discuss after our contract expires?” ask Wilona.

Catrina and Edbert looked at each other and exchanged smiles, as if they were harboring something still undisclosed to Wilona and Aletha.

***********

“Ke, less than one more month of our training will end. Didn't feel yes .. time so quickly passed.”

“You're right, Leon. Emm .. by the way what are your plans after this?”

“I'll be back in the army. Devoting yourself to the country. If you?”

“I'll submit my application, because I miss it. The miss felt so heavy. It is so painful when the soul and body cannot take care of it. when the eyes cannot look at it. when the lips cannot speak softly to him. Only the time machine keeps turning. And I look forward to meeting as an antidote miss.”

“Lebay is his name, Ke.” Leon shreds. “But... as your best friend I will support your goodwill.”

The two smile at each other. They're planning to do what they'll do after Washington's training ends. And Keenan will return to Indonesia right with the return of Aletha.

*Suppose Aletha uses English while chatting with Karina ya gaesss.*

Long chapter for today, welcome to read the readers's ☺