MUSE
S5 ~ HELLO, BOY!

S5 MUSE

EPISODE 26

S5 \~ HELLO, BOY!

\~ This is my son, the result of my love for Lucas that is so great. I used to wish he'd known, that he would protect her, but now I hope that Lucas never finds out, so that he can't take this kid away from me.\~

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BELLA POVS

The sound of gamelan singing melodiously accompanies my dance this afternoon. The sound of insects as well as unpretentious birds made comfortable the feeling of all of us. I was with some young men and local girls gathering, doing a slow dance with the typical local music rhythm.

I've become familiar with my new environment. Not infrequently I took a leisurely turn while enjoying the sunset at the foot of this mountain. Enjoy the warm twilight with teenagers who are the same age or several years under me. They taught me the island's dance, the music, the way they speak, which I thought was unique. Not infrequently we gathered until night and looked at the moonlight while eating in a large pendopo.

I am no longer nauseous and mutant, now my stomach is also very prominent because it entered the third trimester. I love the child that grows in my womb. Enjoying the sound of her heartbeat sounding strong during the doctor's exam made me happy. I was really surprised when my body shape changed drastically, my weight went up, my appetite what else. But all that astonishment paid off when I found out my son was growing healthy and fat in my womb.

“How many months, Geg*?” ask a teenage girl sitting next to me. ( |* Balinese for the call of a young woman/teenager, can mean also beautiful.)

“7 months,” I replied while stroking my stomach.

“Wah, soon magedong-gedongan*?” tanyanya back with enthusiasm. (|* Balinese language for mitoni ceremony/7 monthly.)

“Iya, Aunty Elise has prepared it.” Sweet smile.

“You are so beautiful, Geg! Why would that man leave a woman as beautiful as you?”

“The story is long. Will not be finished in just one night,” my smile wry.

“What if I'm the only one in charge?” A young man with a sweet face and udeng in his head suddenly hoarded our chatter.

“Do not dream, Bli!! Go there!! Can't you see I'm talking to Bella?! Just disturb!” he kicked the young man out.

“Hihihi ..” I sniggered long.

“Bella!!” Aunt Elise's voice said, she called me in.

“Sorry, looks like I have to go home.”

“Alright, keep healthy, yes, Geg,” he said, I smiled hearing the spirit from him.

I rushed into the house, met with aunt Elise who was sewing a kebaya kebaya kemben and white. People on this island love white clothes, they consider white is a clean color and a symbol of purity.

“Cabin, Bella. Try!” Aunt Elise put the stitches in front of me.

“Very pretty, Aunty. Did you sew it for me?” many enthusiast.

“True, briefly postpone the 7 monthly ceremony, you must wear it to bathe and perform the prayer ritual.” Aunt Elise stroked my face, her attentive attitude reminding me of the figure of papa.

“Why should there be this ceremony, Aunty? Bella doesn't have a husband, isn't Aunty afraid of a lot of people getting sucked up behind us?”

“No, Bella, people here don't love things like that. Being out of wedlock is embarrassing, but the baby is innocent, right? He also deserves prayer and safety,” - pause- “nah, now try!!” Aunt Elise pushed me into the room.

I tried to wear a kemben and a shirt. Sometimes I move my growing stomach. I stroked it with a smile, although sometimes it felt like my waist would be dislodged but the sense of happiness closed everything.

Stay healthy, yes, son, in two months we'll meet. Thought happy.

“Why should this ritual be performed, Sekar?” I asked Sekar, ART who has been following Aunt Elise since she was a child, because she was an orphan, Aunt Elise already considered her as a child herself. Sekar is a sweet girl with black skin, she lives with her grandmother, but her grandmother died a few months ago and now Sekar is living in aunt's house.

“Well, be healthy, be born safely, be a good child, be sane, not miscarry easily, be stronger in the womb and the survival of your baby is guaranteed. It also aims to clean and provide safety to the baby's soul so that it is useful for the community and family. For the mother's self-safety, and to smoothly give birth as well,” said Sekar at length.

I was originally wondering why every thing done by the people of this island always centered on the Creator gradually began to follow their customs. Started to give my life to Almighty God.

“You're beautiful, Bella. Very beautiful,” praise Sekar while stroking my shoulder.

“Thank you, Sekar. You're also very sweet.” I also gave her compliments.

— MUSE S5 —

Some mothers and young women weave for sesajen containers. They also prepare flowers and fruits that will be offered. Not to forget the coin money also incense. They held everything above their heads, for them it was possible, but I was so amazed.

All the people of one village drove me and several other pregnant women into the river near the gag. The river was still so clear and also flowing profusely. It is to the dignity of those who end the value of local wisdom, unite with nature, and entrust all their lives to the Owner of Life. So abstinence for them to damage nature, for them to throw litter carelessly, abstinence for them to hurt animals that are not animals consumption.

Aunt Elise was helped by Sekar to prepare a jar containing 7 kinds of flowers and pour river water into it. After stirring the water, Aunt Elise threw it over my head, she recited the prayer and cleaned all my body with the water. Cold yet soothing, my heart feels flowery when running its rituals. I unceasingly stroked the stomach, teasing the bead inside my stomach.

“Come, Bella, arrange the rice wong-wongannya, then drift into the river. Ask for blessing to Bhatara Vishnu so that when giving birth everything can be safe rahayu.” Aunt Elise helped me arrange the offerings, I complied and washed them all into the river.

It was time for the Sulinggih* to do the painting* for us by using holy water containing 11 kinds of flowers. This is done with the aim that the mother and her baby are clean physically or spiritually.

(|* holy person/religious leader, |* self-cleaning/a sort of holy person in Javanese culture.)

After all the rituals on the run, arrive at the core ritual of magedong-gedongan. The mothers-to-be will take their banten and carry plastic containing fish with a leafbed. Then the husbands would spin three times and then stand behind him and stab the plastic so that the fish would come out. All this is symbolic of the contents of the mother's stomach with her brothers.

I was envious to see the other couple, they looked so happy. Accompanied by a husband who stabbed the plastic fish and released the fish into the river. I lowered my head, but aunt Elise stroked my back warmly. “There is still Aunty who replaced your husband, Bella.”

“Iya, Aunty.” Tears dripped from my eyes, I was so ashamed of myself. Why am I still so greedy from envy as to crave for the existence of a husband?

Oh, Lucas, if only you could be by my side right now. We can offer prayer and salvation to our children. Unfortunately, your love for me that is too shallow leads us into a separation that leads to this pain.

Honey, be well, be healthy, and be born into this world safely. My prayer in my heart.

— MUSE S5 —

Two months have passed since the seven-monthly ritual. I'm sitting cross-legged in the hangar with Aunt Elise. With a huge stomach and a pounding heart I practiced meditation.

Aunt Elise faithfully taught me yoga movements for pregnancy. I have been doing yoga since the fourth month. Now that my womb is entering its final month, Aunt Elise focuses more on our practice with meditation to prepare mentally for the birth.

“Close your eyes, Bella. Take a deep breath, feel every air that fills your lungs channeled throughout your body,” said aunt Elise.

I took a deep breath and felt each O2 molecule filling my blood cells, flowing through each of my veins and into my uterus.

“Aduh!!” I was suffocating when the little guy kicked me in the stomach.

“Why?”

“He kicked me, Aunty, hihihi ..” kikihku slowly.

“Hei little whiz, are you so happy that you kicked around in there?” Aunt Elise stroked my stomach.

“Let's meditate again,” I said.

“Good.”

We continued the meditation accompanied by a gust of angir from the rice field. The sunlight began to dissipate behind the horizon foot. While hearing the rustling of the pool water and the sound of birds, I let go of all my fears and prepared for the birth of this child with a burst of joy.

“This is his japanese flower. You look so pretty when you use it.” Aunt slipped Japanese petals behind my earlobe.

“Thank you, Aunty.”

Flowers that are still a family with frangipani flowers that look so beautiful. People on this island are so fond of this flower, both men and women always tuck it behind the ear. Whether for beauty or lucky symbols, I definitely like it too.

However, it has not been long since the flower was tucked away. My stomach hurts so much, it feels heartburn and weird. I bit my lips to endure the pain, the feeling appeared then disappeared, then appeared and disappeared again. So hurt.

“You all right, Bella?? You have a lot of sweat.” Aunt Elis was worried to see the change in look on my face.

“Aunty, looks like Bella is about to give birth. Looks like this kid can't wait to see the world.” I hurried to get up.

“Really?!!” Aunt Elise was shocked, the happy streak mixed with anxiety making her beautiful face look strange.

“Ach ...! Pain, it hurts so much!” sigh pain.

“Wait, Bella!! Wait, I'll ask someone for help.”

Finally after borrowing a car and also carrying a bag containing baby equipment we went to the maternity hospital not far from home. Not a big hospital, just a little maternity clinic, I can't waste Lucas's money. All this time I've spent a lot of money checking, gynecologic vitamins, and also buying baby supplies. The money has been reduced drastically, but I still have to care for, raise, and also send her later.

“Hah .. hah .. hah ...!” My breath was wheezing from enduring the pain.

“Quiet, Bella, take a deep breath. Arrange your breath regularly.”

“Sick as hell, Aunty, Bella can't stand it!! Pain!!” I squeezed the bed sheet on the maternity bed. My stomach really hurts, like it's in the iris from the inside. Not to mention the subtle-desires of each nerve that imply fear.

“Bella!! You must be strong, honey. Let's fight for the baby.” Aunt Elise did not stop encouraging me, she continued to hold my hand tightly and also wiped away the sweat that flooded my face.

“Hiks ...! It hurts Aunty!!” My snag, I really can't stand the pain.

“When will this pain end??!!” my yelling.

After a struggle to endure the pain for approximately four hours, a half-old woman walked in with several nurses.

“We check openings first, yes!” The doctor who just went inside and looked at************** is mine, he observed how far my uterine lips were open.

“Already opening 9, Mom. It can come out. Come follow my instructions, yes. Count to three take a long breath and then push as hard as you can.”

“One ... Two ... three ..”

“Eeeemmmphh ..!!!” I pushed as hard as the doctor recommended, I could feel a great throb and slow movements as if pulled out from my womb.

“OEK!! OEK!!” a cry, yes, a baby cry was immediately heard loudly interrupting the entire room. Blue hiru haru taste and happy crying enveloped me and also aunt Elise.

“Wah, great, clean without links. Your hips are wide so his son easily out.” Praise me for helping me get my son out. The doctor quickly removed the bloodstains, cut the placenta, and placed the tiny baby on my chest.

“Congratulations, yes, boy his son,” he said with a smile.

“Hallo, boy, we finally meet.” I shed tears when I did not see her tiny fingers moving slowly.

Its small bird-like mouth moves in search of ASI. She is very adorable, her cheeks are red and very puffed up. I didn't expect to produce such a funny creature like this. I am unceasingly grateful for the goodness of God who replaced all my losses with something so beautiful.

Every beat of his heart, every blood that ran through his veins, every breath of his was filled with my love for Lucas. This is my son, the result of my love for Lucas that is so great. I used to wish he'd known, that he would protect her, but now I hope that Lucas never finds out, so that he can't take this kid away from me.

Let our story continue to be a memory, and I will look forward to a wonderful future with this child.

“You're great, Bella. Congratulations, yes, Nak.” Aunt Elise peed at my forehead.

“Thank you, Aunty.”

“Have you thought of his name?”

“Already, Aunty, his name ..”

— MUSE S5 —

Bella finally gave birth. Sorry about the narrative. I hope I am not bored reading this love story.

And what's his name? Try to give me input once the author likes. Hihihhi ....

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Noteds:

I apologize if there is a wrong word in describing the procession of magedong-gedongan owned by the people of Bali Island. I learned it through articles from Tribune Bali sources, Kintamani new, and several other web sources.