NOT ME
MRS SALIMAH, SELLER OF CILOK
The scorching sun wiped out the entire surface of Lucia's skin. Hunger and thirst can no longer be held back.
The woman was sitting by the side of the road near a row of street vendors. Occasionally he gulped because of the smell of snacks that spread in the air.
From a short distance away, an old woman seemed to notice Lucia.
“Non?” greet the old lady is friendly.
Lucia smiled faintly while looking down respectfully.
“From earlier I noticed, Non kok kayak sad so?” ask again and sit next to Lucia.
“Ah .. I don't papa kok Bu,”
“Maybe there is something I can help you with?” again sincere.
Lucia just shook her head. He doesn't want to trouble anyone. What else does this seemingly vulnerable woman have. While he was young and strong.
“Non Hungry?”
Lucia fell silent. This kind woman even understood before she said it.
Seeing the look of that sad face, the old woman immediately invited Lucia to approach her wagon.
“I sell Cilok Non. Please eat first.”
“But I have no money, Bu.”
“Oh .. no problem. Free really,”
Lucia almost cried. When there is no hope of survival, there are still good people who want to help.
“Thank you Mom,” he said repeatedly when the woman's hand-made peek was served.
The old woman was named Salimah. A widow who sells lilok to meet the needs of the family.
After eating, Lucia accompanied Salimah to sell until Afternoon. The two share stories. Especially Salimah who tells about the burden of life and the behavior of her daughter.
“Today is very selling my merchandise,” said Salimah while cleaning the bowls that have been washed.
“Every day quiet huh?” ask Lucia.
“Yes that's it Non. Today, everything is sold. Maybe because there's Non,”
“Ah ... Miss Salimah can do it,”
“This time Non go where?”
“Ne-Know Bu.” Lucia's face returned moody.
“Ke home Mom aja yuk!”
“But Bu ... I've been very troublesome,”
“Ngak Non. Precisely happy because there are accompanying,”
“Children mother?”
“Ah .. she always comes home at dawn. I don't know, I can't even educate him well.” There was a big regret on that face.
Lucia. Remembering his adoptive mother in the hometown who has a patient heart Salimah.
“Patiently Yes Bu,”
“Jadi ... Non want to come with mom to home?”
Lucia nodded. Salimah smiled happily.
“Don't call me Non again ya Ma'am. Just call Lucia,”
“Oh .. All right, son of Lucia,”
***
The journey from Salimah trading place turned out to be only a few minutes. The woman lives in a shantytown close to a public street, entering through a narrow alley.
“Near aja Bu,” said Lucia when she arrived at Salimah's house.
“Come in, Son!”
Lucia noticed the situation there. How appalling. Salimah House is made of planks that have been eaten by termites, and ground. A very far-reaching comparison of Diego's life.
One that Lucia learned. Despite living in poverty, he still found peace. Unlike the previous, luxurious but always haunted by suffering.
“Ah .. no papa kok Bu. Besides, I'm also a hard man,”
Salimah was in disbelief. Lucia's appearance was very different from those of the lower classes.
“Oh .. This is all, not mine Bu,” he said when he noticed the change in Salimah's face.
“Then?”
“The story is long ma'am. The point is I suffer a lot,”
“No problem. Yes already ... Now Nak Lucia rest first. I'll get you some water for ablution,”
Lucia frowned. “Wudhu?”
“Iya,”
“For Mom, right?”
“For both of us Son,”
“Ah .. that's the problem Mom. I am not ...,”
“Gosh, sorry ya Nak,” said Salimah with a guilty face.
“It's okay Bu.”
“Then, Nak Lucia take a rest. After this mom prepare dinner,”
Lucia nodded. After Salimah left, the woman noticed the room she was occupying now.
There's a picture there. Contains a picture of a beautiful woman with a very cool appearance.
“Bu!” the outside exclamation made Lucia shocked.
Not yet able to answer, the door of the room opened violently. Lucia is shocked to find the woman drunk.
“Who Lo?” ask the girl.
“I ...,”
“Lo maling ya?”
“Hah? Wasn't it! I was with Salimah's mother here,”
The 18-year-old girl approached while watching Lucia's clothes and face.
“Lo must be the son of a rich man,”
“Ngak. I'm a commoner's son,”
“Goddess?” salimah said right at the door of the room.
“Bu, who is he?”
“You're drunk again? Oh God son, why do you keep doing this?” salimah said as she hugged her son towards the bed.
Lucia stood in the corner of the room, watching the behavior of her son and mother. Looks like the Goddess rebelled when advised.
“No need to be a hypocrite! You used to be a Lo kek gini, right?”
Salimah held her chest while crying. Lucia can't interfere. He's just a stranger.
“Bu.” Lucia grabs Salimah's shoulder and leaves.
The goddess slept because of the influence of alcohol.
“He always comes home drunk. Forgive Goddess yes Nak,”
Lucia smiled faintly while nodding.
“Newly this time he came home at this hour. Usually ...” Salimah's tears break in Lucia's arms.
“Don't be sad again ya ma'am. Lucia will accompany mom now,”
“Thank you, Son!”
I don't know what trials he will face. Having just been freed from suffering, Lucia must now be faced again with a cruel girl.
However, no matter how bad the character of the girl, it would not be comparable to Diego. Lucia chose to stay rather than return.