Only Raised Children
84. Santi Sick

In his room, Rico's phone on the table rang. Rico, who had just walked into his room and saw Alina calling him, answered him immediately before the call ended.

"Hello, what's up, honey?" riko asked excitedly.

"You're why, I don't think so excited," said Alina and astonished.

"I just let my mom down, Al."

Alina across there did not frown. Disappointed her mother? What does her boyfriend mean? 

"What do you mean, Co, why is your mama disappointed? What have you done to him?" ask Alina in succession.

"I was talking about marriage to them and Mom misunderstood me. She was so sad that she thought I didn't need her anymore."

"Darling, I talked to my family this morning about it. They're actually no problem at all, but papa says, your mama will be disappointed with your decision."

Rico blocked his breathing in response to Alina's words. So close to his mother, papa Alina makes Rico regret for not talking to Alina's parents first to ask for advice. But at that time he really did not think to get there because he thought it would be better to talk about this to his parents directly than to others. Now what Thomas said to Alina was true. His mother was disappointed with him and thought he didn't need him anymore. 

"I'm confused as to how, Al. On the one hand I don't want to bother them anymore, but on the other hand I can't see my mother grieving like that. I really feel guilty, I really feel that if I have failed to become a child for those who have sincerely cared for me since I was a child until I matured as I am today."

"Darling, don't be sad, I know you mean equally well. You want to be independent and do not want to bother your parents, while your mother is also, she is very sincere to give everything for you because she loves you very much as her own biological child, regardless of who you really are. Just like my father said earlier, I also advise you to talk back to your parents tomorrow."

"I'm afraid you're mad at me, Al," Rico said in an unconfident voice.

"Co, you can't say that. Your mom loves you very much, she can't be angry there you are. He just needs to understand what you mean, that's all. You do too, understand what your mom wants and talk about it again tomorrow. I'm sure there will be a solution" said Alina.

"Do you think that means I have to obey your mother's will?" ask Rico for an opinion.

"You know what's best for your mama and yourself, Co. Don't over-impose your will if your mama is your top priority."

Rico sighed while slamming his body into the bed. He closed his eyes for a moment before confirming Alina's words. It seems like tomorrow he will have to talk about this again to his parents. Do not let the sadness of the mother linger longer. Maybe it's okay if he has to give up if it can make his mother smile back at him.

...**...

In the morning, Rico went downstairs to have breakfast with his family. When he went down the stairs, he did not see the whereabouts of his parents at the dinner table. The food that had been served partly made Rico think that his parents were still in the room.

Rico sat his body at the dinner table, until all the food in the room even his parents had not yet come out of the room. This makes Rico surprised because usually his mother and father are late to the dining table.

Upon seeing a housekeeper there, Rico called her and asked her to call her parents.

"Sorry, Mas, the father had a message, he said Mas Rico ate first, because the mother was sick again," he said which managed to make Rico surprised.

Mama's sick?

"Mama's sick? Why doesn't anyone know me, Bi," Rico said in surprise. He had been at the dinner table for almost ten minutes, but none of the workers there had told him about it.

"I'm sorry, Mom, we thought Mas Rico knew."

Rico sighed at her hearing the worker's answer.

"Where are mom and dad now?" ask Rico.

Rico nodded his head, then he moved from his seat to go to his parents' second room.

Tookk…

"Ma, Pa," Rico said between the knock on the door.

"Come in, Bang," said the voice of a man who was none other than Irfan.

Getting permission from his father, Rico opened the door and entered the room. At the end of the room, she saw her mother lying on the bed with her faithful father sitting on the bedside. Rico approached his parents, feeling sad to see his frail-looking mother on the bed.

"Pa, Mama why?" ask Rico.

Irfan sighed with a faint smile.

"Just a lot of thought, Bang. Have you had breakfast?" ask Irfan anyway.

"Did Mama think about what Rico said last night, Pa?" rico asked by guessing and ignoring his papa question. She was so scared that her mother fell ill from thinking too much about their short chat last night. If it was true that caused his mother to be sick, then he would feel very guilty about it.

"Mama like that because she loves you, Bang."

Hearing the words of his father, Rico was able to guess if his guess turned out to be true. Her mother fell ill from thinking too much about her words last night. Rico felt so guilty about everything he did.

Rico approached her mother, sitting her body at the top of the bed, next to her. Rico held his mother's soft hand, which made Santi immediately look at him.

"Mom why would it hurt like this, em?" rico said with a soft voice.

"Mama shouldn't have thought about what Rico said last night, Ma. Sorry Rico for making Mama like this."

Santi shed his tears when he heard the apology from Rico. 

"Sorry Mama, Bang."

Rico shook his head hearing Santi's words.

"Mama is not wrong. Mama don't apologize. Mama take it easy, Rico will obey all the words of Mama really, as long as Mama back healthy. Whatever makes you happy, Rico will." 

"Mama dear the same, brother. Mama just wants to do what's best for Brother, especially for Brother's wedding."

Rico smiled gently at Santi. Of course she knew that her mother would do her best even if she was not her flesh and blood.

"Rico knows, Ma. Sorry Rico made you think too much."

Santi smiled weakly again.

"You're a good boy, Bang. Sorry, Mama."

"Ma, don't apologize anymore. If Mama apologizes like this, Rico becomes sad," said Rico who tried to remind. He really couldn't if he saw his mother apologizing to him like this.