Our Story: The Sudden Chancellery
82. Apple Pieces

Gemma stood glued to the dry tears in the living room of her old house. He thought the father would regret or apologize, or even hug him. But there's nothing the man does but leave him in.

Without looking at Gala, he went towards the door. “Come, we're done, right?”

All this was exactly as Gala had expected. The man sighed and stood up to the fiancee, preparing to take her away.

“Mbak!” Marni thrashed from behind to come to them. “This Monday, Bang Yahya want in chemo.”

“Good,” replied Gemma who was in a hurry to run.

But Ms Marni held him back by pulling the woman's arm. “I know you, if Mbak same Bang Yahya does not have a good relationship. I just want to tell you that Mbak still has a father. But trust me, Ma'am. Bang Yahya has suffered a lot in the last two years. He keeps remembering. He once ngigau while mentioning the name of Mbak, then shouted that he regretted, and it happened many times, even the last few weeks so more often.

Mbak was injured, physically and mentally, I understand that. Bang Yahya does not deserve forgiveness from Ma'am. She was sick herself and didn't tell anyone, because she knew that no one would want to be by her side. Hence, he hired me as a nurse he also took care of the house after he retired. I am very well paid. But the life of Bang Yahya, everything is empty. Sometimes I see him open a picture of Ma'am with a girl, which I guess is definitely his son Ma'am. He misses the same Ma'am, but he's too low-key to say.”

“A Yahya Francius can low self-esteem?” asked Gemma looking up at Marni.

Marni smiled gently. “She was embarrassed to say that she loves Ma'am, feels inappropriate. I'm just telling you that you have a chance to be a good boy.

Mbak has never been in the position of Bang Yahya right? If you know how bitter it is every time Bang Yahya open a photo album when Mbak was a child, I myself am not hearty. Stone kayak that can still be touched when looking at a photo of a child, it's a sign that he still has a heart, and love the same Mother wholeheartedly.

Ma'am don't be too nervous he drama cry-crying kneel or curl to apologize. As a child, you already know from the beginning that his style is not so. Her apologies have started since she gave you your blessing.”

“…”                        

“By forgiving Bang Yahya, Mbak can have a story worth telling Viani later. If Viani does not want to forgive all the mistakes Mbak did, Mbak will be like what? Destroyed right?

That's what Bang Yahya rasain is now. He's just a person who can't easily express his feelings, let alone apologize.” Marni turned her gaze to Gala. “Not that Mbak Gemma also has such properties, yak an Mas Gala?”

The Gemma fiancee nodded slowly and smiled at Marni before retreating from there.

...***...

A few days later before the chemo, Gemma got word from Marni that Yahya had been taken to the hospital after collapsing in his bedroom. And now, they're in a hospital room. Gala who takes care of everything, gives the room above the word ‘layak’ for her future in-laws. While Marni rested in a special waiting bed because she was tired of waiting for the old man last night.

“Can you call Dad too, Om?” Gala sits on the sofa, next to Yahya's gurney. The man had already regained consciousness from his stupor a few hours ago.

“Solah. This is why I was taken to the VVIP room? No need!”

“Make In-Law, when I give you a regular room, Dad? Strange,” said the man. Although she tried to relax, her future father-in-law was still stiff. “Gemma is back again. He's picking up Viani.”

Tens of minutes later, Yahya's bedroom door opened, and Gemma appeared with Viani there, who was still wearing a blue white uniform. The teenager who also turned out to be so similar to Mitha and Gemma was very stealing the attention of Yahya.

“Vi, greet Opa Yahya,” pinta Gemma on his son who is directly obeyed.

Viani who had sensed the frightening aura then walked slowly closer to the edge of the gurney, not far from where Gala was sitting. “Hai, Opa. Viani has come. What is Opa rasain now?”

Yahya fixed his position lying down to be able to stare at Viani fixedly. “I'm fine.”

Reluctantly, Viani thrust out a bag of Fuji Apples that she and Gemma belli had just received from the supermarket. “This, Fuji Apples, Opa. Mama said, this is Opa.”'s favorite fruit

Uncommanded, Gemma took the fruit from Viani's hands, washed it in the sink, peeled and dismembered it into pieces. Then he placed it on a plastic plate that Viani directly thrust at Yahya.

This fierce old man stared at the piece of apple that one of them had stuck a fork in for him. He remembered that Gemma always did this for him a long time ago, without skin and cut into small dice. Slowly, he stuck out his hand, picking up the apple pieces for him to eat right away.

“Asam yes, Opa?” ask Viani who looks bad. “Sorry, Viani can't really choose which one is sweet.”

“No pa-pa. It's sweet, just my teeth are not too strong.”

Gala knows, the tinge is not because the apple is sour or because the teeth of parents are porous. There is a day and a regret that is mixed into one there. Maybe Gemma noticed it too. However, just like his father, he did not show those emotions easily. Even though Gemma looks more like the mother, but the gestures, attitudes, and total self-control are indeed obtained from the father.

“What class are you in?” yahya asked the boy while continuing to eat the apple that the child peeled.

“Class VIII SMP, Opa,” replied Viani. “Opa now want to drink?”

“Bby.”

Gemma sat a little far away from them. He seemed to still put some distance between him and Yahya. However, the woman kept an eye on them from afar. Fortunately, Viani can be natural without being too afraid of her own opinions. He took a glass and filled it with cold water mixed with hot water from the dispenser, then gave it to the Opa with a straw so that the man could drink it easily.

The scene this time, though somewhat stiff, was warm enough for the standard of a Francius Yahya. But precisely this is what makes Gemma's chest tight not playing. He then stood up from there and walked out of the room. Gala followed after.

“Gem, are you all right?”

“OK. Just..” Gemma flicked her hand in front of her face. “In the heat bang.”

There were two hands that suddenly landed on Gemma's shoulders to channel all the warmth to her as her body trembled with goosebumps.

“That’s a good start, Honey,” whispered her fiancee to it. “I know it's tough for you, face off again with Dad after 15 years. You don't have to rush.”

“I was scared when he saw his grandson. Viani looks a lot like me and Omanya.”

“Trust me, she must be happy, Gem.” Gala raised her hand and stroked her fiance's hair gently. “As big as a rock, if often hit by the waves, surely he will be destroyed as well.”

Gemma never explicitly said she would forgive her father. But with him wanting to meet Yahya even meeting him with Viani is a small thing that really has a big impact between their relationships.

Gala herself hopes that the relationship will be more than that. Especially on their happy day, he wants everyone to be happy and peaceful, not just them.

This morning, before Gemma came, Gala had heard how severe Yahya was. The man may no longer be able to do anything. There was nothing else that could cure his father but chemo. The doctor had actually raised his hand and predicted that Yahya's age would not be long. Gala only hoped, Gemma quickly withered, so that the woman would not regret it later.

A nurse entered Yahya's room for a while and then came out again.

Gala and Gemma were still standing in the hallway of the hospital gazing at the artificial garden in the middle of the quiet pavilion, turning their backs against Yahya's door for several meters.

But the calm did not last long as several nurses and a guard doctor suddenly entered Yahya's room. The two of them immediately rushed into the room that was suddenly full.

Viani who approached Gemma so frantically and teary eyes. “Ma! Opa was vomiting and fainting again!” he cried with one-on-one breaths and the body trembled in fear. “I directly call the nurse. Then, Opa... Opa Yahya earlier..” The boy almost inched, but Gala held his body.

Viani felt her legs limp for a moment and she was unable to stand properly after what she witnessed. Just now he was talking to the Opa more casually, but now, his Opinion condition had worsened.

Until those minutes turned into long hours. Marni woke up one hundred percent as soon as she saw Yahya who was unconscious again.

Then, two nurses came along with another gurney, which looked more portable and smaller. One of them moved an infusion bottle on Yahya's bed to an infusion pole in the gurney they were carrying.

“Patients will be moved to ICU yes, Mbak.”

...****************...