Pamite
71. Dara Kumat

"I didn't think they were secretly close" Jaka said after telling Rifki what he had talked about.

"They are silent because of you. Try to give them leeway, not too stiff. They will be open, besides you like never to be a racer so Dara aja, anyway Mas. It is natural at the age of Dara who now wants to explore feelings. I'm surprised, you didn't learn from what you did. If indeed Dara does not fall or get caught in the wrong relationship does not mean we are bridled to him. All must be balanced, we pull, we pull when it feels Dara has begun to deviate to our upbringing, we groan again if he has realized by deviating him. That way, he will know where is wrong and right, which can be done and not," said Ayu reminded as her hands continued to back and forth ironing clothes.

"It's good, honey. The practice is not that easy. Yeah, even though I finally gave them permission, but..."

"Yes, you are the one. Giving up before the war. Try if Rifki does not encourage you to reveal feelings, until now you and I are just wishful thinking."

"meaning?" jaka asked.

"You have a similar taste of me from long ago, right? But you just expressed feelings when you were made jealous of Rifki. You, you're weird, Mas. If you like, you like it, say first, the business received what not, yes later. Don't ask me where I know from! Rifki's a man but his mouth's lemes like a girl."

When Ayu mentioned the name Rifki made Jaka remember with his chat last afternoon.

"So Rifki said that you knew he was inside out. What have you been doing with Rifki?" Jaka's childish nature often appears since Ayu was pregnant.

Ayu immediately stopped her activities and turned her head towards her husband. Staring at him in silence. It was dizzy that she felt pregnant but she also had to face the nature of Jaka who often acted. It should have been him who acted and troubled Jaka. But what happened was just the opposite.

"You want to know what I'm doing? Showing something that no one else is showing." Ayu answered ambiguously.

"What example?"

"I explained."

Jaka was silent for a moment, for some reason he was upset by the ambiguous answer of his wife. That answer made Jaka think a no-no.

"Oh, my stomach, my stomach hurts," lamented Ayu holding her stomach.

"Huh? Wh why? How can? It is not yet time for birth. Well, son, don't be born now. Not yet the time, I said I can't wait to see you doesn't mean I have to be born now. Well, I'm not ready to fast."

Plaque!

One punch hit Jaka's arm.

"Why? The more stomach pain? Yaudah let's go to the hospital."

Jaka prepares to bring Ayu into his carrier.

"Don't go to the hospital. Go to the room," whispered Ayu in Jaka's ear. It made him frown while looking at his wife. "Your son asked to visit" he whispered again.

"Udah is getting naughty, yeah. I started to dare to joke. Yes, come on."

***

"Does that mean you let me have a relationship?"

Jaka nodded, "But don't let it be because of you, Dara became lazy and did not care about her college, if you can encourage her to be more enthusiastic about completing her education."

"Over the last year there's been no problem with college, right? What else do you doubt about me? I didn't change anything from your sister. Just change the status. Well then, I'm much calmer now. I don't need to hide anymore if I want to take him on the road. If you'd known I was so depressed the last year, I couldn't sleep all night."

Rifki remembers her chat last afternoon with Jaka. He stared at the ceiling of the room, his hands he used as a pillow. He was very relieved to be frank with Jaka. It felt like the dirt that was in the lungs was cleared by Jaka's words.

Thinking of someone who could shift Ayu in place, the phone vibrated nearby.

"Again mind, uh phone," muttered Rifki.

"Yes, hello why? What was? Let me

guess what. Tomorrow's the road?" cecar Rifki with questions.

"What's not talking? Kok Bang Jaka knows that we often walk. I was reprimanded this afternoon because of this. I told you, you're patient, there will be times I say, but not now." Dara protests and looks cranky if heard from his tone.

"Because, I don't mean to be impatient. You're trying to understand my position, so I'm not good, I don't want our relationship to be..."

"Which relationship? All this time I was your pretend boyfriend, right? Don't forget that I haven't answered Brother's request to be your wife later."

"Wait, Dara. Jaka give permission to me to be close to you, why are you even angry? Wouldn't this make it easier for us to go anywhere. You don't have to stand on the side of the road to see me, do you?"

Dara did not answer.

"Where are you still there? You're not angry with me, are you? There's no way she's upset, she gave us permission to get close to each other." Rifki's still chortling.

"Yes, Bang Jaka is not angry with me, brother. Just reprimanded. Why all this time I broke the rules he loved. I became distrusted again with him," Dara who turned into a whimper.

Rifki bobbing heads. It was true what Jaka said. Dara's brother is still very attached to her, probably because she's a girl and the youngest child, that's why she feels like a child all the time, or because Jaka and his mother are still treating Dara as a child? Inner Rifki.

"Jaka say that? Tell him how Jaka was, just now? Try me to listen," persuaded Rifki gently. She has had children since she was close to Dara. Invite him to talk and provoke what he feels should be with slow language.

"I said I had broken her trust by hiding near you. I can't believe, he also wants me, be careful if my grades go down, he said I can't see you anymore. I know as well, I'm the same as you" whined Dara. "Udah was said to be like this, I became depressed thinking about my college grades in the future," he added still with a whimper.

"So who are you upset with? And because of what? Because Jaka knows what our relationship is because you're afraid that you can't meet me, hm?"

Crick krik krik