Prison of Love
Abah's embrace

82

The body reflex when surprised almost made me accidentally pull the gas pedal. Andy who immediately swiftly held the steering wheel of the motor saved me from events that would be more embarrassing.

Andy was still staring at my face, smiling widely waiting for my answer.

I'm wearing a mask and sunglasses, if I told you that I'm not Naya, she'd believe it, wouldn't she?

Yep! Just tell him he's wrong!

I changed my voice, “Sorry, you wrong people.”

Andy's laughter broke, “Come, Naya. You can't lie to me with that mask and those glasses.”

Ah, crap! How'this?

Should I just run away?

“Where are you from? Don't tell me your house is near here?” asked Andy who immediately made me confused to find what reason.

Wait a minute, I haven't answered that I'm Naya, have I?

Before Andy knows me any more, I have to go now.

Without answering his question, I restarted the engine. No one will really know who I am if I leave right now.

“Hey, where are you going? Stop by first, it's Hengky inside,” Andy is standing in front of my bike, preventing me from leaving. He put on a fierce face that actually makes his round eyes look adorable. I almost lowered the standard of the bike if I didn't hear a loud noise screaming from inside my mind,

Conscious, Naya! You must leave right now!!

Ah, true. What the hell am I doing?

I quickly pulled the bike back and pulled on the accelerator, leaving Andy still screaming for my name.

The corner of my eye still had time to see Andy standing looking at me through the rearview mirror. I honestly miss them so much. I want to sit down and just ask Hengky.

There are so many questions I would like to ask Hengky.

But, ah. My pride far exceeded my curiosity.

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“White Cat Resto in front of the Hospital had Hengky huh, Nay?” abah asked while spooning the fried rice into his mouth.

I who had felt a little unwell was jolted when Abah mentioned the name of Hengky's Restaurant. Don't want to look too flashy, I answer Abah's questions slowly, “Kayaknya yes..”.

“We get a grand opening invitation later at nine.”

“What?” my voice suddenly excited.

Mom laughs teasing me, “Direct spirit ya, Nay? Though from waking up earlier you seem lemes like there is no energy.”

“What the heck, Ma...” I replied in a voice that returned slowly, my eyes straight at the large plate of fried rice that had not been touched at all.

“Go, Son. Not good to have invited gini..” Abah glanced at me, trying to act as calm as possible.

“Not Abah and I don't like Hengky? Why suddenly change?” manya curious. But still I keep the tone of the voice remains slow, like not interested in any of their answers.

“Ya... If it turns out you can not marry except him, how will you? There's no way Abah's the same mother let you be single for life. Don't forget, you're 26 years old.”

I glanced at Abah at a glance then turned my eyes back to the fried rice plate, “Biarin aja deh Naya did not marry until old.”

“Heh! Be careful when you talk!” Mom nudges my arm, “So a real spinster will nyesel loh you!”

Abah cleared his throat hard. A sign that my words are starting to offend his pride. He put the spoon so hard that it makes a clinking sound.

If I used to immediately shrink when Abah behaved like this, either because I was used to it or my mentality is increasingly formed, now Abah's attitude does not scare me at all.

Why should I be afraid? I didn't do anything wrong.

“This is gini, Naya. Abah has given the green light to Hengky, it means Abah wants to know Hengky more deeply. Don't keep asking me what and why, you know Abah you don't like to admit his mistakes the most,” Mom sat next to me when Abah was gone.

“It's hard huh to say the word, ‘sorry, Abah and Mom are wrong, Son...’?” lirihku while looking towards Mom.

My question is not only for Abah but also for Mom. There is no way I can forget, Mother is the biggest supporter of the mistakes that Abah has done so far.

“Do not because you can already find your own money and then make you so able to behave arbitrarily, Naya!”

I smiled, hiding an annoyed grin by lowering my head.

Always like this, looking for my mistakes when I feel cornered.

“When can we talk, have a good discussion without emotion, without feeling superior or a party that will always be right?”

“K-you...?!!” Mom stood up straight. His eyes bulged furiously, then his index finger pointed at my face, “DON'T FORGET, NAYA! MOM AND ABAH WHO MADE YOU BECOME SUCCESSFUL LIKE THIS!”

I raised my face, looked at Mother's face with a sad look, “And Naya spoke well, Mom. Why do you have to scream?”

“What is this?! It was the children of Naya's employees in the next room until shock!” Abah suddenly came to us.

“See this kid, Bah! It can already find your own money, so brazen as we!”

Abah folded her hands over her chest, her eyes glaring sharply at me. His mouth opened, preparing to issue a sentence that I was sure would definitely add to my day for the worse.

I'm all set. My day will not get any worse than this.

“Can you not talk it do not need to scream, Mom?!”

My head that was originally bowed suddenly lifted, my eyes looked at Abah with a gaze that I did not understand.

Abah scolded Mom? Not scolding me?

Mother who also looks surprised looks confused what to react like. He looked at Abah's face with a look I didn't understand.

“Naya is an adult. We can't keep treating him like this. Look, he's been trying his best as he can. Business is growing well. Let me see friends of Naya's age, does anyone achieve their own achievements as well as Naya?”

“Mom still remember when we opposed Naya selling her own sewing Abaya? He kept trying to show us and he succeeded. That's a big accomplishment. He can open job openings to people around him. Twenty people, that's a really good start!”

“When Mom first opened Kindergarten, it took decades until it could develop into a Foundation. It wouldn't be like this without the support of our closest people. If at the beginning of Naya building a business we do not support, gradually the business will be destroyed. It's time we stopped, Mom. Stop being so hard on her.”

This will be a moment I will never forget in life. For the first time in a lifetime, Abah didn't blame me. For the first time Abah supported me.

I couldn't hold back the pace of tears, nor could I resist the footsteps that ran to hug Abah.

Abah welcomed my embrace tightly. Gently rubbed my head as if I was a sulking five-year-old child.

For the first time Abah hugged me warmly. I could feel his sincerity through the caress of his hand.

While letting go of his embrace, Abah whispered softly, “Come to your mother, hug her.”

I looked towards Mother who was wiping away tears. As I walked towards her, she immediately opened her hands and welcomed my embrace,

“Im sorry Mom, Son. Ah, I don't know why Mom became this hard on you. Forgive Mom..”