Ryanthi: Sweet Cake, Bitter Reality
● FIFTEEN : Searching for Answers

The night was getting late, when the big clock in the living room chimed eleven times. His voice was so loud that it was clear all the way to Ryanthi's room.

Meanwhile, Ryanthi felt that the mattress in her bed was so uncomfortable that she could only flip her body to the left and right that night. Ryanthi then decided to turn on the sleeping lamp, which was attached to the wall above the bed.

In the past, when Ryanthi still had a mobile phone, he would usually send a message to Arshan. That's what Ryanthi did, if he was unable to sleep like this.

Arshan will accompany her until Ryanthi is sleepy again.

However, this time Ryanthi could not do such a thing. He had already sold his phone, when Farida was ill. As a result, Ryanthi only daydreams alone in bed.

Long pensive alone, making Ryanthi feel bored. Finally, he decided to leave the room to get some fresh air. Ryanthi did not care, even though the atmosphere of the house was already very quiet. The lights have also been turned off.

Ryanthi stepped towards the second-floor balcony, which was not far from the room. He just needs to get through Vera's room. However, before reaching the balcony, Ryanthi was stunned near the stairs leading to the third floor. The girl was silent for a while, watching the stairs.

A moment later, Ryanthi continued on towards the balcony. He was astonished that the glass door near the balcony was still wide open. Ryanthi was afraid that someone would enter the house. He looked around, looking for something that could be used as a weapon. At least, the girl could fight with something. Not just empty hands.

Ryanthi walked slowly towards the open door earlier. The steps are arranged in such a way, so as not to cause sound. Ryanthi also continued to be vigilant.

As he got closer to the balcony, Ryanthi heard a heavy sigh. The girl was getting nervous. His heart skipped a beat, when he saw someone standing tall on the balcony.

The atmosphere is dim, making Ryanthi difficult to guess who the person is. However, from its stature it was very similar to Surya.

Ryanthi stood not far from the balcony door. The other person, Surya, can realize Ryanthi's presence there. He then looked. Surya looked at Ryanthi who was holding a vase of flowers, which was taken from the table.

"Ryanth?" sapa Surya's. Although it has only been a few days living with Ryanthi, but Surya already knows the posture of the princess he just rediscovered. "Why not sleep?" ask Surya wonder.

However, Ryanthi did not answer. The girl just mumbled slowly.

"Come here. Accompany Dad," take Surya with a familiar-sounding tone.

Ryanthi. He approached Surya. Meanwhile, he was still holding the vase. This made Surya surprised. "Why did you bring that vase?" the tanyanya, makes Ryanthi feel ashamed.

"So I saw the door open. So I thought ...." Ryanthi did not continue her words. He was convinced that Surya would understand his point.

Surya laughed softly. "You think there's a thief coming in here?"

Ryanthi did not answer. He just nodded faintly. The girl still looked awkward in front of her father.

Surya stopped his laughter. "Dad's been here at night. Just to find the wind," said the man. His eyes now turned to the dark and lonely night scene.

"Every night?" ryanthi asked doubtfully.

Surya nodded confidently. "Look at the sky. It's very dark, isn't it? God has created a beautiful work of art. Although there was no other color but black, but everyone admired it."

Surya was silent for a moment. He looked back at the face of his long-lost daughter. "Yourselves, why haven't you slept?" ask the man with the big height.

"I can't sleep. So, I decided to go out in search of the wind" Ryanthi replied.

Surya muttered softly. "Father also does not usually sleep fast. Because of this, I often spend time here while waiting for drowsiness to come. However, strangely the longer you stay here, the more drowsiness drifts away."

Surya stared at the increasingly quiet night atmosphere. I don't know what the man was thinking, because he looked like he was carrying a very heavy burden on his shoulders. The laughter that was heard this afternoon, as if it had never been in him that night. He looks so pathetic.

"Have you had dinner?" Surya broke the silence between them.

Ryanthi shook her head slowly. "I'm not hungry" he answered flatly.

Surya. He continued to pay attention to the girl with that simple appearance. Ryanthi's short hair began to move in a gust of cold night wind.

"You never ate with us at the dinner table. Mbok Mur said, you often eat in the kitchen with him. Wh why? You're not a waiter in this house. I asked you not to do that again" Surya asked.

Ryanthi did not answer. He doesn't like to eat with others. Besides being confused by the table manner, Ryanthi is also uncomfortable having to linger between Maya and Vera. But Surya's words are true. She's not a waitress. What Ryanthi does, will only make the mother and child feel superior.

Ryanthi kept looking at her father. The man was still speechless with a gaze that kept glaring far to the edge of the sky across there. Surya sounded a long sigh that was so heavy.

"First, here was a small bench. You may not remember too much. However, your mother bought the bench," said Surya slowly.

The man paused for a moment, then turned to Ryanthi who had not taken his eyes off him since then.

"We love spending the night here. When you are fast asleep, we will both talk about everything until late at night. Your mother doesn't care even though Dad said that tomorrow I have to get up early because I have a job. He always sleeps late."

Surya recalls his time with Farida. The middle-aged man began to smile to himself. I don't know what feels funny, because Ryanthi himself does not know the story of the past of his parents.

"When did you first meet Mom?" ask Ryanthi. He hopes that Surya will be willing to share his story, about the past story between himself and Farida.

Surya turned his eyes back to Ryanthi. He was a bit shy to tell. "We were college friends first. Your mother is a very beautiful girl. He is also very good and has many friends. Your mother never went alone, even to the toilet always brought her horde," said Surya accompanied by a smile.

"Your mother is the most fashionable girl among her friends. Thas right. She's very fashionable. Farida was very attentive to appearance. You know what, kid? He was very happy to wear a shirt with a polkadot motif. The color of the clothes was very striking." Surya smiled again, while remembering the figure of young Farida.

Ryanthi scrunched her forehead. She never thought that her mother was a popular girl. "Then, how did you guys get married?" ryanthi asked again so curious.

Surya did not answer. Apparently, he hesitated to tell Ryanthi. Meanwhile, the girl is very curious about the love story of her father and mother.

"Your mother .. she has many girlfriends," Surya replied as he scratched his forehead slowly.

Ryanthi laughed softly at the father's confession. "really? It turned out to be a very surprising girl. He never told me about it" Ryanthi muttered regretfully. He did not believe what Surya told him, because Farida never told him anything related to his youth.

Surya muttered softly. "A lot of young people like it. I even had to wait a long time just for the word "yes" from your mother. But eventually we got married. After waiting for almost two years, you were born into this world" Surya said, turning to Ryanthi.

"You are the greatest gift for both of us. At least, until dad does silly things that make our relationship tenuous." Surya complained quietly. There was a great sense of regret on his face and it might be hard for him to express.

Ryanthi turned her gaze to the dark sky. The night is getting late. The atmosphere was quiet, like there was no life there. Every now and then, there was the howling of a dog belonging to one of the neighbors in the house next door.

A gust of the night wind that was getting colder pierced up to the bone marrow. Ryanthi was eager to ask why Surya, why would he do such a thing. Hurt Farida's heart which she said she loved very much.

Why did Surya let them go and never looked, nor did he ever see them? If only Surya knew how much life he had to live and also Farida.

"Dad, "call Ryanthi slowly.

Surya. "What's wrong? Do you want to say something?" he asked, as if he could guess what was in Ryanthi's mind.

"Why did you betray your mother? Why did Father let us go?" Finally, the question was also thrown from Ryanthi's mouth, although the beautiful girl did not know if she would be strong when she heard the answer from her father.