Tarnished Before Accident
Chapter 36. Be late

The phone kept ringing even though I ignored it many times. I put the flat object back in my sling bag, then looked for a seat according to the number listed on the ticket.

I put my body on the chair right next to the glass window, after putting my backpack in a safe place. I took a deep breath before finally looking back at the phone that had been ringing and ignoring.

There's an incoming message from Rey's sister. I slide the screen with my thumb and read the short message.

"Don't go! Wait for me!"

My eyes were dull when I read it. What does that guy mean?

Wait out? It's bullshit!

Where he's been this week never seen me. Even just contacting me to ask me how I was reluctant he did. So, now he's willingly asking me to wait?

"No need to bother. I'm already gone." I sent that message. In less than a minute, the message was answered.

"You're on the train? Why not wait for me? I can drive you. Get off at the nearest station! I'll pick you up there!"

I ignored that message. Nah! My mind is round to no longer depend on him. When I miss him, he never comes. I was afraid when I saw him again, my heart softened and again expected the man to stay with me.

"Alea, I'll wait at the station." Rey's message came in again. I didn't reply to him.

I leaned my back against the back of the chair, squeezing eyelids that felt almost unable to hold back tears.

"No need to cry, Alea. You can be without Rey," I murmured.

I accidentally turned off the phone so that the man would no longer bother me. My only goal this time was to find my mother.

The schedule arrived at the station that I was heading to about two hours away so I decided to close my eyes, rest for a while, relieve the tightness that shackled in the chest.

Yes, at least by falling asleep I can forget Kak Rey's call, not tempted to return the message or phone.

***

The night wind was blowing quite fiercely, blowing out the strands of my hair that I tightly bound behind. I pulled the hoodie jacket I was wearing, clutching it tightly as my protector from the cold of the night.

The clock was showing at eight o'clock at night when my steps swung towards a village entrance that was still a bush. Lighting lamps incandescent limited, or only a few so that this dark night feels increasingly concentrated and scary. Not too many houses in this area makes me more hesitant to continue. However, having gone too far, how could I suddenly stop without bringing even the slightest bit of results.

Carefully and slowly I passed the path that seems to be only often passed by two-wheeled vehicles and pedestrians when viewed from the trail that is still scratched on the ground. The sound of night insects dominating makes the night atmosphere more frightening. So, like this is the environment occupied by Mbok Narti. I kept going without looking back.

Until at a distance of several tens of meters from where I stood, I saw the houses of the people starting a little closer. I hastened this move to arrive immediately without wasting much time.

When I entered the settlement, my eyes were fixed on the large number of people gathered in an ancient style house with a high floor and a towering roof. It seemed like there was something that made them gather uninvited. My curiosity was clearly spurred so I immediately asked one of them.

I approached the cilok seller who was riding an old motorbike with a torch lit as the lighting was located on top of his troupe. The man I had estimated to be around thirty admissions also seemed curious as to what was happening.

"Bang!" I rubbed the man's arm. He looked at me, then nodded with a smile.

"Yes, Neng" he answered.

"Oh, there's a peek, tofu, wet siomay, dry siomay. Which one do you want? Pake sauce or peanut butter?" he answered while preparing a fork and clear plastic.

"Huh?" I looked up for a moment, and then looked at the sales of the lizard who had opened the cover. "Not selling Brother. What's all that stuff?"

"Oh, that." The seller grinned at me, putting the fork back and the clear plastic in place. "Some one died, Neng. Poor thing, it's old. Just got caught after smelling a foul odor."

The deg!

Getting old? Caught up dead after smelling a foul smell?

"I mean, Bang? The guy lives alone?"

The cilok seller guy nodded. "Yes, Neng. It's being taken care of the citizens and police of his corpse."

Immediately I gave the address that was photographed by Ms. Leli and stored in my gallery. "Bang, you know this address, don't you?" I asked the seller.

The man read it, then looked at me with a face that was difficult to adjust. "Who is Mbok Narti?"

"Not who, Bang. Just wanted to visit because it used to be in the same good city as me."

"But, Neng ...." The man had trouble answering. His eyes stared at the house surrounded by many people. "The grandmother who died was named Narti as well. The address here, it's his house."

"What?" Obviously, that fact surprised me. My body felt weak. I'm late. Mbok Narti was called God first before I knew the truth.

What am I supposed to do?

I stepped limp there after thanking the lilok seller, where many mourners were taking care of Mbok Narti's body. Some of the people who saw me looked surprised. They whispered to each other, making me uncomfortable.

The living room has been used as a place to cull the corpse. I peeked outside with the mothers whispering behind me. My eyes are dewy, feeling pity for the life of Mbok Narti. Has Mbok Narti been well taken care of? Or just hanging because there is no one to take care of him in old age?

Why did I believe when Mama said that Mbok Narti wanted to go home? I should have seen a disappointed look in Mbok Narti's old eyes when Mama told him to go home. I was not an adult at the time. Moreover, the incident occurred when Papa had just died a few days. I thought of nothing but the loss of a father who had been my place to complain.

The body was finally placed on a stretcher to be buried immediately that night. Here the mourners who delivered the bodies were only men, while the women mourners stayed home to pray together.

I sat down cross-legged after putting down the backpack that I had been carrying since, joining the other mothers. Someone patted me on the shoulder from behind, then pulled the rectangular veil on me. Yes, I was just wearing a hoodie with sweatpants that had a strap on my belly. Immediately I received the veil and wore it even though I only attached it to the shoulder.

We did a prayer together led by a woman who seemed like a public figure. The atmosphere was solemn as the event took place. Fifteen minutes later, the prayer was finally over. Some are retreating to go home because it is night, some are still staying. I myself am confused as to what to do.

"Neng, who's Mbok Narti?" A fat woman suddenly sat beside me, directing her gaze at me.

"I ... live where Mbok Narti worked first. I'm here to see Mbok Narti."

"Oh!" He's nodding. "I think Neng is Mbok Narti's great-grandson. You see, Neng's face reminds me of Mbok Narti's adopted son who was invited to the city."

"What?"

My face is similar to that of Mbok Narti's adopted son? Whatdoes thatmean?