Teapot Water
S2: It’s all about money...
Bernard stood quietly at the dock, the ship's employee had instructed Bernard to wait there. Bernard obediently stood up while hugging his map, his precious map.
“Mr. Sandia, you can get on the boat now,” said someone beside Bernard. (Mrs. Sandia you can get into the boat now)
Bernard just nodded his head and went into the boat, he chose the seat closest to the window. Bernard wanted to feel the fresh air of the lake.
Boat also began to wade the beautiful lake, beautiful scenery immediately spoil the eyes of Bernard. Bernard stared at the map, a piece of paper sticking out of the map, looking like a scrap of scrap that was glued neatly there. Bernard could only sigh seeing the tightness in his chest. A sense that makes him remember the events of two days ago, the events that involved him with Kokom, his birth mother.
•••
Two days ago...
After writing the rutant-beating biodata, Bernard immediately sat in the waiting room that had been provided. His face seemed to shine brightly, today was his first day off from his boarding school. The day he would demonstrate his struggle during the first grade of Junior High in which Bernard drew his knowledge. As promised to Juan, Bernard fights hard to get the best out of the best in his school.
In this moment he wanted to give evidence of his success to his mother. He wanted to prove that he could and could attend school where Bernard wanted to.
Bernard had fantasized that his mother would kiss him on the cheek and hold him tightly. Congratulate on its success.
“Nak, in. Bu Kokom is already inside,” said one of the prison guards.
Kokom Bernard's mother languished in one of the women's rutans in Bandung. Kokom haru served the sentence in accordance with the demands given to him. Juan really made Kokom unable to ask for anyone's help. In fact, even pro bono lawyers, no one can help Kokom, Juan really get rid of all the possibilities that exist to free kokom and his family.
Bernard entered the room with a table and two chairs. His mother was sitting and looking at Bernard with a gaze that was unable to be expressed in words.
Bernard sat directly opposite Mother. Mother looked haggard and dull, there were no more beauty lines and smiles on her face. Prison life really crushes him.
“Sound mother?” Bernard was trying to break the atmosphere, judging from his face Mother was really in her worst mood.
“What's the look?” kokom asked cynically while looking at Bernard from top to bottom. His eyes thoroughly assessed all the items attached to Bernard's body, after which Kokom gave a loud snort with a disdainful tone.
“Your son now, Bernard? Is it the same Juan took care of you?” asked Kokom, there was a beaticle in his voice.
“Iya Mommy, Mas Juan equal Iis ngurus Bernard Tea. Bernard is well taken care of as they are, Bernard was schooled in a school that Bernard wants,” Bernard replied proudly, Bernard said, Bernard had absolutely no idea the impact of his words would make Mother do something that would make Bernard hurt. The pain he will always remember growing up. Pain that would change Bernard's feelings with Kokom.
“Hahahaa... yummy you well, so your rich kid. What's that call? Typan?” said Mother while taking a look at Bernard.
“Nggak Mommy, Bernard tetep children Mother, Tea Iis the same Mas Juan, just take care of the cost of school Bernard aja..”.
“Bernard, you must help Mother,” cut Kokom while staring at Bernard closely.
“Please what, Mother?” bernard asked sincerely, he really wanted to help ease his mother's life.
“Same Iis, Mommy needs 100 million money, Mommy needs money to get a special room here,” said Kokom.
“Hah? Mother but it is not possible, where would Teteh Iis spend money 100million..”.
“Months, remember 100millionth of a month. Not for once,” cut Kokom fast, he really needs the comfort of living in this damn prison.
“Mother...”.
“Or are you lying, how? You said, you need 100 million dollars a month to live,” Kokom gives an idea that makes no sense. It is impossible for Iis to believe that reason. 100 million/month for a Junior High child? Where's reason?
Bernard could only silently stare into Kokom's eyes which were like a man of doom, Bernard's hand squeezing the cloth trousers that Bernard was using.
“Hah... so stingy the Juan...!? He said the rich man but gave to you only 500k/month. Jeez stingy, already living a rich man that,” snapped Kokom while looking at the map in front of him, opened the map from earlier Bernard brought.
“What's new?” ask Kokom while looking at the letters on the map. Kokom's eyes quickly read the contents of the papers. Rubbish, that's the word that first came to Kokom's mind.
Bernard with a smile and warm face immediately showed his certificate and report. “Mother, this is Bernard's report. Bernard is the first champion in the class, Bernard is the model student of one school, this is also Bernard's certificate because Bernard has already memorized 2 juz,” said Bernard eagerly, according to Bernard it was a great achievement for him.
“Alah, what? This is not worth considering, rich gini doang,”, said Kokom while taking the certificate of the best santri and santri memorization of the Koran owned by Bernard.
“Mother, but all musyrifs(the ones in charge of taking care of the male santri in the pesantren) say Berna..”.
Brekkkkkkp...
Bernard's eyes were perfectly rounded when he saw Mother tear off both of his certificates. Tear it into four pieces, tearing it into something ordinary paper spout. Upon seeing Kokom rip off the two certificates, Bernard felt Kokom was tearing his feelings apart.
“Munday don't....!?” bernard shouted while trying to snatch the certificate tears in Kokom's hands, trying to save his certificate.
“Denger Bernard, the important present-day it's money..!” said Kokom while swiping his index finger and thumb, showing the symbol of money, “you should tuh women, if women can Mother sell or at least Mother can marry the rich, well as rich as that fucking Juan.”
Bernard clenched his hands, trying not to let out his tears at all from his eyes. Struggling hard to look tough in front of his mother, his real mother who never appreciated every effort, insulted him, scolded him just because he was unable to make money.
“Mother, Bernard...”.
Brakes...
“Udahlah, go home. If you want to come here also bring good food and a lot of money, Mother needs it, not need paper ngak useful gini,” said Kokom while pushing the papers belonging to Bernard to fall and scattered on the floor.
Bernard stared at the papers of his hard work scattered on the floor, the eggplant meaningless. Bernard's eyes grew hotter withstanding the cries as she relaxed and calm Mother stepped on her report card. The report that Bernard wanted to build, the report that was proof of Bernard's hard work.
“Inget Bernard, in this world it's all about money. It’s all about money, Bernard. Catch that...!!!” said Kokom while exiting the room while closing the door hard.
Blams...
The loud sound of the door that Bernard heard made Bernard aware, Mother is no longer able to be helped, Mother is indeed his birth mother, Mother who gave birth to him. But, it's not Mom who can be her role model. It won't be...!?
•••
That's Kokom with his stubbornness...
The character of Kokom can not be changed, the character that has been ingrained in him...
Let, leave Kokom in jail, no more questions. Don't torture poor Bernard to have a real mother like that...
Come again, what else would Bonchapter do?
Don't ask BonChapter for Julis and Adita...
They already have their own sweet story that Kaka Gallon will make...
XOXO GALLONS...
Ah, it's like button in tampol please let HOBAAAA 🤣