The Azkia Wound Flakes
Secret Azkia

This morning, Azkia and Kevin went to the market to buy groceries for Bulik and also food that Kevin could eat. Azkia decided to just cook it today. Let the buliknya rest. Azkia will cook Kevin's favorite black pepper beef. 

Azkiah was washing and picking meat bought in the market. Kevin was waiting for her in his room. 

"I help, Ki" said Ardila, coming to the kitchen. Azkia smiled at Ardila who was quick to respond to help her. 

"Where's it going, Ki?" asked Ardila who washed the pieces of meat. 

"There's in the room. Looks like I'm cleaning up some clothes" Azkia said. 

"You're feeling it, Ki. Talk to Kean. Let me do this until I boil the meat." Ardila told Azkia to approach Kean.

"Later, there's still time.."

"Don't later. Now aja. No longer think about cooking for a while." Ardila forces Azkia to go to Kean and leave her job. 

Azkia then washed her hands with soap until it did not smell fishy anymore. 

Azkia knocked on Kean's canal door slowly and the door opened. 

"Buddy.." 

"Budhe can come in?" ask Azkia. I don't know why his heart is beating right now. 

"Yes, Budhe, come in." Then Kean opened the door rather wide so that Azkia could enter. Ardila smiled from the kitchen seeing Azkia being able to meet Kean. 

Azkia looked at Kean's room which was filled with trophies as well as certificates. Kean is quite talented in mathematics. He was very proud of his son. 

"You're good at math, Kean." said Azkia. Kean blushed in embarrassment praised by Azkia. 

"Yes Budhe, all thanks to the support of Budhe as well. So Kean can take part in some races here." replied Kean who sat at his desk. 

Azkia sat on Kean's bed and looked at Kean. Growing up, he was a bit like Nicolas. But only his aunt. The rest are similar to Azkia. 

"How's your life here, Kean?" ask Azkia.

"Yes well, Budhe. Kean could have a family like Budhe was happy." Kean replied innocently. 

"Kean. Budhe just wanted to tell you something. Kean is big. Kean must have understood what Budhe was saying." Azkia started to get serious. 

"What is Budhe?" 

"Kean. Budhe apologized to you. Your mother was actually your mother. The one who gave birth to you was Budhe. So Budhe left you here, Le.. And your mother took care of you here." 

Azkia looked a bit convoluted explaining it to Kean made Kean a little confused. 

"What does Budhe mean? Kean doesn't understand."

"Jas. Look, Le. This Budhe is not actually Budhemu. Budhe this is actually your mother, Le." Azkia said with a heart-heart, noticing Kean's changed face. 

"Why is that?" ask Kean. 

"When Budhe gave birth to you, Budhe couldn't take care of you. Then Budhe asked Bulik Sri to take care of you until you were this big." Azkia explained. Kean began to understand what Azkia was saying. 

"Sorry Budhe has to talk like this, Le. Budhe never got here. So Budhe's mummy is here, Budhe's talking to you."

"But how can Budhe? Budhe won't take care of me so the mother takes care of me?" kean asked, sounding sad. 

Azkia's heart was getting bitter. Kean's question made him feel the rock raining down on him.

"Budhe at that time did not care for you. He said, rather than Budhe mishandling you, you're being treated as Bulik. As of now Le.." Azkia replied a little hesitantly. Is it true that he should say this or not. 

Kean was silent for a moment, thinking about what should be said. 

"Budhe said no meaning what, Le. Budhe just wants to talk real. If you still want to stay here with Mom, gapapa. If you want to join Budhe to Jakarta also gapapa. It's up to you, Le." 

Kean was still silent yet to respond to what Azkia had said. 

"Le. Budhe doesn't mean you. It's all Budhe's fault, too. Budhe apologized, Le.." Azkia said in tears. Seeing Kean's sad face, made his heart taste bitter. 

Since there was no response from Kean, Azkia thought Kean still needed some time to think about it. Azkia stroked Kean's hair and left Kean's room. 

Azkia returned to the kitchen. He wiped away his fallen tears. Ardila stroked Azkia's back. Already knew this would happen. Kean came out of his room and went to Paklik Sarito's room.  

"Prophey, Ki. Patience." Azkia raised her head so that her tears would not fall again. 

In the room, Paklik was sitting on his bed, eating fruit peeled by Bulik. Bulik is also in Paklik's room, peeling the other fruit. 

"Sir, Ma'am." call Kean and sit down next to Paklil's bed. 

"Ono opo, Le?" tanya Bulik Sri saw Kean's face that looked emotional. 

"Mom." call Kean. 

"So Budhe to my room. He said Budhe was my mother. Yes opo, Mum? I've been treated here all along. I am how I am, Mom. I can't come and accept that Budhe is my mother" Kean said. Paklik could only nod looking at Kean. 

"Yes, Le, really. Budhe Kia is your mother. She gave birth to you and took care of you. That's why you are entrusted here." replied Paklik.

"But yes, sir. I'm at school here, I'm feeling good here. If I move to Jakarta..."

"Budhe asked you to go to Jakarta?" ask Bulik. 

"No, Mom. He just said it was up to me. Staying here or going to Jakarta is up to me. Budhe just told me the truth." continued Kean. 

"I don't know yet, Mom. I can't decide. I still go to school here, too, Mom."

"Father, Le. Budhemu is not maksa. Just want to tell you that you are his son because you are older you must understand. Back then, Budhemu did not leave you, but did not know how to take care of your newborn. So handed over to Mom. How - the faith is up to you. You want to stay here ya gapapa, want to join Budhemu ya gapapa." 

Kean looks confused. Not knowing how to respond. 

"Budhemu here want your nengokin. Kangen with you, Le." continued Bulik Sri.

"But yes, ma'am. What if Kean makes a decision?" kean asked worried Bulik would feel sad.

"Lho you yo son Mother, son Budhemu too. Wes gapapa's. Same mom Budhemu talked. How it's up to you, Le. You don't have to feel like you're left here. If you come to Budhemu, then gapapa. Play - play here." replied Bulik Sri with great heart.

"Yes, Mom. Let Kean think about it." said Kean. 

"Budhemu again cook. Ndang dimaem. Don't make his heart sad, Le." said Paklik reminded.

"Yes, sir." Kean replied shortly then left Paklik's room and returned to his room. 

Kean was restless in his heart. Maybe his parents mean to leave him at the home of Bulik and Paklik. Yes, Kean is already big. Although Kean seems to be able to make a decision, Kean is afraid if the decision is wrong and hurts one of them. 

Kean turned his body to the right and to the left. He was comfortable living in Kediri. Is moving to Jakarta the right choice?

Kean doesn't know. He has to ask who? To Budhe Kia? Kean knew, Budhe wouldn't force it and it all came back to him. But what if he wants to talk to Budhe Kia?

Kean felt dizzy thinking about it. He went out of the room and wanted to sit on the terrace.

On the terrace there is Kevin who is enjoying the air during the day in the village. He never felt the air at this hour. He was always in the AC room, struggling with his work.

"Kean." said Kevin as soon as he saw Kean coming out of the house. 

"Yes, Om." said Kean smiling. 

"Sit here next to Om" said Kevin, smiling.

"Yes, Om." Kean sat next to Kevin who looked handsome. Just this once, Kean saw a man as handsome as Kevin.

"What age are you, Kean?" ask Kevin to relax. I felt relaxed talking to Kevin. Maybe like a man-to-man conversation. So Kean felt more comfortable.

"This year is thirteen, Om." Kean replied with a smile.

"Where is your school? Smoothly?" Kevin tries to get along with Kean. 

"Yes, Om, thank God you're good." 

"Thank God then." 

"Om Budhe's friend?" ask Kean directly to Kevin.

"Buddy?" Kevin looks confused by the call "Budhe"

"Yes. Budhe Kia's. Azkia." lighted Kean. 

"Oh. Ja. What the hell are you playing here?" 

"Not what, really, Om. This house rarely comes brothers. So Kean's happy, Om." 

"Budhe Kia, it sometimes misses you. Come here but Budhe's working. I could just call you." Kevin told me.

"So he said, Om?" Kean sounded incredulous.

"Yes. You know exactly."

"What do you think if Kean comes to Jakarta, Kean won't trouble Budhe huh, Om?" ask Kean doubtfully.

"Hm... If Om does not feel. Because you are his family too. But back to you. Are you ready to leave Kediri?" Kevin turned around to ask. 

"Yes, Om. Kean was confused too. If you go to Jakarta, no one helps you here. But if Kean stays here, isn't Budhe sad, Om?" 

"Sadly for sure, Kean."

"Yes. Recently, Budhe also said that actually Budhe is not Budhenya Kean. But Kean's birth mother." said Kean staring blankly at the street. 

Kevin was surprised to hear Kean. 

"Budhe told you Budhe was your mother?" 

Kean nodded. "Here, Om."

"Continue?"

"Kean's just confused, Om. Kean has always been Budhe. Want to call Mom, it also feels strange." said Kean.

"Slow down, Kean. Budhe you have a good heart. He never forced anything. As far as I know, Budhe always respects the decisions of others" Kevin said. 

"That's it, huh, Om?" 

"Yes. You have to be patient, yes. Everything has to have a way. Even if Budhe has not been here all this time, it does not mean that Budhe is not dear. But Budhe's looking for money to get Kean to go to college."

Kean was moved to hear what Kevin said. Maybe what he said was true. That at that time, Azkia was not able to take care of Kean until it had to be entrusted. Kean remained as positive as possible on Azkia. And right now, Kean is starting to put a little faith in Kevin.