The Heart of Vania
Chained Pain Pangs

I was surprised not to play when I received news from Uncle Tino and Aunt Rima that Brother Litha was getting married. Those who invited me to ask permission from the school for a few days were similarly shocked to see my geeky appearance.

"Nia, what are you doing with your hair? And why use all cufflinks?" aunty Rima asked in astonishment looking at me from top to bottom.

It is clear that I am panicking, do not let the 'role' that I played well for approximately 2 years will invite suspicion of anyone who hears Aunt's questions.

"Gsssttt ... Later, Bi. I can't tell it here "I said whispering asking Aunt to stop her curiosity because there was another curiosity that asked to be satisfied.

Aunt Rima frowned with a dislike face.

"Already, Bi. Now the topic is Brother Litha, why am I?"

"Because you're so weird!"

"Psssstttt ..." hissisku long by attaching the index finger to my own lips.

"Easy, Mom. Later just discuss this child, he also said will tell him why at school he was like–"

"Uncle!" my hiss is unbearable.

Pppfffftt ....

Uncle Tino even laughed at me without a sound, but his shoulders were shaking, "You're so funny this way" he said in between laughs.

"Arrghhh! Uncle and Aunt pissed me off!"

"Huh, just so upset. Now bring some clothes for us to stay at the hotel. Your brother will be married tomorrow."

"HUH!" My feet feel like jelly, can not stand until I lay the body on the wall.

"Replacement. Save your curiosity first, later on our journey we will tell each other why you look like this and why your brother suddenly married."

My heart is still racing to hear the news that never crossed my mind because I know very well the ideals of Kak Litha who just want to graduate college and work well to make money. Marriage has never been a priority in her life.

"Sister Litha didn't get married because she got pregnant first, did she?" I asked slowly on the point, my heart rate was still not normal.

Plaque.

Auntie hit my ass in annoyance, "Of course not. My niece will never fall for men, only men are infatuated with them."

Uncle Tino from earlier just giggled at us being noisy.

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"Bi, quickly tell me why Brother Litha is suddenly getting married? Why didn't you ask me or tell me before? Why did he get married so soon? What about me, with Tisha's mother and sister after she got married?" my boyfriend whined after removing the wig in the car Uncle had hired to pick me up.

Uncle Tino sat behind the wheel, while Aunt Rima deliberately sat with me in the passenger seat behind the driver's seat to talk to me.

"Auntie won't tell me more before you tell us frankly why you used a wig at school" Aunt Rima said.

"Gnh ...."

"Well, you find out for yourself why your sister got married impromptu. You know for yourself, if you ask Litha at most the answer, 'This is my decision, I have thought carefully. There's nothing to worry about. Everything will be fine.' Then you'll be busy looking for a position to search for information illegally aka eavesdropping."

I pursed my lips. My aunt understood very well how to deal with me, but she was also right about the prediction of Litha's answer if I asked.

I shut up for a moment and threw my gaze out the window of the car enjoying the running scenery, weighing whether I should tell them about my strange appearance at school.

"Sir, you will stop by the boba tavern, yes" Auntie asked Uncle.

I spontaneously turned to Auntie, "You still like chocolate with Boba, right?" said cuek.

Boba, a current drink with small dark circles made of tapioca flour I like, but I rarely drink because I love the money. So I more often choose iced tea or similar-like Boba traditional version, ice dawet.

"Auntie's got more windfall huh?"

My aunt smiled, "It's nothing compared to your sister's wedding the day after tomorrow."

My eyebrows frowned, "Casualization, right?" Aunt Rima teased me.

I finally gave up. I was planning on telling you everything about what happened at school rather than dying curious about Litha's wedding.

"What?" ask Aunt sumringah.

"Uncle and Aunt don't tell Mom anything."

"Why?" uncle Tino asked to see me from the front view.

"Later Uncle and Aunt will understand after hearing that."

"mrs ... Okay. Uncle and Aunt will keep this secret for you. Isn't that right, Mom?"

"Engg ... Pend. Aunty's not used to keeping secrets to your mom."

"Yes already, then don't go," I said annoyedly, throwing my eyes back out the window.

"Hufft ... Is that gonna make your mom sad, Nia?"

I just nodded slowly answering Aunt's question without taking my eyes off, "Sad and feeling guilty. I don't want Mom to blame herself anymore. Seeing him feel guilty for Brother Litha has already hurt my heart a lot."

"Nia, relax. We won't tell your mother, Uncle will sew up your aunt's mouth if she tries to–"

"Brother dare?" challenging Aunt Rima made Uncle instantly speechless a thousand languages.

"Nohh ... Uncle is as timid as Dad if he is bullied by his wife" I said in my heart.

Silent.

"For this time, Auntie try."

"Don't want to be just tried. Is it hard to promise, anyway?"

"Aunt can't save–"

"Mother and Aunt are just sisters-in-law. Father and Uncle are not like this, but their siblings."

Yeah, it's weird to think. At a time when many sister-in-law relationships are not suitable, but it does apply to Mom and Aunt Rima. They have been friends since childhood because of one village. They are used to protecting each other and loving each other unconditionally. I remember, though, a piece of childhood memory that witnesses how dashing Aunt defends Mom and rebukes one of Daddy's female cousins who says that Mom is the unlucky carrier of Dad's life because Dad can't finish his level the lecture is for the sake of marrying Mom while she is in the final stage, the stage of preparing the thesis or Final Task.

"As for Auntie ... If you think about it, the first person I blame until I die is Auntie."

"Geez Niaaa! Dare you curse your aunt!" aunty's yelling banging on my shoulder.

"Auntie! Sakiettt!"

"Haynishhh ... You guys are always noisy everywhere. Now I buy Boba drinks first, then Nia will tell me. The problem I will tell Sister-in-law, it's my own mother's problem, I don't want to be exposed again to the curse of the Rag– woman"

"Hartino! Are you tired of living, huh!?!"

Aunty glared at Uncle with a look of wrathful face and a very suppressed voice. Bibi also immediately said Uncle's full name out loud, not with a warm greeting 'Father' as usual, of course this is a terrible sight presented by the figure of Rima Wastini.

"Down and accompany me to buy the drink," ordered Auntie who immediately obeyed Uncle, "Nia, you wait here. After Auntie bought you Boba, tell me everything!" he ruled before closing the car door.

I smiled wryly, if this is how she is exactly Mom. They were both really true friends until their style was angry and the way of commemorating was the same, I saw from the car window, Aunt was lecturing Uncle while waiting for a drink to be made and occasionally Auntie pinched Uncle's arm with emotion.

"What did Uncle say wrong? Until Aunt was so angry, then why did Uncle not defend himself as if feeling guilty and resigned to the anger of Aunt?" mumamku wonder.

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Along the way to the hotel that became the wedding venue of Kak Lithabaku told me how my school life from the beginning until finally I had to play the role of a geeky student who often received bullying Serena Cs and other insults of friends . I tried to hold on for Brother Litha so that her sacrifice would not be in vain and for Mother's sake so as not to blame her anymore.

Uncle drove the car very slowly until finally stopped him on the side of the road. At first glance he was pressing both his eyeballs using the thumb and index finger of his right hand.

Aunt Rima was stunned by my story. His eyes were watery and could not say anything more, more precisely he was in shock. Stared fixed my face by gently rubbing my two cheeks, not long before her tears broke as soon as she hugged me. Somehow the sad emotions that had been locked in the heart just came out following Aunt's cry into a roar, strangely my roar without sound, only the body shook.

What's the matter? What's wrong with me? I can no longer make a sound when I cry, If on a lonely night I deliberately hold it and it torments me. But this time in Bibi's arms, I wanted to cry and roar loudly as I normally would. Unfortunately I can't. I could no longer be relieved after crying as well as I let out tears. Without realizing it I have been chained by my own taste pills that I fertilized for some time in the rest of the night.

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