The House 1937's
44. Stayed (2)

The televised show had ended at half-ten p.m. Now it's time for everyone to get ready for bed. Aunty, Mama, and Papa are heading to the bathroom to complete their nature call before entering their respective rooms. After Papa finished and stepped out of the kitchen, somehow Mama felt strange. He felt Papa glancing at him at a glance and then walked back to leave the kitchen door without speaking.

Mama shook her head, maybe it was because she thought about what Aunt Alin and Grandma said this afternoon. When she finished, Auntie closed the kitchen door and the two of them immediately stepped into the room. Mama herself one room with Aunt Alin, although previously she was difficult to offer Grandma to use the room owned by Aunt Dewi who had been empty for a long time, but Mama refused subtly and preferred to one room with Aunt Alin only.

In addition to Aunt Alin and Papa himself, mama also knows Om Toni and Aunt Goddess even if only a glance. Mama knows from Aunt Alin if Aunt Dewi is currently living in Singapore with her husband and Om Toni has also been living out of town with his wife and running their business together. In this house left Papa and Aunt Alin alone who is single. And about the couple, since setting foot in this house after a long time, mama was curious about the latest news from her best friend, especially about the opposite sex who is now close to her, she said, or does he have a lover?.

"So that afternoon you discussed about Ko Jun continuing Lin.", Mama began to open the conversation while tidying up her clothes from inside the bag.

"Yes?, then?, why?", Aunt Alin was combing her hair that looked a little messy because she had had time to tie her hair, his gaze instead stared irritatedly at his comb which had several strands of hair falling out on the comb.

"Lu himself how?, the boyfriend already exists?, do not cave continue to be asked about the boyfriend..", Mama looked at Aunt with a curious look. Who would that man be if his guess was right.

"He was Ko Jun Yul's friend", Aunt answered briefly with a small smile.

"Really?, Who?, how hard?", Mama began to look interested in hearing Aunt Alin's short answer, and he began to briefly tell the beginning of his meeting with Om Herman to date.

"It is not expected after so long a new cave came here again, it was already first. His name is still one area, can also be people who are close yes.", The two of them finally laughed together.

"Well that's it.", Aunt Alin shrugged her shoulders relaxed. The two of them sat on the bed hugging a pillow on their lap.

"Do you have a picture of him?, the cave see dong..", Mama was so curious to know the level of Om Herman.

Aunt Alin shifted her body towards the study table beside her bed, took a portrait of Om Herman and handed it to Mama.

"How?", the aunt proudly asked Mama who was still looking at the portrait of Om Herman.

"Well you want, quite a person, has known Ko Jun for a long time?", Mama again handed the polaroid portrait to Auntie Alin. The polaroid portrait is a portrait of Om Herman taken by Papa using his camera while they were in Muntilan, Magelang, Central Java. They both went to Magelang because at that time there was a celebration of Waisak Holy Tri Day nationally at Borobudur Temple.

"Hmm.., I see.", that's just the short answer you gave me.

"So, How's Yul?, if you're the same matchmaking cave as Ko Jun?", Aunt only saw a flat expression on Mama's face.

"Why Yul?, why?,"

"Yul.., the cave is not good enough then, he means.., indeed the cave is still alone, but maybe Ko Jun already exists but has not said...",

"Yuli.., he Koko cave and cave knows how rich he is. He's a big, big shot, more than Ko Herman. He did not look for a girlfriend tuh, busy taking care of the store and rice fields the same herd Babi Babah heritage continues.", Aunt Alin slightly languished, a little,remembering Papa who is very dedicated to taking care of the rice fields and the family-owned Pig farm.

"Oh that's Lin, pity also huh Koko lu. I forgot to prioritize myself...",

"It's like you talking cave, maybe I can match Ko Jun...",

Mama simply fell silent as she tightened her embrace to the bolster pillow in her hand. He admitted, indeed the brother of his best friend had a pretty handsome face even though it looks stiff and quiet. Also comes from a good family and quite visible in the eyes of the surrounding community. I don't know, mama just sighed and still hasn't decided if she's willing to agree to the advice of Auntie Alin or vice versa.

******

"Lin, Lin, Alin.., wake up Lin.", Mama whispers Aunt Alin who looks very enjoying her sleep, to not move a bit even though Mama has moved Auntie's shoulder hard.

Mama who felt his efforts failed to build Aunt Alin finally would not want to dare to step foot alone into the bathroom. With the shape of a typical Peranakan Chinese house building that is quite spacious, the location of the bathroom is quite far and turns dim when at night. Mama with a heavy step finally woke up from her sitting position in bed and then a little closer to Aunt Alin who was very lulled in her dreamland. Mama used her flip-flops, opened the bedroom door and stepped slowly towards the back of the house towards the bathroom. The atmosphere was quiet and silent, the steps of the mother were only accompanied by brightly lit living room lights. The bright light turned dim yellow, Mama opened the kitchen door slowly and without looking left and right again, mama ventured into the kitchen with the dim light towards the bathroom in the back.

Mama immediately closed the bathroom door as soon as she entered it and immediately completed her natural call there. Without wasting any time, she slipped the bathroom door and stepped out of the kitchen. Somehow sometimes mama feels surprised by his best friend, maybe he even feels at home living in a big house with old architecture like this. Mama closed the kitchen door again and turned towards the family room, as soon as she passed the closet in front of the door of Bi Inah's room, a closet containing bed linen, various slippers, and a variety of, the cloth sarongs and blankets are commonly used by Papa and all his brothers. Slowly the closet door opened and one pale hand held the closet door from the inside and the door closed tightly again and the pale hand disappeared behind the closet. Mama could only hold her saliva and began to feel her cold palms then walked briskly half-running to return to Aunt Alin's room.

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