THERE'S ALWAYS A LEANING PLACE
Part VIII

The taxi carrying Via and Ratna stopped in front of the two-story house. Via down followed Ratna. They thanked the taxi driver and entered.

"Kok sepi?"

"Yes, not yet home."

"How did we get in?"

"Through the door."

"Ih.. You are! The key, Neeeng."

"Stand, I'll look for it first. It's panic."

Via looking in a chrysanthemum flower pot. There is only one chrysanthemum that is purple. The key is already in hand.

Ratna was relieved to see the door opened. He immediately entered the Via.

"The others came home in the afternoon?"

"Mas Azka said he finished college at 12."

Go into the room and change clothes.

"You change my clothes first!" Via thrusting t-shirts and jeans.

"After changing clothes and praying, you go back, yes. I need your help."

"Ok boss!"

Ratna complies with Via's request. He went back after the dhuhur prayer.

"What's up, anyway? Wanna eat?"

"Teach me wash clothes. There are no people anymore" said Via.

"Haha... The princess was confused about the clean clothes apparently."

"Bu Aisyah doesn't have a maid, does she? Though I'm sure the salary is enough to pay the maid."

"I don't think it's because Ms. Aisyah is stingy. He wants to educate his sons to become independent children."

Via stunned. He realized how important independence was. He could not do homework because his parents did not educate him for it. I don't feel her tears melting.

"Eh, how to be a baper. Come on, nyuci!" Ratna reminded.

The lesson of washing clothes went well. Just finished drying the laundry, there was the sound of greetings. Before long the figure of Azka was already in the living room.

"Just got home from college, Mas?" greet Ratna.

"Yes, just to the mosque. Have you guys eaten? Search for it yourself, yes! I think the mother this morning cooked a bit more."

"Yes, Mum."

Via takes Ratna to the kitchen. They warmed up enough to cook Ms. Aisyah.

Via's intention of taking the canceled rice saw Ratna glaring.

"You are not polite. Masa Mas Azka duteki? Take dong!"

"Mas Azka fasts."

"Oh.." Ratna's mouth only let out a brief response. However, inwardly he continued, "Crazy really. Rare men of today. Handsome, sholeh anyway."

"Kok quiet?" Via made Ratna wake up.

"Eng.no. Let's eat!"

Just after they finished eating, I heard the sound of greetings followed by people talking. While Ratna was cleaning the dining table, Azka came in.

"There's a guest, Mom? Who renovated the room, huh?" ask Via.

"Yes. How do you know,?"

"So the mother had pesen to prepare a drink if the handyman who renovated the room came."

"Oh, if that's what you're making drinks for, yeah! Snacks are there. I'm gonna go see Badminton again. The semi-final."

Via nodded. He immediately prepared a cup.

"Can you?" ask Ratna not sure.

"could. I've made my own tea. I can make sugar with salt."

Finished making the drink, Via deliver to the top. He knows where the room is being renovated. Tomorrow he moves into that room.

After inviting the workers who were renovating, Via returned to the kitchen. He saw Ratna just finished washing the dishes.

"Watch television with Mas Azka, yuk!" bring Via.

"Ehm, look out for your crush!"

"You're this. I'll stay here. Azka is my sister. I should know him. It's still awkward. That's why, accompany me."

"Foolah. Emm... Vi, you like badminton. Talk about badminton. Must've connected."

"Smart you."

"Newly realized, Mom? Your friend was smart before."

"Yes, yeah. Let's go to the family room!" Via pulled Ratna's hand.

"Seru very," said Ratna.

"Eh Ratna, Via. Aye, nih. Semi-finals, so great. Strength balanced. It was the first set of duec three times" Azka said. "Do you like badminton?"

"Like. But it's not been playing for a long time" said Via.

“Where?”

“Tuh...,” Azka pointing side house.

“OK, who's afraid?”

“Sip! Here, watch together. Excitement nih.”

They were silent, immersed in the preoccupation of watching players hit the shuttle cock. Ten minutes later, the game was over.

“Mother says don't want to go home what time?” ask Azka.

“No, Mas.”

“What's up, anyway?”

Via and Ratna looked at each other. Then they both shrugged their shoulders at the sign of not knowing.

“There is no explanation from the teacher why you came home early? Usually it will be explained what teacher wants a meeting.”

“We are in UKS, Mas,” replied Ratna quickly.

“Why? Don't tell me you're lazy to take lessons, yeah!”

“Iiih. That was because..” Ratna did not continue her sentence. His eyes glanced at the bowed Via. “Via hurts.”

“Sick? But...” Azka did not ask to see the wink of Ratna's eyes. “Bentar, ask aja.”

Azka's hand grabbed the phone nearby. The fingers quickly unlocked the screen. Shortly heard the sound of a notification.

“New to ask has even been sent a message. Long life nih mother,” murmur Azka. “Waduh..”.

“Why, Mas?” ask Via.

“After meeting mama mau bezuk. The return must be afternoon,” Azka replied in a disappointed tone.

“What's the reason?” ask Via again.

“Mother will not have time to cook to open later. In fact, I am a banana peeper. Keep eating the squid side dish of oyster sauce. At most, you will buy vegetables to open. Not fun at this.”

“There is the material in the refrigerator? If there is, how am I masakin?” ratna's proposal.

“Truly you can? Thank you very much if you are ready. I think the ingredients are in the refrigerator.”

“Yuk to kitchen, Vi!”

“Oke.”

Ratna and Via also leave Azka who is still busy watching badminton matches. The two girls were busy preparing a menu for iftar as well as dinner.

“The cooking is multiplied, Rat!” yelled Azka from the family room.

“Iya,” Ratna come yelling.

Via did what Ratna told him to do. Sometimes he saw what Ratna was doing. Her watered-down brain records lessons from her best friend.

It didn't feel like an hour passed quickly. Three dishes have been cooked. Ratna is executing two more menus.

“Hhmm..frarely,” suddenly Azka appeared with different clothes. He was wearing a cacao shirt and scabbed.

“Eh, Mas Azka's. Want to go to the mosque?” ask Ratna.

“Ngapain? I'm new jamaah ashar kok.”

“Lho, what time is it?”

“Half four.”

“Wah, it's afternoon. It's not done all,” lamented Ratna.

“Udah, after this is mature, you take a shower trus prayer! Let me do it,” said Via.

“OK deh.”

Deftly Ratna finished her cooking. Then, he went to the bathroom leaving the kitchen still in disarray. Meanwhile, Via cleaned the kitchen until clean and neat.

“Cieee...now can already clean the kitchen. Your teacher is indeed great,” Ratna said as soon as she saw the condition of the kitchen.

“What is his great student?” Via blotted his lips.

“It's done?” ask Azka from behind Ratna.

"Here you go, my mom."

"What are you guys doing?" mr. Haris' voice surprised them.

"This, Well, Via and Ratna just finished preparing the iftar menu. Mommy has not come home yet, bezuk to the hospital he said," Azka explained.

"O so. Thank you, Ratna, Via."

"Thank you, sir. Tomorrow is school. Anyway I have not said goodbye to my mother" Ratna politely declined.

"Then bring Azka. It's late afternoon."

"Ready, commander! But, prepare the cooking you made earlier. Cooking time doesn't taste."

"Engngg..."

"Via, you get me a bushel! I'll get a car first. Borrow Dad's car, yeah."

"Yes. Be carefull! Dad to the practice room first. The patient is waiting."

***