THERE'S ALWAYS A LEANING PLACE
Part IX

At 7 pm Via entered his room. He prepared textbooks for tomorrow. He studied Tuesday's subject matter for a while. It has been his habit since he was in SD.

An hour later he sat in bed. In his hand was a photo album.

Slowly open the album. Photo of a 5-year-old boy in his father's arms. Next to him was a smiling beautiful woman. It was a picture of Via with his parents first.

Via's hand re-opens the next page. Photos of him with his mother papa make Via kangen. No feeling her tears had soaked her cheeks.

Suddenly his memory drifted to the incident this morning at school. Aurelia's words seemed to be played back.

"If papa mama still exists, of course I do not need to live this way. No one insulted me like Lia. Pa, Ma, Via kangen. Via is lonely. The family of Bu Aisyah is good. But they are not Via's biological parents" whispered Via. It was as if he was talking to his parents.

After seeing all the photos, Via keeps his photo album back in cardboard. The light turned off and fell on the bed.

Her memories are still filled with good memories with her parents. Her tears keep melting. Finally, Via fell asleep.

A loud shout shocked Via. He woke up from his deep sleep.

"Who are you? What's in here?" the man asked in a loud voice.

Via blinked his eyes. His head was throbbing pain from shock. He could not see anyone screaming.

Shortly thereafter, a sound of the switch was pressed. The room also became bright. Via replacei screams in shock. A man about 25 years old, wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt, and glazed eyes stood firmly in front of Via.

"You want what you? Bringing ya? Tolooong...!"

"Hey, don't scream! I'm not a thief."

"If it's not a thief, who are you?"

"I should ask, who are you? Could you be in my room?" grunt the guy was upset.

"What's up, Via?" Miss Aisyah asked from the front of the room.

"This.ini Bun..ada.." Via's answer stopped because Ms. Aisyah had opened the room door and entered.

"Lho, Son? When did you come home? Why not tell Mom or Dad? Mother also did not hear any greetings," Ms. Aisyah joined the scene.

The guy approached Ms. Aisyah and kissed the back of Ms. Aisyah's hand respectfully. Bu Aisyah replied with a tight hug.

"So it's a greeting, but no one seems to have heard. Since the front door was not locked, Farhan entered. Living room, family room, until the kitchen is quiet no one. Farhan thought it was sleeping. Yeah, well, Farhan went in the bathroom and went to bed. Uh, while sitting on the bed, Farhan's hand held the boy."

Ms. Aisyah smiled amusedly.

"Sorry, Mommy hasn't told you yet. That's Via, Mother's disciple, now a Mother's child. Since yesterday he has lived here. Since the room for Via was newly renovated, he temporarily slept in your room. Mommy thinks you're not home this fast. You said the day after the trial. How come you're going home now?"

"Trial is set today. After the trial, Farhan got a phone call from the eye, told to meet eyeang if the campus business is not much. Finally, Farhan decided to go home this afternoon."

"O yes, Via, this is Farhan. She's Azka's sister."

Via nodded while imposing a smile on his lips. He hesitated to shake hands.

Farhan smiled while looking at Via at a glance. He seems to have mastered himself.

"Have you eaten?" ask Ms. Aisyah to Farhan.

"Yet, Bun. Farhan kangen home cooking."

"Come to the dining room. Earlier Via and Ratna, his friend cooked to open. Because Mommy does not know, Mommy buys vegetables too. Fortunately, vegetables are not the same as side dishes. After the vegetable pesen, Mommy just read a message from Azka if the open dish has been prepared Via. Yuk! Via, you're coming, yeah. Let's get to know your brother."

Via nodded and walked after two people who were giving up longing.

"Via, help Mother prepare, yes! Please bring me the plates and the glasses!"

"Farhan can be alone, really. Usually as well."

"Here you sit down."

Via taking plates and glasses. He placed the two objects near Farhan.

Not yet, Ms. Aisyah replied that a man entered the dining room.

"When are you coming home, Han?How come you didn't tell me first?" the bass sounds were heard from behind Farhan.

"Dad? Yeah, not planned. All of you want a surprise, uh even get a surprise first."

Farhan got up from his seat and kissed his father's hand.

"Surprise?" Mr. Haris scrunched his forehead.

"Farhan didn't know there was a Via in his room. She was shocked that there was someone in the room, "Aisyah explained.

"Oh, so. Tonight you will sleep in Azka's room. He's not coming home, nginep at Rio's house. He just chatt Dad."

"Let Via sleep in the room just now" said Via. He felt bad because the owner of the room had arrived.

"Don't! The room hasn't been cleaned. Tomorrow just clean up the new room," Ms. Aisyah forbid.

"Oh, no papa I slept in Azka's room. I was just shocked to not know Dek Via was in my room. Don't worry. Go back to the room, go to bed again! Tomorrow should be school, right?" Farhan.

"Te.thank you, Mom. Emm...Go to the room first. Assalamualaikum."

"Getishalight."

Via left the dining room and returned to the room. Before going to bed, he packed his things into a suitcase and cardboard box. He thought once he got home from school, he just moved the suitcase and cardboard that had been prepared.

In the dining room, the conversation continued. They haven't met for a month.

"When did you graduate?" ask Mr. Haris.

"Still a long time, Dad. Another month and a half."

"Are there no activities on campus?"

"If college is not. Most clear up thesis and graduation registration."

"When to return to Jakarta?"

"Dad, the new son came home has been asked when to return," said Ms. Aisyah.

"Dad just wanted to know because Farhan no college, it means staying at home."

"Yes, Farhan is home more often. Most next week. The examiner's lecturer was in Singapore, returning Saturday. That's why the trial was finally brought forward."

"Revision?"

"Little, really. Not substantial."

"What's your next renacan?"

"Possibly according to the original plan. He also called."

"Take you to the office?"

"Yes. But Farhan doesn't know what to talk about."

"Most about business. You have a lot to learn, Han. They are expecting you very much. I can't make dreams come true. You're the one who should replace."

"Yes, Dad, Farhan understands. I love drugs so much, I don't like eyed-out business."

The three of them laughed. Mr. Haris remembered his past. He had a dispute with his father because he did not want to jump into the business world. He wants to be a doctor.

"It is fortunate that his son is interested in business. Mommy can not imagine how disappointed eyang if his descendants no one wants to continue his business."

Mr. Haris smiled faintly. Farhan looked at him lovingly. He was proud of his eldest son. Not only intelligent, but also devoted to the elderly.

***