To The Man Who Broke My Heart
23. Heavy Eye Fertilizer

The ringing of my phone jolted me, but I could still fall asleep again. The sleepiness that hung heavily on the eye patch really brought me back to sink into the subconscious again. Nevertheless, the calm did not last long. The sound was heard again. This time I can't dive back into the deep realms. What there is a ringing that even swells the heat. Making eyes block. I'm really awake now. I painstakingly turned to look at the digital clock that was on the nightstand. At seven past twenty-six in the morning.

I just slept at about three o'clock this morning. So for me this clock is too early. Who would dare to wake me this early? Don't they know that I just came home at vampire hour? Don't they know I'd be a zombie if I woke up three hours after I fell asleep? I hope this is really something important. Otherwise, I will unleash disaster on them. I cursed anyone across there in my heart.

For the love of God, why are they so insistent?Without seeing the identity of the caller, I raised a call that really intended to provoke my emotions.

“I am getting married!” Someone across the phone screamed hysterically.

Dear God's. Now not only was my sleep disturbed, my hearing had to be attacked as well. Like not wanting to let me calm down, came the speech for the boisterous sake of some other voice that came out of nowhere.

Oh, my God. What is happening? In Kalakian I stole a glance at the phone screen. Teletubbies group video call.

This part.

When I needed my sleep.

No matter how strong a bond of friendship is, if it must be juxtaposed with sleep, especially if the body's battery really needs to be recharged like this, it is still sleep time that will come out as the winner.

I closed my eyes again after leaning the phone against the pillow next to my head.

“Lulu, are you serious?”

“Iyaa. I'll get married later this year!”

“Why? How can?”

“Whose name?”

“You're not pregnant, are you, Lu?”

I don't know who said that, but clearly he managed to choke me by his own saliva for holding back a laugh while the others fell silent after hearing that silly question.

"Mi!" Someone's suffocating.

Someone laughed out loud after a moment of silence.

“I'm gay pregnant, Mimi.” Someone, Lulu, responded in a somewhat haunted tone. Oh, it's Mimi. Mimi always knew how to have fun. If you prank your friends with questions like this can be considered as one way.

“Not to be taken, Lu. Mimi was just kidding. Come on, stories to us. Whoishe? How can? How's the process?” This must be a response from Wide. He has always been the most excited. Be they listen to Lulu's story, how she met her future husband, her ta'aruf process until finally proposing to him last night. I just listened, Lulu's voice in the background turned back to me, allowing the drowsiness to start attacking my nerves again. I almost completely fell asleep when someone called, no, shouted my name. “Kay! Just shut up, anyway?”

Oh, nooooo.

I rubbed my eyes, hoping to exorcise the demon that was still in its fold. “Sorry, Lu." Shoots. My voice sounded hoarse and heavy, like the voice of someone who had been dead for decades with fire and cigarette smoke. I immediately cleared my throat.

Duh, it feels so dry this esophagus.

"Sorry, sorry." I apologize for disturbing Lulu's excitement, making the conversation that had been going smoothly become choked up like this, and even staining their ears with my voice that was not at all environmentally friendly. "I'm not happy, but I'm sleepy now. I just got to sleep. Yesterday's show finished here today." To add to the effect, a yawning daeiku yawned in our midst.

I really wanted to look them in the face one by one and apologise sincerely, but these eyelids could not be lifted more than they are now, which is the same as not being open. There was only a glimmer of a gap between my eyelids, and it was very difficult to maintain.

“Ya, Lu. Let Kayra rest again. Later let me stop by her place to make a story, yes?”

“Iya, huh. Sorry to bother you early in the morning too, dear Kay. Wait for the story from Wide. Love you!”

With a sigh of relief I returned to welcome the sound that was waiting in front there.

****

The days in the office became busier as donors finally agreed on plans to open a branch in West Sumatra. I started contacting some friends at the organization who would help me to take care of the branch preparations later. Although now everything can be solved virtually, it would still be nice if in the near future I can find time to meet and exchange ideas directly with them.

I just finished calling Roni when my phone rang again.

I saw a picture of Papa smiling down the screen.

“Assalmu’alaikum.” Papa's voice sounded a bit hoarse.

“Waalaikumsalaam, Pa. Papa why? Pain?” I asked directly. I'm anxious. Lately Papa often complains of being tired easily when I call home.

“No, Honey, Papa is fine. Healthful. Alhamdulillahot. Here, Mama wants to talk to you.” Papa in Kalakian gives a cell phone to Mama.

“Hai, Darling.” Mama called me in the same hoarse voice across there. “How are you, son? We miss you.”

Duh. My heart gripped after hearing the confession to the point from Mama. Indeed, during the three months of preparation for the presentation, Mama and Papa did not come to visit. Actually they want to, but I'm banned because of my many activities.

“Ma, Mama and Papa are definitely not feeling well, huh? Don't forget to eat healthy. Take vitamins too. Get enough rest, Ma. Dad, yeah, Pa. I don't want Mama to be sick like this Papa while I'm nowhere near you.” Tears can't be contained anymore. I haven't ignored them for too long. As my only daughter, I knew that I should be more attentive to my parents. I wiped the tears that flowed down the cheeks with the palms of the hands. “Sorry yes, Ma, Pa, Kay has been busy lately. Kayra doesn't have time for Mama with Papa.”

“That's nothing, Sayi. Mama just wanted to say we miss you again. You also take care of your health there, son. Take vitamins and eat healthy foods as well. Thas. This is your papa.”

Mom put the phone back in Papa's hand. The screen of the phone again filled with Papa's face that looked less fresh. “Kayra, take good care of yourself there, yes. You continue the work. Vim. Papa Sama always pray for you.”

“Iya, Pa. Thanks, pa. Papa is also fine at home with Mama. Love you, Pa, Ma.” I bit my lower lip, trying to hold back the sobs that really wanted to jump out of my chest.

“We love you too, darling. Papa hang up the phone, yeah. Assalamu’alaikum.”

“Waalaikumsalaam.”

Although the connection was cut off a few seconds ago, but the tears still continued to flow, it could not be dammed. Ah, it's always like this. If I had cried, it would always be difficult to stop the flow.

I flinched when I suddenly felt a touch on my shoulder. I don't know how long I've been wailing in front of this panoramic window on the second floor. I looked back and it turned out that Aunt Meli was already behind my back.

“You're out of phone with your mom and dad, yeah?” Aunt Meli asked sympathetically. There was deep shade and understanding in his gaze.

I just nodded, unable to make a sound.

“You must miss them very much. And they're especially. Aunty has memorized it feels like being left behind by a child, Ra. Heavy, but Auntie can't do anything. They also have their own lives to live.”

I looked at Aunt Meli with eyes that I was sure were red and puffy. He looked out the window, but his gaze seemed far away to the place where his children were. A longing was emanated from the gaze of the mother of two children. I still chose to be quiet because I didn't want to ruin what he was feeling in his heart.

Some time later, the middle-aged woman turned her head. “You better go home, Ra. They certainly want it, but can't tell you directly because it's not good. I'll go to college again and have a holiday now.” Aunt Meli kept looking at me. “Tante will give you permission one week. You can meet all the people who need our project there.”

To be continued ....