Under The Rain's
Chapter 23—Home Childhood

The whitewashed house with tile floor tile motifs that look very beautiful. The ceilings were towering and large windows were scattered here and there. Twenty-seven, is the total number of such windows. Reva counted it. And he memorized wherever they were.

The two-story building also has a fairly large courtyard, which is located both in the front and back of the house. Various types of trees are embedded there, such as mango trees and fan bananas, as well as some palm trees. Reva placed her artificial rope swing there, on one of the large branches of the mango tree. And he almost always sat there every time he went home from school.

Inside the complex, the house is indeed one of the largest. It's on the street corner. Many residents of the complex were envied by him, feeling the world was unfair because the plot had a much wider land when compared to other houses. However, for Reva, the house had inspired her a lot to become a successful person later on. So that later he could also buy a big house like that.

Pramudya Darsono—asaku owner— very fond of birds. No doubt, various beautiful birds in large cages kiss each other when the sun comes to welcome the morning. At nightfall, the breeze flirtatiously seduces the residents of the house in the gazebo located in the open back garden. Meanwhile, in the front garden there is a large pond with several koi fish in it.

It was Rafael's childhood home. He spent twenty years living in the house before marrying Nadia. Rafael's room is located on the second floor, with a direct view of the front of his house. From there, he could see Reva's house at the other end of the street. Of course, Reva's parents' house was much smaller.

Reva herself did not feel at home. Her parents always quarrel when they are on one roof, so often they choose to avoid each other. Not much love grew there. Each of its inhabitants prefers to live their own lives.

Not infrequently also Reva came home greeted by a locked door. I don't know where his mother is, because she's not a worker either. The skewed gossip of right-left neighbors about Tita's life is no longer a secret. Some people have seen him delivered home by another man. As for Adi, I don't know, the man was rarely at home. The reason, especially if it is not a meeting out of town.

Fortunately, Vienna was always quick to check if Reva had safely entered her home. If not, he will bring the girl back until someone picks her up. Therefore, Reva hated it when Nadia did the same to Kaia. He knew exactly how anxious a child was about to go home, but there was only a void that welcomed him to come.

That day, Rafael went there, to his childhood home. His father, who is getting weaker by the day, almost never goes anywhere again. However, he was always excited whenever his son came. Earlier this morning, he had been scolding his wife in the kitchen to make sure Rafael ate all his favorite dishes while there. And he will also make sure his son comes home in a distended stomach.

After months of waiting, finally complete already seven happy family members were at the same dining table.

“Until when is Nadia in Jakarta?” pram asked after a long time they all talked at the lunch session.

“Two days, Pa,” replied Rafael. “The wedding ceremony of his friend, anyway, Sunday. But, on Saturday they have a reunion.”

“Why not come, Brother?” ask Zara.

“But! Really males, ribet!” ketus Raphael.

“Ah, your malesin, Brother. Not romantic!” yarra Protest.

“Ask Papa, gih. Where do you want her to nemenin Mama Arisan, ‘kan?” bela Raphael's.

“Eh, already, already, finish the food first!” viennese Lerai.

Rafael is very close to his four siblings. It was also strange why he could not get along with Nadia even though they had been living together for a long time. In fact, Rafael never felt himself a stiff man. He was open enough to talk to anyone. Sometimes it is difficult for him to start a conversation. Yes, he did feel himself cool, but not to cold as well.

The light discussion at the dinner table was very pleasant. For a long time they have not been such a mess. Rafael's activities are very difficult to compromise. Sheila has also started preparing for the final hearing, and Thalia has just been accepted as a part-time worker at a digital company.

However, the busyness of his sons and daughters does not necessarily make Pram sad, because he is very sure that they will all always take the time to share attention and accompany the days in his twilight.

***

Midnight is almost here. A few minutes later the day will change but Rafael is still not willing to touch the dreamland. He continued to move from one room to another, paying attention to every corner of the house that he had not occupied long enough. And his heart began to unsettle as everything he saw there reminded him of Reva.

Fish pond. Reva once bought a fish chef for misunderstanding. And the poor little fish he let go into a pond full of giant koi fish! Raphael immediately threw himself into the pond as a form of rescue action against the poor fish. Then, he pulled on Reva's arm until they splashed together and broke up together.

Mango tree. I don't know how many scratches were tangled in the skin of the two boys as they raced to climb the tree towards the highest trunk. Vienna had to forcibly remove the clothes and spray them with a high-pressure water hose. The reason is, the entire body of the wayward duo is shrouded in red ants!

Gazebos. The shade in the back garden is their favorite spot to learn if the day is friendly. If not, of course Rafael will be glued to the big TV in the family room to play games, while Reva does all her work.

Too many. There are too many memories in his childhood home as Rafael links everything to his Reva. He could barely walk around the house anymore. Only the knot of bitter smile was slightly on her lips as the memories attacked the receptors in her brain. The more he remembered, the more his chest tightened. So, he had to stop and sit on a bench located near the door to the backyard.

“Kak ...” The gentle touch on Rafael's shoulder immediately disperse his reverie.

“Eh ... Mama hasn't slept?”

“Kak no more what's dark-dark here?”

The words that were about to come out of Rafael's mouth were briefly stuck in his throat, although he finally could not bear to vapourize it. “Ma, Reva ...”

“Mama knows, Son. Mama knows. You miss Yiyi, huh?”

Rafael did not answer. The silence of the night hummed on the void in his heart. It was all very dark at the time, and Rafael had no idea where he should start talking about what was going on between him and Reva to his own mother.

Really am. Rafael wanted to tell him everything, his stupidity and his fatal mistake nine years ago. He was no longer able to bear that heavy burden alone. The secret that was still locked tightly between the two of them. Just the two of them. And it was so torturous.

“Kak, after all, Brother is already married now. That's a big responsibility. Brother can not play games,” Vienna tried to give advice after seeing his son looked so lost direction. “But, Reva it has also become part of our family.”

“Means Mama?”

“Papa know that Reva lives close by Sister.”

“Mama who stories?”

“Iya. Because Mama knows how much Papa feels guilty once she finds out that Reva ran away from home. Papa was sad to remember that. Reva has absolutely nothing to do with her parents' attitude.”

“Iya, Mother. Nothing to do with sa—”

“Papa wants Reva to come here. To our house. Same as it used to be when he played every day here.”

“Ma ..”.

“Kak, we can't break family ties so soon, ‘kan? Remember Mama said, Reva is family.”

“But, Ma ...”

“Why?”

“There's something. He won't come here again.”

“What's up, Brother? Why 'not?”

“Ma, Reva did not escape without cause ...”

Vienna caught a flash of fear grabbing his son's eyes before he even said anything. If that burdened blank look was a reflection in his heart, Vienna would not dare to hear what story Rafael would tell. It would be as scary as what the story is, if the look on his face at that time was like staring at death.