Under The Rain's
Chapter 41—Million Longings

Entering the third year of therapy, Rafael began to be able to exercise lightly like walking in the morning, although the limit was no more than twenty minutes before he fell. Still, that's very good progress. He no longer needed a wheelchair to help him walk. He has also talked to his family, and started socializing with friends like Adji and Erin.

It was Rafael's 32nd birthday. Everyone in his house is busy to make small events as a form of gratitude for Rafael's condition that continues to improve. Vienna cooks more, as Nadia and Kaia will also come. Rafael's sisters ordered an opera cake and several desserts, and they have been busy making drinks and snacks.

Rafael approached Sheila and Thalia who were in the kitchen, while Vienna and the others were busy tidying up the rooms. In fact, the two of them were rarely at home because they were busy working. Sheila takes overtime almost every day, and Thalia also always interns late at night while working on the thesis.

“Dek, so much to buy food. Honey, you know, the money.” Rafael felt bad for his two sisters for a party he thought was unnecessary.

“Nothing, dong, Sister. His name is also thanksgiving. After all, we have not been together for a long time, ‘kan?” answer Sheila.

“Sorry, yes, Deck, so keep your ngerepotin since Brother is sick.”

Raphael sat in a chair while his two younger siblings struggled with kitchen knives and blenders. The man was only able to look at their backs with disappointment towards himself. Then, Thalia turned around to sit with him. In the kitchen there is a mini dining table with two wooden chairs, while a luxurious main dining table with twelve seats is in the dining room.

“We want to thank Brother. Because without my sister's help, I'm just as Sheila can't go to college. What we came out today for Brother is still nothing,” explained Thalia while looking at her brother's face which often looks grim.

“Betul, Sis ..” Sheila timpal while cutting fruit. Our family used to rest on you doang, you know. Now, it's your brothers' turn to contribute. It's time for you to think for yourself, let us change Mama's care with Papa and the sisters.”

Rafael can only be stunned to see his younger siblings grow up to be responsible and caring adult women. He was so proud because his efforts were not in vain. However, he also felt guilty because for three full years there was nothing he could do but to trouble the rest of his family. Especially if you think about Nadia. Rafael knew his ex-wife was paying all her medical expenses, and he felt he owed a huge debt.

With an indeterminate feeling, Rafael walks into the back garden, where his father is there to feed the cat. Pram's own condition is actually not much different from him. He had a mild stroke and chronic joint pain, and was only able to do light tasks at home.

“Pa,” greet Rafael as he approaches to sit next to his father.

“Eh, Brother,” suhut Pram, “sini, help Papa take care of the cat.”

Raphael immediately lifted one of the kittens from his cage, and carried it to give milk. There were thirteen cats in his house at the time. At first, he only had a female cat at school, which he picked up from the streets because he could not bear to see the cat cold under the heavy rain. Twenty years later, the cat in his house became a dozen, because after his first cat, he became addicted to adopting some street cats that he thought looked alarming.

“Healthy, Brother?” pram asked among the meowing cats who asked to be fed.

“Health. Papa's healthy?"

Pram stopped his activities for a moment after he made sure the cat food bowls were fully filled. Then, he sat next to his son in their favorite gazebo. His face was already wrinkled, and his white hair was already numbered far more than the black ones. He opened his glasses, folded them, and placed them beside him.

“Should be healthy, Brother,” the answer is steady. “At least we should think that we are healthy. Robust. The important thing is in the mental, and in the heart,” he added while patting his son's back.

“El wants to get back to work as soon as possible, Pa,” said Rafael bowed, still with a kitten that kept on pounding on his lap.

“Kakakak already sure strong?”

“If work from home is strong, Pa. Not good with Sheila and Thalia. So those who have to work to close the need.”

Pram glanced at his son, and he understood Rafael's uneasiness. He was in a position like that many years ago.

“Kak, Papa knows that as a man, you feel the need to take responsibility. Look at Papa now. Sickly, ndak work. ndak got make—”

“Pa! But Papa is a hard worker. We used to have it all thanks to Papa. We can comfortably live in a house this big because of Papa. If indeed after that there is a disaster, it is not Papa.”'s fault

“Well, that, son, is what Papa meant. You are in trouble, so don't continue to offend yourself. You know what makes men?”

Rafael did not respond.

“Activity, Brother. Your spirit. The way you set an example. It can be frustrating when we feel useless. But, when you stay positive, show goodwill to help everyone, they will understand.”

“Iya, Pa—”

“Rafaeeel ..!”

The cry of a familiar-sounding cry suddenly disturbed the calm of the father and son who were chatting syahdu. Of course it can be guessed who the owner is, even Rafael who suffered a brain injury can still recognize the sound well.

Nadia had just arrived at her ex-husband's birthday invitation, and she immediately waved her hand when she found the man in the back garden.

“Hey, El, how are you?” nadia asked who sat next to the man, and wagged her long hair until it hit the face of the ex-husband.

“Good, Nad,” replied Rafael annoyed, while rubbing his face affected by hair flicks. “Recondly from Singapore?”

“I've only been there a year for fashion school. Now back to Bandung.”

“Oh, kirain settle there.”

“No, dong! I, ‘kan, want to marry next month. You're coming, huh? I brought the invitation, here, for you family.”

“Sama si Irvan, yes?”

“Ih, really, know? You kepo, huh?”

“You cheated on him a long time ago, Nad. I pretended to be blind. Pretend budeg. Males is noisier as you are.”

“That, ‘kan, wrong you, El. When did you pay attention to me? Busy yourself mulu!”

“Yes, I was wrong. Sorry, yes, Nad.”

A year ago, before Nadia left for Singapore, Rafael signed their divorce papers once she could hold a pen and move her fingers. There are absolutely no obstacles in the process, because indeed both of them have wanted to separate for a long time. Rafael also did not protest when Nadia asked for custody of Kaia.

Nadia really wants to be a good mother for her only daughter. He realized that he was very afraid of losing his daughter after the incident experienced by Rafael in the apartment. During his stay in Singapore, he also brought Kaia to live with him.

Every weekend they would take a walk. Just the two of them, to glue the bond between mother and child. They never missed quality time for one night. Nadia always recites fairy tales before going to bed to him, listening to him tell stories about his friends, about his hobbies and about everything. At Kaia's request, Nadia entered a graphic design school for children, while she pursued the fashion industry.

“You why didn't you ask for a divorce, Nad?” That question had actually been circling around in Rafael's mind since long ago.

“Yeah, how, yeah ... actually, so your wife is not so bad, anyway. I'm free to go, free party, free to do so. You do not bring it, do not bother asking for this. So, yeah, I'm fine aja.”

“Because I don't care, Nad. Other life problems have been piled up, so I am lazy if I have to argue with you.”

“Iya, I know, really. So you can't protest when I'm cheating! After all, I used to parno the same divorce. Stigma in our family is very bad because.”

“Mama you parno you become a widow?”

“Iya! Really nice bum, huh! Thankful that Irvan cepet. If not, Mama boisterous really sure!”

“You are the real one, yes, the same Irvan. He looks good. She is also very dear to you.”

“Now I am, really. He also split his ex-wife nicely. Clash. Drama no. We open up to each other and accept everything. Sorry, yes, same time you, I'm not really.”

“Yah .. I am not really myself, anyway. So just relax. By the way, if I am not sick and still earning, you still ask for divorce?”

Nadia gasps. Sick? Rafael thinks the divorce happened because he was sick? Because he doesn't work? Gosh darn. He frowned and squinted both of his eyes. Hasn't anyone told him about Reva? Is the diary still unread? Duh.

Nadia recalled the time Vienna promised to give Rafael an understanding of why he had asked for his farewell. Apparently, Vienna has not said anything.

“Speedly or slowly, I think we must have separated, deh. Do you want to live like that?” That was the only answer from Nadia, even though she actually felt very anxious!

“Yes, sih—”

“What if you? You're not looking for a girlfriend anymore?” Nadia the gossip mongrel began not to bear to not fish. It's always been like that, it's hard to control the tongue.

Rafael fell silent. He just looked down while looking at his two legs which he slowly swayed. However, for Nadia it was a very clear answer. There was a million yearnings in the man's silence. Anyone can see it. And anyone knows for whom that longing is harbored.

Ah, it's so gaunty! Should everything about Reva be told then and there?