WHAT ABOUT ME?
50
Monday morning
after finishing preparing breakfast for Grandma Ida, I rushed to take a shower immediately and left for school because today I will be the ceremonial attendant.
I am grateful that Grandma Ida did not mind me who was still in school because most importantly all the work was done and the night I remained at home to accompany her.
finished preparing ready I immediately approached Grandma Ida who turned out to be in the kitchen.
"grandmother, I go to school first huh" my saying
"so, how early in the morning, have you had breakfast? " nek Ida who was observing the breakfast menu immediately turned to me
"yet nek, later buy in the cafeteria" I was going to yap Nek Ida but he refused.
"last breakfast was just leaving school" he asked me to pull my hand to sit with him in the dining room.
"t-but grandma-"
"have not protested much, you are tired of cooking, cooking is not nyicipin your cooking? "
Honestly, I was very sad because he was very good like my former employer, Ms. Parni. whereas my intention to leave in the morning one of them to avoid being invited to eat together, but whatever the power, it turns out that Grandma Ida actually watched me in such a way that I felt very reluctant about her.
"eating a lot, schoolchildren should always be full to stay focused" he said while putting some side dishes into my plate
"yes grandma"
after breakfast and cleaning the dirty dishes, I went to school.
today felt so different because there was no Gita accompanying my footsteps to school.
arriving at school I rushed to put my bag and approached Gita who said he was in the field first.
"hi Git, has it been a while? " The Gita who was busy conversing with the others turned her head
"Je.. I've just arrived, let's take the flag first, ten minutes to start the ceremony"
I nodded to follow Gita approaching Pak Adi who was preparing a line of students.
***
Today's ceremony went smoothly, only I knew that being a ceremonial attendant was not easy, they had to be mentally strong in front of the ceremony participants, and so I knew that being a ceremonial attendant was not easy, it is appropriate that Mr. Adi immediately punished us by becoming a ceremonial officer, it turns out he wanted us to know if being an officer is not easy, there are many things they must prepare before the ceremony starts.
"alhamdulillah yes Je, the ceremony went smoothly, but before the hoisting I was already shaking, afraid of failure" said Gita when we walked to class
"yes, thank God, Git, not only are you nervous, I am the same... "
***
I walked alone to the house of Grandma Ida, it was very felt, if usually with Gita, now I walk alone because we are not in the same direction.
when I got home, I hurried to clean up before starting my work.
while cleaning the kitchen, my phone suddenly rang, I immediately cleaned my hands of dirt and saw who was calling
'mother'
"hello assalamu'alaikum ma'am"
"wa'alaikum salam, sis, how are you, have you eaten yet? " ask mom across there
"mother is fine at home, even if not doing homework, the mother's body feels tired all, yes you have rest there, must be tired just coming home from school"
tut
the call was immediately broken by my mother, without waiting for my answer.
I didn't tell Mom that I worked here because I didn't want to make you think, mother always said if he was strong when he only pretended to be strong while his physical and health were not good.
"why son? " when Nek Ida came to me and stroked the top of my head, she seemed to know what I was feeling.
"you didn't let your mother work here? " tanyanya
I shook my head, to be honest I didn't dare to say that, let me bear it myself the most important thing is that the costs that my mother spent on my school did not swell, she said, I can still focus on school even though I have to work.
nek Ida pulled my hand and took me to sit on the dining chair.
"why don't you be honest with your mom, how about when your mom finds out that you work here, grandma worries that your mom is upset and mad at you"
"Jasmin just did not want to burden the mother, with the mother's unstable health will make it difficult for her to work, since the father died, the mother who became the backbone of the family for us, the mother who became the backbone of the family for us, Jasmin won't burden mom while Jasmin can"
"yes, but I hope one day you will tell your mother the truth, no matter what she is responsible for what you did today"
like his grandmother Ida did not want to interfere too much in my affairs, she just straightened and directed me not to go the wrong way and finally disappointed the people closest to me.
I nodded slowly, after feeling calm I decided to continue my work again.
***
2 Years later...
This afternoon I was back in the kitchen with Grandma Ida to prepare dinner.
Today the second child of Ida's grandmother will visit so we have to prepare a menu of her favorite dishes and her small family.
this is the first time I'm going to meet the daughter of Grandma Ida even if only with her youngest daughter.
Grandma Ida looks happy, she even since this morning she has been busy with seasoning in the kitchen also to the market.
Ida's grandmother once told me that she had two children, the first was a boy named Bagas while the second was a girl named Tari.
both are the same as wandering in the capital so rarely go home. In fact, Grandma Ida used to come with her eldest child but because her eldest child had to take care of his business, he said, eventually Ida's grandmother chose to return to her hometown.
Today was actually the day I had to go back to the village because it happened to be a semester break, but because of the pity of seeing Grandma Ida prepare all by herself I finally undo my intention to go home.
for my mother, she knew that if I worked here, she was angry at first and looked very disappointed. But because I re-assured that I was okay, I finally approved if I worked.
"bu Tari think until what time Nek? " ask me on the sidelines stirring rendang
"maybe two o'clock just arrived, there's still a few hours to finish the cooking, you're tired son, rest there, let grandma continue"
"eh no daddies, I was just curious about the same bu Tari, said his grandmother would have a boutique in the capital, who knows later Jasmin can learn with him"
"oh so, yes later you ask the same question Tari, he's cool in ajakin chat"
"yes grandma... "