183 Days of Being a Lover
43. By-By

Rendi turns the car into Rahma's office yard. He stopped the car right in front of the office building.

“Pak Rendi, thank you for the ride,” said Mr. Barli before getting off the car.

Rendi and Rahma looked back.

“Sama-sama, Mr. Barli,” replied Rendi.

“Rahma, thank you,” said Mr. Barli.

“Yes, Mr. Barli,” replied Rahma.

Mr. Barli got out of the car while carrying a lot of luggage. After getting off the car Mr. Barli closed the door and waved to Rahma, Rahma returned a wave of Mr. Barli's hand. Rendi runs her car leaving Rahma's office.

“How about the training? Fun, no?” Rendi turned to Rahma for a while and then focused again forward.

“There is a pleasant training,” said Rahma with a pouting face.

“Training is the same as school. You should pay attention to the instructor when explaining. After that was given a task, so forced to have to learn,” continued Rahma.

“Nothing, later so be smarter,” said Rendi.

“Later in the office should teach what has been learned to friends. Anyway ribet, deh,” complained Rahma.

“It's okay, so charity is good for you,” said Rendi.

Rahma remembered that she had not told Rendi about the new mess.

“Oh yes, Mr. Rendi. I've got a new boarding spot,” said Rahma.

Rendi was shocked to hear that. He looked to Rahma.

“Oh, yes? Where?” ask Rendi.

“In office. I can mess from the office,” replied Rahma.

“But still can not be occupied because it is being renovated,” continued Rahma.

Rendi was relieved to hear the words of Rahma.

“Good. So you can still stay in my house until the mess is completed renovated,” said Rendi.

“Kok is good, anyway? I will feel bad for too long hitchhiking at Mr. Rendi's house,” said Rahma.

“Why feel bad? Mama's glad you're staying home so you have friends. Grandpa is glad to have you staying with us because you have a chess friend. Even more so, I have a friend to talk to. Moreover, our work is different so we can share the experience,” said Rendi while focusing on driving.

It did not feel like they reached the front of Rendi's house. Mr. Atmo hastily opened the gate. After the turnstile opened Rendi entered her car into the garage. Rahma got out of the car. Rendi got out of the car and opened the luggage door. Rahma was about to take her luggage, but was forbidden by Rendi.

“Let me take it,” said Rendi.

“I take this only.” Rahma took a plastic bag containing souvenirs and brought it into the house. Rendi took Rahma's travel bag and brought the bag.

“Assalamualaikum,” said Rahma when entering the house.

“Waalaikumsalam,” replied Mr. Sultan and Ms. Claudia.

“Rahmaaaa.” Claudia's mother moved from her seat and approached Rahma. Rahma keeps a plastic bag on the dining table. Claudia's mother immediately hugged Rahma.

“Tante kangen with you,” said Ms. Claudia.

“Rahma also miss Auntie,” said Rahma.

Claudia's mother took off her arms and looked at Rahma from head to toe.

“It looks like you are a bit fat, deh,” Claudia's mother said.

“Masa, anyway?” Rahma noticed his body shape. Indeed, his body shape looks more contained than before.

“Oh, yes yes. Maybe because during there Rahma sits more so less motion,” said Rahma.

Rahma approached Pak Sultan who had only noticed Rahma and Claudia's mother. He kissed the hand of Sultan.

“Bring souvenirs for Grandpa, no?” ask Mr. Sultan.

“Very many souvenirs,” said Pak Sultan.

“Kan for rame-rame,” replied Rahma.

Rendi approached Rahma and gave a large paper bag to Rahma.

“What is this?” Rahma was holding a paper bag given by Rendi.

“That's a by-by for you,” replied Rendi.

“Thank you.” Rahma took the paper bag from Rendi.

“Try to open, Ma. Aunty wants to see the contents,” said Claudia's mother was curious.

“Mama can already,” said Rendi.

“Mama just want to see what it is,” replied Ms. Claudia.

Rahma opened the paper bag and the contents of the paper bag were two bags. Rahma took out both bags. He looked at the bag one by one. Both bags are made in Japan with a famous brand in Japan. One medium-sized with a shoulder bag model is suitable for use in the office. The other one is small with a sling bag model suitable for streets.

“Wah, nice bag,” praise Ibu Claudia when see Rendi handbag.

Rahma noticed the price tag attached to the bag. Rahma was silent while counting to the rupiah, the result made Rahma shocked.

“Pak, this is very expensive,” said Rahma.

“Eh, let it go!  This brand does not exist in Indonesia only in Japan. So the loot that will match,” said Claudia's mother.

“Thank you very much Mr. Rendi,” said Rahma once again.

“Sama-sama, Rahma,” replied Rendi.

Rahma looked at the clock stuck to the wall of time already showing seven o'clock less. He only realized that he had not yet prayed magrib.

“Ehk, I have not prayed magrib.” Rahma immediately went to her room and brought in a travel bag and kerta bag.

***

The next day from dawn Rahma was busy washing the dirty clothes that stood up. For five days he did not wash his clothes. Claudia's mother approached Rahma in the laundry.

“Come breakfast first. Wash the clothes and continue later!” said Claudia's mother.

“Tanggung, Aunt. A little more,” said Rahma while hanging her clothes by using a hanger.

“Tante breakfast first, yes,” said Ms. Claudia.

“Iya, Aunt,” replied Rahma. Claudia's mother returned to the middle of the house.

After finishing washing clothes Rahma headed to her room to take a bath. While passing through the dining room Rendi, Claudia and Pak Sultan were having breakfast.

Rendi calls Rahma, “Ma, come here breakfast first!”

“Let's go, Mr. Rendi. I want to take a shower first,” replied Rahma. He kept walking to his room.

After finishing the bath, Rahma came out of her room. He's headed to the dining room. There was no one in the dining room anymore. Rahma sat at the dining table. He poured the fried rice on the plate and ate the fried rice. When Rahma was eating, Rendi went into the house. It's from the garden behind the house.

“Eat Mr. Rendi,” says Rahma.

“Ya, please. I ate.” Rendi walked towards the sink that was in the dining room. He washes his hands in the sink. After finishing washing his hands Rendi approached Rahma who was eating. He sat next to Rahma.

“Later in the afternoon we take a walk, yes,” said Rendi.

“Where?” ask Rahma while chewing food.

“We watch dinner. We have not been together for a long time,” replied Rendi.

“Ya, alright,” said Rahma sign agree.

“Oke, then. I want to wash the car first.” The joint takes the crackers from inside the jar and walks to the garage while eating the crackers.