Always Gonna Be You
45. Beautiful Life
......The few years later......
Rakai
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He had just returned home from school when he saw that in the living room, Mama was hugging a crying woman, with a boy of Kindergarten playing with cars on the floor.
"Kai, get Rendra to get some ice cream. Do people remember Rendra?" so said Mama.
That was the first time he met Rendra. Although Mama said, they had met before several times, but she did not remember it.
And the first impression he felt when he got to know Rendra was annoying. Because once in the store, instead of choosing ice cream, Rendra actually pointed to the most expensive toy cars.
"You want it!"
"That's enough money to buy ice cream."
"You car!"
"Can't!"
"Car!"
Finally he went home empty-handed and with a broken heart. While Rendra laughed cheerfully next to him while holding expensive toy cars that he had never even had before.
"People bring it first pang," said the store owner who is well acquainted with Mama. "Pay it catch up."
He immediately refused because in addition to the expensive price, their main goal was to buy ice cream, not toys let alone expensive toys.
But the store owner has given Rendra a black toy car that is very similar to its original shape.
"Is this Kai's brother?" ask the shop owner while watching Rendra enthusiastically. "Still small it looks handsome."
Since then the boy named Rendra is his great enemy. He never thought that the beautiful and gentle Aunt Pingkan, could have a child as bad and as thick as Rendra.
"Did Rendra's school have no friends?" asked Mama when she was diligently studying to prepare for UAN SD.
"New third grade but pimple (rogue) his asking for mercy. Many of his friends, even the big class, were crying because of him. That's why people don't have friends!" his grunts were reluctant to remember Rendra's lunge at school. Enraged him to the end he did not admit that they were both cousins.
What the world says Rakai who is an exemplary student turns out to be brothers with Rendra the troublemaker. Unserving.
"Ndidn't do that. Rendra's our brother. It's sad not to have friends. Tomorrow take him to play gin."
That was the first time he didn't heed what Mom said. What the hell is ngajak the pimple's son play. It's not okay. The distance of their classes is far. Rendra was 3rd grade, while he was already 6th grade. No levels.
Fortunately, he did not have to linger one school with the bad guy Rendra, because once he graduated from Elementary School, he began to sink into his own world. Exciting ABG times. Busy with school, tutoring, schoolwork, group work, playing with friends (the good ones), hobbies.
But once he entered SMU, and Rendra SMP, the lunge of the pimply child was getting worse. The level is no longer in and out of the BP room, but the police station. Countless times in a month he saw Auntie Pingkan visited his house only to cry in the arms of Mama.
"Kai, people take Rendra to study at the gin house. Let's not make her mom cry."
Males really if you have to invite young children of Junior High who almost every working day truant, run away from school, fight, brawl, out at night to join bali (wild racing), even try kobam and nginex.
This is the second time he has not heeded Mama's words. And all the reason is because he doesn't like Rendra. Hugely.
Until one day Auntie Pingkan called Mama in a hysterical voice, "Rendra fainted in the room! Her mouth is out of the foam!"
Good thing Papa is getting rations off at home, just next week back to the rig. So it could help Rendra escape to the hospital. The doctor's diagnosis mentions Rendra almost OD, because consuming excessive inex at one time mixed drinking coffee.
While hospitalized he also knew, along the wrist to the right elbow of Rendra, full of small red dots, clear marks injection.
The most terrible ABGs with a bleak future ever. Because of the mischief of playmates, at best give birth to girl seizure or smoking. While Rendra? Has he been steadily choosing his way of life by being a criminal? Depressing. A typical person who doesn't think about the future. The kind of people to be shunned.
But there was no wind, no rain, the world was suddenly turned upside down. I don't know what miracle brought Rendra to his house just to say,
"Bang, I'll borrow your book."
Along with the increasingly rare Auntie Pingan came to the house to complain to Mama.
Later he found out that Auntie Pingkan rarely went out of the house because of esophageal cancer. Make his body so tired quickly, so to visit his home just complain of the behavior of children only wayangnya already unable. How pity.
Then he heard from Mama and Papa's conversation that Rendra was involved in a fight with the son of an influential official. Until the official hunted Rendra by visiting his house just to curse, insult and threaten Auntie Pingkan who was sick.
From the rumors circulating among the children he also knew that Rendra, the child of the little pussy, cried bitterly to see Auntie Pingkan being cursed and insulted. Apapula boy crying, otherwise because of the heartache.
"Can you please get checked?" the second time Rendra came to his house while carrying a bundle of folio paper containing handwriting.
"What is this?!"
"Answers of questions from questions in books."
And he never thought, Rendra answered all the questions in every book he borrowed, without exception.
"I don't have time" he said. Because he is also busy studying to prepare for the UN SMU.
But Rendra is Rendra, who does not give up easily just because of a rejection.
"What's wrong, I'm stacking up on your desk maybe there's some free time to check," said Rendra who then routinely came every day to submit a bundle of folio paper containing answers to the latest problems as well as borrow another book.
"My books are gone no more!" gerutu was upset because indeed all the printed books and packages he owned had been borrowed by Rendra.
But Rendra still forced to borrow another book, "If so borrow Abang's notebook."
You crazy pimple kid, he said at the time. What is it about borrowing all the books, then answering all the questions - even the ones that are not at all important - that can turn Rendra into a clever Rendra? Impossible.
But Mama's remarks on the day of the announcement of her graduation from Junior High made her faith waver. And began to admit if Rendra shaded the luck is very big.
"Good Kai, thanks to you often learn together, UN Rendra's value is the best number five in the world. Can enter the best SMU and immediately get a scholarship."
"Mama's proud of you, Kai."
"Tante Pingkan send this specifically for you, he said thank you very much," continued Mama while carrying a blue package, which contained two stels of long-sleeved shirts and trousers.
"It's Aunt Pingkan himself who's sewing. Again sick also had time to sew this for you," said Mama again. "People will use it for college."
And behind the joy of Rendra who has turned into the new Rendra, he faces painful failure. That is failed SBMPTN, failed Utul (writing test) campus blue, and must be satisfied with the lecture on campus Struggle.
"Ndak papa," comfort Mama. "Lecture anywhere is the same. Don't be inedible prestige. The important thing is that you study people who are diligent, really, will be successful in following."
One time when he was returning home due to semester holidays, Auntie Pingkan who later became ill, died. That was the first time he saw such an unforgettable sight. That is a flash of dark clouds that enveloped Rendra's face to be a marker of how slumped (former) the child pimple berandal.
At that time he knew, the universe began to overshadow Rendra with all opportunities, ease, luck, you name it.
Slowly but surely, Rendra began to strip off the title of the stubborn pimple. Which used to be predicted to stick forever, but now has really changed 180 degrees until finally having a student title. The most impossible miracle, right?
That is, the wise man once said, the experience of feeling the loss of your most valuable will actually make you find the real you.
Or, you have to lose everything first, to get everything.
Rendra spent the rest of her High School life in the best version of herself. Being an outstanding student, becoming a taekwondo athlete at the provincial level, and the last thing that makes him very envious is, Rendra managed to escape through the GBUD pathway to the Faculty of Engineering at the Blue Campus. Dream faculty.
It's insane!
Goddamnit! The stubborn child who had studied him had achievements far beyond him. Definition of he gets what he wants.
But despite showing the way of life success, his views on Rendra have not changed. He still thinks Rendra is the annoying prickly man of all the turmoil and trouble.
Be the first year Rendra went to college in Jogja, he acted as if they were not in the same city. After all, he was also busy following several committee events as well as taking part in the management of LEM (Student Executive Institution). No time to take care of a sickly cousin almost every month in and out of the hospital.
But when he was working on the thesis, a storm began to come. Papa died a few days after a human error involving several workers on a rig. Making it must delay the thesis work to accompany Mama who felt so lost after the death of Papa.
"Pingkan used to come here crying over her light-handed husband and her mischievous son. Now it's my turn to be sad, there's no one to complain to," sobbed Mama who made her heart trenchant. Striking the deepest recesses because implicitly Mama wants her to stay for a while at home.
"But I'm Ma's thesis again. It's gonna be over soon. Let's get ker quickly....."
"Don't you love Mama? Now it's just Rakai that Mama has. There's no one else."
Mom and Dad are both from Manado. Due to the marriage that was not approved by two large families, Papa decided to migrate to Kalimantan.
Through the steep path of early married life without the provision of a penny treasure on the opposite island.
But thanks to Papa's unashamed persistence to work odd jobs while continuing to find better job vacancies and establish relationships, a few months before he was born into the world, he said, Papa got the job he dreamed of. It was in a high-ocean oil drilling.
The stable condition of the household and the extended family who still insist on refusing the presence of Papa Mama back in the hometown. Make their small family automatically become permanent residents of the island of Borneo. Without ever feeling homecoming on a holiday or visiting the home of grandmother and grandfather.
Then according to the story of Mama, Aunt Pinging who is the son of an uncle and aunt from Papa's side, followed closely to Balikpapan because he refused to be betrothed by his parents.
That's why Mama is so close to Auntie Pingkan. Maybe because they feel lucky to be on the land of the region.
"Mama just wants to be accompanied by you people, Kai," said Mama while stroking her head. "Because you're Mama's only child."
He promised to return home often once the thesis was completed. Although it makes it more wasteful because the round-trip costs of Jogja-Balikpapan really drain the wallet of students.
Until one day, he gets a surprise call from Aunt Amunta whose house is right next to their house in Balikpapan. A neighbor of decades who has turned into a brother.
"Go home Kai, Mama you're in the hospital!"
But he doesn't have money. The last money sent from Mama has been used up for operational costs of working on the thesis. While the money from part-time work gives computer and English tutoring at an educational institution, it has been ludes to pay for the boarding and daily necessities.
Up to two days after Aunt Amunta called, she did not come home because she had not found any loan money. Some friends who are asked for help are also having their own problems. Can't help.
When he began to despair and unable to think clearly, Rendra suddenly appeared in front of his boarding house while driving a car a million people in black. Whose car?
Then without saying anything pushed a white envelope thick enough to the table.
"What is this?!" tanyanya. Because upset can not go home mixed up when dizzy like this actually met Rendra.
"Yesterday Aunt Amunta's neighbor Abang called."
He just shook his head. As bad as if Mama's pain until Aunt Amunta called Rendra. Or was it Mama who told Aunt Amunta to call Rendra because she never came home?
"Go home Bang. Don't be as sorry as I was."
Although hesitant about the receipt of money given by Rendra. "I borrow this first. Tomorrow if my liquid course salary is changed."
Armed with money from Rendra he can go home to Balikpapan. What made him so sorry even to this point was that he was late.
Make him have to forget the thesis to concentrate on caring for Mama. And the heart's sadness that was too deep because Papa left, actually invited the next stroke. Until my mother could no longer survive. Finally following Papa's departure.
He was crying helplessly in front of the still wet belly button when a hand patted his back softly.
A rendra?
Why did it get here? Who told him?
But he had no time to think about Rendra. The loss of two loved ones in a matter of months left him devastated in feelings of sadness and guilt.
And two months later just able to return to Jogja. After Aunt Amunta and Uncle Eris who was like a parent to him, always reminded about continuing to live for the future.
"Papa Mama people won't be happy to see Kai like this."
"Hurry home to Jogja, finish college, find a good job, then have a good family. Let Bang Elias and Kak Maya calm down there."
He had indeed desperately completed the thesis. Then follow the graduation with only accompanied by the grin of Rendra who throughout the busy event spread the charm on all graduawati. While others dissolve in togetherness with a large family.
After graduation he still kept silent waiting for the best job to come to him, but it was Rendra who came back with a raised smile.
"Cool right?" this time Rendra came riding a metallic black X5.
Where did the boy get it from?
"The first generation" continued Rendra proudly. "Machine, chassis, legs in prime condition."
"If there's an acquaintance you need a quality second car, look for me."
He still doesn't care. Prefer to assume the wind then. But when he was able to return the money Rendra used to go home some time ago, Rendra actually refused.
"What is this man," refused Rendra. "We're brothers. I help people, people help me. There's no such thing."
As hard as he tried to force, but Rendra continued to refuse. Making him promise, one day will help when Rendra needs it.
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He broke the daydream because the cigarette that was being smoked began to shorten. He quickly squeezed the cigarette into the ashtray. A quick look at the left wrist, 16.12 WIB.
"Two back!" he shouted at the children who were setting up a venue for tomorrow's event.
"Yo Bang!"
Then walk through the side yard of the beautiful house because Rendra overgrown with flowers. Directly adjacent to the green open space where Arung, Saga, and Daka are busy playing ball.
"Go home first!" he shouted at the three sons of Rendra.
"Aren't you waiting for Papi?" asked Arung who ran up to him for salim. Followed by his two younger brothers.
"Back home soon too. If Friday is usually until the house at five," added Arung again. The baby who has a terrible scream has now been transformed into a polite second-grade elementary school boy who is also handsome.Time flies so fast.
"Amang ngak nungu Papi ulu?" tanya Daka, Rendra's third child who is only three years old.
"No," he held Daka up high. "Amang wants to pick up Auntie home because Anwa is the same Three have been waiting."
"Tomorrow Anwa is the same here, Mang?" saga asked as she played the ball at her feet like a professional freestyle athlete.
"This is it," he answered while watching Saga's movements. "Wih, cool brother! Learn where?" his comments were spontaneous to see Saga play a football with both feet for almost a minute without breaking.
"YouTube," Saga replied as she continued to play with the ball on both her legs and knees.
"Cool! Cool!" he gave a thumbs up while lowering Daka onto the grass.
"Later to learn in the first three! Well, exactly that one!" he pointed to Saga's action just now. "Wih, kewreeen Brother!" again he thumbs up.
"Three are still Mang's babies" Saga frowned.
"Yes later if it's as big as Brother and Sister," pointed it towards Arung and Saga who nodded.
"Kids ciao!" he said while fighting five with the three of them before walking to the front yard.
"That's Amang!" the three children of Rendra waved their hands and a second later returned engrossed in playing ball.
He is now walking on a stretch of colorful coral stone, passing open-design bamboo houses in which there are dozens of children of SD age are practicing taekwondo.
"YES!"
"YES!"
As soon as the voice of the children shouted with enthusiasm each time ending the movement of a style.
"Taeguk three! Get started!"
So shouted the black-belt instructor who was walking on the sidelines of the line of children who were practicing. While two escorts, each drunk red, approached one by one the children who needed help. By correcting the position and position of the hands and feet to really fit the style that is being played.
"Bang's home?" greeting a black drunk who was training two children to do a split.
He nodded, "First, Vin!" he waved at Kevin, who he knew was one of Rendra's students.
"Yo Bang!"
After passing through a row of children practicing taekwondo, he now finds dozens of middle-aged children busy choosing books from ceiling-high shelves lined around the room.
Ajeng, Danu's youngest brother who is still in college, waves at him from behind a table containing a pile of books, "Bang's home?"
"Yes!" his answer waved back.
While some children ran up the stairs located on the far side of the bamboo house. Stairs made of wood and bamboo that connects the lower floor and upper floor. Where he was listening, he heard the sound of children chanting a letter in the Qur'an.
'amma yatasha`
'anin-naba`il-'aemia
allaishi hum fhi mukhalifakin
kalla i'lamub
⁇ umma kalla ia'lamn
(QS An Naba (78), verses 1-5)
As he began to set foot in the front yard, the reciting sound of the Qur'an changed to a loud cry, "How many Sin 300?"
"Because it's in the IV quadrant, the answer is definitely negative. So....."
Before his hand could open the car door, a phone call came into his phone.
"Yes, Yang?" he knew the one who called was his wife.
"Where are you still?"
"Rendra's House. Why?"
"This is a friend coming bring a new client, like you should have a chat."
"Okay, if so I stopped by the workshop first. What time do you want to be picked up?"
"A little over an hour. If it's not an hour I'm done with it."
"okay."
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Ever since the horrific incident that left Rendra's home and vehicle shattering shapelessly, the path of life began to change direction.
After completing the chaos that occurred. Ensuring that Naja, Jimmy, and those who attacked him are rewarded according to the applicable law. Then make a black treaty on white that has binding legal force. In anticipation of the disappointment and hurt of some parties that may reappear after years later. Also to minimize the same events repeated.
Rendra decided to stop from the hustle and bustle of ManjoMaju, and leave everything to him. Prefer to serious career as a lecturer at the Blue Campus.
Even so, Rendra still holds a majority stake in ManjoMaju and occasionally opens as a consultant. Utilizing sharp and accurate analytical skills, so as not to die or be forgotten because of eroded time and daily routines.
A few months after the horrific incident, Anggi who had resigned from his place of work finally graduated. To then prefer to accompany Arung and Saga at home through the golden age of children.
Now, years later, Rendra clearly proves his productivity by having five children with age close together. Arung, Saga, Daka, and the twins Pingkan & Aksa.
Basic Rendra! He shook his head to remember almost every year seeing Anggi pregnant and giving birth. It's exhausting, isn't it? He who only acts as a spectator feels tired.
But oddly enough, despite having a protruding child, Anggi actually looks more fresh and attractive. Not because he is now interested in Anggi. But more to prove the saying that the husband is like a scalpel for his wife.
Because the husband determines the beauty of a woman after marriage. It knows very well how Rendra goes about his day and treats Anggi in such a way. To make Anggi always smile and emit warm eyes full of happiness. Making his cousin's wife look shining so happy.
Well, apparently Rendra really uses the ability he has in the right place.
And about a year after the attack, Rendra chose to live in the suburbs. Deliberately buying land in the middle of the surrounding community is still surrounded by rice fields, rivers, and other natural beauty.
Deliberately build a futuristic bamboo house next to the house to provide a means for the children around with useful activities. Complement it with the library. Open a taekwondo, bimbel, and learn to read and memorize the Qur'an without a charge. At the same time facilitate the students directly into the community as a guide and companion of children.
Like a paddle, dozens of islands exceeded. Yes, Rendra is not dead. Always have an idea to be able to spread the benefits. The bad past has managed to bring Rendra into a person who always wants to benefit others.
"Life is for doing good, and nothing can defeat good intentions" Rendra said one time that made him hiss.
"Lu long ago looked like Mr. Umar, a cave lecturer in the first semester," he sneered as he shook his head.
"Lha, what is the lecturer's cave?!" seloroh Rendra with a sharp.
"Yakin Amang Mercy will rise from the grave if you know you are now like this," he said, shaking his head in disbelief that all this could be done by this insanely annoying pimple boy.
Cause we'll never know.
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Slowly he began driving down a rural highway to the city center where his workshop was located. Before later he had to pick up his beloved wife in Mreneo. Then go home to his lemonade, Anwa and Diga.
Best feeling ever.