Between Two Hearts
Grief News

The next morning

Triiin... Triiin... Triiin...

The phone rang, a sign of a call coming in.

Tiara picked up the phone and stared at a name on her phone screen. A call from mom.

"Hello, Mrs Assalamualaikum..."

"Hello, son.." said the mother from across the phone, her voice sounded raucous.

"Mom, why's mom?"

"Son, father.." sounded the mother's sobbing from across the phone.

"Why with you, mom?"

"Father died, son."

"Whataa??? It's impossible, Mom? I must be kidding..."

The voice from across the street was crying. Mom sobbing.

"True son, father is no more... If you can go home, son. At the last moment I said I miss you, son. He's meeting..."

"No, father.... Yaw....."

"I'm sorry for all your mistakes, son..."

"Mom, why didn't you call me from yesterday?"

"Mom's afraid you're thinking, son..."

"But now I'm thinking more, ma'am. I'm sorry, I've been a bad boy,"

"No, son. Not at all..."

"But father, Mom. Fathers.... I can no longer see my father. Father.." cried Tiara hysterically.

Hearing the news, Tiara seemed to have lost her footing. His body looks hollow. Since traveling he has never returned to the village, most only exchanging news by phone. He was sorry, very sorry.

"What's up, baby?" jiho asked worriedly, he laid his wife's body on the bed. He also grabbed a cell phone in his wife's hand.

"Hello Ma'am.." said Jiho.

"Son, Tiara why, son?"

"He's limp Mom. What's up, Mom? Why is mom crying?"

"Father died, son." replied the mother crying.

"What?? Innalillahi wa innailaihi... What are you sick, Mom?"

"Say doctor, you've had a heart attack, son. Son, can you guys go home?"

"Ah, yes Ma'am. We're going home. Forgive us Mom, because we can't go home these 2 years..."

"Yes son, it's okay. Yes, if you want to go home, be careful on the road, son."

"Yes Ma'am"

"Yes, I hung up the phone. Assalamualaikum..."

"Greetings waalaikum..."

Jiho put the phone on the nightstand, then went back to his crying wife. On his wife's face was so deep sadness and regret. Jiho was so sorry, he never asked the wife's wishes. He seems to miss his parents very much. Once he gets home, he'll never see his father again. Everything will remain a memory.

"Darling..."

Tiara immediately hugged her husband's body. Cry spilled. He was devastated to hear the news. He's very sad.

"Are you okay, pregnant again like this long-distance bus ride?" jiho asked as he rubbed Tiara's already big belly.

"It's okay, A. I want to meet my mother and also my late father. I'm sure I'm strong, A. I'm gonna be fine"

"Yes, we pack up, we go home now." said Jiho as he continued to try to calm his wife.

Tiara nodded. He wiped his falling tears many times.

***

"Where are you going?" ask Ferdi who just came. He saw them carrying backpacks. He also saw Tiara's puffy eyes.

"What's going on?"

They're speechless.

"You don't want to talk to me?" urged Ferdi.

"What kind of sad news?"

"Father died...."

"Whataa?? Really it?" Ferdi asked again to convince. Tiara simply nodded and came back crying.

"Innalilahi wa innailaihi roji'un." - Sahut Ferdi again. "You want to take the bus, in your wife's condition like this?"

"Yes, how else would Fer... After all, there are no travel cars heading there."

"Your staff! Poor you know, Tiara is pregnant again, time is left to ride the bus!"

Jiho wanted to be angry, but it was also true that Ferdi said. So he better shut up.

"It should be if there's nothing you're talking to me!" ferdi said again, he looked disappointed. "Have you guys been here first, I'd call Uncle Har, who knows if he can take us."

"You want to come home too, mom?" ask Tiara.

"Yes, deck. Your father is also my father, right? They're like my own parents."

Tiara could only nod.

"Yes, I want to say the same employee first, if some days our cafe is closed."

***

"I'm sorry, for a few days this cafe is closed."

"Why?"

"Our father in the village died."

"Innalilahi wa innailaihi roji... We also have our condolences... May our late father be accepted by God's side."

"Aamiin"

After waiting for half an hour, Uncle Har came. The four of us got into the car.

"Dibikin relax deck, do not cry continuously. Poor grandpa baby tagging tense. Especially this is a long trip. It could take a long time, nine hours drive..."

"Yes" he answered briefly.

"If you want to rest or go to the toilet, say yes..."

"Yes" he replied again. Tiara still leaned her head on Jiho's shoulder. And the husband put his shoulder on. Occasionally Jiho wiped his tears and stroked Tiara's hair gently. So friendly.

Ferdi smilingly watched them from behind the rearview mirror.

"Uncle, later if tired, the driving change yes." said Ferdi broke the silence.

"Well, mas" replied Uncle Har.

Ferdi looked back at them, especially Tiara. His face was very haggard, his eyes were puffy, he was constantly crying. He must have been devastated, hearing the news of his father's death. Just yesterday, he wanted to go home. Tiara was eager to meet her father and mother. It turns out that it was a child's premonition towards his parents. Maybe it's been the way it is like this.

Ferdi let out a long breath. Thankfully there was Jiho beside him. They look very friendly, indeed Jiho and Tiara are a very compatible couple.

The journey to my hometown takes a long time. Several times they stopped at the rest area, due to Tiara's wishes. His body feels so tired. His stomach felt thick and stuffy.

Tiara opened her eyes and grimaced in pain.

"A, my stomach hurts.." said Tiara in a soft tone.

"illness?" jiho asked while rubbing his wife's stomach.

Tiara nodded.

"Fer, please stop the car first." Jiho said.

Ferdi immediately put the brakes on his car and parked it to the side of the road.

"We'll rest here, pity Tiara. I also definitely understand, our journey is very far away." said Ferdi who saw Tiara feeling exhausted. He's leaning in the car seat.

"Yes, Fer" replied Jiho. He seemed worried about his wife. Yeah, he's afraid something's happened to his wife and son.

"Honey, try to get up first yuk. Maybe it's because most of the time you sit so your stomach hurts."

Tiara nodded and accepted her husband's hand.

"Hello. dedek baby, son father, don't make your mother sick son. Fine in the mother's stomach." said Jiho while stroking his wife's stomach. Tiara smiled at the attitude of her husband. He also felt the baby's grandpa move responding to his father's speech.

"Where? Still have stomach pain? Try to smear this first," said Ferdi while giving up eucalyptus oil.

"Ah yes, thank you, Fer"

After resting for quite a while, Tiara felt somewhat lightened. They continue on a long journey.