Dul
109. Gotta Get up

How long has he not cried? A year? Two years? Or as long as he knows a Bara? Or ... as long as he's part of Satyadarma's extended family? He should have forgotten what it was like to cry for someone. The last time I saw him was Mbah Wedok.

Dul flushed his head with cold water from the shower. Thinking that the water will wash away her tears. But after being tempted, his memory increasingly sharpened about the figure of the wisest grandfather he knew throughout his age. Her tears won. That day he had no reason to stop it.

‘Dul, whack? So we pigi?’

After taking a shower, Dul finds Robin's message. He forgot to tell his best friend that their show was off. Dul called Robin. Simultaneously the sound of the car horn in front made his hand swiftly grab the backpack and go outside.

“Bin? Can you tell the Son that today I postpone it first. Excuse me. My acorn...My heart went to the hospital. Unaware, Bin.” Dul has been drying his tears since. He didn't want to see her cry. Bara must be feeling sadder. He did not want to cry for Mr. Wirya as if the old man had left this world.

“Ya, already. Safe it. You look at your Akung first. Later tell us which hospital.”

Dul hangs up after telling Robin. He ran out of the fence and locked it fast.

“Lamp is already in use? Water tap no yang—“

“Udah, Dad. Everything is done. We can leave now,” said Dul, nodding at Bara.

Bara nodded. His eyes were empty and looked confused. “We leave now,” Bara said, entering gear and leaving home. “Pakdhe may soon be in the hospital. Pakdhe pick up Budhe Fifi,” clear Bara.

Dul didn't want to ask anything. It is clear that Bara also has not met with Mr. Wirya. On the phone earlier, Bara told Dul that Mr. Wirya was on his way to the hospital. It could be Bu Yanti, or Sukma and her husband who were there. They are both equally confused.

In the hospital, the first person to see the arrival of Dul and Bara in the hallway was Bu Yanti. The woman was sitting down and immediately stood up slipping into Bara's embrace.

“Mother has said, right, Mas .... Speaking to me, let me go to the hospital. If you don't hear it again, you should still hear what Mas said. Babysitters. Though many times Mother took treatment to the doctor. I always take it as trivial as all things. Relax. Always anything Mother told me to calm down. If you are already rich gini..” Bu Yanti connected her words with a muffled cry in Bara's chest.

Dul approaches the Colonized. Lifting Ibra who occupies an empty bench and holding his younger brother. “Bu, so Akung is not awake yet? Not aware how? Who's inside?” Dul sees the curtains in the emergency room that are still closed.

“Akung not yet awake. The one in Paklik Rico and Bulik Sukma. Akung falls in room,” whispered Colored. “Bulik Sukma new .. just get home. Not ten minutes yet. Suddenly Uti screamed from the room.” Sejah explains it with a facial expression that implies anxiety. He is getting better at expressing his emotions

“And I want a surprise for Akung,” muttered Dul.

“What surprise?” tanya Sejah again in a whisper. For a moment he forgot that that day was the announcement of the AAU entrance selection area that Dul was following.

“I passed the regional selection, Mom. I'm leaving for selection soon at the center. I want Akung tau.”

He widened his eyes, then shut his mouth. “You passed?” Caught Dul's face. He then looked at Mima and Ibra who were sitting next to him in turn. His hands then cupped Mima's face, then Ibra's face. “Mima, Ibra, Mas pass. Not too long ago Mas will be an Army,” Cetus Colored with rounded eyes.

“Mas definitely getting handsome,” said Mima.

“Have a gun,” timpal Ibra.

Then, Bara's voice was heard calling out to Dul. His hand waved asking Dul to immediately approach him and Bu Yanti. “Dul, here,” call Bara.

Dul got up and put Ibrahim back in his place. Walking closer to Bara and taking a half crouching position in front of Bu Yanti and Bara. “Yes, Dad? Uti all right?” ask Dul.

With such a simple question, Dul did not expect that Bu Yanti would immediately cry. The woman patted Dul on the shoulder. “Wake Akung, Dul .... Tell Akung you graduated. Also say Akung should not be rich for long because you want to go to Solo.” Bu Yanti covered her face and came back crying.

Dul shifted in front of Bu Yanti and grabbed a frail body that he later saw increasingly look withered. He hugged Bu Yanti who immediately dropped her chin on his shoulder. The woman sniffled. “Wake Akung, Dul .... Akung, right, used to say that you were Satyadarma's oldest grandson. You should be able to wake up Akung. Uti Kasian. Tell Akung too, kasian Uti if alone. Uti does not want,” said Bu Yanti stammered.

Dul was crying. The one who saw it was crying too. Bara rubbed his mother's back with tears welling up.

Then came the sound of the curtain. “Mas .. here,” pinta Sukma, calling Bara.

Dul wiped his tears and looked around. “Ti, I want to hear what Bulik Sukma said. Uti here for a moment, yes.” Dul held onto Bu Yanti's arms to lean on the chair. The woman nodded. Dul wiped the tears on Bu Yanti's cheek before rising towards Bara who was standing outside the curtain. Rico, Sukma's husband, joined the conversation. While Sejah, reverberating Mima and Ibra's hands with anxious look forward to the news.

“Acung?” ask Dul to Bara. He pointed inside.

Bara nodded. “Not yet awake, but he said it is stable. You go first,” said Bara.

Dul immediately flicked the curtain and stepped inside. He saw the old man who in his memory had always been dashing was now lying weak and closing his eyes. From behind his oxygen mask, Mr. Wirya's breath looks short. Dul lowered his head and grabbed Pak Wirya's right hand to place it on his forehead. “Kung .. This is Mas Dul. I graduated, Kung .... I woke up, yeah. How do I go to the selection center if you leave Akung rich gini.”

Without the presence of people nearby, Dul spilled all the tears that he had been resistant to. “Do not worry. I want Akung to see me in uniform. I promise .... If Akung is rich in gini, Kasian's father. Kasian Daddy,” isak Dul. He clasped the cold hand of Mr. Wirya. Until the hand felt a little react. Dul straightened his body looking at Mr. Wirya's face.

“Kung?” call Dul.

“Lu—lus?” asked Mr. Wirya in an indistinct voice.

Dul nodded many times. “Pass...pass! I'm graduating. Yeah! Kidnap! Akung wake!” exclaim Dul.

To Be Continued