Dul
118. Farewell and Meeting

“Bu ... Mas Dul when to go home again?” ask Mima at dinner.

“Mas Dul, right, just came home last semester. Next semester go home again. Wh why? What does Mima want?” tanya Sejah's.

All eyes that were sitting around the dining table were fixed on Mima. However, the girl's answer was just a head bob.

“Kangen Mas Dul,” Ibrahim chirps from next door.

“Indeed Iby doesn't miss Mas Dul?” Mima asked back.

“Not like to be called Iby,” grumbled Ibrahim.

“Mbak likes to call him Iby. Cute,” says Mima.

“Chat will be followed. Quickly spend the meal,” said Dijah.

“Mbok Friday Have you eaten?” ask Bara suddenly.

“Udah. After eating directly take the medicine. I also told his son. Mbok Jum also had an old phone call. But I don't know what to talk about. Because I was cooking again,” is obviously Colored.

When his name was mentioned, Mbok Jum appeared in the dining room. His face is still pale because it has been more than a week Mbok Jum sick. The old woman complained that her stomach often felt bloated. After being taken to the doctor it turns out that stomach acid Mbok Jum is relapsing. Dijah told Bara that it used to be sick several times, his complaint was only about the stomach. But the pain has not recurred for a long time.

“Yes, Mbok? What the fuck are you talking about? Here sit first,” take Bara.

Ibrahim immediately stood sliding one seat next to the Sejah. “Mbok sits here,” Ibrahim said, patting the seat back and waiting until Mbok Jum sits in his preferred seat.

“Still,” said Mbok Jum in a weak tone. His hand rubbed Ibra's head briefly before the boy returned to his seat.

Seized who had finished eating, stood up lifting his plate to the sink and immediately returned to sit with a sheet of table cloth. “By the way, Mbok. We all dreadin.”

“Jah .. sorry if I don't know the effect is lucky. But—”

“Mbok can't say that. We are like brothers. No one thinks so to Mbok.”

“Sorry Mbok. Mbok felt it was time to meet the Mbok children who gathered in Kalimantan. Mbok is old .. if there is anything Mbok does not want to take care of Ibra's father. Mbok's son also wanted to get together.” Mbok Jum looked down and started crying. “But Mbok heavy ... actually Mbok heavy. Ibra ...” His gaze immediately fell on Ibrahim who was sitting opposite him.

Ibra stood up and approached Mbok Jum. Mbok Jum stretched out his arms and Ibra joined in tears hugging him.

The age of Mbok Jum who was already old, made Dijah had to convince the old woman to rest and they were okay with hiring a housekeeper who went home every day. Mbok Jum dropped off and picked up Ibra during Kindergarten. From the time Ibra woke up to go back to sleep, Mbok Jum was always there for the boy. Mbok Jum loves Ibra as his own grandson. Until sometimes he had to ask Mbok Jum to rest and not force himself.

That is also why Ibrahim is often referred to as the son of Mbok Jum. Ibrahim can be left at home only with Mbok Jum. And since Ibrahim sat on the bench of SD, the boy also asked Mbok Jum to learn to read. One by one, slowly Mbok Jum began to recognize letters from Ibrahim.

The bruised shed tears. He did not know to hold back or release Mbok Jum who he had known for almost twenty years. Mbok Jum is a living witness to his long life journey. From that woman, Dijah learned a lot.

“Ibra must be school. Can't go with Mbok. Lagian ... Mbok's son's house is small. Ibra's going hot. There is no Mima. And if Mas Dul comes home later .. can-can nyariin Ibra where.”

Seized and looked at each other. Actually Bara could not bear to see Ibra crying until a hiccup because he heard Mbok Jum would leave their house. But it feels more unbearable if you have to hold Mbok Jum. Although Mbok Jum does not need to do anything in their home, but for Bara the presence of Mbok Jum is like a substitute mother for Dijah. Mbok Jum has been considered family and often asked for this opinion that concerns the comfort of the entire house.

“If Mbok Jum wants to go to Kalimantan, we are all nothing. Later we can all join Mbok anther. At least, we have to make sure Mbok Jum arrives safely and meets with Mbok Jum's grandchildren. But ... Can you wait until Dul comes home next semester? If Mbok Jum comes home now .. pity Dul as well. He never met Mbok. Later ... we take a walk first family. Dul finishes the vacation, we take Mbok. How?” Bara looked at Mbok Jum who was still hugging Ibra and rubbed the boy's back.

Bara rubbed his shoulders and arm Colored without saying anything. Sejah's eyes were on Ibra who was still crying.

“Iya. It's nothin. Mbok wants to meet Mas Dul. The last time I saw you didn't say much either. Mbok should be able to wait for Mas Duln Ibra until graduation. But Mbok is also worried ... Mbok did not have time—”

Sejah wrapped his hand on Mbok Jum's shoulder and placed his head touching the old woman's head. “Nothing. Wherever Mbok is. Mbok is happy, I am happy Mbok too. Don't cry anymore. If Ibra misses, Ibra will be able to call Mbok. If Mas Dul has finished school, pray we can all play to Kalimantan. My thanks to Mbok it .. not enough even though it is said hundreds of times. Forever ... until whenever I won't escape Mbok.” Colored dripping his tears without a sling.

“Khadijah ... always been a sweet Mbok girl,” said Mbok Jum terbrata.

******

The even semester break in the second year of the Air Force Academy made Dul impatient to return to his home. After the release ceremony marks the end of the school year, almost all second-year Karbol Taruna groups make a farewell lunch appointment. They were separated by proximity during their time in the dorm.

Dul went to the cafe with eight of his friends. By Leonardo Yepa. Leha-leha for a moment after being tightly confined by the schedule and the walls of the dormitory, a casual talk at a cafe is always their first agenda. The adult men, most of them twenty years old, were discussing things that they could not discuss freely during bound hours of study. Especially if it's not about women. They laughed and joked while inserting stories about their daily lives.

That day Dul will take an afternoon plane to Jakarta. Because it was too relaxed to linger in the cafe, as a result Dul had to rush to catch a flight schedule. He can just relax and breathe a sigh of relief when he was sitting in the plane seat. With a brown uniform and a hat perched on the head, Dul leaned back and circulated the view out the window of the plane. Outside, the sky was spraying its red hue. The sun's sign is getting away from the side of the earth where it is. Dul closed his eyes. I hope that Yogyakarta and Jakarta flights will be short if he does not often tilt the clock on his right wrist.

Now, the airport is like an old friend to Dul. A place where the happiness of meeting and the sadness of parting is often seen in that place. Dul put on a thin smile with one corner of his lips. He grabbed a backpack and got into a taxi.

Half an hour away, Dul spends his time exchanging messages with Robin and Son. Especially if you are not planning an event to meet. Dul's gaze was sweeping across the street on his right side. He was waiting for Robin's next reply. Until the way a woman wags her hair reminds Dul of someone. His eyes widened. Between the street jams, taxis falter. The footsteps of the long-haired woman on the sidewalk across the street were too fast. Dul didn't want to lose track of the woman.

“Annisa,” murmured Dul. “Pak, I stopped here aja,” exclaimed Dul on taxi driver. His hand hurriedly took out the wallet from inside his backpack.

To Be Continued