Dul
046. Who I Really Am

Dul lowered his head to hide his teary face. For a moment he forgot where he was. Ignoring the presence of Mr. Wirya, Heru, even Robin who must have looked at him in wonder. He stood straight in front of him. Bara's hand was raised a little as if he wanted to touch it. However, he snarled because his footsteps slightly inched backwards. Maybe Bara's worried he's gonna run away from that place again.

"Mother said my father wasn't my father. Father crooks. I'm shy. Why did my father have to be a criminal and go to jail? Why can't my dad?" Dul ventured to look up at Bara.

"Now, Dad is your Dad. We have lived together for many years as a family and we are happy. Dul ...." Bara approached Dul and touched his shoulder slowly. "It's not about who your father is. Criminals or not, or whatever the profession. It's about you, Dul. You are a different person to what you mentioned earlier. For Father, for Mother, for all of us, you are Abdullah who has a right to himself. Dul is free to be himself. Living the ideals of Dul, as well as all the happiness that is appropriate for Dul. Dul is Dul, not anyone else." Bara dive into the look of Dul's eyes that can not be separated to look at him.

Dul tergugu's. Highlight Bara's shady eyes made him instantly mute. There is no resemblance between the two of them. Unlike the Mima that can be said is the perfect plaques of Bara. Curls of tanned hair, dark brown eyeballs, as well as yellow skin and cheeks that meet red every time they overheat. He and Bara have no resemblance.

"Dad wasn't my real father. My friend once said. We are not similar. I'm different" said Dul.

"Your handsome face is a gift from Mom. The woman that Dad loved and desperately took his heart. Seeing your face will always make you remember the strong and strong woman who tried to make her son happy. I love Mom, Dul. I know you must love Mom too, right?" The words of Bara are very soft and clear. It infiltrated Dul's ears along with a gust of night wind that swept across their faces.

Dul nodded slowly agreeing to Bara's words. He really loves his mother. There is no reason not to love a woman who has gone through so much trouble to give her so much good. He can even tell everyone in the world that he loves his mother more than anyone.

"If you love Mom as much as Dad does, that means we're in agreement that I won't think about you tonight, right?" Bara this time put one of his other hands on Dul's shoulder.

Dul nodded again, but his gaze had not yet come down. He was still staring at Bara. There are things he still wants to ask. "I'm angry if anyone says I'm not Dad's son. Moreover, we are not similar." After uttering the uneasiness of his heart, Dul lowered his head.

"You look like Mom. That's obvious. If you can't match that, you can look like Dad in other ways. What if it's similar to Daddy's persistent? The kingly? Or ... charm?" Bara smelled a smile. Trying to decipher the atmosphere between them.

"If the charm must be like Pakdhe," cut Heru who walked up to them.

Dul and Bara turned to Heru and Pak Wirya who walked over.

"Tomorrow saturday, huh? Tonight Akung can stay at home for Dul and Mima. Mom and Dad were in the hospital first. How's it? Wants, right? Definitely want. Usually if Akung talks about going to additional college, Akung students are happy to be extraordinary. Dul must be, too" said Mr. Wirya, walking next to Dul and embracing the boy's shoulder.

"We're going home now? I'm full, Pakdhe sleepy," said Heru.

"Look tuh. Robin's been picked up by his father." Heru pointed at the mouth of the road and saw Robin waving. "Tenang .. meatballs portion of children who have a lot of claws that Pakdhe has paid. Robin is not out of money. He said it's good for the extra tomorrow." Heru smiled as he saw Dul's face relieved to hear Robin's fate that night ended well.

"Before I go home I want to see Mom" said Dul.

"Yes. Before we go home, we look at Mom first." Mr. Wirya patted slowly Dul's shoulder while walking towards Heru's car.

That night, it wasn't all over. There is still a problem about someone who is behind bars and wants to meet him. Dul's shy. He had to come back that night. The stupidity that went away just obeyed his emotions earlier, it was troublesome for many people. In the car he sat quietly next to Mr. Wirya. Heru drove them near SPBU to move to Bara's car. It was a little late that night to go to the hospital. But Bara and Pak Wirya obeyed his will without objection. The faces of the two men were equally tired. Dul felt more guilty and troublesome.

"Akung .. I'm sorry I took the Akung." Dul's voice was very slow. Almost like a tweet. "I'm sorry for you too" Dul continued.

"I'm sorry. But this hasn't been a hassle. Akung felt invited to take a night walk. Rarely did your father and Pakdhe ngajak Akung eat meatballs. They always come out both. Tonight, because of you, Akung gets invited to hang out." Mr. Wirya chuckles. Bara looked at his father.

"Dad, too, accept his apology. I'm sorry too .. Maybe you haven't been right how to deliver. As a parent...."

"Being an old man is indeed an endless lesson. If you leave the world." Wirya turned to Bara.

"I am still learning" Bara said.

Mr. Wirya stared at the street. "Parents and children are a relationship that lasts longer than a lifetime. More than just a responsibility in this world" murmured Mr. Wirya.

Dul sat quietly watching the words of the two men in front of him. That night, she hugged her tear-soaked mother in a hospital bed.

To Be Continued