Father To Sapphira
Can you have a dad again ?

"Mother..." The screams of girls from inside the house were able to change the shabby face of the tiny woman who had just entered the courtyard of the house.

A smile emanated on his face as the princess greeted him cheerfully. "Assalamualaikum the Mother's son". His body ducked down and his arms stretched wide welcoming the arrival of his daughter who immediately grabbed him.

"Waalaikumsalam, Mother. Mommy so meet with Daddy ?". His face seemed to sparkle waiting for the answer from the mother. Risa increasingly could not bear to explain the truth to the princess only wayangnya. How much she must have suffered in childhood without the affection of a father.

Risa started to regulate her breathing while reviewing the smile. "Baby mira... Fira knows how busy Dad is. Fira..."

"Fia knows, Mother. Fia understands now". It was quick when the mother wanted to explain. The smile that her daughter forced it further added to the tightness in Risa's chest. His little daughter was forced to act mature with the situation that was happening to them.

In his arms tightly hugged his daughter while hiding the crystal grains that almost escaped from his eyes. "Sorry Mother, yes dear". Risa rubbed her daughter's back, giving her peace of mind so she wouldn't be sad.

Safira breaks the mother's embrace. In her eyes, her mother's sad face smiled. "Mother don't be sad, yes. Fia promise. Fia won't ask Mommy to ask Dad to meet Fia. If you're busy, it means there's something more important than Fia. Mother do not be sad anymore yes". Both of her tiny hands cupped Risa's face. "Mother has to promise. Never be sad again, yeah". Safira commented on her sweetest smile.

Risa nodded with a smile. "Yes, honey. Mother promises not to be sad anymore".

"Hey.. hotshot".

Both of them looked at the source of the voice.

"Om Rendy's...". The little girl ran so enthusiastically toward the owner of the voice that was greeted with a warm embrace in her carrying.

"Cock, Om how are you?", the man broke his arms and looked at the little girl in his arms.

"Good, Om". His eyes are so sparkling. A happy smile was engraved on his plain face. "Fia is very happy about Rendy Dateng. Fia kangen the same Om". His face was pampered.

"Om also misses Fira. That's why Om came here". His hand pinched the squashy cheek of the little girl's caby. They walked over to Risa who was already sitting on the deck chair of the terrace.

"Kok is called a hotshot, anyway. It's usually for boys. Safira's a girl, Ren". Risa protested the call to the man named Rendy. Rendy is Risa's best friend from school. They were one school since Junior High, and became close when in High School until now.

"Hehee. It doesn't have to be a guy who can be a hotshot, Ri. Girls can too. Like you first". Reply with the grin of the horse while sitting in the chair next to him. "Lagian, Fira is a hotshot huh. Can take care of yourself and take care of Mother until now. Yes, it's baby". He said again as he ruffled the little girl's hair on his lap.

"Yes, Mother. Kan Fia is also a hero because udh can nuruti and understand every Mother says". The girl who has not even turned six years old justifies the speech of her Mother's best friend.

"duh... Like Mother no one believes, this". He nodded to the princess.

"Hehee. Mother don't sulk, dong. Entar Bunda more beautiful, loh".

"Eh.. Small - small already pinter menegombal, yes you". Risa pinched her daughter's cheek. "It is certain that the drought of Om Zein is with you. That's why he's a gini". His eyes were staring at his best friend.

"Lohs... How to get to me, anyway. Your child is becoming more and more sintered". His eagle on Risa's accusation. "By the way - by the way. At Fira's house again drought, huh ?".

Sapphira looked at him in wonder. Then shook his head. "No, Om. Why, Um ?"

"www... " Rendy complained when her arm was pinched by the woman next to her. He turned his head and found Risa glaring at him.

"Not to be shy". Risa moves into the house and leaves the two who are still giggling.

"Yes funny mom, Om angry again".

"Yes. Your mother is funny. O yes. What about school ?"

Rendy's eyebrows are linked. "What problem, baby ?"

Safira breathed an annoyed breath. " Next week Fia has a school competition. Fia running race and nari race. Fia really wants Daddy to come and see Fia race. But..."

"Kalo Om the dateng, Fira is still a spirit, right ?" Rendy immediately cut off Sapphira's speech. It was heartless to see a girl as small as Safira had to continue to grieve.

"Om serious about coming ?" Ask ensures.

"Seriously. Om bakalan dateng to see Fira race. Let Fira have her lamb spirit and win". He convinced the little girl in his lap. He did not want Sapphira's spirit to be lost just because of the figure of Father who was never nearby.

A happy glow emanated on Safira's face. The sadness that had been engraved on his face, had now changed with an expanding smile. "Yeeee.. Thanks a lot, Om. Rendy's the most debated, huh".

*****

POV RISA

I have a lot to learn to face my daughter. Every day his curiosity is growing. His curiosity made him grow older before his time. Like at the moment. She desperately wanted her father to come see her race in her school event.

"Fia wants to go to Fia, Bun. If Fia still has a father. Temen - Temen always mengeledekkin Fia because Fia can not make Fia's father nganterin Fia school. Just this once, Bun. Fia wants me to come to school. Let all Fia's friends know, if Fia still has a father".

That's why Safira, my son, had to go to the house of Arya, my ex-husband, so that he would obey our daughter's request. However, it seems Safira should be heartened to accept the fact that her father could not take a little time for her. It felt like my heart was filled to find the attitude of my son who could accept every reason given by his father. Even for an event that he thought was very important like this. I can't bear to see my son's sadness. On the other hand, Sapphira seemed to be able to cover up her disappointment by encouraging me. It was fortunate to have a daughter like Sapphira.

This afternoon, I felt helped by Rendy's arrival. My best friend since school. These few years he has always been a figure that complements the happiness of Sapphira. But I don't want to get carried away with his attitude. Given my status as a married man. I just assumed his attitude was a form of sympathy towards me because we had been friends for a long time.

"There's a guest, huh ? Tumben make juice".

My mother's voice surprised me. I was squeezing some oranges to serve to Rendy and Sapphira. "Yes, Mom. There's Rendy up ahead". I said while putting sugar water and ice cubes into the teapot. Then put three empty glasses and a teapot containing orange juice and one jar containing cassava chips into the tray.

"Why don't you open your heart to Rendy ? You must know very well how Rendy feels about you, right ?".

My steps came to a halt as I watched each of Mom's sentences. Yeah, I know very well what Rendy's attitude means. But I can't be sure of the truth. "Rendy deserves more than Risa, ma'am".

I can't wait for Mom's next response. Afraid of getting questions I won't be able to answer. I'd better rush to deliver orange juice to Rendy and Safira before Rendy's innuendo slides again.

Returning. My steps stopped at the doorway upon hearing Rendy's conversation with my daughter.

"Fira would not if, Mother had a new father for Fira ?".

I'm listening to Rendy's question. What - what the hell he is like that to Sapphira who is still a child. But I myself am also curious about the answer of my only way child.

"Fia's father was Aryan's father, Om. Can you have a dad again ? Temen - Temen Fia all have one father. Even if he doesn't call him all Dad".

Sapphira's plain answer made me pull the tip of my lips a little. There was a strange taste in my chest hearing it. I don't know. Pleasure, sadness and disappointment. A taste I can't explain.

"There comes a time, somebody's gonna have two parents, baby. Like now this is what happened to you".

"The colors of Father and Mother are separated, huh, Om ?"

I can only hear it. My heart's pounding. I used to tell Safira that my father and I had separated every time he asked her why she didn't live with us. I also explained to him that his father had a new family. Although I'm not sure Sapphira can understand what I mean.