Meet Me At Midnight's
The Greatness of Maureen's Heart

"Sorry, you can't go in" said a security guard in front of the SevenSix nightclub.

"Lho, why can't we go in? We will pay!" said one of the men who defended himself in order to get into the club.

"Only one has a member who can enter. Even if you don't have a member, you have to make a member first at the table" replied the security officer.

"We're just for a minute."

"Even if only briefly still have to have members" said the security officer firmly.

Gisel who had just come to SevenSix, saw a commotion in front of the entrance. He saw four men in office uniforms coming and wanted to get into the club. This isn't the first time this has happened. Gisel approached them.

"What's this, sir?" gisel asked one of the security guards.

"This, Ma'am. These people have no members but they are forcing their way in." replied the officer who was questioned by Gisel. Gisel looks beautiful with a green brucat dress. The four men who forced their way in earlier looked at Gisel in awe. Gisel ignored the gazes of those who were watching him.

"Go back when you have a member. You can buy members there." replied Gisel while pointing at the reception desk.

"But we're just for a minute, we just want to look" said one of them.

"Still unable, please obey the rules yes." replied Gisel then directly up the stairs to get into the club.

Officers again asked them to leave the club and this time they complied.

"Who was it? Real pretty. Clear again."

"Yes, it's really amggun. Does he work here?" ask the one who is getting curious about Gisel.

"Yes we don't know, just go in can't how we can know" said someone answer sekhenya.

"I told you, getting in here is pretty expensive. Half our salary a month. Don't believe it."

Then they left the club and discussed something else.

Gisel put his bag in the locker. He felt upset today about having to meet his girlfriend Farshall . Actually this is common. But what he could not accept was why he should be treated like that in front of the crowd.

Gisel lit his cigarette and let out his smoke freely. Sometimes, experiencing things like this, he always remembered where he had to experience a difficult life like this.

*****

March, 2006

"Gissles! Gisel!" call her Grandma from the front of the house with a loud scream. During Gisel's stay in Borneo, he lived with Papa Gisel's family. Because her Grandmother lived alone there, Grandma asked Papa Gisel to stay with her.

"Yes, Grandma!"

Grandma was crying loudly, her heart was slashed and her crying was not as usual.

"Gisel, Papa! Your papa!" Grandma was getting hysterical and was crying louder. Gisel confusion. He doesn't know how to. Grandma's cry this time was different from the usual one.

"Your Papa's workhouse is on fire, Gisel.. Your father is inside and cannot be saved..." Grandma was crying hysterically. Gisel felt dizzy, what should he do. How'this? Papa's? Where's papa?

Gisel was confused and did not know what to do. Her tears fell and she hugged Grandma. She was crying hysterically with Grandma.

Not long after, Mama came home, dressed dirty and shabby. Mama's like a dazed person. Mama sat down on the living room couch and slowly she started crying.

Gisel approached Mama who was still confused. By wiping away her tears, she took a tissue and wiped Mama's face.

"Ma.." call Gisel slowly. Mama only looked at Gisel with a blank look.

"Ma, Papa can't be saved?" gisel asked, holding back his tears from falling. My mother's crying broke. Mama hugged Gisel tightly and sobbed.

"Mom can't find your father's body, Gisel. No one's missing, no one!"

Gisel tried to hold back the tears from falling on his cheek. But Gisel's defense collapsed. He could not help that his heart was hurt. Papa, who had known Gisel well, was friendly and authoritative, had to leave quickly.

Day by day passed. Mama can't accept Papa's departure. Finally, Mama got sick. He didn't eat for days, even drank a little. Gisel and Grandma were worried about Mama being sick like this.

"How yes, Gisel. Your mother is sick. Grandma doesn't have any savings. But Grandma's savings are not enough for your school fees and also eat a day - a day for the future" Grandma said sadly to see Gisel. This year Gisel is seventeen years old. Gisel was considered an adult to make a decision.

"Is there anything Gisel can do, Grandma, to make money?" gisel asked with a smile that he made so that his Grandma would not have to worry.

"You haven't graduated school yet, son. Your diploma hasn't come out yet."

Gisel bowed limply. He doesn't know what else to do.

"Not what, Grandma. Gisel try to go there.".

"Are you sure, son?"

"Yes, Grandma. Let's have some money."

At the time, Gisel was only thinking about how he could work and have money for his daily needs. He did not think far ahead what his master would be like. Gisel tried to come to the house and complained about his fate while in Kalimantan.

Gisel was not good at cleaning the house. In the past, he was used to maids. Gisel also never once made tea or coffee commonly requested by his employer. One day, her employer throws a wet table cloth at Gisel.

"What have you cleaned? It's all dirty! If you can't work, don't come here!" exclaim the master violently.

Gisel had swept away all the sofas, windows and doors. But after Gisel saw what was dirty again, now Gisel understood, that his master's son went into the house with sandals filled with grass and soil. Gisel sighed and cleared away all the soil that was stuck to the floor.

Sometimes, Gisel cried because he could not accept the harsh treatment of his employer. Gisel misses his Papa. He always thought - if, if his father did not experience the disaster, surely Gisel could still get a warm embrace from both parents.

Gisel couldn't stand working in that house. Because his employer always talked rudely with him. After two months of work, Gisel dropped out and chose another job. Gisel tries to apply for a job at a laundry. At first Gisel was happy because he washed using a washing machine. But when the meyetrika, Gisel began to feel tired. Plus if it's a big day, where their maid comes home. His work in laundry tripled than usual.

Gisel put himself in bed. Feeling a very tired. But suddenly, Grandma was hysterical again.

"Gissles! Gisels! Your mama Gisel!"

Gisel woke up from his sleep and rushed to Mama's room. He was half running, afraid something might happen to Mama.

"Why, Grandma? Mama why? The mama? Mama?" Gisel tried to wake Mama, shaking her body. While Grandma was crying sobbing again. But Mama's body was already cold. Gisel grabbed Mama's hand and touched her pulse. Not beating anymore.

Gisel's heart melos. His body feels weak. His feet could not hold his body anymore. Gisel fell down and his body felt warm. I want to be angry but I don't know who.

In a tired, Gisel again shed tears on his cheek. Gisel had not closed his eyes to rest, he had to be faced with the departure of Mama.

Gisel was crying on the side of Mama's bed. I kissed Mom's hand and there was no stopping crying. Somehow Gisel lived his life that felt unfair. Not blaming God for what happened. But all this happened as if there was no pause and Gisel devoted all his energy to let go of his parents.

*****

"Gisel." call Meidi, his coworker. Gisel turned his head and looked at Meidi.

"What's wrong?"

"Typically what is looking for you is a man. But why are there women looking for you today?" ask Meidi in surprise.

"Female? Who?"

"He asked who served Farshall yesterday. I said I'd call the guy. His face was very pitying. Looks like she's out crying." Meidi's story innocently. Gisel headed straight for the nightclub entrance. He suspected that his girlfriend Farshall must have come to check whether Farshall was at this club or not.

Upon arriving at the entrance, Gisel's guess is correct, that the woman is Farshall's girlfriend. The woman waved at Gisel with her beautiful smile.

"Hello." greet the beautiful woman named Maureen kindly to Gisel.

"I thought you'd flush me with water" replied Gisel so face-to-face with Maureen. The blowing wind made Maureen and Gisel's hair irregular. Sometimes they straighten their hair.

"I just wanted to say thank you. Thanks to you my eyes are open about Farshall" Maureen said. Gisel silently looked at this resolute Maureen.

"I thought Farshall never did anything strange and was always loyal to me. At that time I was working overtime because I got a group order. So I don't want to have to be late, right?" Maureen smiled beautifully looking at Gisel.

"I'm sorry, I'm not trying to blame you. I just growled. But because of you, I know and understand whether Farshall still deserves me or not" Maureen said.

"Find the others. Jangam Farshall's. Farshall is too***** for women as good as you are" Gisel said bluntly. Maureen could only smile once more hearing the response that Gisel had said.

"I don't regret it. I just took this as a lesson. Me and Farshall are separated" Maureen said. Gisel was just trying to understand Maureen from her sad eyes.

"It's nice to know you. Hopefully in the future if we meet, we can reprimand each other." said Maureen reached out her hand to shake hands.

At first Gisel hesitated, is this true? But seeing Maureen's fortitude and stubbornness, Gisel came to understand that we don't always cry for the person we believe we love. Sometimes, when the disappointment is there and the trust is gone, it is time to take off the hand we believe in when we love it.

Gisel warmly welcomed Maureen's hand. With a smile, Gisel ended his short meeting with a smile.

"My name is Maureen." said Maureen kindly.

"Gissles."

Maureen wiped away her tears that started to spill onto her cheeks. Maybe there are still injuries left in his heart until he still can not stop grieving. It'sit's okay. Naturally, because Maureen is a gentle woman with an angelic heart.