Shadow From the Past
Chapter 20

“Papa, I can date him at what age?”

“Emang why? Is anyone else sure you're dating? High School has not graduated, has anyone dared to ask you out? Oh God, he's a pocket money, same school fees still ask parents. Sok-sokan ngajakin girls people dating. Ck! Children today yes, really,”

“Ih I ‘kan only one sentence, but Papa directly talk at length,”

Beni clucked at the protest of her son. It is natural that he speaks at length. The question posed by Davina seemed to hint that Davina wanted to be dating soon. He suspects that someone has invited Davina to have a relationship as a pair of lovers. But Davina was still doubtful.

“Don't if for now yes, Son,”

“Iya I know, Pa. But when can it be?”

“Ya if you can not have a date, directly married aja abis know each other, know family, already equally sure, why should date everything?”

“Papa mom aja dating ‘kan SMA time?”

“Papa sama Mama dating just ajar aja because Papa is busy helping Om Papa holding his restaurant pas Papa still SMA, keep breaking up, but stay close, communication remains good. Eh continued until college, had a commitment to be with each other until the time Papa Lamar Mama. Well graduated from college, Papa directly worked, and fitting already there is a marriage capital Mama,”

“Ya means ‘kan Papa Mama is also dating fitting SMA,”

“Yes, and it's not good actually, because what? Not focused on learning. After the breakup, we stayed close, and it felt more comfortable. Because it is not tied the same as the name of a relationship, just so the name is called but yes close because they like each other. Just because Papa wants to focus on helping Om Papa, and Mama also wants to focus on learning. Why are you asking about it, really want to date now? Hm? Who is it that is making it?”

“No, I'm just nanya,”

“What's right, it's normal that there's a point, Dek,”

“Yeah, no, Pa. I'm just nanya, about when can I date?”

“Yes if you can't date. Get to know him and his family, continue to convince themselves each want to be serious or not, if you are sure, yes already married immediately. But that will be yes, if it's time,”

“Ya time when, Pa?”

“Which is definitely not now, because you are still SMA. If the lecture continues suddenly mate has come, yes it is no problem. Papa is not prohibited, but still complete your education, do not gig,”

“Oh I mean Papa, like that El? He ‘kan again college tuh continue suddenly there is a serious fad,”

“Ya can be said so. Nothing ‘kan already college, not SMA anymore, at least more mature, not really young. And then while continuing ‘kan, if you are ready. If you are not ready, it means to marry her, it's up to you, it's your choice,”

“News first, who else is deketin? Papa's not angry,”

“Iya most just Papa samperin keep Papa jotos, yes ‘kan?”

Beni laughed at the words of her son who had a bad prejudice if he told her about it. Beni just wants to know who Davina is really close to? And was that man the reason Davina asked about when she could be dating?

******

“Dad, Mother, I've made up my mind,”

In the middle of dinner, Elvina suddenly made both her parents confused because they heard her words.

After Elvina thought about it, she should try to open her heart to other men, perhaps that way she could quickly recover from the wounds in the past. And he wanted to give that opportunity to his own lecturer who had said in front of his parents that he wanted to take Elvina to a more serious level, he said, and she doesn't care if Elvina has to learn to love her first.

“What decision, Nak?”

“I want to be serious with Mr. Vano, but I learned to accept him first yes, I do not want to marry directly in the near future. I want to be comfortable with him first, maybe that love comes,”

“Good then. Indeed, you should open your heart, the person you think is already happy with the other, then why should you stop at him mulu, son? It's good that you're starting to realize. Mommy is happy to hear it. Mommy is sure, Vano is also happy to hear it. He ‘kan indeed does not mean you to marry in the near future, but he wants you to learn to accept him, if you want, he also hopes you can learn to reciprocate his feelings. He gave me a chance to do that, he understood that you really need time,”

*****

“Abang, why alone on the terrace? Brother is upset again huh?”

Davina approached Vano who was aloof on the porch of their house while enjoying a cup of coffee and smoking.

“Your brother smoking? My morning is really good, huh?”

“Ssttt don't be so tight by the way, Dek. Later heard by Papa Mama, Abang diomelin smoking,”

“Yes anyways hold a cigarette, when to buy it? And buy where?”

“Udah a few days ago, just opened now. No more worrying, again to me, Dek. What are you doing here? Back there in,”

Vano told his sister to go inside the house so as not to disturb him who was alone again, enjoying the night breeze while sipping tobacco.

Davina very rarely sees Vano smoking because actually Vano is not a person who is addicted to tobacco. All he knows is that if Vano is thinking about something, or not okay, then Vano touches that smoky little thing.

“Abang sure all right? Don't hold it yourself. Any more problems on campus?”

Instead of obeying her brother's order to enter the house, Davina actually sat opposite her brother.

“Not there, already there in. What the hell is here? Ntar being a passive smoker, the danger is more than active smokers, you know,”

“Ya ‘kan only occasionally doang. Although I actually do not like to smell cigarette smoke, but I wonder why? I think I was daydreaming,”

“Yes, tired again. He wants to calm his mind, yes, this is it. Alone on the terrace at night, drinking coffee, smoking,”

“Again problems on campus?”

“No, so far safe-safe,”

“What's the same problem El?”

“Ngak. Brother wants to be alone, Dek. I can't sleep either so I'm here,”

“Capek is an adult, Bang? Tired of work, tired of thinking about the future, tired of thinking of a mate, yes I understand, so I am not ready to be an adult like a brother,”

“Hahahaha sok know you ah,”

“Lho why do you know? I know, so grown-ups are exhausting. Later if you already have a wife, more tired again you know, add more burden, Brother is ready?”

“Anyway, ‘kan already thought before dare to talk. This Brother is tired again because this week is quite solid, and again wants to be alone,”

“Not because of galauin El ‘kan?”

“No, why should I be upset because of El?”

“Yes because he does not want to be serialized with Brother,”