The After The Rain
It's Always You

"What did you ride to college, Ra?" ask Mama while putting the breakfast menu on the dining table. This morning he had rice sitting, either Mama who was lazy to cook or the woman had run out of cooking menu ideas.

"Get ojol." Kinara answered briefly and began to devour the rice sitting in front.

After two mouthfuls, Kinara stopped because she had just remembered Papa. He was too busy taking care of his own life to ask how Papa and his new job went, what transport did Papa use to get to work (remember now their car was only one) and how many hours exactly Papa spent at work because the man never came home in one same time every day.

Kinara turned to the side, at Papa who was enjoying breakfast in silence. His mind began to cradle, whether he should ask one of the many questions in the head or he should let the question continue to pile up and slowly rot.

Then, after a single breath, Kinara opened her mouth and asked, "If Papa, what does it usually go up to the office?"

Papa's movement automatically stopped because of that question. The spoon in hand was placed slowly and Papa began to stare at Kinara with a look that was too difficult to translate. A faint smile rose, but somehow Kinara felt that smile had no real meaning. It was just like a mask that was deliberately put on to cover up another rumbling feeling inside the chest.

"Busway." Answer Papa later. His smile was still on the line, but the look in his eyes slowly began to show a stark sadness, which Kinara did not know why.

"From tomorrow will you be with Kinara? Where's Papa's office? Not the same campus?" bargain Kinara. Even if it was not unidirectional, he would not mind to deliver Papa first. They could leave a little early.

But Papa just shook his head with a fake smile that is still on its back. "Papa used to take the busway. It's nice to meet a lot of people."

Kinara could no longer force. Finally, they continued the breakfast in silence so that silence crept freely. There was only the sound of the clanking of spoons clashing against the plates, as well as the roar of their respective breaths that somehow sounded noisy.

Then when the rice in the dish was already unceasing toilet, Kinara got up. He took the dirty dishes and took them to the dishwasher even though it was prevented by Mama. Now it was only at half-eight in the morning, there was still a lot of free time for him because the first class was only going to start at ten.

While Kinara was struggling with the dishwasher, Mama followed Papa who got up and walked snotty towards the living room.

"Don't tell Kinara just yet, Ma. Papa's afraid he's disappointed." Said Papa in a soft voice.

During their marriage, Mama almost never saw this desperate Papa. It made her chest sore, but as usual, Mama kept the pain to herself. Because when the child and her husband are down, Mama should be able to be the pole that helps them stay standing.

My mother did not answer Papa's words. The woman simply sowed the husband until their only child emerged from the kitchen and joined her in sitting on the sofa.

"What time do you leave?" ask Kinara.

"It's about to go, wait for you so you can say goodbye." Papa got up from his seat, then reached out to Kinara and Mama. The two men grabbed Papa's hand and kissed the back of the family head's hand in turn.

"Papa's leaving first, yeah." Pamit Papa while rubbing Kinara's head with love.

"Be careful." Kinara.

Papa only nodded at a glance then immediately passed after snatching the briefcase lying on the table.

During the minutes after Papa's departure, Kinara was still sitting in her place. While Mama has returned to the kitchen, struggling with the activities of a housewife.

Kinara really could not guess how Papa was actually doing, she just hoped that her father would find an excuse to no longer have a fake smile like that.

...****************...

"Together, Brother." Sahut the driver while alluding to a friendly smile.

Kinara was almost at the entrance when the driver called and made him turn his head again.

"His college spirit, brother!" exclaimed the driver who was probably only a few years older than Kinara while sharing a warm smile that could touch his heart.

"Yes, Mas. It's also a spirit, yeah." Reply Kinara with a smile that is no less beautiful.

Then the driver passed and Kinara resumed his delayed steps.

His little legs swung lightly into the still quiet campus area. His steps were not rushed at all, completely swayed as leisurely as possible as his nose began to suck the scents of the morning air that were still not tainted with the smell of perfume from the students.

Kinara had already reached the corridor towards the classroom when a familiar voice called out from behind.

Her steps stopped, Kinara twisted her body and smiled widely when she found that Atha was standing at the end of the corridor with a perfectly developed smile. The man waved to him and Kinara replied with pleasure.

"So I saw you ride the ojol." The first sentence that came out of Atha's lips when it came before Kinara. "Why is your car?" tanyanya.

"Obed with Ayu. His car was still in the garage yesterday." Kinara.

Atha was bearded, then the man walked closer and immediately linked his fingers with Kinara's. Makes the women a little jolted and look at the link of their hands for quite a long time.

"Come, I'll take you to the front of the class." Atha said after Kinara drew a glance from the link of their hand and turned to nailing her face towards him.

"Well what?" ask Kinara.

"Let everyone know that you're my boyfriend." Atha said with a brilliant smile at the end of his sentence.

Hearing that, Kinara practically chuckled. "Without you taking me to the front of the class, everyone on this campus also knew that Kinara Adorelia, the mediocre Literature student was her boyfriend Atharya Danapati, the popular guy who, if he smiles a little, can make a dead girl stand up."

Supposedly, Atha was touched by the compliment. But he actually put on a sullen look because from the sentence Kinara spoke with a carefree voice it was tucked into a self-confidence that was clearly trying to hide desperately.

Atha didn't like to see Kinara feel small. He did not like the girl who managed to make him crazy to feel that he was nothing, in reality the world of Atha just pivoted to him.

Atha wanted Kinara to know, that the judgment of others was never important to her because in her eyes, Kinara was still Kinara who managed to make her fall in love. Both three years ago and now.

So, tightening their hands, Atha firmly said, "There is no such thing as Kinara Adorelia the mediocre girl. It's just Kinara Adorelia who's amazing and makes Atharya Danapati fall in love."

Then without allowing Kinara to say his words, Atha began to swing her steps so that the girl beside him followed her.

They stepped in silence. Busy to feel each other's feelings. Kinara with bubbles that felt bursting in the chest, while Atha with thump is still as powerful as when she first fell in love with Kinara.

Seriate