"I love you to, Dear. I'm also sorry that I never understood everything about you," said Mrs. Hartini who was dissolved in her child's arms.
A night that became a blessing for Mrs. Hartini. After a long time, finally his relationship with Agus could improve. Since then, his heart was pounding. Give thanks to God for all the scenarios.
Agus then released his hand. He was worried that his mother couldn't breathe because he held her for too long.
"When do you leave? I coming with you...," asked Mrs. Hartini as she wiped away the tear marks on her face.
Even though he was still sobbing a little, he still wanted to say all the questions that had been lined up in his head. He did not want to know anything else from his neighbors. Maybe he will be ridiculed like at the Mbok Sri stall this afternoon.
"Don't know the exact date yet, Ma. It's probably the month of Shawwal later," Agus replied with a smile that couldn't be separated from his face.
"Mama, can you come with me?" Agus has yet to answer that question. He didn't know how to answer. He also wondered why his mother insisted on going with him.
"Agus went with his friends, Mom. Motheralso had to stay in Jakarta, right... with your Dad," Agus explained, which meant a rejection of his mother's question.
Mrs. Hartini then sighed. There was actually something she wanted to tell Agus, but she was afraid that it would make the atmosphere of the night into chaos.
"Agus can take care of himself, Mam. It's a boy!" Agus said to convince his mother.
Agus suspects that his mother is more worried if he is in a place far from him. Like when Agus left his house first. Almost every day, Mrs. Hartini calls to her father's house. Asking to always take good care of Agus. He also still regularly sends food packages, clothes, or pocket money to study there.
"Yes ... yes ... a kind boy, said the neighbors," said Mrs. Hartini with a sarcastic smile.
This of course made Agus pat his forehead. She was surprised about the news circulating among mothers. In fact, she tried his best not to stand out in their eyes.
"Mom, mostly gossiping with mothers," said Agus, who a minute later got up from his seat.
He felt that there was nothing more important to talk about. If he didn't leave soon, he was worried that his mother would ask even more strange things.
However, Mrs. Hartini still restrained her. She pulled his son's hand so as not to colonize his feet.
"Soon Tarawih prayer, Mom. Agus must take a shower first," said Agus after taking a deep breath before Mrs. Hartini managed to issue another question.
He just realized that he had smelled a bad smell. It turned out that it was a sour smell from Agus because he hadn't showered all day. Because since morning Agus has only spent time sleeping and praying at Haris' house.
"No wonder Mama smelled the pungent smell of sweat!" cried Mrs. Hartini while covering her nose. Then, expelled Agus from in front of him.
Agus certainly laughed out loud at his mother's behavior.
'This is the first time I feel warmth with Mama,' Agus thought as he looked at the woman who was still covering her nose. Agus' smile was also beautifully painted on his face at that time.
***
"How long are we here, ma'am?" Shakira chirps while sitting and relaxing in the living room which is smaller than the living room in her house.
That night, Shakira was sitting above the living room window. Staring at the twinkling stars in the sky. Occasionally her eyes are also attracted to glance at the moon which is not perfectly round.
That month then brought him nostalgia, about all the memories of being together with his father.
Before the guidance from Allah enveloped his heart, he used to love chatting until late at night with her father--Mr. Bram--. Whether to tell stories, joke, or just enjoy a cup of coffee. It was the moon and stars in the sky that he often looked up to with him. Sometimes, once in a while his father would invite him to play guessing the constellations.
All the togetherness and warmth with his father of course she really missed. She never thought that it would end this badly.
Mrs. Jesseline, who had only been staring at the cup of tea in front of her blankly, tried to speak up.
"Until it's all safe, honey," said Mrs. Jesseline flatly.
Shakira then took a deep breath. His eyes were filled with clear liquid that wanted to be spilled.
"Let Shakira surrender, Mom! Shakira doesn't want to see Mom feel all this pain," said Shakira pleading with tears that were already streaming.
At that time he was in front of his mother. Kneeling down by holding tightly to the feet of the woman she loved very much.
Mrs. Jesseline then couldn't say anything else. This situation seemed to suffocate his life. She could only stare straight ahead while letting his tears flow down his red cheeks.
She couldn't decide anything under such circumstances. His heart also certainly wouldn't have the heart if she was required to see his only child being tortured by her husband's extended family. In fact, the small wounds on Shakira's face which were the marks of a blow from Mr. Bram still left an incision in Mrs. Jesseline's heart.
"No, Shakira! I will always be by your side. Even if you have to die at the hands of your grandfather, I will accept it!" said Mrs. Jesseline firmly.
The sobs of the two people certainly echoed in the not-so-big room. Two people who both try to stay strong to face all the paths of life.
"But, Mom... we can't always trouble other people like this." Shakira is still determined to turn herself in to her grandfather. After all, all of these events were offshoots of his decision.
Shakira and Mrs. Jesseline did get a lot of help from Mrs. Eveline. Since their meeting that night, Mrs. Eveline had deliberately asked her husband to find a bodyguard to guard his old house. She knew that there was no way that Mr. Henderson's men could not find any trace of the two of them.
That's why, Shakira feels that it's been a lot of trouble for Mrs. Eveline. Moreover, Shakira's family has also made Livie, Mrs. Eveline's nephew, involved in a legal case.
"I'm sure Eveline never thought like that, honey," said Mrs. Jesseline, holding her daughter's face with both hands.
Then, she looked at the face full of tears with his sweet smile. There was a feeling that made his heart sink at the sight of his daughter's face that looked so wilted like a flower that had not been splashed with water for a long time.
"Miss Eveline is your best friend, honey."
Miss Jesseline took a deep breath. Then, exhale slowly.
"We're all sick and we're all helping each other," said Mrs. Eveline, her eyes also filled with clear fluid.
Suddenly Mrs. Jesseline's cell phone which was on the table made a ringing sound that sounded loud in her ears. Then, she immediately took the flat object.
"Unknown number?" she muttered when he saw that the phone number on the screen didn't have a name. However, she ventured to pick up the call.
“We will continue to search for you, Jesseline!” The baritone voice from the phone call made Mrs. Jesseline's heart feel anxious for a moment.
His eyes seemed to convey surprise when she heard the voice behind the telephone line. She was then unable to speak. The world felt very dark for a moment.
"You remember that, Jesseline!"
Tiiiit ... tiiiit ... tiiiit.
The line was cut before Miss Jesseline responded.
To be continued....