The Love I Don't Miss
Part 30 (Mama Reni's Secret )

Zio's parents' eatery procession is back on. If it was five days ago, the father's funeral. That night was the funeral of the mother. It was right next to his father's grave.

Zio's heart collapsed to find his parents dead with such a short distance of time.

The red ground had already formed a mound. Sprinkles of flowers are abundant, already decorated on it. A name was engraved on a white tombstone.

The most beautiful name Zio has ever known. The name of a man whose will he always follows. One of them is his match with Calina.

Now the beautiful name is written in the white headstone. Describing the owner of the name has returned to the lap of God. It's impossible to ask him for this or that anymore. It is impossible to make a place to tell stories like before.

And also... There could no longer be a happy household play that she performed with Calina.

The roar of tears could not be separated from Zio's eyes. There are many mistakes he has made. There are many lies he has not dared to tell. Including his household heresy which is actually not good - fine.

With his hands still covered in red earth leftover excavation, Zio gently rubbed his mother's tombstone. Repeatedly saying sorry. Repeatedly regretting his mistakes.

But it's too late. The two people he loved the most since childhood have been gone for good. Leaving himself behind the complexities he created himself.

Married in silence, reneged on the sacred promise of marriage to Calina. Also about his lies in the company. Married in one company.

If Zio apologizes to his parents in their navel with the faithful Naura sitting next to him. Things are different with Calina.

A pair of Calina's wiggly eyes, as a result of crying all day. This time in the arms of his mother, Mama Shinta. Vaporize all the emotions he held during in the arms of the Mother. Though the lips cannot speak the truth.

Throughout the funeral procession, Mama Shinta again stared strangely at Zio and Naura. In his heart, he was sure they were not friends.

Although his daughter Keukeh said they were best friends. But a mother's heart is not that easy to believe in her daughter's words. They have a strong sense of what else his daughter is hiding.

Mama Shinta just needs time to be able to speak four eyes with the only princess.

A while passed, all finally had to leave the graves of Mama Reni and Papa Raihan. Leaving the area, by midnight.

If Zio takes Naura home to her parents, there is now only one maid. So Calina chose to go back to her mother's house. He chose to share his grief with his mother. Rather than having to meet with a husband and wife who makes his life complicated.

He came to the house of Papa Raihan and Mama Reni only during his studies. After that he will go home and come back again tomorrow afternoon to prepare for the next study for seven days in a row.

"Cal, you're not sleeping here?" ask Zio.

"No, Mas!" answer Naura flat. While packing the rest of the dishes.

"Why? Naura has been home since Monday morning."

"I just want to be close to my mom, Mom!"

"Just sleep here for tonight, Cal.." beg Zio. "I need a friend..."

Calina smiled faintly, sneering at Zio's sentence in heart. A fella?

"Well, for tonight I will stay here." replied Calina, "but tomorrow I will return to Mama Shinta's house! Because my leave is tomorrow and the day after tomorrow!"

"Yes, Cal.." replied Zio with a faint smile.

That night, Calina contacts Mama Shinta, that she is not coming home. He will stay at Mama Reni's house with Zio.

***

In the morning, after coming out of the guest room, Calina was busy cooking with a maid who had been working in Papa Raihan's family since Zio was a child.

"Sir Cal?" call Mama Reni's maid softly and half in doubt.

"Yes, Bik?" calina answered, looking at the almost 50-year-old woman.

"There are people who want to convey it." he said. "But it's confidential.."

"What secret, Bik?" tanya Calina stopped her act of cutting vegetables.

Bik Asih sighed and lowered his head. Then he slowly pulled Calina's arm and invited her to sit on the dining table chair in the kitchen.

Make Asih first make sure that Zio has not woken up from his sleep. After all, his employer's son was used to wake up a little afternoon if the holidays work.

"There's one secret that Mom and I hold..."

"What is that, Bik?"

"Actually..." Bik Asih took a deep breath, then held it heavy. "Actually Ms. Reni knew that Mas Zio was married in silence - silent with Mbak Naura!"

"What!" peekik Calina couldn't believe it.

"So Mama Reni know, if all this time our harmony is a charade?"

"Yes, Ma'am.." replied Bik Asih looking down. "Mom always cried sadly, every time he met with Sister Calina. He felt sorry, but he was also confused as to what to do. Only Sister Calina is believed to care for Ms. Zhika. Including..."

"What, Bik?"

"This house!"

"This house?" tanya was getting confused until her eyes darted.

"Yes, Sister Cal. This house was given to Ms. Zhika and Ms. Calina."

"But, Bik, who am I?"

"Mbak Calina is the only great hope of the Father and Mother." replied Bik Asih.

"Oh my God." - Calina shed tears. She did not expect her mother-in-law to know everything. And more to make him feel in disbelief, such a big house was given to him and Zhika.

"Bik, don't tell Mas Zio about this house? Let this house belong to Mas Zio. I don't deserve it." Calina refused subtly.

"But, Sister Cal."

"I beg you, Bik!"

Sighing heavily, "Actually I was pesani by Mother. In order to help Sister Cal to take care of Madam Zhika someday!" bik Asih. "But I never know, will Ma'am Cal be at home with Mas Zio who is like now?" tanya Bik Asih hesitated.

Calina's turn to sigh. Down, for he himself did not know. Because she had time to think of leaving Zio with all the wounds given by her husband.

"I don't have an answer for that yet, Bik!"

"Think well, Sister Cal. I'll always be ready, if Sister Cal needs my help..."

Calina nodded, "Thank you, Bik!"

***

Seven days from Mama Reni's death have passed. Tomorrow is the time for Calina to return to the city. Today after the seventh day of the study, Calina decided to return home.

"Cal, be honest with Mama" said Mama Shinta made Calina's body stiffen. If it is pitched like that, usually Mama Shinta will invite serious talk, from heart to heart.

"Honest about what, Ma?" tanya Calina prepared herself to give the best answer.

"Tell Mama, who exactly is Naura?" mama Shinta asked with a serious look at Calina. "Mom want you to be honest, Cal!" mama Shinta pushed a little.

Calina looked into the eyes of the woman who had given birth to her. Looking for a long shade he never got. Because they live far apart and rarely meet. Once met, it can only be counted by the wall clock.

Finally came out a sentence that made Mama Shinta almost fainted. As strong as he was at his young age he endured the excessive shock.

He shed tears of sorrow. No longer able to see the tears that dripped from her daughter's pelvis in every story - a sad story that came out of the thin lips of the princess.

"Why don't you ever tell me, Calina.." said Mama Shinta.

"Calina doesn't want to upset Papa and Mama, Ma.."

"But not in this way Calina." said Mama Shinta. "You deserve to be happy, son..."

"Calina knows, Ma.." replied Calina looking down deeply.

He knows he has to be happy. But now he is still thinking about getting the right way.

' After all, Calina has lost, Ma... I hope you are not disappointed if you know what Calina will do in the future... '

# # # # # #

Returning to his feet in the office, Calina was immediately struck by her best friend, Mereen. Of course Mereen wanted to know the story of Calina for a week more absent from the office.

"Then what file is this?" tanya Mereen grabbed the brown envelope in Calina's hand.

"It's not yet time for you to know, Reen!" calina answered back to snatch her big brown envelope.

"Calinaa.." whining Mereen.

Yet Calina just smiled wryly.

...🪴 Happy Reading 🪴...