Strong

In a small village, there is a widow named Delima. She lives with her only son named Strong. Her husband was left years ago, before Strong even be born, nobody knows why, even when Strong asks her about him, Delima wouldn't tell him. So, he just give up about that, maybe his mother was really hurt by his father, until she didn't want to talk about that, ever.

Delima try to defray their living by sells chicken porridge in front of her house, but if Strong have a school day off, he will carry the porridge cart to go around. Usually, that method will more succes to intrigue more customers.

That method indeed is very very exhausting, but Strong never complain about that. In fact, he is really glad because he can help his mother to sell, and usually, that way, the customers are more increase and they can have more profit because of that.

Besides, sometimes he will accompanied by his best friend, Mawar, who lives next door ( like now ) and Mawar is really really beautiful, also very very kind.

She often defends Strong when bullied at school, and don't care about the condition of Strong's eyes and tooth that could be told not one hundred percent perfect. Mawar also really really loves Delima like her own mother.

That's why Strong is really really glad to be friends with her, even he thinks that he start to like-like her, but he couldn't have his hope higher, because his physical condition is not as perfect as Mawar.

He often hopes that his life is like the other normal people who never been bullied at school or at everywhere place, so, that way, he can take Mawar to a date, or just hang out and having fun, but seems like that will never happen, sadly.

Sometimes, if he's in the bad mood, he felt like want to leave this world cause he thought that maybe if he die, he will be in peace forever, but then he remembers with his mother who really really loves him, his mother who never give up to raise him, even without a husband.

And maybe, that's why his mother name him Strong, so that he will grown to be a strong person, who can confront the hard ordeal's life with a brave heart.

Also, he have Mawar who always supports him and loves him ( even just as a friend ), and suicide is a big big sin. So, why did he want to give up? For what? Stupid thought.

"Strong, you have some customers."

The beauty voice of Mawar wake him up from the dazed.

"Uh...y-yes, sorry, sorry."

Mawar just chuckle humorously while shake her head in disbelief.

Strong also chuckle while bow his head shyly.

Yes, he always bow shyly while smiling because of his buck-toothed, adding with his eyes that not entirely perfect, but seems like Mawar is don't mind about his condition, at all.

"Morning, Sir, want to buy some porridge?" Strong ask the customer.

"Yes, make it two bowls, please, and we will eat here."

"Okay, please wait a minute."

"Thank you."

The customer start to take a seat, tugging at the sleeve at a maybe 20-esh girl that stand beside him, who looks like his daughter. But the girl just stand still while eyeing Strong oddly, like analysing him.

Strong start to feels insecure again, and uncomfortable. Maybe that girl feels disgust with his eyes and tooth.

"Leo?"

Suddenly that girl calls someone, but her eyes still locked to Strong.

"Huh? Pardon?"

Strong's negative thinking disappear instantly when that girl calls him Leo. Who is Leo? Wrong person?

In a few seconds, that girl hugs him tightly while crying uncontrollable.

Strong jump in startle, why is this girl suddenly hugs him?

"Leo...Leo...I'm so sorry, so so sorry."

The girl talks again while still hugs him.

"M-miss, excuse-..."

Mawar push off that girl from Strong.

"What the hell? What are you doing?"

Mawar ask that girl angrily.

Strong taken aback with Mawar's outburst, he has never seen Mawar raise her voice before, but then let out a little smile, she still looks beautiful when angry.

Is she jealous? But...no, impossible, he won't let his hope grown more.

"O-oh, I-I'm so sorry, but you remind me off-..."

That girl try to explain, but her hand already pulled away by that first customer.

"Rhonda, just sit here, okay? Don't disturb them."

The man scold her firmly.

"But, Dad, he really looks alike-..."

"Ssh...leave them be, we can talk about that at home, okay?"

"Okay, Dad, I'm sorry."

The girl whose apparently the named is Rhonda sigh sadly before sit next to his father.

The man clear his throat.

"I'm so sorry about earlier, she got wrong person."

The man apologize again while smiling genuinely.

"It's okay, Sir," Strong answer him with a shy smile before bow again.

Then, Mawar take 2 bowls of ready porridges before put that on the tray and give them to the man.

"Here is your orders, Sir, Miss...erm...I'm sorry for before, I was rude to you."

Mawar apologize to Rhonda.

"It's okay, I'm sorry too, for...just hugs him like that."

Rhonda take the bowls and give one to her father.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Erm...are you his girlfriend?"

Rhonda suddenly asks.

Mawar taken aback with a wide eyes.

"Rhonda!" The man scold her again.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm so nosy," Rhonda apologize again shyly.

"It's okay, but n-no, he is my best friend."

Mawar answer her with a racing heart...well, maybe she has a feeling for Strong...did she? Or did she not?

But her heart always beat more fast while think about him, that's for sure.