FOURTEEN

"Is your father in the hospital?" Iyan asked incredulously.

"Yes."

"Oh my God, who is that mom you were talking to this morning?"

"She's my father's wife."

"Oh."

Akbar nodded, he already knew about my family story. I once told him that my father went out with another woman.

"I hope your father recovers quickly, Ri."

"Yes, my aunt also prayed for your father's health," my aunt added to Akbar's words. She showed me her concerned face.

"Amin ya robbal alamin, may your prayers be answered. Yasudah then I want to go straight to the hospital, I'm afraid it will take too long, I'm sorry for your father there alone," I explained.

"Ri, come with me for a while!" Akbar asked, making me frown. I looked at Akbar's mother for a moment. She nodded with a smile.

"Where are you going?" I asked confused as I watched Akbar's feet start to walk. I followed behind him.

Akbar and I walked past the people sitting on the carpet. They were busy with their own activities. The building felt more spacious than before. Maybe it was because some families had returned to their repaired homes.

My feet reached the outside of the building. Akbar, who was in front of me, was sitting on the tiled floor. I sat beside him. The view in front of us was only the large courtyard of the building. It looked a little quiet and the wind blew quite refreshingly at this time of the day.

"What's up, Bar?" I asked, breaking the momentary silence.

Akbar did not answer. He had a sweet look on his face as he fell silent. His beautifully formed lips could be clearly seen. His nose looked serene there.

"Astaghfirullah hal adzim!" I said to myself. I blamed myself. I shouldn't have looked at him like that.

Akbar suddenly reached into his gray cargo pants. He held something out and handed me something that looked familiar to my eyes.

"Huh?"

I was shocked to death and at the same time, I felt excited. How could that hello kitty watch be in Akbar's hand. It was a gift from my mother when I was in junior high school. I kept it in the drawer of my study table.

"How come?" I asked as I flipped through the watch.

"Back then, I found it at your house. I was just looking around your house, which had been razed to the ground. I saw the watch. I took it, in case it was valuable to you." she explained with a flat expression. Making me more curious.

On a whim? Seriously, did he go to my house on a whim? I don't know. But when did he keep that thing? It's not like Akbar and I met every day. Why did he just hand over the watch to me.

"Oh! Thanks, Bar. I'm really happy to see this watch again. It's the only memory I have since the disaster," I replied, throwing Akbar a smile. He smiled back.

I was embarrassed to have to ask my curiosity. I didn't think it was important for Akbar. I might be called a ge er if I asked questions.

"I'm glad you can feel good about the watch." he said and stood up. I just looked up to see him end the conversation so quickly.

Akbar said goodbye, saying he was going to look after Bintang. Then I said yes after I thanked him for the watch.

I looked at Akbar's back, which was moving away. He walked straight with his tall body.

I looked at the hello kitty watch I was holding. At exactly 9 o'clock the clock was still. That's when the earthquake happened.

I felt grateful that I could still hold this watch. Yes, Akbar was right. This watch will be a witness when things don't go back to normal.

I quickly walked away from the evacuation center. Hopefully, the people inside the building could go home with their families soon.

Mom, I really miss you. I hope you're doing well wherever you are.

"Mbak, don't you want to get on? Don't just stay there!" growled the angkot driver, looking at me sharply.

I was shocked and immediately boarded the angkot by going inside. I chose to sit in the corner. That way I could see the view from outside.

Suddenly my eyes fell on Iyan who was stirring cement with his hoe. God willing, I hope I can chat with Iyan later. He is a friend who always gives warnings.

"Oh my God, Iyan is so sad. Working like that is really tiring. I can't bear to see him." I swore feeling annoyed.

I wish I could meet Iyan. Because he has done a lot of good with me.

"Stop, get off here, sir!"

I exclaimed in a high tone so that the driver would hear me. The driver immediately pulled the angkot over. I got out quickly.

"Finally!"

I quickly gave money to the driver. My feet walked at a fast pace, because I didn't want you to wait too long for me.

The smell of the floor that had been cleaned by an employee, made the hospital floor smell good. I walk carefully for fear of slipping because the floor is still shiny.

Now I was in the hallway of the hospital. I thought for a moment, because I had forgotten about my father's room. I read all the patient rooms written on the doors I passed. Finally, I found Father's room. I immediately opened the door and my feet went inside. I saw that he was still fast asleep. Thankfully he was resting.

I put my black backpack on the floor against the wall. This room is not big enough. There was only one chair and a table in it. And the bathroom is outside the father's room. It's at the very end of the hallway.

My stomach is a little hungry, because usually at ten o'clock like now I eat snacks at the refugee camp. Oh yes! I just remembered. The money you gave me is still enough to buy snacks. I looked at Father for a moment. He was still peacefully sleeping. I rushed out to go to the cafeteria in this hospital.

I walked while looking at the signposts. There was no cafeteria written. I will try to ask where the cafeteria is.

"Ma'am?" I called, tapping her on the shoulder.

The hooded cleaning lady turned around and saw my face. We glared at each other in shock.

"Zahra!" I exclaimed as I hugged her without warning.

"Oh my gosh, I didn't expect to see you here." she said with great emotion.

We released the hug by looking at each other with a smile.

"How come you didn't tell me?" I asked with a frown. Our last meeting was at the school evacuation center. Even then, there was not even one day. He went with his brother. That's what I heard back then.

"What do you think, Ri. Everything is difficult. I don't have a cell phone yet. I lost my cell phone during the disaster. I can't contact you either. You don't have a cell phone either." she explained in her squeaky voice. Zahra is my best friend who still wears glasses today.