FIVETEEN

"Oh yeah, right!" I realized that I didn't have a cellphone. My communication device was lost during the earthquake and stunami.

"Allah is good, we were brought together here," I said with gratitude. I seemed to have my spirit back.

"Yes, Alhamdulillah," Zahra smiled.

"Sorry, Ri, I can't talk to you for long. After I finish my work. I finish work at 6pm. Half past six. I'll see you at the cafeteria!" Zahra looked so excited.

"Okay, ready!" I smiled at her. I couldn't wait to talk about things with my best friend Zahra.

"Alright, I'm going to continue working again, oh yeah! You asked where the cafeteria is, right? You just go straight and you'll see the pharmacy. Well! next to the pharmacy there is a road. You just go straight, there will be a cafeteria there." he explained while pointing his hand. I thanked her and followed her directions.

Zahra was the one who understood me the most. She was very smart at school.

***

I was now in my father's room. I sat on a chair and ate a snack of fruit pudding that I bought in the cafeteria. It was very refreshing for my throat. I also bought a donut. I ate the one-hole food with gusto.

When I wasn't finished eating. I saw my father open his eyes.

"Mr..." I said, throwing him a smile. He smiled at me too.

"How about it, sir, did you sleep well? I think you did, I saw that you slept really well!" I said as I looked at my father. He took off the tube that was in his nose.

"Eh, don't take it off, sir!" I ordered frantically. Even though I didn't know if it was allowed to be removed or not.

"It's okay, I don't feel like using it," he said grumpily and placed the tube on his forehead.

"Ouch! What's wrong with you, you said you wanted to get better. Yes, obey the doctor," I said to him and drank some mineral water.

"Not really! Ri, it's just for a while. I'll put the tube back in," I explained defensively with a smile.

"Hem, it's up to you," I said with resignation. My father had always been stubborn.

"Have you been to the evacuation center, Ri?" asked my father in a soft voice.

"Already sir, Riri brought all of her belongings," I explained to my father.

My father looked at my big bag with a question mark.

"Why did you bring so much stuff?" he asked in a low voice.

"Riri, can you, sir, after you recover, Riri stay at your house?" I asked my father with a pleading look.

Father was silent. The look on his face changed to silence, as if he was thinking about something.

You used to invite me to live with you. But when I asked like this. Why didn't you answer immediately?

"Yes, you can live with me. After all, it is my obligation to give you a place to live. You're still my child," he explained even though his breathing was slow and heavy.

"Thank you, sir. After you recover, Riri will look for a job," I said confidently.

Father just smiled.

The door opened and a nurse came in.

"Excuse me," the nurse said as she put down the lunchbox.

"Please eat this, sir!" the nurse ordered with a smile and then quickly went out and closed the door.

Since I've been here no doctor has examined you.

"What's wrong with you, sir?" I asked innocently.

"Yes, it's normal, Ri. You're old, so you're sickly like this. The doctor said you have a heart condition. And what else ... I forgot the name," he explained with his eyes thinking about what he was suffering from.

"Well, sir, don't worry about it. Better put the tube back in, sir."

Father put in his own breathing tube. I don't know what that thing was called.

Seeing him like this, it was like watching a soap opera in front of my eyes. I've seen that hose on TV before. Now I saw it in person.

Father's breathing returned to normal when he put the tube in.

I looked at the lunchbox and opened it. There was an avocado pudding and a banana. Then there was a small paper with the name and signature of a nutritionist.

I offered him to eat the avocado pudding. And he nodded that he would. I immediately opened the lid of the pudding cup. I scooped out a small spoonful of the avocado. He opened his mouth slightly and I immediately put the pudding in. He chewed slowly.

I could see he was enjoying what was in his mouth. I spooned the pudding again.

He chewed, sometimes with his eyes closed and other times open. I felt that he was sleepy.

"Oh yes, did you take your medicine this morning?" I asked worriedly.

"No," he said softly.

"Well now take your medicine first, sir," I said as I opened the desk drawer and found many tablets of medicine inside.

My father just nodded.

"There's still so much medicine. Have you taken your medicine since yesterday?" I asked, surprised that there was so much medicine.

"Not yet," he replied quietly.

"How can you get better if you don't take the medicine?" I said with annoyance.

I remembered Mrs. Kartika. How could she ignore her own husband like this. He hasn't even taken the medicine yet.

Anyway, I don't need to be prejudiced. Maybe Mrs. Kartika was busy taking care of her baby.

"Then you'll eat a banana first, after that you'll take your medicine." I explained to the father while opening the banana peel.

Father ate my banana. His mouth continued to chew although very slowly.

This time he asked me to drink some water. I immediately took it and put the straw into his mouth. He sucked it slowly.

After half the banana was gone. I immediately unwrapped the tablets. I put two tablets in his mouth. Actually, I wanted to insert the tablets one by one. But he dodged and asked for the tablets.

I looked at the father who was silent after finishing eating the medicine.

"Alhamdulillah, I hope you get better soon!" I said with a smile to my father.

The door opened again. Three people walked in. I just smiled at those people.

The doctor examined him with a black stethoscope that had been hanging on his shoulder.

The nurse explained his condition by reading the report book she was holding.

I had no idea what was being explained. Then I asked.

"When can my father go home, Doc?" I asked the doctor.

"He can go home tomorrow morning," the doctor said, making me happy.

"Oh my God! Thank you, doctor!" I said.

"You're welcome, finish the medicine! Don't like smoking, sir. If possible, quit smoking." the doctor said and went out.

Maybe the doctor was in a hurry, so he said it quickly.

"Thank God, I can finally go home."