TWENTY NINE

Riri was very sad to see her father who was very weak. She immediately performed the morning prayer, then went to buy breakfast.

  "Sir, eat first, yes," Riri said softly while bringing the spoon to his mouth.

  He complied and swallowed the chicken porridge.

  "You're so old, you're sick all the time," Kartika, who was carrying her son, snickered.

  "Don't talk like that, Sister dosa," said Riri, looking at Kartika who was near the door of the room.

  "Take care of your father, I'm going with my boyfriend."

  "What about your father, Ma'am? Who will look after him?" asked Riri worriedly.

  "I don't care, you're his son so you take care of him! I'll go first." Kartika left with her son in her arms.

  Riri sighed in annoyance. She really hated Kartika's character. How could Kartika leave her sick husband and go with her boyfriend instead.

  "Oh my God!" Kartika, who will look after your father? Am I going to work? Ya Allah, I feel sorry for Bening too, I'm not sure Mbak Kartika is taking good care of Bening. She's definitely more focused on her boyfriend." Riri said to herself.

  "Already Ri, you can take good care of yourself, after eating the chicken porridge until it's gone, you'll be refreshed. You just go to work. Don't worry about me," I explained gently. He really didn't want to trouble his son. Because his son was all he had. Only his son who loves him.

  "But, sir," Riri complained with a faded face.

  Uhuk uhuk uhuk!

  Father coughed loudly. There was phlegm in his neck, but it couldn't come out.

  "That's right! Sir, Riri is worried about what's wrong with you. Can't I just stay here, sir? Riri can take the day off from work," urged the girl with the light yellow face with a sad face.

  "No, you have to go to work, you've only been there for a few days. Don't make any mistakes, you'll get scolded by the boss!" said the father firmly and then put on a warm smile.

  "Hem, that's all right. Yes, yes. Let's eat some more. So that the chicken porridge runs out quickly."

  Riri was happy to be able to take care of her father. This kind of atmosphere was almost non-existent in the past. Because when my father was sick, my mother took care of him. While I didn't care.

  "Oh yes! Sir, Riri plans to go to the village. Riri wants to find out information, the house we used to live in. Did it get help or not. I think we'll get it, sir, because it was hit by a natural disaster," Riri explained while feeding the father.

  The father who had been lying with two pillows. Now trying to get up to hear Riri's words. There was something she wanted to say.

  "You just lie down, don't sit down! You're still weak, right?" said Riri by holding your arm.

  "It's okay! Ri," the father let go of his daughter's touch. He sat up quietly.

  "I'm sorry, Ri before, I really apologize to you. I have something to say to you," he explained then coughed softly.

  "What is it, sir?" asked Riri trying to focus her ears.

"Our house certificate is already in Kartika's hands. And she has sold our house. The assistance for our house has also been spent by Kartika," the father said slowly. He was very sad and also felt stupid. He couldn't fight his arbitrary wife.

  "Astaghfirullah hal adzim!" exclaimed Riri hearing her father's explanation, that was the only word she could say. Because no matter what she could not return everything. That means she can no longer have anything. Now only her work can support her.

  "I'm sorry, Ri," said the father with regret in his chest. He had been fooled by his own wife. He trusted his wife too much. Until finally what he had was taken away by Kartika.

  Riri only fell silent hearing the words of apology from her father, there was annoyance but she could not express it. Maybe because there was too much bitterness in her life. And Riri chose to be silent and could only pray to the owner of everything.

  "Riri is leaving first, sir." Riri greeted her father. She had finished feeding her father. Because the chicken porridge had run out cleanly with nothing left.

  "Take the money in your wallet, you definitely need it." The father said by looking at his son who now had a gloomy face. He knew his son must be very disappointed with his father.

  ***

  "Ri!" Zahra who was in front of the gate called Riri in a high voice.

  Riri looked at her best friend who was ready to go to work. Zahra wore long pants and a plain red tunic with a rectangular hijab wrapped around her head.

  "Are you going to work?" asked Riri who was now in front of the girl with glasses.

  "Yes, I just wear free clothes when I go. Later there I'll change into a cleaning uniform," explained her best friend showing her teeth.

  "Yes, it's okay, being a cleaning service in a hospital is the important thing, it's a halal job," said Riri with a smile.

  "Oh yes! Have you been accepted to work at the kampung laut restaurant?" asked Zahra enthusiastically.

  "Yes, Alhamdulillah, thank you for informing me that there are job vacancies there. I'll treat you to a meal when I get my salary," said Riri enthusiastically.

  They finally walked together. It was only a few minutes from the workplace. But their feet walked at a low tempo. Because they were having fun talking to each other.

  "Oh yes, Akbar works there too!" said Riri.

  "Huh? Seriously? Isn't he going to college?" Zahra said unconvinced. But she was happy to hear Akbar's news. At least she knew where he was, because she really missed the tall man.

  "Yes, his mom and dad are divorced and he is now renting with his mom, with Bintang too."

  "Oh my God, I'm really sad to hear that. Eh, his WA number is still the same, I want to chat with him," Zahra explained spontaneously. And Riri heard Zahra's shocked words. Riri looked at Zahra's words in surprise.

  "Hehehe, let's be honest Ri. I've always had a crush on Akbar. So I miss him. I can only be honest with you, because we have graduated. I'm embarrassed if I'm still in the same school with him, I'm not confident. Heheh, how come I'm so nervous like this? I'm really happy to hear where Akbar is now,"

  Zahra said with a sparkling face. As if there were butterflies dancing around her. Her heart was deeply made in love by Akbar's figure.

  Meanwhile, Riri was shocked to death. Her own best friend liked the person she liked. It felt like the world was collapsing in front of her. Or even lightning had struck her soul.

  "Cie who is in love, I'll ask Akbar for his number directly. Eh btw do you already have a cell phone?" asked Riri as if nothing had happened to her heart. She tried to wrap her emotions tightly.

  "Already, I bought a phone, Ri. I'll ask him myself later. I'll eat at that restaurant later, so I can meet Akbar." Zahra explained as if the world welcomed her happiness.

  Then the two of them separated on the highway. They entered their respective workplaces.