-20- (6)

"Don't be silly, you! Even though she is poor, Arni is a dignified woman. Well. She's the son of a skipper, you know. It's really presumptuous of you to say that. It's not polite!"

"It's not polite, after all, Pi. I heard this from the villagers, you know. In fact, Muri even had a chance to tell his friends at Mbah Masirah's stall a few days ago."

"Jun, let's go home," said the mother who managed to break my concentration on the conversation between the two humans. I saw that my mother's shopping bag wasn't full yet, and she usually felt right at home if she was in the market for a long time.

"It's true that mother has finished shopping. Usually, I just come home at noon," I said. But she tricked me instead.

"I don't know, I just don't feel comfortable today. People look at my mother with strange looks. So, you just go home. I've left the rest of the groceries with your grandmother. Later, I'll let Sobirin or Junet pick them up."

I was silent while turning on my motorcycle engine. Drove slowly with thoughts going nowhere. On the other hand, I am happy when I know that Arni sees me as a person who is valuable to her. But, I didn't want to, just because this thing hurt my mother's heart. Because for me, my mother's happiness and honor are the most important.

"When on the sky have many stars, in my heart just only you, Mom...." I sang. And it managed to make mom laugh.

"You know where that song came from, right, Juna? How come it's just a thing."

"Well, I'm a hard-line Didi Kempot fan, Mom. Just so you know. Later, one day, I want to meet him, you know."

mother laughed again, she hugged my waist while leaning her head. I'm sure mom is reminiscing right now.

"Young people like campursari songs. Why do you like dangdut or pop, you know..." she exclaimed again. But I just kept giggling. If I sing dangdut or pop songs. Surely the mother will not be entertained. "So I miss Adrian," she whispered. Honestly, as a child, I felt sick. For some reason, I feel the pain that you feel. It hurts to miss Father whose face I haven't even had time to see.

"Same, Arjuna too," I said. There's nothing that I think mom did. But I think, maybe, she's crying right now out of longing.

"Don't tell Father Nathan," said mother.

"Why?" I asked.

"Then he'll be jealous. If he's jealous, it's a hassle," she answered again.

Yes, I know, Father Nathan is the number one jealous man in the world. But I also more than know if his jealousy is proportional to his love for Mother.

"Later, if Father Nathan gets jealous, just kiss him, Mom. He will surely smile. But if it still doesn't work, take eggs. Hahaha."

"Arjuna, it's really presumptuous of you to say that to your mother!" angry mother. Indeed, I am too late.

"Sorry, Mom, on purpose."

"Arjuna!"

"I miss mom's anger," I said. But my mother was silent. "But I miss kissing you, my dear mother," I continued.

"I don't love you. You're a bad boy," he replied.

"I forced myself. Until you said, Juna is a good child."

"Arjuna!" angry again. And it made me laugh again.

"Arjuna loves mom."

"Mom loves you more."