Part 6 - Sadness

Alvin likes to read the dark forest roads. He also likes to read the sudden gurgling of water—when he reads various eye colors. He had never seen the most beautiful thing in humans other than sincerity. Anywhere. In any case and anyone. There was a look on his face, an unbearable disappointment, and longing. It's like wanting to be revealed but not wanting to be revealed. He chose to hug. Until disappointment and longing are increasingly trapped. disappeared.

***

"Why did it come back like this?"

"What have you been up to?"

"I don't know, son. When Mom looked into her room, Nuke was already lying on the floor."

"Oh My God. I'm sorry Elsa can't take care of the sisters here." Sadness can no longer be contained. Now, the two women are busy waiting for news. One of the sisters in the orphanage did not wake up. The passing of other patients, doctors, nurses, visitors, also became a disturbing sight in his eyes.

"How are you, Doc? My sister is okay right?" Elsa panicked. His eyes tried to look. A patient behind the door. The other is none other than one of the children in the orphanage, who has been considered as his sister.

"Patience, yes. We have tried our best. But God has other plans. We are sorry."

Elsa ignored the doctor's words again. She went straight into room forty-one. His sister's room that stretched out left the silence. In the eyes of Elsa, Elsa is also the caretaker of the orphanage, Mrs. Nana.

"Sister, are you awake? Elsa is already able to compose a poem for my sister. Tomorrow we can read together. Are you awake?"

"That's it, son. Sincerely... She's home." Mrs. Nana tried to calm her down.

Elsa continued to hug her sister.

"Brother, you're tired, aren't you? Elsa can just stop working so she can stay with her at the orphanage, don't you agree?"

"If you agree, Elsa will immediately leave work, Dek."

"Son, already... he's gone." Mrs. Nana hugged Elsa. Trying to calm her sadness

Break all sorrow.

Tears are the real language of sadness. Spill in the light blue room. The walls are solid, not comparable to the occupants. Various stories are told. A memory puzzle with the children at the orphanage who are considered like family—especially Nuke, who is now gone. Elsa seemed to see various events during her time with Nuke. His hobbies are reading, listening to her reading poetry, and various other mementos.

"Do we need to tell the father?" Mrs. Nana took the time to break the grief.

"What's good."

Mrs. Nana briefly left the room. Looking for Nuke's father's contacts on his phone. However, there is only the ringing tone. No answer.

"How are you?"

"No one picked up, son."

"I thought so. No one cares about Nuke anymore, Mom. We're the only people closest to Nuke. But... why did he leave so soon? I feel so guilty. I should have just gone to bed last night with her."

"Already. Death no one knows it will come. You are sincere, yes."

"Nuke doesn't consider herself a sister anymore, Mom. She's been lonely enough. But why did she leave so soon?"

***

"Al! Where are you? Not going to the orphanage anymore?" Nia asked taking the time to contact Aksa.

"No, Ni. I'm with the kids outside."

"Why? So you've been missing there all this time? It's close here, right? You don't want to come here?"

"What is going on?"

"Important, Al! Elsa's sister..."

"Brother? Doesn't Elsa have a sister?"

"Her sister is at the orphanage. You don't know. The one who is very close to Elsa. Nuke. Nuke died, Al. I was informed just now. That's why I immediately told you."

"You know, Nuke's parents haven't been around for a long time. I'll just be sad when I go to the funeral, they're just the two of them with Mrs. Nana."

"What time is the funeral?"

"Maybe later this afternoon, Al."

"I'll be there later!"

Click.

The phone immediately turned off. Alvin's voice just disappeared without a greeting.

"Ah, is it okay for me to go there? Isn't it that Elsa still doesn't like me since it rained that night?" Alvin muttered.

"If it's a new love affair, hurry up," Nia grumbled. "Complicated story," she added.

***

"Where are you? When are you coming home?"

"Alvin is outside, Mom. Accompany the children to study."

"I'm asking for time first, yes. You must go home now. Your father, son. Your father."

"What about Dad, Mom?"

"You go home first. I can't say that."

"Mom, but... A new friend of Elsa's sister died. The plan is to follow her there."

"Who?"

"Brother at the orphanage. Elsa's favorite sister."

"Oh My God..."

"You will also meet her later. Now, you must go home first, son. Then you can follow his funeral another day."

"It's an emergency. I'm scared."

"Okay, ma'am. Alvin will be home soon."

Laughter with the children suddenly dimmed from Alvin's eyes. He reluctantly left them.

"I'm sorry. I have to go home first. I'll leave the children, okay. If you need anything else, you can contact my friend at home to read there. Ok?"

"Ok!" Said his friend.

***

"You look worried, Ni. What are you waiting for?" Elsa scolds her.

"Ehm... no, Elsa. Come on, are you going to the funeral, right?"

"Yes. Do you want to come?"

"Yeah. Just thinking about it."

"Think what?"

"No, I don't. It doesn't matter. Come on!"

***

"Why, ma'am? What's wrong?" Alvin hugged his mother who was crying. Behind her computer screen, she continued to cry.

"What happened, ma'am? What about you?"

"Your father was caught in a corruption case, son. Yesterday he was taken for temporary detention."

"Father..." Alvin was silent for a moment.

"Mother? Are you okay?"

"Mother is also having problems. The company that is being investigated for corruption cases, the people don't accept it. They sue the media where you work. Some investigative journalists will also be brought to court, son."

"I'm okay. You don't have to be afraid, okay?"

"Yes, son. I'm just worried about you."

"Alvin it's okay, ma'am."

"You're still in college. I'm sure a lot of your college friends will know this sooner or later."

"Discuss it, and then take a demonstration to firmly demand the corruptors. I can't imagine how you will feel later, son. See your father's photo later there."

"Alvin hasn't been to the demo for a long time, Mom. Mom, take it easy. Alvin was absent yesterday."

"Still. You are an activist. And you have to be an activist. That's part of your duty as a student. Even though now you choose another path. But you can't run to defend the people, son."

"I'm fine if you want to come with your friends later, son." Her mother stuttered. Holding on to grief and sorrow.

"Mom calm down, okay?"

"What are you going to do now? What do you want?"

"I want to go home, son."

"Going back to Brebes? Isn't there a grandmother here to take care of?"

"You forgot? There's also your grandmother there to take care of too."

"Mom needs calm."

"Okay, if that's what Mother wants. Alvin complied."