CHASING THE LOVE OF THE TEACHER
Bitter Reality

Papa Arman stopped approaching Arjuna who was still hugging Cilla. The girl was still crying with her body shaking from her fear. Arjuna did not say anything just giving a gentle swipe and pat to calm Cilla down.

After Cilla's cry subsided, Arjuna slowly broke her embrace.

“We sit first, yes, while hearing the explanation from the doctor,” said Arjuna.

Cilla nodded and complied as Arjuna led her to a row of benches near the nurse's desk. Not long before doctors Raymond and Papa Arman approached them.

“We talk there,” doctor Raymond pointed to one of the rooms near where they were.

Arjuna nodded and gestured that he and Cilla would follow. Arjuna took out the handkerchief he always carried and knelt before Cilla. Slowly cleaned Cilla's face wet from tears and trimmed Cilla's hair attached to her cheek.

“Doctor Raymond wants to talk to Cilla. There are papa and Mas Juna who will accompany you. Cilla heard the explanation directly from the doctor, yes ?”

Gently Arjuna stroked Cilla's cheek which nodded in response to Arjuna's request. The two of them got up to the room where they were waiting for Papa Arman and Dr. Raymond.

Along with them, there were 2 other doctors who came in and finally the five of them sat on the sofa available in the room,

“This is doctor Handoyo and doctor Krisna, internal medicine and surgery specialists who have been responsible for Rudi's treatment at this hospital. There are other doctors on the team as well.”

Papa Arman and Arjuna nodded their heads while Cilla just leaned on Arjuna's shoulder while embracing the man's arm.

Raymond's doctor moved to sit next to Cilla with a file of medical records in his hand.

“Still remember with Om, Cilla ?” ask Raymond's doctor slowly while touching Cilla's shoulder.

Cilla lifted her head and turned to the doctor Raymond was on her right side. Slowly he nodded his head. His eyes were still puffy even though he was no longer crying.

“Did Cilla already know that papi is suffering from quite severe pain ?”

“Cilla only knows that papi ever received a kidney donor from mami, Om. And only the kidney given the same mami that works at this time.”

Arjuna still held one finger of Cilla and occasionally squeezed it to give strength .

“In addition papi Cilla also suffered from lymph cancer stage 4,” continued Dr. Raymond while opening the file he had brought, he said,

 Cilla was shocked to hear the words of Dr. Raymond. Although there is no picture of what kind of lymph cancer it is, but in his mind it only occurred to the word cancer and stage 4. Means papi suffering from a disease that is difficult to cure and in a fairly severe level because it has reached the highest level.

“What can be cured, Om ?” Cilla did not expect a detailed explanation from the expert doctors who were in front of her. For Cilla, the important thing is the healing of papi.

“Sorry if Om speaks honestly,” said Dr Raymond carefully. “Medically it is necessary to go through several stages considering your papi has problems in other parts of the organ. In addition to only one kidney, Papi Rudi also has high blood pressure and liver function has decreased. During this time your papi is less routine running chemotherapy and too tired to work. But nothing is impossible. While we will continue the chemotherapy first and see if it is possible to perform surgery and remove the cancer cells.”

“Please do your best to heal papi, Om. Cilla believes Om definitely knows better what to do and Cilla believes completely the same Om Raymond and all the doctors here,” said Cilla while circulating his gaze to doctor Handoyo and doctor Krishna who sat opposite him.

Raymond's doctor rubbed Cilla's head with a smile full of affection. Dr. Raymond himself only knew Papi Rudi after becoming a cancer patient who decided to do treatment at Pratama Hospital.

In the initial process of his involvement, Papi Rudi, known as one of the leading businessmen and VIP patients, became acquainted with the owner of Pratama hospital.

Eventually from that introduction they became good friends and often shared stories about their lives including their children. He jokingly wanted to match Steven and Cilla who had the status of an only child, but it was canceled after Steven's doctor decided to reach for his old love which turned out to be his cousin's future wife.

“Cilla must think clearly facing this problem. Do not hesitate to come to Om if there is something you want to ask” said Raymond doctor while patting Cilla on the shoulder.

“What papi can definitely meet Cilla again, Om ?”

“You mean ?” doctor Raymond frowned upon hearing Cilla's question.

Cilla sighed with an anxious look and turned to Arjuna who immediately gave her smile.

“Cilla is afraid papi will be like a mommy who will never come out of the ICU room again. Mami had promised to return after entering the ICU room, it turns out Ciila can no longer talk to mommy, can no longer see the smile of mami. Cilla is afraid that papi will also be like that,” said Cilla with a little faltering because her tears began to come out again.

Her memory returns to bad memories when she was five years old. Can't swipe her mama because it's too small and finally have to find Sylvia's mom stiffened when out of the ICU room.

So much for Cilla to say, but no more opportunities. From that moment on in his mind every person treated in the ICU room would never again come out in good health.

“Do not be afraid,” doctor Raymond back touch Cilla's shoulder. “It looks like you fainted in the office because you were too stressed and tired. At this time everything is still under examination and the condition needs intensive supervision and medical support tools. So after discussion, the doctors decided to place Papi Rudi in the ICU as well as observation. If there is no problem and your papa has regained consciousness, Om will ask for your soup to be transferred to a regular nursery. For a while we see the development until tomorrow, yes ?”

“What does Mas Juna want to accompany Cilla ?” Cilla asked back.

Arjuna looked at Raymond's doctor for permission to enter the room at once.

“Akan Om tell the nurse there if indeed Cilla wants to enter with Arjuna,” said Dr. Raymond.

Finally he woke up and went out towards the ICU room. Papa Arman was still speechless, following their steps from behind letting his son who was calming Cilla down.

Cilla was stopped when her steps were getting closer in front of the ICU room door. His body froze again as if there was no energy to make him step forward.

“Cilla certainly can,” Arjuna hugged him while rubbing Cilla's back, making the girl's body gradually normal, not stiff because of tension again.

Arjuna helps Cilla put on a special outfit before entering the nursery and still takes her closer to Rudi's papi bed. The voice of the voice of the medical support machine made Cilla's heart pound uncharacteristically.

Cilla shuddered at the sight of so many supporting devices attached to the body of Papi Rudi including a ventilator. His heart was racing as his hand slowly touched the hand of Papi Rudi.

“Capable to heal, Pi. Cilla will always wait for papi and make papi proud of Cilla. Do not quickly catch up with mami, because Cilla still desperately needs papi here.”

Slowly tears began to drip from both corners of her eyes making Arjuna clutch Cilla's shoulder. Arjuna himself just kept quiet and let Cilla take out all his heart including his sadness.

Only ten minutes were both inside due to Papi Rudi's unconscious state. Once outside, there is already mama Diva, aunt Siska, om Rio and Theo there. Mr. Slamet and Dono were also still waiting in front of the room.

“The strong, dear,” Mama Diva langung approached Cilla and hugged her lovingly.  “Never hesitate to ask mom if you need help.”

Cilla's heart was touched, although she had already annulled the marriage and cut ties with Arjuna, but Diva's mother's affection did not change and still called herself a mama for Cilla.

After that replace Aunt Siska who was unable to hold back her tears hugged Cilla.

“Believe the best for your papi, Cilla. Leave it to God and rely on His strength. Papi will definitely fight as well to stay on the side of Cilla.”

Cilla smiled after breaking her arms with aunt Siska. Since removing the special clothes in the ICU room earlier, Cilla has been determined to be more determined and accept the reality that was long hidden by Papi Rudi.

It was not time to regret that no one had told him and Cilla was sure to include Arjuna.

Now one by one the problems began to unravel and clear in Cilla's eyes. And Cilla believes that God must still give her a chance to make her happy, even though Cilla herself does not know how long she has.

Om Rio just patted Cilla on the shoulder and gave her some spirit, continued with Theo standing behind Rio.

“The spirit keeps the baby duck,” said Theo who immediately hugged Cilla tightly while patting Cilla's back. “Let now the father of the baby duck is hard to reach, there is still the unclean baby duck,” said Theo trying to erode the tension.

Spontaneous Arjuna who was still standing nearby immediately glared at Theo who was laughing with a mocking look at Arjuna.

Even Theo deliberately linger hugging Cilla, evoking the possessive nature of Arjuna who began to shake want to keep Theo from Cilla.

Still had time his best friend said that his father was a duck child difficult to reach, but it was clear that Arjuna did not run from Cilla and still keep an eye on him even from a distance.

“Be careful his father ducklings still like fierce,” whispered Theo deliberately so close to Cilla's face made Arjuna snort annoyed and held back his emotions.

“If until he messes, do not hesitate to ask for help uncle duck,” continued Theo while chuckling.

Theo deliberately uttered sentences that could provoke a smile on Cilla's face so that the little girl in front did not continue to dissolve in sadness. Cilla immediately glared as soon as Theo stood up straight again and hit the man on the shoulder.

“The name is also a duck child must belong to his father duck, wherever there is uncle duck. If uncle yes partner niece,” scolding Cilla with pursed lips.

Theo instead gawked at Cilla's already fixed answer claiming she belonged to Arjuna.

Dono laughed softly as he shook his eyes at Theo's face whose mouth was slightly open. Since then he knew that Theo was warming up Arjuna whose facial features had been seen holding back his jealousy. But it turns out that her special student did not let her ex-husband just be bullied.

Arjuna smiled while looking to the side. It's not good to see aunt Siska and om Rio standing nearby. The two Cilla families can misunderstand because thinking when Rudi was sick inside, Arjuna instead smiled with excitement.

Arjuna only dared to cheer in his heart because he heard the words of Cilla who indirectly defended him, even though Arjuna did not know what sentence was said by Theo.

Theo rubbed his nape, it seemed difficult to make Arjuna and Cilla completely separate. MouthCilla refused, but her heart spoke of endless love.

And so is Arjuna. Theo could see how deep the radiance of his best friend's love for his cousin was.

Huuffttt.