The Foreign Taste
Take care of Ranum

Heavy rain poured into the slum housing of Dukuh Sawit located on the outskirts of town X.

The hour hand shows exactly at midnight. The atmosphere of the small village of Dukuh Sawit which is usually crowded by women at night and its devotees also look lonely that night. Only one or two cars passed and continued to speed away.

Presumably this heavy rain makes people prefer to return home immediately. They are reluctant to linger in the small village in town X because the village of Dukuh Sawit is generally flooded if heavy rain flushes overnight.

Who wants to be caught in a flood and risk a damaged vehicle afterwards? It would be too expensive and exhausting.

Time keeps passing. Slowly the rain subsided and left only a small drizzle.

A little later than 2 am, there was a woman in her early twenties holding a toddler down from the beat motorbike in front of the alley into Dukuh Sawit village. Her face was white, beautiful with a tall body.

In a hurry the woman stepped up to a stop at an old house measuring 75 square meters. Then he knocked on the door of the house quite hard.

After two minutes, the door slowly opened. A young man with a face that looked irritated from his disturbed sleep greeted him. But after the young man saw who the guest was, he was shocked and fixated.

"Nan, help me! Please our daughter! Save it! please.." scowl the lady guest in a panic.

"What...what happened to Yu? And where have you been all this time?" Ask Nanda.

"I'm.." Rahayu seemed reluctant to tell her stories. "May I go inside?" Petanya.

Not to mention Nanda replied, another woman's voice came from inside the house.

"Who's coming, Dad?.."

The two people who were still standing in front of the door were shocked and turned to the origin of the voice. A large pregnant woman was wearing a flower negligee there. Instantly, when the three pairs of eyes looked at each other, the atmosphere was suddenly silent.

"Current!... Whatdoyouwant?" Ask Nida coldly.

"Nid, I.."

"Go in first."

And then Rahayu, Nida and Nanda had a conversation.

"I went to town Y. I chose to leave after the incident that night. I know I can't be between the two of you. The incident that night was my fault. I'm sorry.."

For a moment the mood returned to silence. The three recalled an accidental incident that happened about two years ago. The incident that made the friendship between them cracked instantly. Although actually..

Nida's view turned to a female toddler who was carried by Rahayu. The toddler was asleep.

"This child.is the result of that night?" ask Nida slowly.

Nanda was tense. Rahayu looked down at her daughter's face.

"Yes, he was born in November of last year.."

"After a month in town Y, I realized I was pregnant. I'm rattled. Just thought about coming back here. But I'm too embarrassed. Especially you, Nid. I felt very guilty, it also occurred to me to abort the fetus at that time. But... I can't. There is a part of Nanda in him. L'm... Sorry, Nid.."

Rahayu sobbing. Nanda had just been silent to see the figure of a toddler on Rahayu's lap. His heart was raging. Just now he was about to say something, when Nida's hand pressed against his arm. Nida nodded slowly. Nanda was silent again. And Rahayu told me again.

"Then I met Aditya. He was kind and attentive to me. She accepted my pregnancy outside of marriage. Or so in the beginning, I accepted his proposal. We just got married two months ago. And I think he really accepted me and Ranum. Until then I overheard him saying that he would.if he would eliminate Ranum as soon as we got married!"

Nanda and Nida were shocked. At first glance they look at each other before returning to the sound of Rahayu telling a story.

"... I heard it last night! I'm not gonna let that happen. I have to save Ranum... That's why I chose to leave. But I'm afraid, Nid. I'm afraid he'll find us and harm Ranum. He has a relationship with the Mafia. I'm afraid he can track me wherever I go.. That's why I'm begging you, Nid.. Nan. please take care of Ranum for me. Please...!!"

Rahayu's cries broke again. Nida looked at Rahayu's face down body hugging Ranum's toddler. His voice sounded slow and sad. After a while, Nida finally said.

"All right, we'll take care of him for you, Yu. But what about you? Are you gonna keep running?"

"Yes, this is what I have to do, Nid. Demi Ranum.." then Rahayu turned to Nanda who had just been silent. "Sir..?"

Nanda realized that he was now being stared at by the two closest women in his life. He looked at the toddler who was still sleeping, before finally staring at Rahayu fixedly.

"Yes. I'll take care of her like my own daughter."

'Like..?' batin Rahayu. Her heart was broken again as she had been the night she asked Nanda for her decision to choose between her and Nida.

'Does he still deny that we had spent the night together?! And now he also does not want to really recognize Ranum as his biological daughter?!'

'Let it be important that he takes care of Ranum now..'

"Thank you." said Rahayu Lirih.

Suddenly a phone ringing rang. All eyes were immediately fixed on Rahayu's red bag.

Toddler Ranum who heard the phone so woke up. He opened his eyes for a moment before falling asleep again.

Rahayu rushed to get her phone. But he was surprised when the name 'Aditya' was plastered on his screen.

"Aditha!" yells caught Rahayu.

Immediately put the phone back into the bag. Ignore the sound of hp that continues to ring.

"Nanda, I'll leave Ranum to you. Please really take care of him. I will return when the situation is safe. Please.." he gently moved Ranum into Nanda's embrace.

His heart felt heavy to part. But how is he afraid that if he does not hurry away Aditya will be able to track his whereabouts.

Seeing Ranum in Nanda's arms, Rahayu's heart felt a little happy.

'This is Dad's first hug for you, son.Even Mama never felt it.' Rahayu's inner talk.

Rahayu then turned to Nida who was still sitting unmoved.

"Nida.. thank you.. If that night never happened, we might still be friends right? And the child in your stomach will certainly call me ante Yu right?. I'm sorry, Nid. I'm asking you too much. But please. please take care and love Ranum like a baby in your stomach yes, Nid. please very. please. keep Ranum.."

Rahayu's head bowed deeply after she made her wish as a mother. For a moment the ringing sounds stopped. Just heard the slow sobs of Rahayu in the room.

"alright. I'll take care of Ranum, "say Nida.

Rahayu's head immediately raised to look at Nida with a haru look.

"Thank you, Nid.."

And yet Rahayu's hp ringing rang again. It made him realize that he was chasing time.

"I have to go!" Rahayu then got up and approached her little daughter.

"Ranum darling. Sorry Mama ya Nak. you are the same Dad. Mama will be back later."

He kissed Ranum's forehead and cheeks with love. Before he finally went to the exit. But when Rahayu reached the door, Nanda's voice was heard stopping her.

"Dark!.."

"..." - ".Rahayu just looked. Little hope that Nanda would ask him to come with her. But his hope must be dashed, when he heard the next Nanda speech again.

"Be careful.."

Rahayu nodded while forcing herself to smile. He thought that he should be tough in front of Nanda and Nida. Maintaining the remnants of his lingering self-esteem.

"Goodbye.."

And the door was closed. Close the eyes of Nanda and Nida from Rahayu's figure. Both of them are now silent while looking at the toddler who is still also slumbering in Nanda's lap.

"I'll keep my promise, Dad, I'll take care of her like my own daughter. Seya it will repay our debt to Rahayu. Even though I still hold her angry. But this kid didn't bear the mistakes his parents made."

Nanda stared at Nida. This is what made him fall in love with this petite woman with this ordinary face. Nida has a big heart. He always sees the best side of everyone. What he rarely found was in others.

Nanda is sure, they will really keep their promise to Rahayu to take care of Ranum. However, there is another secret that Rahayu does not know about the events of the night two years ago. And a little bit he felt guilty about her.

I don't know when Nanda can reveal this secret to Rahayu. I don't know when he will be able to meet her.

'hopefully it's okay, ' Nanda's mind is monologuing.

And the sound of rain again rang the village of Dukuh Sawit. This time it was raining hard until morning came back.

***