The Foreign Taste
Grey White

The next day, Ranum excitedly woke up early. His chest was beating faster as he put on his gray-white uniform for the first time.

Seen in the mirror, his reflection returned a faint smile. There is a sense of pride when Ranum saw a reflection of himself in a gray white uniform.

Ranum felt bigger. He felt closer to being called an adult.

"Deudeudeouh who again reflected. Long time very yak. Though only combing the middle hair pigtail doang. Forgiveness length. Mission is mission. Beautiful Miss wants to catch herself first. Move on, brother!"

The temptation of Kania awakens Ranum from his short daydream. A little embarrassed, he rushed to the dining table and finished his breakfast.

It was at breakfast that he saw the appearance of his sister.

'beautiful'. Praise Ranum in your heart.

Kania looked much more mature. Yesterday he cut his hair again to be along the shoulder. His brown hair that was as straight as a shoulder now formed his perfectly oval face.

"Why see Kak? Fascinated yaa.." kania kelakar.

"Again ngagumin. How beautiful my sister is," answered honestly Ranum.

Kania who did not expect Ranum's answer would be like that even so still blushed in shame.

Seeing his sister, Ranum smiled. In his heart he was deep,

'deep inside you, deck. You're still his little brother Brother. As an adult whatever your appearance.'

After finishing breakfast, Ranum and Kania leave school after saying goodbye to Daddy and Mommy.

Looking at her two adult daughters, there was a sense of haru in Nida's heart. Fifteen years passed so quickly.

"When are we gonna tell him about his real background, Nid?" Ask Nanda suddenly.

Nida's speechless. He knows that the truth about his daughter's origins must be told to them by Nanda and Nida. Even though they raised her from childhood with genuine and genuine affection, their daughters deserve to know who their parents really are.

A bit of anxiety poured into Nida's heart.

"What if he's mad at us, Dad? What if he chooses to find his parents instead of living with us? Nida's already a darling, Dad.. Nida already thought of her like Nida's own daughter," Lirih Nida's voice.

Nanda was stunned for a moment. Then grab Nida's shoulder and then hold her tight. Kissed the head end of his beloved wife was full of love. Then he said,

"Kids have their own way of thinking, honey. We cannot impose our will on them. But I'm sure about our two daughters. They love you as their mother,"

"So you have to believe in yourself, baby. Sure, if in the hearts of children, you have a very special place and will not be replaced. You're a brilliant mother, honey.."

Slowly Nida sobbed slowly.

"Is that so, Nan?" Lirih Nida asked.

"Hey.." call Nanda while grabbing Nida's face with both hands. She looked at Nida's face with a smile.

"Try to see you now. What if the kids see you like this. They certainly will not believe that the Mother was a bit crybaby," Tempta Nanda.

Hearing Nanda's temptation, Nida grimaced with laughter.

"Udah. Don't cry ah. Leave everything to God. God knows what is best for all of us. After all, children are His care. So if God wants the children to go, it is His best determination. Just trust me, honey.."

Nida slowly nodded. He rested his head on the chest of Nanda's field.

For sixteen years, this man was the only shoulder on which he leaned when he was tired. Also his only friend complained.

That is exactly how a couple should be living. To be a complement to imperfections. To be clothes that cover the disgrace and all the shortcomings of the self.

It can also be like a root for a tree, so it can support and enforce it to stay standing.

***

Arriving at school, the new hour hand shows at seven or less fifteen minutes.

Ranum and Kania did deliberately come early on the first day of this school, so that they could get the desired seating position.

When they get to the front of Ranum's class, the two split up. Ranum entered the classroom, while Kania headed for her class in a room located at the end of the corridor.

Once inside, Ranum found that there were already four people who came and occupied their dream seats. Ranum then glanced at his dream position, the second bench in the right marginal row close to the entrance of the classroom.

The position of the bench was always the target of Ranum from Junior High for two reasons.

First, his position rarely received the attention of teachers. Second, he likes to lean against the wall. Be finally almost every year Ranum is eyeing this bench position.

When he got the position of the bench he was looking for, Ranum was sitting there. He hid his face behind his arms on the table and closed his eyes. He chose to sleep.

***

"Ranon? Num?"

Vaguely Ranum heard the voice of a girl calling out to him. He suddenly woke up and found that beside him there was already Tika who smiled sweetly at him.

"Ranum really sleeps? Ihihii.. have you been staying up late?" Ask Tika.

Spontaneously Ranum touched the tip of his lips. When he realized there was no trace of sleep left behind, he felt ashamed because he was caught sleeping by Tika.

Ranum was embarrassed. And immediately leave the class.

Almost all the benches were occupied by his new friends. Ranum did not expect that he could fall asleep on his first day.

'These are bad habits. If the eyes break, overslept, Ranum complains in the heart.

Ranum rushed to the girls' bathroom located not far from his classroom. He washed his face and put his shirt back on, which looked crumpled in some parts.

After his appearance in the mirror was quite okay, Ranum returned to his classroom. Shortly after he sat down, the entrance bell rang.

***

Shortly after the bell rang, a male teacher entered the classroom. He looks quite young. Aged about 30.

He introduced himself as Pak Amin, a teacher of PAI (Islamic Religious Education) as well as the guardian of class X.1, Ranum class.

Mr. Amin explained the importance of maintaining school order and carrying out duties and obligations as a student. He then took the attendance book and called out the names of the students of class X.1 one by one.

When Mr. Amin called the name of the student, the student was asked to name his name, address, and hobby. This made the student the center of attention to the other twenty-nine friends in the class.

Slightly saturated with monotonous introductions, Ranum's thoughts occasionally drift into the latest music video from artist Lazuli Nun, the idolized female singer.

'I love you, but I am not loved..

I love you, but you don't think..

I feel what you feel..

That I have no right to love,

Let me be alone..'

ranum's mind sings to himself.

"Adnan-"

Spontaneous alone Ranum stood up as his last name was called.

"My name is Ranum Binna Adnan. Address in Kampung Jati. Hobby sings," said Ranum in a loud voice, then sat back down.

"-nasution. Where's Adnan Nasution?" Mr. Amin called.

BRACKET. The world seemed to collapse on Ranum. He felt so ashamed.

'It turns out that the one who was called was not me! But Adnan Nasution!' gerutu Ranum's. Beside her, Tika giggled softly.

'Duh! Shame bangett!!' joking Ranum's heart.

"Are you Adnan Nasution?" Back to the sound of Mr. Amin.

Ranum also ventured to lift his face to see the owner of the name Adnan besides himself.

"Yes, sir. I am Adnan Nasution. Address in Cicere. Hobby playing guitar," said a tall, skinny student.

"Ooh.. You live in Cicere? The deck was the same as my house in Logak. Stop by sometime."

"Berez, sir."

"By the way you knew everybody, huh? Try you who stood first. What's name?" Asked Mr. Amin suddenly looked at Ranum.

'Last me! Shy habiis..!' jerrit Ranum.

"Ranum, Sir. Ranum Binna Adnan," the voice of Ranum.

"Yes. Know Ranum?"

"No, sir."

"Oo.kirain know. Make his name, make that deal. Let it be the same," Kelakar Mr. Amin..

Spontaneous whole class crowded by the sound of students ber 'ciee-ciee'. Making Ranum's face redder than a boiled crab.

"OKAY. It's been. It's been. We go on again!" Said Mr. Amin.

Then the introductory event continued. Leaving Ranum who was still condemning the embarrassing incident that happened to him earlier.

His eyes then caught again the figure of Adnan sitting on the front bench of the middle row. And as if he knew if anyone saw him, Adnan saw him back.

Ranum was surprised and lowered his head. But before looking down, he had seen a wide grin of Adnan complete with a roll in his right tooth.

'He's right!? Cowo who at that time mengguping chatku ama Kania, continue to ngetawain me!'

Ranum's heart suddenly boiled. No longer by shame, but by the annoyance he aimed at a new figure he knew named Adnan.

It seems that fate began to knit the story between the two from the beginning they met. The first time they crochet their day in a white-gray uniform.

***