Chapter 5

"You--!" 

"Rafi," He said. He chuckled as he closed his mouth. I looked up, the light blocking my vision, I don’t even know what kind of face it was. Although I believe its belongs to Rafi’s voice. 

"Rafi!" I confirmed once again that this person was indeed Rafi, my classmate who rarely spoke and didn't even like small talk. 

"May I sit here?" He asked.

 "Yes, nobody forbids anyone can sit down." He laughed after hearing what I said. Is there anything funny? I scratched the back of the nape that didn't itch.

 "What are you doing here?" I asked curiously. 

"That …." 

He pointed to the chicken satay  cart. Short but clear the point. I understood then nodded. 

"You?" He asked back. 

"Tha- ...."I did the same thing what he do too, pointing at the chicken satay cart and speaking using that intonation. 

Why he looks like a different types? Rafi in the office is a very different types while I met him outside the office. Not quiet and even like to make chatter. It reminded me to thought that he was a person who rarely interacted. And, so far I have proven wrongly. 

Oh, God. 

Is everyone like that? Different places have different attitudes, well maybe it's like that. Someone will behave in accordance with the surrounding environment.

Rafi put his phone on the table. His gaze to the Chicken satay  cart and then soon it seemed as if someone was bothering him. His hand is placed on his ear, as if he is sharpening the sense of hearing. 

"What's going on, Fi?" I asked him. 

No answer. Rafi stared at me for a while before finally getting up from the chair. With sneaky steps he walked towards the bush not far from where I am. 

Curious to follow him from behind, with sneaky steps too. 

My steps stopped when Rafi gave a silent signal on the spot, his hand placed over his lips telling me not to be noisy. I silently watched what he was doing. Rafi parted the thicket quickly. For a moment my breath seemed to stop, for fear of being shocked and screaming I covered my own mouth. 

Rafi told me to come closer. 

Two steps forward, Rafi bowed. Afterwards, I saw him squatting while reaching into the thicket. 

"Why, Fi?" 

He turned around, smiling showing the rows of white teeth neatly lined up. 

"Here," He said, waving his hand to get me closer. 

"Whoa, cat," One medium sized box lay in the thicket. There was a mother cat and several white and yellow nursing kittens look adorable. I’m feel pity, there still have people who don’t have a heart to throw away this poor creature with only a thin brown cloth. Pity. 

I crouched down to look it closer. Stretched out my hand to put the mother cat for pet it. I saw the mother cat licking her children with great affection. 

Turn to the side. Rafi looks like he takes something out his hoodie pocket. A piece of chicken meat he put in the box where the cat was. The mother cat reacts to sniffs the smell then eats it. I saw him calm down a little. At least, there’s still good a people who care about animals. 

"Thanks, Fi," I told him. This man seemed to arch his eyebrows. He looks confused because of my word recently. 

"Not me, but the cat who just said," I said making it up. 

A smile appeared on his face again. Gosh, this face feels hot. At this rate I might fall in love with him. 

I turned my gaze towards the box then stroked the cat to say goodbye. 

Getting up to sitting down I saw that the chicken satay  seller had just finished my order. I walked over to the wagon pulling out the fitting money then looked back at the bush. 

What? No one there. Where did Rafi go? 

When I combed my gaze at the visitor benches, I saw Rafi sitting on a chair staring at the box on the table. Wasn't that the cat box earlier? 

I approached to make sure. 

"I want bring them to my home, my mother very like cats. Maybe, they can be the friends while I'm busy at work." He said later without looking at me. Her hands are busy stroking the kittens. 

There was gratitude in my heart after hearing her words. When there’s someone who has the heart to throw the cat away. God also doesn't forget to bring good people to care for the creatures.

 "Thanks, Fi," I said again. My eyes are blurred, it looks like my tears will soon fall. I turned around to erase the trail. 

"Thanks again?" The calm eyes were very friendly, Rafi nodded at me. 

"You're welcome," He said. 

"Oh ya, I’ll go first. Bye." 

"Wait, Nad!" 

I turned back to him. I saw him standing. As he have something to say, but was arrested.

 "Never mind, be careful on the road!" He said smiling as he waved. 

I nodded. Walking through the streets that are rather quiet, but there was motorbikes just passing by. My house is not far from here. Go straight for about 20 meters then turn left entering the housing complex on  purnama street, on the left past 4 houses and have arrived. 

I took another look at the white house before opening the fence and then locking it again. The headlights of the house are always turned off to save electricity costs. I remembered again, a month ago the electricity bill had not been paid and in exactly two months the electricity bill had not been paid. Not to mention other costs. It turned out that after knowing what it was like to be the backbone of the family, I came to understand what Papa felt. 

I rubbed my face. Tuck my bangs in the ears before knocking on the door. 

"Assalamualaikum," 

"Sister!" 

Vaguely from inside the house I could hear the screams. Who else if not Alif. 

The door opened showing Alif with a happy face welcoming my return. 

"Sister, come on in," The boy pulled my hand to enter, then locked the door and dragged me to sit at the dining table. 

"Sit, Sister!" 

I followed his orders and pulled the stool closer and sat on it. Staring at him in confusion. 

"Tada!" He exclaimed showing me a sheet of paper.

At first I'm confused, but after reading it a little I understood. I put the chicken satay package on the table. 

"Wow, how odd that my brother is smart." I told him. Deliberately wanted to annoy him. Sure enough, Alif immediately pursed his lips and pulled the sheet of paper into his arms. Realizing his annoyance I pulled the boy closer and lightly ruffled his hair. While he protested then block my hand. 

I complained.

"Ah, my brother very smart," I said later. Alif widened his smile.

"Sister, I have permission to join taekwondo extracurricular activities at school. Earlier I had permission from Mom but not with You," He said again. 

"Why do you asking a permission from me. With Mom, even though that's enough." 

"But, Sister blessing is also important for my good in the future." He pursed his lips again. I held back laughing while holding his shoulder. 

Mother arrived with a tray filled with black cakes, I guessed they were brownies. For a moment I saw the shady eyes that relieved all fatigue in the body and heart. Seeing a parent smile, it must be a relief to their children, and the words are true. 

Mother put the tray in her hand on the dining table after she opened the serving hood. There are many kind of food available there, I also saw that the cake that Mother brought was already foreign and closed for later eating. 

"Mo ---" I ask to Mother's where she get money to buy this food. However, I failed when I saw Mother shaking her head as if she knew what I wanted to ask. 

I nodded.

 "Alif won in first place, so to be smarter today,  I’m buying this food," said Mother. That shady smile almost made my tears come out. Even in difficult times like this, Mother still cares about our happiness as her child. 

Alif looks happy. So do I.

Once everything was provided by Mother, Alif sat on the table with her arms folded. I'm sure he must be hungry yet to eat because he waiting for me to come home. Today, I’ve touched a the little things that happen around me.