Chapter 5 Heartbroken

"Yes, Kintani. Dad also hopes that because of this incident you will not hate your Father, Mother and Uncle Gindo, because we do not forbid or oppose you from having a relationship with Ridwan, but rather our customs do not allow it," said Mr. Wisnu.

"I will never hate my Father and Mother, what I regret is Uncle Gindo who never gave me an understanding of our ethnic group, including the prohibition on having a love relationship within the same tribe," said Kintani.

"Your uncle has indirectly realized his mistake, it's just that you also need to know that in this modern era, even if an uncle is so enthusiastic about giving advice and understanding to his nephew about customs, today's children still find it difficult to apply it in their daily lives. Did it ever occur to you when you first met Ridwan to ask about his tribe?" Mr. Wisnu explained while asking, Kintani just shook her head.

"Likewise with Ridwan, I don't think Dad ever asked about your tribe," continued Mr. Wisnu.

"Yes, what Dad said is true. We never thought to ask about it," Kintani admitted.

"Well that's why what we're experiencing now happened, it was all known when you were about to get engaged."

"Yes Dad, I won't blame Uncle Gindo anymore."

"Are you going to eat now, Kintani?" Mrs. Anggini coaxed, but Kintani still refused and said that she didn't have an appetite.

Mrs. Anggini didn't give up because she didn't want her daughter to get sick, so she coaxed Kintani again, after being coaxed repeatedly, her daughter finally agreed to be invited to eat. It's hard to accept a reality that suddenly comes and has to be faced, like swallowing a mouthful of rice that tastes bitter in Kintani's throat.

Heartbreak and resignation seemed to be experienced by the two who had been in love for the past 2 years with joy and sorrow, it never crossed their minds that something like that would happen.

In unwilling resignation, Kintani and Ridwan had to obey the wishes of their respective parents to be separated, it was intended so that they could gradually forget the beautiful memories that had been created in their love affair when they were in Padang City.

****

Early in the morning, Ridwan had woken up and was ready to leave for Padang City, Ridwan's plan was only to stay in the city for a day and then the next day he would go to the capital city of Jakarta.

"Why are you crying, Mom?" asked Ridwan while putting on his shoes on the porch of the house.

"What mother wouldn't be sad, Ridwan. Letting go of her son who went far away to Java Island," answered Mrs. Suci who tried to keep her tears from flowing again, but she couldn't hold back the tears.

"I'm a man and an adult, Mom. Don't worry, I'm not alone in Jakarta either. There's Uncle Ramli and his family there," Ridwan calmed his mother's heart.

"Yes Suci, besides, we can contact her at any time via cellphone," added Mr. Rustam who also helped calm Mrs. Suci's heart.

"Fitria..!"

"Yes Brother," Fitria who was inside the house getting ready to go to school came to Ridwan on the porch.

"While I'm away, help Mom at home after school, okay? Don't forget to study hard so that your grades will always be good and you can continue to a state university," Ridwan advised his younger sibling.

"Okay Brother."

"Don't miss your prayers, help me with prayers so that I will be successful when I'm away and can continue to send you money for your school and college fees later."

"Yes Brother."

The bus he was waiting for to go to Padang City passed by, Ridwan stopped it. After saying goodbye by shaking his parents and younger sibling's hand, Ridwan got on the bus and left, leaving his loved ones who were still waving their hands.

Ridwan arrived in Padang City at his adoptive parents' residence at 1 pm, Ridwan's arrival certainly raised questions for his adoptive parents because he returned earlier than planned.

"Hey, you said you were in the village for 1 week, but you've only been back for 3 days?" asked Mrs. Indri who was sitting on the porch that afternoon.

"Yes, Ma'am, I'll tell you later. Oh yeah, where's Dad?" Ridwan asked back.

"Your father went straight to his room after the Dhuhur prayer, I'll wake you up in a minute."

"Oh, no need, Mom. Let Dad rest first, here are some souvenirs from Dad and Mom in the village," Ridwan prevented while giving him souvenirs in the form of fresh fruits from his village.

"Wow, it's a hassle to bring souvenirs."

"It's okay, Mom. It just so happens that these fruits are in season, and the fruits are abundant behind the house,"

"Okay, you just rest first, you must be tired from the trip," Mrs. Indri told Ridwan to rest in the room she usually occupied while living in Padang City.

"Later, Mom, I'm not tired."

"Okay, just sit here first, I'll make you some coffee," Ridwan's adoptive mother knew very well that Ridwan liked to drink coffee.

The weather that afternoon was not as bright as this morning, black clouds instantly covered the entire blue sky, fortunately Ridwan arrived early at his adoptive parents' house, before the drizzle fell followed by heavy rain.

Almost half an hour Ridwan sat on the terrace chatting with his adoptive mother while enjoying a cup of warm coffee, suddenly the sound of someone's footsteps was heard from inside the house interspersed with the sound of coughing.

"Well, Dad is awake," said Ridwan.

"Oh, okay, Mom went back to make some hot tea for your Dad," Mrs. Indri stood up from her seat then returned to the back room to make a drink for Mr. Hendra.

"Sir, who did you think was chatting in the middle of the rain on the terrace with your Mom, eh I didn't know it was you, Ridwan. When did you come?"

"About half an hour ago, Sir." Ridwan answered.

"They said you would be in the village for a week, why are you back after only 3 days? How was your engagement and Kintani, was it successful?" Mr. Hendra asked again, Ridwan didn't answer immediately, he took a deep breath trying to hold back all the feelings that suddenly came to hold back all the feelings that suddenly came to his chest.

"The engagement was canceled, Sir," Ridwan answered with a blank stare at the dense rain falling in front of the terrace of the house.

"What? Canceled?!" Mr. Hendra and Mrs. Indri, who had already arrived at the terrace, exclaimed in surprise at the same time. They were so shocked that they almost dropped the hot tea that Mrs. Indri had brought for her husband.