exhausted & recharged

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.


Exhausted..


I wished the stress and the strain will come out with every single breath I exhaled. I took another few deep breaths, then pulling my scooter’s key from the keyhole. I got off from motorcycle, and secured my gate.


Another gulp of breath.


I went inside the house. Took off my helmet, my riding gloves and scarf. I then kicked my shoes. They flew to the bottom of the wooden chair and landed with a thud. I took a big glass of water, the water went inside me in few swallows.

I move half-heartedly around the house. I checked Dafa in his room. He’s asleep, his sitter must have made him slept half an hour before.


Ahh… another night without playing with Dafa at night.


I sit on his bed and caress his back slowly. Dim light from his night light framed his angelic face. Ah. Such a wonderful sight. One second, I was amazed with the beautiful image before my eyes. But the next second, guilt washed over me, like a tsunami.


I’m sorry champ, I wasn’t there for you. I had to work. Long hours. Long work hours, and even longer mom hours.


Suddenly I feel tears running down to my cheek. an the exhaustion bombarded me.


The getting up early, preparing him to school, cooking, cleaning up, taking him to school, picking him back in the hour after, helping his homework, playing with him. And then working in the office, managing, teaching, making worksheets,. And as if they were not enough, teaching private lesson at night. All by myself.


Another exhaustion slipped right through me, and skipped a beat of my heart. And another drip of tears went rolling.


I wish I wasn’t all alone like this.


I buried my face inside my hand.


“Mooomh?” Dafa stirred in his sleep, he opened his eye a little bit. Maybe he was awake because of my crying. I wiped my tears and tried to obliterate last signs of crying.


“Yes, Champ?” I caressed his cheek lightly. He opened his eyes bigger, and he was smiling.


“I missed you.” he said, and he yawned.


“Me too” I almost shed a tear again, but I held it with all my might. Dafa smiled again, and he was hugging my hand. He was then back to sleep again.


Gone was all my exhaustion, seen his smile and felt his hug.


“Thanks Champ. Your smile made me strong again.” I whispered to him, and kissed his cheek.


..batteries recharged.


Off to another work to do. This time, with smile on my face, and spirit in my heart.

Sabtu, Juli 31, 2010 at 05.38 , 3 Comments

Netbook-case Hunting

I was looking for some contact lenses in a dept.store downtown, when I bumped into a small kiosk that sold handmade bags and handicrafts. I fell in love instantly with a 10-inch netbook softcase, but held back the urge to buy it when I found out the price. Deep in my heart, I said: “I think I can found something cheaper somewhere else”. I left the stall without buying anything, but kept a business card instead.


Weeks went by, and the need of having to buy the softcase was increasing. The net book already got it’s envelope-model softcase (it looked like an envelope, with a giant Velcro on top of it :D).. but I still need the zipper model, a case that covers, but you can easily opened if you need it (I like practical things ;) ). So then I decided to take a walk to the nearest mall here (Bandung Supermall) and tried to find the dreamt softcase.. :P


Mum and Dafa wanted to come, so I took them with me.. I searched store by store, and couldn’t find that softcase that suits me…

It was mum who got lucky, she accidentally found a nice and not-too-expensive and fits and … “just perfect”

As for me, I didn’t found what I want…. Same thing happened when I tried another mall a week after, I literally walked around every corners and bends.. but still.. couldn’t found what I want..


Why? Because 10” softcase are still very rare, and that made the models and choices were very limited. It’s very different if you need 12” or 14” softcases.. you can go to just a store and easily found something u’d like.


Then, when I finally found that hard-to-find 10”, I couldn’t stand the pattern. Whether it’s too girly (pinkish.. :-&) or too kinky (leopard or tiger prints). I couldn’t pick both of them because dafa will be using the netbook as well, a boy wearing pink? Yeah. rite.


When I found the ‘plain colored’ 10”, I hate the material. It was not waterproof..and too plain :D.


And when I found the right and sturdy + waterproof material… I goggled at the price.. so expensive, and it’s also too plain :D


When I got home with blistered feet and extreme fatigue… I then realized… that the whole “finding netbook case-adventure” was somewhat like my own ‘finding husband-to-be’ adventure…


For once, it was really hard… because the kind of man I want is not ‘just available’ in stock.. just like the way the 10” did. What kind of man I want? Well, The mature and ‘accepts-me and my plus one’ kind of man J. Not every man can live with my conditions. Younger men tends to be ignorant to my son, and older more mature men have the tendency of being distant to him. I can’t blame those men, Can i? Then.. I’d much prefer calmness than exuberance (like the leopard print :P).. but not too plain and serene too… that would kill me to be enthusiastic over something, but he just remain undisturbed (rolleyes).


I also need him to be tough, and "waterproof" ... --> proven strong against family dispute :P But somewhat.. sensitive ;)

ahahhahah, maybe I have found the right man.. but He... already has a BOYfriend.... (rofl)


Oh yeah.. and as for my netbook case? I came back to the first handicraft store with Dafa.. and I let him chose what he wanted :) he chose something that fits him and me.. I like the material, the model, the pics.. (well, I don't really like zombie faces, but I can live with that :P .. better than strawberry prints, though. lol) and the colors too. And what I liked the most was... Its "One-of-a-kind" ;) We finally had the softcase we both love... Yaaay!!


...That kinda made me think... instead of looking my "perfect version" of a husband-to-be all by myself, I should let Dafa decides.. ;)


So.. to all the men out there.. Win Dafa's heart first,, then you'll get HIS plus one...


Yap. Me

:D


Sabtu, Mei 08, 2010 at 08.32 , 5 Comments

These two years

I've been thinking about my love-life for the past two yaers...
.. there are moments that made me smile, moments that made me cry.. and some of them that made me 'fly' and some of the moments.... wet my pants off (lol).

But to think it all over again, those moments were beautiful...
they all had given me experiences, new point of views.. and even new skills ;)
on top of that, they had taught me how to meet new people, made new friends... and encouraged me to 'move on'
and they also had given me the lessons in life.. something that you would not have learned at school, or by reading a book..

you know what, I wrote this post, because i just realized, that in two years that had passsed, I was being left (to marriages) by... 4 guys... and will be five this june ..

maybe you'll wonder why...
but let me tell you something...
i was left not because i was being unfaithful, but it was simply because i was afraid of 'commitment'
:) yes..
that was it... they wanted to get married soon enough, while me? I wasn't...

Most of 'those men' were people aged from 27 until 32... men that were "can't wait to be stranded in a leash called marriage"
While me? i just get off from one, why would I want to be stranded again? hahahhahahahha
Sorry, people ^:)^ I was jusst being sarcastic :P
it's still kinda hurt being left.. even though I was the one who chose to be left :P

hmm... that kinda remembers me... there was one time, I left a guy.. just because I didn't want him to be burdened by me and my 'extra package'
I didn't know why.. but I just thought that "I cared about him too much, and I don't want him to be burdened by my condition"

To thought about it again... I was being STUPID!!! I would never know how much he could struggle for me, wouldn't I?

Hmmm, I guess.. next time I feel comfortable with a guy.. I have to be sure how far he will go for me...

Do pray for me, that I will get the best for me? Please?

Thank you.. :*


Minggu, Maret 21, 2010 at 19.20 , 9 Comments

Paranoid

In the middle of my trying-to-forgive...
Suddenly Rega called, after months not hearing from him.

"I'm at Dafa's school. I want to take him out. it's my day off today." He said.
I was surprised. If I could, I wanted to scream at his face.. told him to get his friggin' as* away from our-perfect-already life.

But I couldn't.

There are Ex-wives, and ex husbands.. but there are no such thing as ex-children..
I have no right to keep him away from his own Son, have I?
... but still.. I'm so damn worried. and afraid. and .. ahhhhhh.. speechless.

maybe I was being jealous. and hurt.

Jealous, because after his presence.. I won't be his center of the universe again..

Hurt, and angry. Wondering here had he been all these months?
where was he when Daffa needs attention?
was he even care to call?
Was he even dare to show up at all?

ah. damn.
I'm counting minutes now..
hoping hours will go by quickly..
and when I count to ten, Daffa will be in my arms again..

mmh. i just realized that i was so afraid.
Afraid that Rega will take away Daffa from me.
I know that it's almost impossible.
For He has to face my whole big family, if he wants to take Daffa away.
Oh, correction.. no need to involve the big family.
Me alone will make his life like living hell ....
..



aahh..
Oh dear God.. Please take care of Daffa..

Jumat, Februari 12, 2010 at 11.01 , 3 Comments

A letter to myself

Dear myself....

I know that you've been through a lot lately...
those rough times, bruising and damaging...
even though hard to admit it, it felt like making a Horcrux out of your soul...
Soul-splitting.. yeah... but like Voldemort.. it made him indestructible..
.. hopefully it made you too... hopefully it made you stronger.. in many ways..

Myself..
Maybe it's hard for you, but I am expecting you to forgive...
"..forgiving whooo???" .. may be you'll ask me that, with that frown on your face... (ahhh, do please don't frown like that, you should worry about the wrinkle it'll give in 5 years time..)

Myself.. it's really time for you to forgive..
forgive things that you couldn't do..
forgive the way things went wrong..
forgive how you can change things... but mostly..
you have to learn to forgive yourself..
that way you will easily forgive other things.. including forgiving him.

..it's hard.. i know. but I know you can.

Myself, do please praise yourself for things that you have successfully done last year..
and don't forget people who helped you gaining it, and thank them...
that way you will how to
appreciate yourself, and appreciate others too.

Myself,
always remember, that
happiness does not rely on how much do you have, but it relies upon how much you give..

Myself,
maybe you have to learn to
earn something...
not to stand aside and just hoping that you have that something.
so get on your feet and REACH!!
..but always finish what you have started..

Myself...learn to trust others... and do please learn to trust yourself too..
I now that they will not always be reliable..
so this way you will learn how to trust but in a cautious way.

... do all this..
and maybe you will be a better person :)

Bandung, Jan 2nd 2010

Rana

Sabtu, Januari 02, 2010 at 01.37 , 3 Comments

When Dafa's ill

I looked at the sight of Dafa, while sitting next to him. He closed his eyes peacefully. On the outside, it looked as if he’s fine, but when I hold him, a burst of heat stung my palm. Yes. He was having a temperature. I caressed his hair, trying to untangle the ends. Suddenly he opened his eyes, and said,

“Water.” His voice were gruff. I handed him water bottles and its straw. He woke up trembling, then I helped him up. I have to bit my lower lip, to resist the urge to cry. He drank slowly with his quivering lips. His lips were gone bright red from his fever. He’s looking quite handsome, actually. With his fair skin, handsome face and red lips. The thought of this made me smile a bit. But the smirk suddenly gone, and left my edge of lips twitching. He looked at me slowly, and gave me a weak smile.

“Go back to sleep, Champ.” I told him while caressing his hair slowly. He nodded and laid his head on the pillow. I tucked him inside his blanket. As he drifted away in sleep, I sighed. I wanted to cry, but then there were no tears that would drop from my eyes. That day was the second day of his fever. A pain stung my head. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, the pain grew weaker a little, but its left minor throb on the corner of my head. Suddenly, I felt tired.

Physically tired, yes. and also tiresome of being lonely. I needed someone to laid my head on the shoulder and cry. I couldn’t risk Dafa seeing me cry. I had once cried in front of him, few weeks after the divorce, and ended up making him sad and crying. I then promised to myself never to cry in front of him again.

I took a deep breath, realizing that everything had been consequences of my choice. I had to accept it, and go with the flow. I then had myself lost in my thoughts. Dafa stirred from his sleep, and shifted me from things that ran in my head.

“Mom..” he said slowly.

“Yes? What is it, Darling? Do you feel hurt?” I asked him. and hold his head carefully with both of my hands.

“No.” He said. He was sleeping against me, and faced the wall, so I couldn’t see his face. “Is Dad going to see me?” He continued. I gasped, but frantically tried to hide it.

“Ummm.. I think he’s busy, Dear.” I then answered, desperately trying to sound normal, and not depressed.

“Oh.” He sighed.

“Now go back to sleep. You wouldn’t want to miss school again, would you?” I said cheerfully.

“Em..hmm.” he hummed. And there were long silence. I took another deep breath.. then I said something in my mind:

"I’m Sorry, Dafa. Daddy doesn’t even care if you are sick. He never called you, not giving you any tuition, not even single penny of allowance he’d sent to us."

I didn’t even cry at this thought. His Dad doesn’t worth my tears anyway.

Kamis, September 03, 2009 at 21.04 , 6 Comments

Senja di atas bukit

Senja itu, di atas bukit. Matahari hampir tak tampak sinarnya. Angin yeng meniup perlahan, kerlap kerlip lampu kota di kejauhan, dan udara yang dingin menggigit. Kakiku membeku, tersengat dingin air di kamar mandi. Aku lalu menghampirinya, dan duduk di sebelahnya.

"Dingin." Gumamku sambil mengusap telapak kakiku yang pucat. Ia lalu meraih kaki ku perlahan.

Aku menatapnya dan tersenyum. Sengatan dingin di kakiku perlahan hilang. Ia mengusapnya dengan tangan besarnya. Ia balas tersenyum menatapku. Bukan hanya usapannya yang membuat gigil itu hilang, tapi tatapannya padaku.

“Thanks” kataku. Ia hanya tersenyum.

Lalu kisah dan kata diceritakan.. kadang disela dengan tawa. Hatiku menghangat di setiap tatapannya, setiap senyuman dan setiap kata-kata yang terucap. Ditemani oleh makan malam yang lezat.. ahhh.. betapa nikmatnya….

Sesaat ku hirup hangatnya kopi susu. Menambah nikmatnya malam itu..Ku mainkan jemariku di antara jemarinya, kadang ku usap lembut rambut-rambut nakal yang mencuat di pipinya. His 2-day beard.. terasa kasar di jemariku.. tapi sensasinya menyenangkan ku… ‘feels manly’..

Mi querido...

“Jadi..” katanya sambil mengenggam tanganku..

“Ke mana ujungnya kita?” lanjutnya. Aku hanya menatapnya, pura-pura marah dan hanya bisa berkata.. “Oh shut Up!!”.

Ia tertawa renyah.. dan aku tersenyum. Memang aneh.. kami merasakan perasaan yang sama.. saling menemukan kecocokan, saling mengisi, saling mengagumi, dan saling merindukan.. namun kami punya banyak hal lain yang harus kami pikirkan, untuk melangkah lebih jauh. . Ibarat sebuah perahu kecil.. yang ingin melintasi danau yang besar.

Lalu kesunyian melingkupi kami. Bukan kesunyian yang mencekam, namun kesunyian dimana masing-masing saling menikmati keberadaan, menikmati suasana, meresapi rasa yang sama-sama kami rasakan. Angin berhembus perlahan. Kelap kelip lampu kota di bawah kami, serasa menambah indah momen tak terlupakan ini.

“I’ve told my mum..” Katanya, di antara kepulan rokoknya. Kedua matanya menerawang . Aku membelalak kaget, namun tersenyum.

“Lalu?” Tanyaku. Jantungku berloncatan. Tak sabar menanti jawabnya. Dia tampak sedang berpikir. Mencoba merangkai kata-kata.

“Emm.. kamu tau sendiri, mungkin….” Katanya. Ia menoleh dan menatapku. Aku menangkap tatapannya, dan memandang kearah lain. Menerawang.

“Yeah.. kalau anak laki-lakiku dekat dengan seorang janda, aku pun akan menyarankan tuk ‘mencari yang masih perawan’..” Kataku. Bibirku tersenyum, namun hatiku…

“So, what did she say?” Tanyaku. Perih hatiku mulai terasa, bagai seutas tali tipis menggores di hatiku.

“Well, she was…. Silent. Diem.” Katanya . Aku tersenyum menatapnya. Ia tak tahu.. hatiku sudah mulai tersayat.

“Hmmm.. salah approach kali, Hon.. harusnya sebutin dulu kelebihan-kelebihan Akuu.” Kataku. Aku tertawa ringan, berusaha menyembunyikan galau di hatiku. Aku meremas jemarinya..

“Udah…” Katanya. “Tapi tetep, pas aku keluarin statement itu.. beliau langsung diem.” Lanjutnya.

“Ow.. and I’ve told my brother too..” Katanya lagi. Jantungku semakin tak keruan detaknya.

“And then?” tanyaku.berusaha menenangkan degub yang berkejaran di dadaku. Ia mengangkat bahu…

“Kakakku bilang….. ‘why not try to find someone else first? Dia pernah gagal, bagaimna kalu nanti kamu gagal juga?’…” Lanjutnya. Ahh.. sayatan lagi di hatiku.

“Tapi Hon.. aku cuma bilang gini...‘Gimana klo setelah mencari ternyata nggak ada yang lebih baik dari dia?, atau ternyata, ujung-ujungnya ya sama dia?’” katanya lagi. Sedikit aliran kesejukan mengaliri sayatan-sayatan di hati.

“Hmm..” Gumamku perlahan. Aku menangis dalam hati… Jika aku bisa memilih, tentunya aku tak ingin jadi seorang Janda.. apalagi di usia semuda ini. Namun aku telah memilih. Memilih tuk pergi dari ketidak jujuran dalam bahtera yang kuarungi dulu. Memilih untuk berhenti tersiksa. Memilih untuk berhenti di tindas. Memilih untuk pergi dari seseorang yang menyeretku ke lembah penderitaan. Ahh…

Aku tahu, pilihanku penuh dengan konsekuensi. Konsekuensi yang dalam beberapa hal aku sangat siap menghadapinya. Segala beban hidup yamg harus ku tanggung, kesendirian yang kulewati tiap malam, trauma berat yang kualami akibat segala perbuatan mantan suamiku, dan merahnya telinga akibat menjadi bahan gunjingan orang lain, semua aku hadapi dengan dagu terangkat dan tekad yang penuh semangat. Tapi ada juga konsekuensi yang hatiku masih belum siap tuk hadapi. Aku terbiasa diterima di segala kalangan, dari mulai anak kecil sampai Orang tua.. mungkin karena sifatku yang mudah akrab dengan orang lain.. ‘penolakan halus’-yang walupun belum final-dari keluarganya sedikit mengguncang hatiku.. Aku tersenyum pedih dalam hati.

“Sabar Rana. Manusia iu lebih mulia dalam sakitnya sabar. Lagi pula, kamu belum pernah bertemu mereka. Mungkin setelah bertemu, mereka justru akan menyayangimu dan Dafa.” Kataku dalam hati.

Ia mengusap jemariku perlahan. Kepedihan dalam hatiku berangsur pudar. Aku menghela napas. Aku terenyum lagi.. memandangnya… Ia yang selalu ada untukku, selalu mendengarkan keluh kesahku, mendukungku, bahkan meminjamkan punggungnya untuk ku tumpahkan air mata. Aku mengenalnya belum terlalu lama.. namun terasa seperti telah mengenalnya bertahun-tahun. Aku kagum akan kecerdasannya, segala tutur katanya yang indah, pribadinya, kerasnya hidup yang telah ia lewati dan kedewasaanya. Sikapnya yang selalu santun, dan tak pernah memanfaatkan kesempatan maupun statusku sebagai seorang Janda. Ia selalu bisa tahu apa yang berkelebat di hatiku, tanpa aku katakan padanya. Ia selalu menghiburku kala ku resah, selalu bisa membuatku terbahak dengan segala ceritanya, serta menenangkanku saat aku gundah. Aku belajar banyak hal darinya dan menjadi kuat karenanya. Aku merasa nyaman berada di dekatnya, terheran-heran akan banyak kesamaan yang kami miliki.

Setelah pernah gagal, aku lebih selektif dalam berhubungan dengan para pria. Aku telah banyak menemui banyak pria, banyak berusaha mengenal mereka, bahkan menerima ajakan ‘hangout’ dari pria yang menurutku ‘lulus seleksi’dan tidak berniat ‘aneh’ terhadapku. Namun entah mengapa, tak ada yang bisa membuatku senyaman pria aneh yang ada di depanku ini. Segala yang kami lalui nampak seperti air.. mengalir perlahan, dan meninggalkan jejak mendalam di setiap alirannya. Yang kurasa..Ia seperti seseorang, darimana rusukku berasal…

Ia memang tak sempurna, seperti layaknya manusia lainnya. Namun ketidaksempurnaanya hanya membuatnya makin sempurna di mataku.

Sering aku berusaha menahan rasa ini. Menahan rindu. Takut semuanya seperti yang kualami dengan mantan suamiku. Namun ada hal-hal dalam dirinya yang meyakinkan ku, bahwa aku akan baik-baik saja di tangannya.

“Hei..” katanya. Sesaat aku tersadar dari lamunan dan pikiran di benakku. Aku kembali tersenyum padanya. Ia mengusap pipiku, aku merasakaan getaran itu, dan menikmati sensasi kupu-kupu yang beterbangan di perutku. Aku tersenyum dalam hati.. setelah mengenalku sekian lama, dan seringnya kami pergi bersama, baru kali ini ia menyentuh pipiku.. aku benar-benar salut akan ketahanannya. Kebanyakan pria bila dalam suasana seromantis ini, cenderung akan mencium pasangannya atau bahkan ‘bergerilya’ dengan tangan mereka. Tapi Ia? Ia tak menyembunyikan betapa ia ingin meraihku dalam peluknya, namun ia tak melakukannya. Ia sangat menghargaiku. Inilah salah satu alasan mengapa aku merasa aman didekatnya. Aku tahu, manusia pun punya batas kesabaran, namun aku yakin dan percaya sepenuhnya padanya, bahwa ia akan sangat menghormatiku.

Ia lalu menanyakan sesuatu tentang masa laluku dengan mantan suamiku. Aku menjawabnya. Namun semakin banyak kata yang terucap, semakin perih hati ini tersayat, teringat akan semua perbuatannya padaku. Aku terisak, ia meminjamkan punggungnya, dan meremas tanganku perlahan. Seakan mengatakan kalau “you are gonna be okay..I’m here with you..” Ia lalu membiarkanku hingga aku merasa tenang.

Oh.. secara batin aku semakin merasa dekat dengannya..

Salahkah bila aku menyimpan harap padanya? Namun tiba-tiba aku tersadar.. cukup berharga kah diriku untuknya? Cukup berhargakah aku untuk diperjuangkannya?

Ahh.. aku hanya bisa menyimpan asa. Manakala ia ingin mencari ‘yang tidak seperti aku’.. hatiku pasti akan hancur..berkeping-keping, dengan serpihan yang jauh lebih kecil….akan merasa sangat berat untuk melepasnya dan merelakannya pergi. Tetapi mungkin aku akan merasa bahagia, bila ia berbahagia.

Hmmmm, could I?

......................

-->finalmente encontrĂ³ a alguien y es feliz de que usted<-- ;)

Jumat, Mei 08, 2009 at 22.58 , 2 Comments