Salsa shook her head again vigorously. She tries to convince her mother that she doesn't have a close male friend. But Sabila cut him off.
"Stop lying, okay, Sa!" he snapped. "Last night I also saw you being escorted home with a man, really." Sabila looked at Salsa with a suspicious and intimidating look.
Sabila's perfect sentence made Salsa realize something. It turned out that the person who was mistaken for her mother and twin sister as her lover was none other than Reyhan. And the next second Salsa was surprised again because apparently someone saw her being escorted home by a man.
"But how can that be?" Salsa thought to himself. Yet it was clear that last night he had seen no one there. Even the living room lights had been turned off.
"I paid for your college not to make you a lazy child. Whose mind is only filled with courtship or all things that are not important!” Kania said firmly. Actually he himself did not believe that his daughter had a lover, but on Sabila's testimony, he finally believed.
"I swear to God," said Salsa, holding up two fingers, "if you mean Reyhan, he's just the boss at Salsa's part-time job. We don't have any relationship, not even close." This time Salsa explained to them in a slightly high pitched tone. His eyes started to feel hot.
"If you two aren't dating, why would he take you home?" Sabila continues to corner Salsa.
“He only helped Salsa because the usual bus was gone. And by that time it was too late," he replied.
"If you don't believe me, that's fine. The important thing is that he and I are not related. But, Sis, I really didn't expect you to slander me like this. What did I do to you?" Salsa asked and her tears started to fall. He immediately ran leaving Kania and Sabila who were still glued to the front porch towards his room.
Salsa never thought something like this would happen. Even though he had prepared something for his mother in the hope that Kania could receive Salsa better.
Salsa lay down on the mattress while still sobbing. He took the gift apron that was in his bag and then he looked at it deeply. The light blue apron could only remain silent. Salsa wiped the surface of the apron while saying that she really loved Kania despite being treated unfairly. She hugged the apron until half an hour later, Salsa drowned in her tears and fell fast asleep.
The next day, when Kania was about to prepare breakfast, she found something on the dining table. He looked carefully at what it was. Kania's hand was busy reading the letter on top of it and soon her tears fell. He immediately remembered how he had treated Salsa all this time, especially last night. In the letter, Salsa expressed how she felt for her mother and apologized many times.
Sorry because Salsa has not been able to be a good child and make Mother proud.
Sorry if all this time Salsa has been wrong with Mother and Sabila.
Sorry if every time I see Salsa, Mom immediately thinks of Dad, making Mom so sick and upset.
But, after all, Salsa loves Mom very much.
I hope you like the gift from Salsa.
Kania covered her mouth and almost screamed after reading the letter. His legs felt very weak and his body fell to the ground. He didn't expect his one child to suffer so much because of his treatment so far. Kania really regretted her actions, but she couldn't do much. Moreover, his heart hurts every time he sees his daughter's face.
With the remaining energy she had, Kania slowly opened the gift wrap from Salsa. Before leaving for campus, early in the morning Salsa had prepared everything. She wrapped the apron in a small cardboard box and covered it with wrapping paper. Not to forget, on top of it he also put a piece of paper containing the outpouring of his heart all this time. He knew Sabila wouldn't know about it because he was still sleeping until noon. Only a few times a week Sabila wakes up early because there is an early morning class. The rest, he usually wakes up at ten or more.
“Beautiful apron,” said Kania, looking at her carefully. He intended to immediately wear the apron when cooking later.
***
Elsewhere, Salsa, who has finished college, intends to meet Reyhan at a canteen near his campus. Sesan today and the next few days there is no part-time work schedule.
Salsa first ordered a glass of iced tea and two slices of white bread. His stomach was very hungry. This morning he had not had breakfast for fear that his mother would suspect him and would not even accept the gift if he knew he had given it.
Not long ago, what was awaited arrived. Reyhan came with a smile—a very sweet smile. He wore black jeans and a red plaid shirt. He immediately approached and sat next to Salsa.
"Wow, this is how you asked me to meet you. Here again," Reyhan said happily. He called the cafeteria waiter and ordered coffee and snacks.
"I want to say something," said Salsa in a low voice and while looking down.
"Just talking. I also never forbid you to talk, really," he said while trying to joke. However, the expression on Salsa's face immediately changed. Reyhan who saw that also frowned slightly.
"What's the matter? You're not usually like this." Reyhan still looks relaxed.
"I want to---"
"You want to resign?" Reyhan asked, cutting Salsa's sentence. Salsa could only shake her head slowly.
"Or do you want to ask for an additional salary?" Salsa shook her head again.
"Oh, I know, you want to ask to be appointed as a permanent employee, right?" This time Reyhan really made Salsa furious.
As usual, Salsa spontaneously hit Reyhan's shoulder and shouted, “Can you shut up?! I want to be serious!”
Hearing this, some of the visitors in the cafeteria turned to look at them. That managed to make Reyhan even more awkward. If a salsa is exposed, it means that what he is about to say is really important.
"Yes sorry. OK, I'll listen to you now. So why did you call me to this place?" Reyhan prepared to hear Salsa's words while looking at the girl's face that looked so puffy. Sadness hung over his eyes.
"I want you to stop helping me from now on."
The sentence was perfect to make Reyhan surprised. If he had been drinking at the time, he would have immediately spit out his drink in surprise.
"Oh? Why?" Reyhan's brow really furrowed now.