Gilang immediately sat beside Aunt Darsih, asking about her illness and urging her to go to the general hospital. But Aunt Darsih refused, perhaps because of the cost—or perhaps there was another reason as well.
Angga had also repeatedly urged his mother to get treatment at a larger hospital, but she still refused. She only wanted to be treated by the village medic.
Aunt Darsih was now a little over sixty. She had been sick for about five years, starting with diabetes and progressing to various other complications.
Aunt Darsih didn't want to be hospitalized because she felt more comfortable being cared for at home. If she stayed home, Angga wouldn't have to take time off work or keep going back and forth to the hospital to look after her, since the general hospital was fairly far from their village. Though her main reason was the cost.
Gilang looked sad seeing Aunt Darsih in that condition. Yet while they talked, Aunt Darsih continued to smile faintly, hiding her pain.
Before they knew it, night had fallen. Gilang intended to say goodbye and head home, but Aunt Darsih told him to stay the night and asked Angga to buy some food for him.
Angga hurried outside, but Gilang stopped him.
“Ga, let me go out and get the food,” Gilang said.
“Don’t, Lang. I’ll go out. You just wait here and look after Mom,” Angga said.
“Let me, Ga. I’m planning to stop by my place anyway to pick up some clothes,” Gilang said.
“Oh, okay. Here’s some money, Lang,” Angga said, handing him the money.
“No, keep it. I’ve got this,” Gilang refused, then hurried outside.
Not long afterward, Gilang returned to Aunt Darsih’s house with food and a change of clothes.
“Ga, go ahead and eat first if you want. I’m going to take a shower,” Gilang said.
“No, we’ll eat together. We’ll wait for you,” Angga replied.
“Oh, okay. Just give me a minute,” Gilang said as he headed to the bathroom.
After Gilang showered and cleaned himself up, they ate together. Angga and Gilang took turns feeding Aunt Darsih while they ate. The scene reminded them of their childhood, when Aunt Darsih used to feed them both.
Actually, Aunt Darsih had something she wanted to tell Gilang, but she didn't know how to bring it up. She was still thinking about where to begin until she finally convinced herself to tell the story.
“Gilang,” Aunt Darsih called.
“Yes, Auntie,” Gilang replied.
“There’s something important I need to tell you, Lang,” Aunt Darsih said.
“What is it, Auntie?” Gilang asked.
“First, I want to apologize to you, Lang. I should have told you this a long time ago,” Aunt Darsih said.
“Why are you apologizing, Auntie? You didn’t do anything wrong,” Gilang said.
Aunt Darsih was silent for a moment, then said:
“Lang, you’re a strong kid. You grew up without your father and mother, and even your only older sibling left you, too. Gilang, the truth is, your mother and father’s deaths, and your older sibling’s death as well……”
Before Aunt Darsih could continue, the sound of someone knocking came from outside.
“Knock… knock… knock…”
“Who is it?” Angga asked.
“It’s Uncle Indra,” came the reply from outside the door.
“Just a second,” Angga called back.
Angga went to the door and opened it.
Uncle Indra was Gilang’s father’s younger brother. Ever since Gilang’s parents died, he had been the one paying for all of Gilang’s living expenses.
Gilang’s father was the oldest of three siblings. His first younger brother had died young from an illness, and his second younger brother was Indra.
The reason Gilang’s family had been able to make it this far was also because they had continued their grandfather’s business. When Gilang’s father took it over, the business grew even more successful.