Short story by @ayijufridar

"We gather not to regret the past, just to prepare for the future."

It resembles the spell that every time we meet. Sunday night, we like the girls who are busy to welcome the idol of the heart. We dress up-either for whom-to look more beautiful than ordinary days (or at least that's our view). Muna often reminds, "We dress up not necessarily devoted to certain people. Dressing has become a necessity, like eating and drinking. Even in certain situations it's more important to groom than to eat."

He can say so because dressing up for him becomes a job demands so it should be done every working day. So adept that he dressed up until I used to say he could do it while running. As an employee at a cosmetics company, he is required to be smart to dress up. Unlike a teacher like me who just dress up sober.

This evening is special because we have met for two years to discuss the same topic. We must learn from the dark side of the past to prepare for a glorious future. The failure of the past to be a lesson, so no longer misjudgment and choose a spouse. A little psychology becomes important, not wrong if we occasionally invite psychiatrists. Of course, women, although some propose to invite male psychiatrists as a variation.

This is neither an organization nor a gang or community even though we are united by a similar problem. Therefore, Muna is not a chairman-she refuses to be called the chairman's mother-and not the admin. In his own words, he often called Mrs Busy because he was the one who contacted friends. Tonight, he expects everyone to attend because there is important news to be conveyed. "All must attend. Important!"

We gathered at City Coffee, a new cafe that has super delicious green tea despite their main selling coffee. I've been there twice, alone, and proved the word about the nice, sweet-smelling green tea is true. Since my house is closest to City Coffee, I think I'm the first one to attend. Apparently it was Muna who first arrived there and already spent one glass of green tea ice.

We exchanged pleasantries while we waited for the others. Muna looked more serious than usual. He's not kidding much, I think it's related to the word "important" with the exclamation mark he sent in our Whatsapp group.

I just ordered green tea when Asma and Nanda came together. Their cousin, unique also suffered the same fate. Shortly afterwards came Zahra and Dira who were also together because their house was in the same direction.

This is us. Six young women who are supposed to be struggling with theses or theses or are busy looking for work after college. It should be, but in fact we are preoccupied with the job and taking care of the child alone. We became single parents because of the situation that forced us to be mothers at a young age.

Muna opens with the above sentences as usual. Then he discussed why we were together, explained a number of positive benefits if we were together and had a negative impact on our own problems. It was a sentence that he often delivered until we memorized by heart. The unusual is the next sentence, that; "I have to retreat from our regular meetings forever."

"Why?"

"What is wrong?"

"There's no other way?"

Questions that glide almost simultaneously. Muna took a deep breath, a sign she was going to talk at length. Usually so. So it's a bit unusual if then he just says short; "Next week I'm getting married."

I was the first to open my mouth after all this time we were silent, either because the friends were surprised to hear Muna's confession will marry or even shocked for the reason of withdraw from our regular meeting. I said, "We've been together, sharing stories and loads. Not just a family matter, but all the burden of life. We are brothers. For me, many things are more comfortable sharing with you than your own. So..."

"Agreed," Dira interrupted. "We have become once family. You want to marry again or not, not an obstacle to get together, share. We're family, not young widows!"

Laughter sounded in unison with comments that supported Dira's statement. In essence, we reject Muna absent from the meeting. Even when the grandmothers later, we still want to stay together. That's what Nanda says.

"I agree with you," Muna said later.

"Well, let alone ..." Dira urged.

"So there's no need to back down. Officials who have proven corruption also refuse to resign," Zahra said.

"The reason I have told my future husband. I even told you about it. "

"Do not tell me about my husband cheating ..." said Dira.

"The reason I have told my future husband. I even told you about it. "

"Do not tell me about my husband cheating ..." said Dira.

"Calm down, calm down ..." Muna smiled. "Personal issues remain our secret.

Problem husband Dira cheating, about Asma hated in-laws, about Lisa become victims of domestic violence, enough for us alone. I will not tell anyone-not without your permission. I just tell about us in general. But ... "Muna paused, looking at us all," my future husband still disagrees. He asked me not to join anymore, "Muna's last sentence was delivered in a hoarse voice as if it were a very heavy burden.

"So he gives you a hard choice, faiting you. Me or them, right? "Looked at Dira.

Muna did not answer. But we all know the answer.

---

We are still gathering next week with the main theme is no longer the problem of each household, but the problem Muna. He really did not attend even though we invited him and he did not invite us in his wedding. Dira called and tragically, not picked up. Upon returning from the meeting, I secretly called Muna and hoped she would share, apparently without response. I still think positively by assuming Muna is too tired after her marriage to-whatever her name is. So I sent WA to inquire as well as to congratulate him on his marriage. I just got an answer tomorrow afternoon-or almost 12 hours later-with two words; "Good. Tq. "

The following week, I was absent because of personal affairs. But that does not mean I do not know what's being discussed. Comrades disappointed with the attitude of Muna who willingly decide friendship. "I think the man is preparing a prison for Muna," said Dira who called me when I was in bed.

"Let's think positive, we do not know why he is so. He must have a reason. "

"Because you think too often, you hit your husband many times."

"It's former."

"Think positive, agree. But do not be naive. We must be wary of such men. Muna himself who says, we must learn from experience without the need to be paranoid with men. Precautions do not loose. Cook fell into the same hole two or three times. The donkey was only one time. I think the serotonin in Muna's head is overflowing so she can not think logically. Cook him to leave us for that man! "

"We do not know much about their relationship yet. Many things that Muna has not delivered. But let it be his business. As a friend, we must support Muna's happiness, even though she abandoned us. We have to be patient, maybe until they have a party. So, just wait, we're invited or not! "

---

We did not get any news let alone Muna's wedding invitations until weeks passed into months. Our meeting was not too routine and no longer had to be a Sunday night since Dira took over as sexy. Whenever there is time, we meet though not always always be complete.

Sometimes, we are preoccupied with family or work issues. One thing we are grateful for, all the problems with the couple is over. The wound was still in each heart, but it was no longer bloody. We are organizing a new life to better reflect on past bad experiences.

Until one night-when we were complete-suddenly Muna was standing beside our table. "Can you join?" His audible voice made our surprise to be longer.

"Probably, of course!" Dira immediately melts the air. "You are still a shareholder here," he continued, failing to make Muna smile, let alone laugh.

Muna pulled up a chair from the adjoining table that happened to be empty. "I'm sorry," and then he was quietly watching us. "My wedding is canceled, it turns out he is still married to his wife. And he turns out ... "

Some of us shouted. Muna then tells tears, the man is very possessive and limits Muna's association with anyone. He did not want the trouble with his wife uncovered. But ultimately caught as well. "His wife went to the office with two children. She was angry to embarrass me. I figured that severing him was the best decision to save me, and to save him and his family."

Asma and Nanda sitting beside Muna rubbing our friend's shoulders. The atmosphere became wistful until Dira's cheer was heard; "Ah, do not be sad with sadness. We've got together again, and that's the source of happiness. "

All shouted in agreement.

Dira snatched again, "I have good news. Next month me and Dimas get married. His parents agree he married a young widow, hahaha ... and Dimas also not forbid me to be friends with you. He even asked permission to join sometime. "

Again hysterical calls, both congratulations and teasing Dira because her husband is younger and still trace. I keep a smile in my heart because it also has similar news to Dira. Let me keep this good news until next week to extend our happiness.[]

---

Bunda Belia

Cerpen @ayijufridar

“Kita berkumpul bukan untuk menyesali masa lalu, justru untuk menyiapkan masa depan.”

Kalimat itu lebih menyerupai mantra yang dirapalkan setiap kami bertemu. Malam Minggu, kami laksana para gadis yang sibuk menyambut kedatangan pujaan hati. Kami berdandan—entah untuk siapa—agar terlihat lebih cantik dibandingkan hari biasa (atau setidaknya begitulah pandangan kami). Muna sering mengingatkan, “Kita berdandan tidak mesti dikhususkan untuk orang tertentu. Berdandan sudah jadi kebutuhan, seperti makan dan minum. Bahkan dalam situasi tertentu lebih penting dandan daripada makan minum.”

Dia bisa berkata demikian karena berdandan baginya menjadi tuntutan pekerjaan sehingga harus dilakukan setiap hari kerja. Sebegitu mahirnya ia berdandan sampai aku sering mengatakan ia bisa melakukannya sambil berlari. Sebagai karyawan di sebuah perusahaan kosmetik, ia memang dituntut pintar berdandan. Beda dengan guru sepertiku yang hanya berdandan seadanya.

Malam ini menjadi istimewa sebab sudah dua tahun kami bertemu untuk membahas topik sama. Kami harus belajar dari sisi kelam masa lalu untuk menyiapkan masa depan gemilang. Kegagalan masa lalu menjadi pelajaran, agar tidak lagi salah menilai dan memilih pasangan hidup. Sedikit ilmu psikologi menjadi penting, tak salah kalau kami sesekali mengundang psikiater. Tentu saja perempuan, meski ada yang mengusulkan mengundang psikiater laki-laki sebagai variasi.

Ini bukan organisasi, bukan pula geng atau komunitas meski kami dipersatukan oleh masalah serupa. Karena itu, Muna bukanlah ketua—dia menolak dipanggil ibu ketua—dan bukan pula admin. Dalam istilahnya sendiri, ia sering menyebut seksi repot karena dialah yang menghubungi kawan-kawan. Malam ini, dia mengharapkan semua hadir karena ada kabar penting yang harus disampaikan. “Semua wajib hadir. Penting!”

Kami berkumpul di City Coffee, sebuah kafe baru yang punya teh hijau super nikmat meski jualan utama mereka kopi. Aku pernah dua kali ke sana, seorang diri, dan membuktikan kabar tentang teh hijau yang harum dan nikmat itu memang benar adanya. Karena rumahku paling dekat dengan City Coffee, kupikir akulah yang pertama hadir. Ternyata justru Muna yang lebih dulu tiba di sana dan sudah menghabiskan satu gelas es teh hijau.

Kami berbasa-basi sejenak sambil menunggu yang lain. Muna tampak lebih serius dibanding biasanya. Dia tidak banyak bercanda, kupikir berkaitan dengan kata “penting” dengan tanda seru yang ia kirim di grup Whatapps kami.

Aku baru memesan teh hijau ketika Asma dan Nanda datang bersamaan. Mereka sepupuan, unik juga mengalami nasib sama. Tak lama kemudian muncul Zahra dan Dira yang juga bareng karena rumah mereka searah.

Inilah kami. Enam perempuan muda yang seharusnya sedang berkutat dengan skripsi atau tesis atau sibuk mencari pekerjaan seusai kuliah. Seharusnya demikian, tapi faktanya kami disibukkan dengan pekerjaan dan mengurus anak seorang diri. Kami menjadi orang tua tunggal karena situasi yang memaksa kami menjadi ibu di usia belia.

Muna membuka dengan kalimat di atas seperti biasa. Kemudian dia membahas alasan kami berkumpul, menjelaskan sejumlah manfaat positif jika kami bersama dan dampak negatif bila menghadapi masalah sendiri. Itu pun kalimat yang sering ia sampaikan hingga kami hapal di luar kepala. Yang tak biasa adalah kalimat berikutnya, bahwa; “Aku harus mundur dari pertemuan rutin kita selamanya.”

“Kenapa?”

“Ada apa?”

“Tak ada jalan lain?”

Pertanyaan yang meluncur hampir bersamaan. Muna menarik napas panjang, pertanda ia akan bicara panjang lebar. Biasanya begitu. Jadi agak tidak biasa bila kemudian ia hanya berkata singkat; “Minggu depan aku menikah.”

Aku yang pertama kali membuka mulut setelah sekian lama kami terdiam, entah karena teman-teman kaget mendengar pengakuan Muna akan menikah atau malah kaget karena alasannya mundur dari pertemuan rutin kami. Kataku, “Kita sudah lama bersama, berbagi kisah, dan beban. Bukan hanya masalah keluarga, tapi semua beban hidup. Kita bersaudara. Bagiku, banyak hal yang lebih nyaman berbagi dengan kalian dibandingkan dengan saudara sendiri. Jadi...”

“Sepakat,” potong Dira. “Kita sudah jadi saudara. Mau kawin lagi atau tidak, bukan hambatan untuk ngumpul, saling berbagi. Kita ini bersaudara, bukan komunitas janda belia!”

Suara tawa terdengar berbarengan dengan berbagai komentar yang mendukung pernyataan Dira. Intinya, kami menolak Muna absen dari pertemuan. Bahkan ketika sudah nenek-nenek nanti, kami masih ingin tetap bersama. Itu kata Nanda.

“Aku sependapat dengan kalian,” sahut Muna kemudian.

“Nah, apalagi...” desak Dira.

“Jadi, tidak perlu mundur segala. Pejabat yang sudah terbukti korupsi juga menolak mundur,” timpal Zahra.

“Alasan itu sudah kusampaikan kepada calon suamiku. Bahkan aku sudah menceritakan tentang kalian.”

“Jangan cerita soal suamiku selingkuh...” cetus Dira.

“Tenang, tenang...” Muna tersenyum. “Soal pribadi tetap jadi rahasia kita. Soal suami Dira selingkuh, soal Asma tidak disenangi mertua, soal Lisa jadi korban KDRT, cukup untuk kita saja. Aku tidak akan cerita kepada siapa pun—tidak tanpa seizin kalian. Aku hanya menceritakan tentang kita secara umum. Tapi...” Muna terdiam, memandang kami semua, “calon suamiku tetap tidak setuju. Dia minta aku tidak bergabung lagi,” kalimat Muna yang terakhir disampaikan dengan suara parau seolah itu merupakan beban yang teramat berat.

“Jadi, dia memberikan pilihan sulit, mem-fait accompli kamu. Aku atau mereka, begitu?” tatap Dira.

Muna tidak menjawab. Tapi kami semua tahu jawabannya.

---

Kami masih berkumpul pekan berikutnya dengan tema utama bukan lagi masalah rumah tangga masing-masing, melainkan persoalan Muna. Dia beneran tidak hadir meski kami mengundangnya dan ia tidak mengundang kami dalam acara pernikahannya. Dira menelepon dan tragisnya, tidak diangkat. Sepulangnya dari pertemuan itu, diam-diam aku juga menelepon Muna dan berharap dia mau berbagi, ternyata juga tanpa respon. Aku masih berpikir positif dengan menganggap Muna sudah terlalu lelah setelah pernikahannya dengan—entah siapa pula namanya. Jadi, aku mengirim WA untuk menanyakan kabarnya sekaligus mengucapkan selamat atas pernikahannya. Aku baru mendapatkan jawaban besok siang—atau hampir 12 jam kemudian—dengan dua potong kata; “Baik. Tq.”

Pekan berikutnya, aku tidak hadir karena ada urusan pribadi. Tapi bukan berarti aku tidak tahu apa yang dibahas. Kawan-kawan kecewa dengan sikap Muna yang rela memutuskan silaturahim. “Menurutku, lelaki itu sedang menyiapkan penjara buat Muna,” kata Dira yang meneleponku saat aku sudah berada di tempat tidur.

“Mari berpikir positif, kita tidak tahu mengapa ia begitu. Dia pasti punya alasan.”

“Karena terlalu sering berpikir positif, kamu kena hajar suamimu berkali-kali.”

“Sudah mantan.”

“Berpikir positif, sepakat. Tapi jangan naif. Kita harus waspada terhadap lelaki seperti itu. Muna sendiri yang bilang, kita harus belajar dari pengalaman tanpa perlu paranoid dengan lelaki. Kewaspadaan jangan kendor. Masak jatuh ke lubang sama sampai dua tiga kali. Keledai pun cuma satu kali. Kurasa, serotonin di kepala Muna sedang meluap sehingga dia tak bisa berpikir logis. Masak dia mau meninggalkan kita untuk lelaki itu!”

“Kita belum tahu banyak tentang hubungan mereka. Banyak hal yang belum disampaikan Muna. Tapi, biarlah itu menjadi urusan dia saja. Sebagai sahabat, kita harus mendukung kebahagiaan Muna, meski ia meninggalkan kita. Kita harus bersabar, mungkin sampai mereka menggelar pesta. Jadi, tunggu saja, kita diundang atau tidak!”

---

Kami tidak mendapatkan kabar apalagi undangan pesta pernikahan Muna sampai minggu-minggu berlalu menjadi bulan. Pertemuan kami tidak terlalu rutin dan tidak lagi mesti malam Minggu sejak Dira mengambil alih sebagai seksi repot. Kapan ada waktu, kami bertemu meski tidak selalu harus selalu lengkap. Ada kalanya, kami disibukkan dengan persoalan keluarga atau pekerjaan. Satu hal yang kami syukuri, semua persoalan dengan pasangan sudah selesai. Luka masih ada di hati masing-masing, tapi sudah tidak lagi berdarah. Kami sedang menata hidup baru agar lebih baik dengan becermin pada pengalaman buruk masa silam.

Sampai suatu malam—saat kami lengkap—sekonyong-konyong Muna tegak di samping meja kami. “Boleh bergabung?” suaranya yang terdengar mengiba membuat keterkejutan kami menjadi lebih panjang.

“Boleh, tentu saja!” Dira segera mencairkan suasana. “Kamu masih pemegang saham di sini,” lanjutnya yang gagal membuat Muna tersenyum, apalagi tertawa.

Muna menarik kursi dari meja sebelah yang kebetulan kosong. “Aku minta maaf,” lalu ia diam memerhatikan kami.

“Pernikahanku batal, ternyata dia masih terikat pernikahan dengan istrinya. Dan dia ternyata...”

Beberapa di antara kami berseru kaget. Muna lalu bercerita sambil mengucurkan air mata, lelaki itu sangat posesif dan membatasi pergaulan Muna dengan siapa pun. Dia tak ingin masalahnya dengan istrinya terbongkar. Tapi akhirnya ketahuan juga. “Istrinya ke kantor membawa dua anak. Dia marah-marah sampai membuatku malu. Kupikir, memutuskan hubungan dengannya adalah keputusan terbaik untuk menyelamatkan diriku, juga menyelamatkan dia dan keluarganya.”

Asma dan Nanda yang duduk di samping Muna mengusap-usap bahu sahabat kami itu. Suasananya menjadi sendu sampai terdengar keriangan Dira; “Ah, jangan larut dengan kesedihan. Kita sudah berkumpul lagi, dan itu sumber kebahagiaan.”

Semua berteriak setuju.

Dira menyambar lagi, “Aku punya kabar gembira. Bulan depan aku dan Dimas menikah. Orang tuanya setuju ia menikahi janda muda, hahaha... dan Dimas juga tak melarangku bersahabat dengan kalian. Bahkan ia minta izin bergabung kapan-kapan.”

Kembali terdengar seruan histeris, baik yang mengucap selamat maupun menggodai Dira karena suaminya lebih muda dan masih jejaka. Aku menyimpan senyum dalam hati karena juga mempunyai kabar serupa dengan Dira. Biarlah kabar gembira ini kusimpan sampai pekan depan untuk memperpanjang usia kebahagiaan kami.[]
Source

Cerpen ini pernah dimuat di majalah Femina edisi 50 tanggal 17 – 23 Desember 2016.