Fly 11
When Quitta was in the second grade of junior high school, her parents decided to divorce. The result of the divorce changed Quitta's life drastically. She was forced to choose to live with her father or mother.
The actual choice has been determined. Because in truth, despite being given two choices, Quitta couldn't refuse when Anastasia begged her to stay live together with her.
Quitta gasped.
Almost five years since her parents' divorce, today after not seeing each other and losing contact for two years Quitta will finally meets her father, Dewa.
A flash of memory of her father flashed through her mind.
Until before the divorce happened Quitta grew up to be a lucky child with an abundance of love from her parents. Especially her father who loves her very much.
For the sake of his only daughter, Dewa always makes time no matter what. Even though he has to leave his job as a chef whose abilities have been recognized by many people.
But after the divorce everything changed, her relationship with her father was not as close as it used to be. Communication was only intense during the first year, the rest they only contacted at important times.
Meeting only once a year on Eid, especially when Dewa's busy schedule becomes more and more crowded after becoming a celebrity chef with various events that invite him as a guest star, making him unable to freely spend his time.
"Qitt! Gosh, how many months have we not seen each other, look at how big you are now! Oh yeah, I'm sorry that there was an impromptu shoot that couldn't be postponed. I can hardly wait to meet you. Qitt? Why are you, dear? " Dewa arrived at his rendezvous with Quitta after nearly an hour of Quitta waiting.
His warm demeanor remained unchanged, Quitta felt lucky to have Dewa as her father. Although it seems his father has changed a lot, he is not as attentive as he used to be.
"It's okay, I just suddenly remembered a childhood memory. And ... two years, we haven't seen each other during that time. Last time you said that you had to stay in Australia for a while to be a judge for a cooking show there." Clear Quitta reminded her father.
Quitta wiped the tears that suddenly flowed down her cheeks.
"Two years?! Oh my God, I'm sorry." Dewa lowered his head, feeling guilty for his daughter.
It turned out that they had not seen each other for a long time.
Two years ago he had to stay in Australia for a while after getting an offer to film for the King Chef show. Nearly six months of filming took place, fate brought him together with someone who made him stay there even longer. On his return to Indonesia after fourteen months, Quitta changed her number. His intention to meet Quitta was forgotten with various activities that took up time.
"No need to worry, it's not your fault."
"So ... how are you? I'm so glad you finally contacted me again after so long." Say Dewa.
Dewa didn't ask why Quitta changed her number, even though Quitta had been waiting for that question. She wanted to say that in the past she was disappointed in her father who chose work over her. It was different when they used to live together.
"Me too. There's something I want to talk to you about." Quitta said, deciding not to bring up things that would make her father uncomfortable.
"About what? Your school? Is there a problem?"
"No, it's not." Quitta shook her head.
"Then? About your Mom?" guess Dewa.
"Yes, something to do with Mom."
Dewa was silent, trying to guess what Quitta wanted to say.
"Dad, you once said that I was free to decide who I would live with when I grew up," Quitta said, making Dewa even more silent, understanding where their conversation was going.
"As you said, I'm a grown girl now and I want to live with you." Quitta looked at Dewa expectantly. Even though she didn't need to hope because she was sure her father would be happy if she chose to live with him.
"But why … you suddenly changed your mind?" Ask Dewa.
"I haven't changed my mind. Don't you know better, I've always wanted to live with you.
Dewa avoided his daughter's gaze, his awkward attitude visible to Quitta.
"Dad?" Quitta fixed her gaze on her father. Hoping that Dewa will change his facial expression.
The trauma of her parents' divorce can never go away, now Quitta is feeling it again. Her hunch said something bad was about to happen again. Her father's body language is too obvious to show weirdness.
"I'm sorry, I should have said this earlier. Two months ago I got married ... " Dewa paused his words.
Quitta smiled, but the tears she had been holding back flowed freely.
"I'm happy for you," Quitta whispered.
But she lied.
She was deeply hurt. Her dear father married without telling her, she was not even invited to attend the happy event.
Then what about her mother? Does she know that her ex-husband has remarried?
A year ago when Quitta decided to change her cell phone number because she was disappointed when Dewa decided to stay in Australia longer, Quitta was sure that Dewa would come looking for her. But no matter how long she waited her father never came, even after knowing that her father had returned to Indonesia.
"She ... she's only twenty years old, only two years older than you. I'm happy that if you decide to live with us, you can become her friends, although you can be more than that. But the thing is ..."
Dewa's next words she ignored. In essence, she knew her father's new wife objected if the children of her husband's ex-wife lived with them.
Quitta tried to end her crying. She firmly wiped the last tear that flowed her cheeks.
"Ah, yes ... I can't stay long. Looks like Farah and Tessa have already picked me up, we're going to Dufan to celebrate my recovery." Quitta said, glancing at her watch, giving a gesture that supported her acting.
"Your healing? What happened with you?" asked Dewa, restraining Quitta from leaving immediately.
"About two weeks ago I had an accident, my motorbike was hit by a car. But now it's healed." Quitta replied lightly, talking about the accident as if it was nothing big.
Quitta was getting ready to get up, the crutches she had released were leaning next to the chair that had escaped Dewa's sight.
"Why force here when it's still sick?" Ask Dewa.
"It's better now, in a few days I may not need a walker anymore. I know I can resist seeing you for two years, but lately ... I want to see you."
Quitta turned and walked away from her father.
Quitta's last words hit him so badly, he was so hurt. But maybe his daughter was hurt even more. Things have changed now, he can't live with Quitta when it used to be what he hoped for.
He looked at Quitta until her figure disappeared. The desire to come closer and hug his only daughter is just a dream. He was too afraid to make Quitta hope for him even more.