The Bujang Lapuk
Becoming a New Mother

Za woke up when she heard Alif's crying voice. He looked towards the clock hanging on the wall of the room. It was early morning and the needle pointed at the number two. So many times Za woke up because of the baby's whining.

Beside the bed, Fadhil was sitting on a prayer mat. A ritual that Za often encounters if she wakes up in the middle of the night.

"Why, Honey? Thirsty, huh?" Za invites Alif to chat even though the tiny baby may only be able to hear.

"Mas, please get diapers!" za said when he saw Fadhil get up from his seat. Because he himself felt too heavy to just drag his body down from the bed.

"Just sleep. Let Mas change his diaper."

Za again knocked out his body. It turns out that having a baby is not as funny as her friends post when showing off their babies on social media. There is a hard work of waking up repeatedly when the baby cries because he wants milk or diapers that are full. Although Za did not feel the pain during childbirth, but the first day Alif was at his home, he could really feel what it was like to be a mother who had just had a baby.

Seeing Fadhil who was so skilled at changing diapers, even holding Alif without awkward. As if taking care of a baby is nothing foreign to Fadhil.

"Mas, you are really a father" said Za.

"Mas used to take care of Safira as a baby. So until adulthood he was sticky same Mas. Because of the baby Mas who often took care of him until now."

"What's that?"

"Yes because everyone is job bound. Only the time itself is free. Baby sitter Safira often change because it does not feel at home with Lany."

Za nodded in understanding. "Kok Mas want to? No heartache instead of taking care of his ex-boy?"

"Don't look for things, Za. It's night time to sleep instead of arguing."

Za chuckles. Although tempted in such a way Fadhil is not angry. When Fadhil once showed his anger, Za did not have the courage even though he just looked at his face.

Za shifted her body docked to the baby that had been changed by Fadhil. Although both eyes wanted to shut, but because Alif was still awake, Za could not bear to let the baby alone.

"If you sleep, Deck. Let Mas take care of him," said Fadhil while shuffling the milk bottle. Then give it to Alif.

But still Za couldn't go back to sleep. It was time to admire the baby who was sucking the pacifier.

"Tomorrow I want to come here" said Za, playing Alif's hair.

"Yes. Who asked for. Shave Al's hair. Aunt Sarah's coming tomorrow, too, before they leave for Bali." Fadhil pulled the pacifier that had slipped by itself because Alif was asleep.

"Even though born without knowing his parents, Alif must still get affection like children in general. I ordered a goat for him too."

Za of course can only be dumbfounded. Fadhil never talked about anything about the aqiqah for Alif and his show tomorrow during his seven days of birth. As per the affidavit from the hospital where Alif was treated before Fadhil was brought home.

"Not to be confused. Everyone is taking care of it. Can you take care of a goat?" Fadhil pulls Za's cheek up.

"Yes, yeah. I really can't say anything" Za replied as she pulled the blanket. He screeched Fadhil sata suddenly already in one blanket with him.

"Mas! Swipe there. Al will fall on the sidelines."

"No way." said Fadhil, but his hand made Za upset.

"What do you want, anyway?" Za brushed off Fadhil's hand, who was about to unbutton his negligee.

"Take care of you nyuin."

"Didnit! Very nice, anyway!" Za rejects Fadhil's body.

Fadhil also chuckled. "Come, Za. Two days of longing."

Za rolled her eyes. He is already four heads. But Za had to be ready when Fadhil asked for his rations every day. Even a day can be twice. Za thinks marrying a karatan bachelor is more able to hold back. It turned out that Fadhil had been holding back for too long and after marriage got a place to vent his longing for a woman's touch.

"Next time don't be like this again, Mom. Now there is Al" said Za as he dragged picking up his negligee scattered on the floor.

"Yes. He has his own room tomorrow."

Morning blind bathroom inside.The room was again noisy by the gurgling water. And also the voice of Za and Fadhil that echoed in that small room.

Although he barely slept all night, but the drowsiness of Za seemed to disappear. He dried his hair while Fadhil prepared to go to the mosque. The first night of being a mother was exhausting. Za went down to the kitchen to make a cup of chocolate. Breastfeeding an adult baby also makes her feel hungry.

A cup of warm chocolate and some fresh bread accompanied Za. A little made him feel calm after taking a sip of that brown liquid.

"Mas wants to too. But the bread is baked, yes!" fadhil said then he tasted a little chocolate from the cup that Za had just drunk.

Not just for Fadhil. Za also baked bread for Sapphira as soon as she saw the door of her nephew's room open. Although often sleeping again after dawn, but Safira has been indoctrinated by Fadhil to not miss dawn.

"Al's up, Mum?" safira asked while taking a glass on the shelf.

"Yet. Just woke up at two in the morning."

"Pantes pale range mukanyat. I'm off today. Let me fuck him up. My mom slept."

Za thins his lips. It's not just him and Fadhil who love Alif. But also Safira and Mbak Min. Za doesn't know how her mom and dad reacted when they met Al tomorrow.