Autumn In Kent
Eye Surgery

It's hard to forget Mike. He was so perfect, Steve told himself. He attempted to focus his attention on the show on TV but failed. His mind will return to Puti and his love for Mike. If only the Gray family had not been so meritorious to Puti. If only Mike had not been so successful with his career. If only he had known Puti before Puti knew Mike. If only he could be more successful than Mike. If only he had a clean past and a thousand if only haunting Steve made him even more helpless. Maybe when Puti was not around him he would not feel ashamed to cry. Steve shook his head violently to dispel the confusion in his head. Again he tried to follow the TV show.

‘Put, come here!’ she immediately called out to Puti when her eyes saw Emma Walden writing on the TV screen. Puti immediately approached Steve, sat down beside him and waited tensely. Success for Cara was success for him as well.

As soon as Emma's writing disappeared from the screen, colorful masks sprung up with fluttering scarves. Then from inside the masks came the inscription ‘Faces of Indonesia’ which was composed with the appearance of beautiful faces of tea pickers in West Java. The camera focuses on a face and stops there. From here the agile and fresh voice of Emma began to be heard.

Emma opens with a welcome in Indonesia in fluent Indonesian. Puti remembered Emma half-dead memorizing those words. After giving a general introduction to Indinesia, Emma then began to comment on traditional Indonesian fabrics. What are the basic ingredients, how they are made and how long they are made. Emma's more focused on weaving. Luckily Puti managed to get some films about Indonesian fabrics from the Embassy, so Emma just reproduced the parts that wanted to be highlighted and then combined them.

The event closed with a fashion show designed by Emma of the woven fabrics. The models were all Emma's friends who were one hundred percent tall and blond. The accompanying music is Balinese gamelan rumbling which he got from a dance society.

Overall Emma's show was really enthralling. Steve who is not usually interested in TV shows is now paying attention to every movement on the screen with full attention. Maybe because the one producing the show was his sister. Suddenly Steve felt Puti's hand grip his thigh firmly.

‘Puti, what's up?’ I asked Steve in shock.

‘I can't see, Steve,’ Puti replied softly as she stood up from her seat and moved her face in all directions.

‘Did that vase get in your way?’ ask Steve.

‘Not! I can't see anything. It's all dark, Steve. I can't see!’ jerit Puti kalut's. ‘I'm blind now. I'm blind.’ Steve soon realized. He quickly caught Puti's body then on his deck.

‘Take it easy, Put,’ whispered Steve to calm Puti. But Puti was not calm, he just thrashed and screamed hysterically. Steve shakes Puti's shoulder to wake up, but Puti's scream gets louder. There was no other way for Steve to stop Puti's panic except to kiss Puti's mouth. Puti was silent. Steve continued to kiss Puti until he was sure Puti was calm.

‘I'm sorry. I had to do it,’ said Steve. Puti was stunned and started crying but she no longer screamed. Steve hugged her and sat her in a chair.

‘What can I do now, Steve? What can I do?’ muttered Puti in despair. Steve didn't answer because he didn't know. He could only hug Puti in hopes of finding the right answer.

‘This is due to my stubbornness and my sight,’ sighed Puti. Steve knew what Puti meant. Must be about the offer of surgery from Dr. Conneally. But the offer is no longer valid. Already late. Dr. Conneally once said that if you are already blind then the operation is almost useless if done. Steve tightened his embrace. Suddenly Steve felt Puti's body that was tense now began to relax.

‘Steve, release me,’ Whispered Puti. His voice was the voice Steve was familiar with. Not the voice of a frightened person. Steve loosened his embrace, but his hand was still on Puti's shoulder. ‘I can see! Steve, I can see again,’ shouted Puti girang. Steve looked at him in disbelief.

‘You can see me?’ ask Steve.

‘Yes. I can see you. I can see TV. I can see anything,’ said Puti happy. Steve got up soon. He walked to the closet and picked up two thick jackets. His jacket and Puti's jacket.

‘Where?’ ask Puti.

‘Ke eye clinic. You should have eye surgery right away.

‘Steve!’ puti protests. ‘I don't need eye surgery. I can see again.’

‘We go, Puti,’ replied Steve firmly.

‘Listen first, Steve. I had lost sight like that before but I was finally able to see again. So no need to worry. ‘

‘Puti, do I have to carry you?’ challenge Steve. Puti. He felt there was no point in arguing with Steve. Steve had seen the situation just now, but what about …

‘Steve heard first my reason,’ pinta Puti weld.

‘I don't want to hear it. Your reasons don't make sense. ‘

‘Steve, this is my real reason not the reason I once told you.’

‘I'll hear it on the way. Now we go,’ replied Steve can not be bargained again. He approached Puti then half forced her to put on Puti's jacket.

‘Puti, you can bring up your reasons,’ Steve again.

‘It's no use anymore. But hope you remember, Steve, you will get me more,’ replied Puti lirih.

‘Puti, this operation will benefit a lot. Forget about the risks. Blindness is the worst risk. ‘

‘That's not what I'm worried about actually,’ replied Puti. ‘But the effect. The indirect effect I mean. With the surgery later, I'll be more indebted to the Gray family. They have done too much for me. When I should have been able to stand alone, I actually needed a large fee. I was intending to have surgery after I had enough money to fund myself.’

‘Not your operation guaranteed insurance?’ask Steve.

‘Because my eye condition that requires surgery occurred before I took insurance, so not covered by insurance.’

‘So all this time that's all you worry about?’ ask Steve.

‘Steve, for me it's a very big thing. Every time I received help from the Gray family I was not happy, but I was depressed. It feels like I'd rather go blind than ..’

‘Then don't ask them for help. Charge your own operation,’ cut Steve.

‘You know I can't,’ said Puti was angry. ‘I don't have any money. The little savings I had for working at Belmont I returned to Mike.’

‘What do you mean?’ Steve's question turned very serious.

‘Mrs. Belmont never paid me as long as I worked there. He never needed an extra cashier. Mike paid my salary,’ replied Puti slowly.

‘You're serious?’ Ask Steve. Puti.

‘You're not offended? You're not angry?’ Ask Steve again.

‘Very offended and very angry. That's why I gave him back the money.’

‘And he wants to receive money from you. The money you make from your hard work?’

‘I don't know. Might as well. The check I left to Billy McCroom and since Christmas I have always avoided Billy,’.

‘So you have no money?’ Steve asked with a smile. Puti nodded for sure. ‘You can owe me,’ Steve gave way out.

‘A debt to you? No, thank you. Maybe the consequences will be even worse,’ refused Puti.

‘I know what you're afraid of. You're afraid I'll use it as a weapon so you'll marry me. Right?’

‘Ya,’ Reply Puti. Steve laughed loudly.

‘Do not be afraid, Put. I'm not like that. If I just wanted to force you to marry me, I don't think I need that path. But if you still can't trust me, we make an official agreement later.’

‘But how can I pay you back? I haven't worked. My only job I've lost,’

‘Take your time, Puti. Aren't we partners anyway? I could have just cut it off from the gift we got together. How?’

☘️