The Rainy Song's
Chapter 1: The Rain Song
Reina, an 11-year-old girl with black hair, ran to a small garden in front of a white house. There he met a boy who was 5 years older than him who was familiarly called Big Brother, the boy had been waiting for him for 15 minutes and was preparing to drive to a black car parked across the street.
Seeing Reina arrive, the boy stopped to leave.
“ So you have to keep your promise” The boy smiled.
“ Ummp” Replied Reina while nodding with gasping breath.
“ Until we meet again, take care of your health”
The boy in high school uniform then ran over waving and got into the car that the driver had opened his door to. Reina returned the wave of her hand with a fluffy smile, her eyes glazed over.
Reina waved her hand. In his heart he said “ I promise, I'll work hard”
……..
Reina is now 18 years old and has just finished high school. Reina works at a traditional pastry shop in the city, while Reina's school is already working part-time at the store, and after graduation she goes on to work full-time.
Reina was immersed in memories, He remembered his childhood, until finally the sound of the sliding door friction made Him realize from his daydream. A customer walked into the store, a familiar face.
Reina then stood up, and slightly smoothed the brown apron she was wearing.
“You've arrived Sir?” Reina's greeting to a middle-aged man who was already standing right in front of the cashier's desk where Reina was standing. The customer was named Mr. Tomo, a private driver who worked for a well-known conglomerate boy, in one week usually two or three times Mr. Tomo stopped by the store where Reina worked. Mr. Tomo came to take his employer's order.
“As usual ya” said Mr. Tomo with his trademark smile, while handing over a single 100,000-dollar note.
”I give extra 1 box to Father, but it may not taste as good as another “ Reina handed me two plastic bags containing one cookie box to order, , and another plastic bag with a small cake box containing Reina's cake.
"whatwanted? Well you're a talented girl” Mr. Tomo received the pouch that Reina handed and opened a small cake box that turned out to be a steamed pandanus cake measuring 15cm. Mr. Tomo looks happy, his bright smile makes the lines on his face look more real.
After she finished making the payment, she rushed out of the store half-running towards the luxury car parked next to the store.
Young Master the master was already waiting, sitting on the back bench of that luxurious car. A limited edition luxury car that only the super rich have.
Mr. Tomo has been a subscription to this store since 3 years ago, and always order the same cake, chocolate cake that is only this store that sells. Chocolate cakes with traditional flavors and shapes that are rare other stores sell because of the fewer enthusiasts. However, the owner of the store where Reina works is still consistent in making the cake even though only a few people are still faithful to order one of them the son of Mr. Tomo's employer.
A girl of Reina's age came out of the kitchen with a tray of freshly washed cups and cups, which was then placed on a cake window.
"Was that Mr Tomo? He came early today” Tanya Raya, while wiping the glass and washing that he had brought earlier.
Raya, that short-necked cute girl is Reina's co-worker, they've been working since high school as part-time employees.
“ Ya” Reina answered briefly, while wiping the glass display case where to store the chocolate cakes lined neatly inside.
“ I was curious about that Young Old Man, he never got off his car”
Hearing Raya's words, Reina so stopped wiping the window panes, she just thought about the Young Master. He only realized so far He had not even seen him get off the car, and He never knew what his face was like.
“ I was curious, if remembered again let not go into this store even I never once saw him get off his car”.
Reina finished her work, then passed her way to the storage room in the back to pick up the cake and refill the empty containers in the storefront.
Reina brought a tray of cake from the back room, when she saw Raya still looking at the black car that was ready to go, Reina also looked at the car. The car drove slowly and was no longer visible.
I don't know why Reina thought about what Raya said. Actually Young Master that's the customer of the cake shop, not Mr. Tomo. In a week usually 2 or 3 times he must have ordered the same cake at the store where Reina worked, but never once opened his car glass let alone go out and down to take the cake. Instead, it was Mr. Tomo who always took it.
Maybe as the son of a famous conglomerate he could not carelessly show his face in public. That was the most reasonable reason Reina had in mind back then.
From behind the glass door of the store looks like the point of rain began to wet the streets. A light rain started to pour outside, realizing it was Reina and Raya rushing to pick up the promotional banner board standing in front of the shop to keep it from raining. The afternoon atmosphere is quite quiet, not many vehicles and pedestrians passing by, plus the rain makes the atmosphere more silent.
The cake shop with the old building was not on the main line, but stood among the residential residents only a few buildings were built in the area that people around call it - middle high . Not too many people pass by the store every day. Most cake buyers in that store are loyal customers since the first store was established, on average they have been customers for at least 20 years and there are even more, then it is not unusual if the customers who come are mostly middle-aged or elderly. They always come to remember the youth, and the good times of the past that can be re-exhumed in that east-facing shop, not much has changed even the owners maintain the same interior as well as furniture. Many customers call it a million-memory store, a place where we can discover and restore the past.
The atmosphere was getting quieter.
Reina and Raya stood leaning against the cake window while looking at the rain from behind the shop's glass door. Peaceful with the sound of rain hitting the precarious sound like the sound of an instrument, raindrops bouncing on the streets also seemed to dance in rhythm with the sound of rain. A rare atmosphere in the middle of town.
Time passed, the rain made the store not many customers. Since the rain fell there were only 5 customers who ate on the spot, and 6 people who bought cakes to take home.
Without feeling the clock has shown 21.00 nights, it's time Reina and Raya tidied up the entire part of the store and prepared to reopen the next day. Reina tidied up the sales report, and the daily financial statements, Raya tidied up the rest of the unsold cake. And the other work they do together.
After finishing cleaning all parts of the Shop and changing their uniforms. Raya turned off the entire store light and Reina helped lock the door.
In front of the locked shop. Raya and Reina prepare to go home.
" See you tomorrow” Raya waved her hand.
" Don't forget tomorrow we have to come early" Reina said.
“ Ah I almost forgot, tomorrow will be a very tiring day” complained Kingdom.
“ Hehe, ok bye be careful on the road. Don't trust anyone you just met on the road “ Goda Reina.
“ Hey, you remember. That was the incident three years ago” Raya blushed.
The incident three years ago, when the journey home Kingdom met a man and said ‘You are very beautiful, your skin shines like a bidadari’ Kingdom is innocent, indeed, hearing the speech just like that made her so flowery, the man caught the innocence of Raya so as to continue his praise. And the next day Raya said that last night she spent all her salary that month to buy a beauty package, and it turns out that the man is a skincare product salesman. Reina laughed at Raya who told her a story as she pleased.
" Hoi Reina, stop laughing at me” Raya's face starts to blush in embarrassment given the incident.
" Yes, yes, I'm sorry Hahahaha” Reina couldn't help but laugh every time she remembered the incident that made Raya an exaggerated parno whenever anyone praised her, since that night Raya always said "I don't need any beauty products" to anyone who praised her.
Reina was still giggling, Raya who blushed shyly hit spoiled Reina's shoulder, then left. Raya walked in the opposite direction, Reina also prepared with her mini bike. Reina's residence is not too far from the store, so he chose to bike. Reina lives alone, she has to save money and reduce other costs as much as possible in order to pay for her rent and for other daily expenses.
In the silence of the night Reina pedaled her bicycle, as the shop was between the housing complex although the new time showed at 22:00 p.m., but the atmosphere felt very quiet, there were only a few security guards standing guard at the front of the house, and once in a while a motor vehicle could be seen passing in front of it, only the sound of dog barking could be heard breaking the silence that night.
After 15 minutes of cycling, Reina arrived at her boarding house, a two-story house consisting of 8 doors facing west. There is only one room that is empty is the corner door, the occupants moved to another area because they moved tasks from their jobs. So only 3 rooms are filled upstairs including Reina. Reina's room was at the second door of the stairs. The first room door was Tara, a 5-year-old girl who only lives with her mother. His mother was a single parent who hung her life as a laundry worker.
Reina knocked on Tara's room door. Not long after the door opened.
“ Brother Leina?” A little girl with two pigtails appeared from behind the door, she occasionally rubbed her eyes, indeed this was Tara's bedtime.
“ Ah forgive me, it looks like I interrupted your sleep”.
“ Who is Tara ?” Someone from behind swept up, and came approaching it turned out she was Tara's mother.
“Oh Reina” He smiled as he wiped his wet hands and saw the rest of the soap foam, until this late he was still washing.
“ Here I brought you cake” Reina thrust one box of cake in plastic.
Tara smiled sumringah, and Mother Tara nodded as she continued to thank him.
Reina smiled happily.
After the door to Reina's room was filled by a final semester student of a university who was familiarly called Barong, it was not his real name but the residents there used to call him that. Barong is an introvert, who only goes out of the room if there are hours of college or just buy food. In addition to that he spends more time in the room, reading books, watching sometimes the sound of music from his room. Reina had never heard him chat with other residents, even He himself never chatted with him when berserk even though he nodded his head.
Reina knocked on Barong's room door.
Barong appeared from behind the door, but what Reina saw was only part of her face. Without asking and without expression, but Reina was already used to it.
“ Ini” Reina thrust the same cake box as given to Tara, only the size is smaller, because Barong only lives alone.
Barong nodded the sign he accepted and thanked, then he again closed the door without a word and still with the same flat expression as when opening the door. Reina smiled faintly, then she rushed to her room.
The rest of the cakes that are not sold are allowed to be taken home, sometimes if the amount is still quite a lot after being divided in two with Raya usually Reina distributed to neighbors in the boarding house. Usually Raya takes more part, because she lives with her family which is quite a lot of Father, Mother, Grandma and her five younger siblings. Because of the large number of families and economic limitations that make it not continue to college, Raya has to work even since she was in school. Reina's life is no better than Raya, Reina is an orphan who grew up in an orphanage so she has to work hard to live her own life.
The clock shows at 23:00 p.m., after bathing and changing into short-sleeved sleepwear with a Reina flower motif resting on the bed. A shabby bed that he has not changed since 3 years ago, since occupying the boarding house. Lying on his back staring at the ceiling of the room, his tired body made him reluctant to move. Just lying down and silent, it didn't take long.
