Aara is Not Lara

Bereft

“MAMAAA..” The tired body fell to the floor. Roaring called out the name of the Mama who had been covered in white cloth without gaps. His body is there, but his life is gone. Waiting in a place that can not be visited by relatives, children and of course his heart which is still able to feel loss.

In the corner of the chair in the room that was full of tears, there was an old man who closed his eyes tightly. Resisting the tears that broke down his self-defense wall. The figure was Grandpa Baren who had just been left to continue fighting alone until death.

Grandpa Baren still has no power to approach the bed where the body of the wife sleeps forever. The promise of aging together has both been fulfilled, now there is one promise left to live as long as Grandpa Baren will prove, even though he has to wait for that time to arrive alone.

In contrast to Ara, Jona and Rian who chose to step aside, away from the sorrow that felt empty for the three. Mama Lauritz's cry did disturb Ara's conscience, but it wanted to be said especially if there was no sense of loss that slipped in the recesses of her heart.

“So we came here actually because Mama Mama is sick?” Ask Rian without pinning the designation that should be ‘NEk’. So far the bond between the youngest Rian and the figure who is still family status.

Everything is very natural, not because Papa Yudith and Mama Lauritz never introduce, but for the bond to be formed still need interaction. During this time, no affection flows and flows directly.

“It looks like it.” Jona replied while embracing Rian's shoulder. Bringing the Little Sister walking towards the iron chair in the waiting hall. Focusing each other's body burden with a whack of drowsiness.

While Ara was still silent leaning on the concrete pole with eyes fixed on the door filled with roaring Mama Lauritz. The silent night atmosphere with a piercing cold made Ara several times have to wipe her arms.

‘Don't take Mama and Papa Ku first.. Help me first. I don't know if I can live without Mom and Dad.’ The sense of loss actually sliced Ara's heart when imagined he would one day be abandoned both parents. Nor do you know why Ara could think like that, because everything just suddenly crossed her mind.

Tests.

Tests.

“Mas thought you wouldn't cry.” Without wiping her tears, Ara turned her head to the owner of the voice on her right side.

“I'm also human.” Ara replied while wiping away the trace of tears on her cheeks and the corners of her eyes.

“Grandmother never showed her affection to you. But as long as you know, Grandma always misses you.” Ega's misunderstanding on Ara's tears. Of course Ega thought tears were a form of losing Ara to the Grandma who had just died. In fact Ara's feelings were completely hollow, there was no sadness let alone loss that Ara was currently feeling.

A numbness? Maybe that's the right answer.

‘Liar!’ Umbat Ara with eyes glistening furiously from the face that was turned away.

“You must have said Mas lied, right? But that's the fact. Grandma used to secretly look at your pictures when you were a kid. Said it was a photo that was secretly taken when you were 4 years old.”

“Oh.” Said Ara lazily responding to the story that flowed freely from Ega's lips. Unfortunately Ara did not know that there was sadness tucked into the story that Ega just shared.

“Ego Grandpa and Grandma were too big to apologize first to Mama and Papa, let alone to apologize to Papa who used to be insulted all out. You must be more unbelieving because Mas told you, right?” Clearly Ega was without being asked by Ara. Although it seemed unconcerned, but the curiosity that Ara covered was very clear.

Pulling the corner of his lips, Ega leaned his back on the other side of the block-shaped concrete pole. Sucking and taking a deep breath, Ega really felt a sense of loss.

“Mas knows all this of course from Grandma.. If you say Mas is the most beloved grandson, it's wrong. I'm just the granddaughter closest to those two old parents." Ega said paused with a breath that again scooped up as much air.

"Honestly they realize that all this time they have been wrong to obey the arrogant attitude of their other children. And certainly not willing to succumb with a selfish attitude on their behalf is a parent who must be respected. Their deepest mistake and regret was to cover up Mom's disgrace at the expense of Mama.” Ega looked away at the conversation in the past. The real story he heard back. The story of his childhood and the facts behind his birth to the fact that he used to be unwanted.

Lucky Mama Lauritz and Papa Yudith who was still a nobody who actually fought to defend Ega. Two human children are forced to be bound in the sacred promise of marriage to elevate the degree and right of an innocent baby who is none other than Ega. Giving a whole family with affection that even until now never fade, although it must be separated for so long.

“When everything is regretted, it can be a lesson. Although those who regret not being able to learn a lesson or not exist, but living witnesses can take the good side of the lesson. Thank you for telling me.” Ara said long and passed leaving Ega. Ara did not want to be shaken and again hurt by the sweet memories that were only engraved at the end of the life of the figure she had fought for.

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“Pa.. Can I have a conversation with Papa?” Ega said to Papa Yudith who had just come out of one of the nurseries where her children were asleep accompanying Mama Lauritz who returned unconscious for the umpteenth time.

“Can dong.. What is this Papa boy talking about? While eating yes, want?” Papa Yudith said softly, observing the chaotic-looking Ega. Perhaps since before the arrival of Papa Yudith, Ega had not taken care of himself anymore.

“Papa aja eat, Ega still lack appetite, Pa..” Refusing Papa Yudith's subtle invitation, Ega shook his head weakly. His stern self before Ara was lost in Papa Yudith's eyes, changing into a child who seemed to be losing his way.

Just as Ega had lost his appetite, Papa Yudith felt the same way, but it was impossible for Papa Yudith to let Ega enjoy his slump. As much as possible as a parent figure, Papa Yudith wants to be a backup for Ega who has been considered as his own biological child.

“Makanya Papa mengatii eat.. Haven't you eaten with Papa in a long time?”

“This time Ega want to take care of Grandma's return to the funeral home.” Answer the weak.

“Let's have Alex help you take care of it. You rest first Mas.”

“Om Alex has come again?”

“Iya.. Just got to.” Trying to walk first, Papa Yudith could hear footsteps following him.

‘The family of Aunt Bianca and Mother have not come here even since Grandma was treated.’ Mumbled Ega in the heart which of course did not catch Papa Yudith's hearing.

In the corner of the hospital cafeteria where there were only Papa Yudith and Ega as visitors, the night that went that morning did not make both of them want to close their eyes. Even the meal plan that Papa Yudith had envisioned ended with only sandwiches and black coffee. Obviously, almost all sellers in the cafeteria were closed, remaining sellers of drinks and stomach food in the form of bread only.

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What does Ega want to talk to Papa Yudith about?🤔

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The next chapter is still about this family, before another surprise.😄

FYI, the chapter containing the surprise is finished, but the next chapter after this Hana just type about 500 words. His imagination bounced around in another chapter that was still unclear going into the sequence number of what chapter.😁

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Thank you for faithfully monitoring Ara's story and always giving her support for Han🥰