ARAKAS

Chapter 55

Ara had stopped crying and looked calmer. Although Karrel did not understand why the girl was crying like that, he did not try to ask. He was sure Ara would tell him if she wanted to. It will not force. All he could do was try to comfort the girl, as it was obvious that Ara needed her.

Karrel glanced at Ara and smiled.

"The view from here is very beautiful" he said. Aa returned her smile.

"This is one of my favorite places to go for a walk. Calm down." he muttered. The last words he said were only in his heart. 

They both fell silent. Enjoy the afternoon view of the beach, enjoy the gusts of wind, and enjoy the silence. Suddenly Karrell asked,

"You haven't eaten, have you?" Ara.

"After this we'll find a place to eat." continued Karrel. He has made a decision.

"Forget over all your problems and have fun for a while. We go eat whatever you want to eat. How's it?"

a smile adorned Ara's lips. They looked at her, then Ara nodded.

"All right."

Karrel reached out his hand. Ara welcomed her hand. When the girl's hand was in her grasp, Karrel felt more excited.

They had dinner at a nice Chinese restaurant in the downtown area. Finished eating Karrel immediately drove Ara home. He saw that the girl was very tired. Moreover, all day Ara has used so much energy. The girl needs rest.

"Tomorrow will I pick you up? We can go to school together" asked Karrel.

Ara smiled and then shook her head.

"I went to school by myself. We can still meet at school, right?" Karrel then nodded in agreement.

"Yes already. I'll see you at school tomorrow. Now go in." murmured Karrel rubbed Ara's head gently and pushed her into the gate of the girl's house. The security guard was still there this afternoon.

Ara waved to Karrel. The guy just left after Ara completely disappeared from his sight.

Inside the house, there was already a middle-aged man that Ara had been looking for since. Well, it's his papa. The old man was sitting in the living room with Ravel.

Ara stopped her steps, not going into the room. He looked at his father who was looking at him sharply.

"What business did you come to the office for?" ask papa. His gaze was sharp and piercing. He heard from his secretary himself that Ara was looking for him earlier.

"I want to ask you something." said Ara ventured. All this time he was always afraid of his papa, fighting back or talking in self-defense felt very heavy. But today he tried hard to convey all that was in his heart. He could see the old man smiling sinisterly at him. Her gaze moved to Ravel, her brother.

"Look, don't ever come to the office again. I'm ashamed of a useless child like you showing yourself in front of my employees." said the cynical papa.

Ara smiled wryly. One day he thought very hard. To think everything she heard from Inggrid's grandmother was a lie. Trying to never hear anything even though he was very curious to know the truth. But these people, never again considered him family.

Ara so wondered if the affection she received first from them when mama was alive was also fake? Are they pretending to love her in front of her? He knew clearly his mother loved him very much, but was unsure of the two people in front of him.

"What's your reason for hating me? What am I wrong? You always say I'm a useless kid, you know what? Have you ever been a useful parent?" the question is full of courage. She does not want to be a stupid girl who keeps on being afraid of her papa. Perhaps by fighting back, words like she was not the family's biological daughter would come out of the old man's mouth.

"Ara, pay attention to your attitude and speech in front of papa." Ravel said. He did not understand why his sister. Suddenly changed drastically today. Not much talk as usual, and instead dare to fight their papa. Instead of defending her father, she simply did not want Ara to fight back for fear that the girl would be punished severely. But Ara seemed unconcerned about her reprimand.

"Why should I keep my attitude while you guys just don't keep your attitude in front of me. Always being cold, and constantly saying I'm a useless child, is that a good attitude as a family? You should have educated me at my age."

ara said at length.

"Suck!"

a vase of flowers floated up to the wall and broke apart strewn across the floor. Ara had chuckled in surprise but then her attitude changed normally. He was no longer afraid even if it floated into his body. In his mind right now was just to fight back, venting out all the feelings he had been harboring all along.

"Who do you think you dare to fight me? Damn kid, don't know yourself!" his father stood up from the chair.

PLAKK!!!

a loud slap escaped from the old man on Ara's cheek. Ara retreated a few steps and fell to the floor due to a slap that was too hard, the corner of her lips until it bled.

Ravel immediately got up from the chair running towards her sister. Face worries.

"Father!" the cry holds the anger. He felt the old man was too much. Ara's mouth was bleeding. Some of the maids who had been hiding in the kitchen had flocked to see what was happening from behind the door. They were sorry to see Ara being treated that way. The maids know that Ravel's attitude towards her sister is cold, but they don't see Ravel hating Ara. Their employer often asked about Ara if they did not see the girl at home. But his papa, where there are parents who hate their biological children like this.

Ravel held onto Ara, helping her stand up.

"I told you not to fight," the man murmured softly in Ara's ear. It was not cold as usual. Unfortunately, it was too late for Ara. He can't be happy anymore as softly as whatever Ravel's talking now. The girl just smiled blandly. His eyes were hot but he tried hard not to cry.  His eyes are straight ahead.

"Now I know why you hate me so much..." Ara glanced at Ravel who was holding her arm and looked at her papa again.

"Because I'm a nobody. I was not born in this family. I'm... Not your real son, am I?" it felt heavy to get those words out of his mouth, but eventually the sentence could be delivered as well.

Ravel beside him was shocked not to play. Where did Ara know, where did the girl come from...

Grandma Inggrid!