Be My Soldier Forever

Ep. 42

The Anastasya residence…

 

“Frans! Open door!” Frans heard his mother screaming. The door opened and Vania saw Frans and the Princess, who were seen holding Frans' hand.

“Hai, my friend.” Said Frans.

“Hei.” Vania said slowly.

“Frans! Guess what, you wouldn't have thought that I was on the football team.” Bram told Frans.

“That's amazing, Bram. Comein. Ohya introduce this Princess.”

“Hai.” Princess Said.

“Hai.” Vania and Bram said at the same time, Anastasya came out of the kitchen and walked over to them.

“Honey! You have come.”  Anastasya Shouted.

“Of course, aunt.” Vania said slowly.

“Oh shang, don't be so moody. Come onl. Morning is ready.” They all walked to the dining table and sat in their usual chairs. While all were eating his food, Anastasya asked.

“So how, Vania?” Anastasya asked Vania.

“Everything is fine.”

“Is your father back?” Anastasya asked him.

“Humm, no.” His voice almost broke.

“How are you guys?”

“Good.” Now his voice is broken.

“Bu! Stop.” Said Frans.

“What?” Anastasya asked, innocently.

“Mom always asks them, every time they come. Don't you think she'll tell you when her dad comes back? And her mother died two months ago. So stop asking.” Vania looked at Frans, surprised.

 

How can Frans say all that, in front of all of us? Vania thinks.

 

“Already, it's okay, Frans. That doesn't bother me at all.” Bram replied, lying.

“No. Obviously it bothers you a lot, Bram.”

Vania did not see Bram crying and immediately hugged him tightly, while Vania tried her best to calm herself down.

“No problem.” Vania whispered then she and Bram got up from the chair. “maybe we shouldn't have come today.”

“No. Stayin' here. Sorry.” Anastasya.

“No. Its alright. We should have stayed home earlier.” Vania says.

“No. Please. Stay here.” Said Frans. Because Frans asked, they both sat back down.

“Sorry. I'm male. I shouldn't have cried.” Bram said, wiping away her tears.

“No. You're 14 years old. You are not yet a man completely.” Frans commented.

“Frans!.” Anastasya stared intently into Frans' eyes. And pat her knee.

“What?” frans asked innocently. Anastasya rolled her eyes.

“Bram is also a man, he has the right to cry. Crying will not prove whether you are a man or not.” Anastasia explained.

“I've never seen dad say that. Even when mom died.” Bram.

“Because dad doesn't care about anything or anyone but himself.” Vania exclaims.

“But, you said he cares about us.”  Bram.

As Frans notices Vania and Bram, he increasingly wants to find their father and punch him in the face. He could see that Vania was stuck with the words she had told Bram. Bram clearly needs a father figure in his life.

“Bram. I think he knows.” Vania says.

“So, you lied to me?” said Bram

“No!”

“You promised to never leave me!” said Bram

“I won't leave you.”

“But lying to me is like leaving me.” Bram.

“Bram. Be calm. I told Vania to tell you that your father still cares about you.” Frans entered into their conversation.

“Why?” Frans asks while Vania dresses up Frans, confused.

“Because I know, if you know the truth, you will have trouble accepting it.” Frans lied.

“No need to discuss.” Anastasya.

“No, mom. Its alright. Bram has the right to say what he thinks.” Said Frans. 

“Umm, I think it's time I went home. You guys are talking about family matters, I'm an outsider.” The princess cut off their conversation.

“Daughter, we are not brothers or family.” Vania.

“we may not have a relationship, but we will always be a family.” Anastasya.

“Daughter, you stay here. Bram and I should go home.” Vania said as she and Bram stood up.

“No, please. Stay here.” Anastasya.

“No. We shouldn't have come here. Obviously we are troublesome and causing problems.” Vania says.

“Vania. Don't say that. We're always here for you, after all. Please, stay here.” Said Frans.

The way she called her name made Vania want to stay, but she knew she had to be strong. Not for him, but for Bram.

“No, we'd better go home.” Vania said as she and Bram walked towards the front door.

“I hope you guys have fun, good night.” Vania said as she walked out of the house. Bram started crying. Vania hugged him very tightly.

“I will never leave you. I promise.” Vania whispers.

Bram wanted to say something, but he couldn't. All Bram has is pain. He hated his father. Now he knows why Vania doesn't like to mention it. He's evil. When their mother died, she locked herself away from Bram and Vania. She doesn't deserve to be around her kids. If Bram ever sees his father coming to their house, tries to apologize or give them his love, or even comes here, Bram will beat him up.

 

“Ayo-ayo, home.” Vania says.

 

Meanwhile, shortly after Vania and Bram left, Anastasya's residence fell apart. Anastasya kept yelling at Frans for stupidly letting them go.

“you should have chased them!” anastasya shouted at his son.

“Bu, I can't. They don't want to deal with us. Let it go.” Said Frans. 

“And you just let it go? Vania only says things like this when she is hurt or experiencing pain. You've known him for 15 years, you should know that!”

“of course I know that! Even though I knew he was lying, there was something behind his words. The way he says how he and Bram are annoying and they always cause trouble, the way he says it as if he believes that-”

“-Well, how about you make him believe that everything is not true.”

“How's mom? How's it!? I always try. Don't you see that she and I aren't as close as they used to be?”

“Oh baby, I know that. Forgive mom. But mom doesn't want to believe all that”

“why mother? Wh why? Why don't you want to believe it?”

“because I thought that my son would never give up. You'll never give up, Frans. It will never! But, why did you do it? You just give up, why?

“maybe I don't give up, just stop trying.” Anastasya noticed the disappointment in Frans' eyes.

“No. You don't stop trying. It's just that you gave up. Trying and giving up are two different things. And you, Frans, give up.”

“Bu, I don't want to talk about this right now.

“Your answer is the same every time we try to talk about something like this. Actually, what's bothering you?”

“I don't know.”

“Really?”

“Iya mother, no!”

“Really?”

“OK mother, fine. I want to be a soldier!” Frans spit. She didn't want to say it, but her mother kept nagging and she couldn't take it anymore. Frans looked at his face, no emotion. “Bu, before you scream or say anything, I just want to say that I never wanted anything else in my life. Frans just wants to fight for our country. I cannot fight for myself, so I will fight for this country. Please, mom. All I need is your support.”

“No.” Anastasya kept her face, resolute.

“No?”  frans

“No. I won't let you be a soldier.”

“But why mom? Wh why? You asked me what was bothering me and Frans told me everything. Why can't mom support what I want, just once.”

“Frans, you'll die out there. See your father.”

“Dad is alive.”

“OK, but look, after you were born, growing up, he went home to fight and left again, then after that did he ever come home? No. gabe. He never came home, again? He started a new life without us. He has a new wife and children. He left us. He forgot about us.”

“Bu, I may be his son, but I'm not like him.”

“And how do you know that? Everyone can be someone they never wanted to be. Your dad said that if he'd always loved mom and suddenly after your dad got back on duty, he realized that he didn't want mom anymore.” Anastasya held back her tears.

“But mom, Frans will never leave mom.”

“Even your father also said the same.” He said as he walked away.