Be My Soldier Forever

Ep. 59

Alice POV

I look in the mirror and remember things that have passed, everything seems so bad, there is no room for goodness for me anymore. I was thinking about something when I freed myself from his grip, after he had done something terrible to me.

I ran, I went to my brother, Alan. He stayed about an hour away from where I am today, but I got there for about 45 minutes because of my relentless running speed. It was past 12 pm, I arrived at my brother's house and started knocking on his door, the cold air and my body shivering, the water on my face long ago froze on my cheeks, when Alan opened the door, he looked confused to see me and looked angry because he had to be lifted from his sleep because of me, but after she saw my reddened, wet cheeks and also there were bruised blue marks scattered all over my body, she hugged me.

He let myself cry in his arms, until in the morning, when the sun began to shine brightly, he made me a cup of tea with two tablespoons of honey, the warm water flowing down my throat, I immediately felt the pain of my crying. Alan began to speak in a voice so soft and attentive. He told me that he loved me so much and that I could trust him, I kept a lot of secrets for a long time, but today, it was as if I had confirmed them all in his presence, I told her how my boyfriend tortured me, beat me, how he started drinking and I told her about the bad thing he just did to me, I told her about my fears what I was afraid of and who I was afraid of, she assumed I was talking about my ex-boyfriend, but I was talking about myself.

I'm afraid that someday, the darkness will take me and I can't fight it. Alan assured me that he would never let that happen to me again as long as he was with me.  And for a year since that incident passed, my life has been happy. I get therapy and counseling specifically for the problems I've been experiencing so far. Alan took care of me more and more until I started college and earned a college degree. However, one day Alan spoke to me and said he wanted to do something more for his life, well he wanted to enlist in the military like my father and leave me.

 

A few years later...

 

I heard my alarm clock ringing so loud beside me, I groaned and rolled off the bed. It's a sign that it's time for me to move, I wake up and do my morning routine, I then shower and wet my hair with my favorite shampoo that smells like jasmine flowers and then wash my body with water, after taking a shower I dried my body with a towel and started dressing neatly and going to work, I built my own business by opening a flower shop, you know, I really like flowers, I like flowers, my mother said my grandmother also loved flowers, so I opened such a store, although it took quite a long time to open such a store and had to raise a lot of money, but the result will be worth it.

I live in one of the less populated cities, and my flower shop is not too far from where I live now, the countryside with vast green fields as well as some wildflowers growing on each street.

I have a house not too big, simple but unique. It only has one floor, with an interior of an ancient Indonesian feel that I really like. I don't know why I liked him so much. As I started walking towards my flower shop, I heard the chirping of the birds as well as the sound of my pet puppy barking, welcoming me. Excitedly, the dog begged me for morning food, I filled the red bowl with dog food.

 

The doorbell rang…

 

I looked up and saw Kenny, my employee. Kenny is a 19-year-old boy who has just finished High School. Her hair is choppy black, beautiful brown eyes and regional accents that every man dreams of. He came from Sunda and moved to America after he finished school, he was a very diligent employee and he was also a good friend of mine.

“Hai, sister Alice. I don't think you're in today?” She said, I smiled and picked up a few stalks of my favorite flower, a thorny red rose. Hugged her.

“I won't go, because there's something I have to finish and I'm working on here.” I said, putting the flowers back in a vase, all morning, I went to pay taxes and some bills and ordered a delivery of the new flowers.

I saw the clock showing at 12:00, so I rushed out and saw Kenny serving a customer. I waved to her to signal that I would go out for lunch.

I walked towards the food stall on the side of the road not far from my flower shop. Suddenly my phone shook. I looked at my phone screen, and what I saw almost made me explode, Alan called.

I'm so happy, my brother called me.

“Halo, Brother, jeez!” I screamed at my phone.

“Hei my sister, relax first, Alice.” Alan chuckles. “How are you?”

“Alan, enough is enough! Why did you call me? Have you gone home?” he laughed again, and I missed his laughter.

“Yes, I want to go home, well next wednesday and my flight is around 4 am.” He said, I couldn't help but feel the excitement I was feeling, the people at the food stall were watching me strangely but I didn't care.

“Kak, I'm so happy and feeling excited. I can't believe you're going home.” I choked and my words were cut off.

“Oh sister dear brother, please don't cry. I can't believe you don't want sister to come home, hehe.” I can hear his clone on the phone.

“Shut! Kakk know, I really want you to go home. You back here how long?” i asked.

“1 full year.” I smiled and started to choke again because of the food I was eating. I have not seen my twin brother for 5 years. The last time I was with him, when I first opened my flower shop. He was even very proud of me, but unfortunately at that time he accompanied me for only 1 month. But now I'm happy because he's been with me for a whole year.

“Excellent sister,”

“Ohya, later I go home with a friend . his name is Adrian and he has no family anymore, so, is it okay?” she asked.

“ohyah, of course sister. I will cook so much food to welcome you both home. I'll prepare everything.” I said get excited.

“Alright, sounds good. I'm sure your cooking is the most delicious, my sister. Long ago, I had to go. See you, Alice.” Said. I could hear the sadness in his voice.

“Bye, sister.”

“Ehemm,” I cleared my throat, “You know that bird food should be stored in a container?” I said.

“Yes, but every time I feed him with my hand, he'll peck me.” He said by scooping up a container full of seeds and taking them and putting them into a cage.

“See! He's a stupid bird.” He pouted crossed arms, he looked like a sulking five-year-old.

“Well, it's possible that if you stop calling him a dumb bird, he might like you. I have good news, you know! My twin brother is coming home.” I can't hold back my happiness. Kenny also looked as happy as me and hugged me.

“Kak, that's a good kbar. I'm so happy for you.” Happy tears washed my eyes.

“AKu have not seen it for a long time, he has changed a lot.”

“AKu sure he is still as gallant as before.” Kenny blinked at me, I showed him a photo of Alan once and he said Alan was very handsome.

“How old is he now? She asked.

“Gosh he's the same age as me, you forgot well that we're twins. 25 years” I smiled.

“Ops, I forgot. Sorry.” He grinned at me.

“Yes, thank you, I'm sure many out there women who will be interested in him.”

“Ya, you are right.” He smiled again and walked away.

 

Alan POVs

I don't know why I'm this happy when I talk to Alice, my sister. Although it was disappointing that I had to end our conversation on the phone, at least next Wednesday I can meet him and will be with him longer. I looked down with a smile at the phone I was holding, I heard the barracks door open, I looked up and saw my best friend Adrian since I enlisted in the army.

“Hey, did you talk to your sister?” He asked, I nodded.

“Did you tell him I was coming with you? How's the response?” She asked.

“Ya, she agrees.”

“What does he like?” He asked, stepping closer to me and sitting next to me on the bed.

“Yes, back then, we had a birthday, she opened her own flower shop, Alice Florist. He's very proud of his shop, and I can't believe he's been able to stand on both feet all this time. Before I went in the army, I had time to go to the park while eating ice cream together. Just then his feet tripped and fell, his ice cream also fell right on his face, he was really very embarrassed then after that he asked the ice creamer for a napkin and cleaned his face then left while covering his face with his hair.” We both laughed as I told that silly thing and Adrian could only imagine it.

“Wow, as it sounds, your sister is a very funny person.” She smiles. “What's the name again?”

“Alice.”

 

Alice POV

I can't wait to see my brother come home. Oh yeah, I've prepared all the necessities to welcome him home and his friend. Tomorrow, he'll arrive.  I'm very nervous, but I have to be excited. I also cleaned and cleaned it all up. I told Kenny to come home early, he was very productive and always got his job done quickly.

The sound of the shop bell rang, I looked up and saw a man and a small child walking in, the boy looked cute, his hair tied in two ponytails with ribbons and wearing cute jeans, also a pink shirt that perfectly matched her skin, to her father, she looked tall with slightly dark white hair, she wore dark blue khaki pants with a plain white shirt and a blue tie. I smiled kindly at them and then walked over to them.

“Good day, can I help you?” I asked, the man looked at me as he grabbed his daughter's hand.

“We are here to pick up a flower bucket gift for mom. Isn't that right, Sheila?” The boy was named Sheila, and he nodded and put his thumb in his mouth. I smiled at him and knelt down to face him.

“Do you know, what does your mother like?” He nodded again. “What is it?” Sheila looked at her father who was nodding towards her, she looked at me.

“My mom loves lily.” flowers very much He said with his thumb still in his mouth. I smiled at her and guided them towards where we kept the lily flowers.

“Dad, I want to buy two buckets of those flowers for mom.” Dad smiled.

“Alright, your mother will love it so much.” I took the flowers and took them to the room where I wrapped them neatly and sealed them, after they had bought the lilies, they walked back to their car and hopefully they gave the happiest surprise to their mother who was waiting.