DELENE

TWENTY-ONE

When Delena sees Jovita again in her dream that night, she knows that Jovita is not just someone who has passed her life. Because Delena sees them, in a variety of different settings and emotions. Even before entering the university.

Jovita in his memory is just a normal girl. In addition to his rather tomboyish fashion style with short, shoulder-length black hair. The woman will be very excited when she tells about the Japanese animated comics she read. And he loves sweet food.

I don't know what made them so close, which is clear Delena saw they were like twins. And then, as for the sexual harassment that the woman was subjected to, it seems like Delena never knew about it until Selena told me a week ago. Jovita is quite secretive when it comes to his family affairs. He only once told me that his parents were gone, and the girl lived with her uncle.

Delena frowned feeling a strange feeling on her. Then suddenly his older sister Selena sent him a short message. 

“We need to talk.”

It's time, Delena thought. During this week, after Delena was discharged from the hospital, both Selena, Joshua and even Gavin seemed to be trying to avoid her. Gavin was the worst, after making it difficult for Delena to sleep because of his sweet words, the man actually became difficult to contact for seven full days.  Gavin also left that night, leaving Delena with mixed feelings.

There were several other messages on his phone, but none of them came from the man. Whether she goes where, Delena just wishes Gavin well.

“Miss Del, don't forget today sign in!” “Entertainment everyone!” “Miss Henny said today we're home from work eating! All you can eat Yess!”

Delena smiled at the silliness of her comrades. It's not hard to make them happy. Take a meal, all you can eat a ninety thousand also so super excited.

“Today I can't.” Delena replied to her brother's short message. He will only move when the flat object in his grip again vibrates.

“I'm already in front.”

Her apartment bell rang along with the arrival of the short message. Delena looked towards the main door in disbelief. His sister, a super model who is super busy, what is he doing at his doorstep?

Selena gave a smile, looking beautiful as usual. Though the woman was only wearing a black plain T-shirt with long jeans. Her face was not wearing much makeup either. So Delena was curious, what happened to her being the switched princess?

“You just woke up?” Selena stared at her sister's appearance from top to bottom and instead, her eyes were rounded.

“I just want to get ready. Today start working.”

“Kak won't be long.”

Well, after all, Delena's busyness is nothing compared to Selena's very busy schedule. So Delena gave a short nod and invited her brother to come in.

“What's up?” start Delena. She knew where they were going, but Delena couldn't help but ask.

“I..”

Selena turned around, she sat down uncomfortably. Is it that hard to tell me what the problem is here? thought Delena was starting to get emotional.

Waiting for a while, Selena did not find the right word to say. Finally Delena who opened her voice first, “No one ever said that I was selfish. Right now, I don't understand anymore. What have you guys done? What have I done?”

“Sorry sister..”

Delena looked up, not saying anything.

“I, just proved that I'm a bad brother. I thought, I think my sister would be safe if that crazy girl knew Joshua was no longer related to you. Then,”

Selena took a breath, looked at her sister in tears, “I carried a feeling. Love makes me blind. Although I stick to my stance to replace you against that girl, I can no longer lie to myself.”

“Joshua, his feelings never change.  I started not caring about my feelings anymore. And I just want to come back, be a big brother to the sister I love. I don't want to hurt you..”.

“You've done it.”

Selena was crying out blatantly now. He wanted to grab Delena, but his sister seemed defensive.

“We know there will be a price to pay: the consequences of a decision are entirely my responsibility. I regret that my actions only caused more disasters. Because I wasn't aware, my sister needed to hear that this was dangerous, and that we always loved you.”

“What brother will always be like this?”

“What?”

Delena rolled her eyes, a fool that she had become a disobedient sister.

“Be like the person most responsible for his sister's life. Blame yourself when it doesn't work. Being Selena Scharlete is hard then.”

Grabbing her brother's hand, Delena then threw a smile to make Selena stunned.

“I'm not a kid anymore, I realize life doesn't have to be like candy. We need a bitter taste too so as not to diabetes.”

***  

Selena is gone. Then Delena almost misfortune because it turns out that when her brother came home, the time had shown at nine less than fifteen minutes. Delena took a shower as fast as she could, she didn't care about breakfast much less makeup, because her class would start at exactly nine o'clock.

If previously Delena intends to take the bus, now because of the situation kepepet himself so order an online motorcycle taxi in order to arrive on time. Damn it because it was raining outside. So even though he wasn't late, he ended up soaking wet when he arrived at the course.

His friends who had gathered to start the brifing stared at him. Miss Sarah was the best, the woman was suddenly already standing in front of her, her hand holding a towel for Delena. “New out of the hospital has been playing rain anyway, Del. Very stubborn!”

“Not intentionally, Miss.” Delena smiled, in her heart she grimaced. Body shivers.

“In the locker I have a change of clothes if not wrong. Maybe a little oversized, but better than wet-wet.”

After giving a brief thanks, Delena rushed up to the employee room on the second floor. He sighed in relief when he found a long-sleeved shirt with cotton trousers there. Maybe if you add a glass of hot chocolate, the day will be better.

But their class must begin soon, for the first time in the year two thousand and twenty. All of Delena's coworkers look very excited even though the weather is cloudy outside.

***

Delena thought they were really going to be busy until they had to work overtime, but it turned out that the number of students who came in that day was not half that.

“Sepi this really mah. I can't go in another day too,” said Miss Sarah after yawning so widely.

“Wah, it's been recorded! Send to Miss Henny just know taste yes!”

“Eehh Lai, you are brave now. Here I pinched his kidney first.”

Laila looked at her senior ostensibly in horror before turning towards Delena on the other side of the room. “Miss Del, have you ingetin parents to come tutoring yet?”

Delena whose name was suddenly called turned around. He only realized in his class there were no students because they were too busy struggling with office phones. “I already broadcast, have installed status in Whatsapp also.”

“Terus?”

“Some ngabarin if they're still on vacation. There are still some children can not enter because he said fever.”

“Bener too. Some private schools are just starting to come in next week. And now Miss Sarah's youngest child has a fever. It's again his rich season.”

Delena didn't listen to her colleagues anymore. Because suddenly there is one incoming message from ‘Mama Devan Darren Alvin’ into the office phone. He opened the message with a thumping heart, for some reason becoming uncomfortable.

“AL, Devan and Darren are sick, Miss. Sorry, not tutoring today. Still in Jogja too.”

Delena immediately replied with a formal answer and prayer so that they would get well soon. Then the thought just popped into his head. He secretly kept his student's parent's number to ask him about Gavin. Because Gavin's number is inactive, it also doesn't appear for an entire week. Delena worries she's why.

***

Starting with a short message, Delena typed words like, “Halo, it's me Delena. Sorry before, I just wanted to ask you about Gavin. The number was inactive for a week. Is she okay?”

The student's parents and Gavin's sister-in-law suddenly called him. Delena took a breath three times before lifting it up. And the first impression he got was, the woman was very friendly.

“Halo. Night, Delena. Or should I call Miss Delena? “

“Delena only..” It is also not sure, to call the woman ‘ibu’ or ‘mbak' or what.

“Anyway. Beautiful mom can too. I'm Gavin's sister-in-law.”

“Oh, yes..”

“We should meet for official introduction later. I know Gavin proposed to you. By the way, congratulations yes..”

Delena smiled and thanked me sincerely. He will only convey the main purpose of contacting the woman when the brother-in-law interrupts her. Still sounds excited. “Gavin yesterday took to Jogja to see the kids. The three of them had a fever. But he's back, I guess he's in Bogor now. If he's not home, he's in a hotel. Just come there.”

“I'm not good if I have to come to the hotel. He may be busy—"

“You're his future wife. He's too much if he doesn't tell you for a week!”

Delena smiled again, feeling more comfortable with the woman she just knew. For him Mbak Indah is something else, it's nice to have supporters like that.

And he has decided. If Gavin can't be reached until tomorrow, tomorrow after work Delena will actually come to the hotel.