Dusk In Moorea

HR#61

Arumi tried to get up and felt her head so heavy as she tried to get up. He grimaced as he held his head. He tried to lean on the head of the bed so as not to fall.

"Why does my head hurt so much ?" muttered weak Arumi.

"You're up ?" isabella's fresh voice coming out from inside the bathroom made Arumi slightly jerked in shock.

"Yes Aunty. By the way, what time is it ?"

Isabella glanced at the clock on the nightstand before sitting next to Arumi.

"A half an hour. What's up ?"

"What ? Aunty ! Forgive Aru ! Aru should not wake up this session," said Arumi was not feeling well.

"It's okay Aru ! You're sick now. It's only natural that you rest and sleep misfortune," Isabella replied with a sweet smile engraved on her face.

"What pain does Aunty have ?" ask Arumi curiously.

"Not bad. Doctor Ford said you only have a fever from fatigue and your blood pressure is very low. You have to rest a lot and not mind a lot, dear," Isabella said very gently as she stroked Arumi's cheek briefly.

"Thank you because Aunty and Uncle have loved me all these years. I'm so grateful to have you in my life" Arumi said meaningfully. The silent gaze pierced through Isabella's blue netra so deeply. Making the motherly instinct of the woman was awakened not because of her biological child, but another girl whom she had considered like her own daughter.

"Don't thank Aru ! We used to think of you as our family. Where might we leave you, Sweetheart !" isabella said while shedding tears.

Arumi immediately wiped away Isabella's tears with her still trembling hand.

"Don't cry Aunty !" the door smiled. But now it is precisely Arumi who looks to be shedding tears. Isabella chuckles little looking at that and wipes away Arumi's tears.

"You forbid Aunty to cry. But look at ! It was you who replaced Aunty to cry" Isabella said.

Two women from different generations laughed together. There is happiness that remains in Arumi's heart after all the injuries he has experienced. Now the girl can only leave. Letting fate bring his story and Leon ends up on the brink of destruction. All Arumi wanted to do now was get back up. Trying to organize a new life for the people who are still left in his life. For Charlie, Uncle Charles and Aunty Isabella of course.

"By the way, Aru's stomach is hungry !" said Arumi timidly while holding his stomach that continues to sound since.

Again Isabella laughed and immediately gave a bowl of porridge for Arumi to eat.

"Open your mouth !" pinta Isabella with her hands ready to put a spoonful of porridge into Arumi's mouth.

Arumi's eyes glazed over seeing how good Aunty Bella was towards her. He who has no blood relation with Arumi is able to treat him like a real child himself. Meanwhile, Jonathan who is his own father has never treated him as well as this.

"Open your mouth Aru !" reprimands Isabella who managed to pull Arumi back to the real world.

The girl complied and opened her mouth wide. He accepted a bribe from Isabella with matchless happiness. How long has he been sick and anyone noticed him like this ? A dozen years ? Yep. It seems that it has been that long until Arumi even had time to forget the feeling of being bribed by a female figure who is usually called 'mother'.

* * *

"You're home yet ?" Isabella greeted Charles with joy. She took over the briefcase that Charles was holding and led her husband to sit in the living room.

"Why did you come home early today ? Not as usual" asked Isabella curiously. It's just one o'clock in the afternoon. Charles should still be in the office at this hour. But, once her husband was back home four hours earlier than usual.

Charles landed his butt on the sofa with a faint sigh. It seems that he is having a problem.

Charles turned his head and looked at Isabella's face wryly. Makes Isabella even more curious about what's really going on.

"I got fired from the office, baby !" I'm Charles with a tone of voice so desperate. He rubbed the back of the head with both hands.

"What ? Why is it suddenly like this, dear ? What's your fault ?" ask Isabella hysterically.

"Everything was Duke Xander" Charles said.

"Duke Xander ? But why ?"

"He knew that I had beaten and kicked his son last night. Maybe he was vengeful and asked my boss to fire me for no apparent reason."

"Why is it like this ?" Isabella nibbled her temple. He felt he did not know what to do in the face of this problem.

"Please keep this a secret from children. I don't want them to be sad. Especially with Arumi. You can't ?"

"All right ! I'll do it !"

Charles hugged Isabella's body while closing his eyes. Satisfied with his wife, Charles then turned to hold Isabella's shoulder and patted her slowly.

"Don't worry too much. I'll get a new job soon" said Charles, trying to convince Isabella that everything would be fine.

Isabella nodded. He believed the promise Charles had just made. She knew that her husband was a very hardworking person. The responsibility to his family cannot be doubted either. And Isabella felt very grateful to be able to get Charles as her husband.

Unbeknownst to both, Arumi eavesdropped on all their conversations. The girl's tears fell down for several times. Arumi bit her lower lip to prevent the sound of sobs from escaping from her mouth. The girl bowed while looking at her own feet.

Forgive Arumi Aunty ! Forgive Arumi Uncle ! If it wasn't for Aru, this would never have happened to you.

Unable to take it anymore, Arumi galloped back to climb into her room. He huddled under the blanket while crying. He blamed himself for what happened to Charles. If he hadn't fallen in love with Leon, this would have never happened.

* * *

In the afternoon, Charlie went home and went straight to Arumi in the girl's room. Means to return Arumi's phone and bag left behind in Lady Nastya's boutique.

"Aru ? Why is your face so pale ? You sick ?" ask Charlie riled.

"I'm fine, Char ! Just a little feverish," he replied with a pale smile.

Charlie sighed and chose to put Arumi's phone and bag on the nightstand. He then turns to unlock the boots he is wearing and climbs onto the bed with Arumi. He sat leaning on the head of the bed just like Arumi did.

"Have you eaten yet ?" charlie asked attentively.

"It has. Aunty brought me some porridge !" reply Arumi.

"Do you want to eat something else ? I can go out and buy it if you want" Charlie said.

Arumi shook her head weakly. " No need for Charlie. I'm not feeling the taste of eating anything right now" Arumi subtly refused.