FORBIDDEN TO FALL IN LOVE

12. Dusk (Daniel's POV)

"Sister Dan! Pissing roses in the living room!"

"First bebeyet, brother!" (Rose kebelet, Brother!)

"Sister said, right? If you feel like peeing, go straight to the bathroom. Roses are three years old, have to learn to toilet by yourself, yes," Daniel gave advice. He placed the sewing needle in his hand carefully, then got up from his seat.

Daniel rubbed the Rose's head gently as he passed by. It was not good to see one of his sisters face sour for making a mistake.

"here, Rose. Lovely sister help change the pants, "Beautiful grabbed the hands of the Rose and led her towards their room.

Patiently, Daniel mopped the floor of the living room wet with a Rose pee. A low voice sounded not far from there. Daniel peeked out the window, seeing his four younger brothers playing ball in the front yard.

Daniel went outside and cried out to them because they were playing near the flower pot that belonged to his other brother. "Gio, Reva, Mika, Aldo! Don't play near the pot! Later Kak Jingga angry!" yells.

The four young children, who were almost the same age, immediately stopped playing. They answered simultaneously, then shifted a bit further to resume the game.

"Can't kick it too hard, yeah!" Daniel warned again, before going inside.

"Sister Dan" a little woman greeted Daniel again, as Daniel returned to the living room. "The win is almost over. Vio bought me a new one, huh?" bargained for.

Daniel glanced at the wall clock. The clock shows at four in the afternoon. There are still a lot of people around where they live. "Don't be alone, ask Brother Jingga!" his orders, despite feeling safe a child as small as Vio shopping alone.

"OK," Vio rushed into the kitchen to look for a woman named Orange.

"How many dolls are you?" ask Daniel.

"Fifty, Brother!" exclaim Kiki cheerfully.

"Well, you guys are great! There are ten more dolls left, "praise Daniel while shuffling Kiki's hair. "If the pay is already there, Brother will buy beef for all of us!"

"Asianiiiii!" the cheer of the six children who helped Daniel sew the doll.

Meat is a deluxe meal at the orphanage Daniel runs. The orphanage is a relic of his late father. The only property not confiscated by the bank due to accumulated debts.

In fact, Daniel could have sold the orphanage because it stood on a large enough land, so he could reclaim the house and facilities from his father, but he did not.

Daniel was already in love with the children who lived in the orphanage. There are a lot of memories he has there. Every child has his own story and he knows it all. Daniel could not sell the orphanage land and lost the smiles of his adopted brothers.

"Snacks come," Orange emerges from behind the kitchen door. He carried a plate full of brownish fried bananas which was very tempting. Vio walked behind him with his mouth full and a bowl of melted palm sugar.

The children put their dolls away carefully, not wanting their hard work to break down. Then put the needle in its original place. They get used to tidying things up first before doing anything else. Although actually their saliva has dripped seeing fried bananas in plain sight.

Daniel smiled proudly at the sight of his sisters in charge. He no longer felt worried about the customer-ordered dolls being exposed to oil or sugar.

"Sister Dan, I took Vio to the supermarket first, huh? Is there anything I should buy besides yarn?" ask Orange.

"If anything runs out in the kitchen, you buy it all" said Daniel.

"Yes, Brother." Orange and Vio passed from the living room.

Daniel went back to the front yard to call the four children who were still playing football, to join the others and enjoy an afternoon snack before taking a shower.

"Tomorrow morning" replied Daniel. "But you can't come, Ki. Tomorrow is Monday, you have to take part in the flag ceremony."

Kiki gawked at Daniel's refusal even before he asked. The plan, he wanted to skip the flag ceremony because he was not strong to stand.

"The flag ceremony is important, Kak Kiki," Indah gave advice.

"Gio never skipped the flag ceremony."

"Aldo too."

"When you do, Brother!"

"What, anyway!? How do you fuck!?"

The atmosphere became rowdy again by the jokes and laughter of the orphanage residents. Daniel smiled happily, seeing that everything was healthy. Their situation could be said to have improved by now.

Six years ago, when his father died, things were very difficult. The funders withdrew one by one. Daniel had to go to many places to ask for donations so that his adopted brothers could keep eating.

At that time, Daniel was just a nineteen-year-old teenager who just went to college. He understands a little bit about work, but he has not been trained for it. When his father is gone, Daniel is faced with the choice of saving himself or saving the children in an orphanage.

He can continue school by removing the children's home. Daniel can learn to finish even though he lives well by selling the orphanage.

But, Daniel chose to carry the burden on his shoulders and put aside his personal affairs. Daniel was an only child and he was thrilled to be introduced to the orphanage. So, he did not want everything to disappear along with the loss of the existence of a father figure for Daniel.

The sound of footsteps suddenly rang out, making Daniel wake up from his daydream. Daniel looked up at the stairs and saw three teenagers running towards him.

"Don't run on the stairs!" yell Daniel, a little upset.

The three teenagers slowed down and apologized. They sat around Daniel and handed Daniel three pieces of paper.

"What's this?" ask Daniel.

"Three of us, accepted!" cahya exclaimed, greeted by boisterous applause from Revelation and Yano."

"Well! Seriously!?" Daniel sat up straight and read the papers in his hand quickly. "Looky! You can go to college on a scholarship! Thank you, thank you!" Daniel hugged his three brothers.

"But, brother, there's still a building fee."

"Yes. Not free one hundred percent."

"We are still troubled Brother Dan."

Daniel shuffled Yano's hair that spoke last. "Easy, easy! I still have money saved! Anyway, you guys should be diligent in studying and studying while I can!"

The three teenagers exchanged looks. Although they were feeling very happy at this moment, inside they were filled with pity for Daniel. Those who were only orphanages, were raised desperately by Daniel. While Daniel himself could not feel the education he should have received.

"No need to wait for payday to arrive! Tonight too, Big Brother will buy you a lot of beef to celebrate these three brats going to college!" exclaim Daniel. The atmosphere became rowdy again, the spirit heard that tonight they will eat well.

***