Friend Bed

DNA test

"Delia and Dimas were really careless!" vallen grumbled on his way home.

"What does Mama mean?"

"You are the same! That kind of thing you're still asking!"

"Mama, I really don't understand what Mama means. Sloppy how?"

"Cleo, try to think. They had been separated from their biological children for over twenty years and upon meeting the figure they thought was their biological child, they immediately assumed the child was really his biological child without doing DNA testing first. It was a form of stupidity, Cleo!"

"So you think Dea's not their real son? Why can I have such cruel parents like you, Ma!"

"Your mouth does seem to have to be Mama duct tape, Cleo. How dare you say that to your mother!"

"Hahaha, anyways Mama. Why is Mom talking like that?"

"Something wrong with your words?"

"Cleo, what Mama said has a point. They're too careless. Om Dimas and Aunt Delia may be too washed away in a deep state of longing, that she doesn't think that far" Kenzo said.

"So you're also suspicious of Dea, Kenzo?"

"I'm not suspicious, Cleo. It's just that to ascertain the truth, they shouldn't have come to a conclusion that quickly before actually assuming that Dea was their biological child. Try to think, if they got it wrong, what if it turns out Dea is not their biological child. If it turns out their real children are suffering out there? All the possibilities can happen, Cleo. If it is not clear yet they really have a blood relationship. Because there will definitely be hurt if they take decisions unilaterally like this."

"You mean if it turns out Dea wasn't their real child, right?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Then what should we do?"

"I'll try to talk slowly to Delia to do a DNA test" said Vallen.

"Good idea, Ma."

"Mama's smart, Cleo."

"And I'll also find out about Dea's background on the data in my office."

"That's good too Kenzo, you're indeed a very smart and exciting husband, hahahaha."

"Basic, that's all you can do!" grouse Vallen.

'I'm sorry Dea, I have to do this. It's not that I'm suspicious of you, it's just that I have a bad feeling about all this. Ahhhh, once again, sorry, ' Inner Vallen.

****

Dea looked still awkward with the atmosphere she felt. A new family, which somehow feels so foreign to him. The warmth of Delia's affectionate attitude, as well as the friendliness of her brother's attitude, Shakila still made her feel uncomfortable.

Moreover, when he saw the intimacy of Darren and Shakila in front of him. Everyone, it feels so painful for him. It hurts so much to remember the past when he lived in a parlour with all the flaws, while Shakila lived with all the luxuries, and met with Darren.

'This is really unfair. Why is my brother so lucky to be so lucky to me? My life has been so miserable these past twenty years. Even the status I had been holding all this time was as a discarded orphanage child and had no parents, ' Inner Dea.

"Excuse me, can I go to the room now? I want to rest" Dea said.

"Of course, dear Sachi. Your room's upstairs, next to your sister's."

"Yes Ma."

Dea nodded her head then got up from the top of the sofa and went upstairs, accompanied by Delia.

"Shakila, there's actually something I want to tell you."

"What, Brother?"

"It looks like your parents were too careless in their decision."

"Inattentive in making decisions? What do you mean, brother?"

"Shakila, please think clearly. They draw the conclusion that Dea is Sachi based only on a background story similar to what they experienced. Not based on reliable data, for example with DNA tests. Shakila dear, you think, what if it turns out that on the same day there was another baby who experienced the same incident as Sachi experienced? Although the possibility is also very small, but your parents should not quickly conclude like that. Then, what if your parents' conclusion is wrong, while the real Sachi is still out there?"

"You're right too, brother. Papa and Mama are too quick to conclude that Dea is Sachi."

"Yes Dear. What I'm worried about is that Dea isn't Sachi."

"Then, how should we?"

"We have to take action, Shakila. But, you better not tell your parents first. Let's just do this behind their back so they don't take it personally if we doubt their actions."

"Yes right, brother. So we're gonna do that DNA test secretly?"

"Yes, we're going to do a DNA test secretly. Please take samples from your parents' bodies, and also from Dea."

"Sister Darren, taking one of the body parts from Papa and Mama is easy, I can take the hair that falls out in their comb, but what about Dea? Looks like it's gonna be hard to get a piece of Dea's hair, brother."

"Shakila, take that part of the body not just from the hair, dear."

"Then?"

"His saliva. You can pretend to make a drink for Dea. Then after he drinks the drink, we take the old cup to the hospital."

"Good, to the hospital? What if the hospital also asked for approval from my parents, brother? We can't possibly get their signatures to do a DNA test because we're just doing this in secret."

"You're right too, Shakila."

"Then how should we?"

"We better talk about this with my mom. As far as I know, Mama Aini has a good friend who works at the hospital. His name is Doctor Vallen."

"Oh yes, I remember Brother. He was indeed good friends with our parents."

"Then do we meet Mama Aini now?"

"Yes, let's go see Mama Aini now, I want us to do a DNA test on Dea as soon as possible."

***

Dea, who was now standing on the balcony of the room, looked at Shakila and Darren who got into the car while smiling wryly. "My life has now changed, I am no longer a poor woman who can be scorned by everyone. I now have the same class, and the same caste as them."

He then looked at the screen of the phone he had in his hand. Then swipe a photo on the screen of the phone. "You used to be like a dream to me. I am like a ridge that misses the moon, but I am not who I used to be. Are our social strata the same? What if I wish I'd come back to you, Kenzo?

Don't I still have the right to fall in love with you?"