Girl In The Winter's

Chapter 19

The park looks quiet there are only the two of them who are now sitting on a park bench made of wrought iron with floral motifs and creeping leaves, not far from where they were sitting there was a crystal ball-shaped garden light that emitted the colors of the surrounding friends. Ayumi's cry had now subsided, although it was spring but the night wind was cold enough that Kevin opened his suit and put it on Ayumi's body wrapped only in a short-sleeved silk dress.

They sat side by side, for a while the two of them just fell silent, not a word came out of their mouths, before Ayumi finally broke the silence.

"So did you know that from the first time we met?" Ayumi asked with eyes staring at the neatly arranged collection of flowers before her.

"Yes," answered Kevin honestly, there would be nothing else he covered up, it was enough he saw the disappointment and how hurt the girl beside him at this time when he found out about his true identity.

"How can you recognize me?"

Kevin took a deep breath before he began his story, "My father married your mother when I was five and I myself did not feel how to have a mother until they got married. My mother died giving birth to me," Kevin's words suddenly made Ayumi look at Kevin with eyes of pity that made the dimpled man smile.

"During our stay together every July 23rd, your mother always made seaweed soup and she would cook other special dishes even complete with birthday cakes."

Kevin's words make Ayumi's chest beat great, July 23 is the date of her birth.

"When I ask who's birthday? Your mother replied that on July 23 an angel had been born into this world, so we should celebrate."

Without feeling the tears Ayumi returned to light when hearing Kevin's story, his chest felt relieved as if his burden was slightly lifted when he finally heard that his mother had never forgotten her birthday.

"Mother called it tenshi no hi which means angel's day." Kevin smiled gently as he looked at Ayumi who was still speechless.

"When I started growing up I suspected that something was being kept secret. Every night of your birthday she cries and hugs a photo she hides in her purse."

Kevin took a deep breath before resuming his story, "Until a few years ago when he lay weakly, your mother called out to me and told me about you."

The man's brown eyes glazed back as the woman who had raised him and endowed him with affection lay weakly on the hospital bed, with all the equipment attached to her body. While shedding tears and breathing heavily he tells about the regret and guilt that gnawed his soul for life, which is leaving the baby girl he gave birth to in an orphanage in Japan.

"Not only are you sad and suffering, but so is your mother. Throughout his life he had to endure regret and be haunted by guilt."

"If she's sorry, why didn't she look for me?"

"He lost your contact when we moved from Vancouver, which is why your father only knew your mother's last address here."

Kevin took his wallet and took out a photo and gave it to Ayumi who now widened his eyes when he saw the photo. In the photo there is a picture of him when he was three years old wearing a dress fluffy like a princess, his hair in two, his lips smiling looking at the camera.

"It's..."

"Yes, it's you when you're three. I got this when Mom told me about you and asked me to promise to look for you."

Kevin was silent for a moment when he looked at Ayumi who was now looking at him with a sad look.

"Your mother didn't ask you to forgive her, because she thought she didn't deserve to be forgiven for her actions that left you."

Kevin saw Ayumi wiping away the tears that were back soaking her smooth cheeks.

"She just asked me to promise to take care of you."

Kevin's words made Ayumi look back at the man beside her who she just found out was her stepbrother.

Kevin took a deep breath, "I got word from your mother that your father brought you to Indonesia. I have some friends there who help me find you, but Indonesia is too big to find a daughter named Ayumi Maheswara."

Kevin smiled at Ayumi, "Until the end of two years ago I heard from my friend that there was a daughter looking for my mother... Your mother I mean," said Kevin, "To make sure I come here and after seeing you I'm sure you're the one I've been looking for."

"Why didn't you tell me from the beginning that you... My sister," said Ayumi in a soft voice when she mentioned the words that made Kevin smile.

"I'm afraid you'll reject me and keep your distance from me" said Kevin, who made Ayumi look back into the brown eyes of the man beside her.

"I have to earn your trust to take care of you, often I want to be honest but I'm afraid that you're going to walk away from me, and every time you tell me about your mother who dumped you, I want to let you know that your mother suffered from it too."

Ayumi gazes into the distance, her feelings flailing on one side she feels betrayed by her best friend, but on the other she feels grateful that her misunderstanding about her mother has ended, though it was too late he knew that the woman who had given birth to him had never forgotten him.

Is it time to make peace with the past? Yes, Ayumi decides it's time she forgot all the sadness of her past, she now has two wonderful fathers, a sister who always supported him and now he has a brother and his best friend who always look after and be by his side. What else does he need? Besides yes of course someone who has become another part of his heart has now disappeared without news. Ayumi snorted which made Kevin look at her confusedly.

"So that rose is from you?"

"You like it?"

Ayumi leaned back her hands folded in front of her chest, her eyes staring at Kevin for a moment.

"Yes, I like it, but... Oppa?" Ayumi again snorted, "That's right."

"Well! from now on you should call me, Oppa! Understood?"

Ayumi simply raised her eyebrows and her shoulders, "We'll see later" Ayumi said as she stared at the darkness of a starless night. Kevin knew he could not force the girl to accept his presence as an older brother, but he would be patient until one day on his own will Ayumi would call him 'Oppa'.

"So, do you forgive me?" Kevin asked as he looked at Ayumi who was staring at him for a moment before finally looking back at the dark night sky.

"Of course." Ayumi took a deep breath, "You know, on one hand I was happy because my judgment about my mother had been wrong all along, but on the other hand I'm like I lost the figure of a best friend I've been hanging on and leaning on all this time."

"No, Angel, no!" Kevin crouched to his knees before Ayumi, his hands clasping the girl's cold hands, "That's not true, I'm still your best friend, Angel. I will always be your best friend who is always there for you."

Ayumi noticed the seriousness in the man's eyes, "But how can I now see you as a friend, you are the son of my mother's husband, you are my brother."

Kevin smiled in his eyes, "Isn't that better, you not only have a best friend, but now you also have a big brother who will always be there for you, A really cool brother who's gonna kick every guy who tries to get close to you."

"Hey! You want me to be a spinster!" Ayumi protested with a laugh that made Kevin feel happy because finally the girl laughed again.

"I promise, I won't change, I'm still Kevin, your best friend you've known all along," Kevin continued with sincere eyes to look at Ayumi who was now smiling gently.

He was silent for a while before finally nodding confidently, "Alright, I forgive you," said Ayumi who made Kevin immediately embrace him.

"Thank you, Angel" he said, smiling at the night sky hoping that his mother's spirit would see them at this moment, smiling happily as he did. In the heart of Kevin again promised not only for his mother but also for Ayumi, his sister, he promised to always protect the girl with his own life.

***