Home For My Soul

21|Acal Bulus

~Altheo~

Sometimes I envy Matt. He can do whatever he wants, be whatever he wants, and plan his own future. Unlike me as the first child and the main heir of my family.

I can't choose my own ideas. They've taught, counseled, brought me closer to the work that my father does. Grandpa and Grandma, may their souls settle down up there, do the same. All their fairy tales were only about a main director.

I can't do anything I want either. A few days off, I can't travel to refresh my mind. Only Mama and Matt are lucky to go to Raja Ampat and enjoy every facility there. I have to go with Papa on his business.

Worst of all, I cannot choose the woman who is my wife. Ever since I was a child, my parents have chosen girls from their colleagues to marry me. One of the ways we have survived for a long time in this business world. Papa and Mama are also initially betrothed, then they are infatuated with each other. Although they rarely meet, their love does not fade.

“What do you think, Theo?” papa asked, making me the center of attention of our guests. “Do you agree with our new business cooperation?”

“We'd better test before signing the agreement, Pa. This cooperation is very expensive and the risk is high. The economy is difficult, so if we direct massive production, then the response of the community is not as expected, then we will lose big,” I answer honestly.

“But, Theo .. We've been planning this since a year ago. The research team has also tried to throw the product into the market and the response of the community is quite good. Their purchasing power is good, so it's a good moment to launch a new product,” said Nolan, objecting.

He's the son of Papa's co-worker whom I hate so much. Everything was taken lightly until I was confused as to why Om Wibowo did not also teach his eldest son about doing the right business. If their company loses, I don't care. But don't drag our efforts either.

“If I disagree, Theo's saying has a point as well. There is no harm in being careful. It's a big project with no small capital. How about we do a test first?” ask Om Wibowo. His son was seen protesting, but he signaled for him to shut up.

Fortunately, Papa agreed to my proposal. Otherwise, I won't stay silent. This family just wants to take advantage of Papa's kindness. They don't care if the project fails because a hundred percent of the capital comes from my papa pocket.

Too bad, my turn to lead this company is still a long time. As soon as I sit down as the director, this family is the first person I will remove from our list of colleagues. They are not good business partners at all.

We ended the meeting and decided on the next day. I took turns to accept the outstretched hands of the two men and shook them for a moment. Papa still has business, so we went out first.

“Ah, Pa.” I pretended to check my shirt and pants pocket. “Some missed in the meeting room. Papa first, I'll catch up soon.”

“OK,” he replied casually.

I went back to the room and my guess was right. They are talking seriously. I couldn't hear well from outside the room, but I could peek and steal the listen from the next room. This is how I know who they really are.

“Iya, I know. But you need to control yourself. Don't be rash or they'll know our real plan,” Om Wibowo said. “Theo intelligent child. You make him suspicious, then you will never get his trust.”

“We've waited too long, Pa. If until the child is the one who became the first, then our opportunity is lost. Om Husada believes too much in us, but not in Theo,”, Nolan said.

“We'd better go now. Don't let anyone hear our conversation,” concluded Om Wibowo. He also stood up from his chair.

But I don't know what plan they're talking about. I can't conclude they're mean, because that's not necessarily what they think. Just like us, reputation is everything to their family. So they can't do anything evil.

“This all happened because Kat left,” muttered Nolan. “Theo changed attitude since he and we have no more ties in the future. If only the accident had not happened.”

“If only Jericho were a woman. Just this time I felt bad about having a boy,” said Om Wibowo, adding.

Katelia, I'm so sorry for her. His father and brother did not love him sincerely. They just think of him as their main capital to be able to touch our money. Wonder. Even though their company finances are good, why are they stingy to spend money on our cooperation projects? Why is it only Papa who prepares his own capital?

No. gabe. My parents had the same motivation for my marriage. What they prioritize is a family that can benefit our family business as well. They chose Katelia there must be a good agreement for the efforts of both families. So, they and Katelia's family make no difference. They both treat me for the benefit of the company.

After waiting for a while, I walked out of the room to Papa's office. We talked for a while and I was allowed to go home first. I went to the only place I wanted to go other than home and office.

But the girl was always not in her room. Mama offered him a round-trip ticket to meet her family in Medan during the Christmas and New Year holidays, she refused. Where did he go around this town? I know he hasn't been to the library since the wallet incident.

“You want to go to campus?” mama asked as I walked to the front door. I'm nodding. “Don't forget to invite Amarilis to lunch with us.”

“Iya, Ma,” I answered obediently.

“Do not just say yes. Lo right should take him,” said Matt half-demanding. I just nodded slowly to hear it.

I went to see the academic results of the gas semester. My suspicions were completely proved correct. The beautiful figure fussed by the three Katelia tails is impossible to be achieved by Amarylis. Want to take lessons anywhere, no matter how good his teacher, he couldn't be so smart this fast.

“What do you think? It's his own value result or he's cheating?” said the student near me to the friend beside her.

“I didn't know him at school, so I didn't know. After all, which of our lecturers would want to ruin his reputation by selling value?” answer that friend.

The three girls were right, they were not wrong. I'm sure now too. His ability to speak English, his way of teaching my sister, his eyes that never showed the slightest fear, and every word he spoke, he was not Amarylis.

Could he be ... hm, why not? At the hospital, I remember how strange he was. She cried and was even shaken when she found out that Katelia had died. It was a sight that could not be lost from my head.

All the victims of his bullying were sad when they found out that Katelia was gone. Only Amaryllis was very sad. He was the victim he disturbed most often. There was no way he would be shaken by the girl's death, after all, he was innocent by their drowning in the lake. It was an accident and we tried to help them as quickly as possible.

Matt had a birthday, but my mom was the happiest when we had lunch together. I observed how he ate, he was not at all awkward to choose a cutlery that fit the dish he ate. Amaryllis couldn't possibly know the etiquette of such a detailed table.

Whoa, Katelya. Is this you? How could the girl who was so shaken in the hospital corridor survive in the body of another girl whom he hated so much?