Home For My Soul

49|Surprise Party

~Altheo~

Today I am twenty years old. I wanted to start the day with Amaryllis, but I couldn't contact her since dawn. My family was nonchalant when we had breakfast. The thing that immediately made me realize, they had prepared something.

Therefore, I want to be with my girlfriend, but she is nowhere. I searched his rental room, said his housemate he was not there. I checked the park where he usually busks as well nil.

My blood boiled imagining he was having an affair, being alone with another man. I don't know why, but I hate that word. He and the other men are not a combination that I like to call simultaneously. Amaryllis is my girl.

No matter what I feel for him, I don't want to know his name either, I don't like it every time I don't know the news. I hate searching for him with great difficulty, but cannot find him. Where in the corner of the capital is he hiding from me?

“Yang's right,” snorts Richo. “My schedule is solid today, do not have time to bother my sister.”

I look around us. He's correct. They will be preparing to shoot a male-only perfume commercial. The location was already secured, so there was no way that any ordinary people could wander around them. Except for certain people like me.

It was only at night that I saw him in the hotel hall. Papa pretended to invite me to an invitation. Though they always brought Matt, whereas I was asked to represent them attending other events in different places.

My guess is correct. They prepared a surprise party for my twenty-something increase. The ones present were dominated by my parents' acquaintances, as I was indeed not friends with anyone. My students are not invited, there is only Chika.

“Come, Theo.” Mama nodded while giving me a small box.

“Your turn, Chika,” said Aunt Winara after I put the ring on her daughter's finger.

“Come, kiss her forehead,” Mama said as the ring from the Winara family wrapped around my fingers. I ignored the order as a protest.

The extravagant celebration that I thought was just to be grateful for my birthday, turned out to be an engagement event between me and Chika. I don't know what happened so Papa and Mama did this. They usually discuss decisions of this magnitude with me first.

This family is my family as well, so I cannot act rashly in front of many people. I followed all the processions of the event with a flat face. The only way I know is very safe to express my protest.

Chika blushed, holding my hand longer than I should have when putting on the ring, but I felt nothing. He even wrapped his hands and glued his body so close to me while taking a photo together. I just want to get away from him.

I can't say anything seeing Amarylis having to witness all of that in front of her. Though he had just played a song for me with Matt, then he had to see me engaged to another woman who was already very evil to him.

At the press conference, a spokesperson answered all questions asked by the journalists. I just kept quiet. Anyway, what can I tell you? I'm just surprised my status changed tonight. Only Chika and our parents were smiling happily.

“What does Om Winara offer until Papa and Mama sell their own son to be their daughter's husband?” ask me when we have breakfast.

“Theo, we do not sell you,” protest Mama.

“Then what's the name you guys are planning an engagement so suddenly?” ask again.

“You already know we're going to match. It was not sudden,” Mama said, defending herself.

That's true, but I repeatedly told them in words and actions that I didn't approve of their choice. They appreciated my opinion when they betrothed me to Katelia. I may even declare no to proceed to the engagement, if I find the right reason. Why is their attitude different this time?

“Chika is not a good girl, Ma. If you want to choose a wife for me, at least choose one that is better than Katelia or one that is like Mama. Don't Chika.” I gave her my phone.

“What is this?” mama asked while accepting my gadget.

“Tap the PLAY button, Mama will understand,” I said, giving a hint.

Matt snatched it, curious about the contents of the tape. I let him watch it. He reacted more honestly by breathing in surprise to cheer happily when the person he was defending managed to defeat the person who was evil to him.

“Chika was a good friend of Katelia during our school in Medan. They like to bully people who are weaker, ugly, and poor than them. Katelia always called them trash who did not deserve to live polluting this world.” I glanced at my phone.

“We are always at odds because I don't like the way they treat others less fortunate. Sorry, I can't accept a woman like that who's my wife.” I looked at them both seriously.

“People must have changed, Theo. They need time to prove that they can be a better person. You are being unfair if you directly draw conclusions from one incident. I'm sure Chika had a reason to do that to Amarylis,” Mama said.

“True, Nak,” said Papa added. “Chika is very kind and polite. I'm sure he's changed. Give him a chance to prove it to you. We've observed him and we love his politeness and intelligence.”

Realizing they were not sane anymore, I kept quiet. The tape could not open their eyes. Chika clearly told the two big bodyguards to beat up Amaryllis. Which good person would do that to a weaker person? It's rumbling.

But my parents could not see the incident as I judged it, so why would I argue with them? It is a waste of my precious energy and time. I'd better take care of another matter that's more important.

Unlike the day before, I found Amarylis in the garden where she used to busk. I didn't find him before my birthday party because he was training with Matt. I seem to have to retract my words, because I am jealous of my sister.

I intend to put the phone in my pants pocket when it vibrates. I immediately ignored the incoming call from Chika. Two calls not responded, he sent a message. I just read it through the notification that appears above the screen.

“Lunch together, yuk.”

I have no interest in meeting him let alone eating with him. I prefer to eat with Amarylis and settle the matter between us. Even though I put Grandma's ring on her finger, I don't feel calm yet.

“We ate before going home, yes?” ask me when he's done busking. He's nodding.

Since he once mentioned meatballs, then I took him to the restaurant that provided the menu as their main dish. She ate voraciously and did not refuse the snacks I ordered specifically for her. Since I had already bought a lot of food at lunch, I did not give any more supplies for him.

I don't know why I did it, but I'd love to be around him in a few minutes. So, I hugged her body before she walked into the house. I smiled with relief feeling him return my embrace. For now, his embrace was enough.

I did not go home, but pulled over and saw the house from afar. I knew his room was on the second floor in the middle of the front of the house. So, I could see him entering the room when the lights were on. His shadow approached the window and I could not see anything once he closed the thick curtain.

The house was empty when I arrived. But seeing that there was a shadow on the side porch, I checked it out. It turns out there Matt was sitting alone. Seeing him staring at his tablet screen, he must be playing one of his favorite online games.

“Finally go home also lo,” he said without turning his head. I closed the door, then sat by her side. “Chika come and look for lo. I told you you were dating your girlfriend. Uh, he's mad at me. Though I only talk carelessly.”

If only he knew his guess was correct. Chika must have guessed I was with Amarylis, so she was angry. Only that woman I always approach when I'm free. Even a blind man could suspect that there was a special connection between me and Amaryllis.

“Lo better put together a better plan. I don't want Chika who is my sister-in-law,” protest Matt. “Crazy only two-faced women once entered in our family.”

“Lo likes him, huh?” I said with bored tone.

“Amit-amit,” vows.

“Then, don't discuss him again.”

The air was cold, and we went into the house. I waited for Matt to lock the door properly, and then we walked to the second floor. He entered his room first, while my room was at the end of the corridor. The quietest place on this floor.

I took my phone out of my jacket pocket, and so did my wallet, and …. Whatisthis? There was something in the pocket that originally contained nothing. I suspected that I felt the shape of the thing through my finger. I took it out and put my lips together to see that my guess was right.