Home For My Soul

54|Love Mother

“Take care of yourself,” said Mama, moved. I drove them to the airport in a taxi. Since this will be our last meeting before graduation, I will spend more time with them.

“Iya, Ma,” I said, according to him.

“Eat and rest enough. You can find money, but do not forget, your body also has a limit to its ability,” said Papa did not want to lose. I nodded in understanding.

“See you later, Brother.” Hercules held up the large bag he was holding. “Thank you by-him.”

“Jaga Papa and Mama well,” I said half threateningly. He just laughed.

I stood silently watching them enter the departure terminal. After the officers checked the tickets, they turned their heads and waved at me. I replied enthusiastically. When they were not seen again, I went home by bus.

When I spent money to pay for the ticket, there was an envelope near my wallet. I don't remember putting that thing in the bag. It was thick enough, so I opened it immediately. I took a surprised breath. There are a lot of red paper money in it.

My tears dripped one by one realizing Mama was secretly putting them in. He shouldn't have done this. I have enough money to pay for college and my living expenses. They need this money more to sustain their cake business.

Before I forgot my intention, I called Mama. He didn't answer. Maybe she was busy or not crying to hear my voice. So I thanked him in a message.

On the day of the announcement, my academic grades were still perfect, so I was satisfied with my hard work. There are four semesters left to finish from this campus. I didn't see Theo or the three annoying girls, so I hurried off.

Seeing that Brother was waiting at the campus gate, I approached. I hugged her body tightly, longing and relieved to meet people I know well. He didn't ride a motorcycle as he usually did, apparently because he was carrying souvenirs.

“Thank you, Brother! Wow, my favorite roll sponge!” He bought one big cardboard box that I believe contained four sponge boxes. “I share with my friends, yes?”

“The cake is yours, you can do whatever you want. We'll take everything to your room, we'll eat. Later melt too long exposed to the heat of the car while parking,” he said.

He helped me bring in two shopping bags of whatever to my room. I just brought a cardboard box of sponge cake. He looked around my three-by-three-meter room. Pretty big for myself.

“Already, don't look at it for long. Said, want to eat.” I pushed her body out of my room. There was nothing interesting he needed to see from the room.

We headed to a quiet restaurant to avoid anyone who might have known him. Since her perfume commercials were aired on television, the internet, even displayed on large billboards, her face was increasingly known to many people.

Even if he wears a hat and a mask, I can still recognize him from afar. So, I'm sure there are also fans who definitely managed to recognize his disguise. But for now, we are safe. No one came near my brother.

“You can't accept yourself yet, huh?” asked Brother Jericho, surprising me.

“What does Big Brother mean by that?” I asked back, not understanding what it meant.

“There is no mirror in your room. I also just realized you don't want to see your reflection on the windshield like a normal girl, or if I'm honest, like Katelia's habits,” she said full of probes. “You're upset because you're not beautiful?”

I was finally found out too. I deliberately didn't allow him or Theo to stop by the room, for that reason. They will definitely see something unusual for the standard women's room. The owner of the room provided a mirror, but I hid it.

“Absolutely Brother doesn't care to see this face?” I laughed nervously.

“I've met many times with a face worse than yours.” He held my hand. “I take it to a dermatologist, yes?”

“No. I have no money for it,” reject me.

“I paid. We also meet orthodontic specialists, yes?” persuade again.

I shook my head again. “My answer is no, brother. I can do that if I have money later. Brother don't worry. Mirrors are not everything,” I said twitched.

“I don't like you to think of me as someone else. Yes, our DNA is not the same, but emotionally, we are siblings. What you did this hurt me,” he said sadly.

“Sorry, I have to do that. I've been determined to stand on my own two feet, so I won't back down now,” my debate firmly.

“Why so discuss him?” my protest.

“Because you are annoying once.”

To distract him, I asked about the preparation of his script. I remain proud of him who successfully passed the proposal exam. Although he complained about the B grade, it was an achievement considering he was very busy with his work last semester.

He asked me to accompany him to the national library, so I agreed. One day not busking, won't make me unable to collect next semester's tuition. I don't regret saying yes, because there are a lot of good books there.

When it was my turn to work on proposals and thesis later, there were many books I could read for library materials. I even have a lot of ideas that I can raise for my scientific research later. So, I don't need to buy books and can save a lot.

As soon as the library closed, Brother took me out. The librarian on guard teased him for instantly recognizing him from his name. Brother happily gave an autograph to the woman who seemed to be in her forties already.

Because of him, his other female colleagues asked for similar things from Jericho. I was originally proud to see the scene so upset myself in the corner of the room. Borrowing a book that can be done in a few minutes so it is almost up to an hour.

“You should be proud to see your brother being mobbed by fans,” he said.

“I'm proud, but not as long as it's also waiting to go from there,” reply me.

“Ya, already. I bought you good food, yes.”

The good food he meant was really good. We ate a whole roast in a Japanese restaurant. I don't care about my diet and eat everything I can still put in my mouth. Big brother just smiled meaningfully and ate enough.

Although he was upset, being with him all day was fun. Moreover, Brother was very busy during the last semester. I'm sure he'll refocus on his script for the new semester. This is an opportunity that may not be repeated.

Before I go home, I go to the toilet. My sister did the same. As usual, I didn't see or even glance at so many mirrors in the room. I can't change my appearance right now, nor do I want to lie, I hate this face.

Brother bought me some daily necessities, then we went home. I was tempted to throw myself straight into the bed, but I managed to force my feet towards the bathroom. Looking at the closet, I thought of the mirror I had hidden behind it.

Ah, naw. Better keep that thing there. If I need to think about appearance, I can wear a folding mirror that I carry in the bag. The thing I only spent on lipstick I bought to play the violin on a fancy show.

“Thank you, Amaryllis! I love this cake roll!” said the housemate who introduced me to Aunt Ruth.

“Sama-sama. There was a friend who just returned from Medan and he gave a lot of cakes. I can't possibly spend it alone,” I said, explaining. “Happy enjoying!”

One box of cookies I gave to the owner of the house and another one to Matt. He invited me to meet up to buy some national exam prep books. I happily accompanied him. He came with the car and the driver, so we didn't have to carry the cake.

It turned out that it wasn't just us, there were a few young people also who came to the bookstore filling the same hallway. I helped Matt pick a suitable book. When we were done, he asked me to pick up the one book I wanted. Things I didn't refuse.

After paying for all the books he bought, Matt gave me my book, and then took me to lunch. Thank goodness I was hungry. I'm not used to being late for lunch, but the responsibility to stop looking for books was for the sake of eating.

“Gue really hates that woman,” Matt said as he bit his fried chicken hard as if he was eating the person he discussed. “Our family's Christmas and New Year's Day was a mess because of him.

“For what, anyway, Papa and Mama chose her to be Theo's future wife? There's no luck. Where he likes to bully people as he pleases again. Since seeing the video footage he had his bodyguard hit Brother, I don't like him. I know she's not a good girl.

“Then why can't Papa and Mama see the same thing? Yes, last year Brother with us celebrated both holidays. But everything went well. Not like when he joined us. Oh, my goodness, brother. He bought Theo.” He growled in annoyance.

“You're jealous, huh?” godaku, try to melt the atmosphere.

“Amit-amit,” she replied quickly, making me laugh amusedly.

“I remember Om said, the decision is in Theo's hands, so you don't worry.” I reminded. “She won't be your sister-in-law if Theo doesn't agree.”

“There must be a reason, Brother. Theo can't carelessly refuse,” he said desperately. “The recordings that Theo just showed them aren't they gubris, what other reasons will they hear?”