I'm the Newspaper Seller

24. Favoured Child

Mr. Dewantoro coughed as Bastian fed Mr. Dewantoro making Bastian quickly grab a glass of water and help Mr. Dewantoro to drink.

"Have you been okay?" ask Bastian who was so worried.

"It's okay, son!"

Hearing this made Bastian then sit back in a chair and stir the porridge he had brought from home. Mr. Dewantoro smiled. Bastian, this kid has been very kind to him. Just look since he was hospitalized only Bastian who took care of him while his daughter never came to see him again even call him never.

Maybe his daughter no longer cares about him and is more concerned about vacationing in Bali.

"Bastian!"

"Yes sir?" sahut Bastian fast.

"She wanted to ask a little."

"What sir?"

"Why do you want to take care of me like this?"

Hearing the question made Bastian's hand movements that stirred the porridge in a bowl come to a halt. He turned to look at Mr. Dewantoro who was still looking at him with a face so serious.

"Because Bastian is so dear to you."

"Why?"

Bastian smiled a little.

"If only Bastian had not been met with Father somehow now the fate of Bastian. In this world Bastian no longer has anyone."

"Bastian's father has left Bastian while Mama is gone and only Dewantoro is with Bastian."

"In this world only Father Bastian has the rest no more."

"But I see you're very attentive to Father."

"A child should not love his Father."

That explanation made Mr. Dewantoro smile and then he stroked Bastian's head as if Bastian was a child.

"You are now really big, tall and dashing"

"Like the Father, right?"

Mr. Dewantoro nodded and laughed. He intended to speak again but Bastian first fed his mouth with porridge.

"Speaking a lot doesn't make people heal, does it? Everyone has to eat" he said, making Mr. Dewantoro laugh again.

...***...

Bastian stepped out of Mr. Dewantoro's nursery after the man in the suit stepped into Mr. Dewantoro's room. Bastian doesn't know who the man who walked into Mr. Dewantoro's room he hasn't even seen him at all.

Whoever met Mr. Dewantoro, Bastian always knew but seeing the man in the suit Bastian never saw him at all.

Occasionally Bastian peeked at the glass on the surface of the outpatient because he was curious. Bastian was only afraid that the man who had entered was not a good person but a bad person. He doesn't want if something bad happens to Mr. Dewantoro.

Bastian chose to sit in the iron chair in front of the room. For a long time he sat there until the door opened revealing the figure of the man in the suit who stepped out of the room making Bastian quickly rise.

"I'm done, thank you."

"Together," he said, shaking hands with the man in the suit and then he walked away but, not even a few steps he stopped his steps and turned to look at Bastian who almost stepped in.

"Your name is Bastian?"

Bastian frowned a little. He did not know why this man in the suit knew his name while he did not know this man at all.

"Yes" replied Bastian.

"Bastian, you're very lucky. Mr. Dewantoro seems to be very dear to you. Excuse me first" said the man in the suit and then he walked away.

Bastian was just made speechless not understand what was said by the man made Bastian did not want to think much he stepped back into the door to find Mr. Dewantoro who was peeling an apple.

"Daddy want to eat apples?" ask Bastian who hastened his pace.

"Yes, I just want to eat apples."

Bastian grabbed the slightly peeled apple and took over what Mr. Dewantoro had done.

"If you want something, just tell Bastian! Bastian will."

Mr. Dewantoro smiled.

"Thank you, son. You're too good to Dad."

"No sir. A child should give love to his Father. Moreover, Bastian knows that you have given a lot of help to Bastian."

"Bastian won't know how Bastian is if he doesn't meet with you."

"Son, to be honest you never lie that you really love Bastian even if told to choose you more dear to you than the Father's Daughter."

"Ah, don't say it like that sir!"

"Yes, son. Father did not lie. Just look at it now! Who is taking care of Father? You're not Father's daughter. My daughter doesn't even care about me."

"Mr don't say that! If he hears he will be angry with Bastian and assume that he is not loved by the Father because of the presence of Bastian."

"He also often said that you love Bastian more than Melinda's sister."

"Yes, that's right. Father loves you more than he does. Just look, Mr. who is lying sick he feels good to vacation in Bali. Is there such a child?"

"Melinda is only selfish while she is not concerned with the health of the Father and the happiness of the Father."

"You're too good, very, very good. I love you, "he added.

"Yes, yes, sir, don't praise me too much! I often get headaches if I get too praised. Eat this fruit to heal quickly!" he then proposes apples that have been split into small ones.