INCEPTIONS
Chapter 17's
Reyhan exited the Cafe area after lunch he spent eating. He opened his work coat, and put it on his shoulder. Then he walked towards his car. When he was about to get into the car, his movements stopped as soon as he saw something that caught his attention.
On the side of the sidewalk there was a fried rice cart, there was a seller and one customer sitting in a waiting chair. The concern is, a man in a High School uniform sitting daydreaming on his own.
That was Kenneth.
The seller was like talking to Kenneth. But as usual, Kenneth did not answer by adding a lot of words, the man responded soberly.
He stared at Kenneth with an unreadable look.
If you used to see Kenzo and Kenneth would be very different. But now he feels like both are the same. Both became his children. He should have been conscious a long time ago. Even if it was a mistake, Kenneth was still his son.
He suddenly felt a little pain in his heart because he remembered when Kenzo said something yesterday. His first son spoke with an unstoppable cry. Kenzo talks about Kenneth being blamed again and getting hate again.
For obvious reasons he knew Kenneth had nothing to do with it. But Fina again dodged him, his wife was still covered in thick black clouds, which were difficult to remove.
"Papa. Why was Kenneth fooled all this time, why didn't he believe in himself, why did he tell mama to blame him".
"And papa. Papa still hates Kenneth? Kenneth is wrong with you?".
Kenzo's hoarse voice and wrenching cries filled his head. His brain was forced to work immediately to respond to Kenzo's remarks yesterday. But no, he had no clear answer and reason.
About why Kenneth was always silent. It was because his second son had a soft heart and a quiet side. He realized that he had always been hard on Kenneth. He also knows why Kenneth is like that.
Kenneth sat by the side of the bed, hugging his sister's Teddy doll that just came home. His eyes were puffy with a voice calling out to his sister which was actually free. His sister will not return.
The door opened with a loud voice. Reyhan stood in the doorway, clutching the doorknob firmly. His eyes stared intently at Kenneth who was still gasping.
Suddenly Reyhan walked up to Kenneth, pulled the collar of the little boy's black shirt and threw it into the closet.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY SON?!!".
"LESS OF YOU. YOU MADE MY SON DIE!!".
Reyhan shouted in a loud voice, not caring for Kenneth who was complaining of pain.
"Here you!!". Reyhan pulled Kenneth's shirt back, then threw him on the floor. He pulled his belt and beat Kenneth with it.
Over and over again, Kenneth lay weakly on the cold floor.
"It's a punishment for you killing Kevin!!!".
That one loud-sounding punch left Kenneth coughing.
"And this is for you because you make your mama sad!!".
Kenneth's eyes blurred, his gaze faintly staring at his papa with a wounded look.
While Reyhan returned to deliver the final blow with no less hard. The man left Kenneth's room. And left Kenneth without seeing Kenneth who closed his eyes with a bitter smile.
"Pa, I'm sorry Kenneth".
But all this time he was very guilty. Leaving his own second son under the pretext for the good of his wife, which he should have had to be fair because Kenneth also needed a helping hand.
Also Kenzo who apparently felt the suffering of Kenneth. His first son was injured because of all his actions.
"Kenzo was also sick to see Kenneth like that, Kenzo had always been mengerasain what Kenneth Rasain".
"During this every time Kenneth was sick, Kenzo must have been sick, too. And if Kenzo's just looking sick, let alone Kenneth. Kenneth that fussed it all over. By ourselves. Kenneth's alone. He needs us".
At once he realized that what was supposed to be healed was Kenneth, not his wife. Fina just needs to be sincere and patient. But Kenneth, he has to feel both of those. But the wounds he inflicted, Kenneth had to heal himself. His son had to survive and fight on his own.
And about hate. It is hypocritical that Kenneth was never involved in the heart-wrenching past. His son was just a little boy who was a witness without ever understanding the real thing he saw.
Reyhan looked down with a face of pain. It hurts to remember those wounded memories. Where he makes wounds for Kenneth, always spoiling Fina, and ultimately fails to save his disabled family.
He failed to become a leader in his own family.
"Why alone? Where are the themes?".
Reyhan raised his head, looking at the warm interaction between the fried rice seller and Kenneth in plain sight.
Kenneth smiled faintly. "Plate likeness. They are being remanded for failing to do so".
The fried rice seller chuckled with an astonished coil. "So the mas itself? Wahh means pinter dong because it can escape, so I am free to make Kenneth mas".
"No, sir, my value is still mending. I pay for the fried rice, my father's time selling and I eat free". Kenneth answered kindly.
"No papa mas. Consider it a father's gift because Kenneth mas not remidi, but the promise yes mas keno kenneth should be a pinter child".
Kenneth laughed, then nodded with vigor. "Whoever I eat, sir".
"Yes mas. Monggo eaten, I take water first yes mas".
"Yes sir".
Reyhan smiled bitterly. It was so painful to see that warm talk. He was suddenly envious because the fried rice seller gave warm words that should be spoken by him, as a father.
From what he saw. Kenneth was like he was close to the fried rice seller, seen from the relaxed way of talking and the seller's treatment that was like a friend.
He forgot the last time he said those things to his son. Be late. He was late in saying that word.
He also let his son learn on his own. He realized that Kenneth grew up to be a smart boy. Even every time he had a casual conversation with Kenzo, his first child told him about Kenneth who always made achievements in school.
Seeing how enthusiastic and exciting Kenzo talked about it, also now made him aware. That he had nothing to contribute to Kenneth's education and future, his second son never received from him the lessons he taught Kenzo, nor has he ever received a gift or simply a greeting like the one he gave Kenzo.
It's never fair.
Kenneth did everything himself.
***
