Light 1: Sandekala

Brother Memory

"Grandmother, where is Grandpa's house?" ask Shanty.

"You always see him. Parmoun, he's not really your uncle. He's your grandfather."

"Uncle is Grandpa? That's impossible!"

"You'd better ask him yourself. He'll explain everything to you."

Time shows at 15:00.

"Shan, we should go to your grandfather's house tomorrow. It was late afternoon, we were afraid to go home" I said.

"Yes, okay."

"Let me go alone tomorrow" I said on the way home.

"Why?" wonder Ian.

"Tomorrow you'll have to work. Going back and forth to Vereyon this must be tiring" I replied.

"Dane, I told you, you don't feel"

"That's why! You're too good to me. Why do you always want to help me?"

He stopped the bike. It was silent for a moment as if I was responding to my question. But it seemed like he paused his intention and instead said, "You better hold on tight to my waist. I'll increase the speed."

We arrived at my doorstep.

"Alright, Dane. I might not be able to help you tomorrow. But you have to tell me when something happens" Ian said.

I'm nodding. "Of course."

And he drove away too.

In the courtyard looks like Ronny's motorbike is parked. In the living room I saw him and his wife talking to Mom.

"Eh! Dane, where are you from?" ask Ronny.

I'm just smiling. Didn't respond and went straight to my room.

I sat down at the study table. I took off my watch and put it back in the box, while I still wore the necklace.

I repeatedly observed the writing in the letter but I still did not know what it meant.

Someone knocked on my bedroom door once before opening it without excuse.

"Can I come in?" ronnie asked from behind the door.

I'm nodding.

"What are you doing?" tanyanya saw me holding the wooden box.

I smiled thinly. Don't know what to say. My brother's unusual presence makes me groggy.

He dropped his body on my bed while exhaling a sigh of relief.

"It's been a while, we're not alone like this."

How strange. What does he mean he said that?

"Then, this was our room. Mom always told me to accompany you to bed because you're often scared at night" she said. "Even if I don't want to" he chuckled.

"Since you were adopted when I was four, I've hated you so much. You may adopt a foreign child. I always care about you more than anything. He even left his career as a composer just to take care of you. You make me jealous. You're always spoiled by Mom. Exaggerated in everything," he said.

His eyes are not looking at me. Even observing the stains on the ceiling of my room painted blue.

"But I realized something. I've become a sister. Even if you're not my real sister, you're still my sister I've known all along. And I'm your brother. As time went on I began to accept your presence. Although sometimes you still make me jealous and upset," he said, glancing at me. "Remember no, we used to fight a lot?"

"certain. And I always win" I replied.

"of course. You're always being defended by Mom!" his reply.

We laughed together.

"Dane, do you remember the last time we talked like this?" tanyakanya.

I can't remember. We lived together but very rarely communicated since he worked at Vereyon and more often with his girlfriend. It was a year ago but it felt like it had been so long.

"We can't be like we used to be. We can't play together anymore, fight over toys, eat ice cream in the summer with our brothers .... It seems like time went too fast when we were kids. Aye, right?"

I get out of the chair. Approach Ronny. Lying my body on his side.

"It feels like just yesterday I saw you as a kid. And now you're this big" she said with a small laugh. "Now we are all adults. Busy with all their business. And I don't have time to be a kid anymore."

"What do you really want to talk to me about?" my many.

I know, there must be something he wants to say.

"Dane, I just wanted to say that I'm still your brother. And it will stay that way forever. I just want you to know that I care about you, too. Not just Ian or anything. No matter what happens, I will always consider you as my sister" he said. "I can't be ready when you need me like you were with Ian. I already have responsibilities that I have to live with. I hope you understand that."

"I understand, Brother."

Silent moment.

Exhales.

Our eyes were drawn to the ceiling. It was like we had our reflection there. Or just used as an excuse so that we do not stare at each other intensely. Because it feels so weird.

"I don't know where to start. I really need your help and the others. Are you gonna help me when I ask for help?" my many.

"Sure, Dane. I will help you as much as I can" he replied.

Then I tell you what I've been through all this time.

He listened carefully.

He tried to understand quickly.

He was trying to feel what I was feeling.

And without question, he nodded. Try to give a little advice and solutions.

I said that all this time, Ian has been trying to help me wholeheartedly. He always comforts me. And I feel fine too. I didn't want to make Ronny feel worried and guilty for not being there by my side when I was in need of someone I could make a place to sigh and pour out everything in my heart and mind.

After I told you everything, silence came back to us. There's nothing I can say anymore.

Kulirik Ronny, his eyes closed. He breathed out while smiling to himself.

"I miss being a kid" he said.

"You're not old. You can delay time before you become a parent. Or you really want to quickly have children and be a father. Is that why you married young?"

He opened his eyes, looked at me.

"I love Teny. I don't want to lose him" he replied.

"Ah, yes. That's the most logical reason."

Ronny once had a girlfriend. Equally a village girl like Teny. It's just that they broke up, because Ronny wasn't ready to get married. While his two girlfriends want his daughter married immediately.

The superstitions of other villagers, they believe if a girl is not married after the age of 15, her virginity will be snatched by a demon.

In the end, the girl is married to a farmer, while Ronny tries to forget about her.

And if not mistakenly remembered, Ronny knew Teny from relatives of his father who did work at the same automotive company in Vereyon.

Despite living in the countryside at least, the Teny family does not believe in superstitions. It's just that Ronny doesn't want to repeat the same mistake.

He gave up his youth for the sake of the future or perhaps for the sake of forgetting the painful past completely. Although I'm sure, in her little heart, if given a choice, she might choose to stay in childhood. Being a child free of all problems.

Ronny got up from his sleeping position. Smile at me.

"What what?" manya suspect.

"Dane, maybe .. we could be kids again just for tonight" he said.

My eyebrows raised one.

"You mean?"

All of a sudden she hugged me tightly. As she flickered, she tickled my whole body.

I don't want to laugh.

"Already! Stopit! Amused! What are you doing?!"

"You remember, who always wins when we play this game?" ask her with hands that still caress my waist and chest.

"You. But this time I'll win!" my sergeant tickled his body back.

I can already compensate for it. Now, we do not look like brothers but two friends who are the same age and sepantaran.

"What are you doing?" tanya Teny surprised us at the doorway.

"Ehm ...."

Ronny gurgling. "It's nothing."

"Oh, yes you are called Mother. There's something to talk about he said, "Teny said.

"Come on, Dane, let's go down" Ronny said.

I'm shaking. "I want to be here."

"Hmmm .. yes, it is."

He got out of bed and came out of my room with his wife.

I learned a lesson tonight. The importance of brotherhood. Maybe I don't have to be afraid anymore to face all my problems because I'm really not alone.