Linger

A Fact

One thing that no one else other than the Cakraditya family knows is the fact that Gavin is not your biological child. He is an extramarital child born from the womb of a woman whom Papa met during his business trip to Surabaya. There is not much that Gavin heard about what his birth mother looks like because all this time Mother always keeps this secret as much as possible. In fact, even Gavin did not initially know that he was just an illegitimate child who was not even born from the womb of Mother who loved him so much. Mother treated him very well, loved him sincerely without ever demanding anything from him. So Gavin was completely unsuspecting. 

The facts about his true origins are only known after Gavin graduated High School. He had just returned home from school after celebrating graduation with his friends. The sky was getting dark and the road he passed was getting denser by vehicles scrambling to be given a road first. At the intersection, when he turned the handlebar motor and was about to enter the residential complex where he lived, he accidentally saw a car owned by Om Arya who had just come out of the gate of the complex. 

Gavin's eyebrows clutched as the car just passed him by. Though his relationship with Om Arya is still fine until last night when they spend time staying up late to watch the ball broadcast together. It was that close to Om Arya. So close, strangers who do not know them often even think that Gavin and Om Arya are a pair of children and fathers who always look compact. But, why is Om Arya passing by without greeting her? Gavin believes his existence is clearly visible in the eyes of Om Arya. The man could not possibly be unaware of his presence. 

Not wanting to guess, Gavin continued his journey. He just thought Om Arya might not see it. The motor drove back and when it reached the front gate of his house, he found Mommy was about to close the gate with a slow movement. The look on her face looked sad, which made Gavin worried. 

But when Gavin asked, Mother would not explain. The woman simply said that she was fine and just a little exhausted. Gavin certainly didn't believe it. After cleaning up and eating the dinner that Mother had prepared, Gavin hurriedly went up to his room. He locked the door, then with high curiosity, he decided to call Om Arya to ask what happened during the meeting of Om Arya and Mommy so that Mother became moody like that. 

The first call got no answer. So are the second and third calls. But Gavin didn't give up. He still tried to call Om Arya until his phone was picked up on the seventh try. 

But instead of getting a warm welcome as usual, Gavin actually heard something that was too difficult for him to accept. In a heavy and angry voice, Om Arya said "Don't call me anymore. It's enough you've been a thorn in my sister's life. I'm not in touch with you anymore" which makes Gavin speechless with a blocked breath.

"It should be, Jonathan let you die with your cheap mother. He shouldn't have brought you to my sister and made her take care of you when her heart was crushed to a cramp due to his depraved behavior. You bastard, I regret loving you and treating you well because I thought you were the blood of the Pearl Flesh. You're as goddamn a bitch as your father, Gavin. I hate you." 

And the phone just turned off. Making Gavin can only be silent, trying hard to digest what his om speech means. Why was he attacked by a bastard? Why did the om who had been doting on him suddenly say such bad things to him? Has Gavin done anything wrong to Om Arya? But what kind of mistake can Om Arya say that bad to him?

Thousands of questions swarmed Gavin's head in just a short moment. With half his life as if being pulled away, Gavin walked over to Mother who was sitting alone in the backyard that night. 

At that time Gavin also asked for an explanation to Mother. He told me all the things that disturbed his mind, from Om Arya who did not greet him when crossing to the evil words that Om Arya told him by phone. 

With tears in her eyes, Mother explained everything. Starting from Papa's dark relationship with his biological mother, until the night when Papa came home to bring a newborn baby in front of Mother. All that Mother said while holding her hand tightly, as if if released for a while, Mother will lose herself at that time. 

That night, Gavin felt the sky above his head crumble to make his body melt unceremoniously. Gavin is devastated, he even hopes to die when it is so unable to accept the new reality thrust into his presence. 

In the blink of an eye, his relationship with Om Arya deteriorates and he never has a chance to make things right. Ever since that night when the painful facts came to light, Om Arya never set foot in the house again when Gavin was inside. The man even had to cut off contact with Mother so disappointed because he felt he had been lied to for dozens of years. Indeed, Om Arya did not witness for himself how Mother conceived and gave birth because for four years Om Arya was busy studying in Germany. So that when the man returned and found a three-year-old boy who then introduced Mother as his son, Om Arya just believe. Likewise with Mother's parents who were still alive and living in Balikpapan, they also did not know that Mother had never really been pregnant and gave birth.

But, there is more to the sadness than the fact that Gavin is not your biological child. It was the fact that Mother had experienced a bad event that resulted in her uterus being damaged and forced to be removed so that the woman would never be able to have children. Possibly, that is also why Mother is willing to take care of herself to this extent even though the consequence is that Mother must endure the pain of every look on her face that might remind Mother of the evil woman who has seized the love of her husband.

At half an hour in the morning, Gavin broke down his body, looking up at the ceiling of a pale-white room, as pale as his life in which colours had long been snatched from it. Ever since the painful facts about her were revealed, Gavin had never again felt her name sleep well. Because nightmares always come even when he has just closed his eyes.

Then amidst the commotion in the head, he suddenly recalled Kalea. Gavin just remembered that he had promised to call the woman when he got home. But because of an unexpected incident between Mother and Om Arya, he forgot the promise. To that end, Gavin rushes up from his sleep, moving oddly grabbing the phone from the top of the nightstand and immediately flirting looking for Kalea's contact to call him immediately. Gavin does not know if Kalea is still awake now, but at least he still wants to try to keep his promise. Because he had once denied it, and did not want to repeat it again.

Shortly after the phone was attached to the ear, the voice of the continuous tone disappeared, changed by the voice of Kalea who softly sound like a lullaby that instantly made his feelings gradually comfortable.

"Hello, Gavin?" the second the voice returned, Gavin vowed never to miss the woman again.

*******

At half an hour in the morning, Kalea was still awake on her mattress while looking at the phone in the hand whose screen seemed to be out. He was waiting for a call from Gavin, because the man had promised to call him when he got home. But hours later, the phone he was waiting for did not come and he did not have the courage to call Gavin first. Not because he was prestigious, but he was afraid that Gavin had not reached home and was taking care of other things so that the phone from him would only interfere. Or worse, the man may be driving and the phone call from him will only make him lose concentration and things happen that are not desirable.

Kalea shook her head strongly as the bad scenario started to spin in her head. He was still trying to think positively until minutes later. His eyes began to feel tired, he was sleepy and had intended to give up waiting for a call from Gavin when the flat object in his hand was shaking violently.

Kalea jumped up, she rose from her sleep, took a comfortable sitting position with a gaze that still could not be separated from the screen of her cellphone which is now lit and revealed the name Gavin.

After taking a deep breath and counting to five, then Kalea shifted the green log so that the phone was connected.

"Hello?" swipe it with a soft voice. It was not far-fetched, as he was indeed tired and his voice tended to become smoother when he was exhausted.

For a few seconds, there was nothing Kalea could find but silence. The Gavin opposite him was either doing what because Kalea could not hear any signs of life at all.

"Hello, Gavin?" he said once again, just making sure that their phone is still connected and Gavin is still in place.

The sleepiness that had attacked slowly stepped aside when Gavin's heavy voice greeted back from across. Making him could sigh in relief because in reality the man was fine, unlike the bad scenario that was scattered inside his head.

"How come you haven't slept?" gavin asked in a voice that now sounded heavier and slightly hoarse.

"God! So, if I don't call, you won't sleep until morning?" Gavin sounded shocked, and it was comforting enough for Kalea that she laughed.

"You promised to make it clear when you get home, so I'm waiting for you." Kalea moved slowly, again laying her body tilted to the right. "You just got home?"

"No. I arrived hours ago, just there was a little problem that I had to sort out first, so I can just call you now."

"What problem?"

"Not anything serious."

"It's not something serious but it takes hours to finish." Calea Cibir. But he didn't really feel upset. It's okay if Gavin does not want to open to him about the problems that the man is facing. Just slow.

"Sorry."

Kalea chuckled at the sudden apology. Though he did not mind at all about Gavin who was late in calling him. By now the man had already called her and it was enough for her to know that Gavin had arrived home safely.

"Why laugh?"

"You're funny."

"Funny?"

"Yes, funny." Somehow Kalea nodded her head, knowing that Gavin would not be able to see her. "There's no need to apologize because you didn't do anything wrong."

"But I've made you wait."

"Wait an hour and two hours is fine for me, Gavin. The important point is that you remember to let me know that you got home safely. That's enough for me."

Silent again. Kalea had to check her phone to see if they were still connected.

"Gavin?" call him when Gavin doesn't speak.

But the man still did not reply as well, inviting a faint frown on his forehead. "Hello, Gavin? You okay? Why did she?"

"I'm confused." Finally Gavin made a sound, but it made the wrinkles on Kalea's forehead more noticeable.

"Why?"

"Well, why would someone like me be so lucky to meet you."

Kalea did not know where to take their conversation. But hearing Gavin's soft, sorrow-laden voice made Kalea bite her lower lip to dampen the uncomfortable feeling that suddenly arose in her mind.

"Calaea,"

"What?"

"Thank you for coming back to my life."

Kalea did not understand what Gavin had just said. He wanted to ask further, but the phone suddenly disconnected and when he checked, his phone turned out to be dead due to running out of power.

"Back to Gavin's life? Meaning how?" Kalea monologue.

Thanks to Gavin, because thanks to his confusing statement, Kalea had to spend the night with a big question mark on her head. Which was even still there when he opened his eyes the next day.

Seriate