Mentari in the Night Sky

The Past: Decisions

The smell of the baby was immediately smelled as soon as I entered a building. The building I originally thought of as a cafe or restaurant turned out to be a daycare. Just this time, someone invited me to meet in a place like this, a place that even I never thought I would enter. This daycare seems quite famous to see the many rooms and also this building is quite spacious. If I only looked from the outside, I wouldn't have expected this place to be this big.

Arthur and I exchanged glances as soon as our feet stepped into the building. Arthur was about to nag if an employee accidentally passed in front of us and gave us a friendly smile. One of the servants who passed by directly told us to go inside, more precisely to the reception desk. I just found out the reception desk could be quite far from the entrance.

How would people get the information quickly if the reception desk was far away like this?

As soon as I walked through the rooms and some of the displays in this building, I knew for sure the reason why the reception desk was inside. Anyone will immediately leave their child in this place because they have seen for themselves how the appearance of the rooms in this building and of course the interior in this building is very interesting. Many paintings adorn the walls of this building, both paintings on canvas and paintings directly on the walls. The painting is directly on the crib, I think it was all painted by the children in this daycare, like to practice their creativity.

"We wanted to meet with Alvin, he said to wait for him at this place" Arthur said as soon as officials asked for our needs.

"The piano player. Please wait here or you can walk around."

"Okay, thank you."

Arthur immediately sat down at the designated place of the employee. I still stood by occasionally looking at Arthur who was now playing his cell phone. Unbeknownst to me, I had already stepped my foot into a painting on the front wall of the receptionist. Abstract painting full of blue. It seems like the painter wanted to depict a sea and a sky. Two interesting combinations.

"Nobody knows where this painter is."

A voice I know very well. I immediately turned to the source of the voice and found Alvin walking towards me. Again for the umpteenth time I fell into his blue eyes. I was attracted to this painting in front of me because of the blue color, the color I always saw when I was with him.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's so beautiful" replied Arthur who was currently in our midst.

"Why are you asking to meet in a place like this?!" ask Arthur again in annoyance.

"I work part-time here. I want to show Zeta the other side of me. Is that wrong?"

"Ah...," complained Arthur.

"Come with me."

Arthur and I could only follow Alvin who was heading for a room. How surprised I was to see so many children in the room. They ran to Alvin and hugged him. Alvin also welcomed the hug as if he was used to it. He then stepped onto a keyboard on the right side of the room. He was followed by the little ones who had hugged him.

"What song are we going to play today?" alvin asked in the tone of his little boy, it seemed like he was adjusting to who he was talking to at the moment.

"Five Little Ducks!!!" answer the children in unison.

Alvin plays Five Little Ducks with a keyboard. Children who hear the music sing the lyrics. Alvin also sang along with the children and employees who were in this room. The first time I heard Alvin singing, he had a deep voice that didn't fit the kids anymore.

"Why does a man as rich as him work part-time?" ask Arthur as the song approaches its end.

I immediately nudged Arthur's stomach.

"Am I wrong?"

"Sister is right but I don't like the cynical tone that Big Brother used."

"Again! Some more! Some more! Again!" the children shouted as soon as the song finished playing.

"I'm sorry Big Brother, today is enough to be here because Brother has business with two brothers who stand behind."

Alvin's reply suddenly made all the children turn their attention towards me and Arthur. I immediately smiled and waved at them, making some of them come to me. I stepped on Arthur's foot as soon as the children who came to us stopped in the middle of the road because they saw Arthur's scary face. Arthur forced himself to smile and made the children come back to us.

"Whose sister's name?"

"What does my brother have to do with Alvin?"

"What class?"

"Where do you live?"

The question they asked was endless, making me confused about which question to answer.

"This is Brother Zeta and this is Brother Arthur" I said at last, taking turns pointing at myself and Arthur.

"Greetings," the children replied in unison.

"May I give them candy?" I asked one of the officers who was answered with a nod.

I immediately took out Botan Rice Candy, a Japanese candy that I really like. I forgot one thing, the candy I was carrying right now would not be enough for all the children who were now looking at me expectantly. As if knowing what was on my mind, one of the officers immediately approached me.

"May I share it? At the same time distribute candy that they are indeed for eating at this hour."

"Ahh.pardon me," said I guilty for taking his job.

"It's okay" the employee replied, asking the children to follow his instructions.

I immediately gave all the candy in my bag to the clerk. Before the three of us walked out of the room, the children thanked me for the candy I gave them. I can't even give them all that candy.

"Are you hungry?" alvin asked to switch the conversation.

"Why do you work part-time when you already have everything?" reply Arthur.

I'd miss the chance to get into the conversation if Arthur kept answering Alvin's questions.

"Do I look like I have happiness?" reply Alvin with a smile.

The answer Alvin gave made me and Arthur clumsy, not knowing what to say. I looked directly at Arthur who seemed to be racking his brain to reply to Alvin. And it seemed like he had failed to find the right sentence for him to say.

"I know a good restaurant. Come on over there," I said.

...-----...

Alvin continued to play a small box containing the ring I had just given him. He hasn't said anything for 5 minutes after I said something to him, something that might be currently filling his mind. I just wanted to return the ring she gave me because inside the ring was a carving of the name 'Nakamoto' and I felt like I wasn't the right person right now to receive the ring. Moreover, I'm still tied to an arranged marriage with Ken.

"When I gave you this ring, didn't I tell you not to take it off?"

I still vividly remember the day he gave me this ring. The day I lost Aunt Lily's bracelet is the day I also received this ring. I could still feel my feelings instantly improving once I saw his figure, a feeling that even Ken could not heal that quickly. I still remember all of that very clearly.

"I didn't promise anything at the time" I replied at last.

"Are only promises binding you? Do I also have to tie you up with a promise?"

"Alvin," call Arthur.

"I'm grateful to Brother for giving me a dream but I...."

"I also said I'd give you enough time, right? I'll wait whatever time you need. I won't force you to give me an answer right away."

This time, Alvin's face changed. The grouchy face she just showed me this time. Perhaps this was also the first time Arthur had seen his irritated expression, seeing how Arthur was quite surprised upon hearing the tone and seeing his face.

But, how could that annoyed face still give me a gentle look?

"Zeta, I'll let you get the answers to all the questions in your heart. I don't care if the time you need is too long. I'll keep waiting for you but I beg you not to disappear from my life."

"...."

"What do I have to do to keep you in my life?"

"...."

"They?"

"Be my brother. I will take Brother as my brother until I find the answers to all the questions in my heart."

"good. I'm gonna be a possessive brother."

"Hey, there's still me."

Arthur immediately picked up the remaining food on my plate as soon as the serious conversation between me and Alvin ended, making me and Alvin laugh instantly. I don't know if the decision I'm making right now is the right one. I also don't know if I will regret the decision I made right now in the future. One thing I do know, I don't want Alvin to disappear in my life either. I want him to stay beside me.

"Save this ring. When that answer comes up, if it's the answer I want, wear this ring."

"May I keep it?" asked Arthur who immediately took the ring box.

"Sure, do what the Allison Family wants. I know you won't do anything stupid to the ring."

Arthur immediately put the ring box in his pocket. He didn't even ask my opinion before. He thinks everything he does I agree.

"I forgot to tell you that Caroline called me and asked us to come to Charlotte's birthday party" Arthur said after finishing eating on my plate.

"Huh? The birthday party?" I asked with a confused face.

"Your classmate's birthday and having a celebration party. You don't know?"

"Ah...," I replied.

"Aah?"

"I haven't bought any gifts yet."

"Are you really part of the Allison Family?" alvin asked as he gave his drink to my glass, it seemed like he heard the sound I created from continuing to suck up the finished drink.

...-----...