Restore Your Smile

Inner Struggles (1)

Two days have passed from the engagement day. That afternoon, Darrell was working as usual in his office. Suddenly his father entered with a face of sumringah.

"Finally Papa managed to gather the shareholders who are ready to consider you as the heir in place of Celine. After Papa counted, the number of votes collected had already defeated the shareholders who were loyal to your uncle or Celine.

But before they cast their votes at the next shareholder meeting, they want to be reassured by hearing a presentation from you first. How do you plan to take this company forward, etc.

Papa had already arranged the place and time of meeting with them. Papa's been renting a meeting room at a restaurant tomorrow afternoon. After hearing your presentation and being convinced by you, we will cover it with dinner together. They agreed and gave their time to attend the restaurant.

So, prepare yourself for the presentation tomorrow! Reassure them that they didn't choose you wrong, son! If you manage to do so, our dreams are in sight! We just have to wait for the legitimate results of the next shareholder meeting decision, which can be sure to issue your name as the winner! Hahaha .." Andreas said as he patted his son's shoulder and laughed happily.

Only Darrell smiled wryly and gulped his saliva. Tomorrow afternoon is his last battle! The highlight of his struggle is his presentation tomorrow!

He did not dispute the short span of time to prepare his presentation material. It was easy enough for him and he knew he could do it. But this mental burden he had to face weighed on his heart. The burden and responsibility to realize the dream that has been prepared since he Junior High. And tomorrow is the deciding round.

Andreas looked at his son's tense face and he laughed. Darrell's cheeks he pats lightly like waking a sleeping person. "What the fuck is this face of yours, son? Just relax .... Don't be tense! Papa knows your abilities. Let's just say it's a presentation you used to do when you introduced a new product."

But since Darrell's face had not changed, and only a wry smile adorned that handsome face, his father continued his words with a smile. "Yes already .... If you're tense, go home today. Go to bed early. Prepare yourself well so that you can conquer them all tomorrow. Okay, Son?" he said while lightly hitting his son's field chest.

"Yes, Pa .." Darrell replied lethargicly, then started packing his things. I don't know why his energy suddenly seemed to be drained.

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That day, he chose to hide in the back garden among the decorated bushes. This house is so stifling. Although this was his first time being invited to a house as big as a palace that he had only ever seen in movies, his interest was gone. There was no curiosity or curiosity to explore it. He just wanted to go home, back to the little house he lived in with his mother and grandmother.

But what can be done, his mother is dead and now he lives with his father who took him to a foreign country that he did not know. Already in his residence now he got unfriendly faces who refused his presence, today he even got worse treatment.

He had just been introduced to people he said were his extended family. There are grandfathers, uncles, aunts, and children his age who he says are his cousins. But after his introduction, the person called his grandfather shouted at his father. I don't know what the old man said, he didn't understand. But clearly from the water on his face, the grandfather was furious with the Father.

The situation made him very uncomfortable. In addition to the adult quarrel that occurred in front of him, he was also appointed as if he was the cause of the dispute. Everyone there looked at him while whispering with the person next to him, making him a spectacle and gossip material. Their gazes were all cold, as if mocking him. At that moment, he could only bow his head.

Until finally the quarrel subsided and the sounds of screaming and snapping were no longer heard. His father let him out of the room and asked him to play with his cousin.

But after he faced one of them, he was even scolded and ridiculed. He did not know exactly what the boy was saying and what he meant. But of course, it is clear that style and tone is not an invitation to be friendly. He was even pushed until he fell down.

And here he is now after escaping from them and hiding in the bushes. He hoped his father would find him soon and bring him home. Although there is no reception in his home, at least he did not meet the children who spied on him and pushed him to the point of getting hurt.

"Why are you hiding here? Is anyone sick? Ah .... Looks like your knee hurt. Come with me, let me treat, " said the boy with his hand still outstretched.

He did not understand what the boy was talking about. Confused, he could only pay attention to the face of this boy who was bigger than himself. He also saw a girl peering behind the boy. It seemed that the age of the girl was not too different from her. The girl looked at him with a frightened look. His hand held the clothes of the boy in front of him tightly.

Suddenly the Son pulled back his hand and seemed to think. Then he patted his own chest a few times and said, "Dion." Then the boy pointed to himself and said his name, "Darrell, right?"

He began to understand. The boy was introducing himself named Dion. And now, the boy is confirming his name. He nodded and patted his own chest saying, "Oui, je suis Darrell." (meaning: Yes, I am Darrell)

The boy smiled kindly and seemed to be relieved. Glad that his attempt to understand was quite successful. He himself was stunned to see the smile of this boy named Dion. Dion was the first person besides his father to smile at him since he arrived in the country.

"I - look - you - got hurt. Follow - I. Let - I treat, " said Dion with broken sentences, while practicing his words word for word. Dion pointed to himself as he uttered 'me', pointed at his injured knee, and then looked as if he was bandaging a wound on his own knee. At the end, Dion again extended his hand to him.

At least he understood what Dion meant. He reached out his hand to welcome Dion and Dion helped him to his feet.

Dion's right hand was still holding the girl who was still keeping her distance and looking at her timidly. Dion's left hand held his. He was taken to a place he did not know. But the hand made him warm and comfortable so he resignedly followed Dion just like that.

That's where Darrell woke up. It turns out that he dreamed of his childhood when he first stepped on the Adipratama residence house to be introduced by his grandfather and his extended family.

Darrell smeared his face with his hands. I don't know why he could dream of this. But his heart was still warm with a dream that was still vividly remembered.

He was stunned when he realized that it indirectly meant that he also dreamed of Celine. Time can change people so much. The shy little girl who used to only be able to hide behind her brother's back, could now stand in front of being a director who led many people.

Darrell recalls the night of the girl's engagement, when Celine greeted him sitting alone in the backyard (see eps 144 - Adipratama 2 Grand Family). Darrell smiles. It turns out that brothers are the same. Celine also became the first person besides her father to welcome her return to Indonesia.

He recalled Celine's outstretched hand. Celine welcomed her joining the company with open arms, although she was reluctant to work there. Celine expects the two of them to work well together.

At that time he indeed welcomed the hand in an indifferent style, but in fact his heart felt warm. It is just awkward to show that simple happiness in front of the person concerned.

Suddenly his chest felt stifling aware of the reality before him. His smile turned into a bitter smile full of bitterness. Working well together? Now they are facing off as rivals. Guilt began to engulf him, how he would repay the hand with a betrayal.

Darrell got up from his bed and immediately headed to the bathroom. The time showed at 04:18 in the morning. He immediately washed his face to clear his mind. It cannot falter. Today is the height of his struggle. He must discard the useless feeling of not betraying his father's dream with the failure of his presentation.

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