SWEET COVENANTS

The Sweet Covenant - 4. Secret

Dinner is over. Adrian and his father are now in the workspace. Riffan was sitting in his work chair, while Adrian chose to stand by the window of the study and stared at the night sky outside the house. Actually there is nothing interesting outside except the darkness of the night, only Adrian does not know what to behave at this time, he is nervous to hear what his father will tell him.

Riffan corrected the location of the glasses, taking outdated photos in his work drawer. For a moment he watched the old photo carefully. A gentle look clearly emanated from his face as he looked at the photo for a while. In the photo, a husband and wife are smiling cheerfully and holding a boy in the middle of both.

The boy was Adrian when he was 7 years old. Riffan sighed for a moment, then began to open his conversation while still looking at the worn out photo in his hand.

"Adrians... Until when do you want to be cold to Irina?"

Adrian was surprised to hear the question asked by his father. Actually this is a question that is not easy for Adrian to answer. Adrian was silent, not knowing what to answer, his face was still looking out the window, looking at the dark sky which was still nothing there, not even the answer to his father's question appeared in the dark sky.

"Adrians... In a few months you will graduate High School, then you will continue your education in high school. I hope after that you can replace the position of Dad as CEO of Domino company. Don't you mind, son?"

"Dad, would if I was willing Dad wouldn't think badly of me? Does that mean you don't think of me as power-hungry and want your wealth for yourself? Using various means to accomplish all this?"

Riffan laughed at Adrian's question.

"Dad, why are you laughing?" Adrian was astonished by his father's reaction.

"Because I believe you. I chose you,"

"Adrian, these words of yours remind me of the old chatter of the past. Back then, he also said the exact same thing as you."

"I mean Dad?" Adrian was stunned waiting for his father's answer.

"Of course I meant your late father, son." replied Riffan with a warm smile to Adrian.

Adrian silent. He walked to a well-organized sofa in the room, where his father could receive guests in his private workspace if he was not in his company office. Adrian took the position of occupying the sofa calmly. He daydreamed for a moment, his mind drifting towards the past, the time where he last saw the figure of his real Father and Mother.

***

"BRAAAAKKK....!!!!"

The car driven by Adrian and his parents hit a big tree and exited the highway. At that time Adrian was a child, he was still 7 years old. Adrian was in the back seat, while his father was at the wheel of the car and his mother was in the front seat next to his father.

Adrian continued to cry and was so frightened, the small wounds on his face were clearly plastered due to the impact and broken glass. But even more terrifying was that he could see his Father and Mother covered in blood and unconsciousness. Little Adrian who does not know what to do can only cry while continuing to call his Father and Mother. Adrian hoped that when he heard his voice, his father and mother would come to their senses.

"YYYYYYAHHH....!!!"

"YUBUUUU...."

"WAKE UP!!! WAKEUP!!! HUU... HUU.. HUU... "

Little Adrian kept crying. Actually one side of him realized that his Father and Mother would not wake up again even though Adrian called their names many times even if it had to make his voice run out and his tears dry.

Adrian is not stupid to understand the sad scenery in front of his eyes is certainly not going to save the lives of his father and mother. Adrian did not care. It was just a miracle expected by Adrian, so naive!

So tired from crying and struggling with mixed emotions between sadness, fear, anger, and hope, Adrian gradually fainted unconscious. Adrian can hear people coming, car sirens from ambulances and traffic police cars can still be heard. An officer grabbed him, pulled him out of the car and carried him to the ambulance.

"Tolooong..." Adrian pleaded weakly.

"Tolowg... Please, Father and my mother." he continued again and was completely unconscious.

***

Silence filled the atmosphere in the hospital's inpatient rooms. Little Adrian was lying weakly on his bed. A man stood on the edge of his bed, looking at Adrian with pity. He rubbed Adrian's head gently, making Adrian wake up from his sleep.

"Adrian, are you conscious?" ask the man who is Riffan Domino.

"Sir, where's my father?"

"Where's my mom?"

"I want to see them, I want to meet my Dad and my Mom.. Huo...Huhu..."

Pathetic little adrian. He was crying sobbing. A woman who had been standing next to Riffan Domino could not see the scene before her eyes. He immediately took a position sitting on the edge of Adrian's bed and hugged him tightly.

"Adrian dear, don't cry.. Your father and mother are now angels in heaven. You are a strong boy, you will be a great man. Believe me.." explains the woman who is Marinka Domino.

Quietly Marinka cries behind Adrian's back. He hugged Adrian tightly and affectionately. Adrian really felt comfortable, a hug that felt the same as a warm hug from his mother.

"But... I want my Dad and my mom." said Adrian.

Marinka took off her embrace after wiping away her own tears. He looked at Adrian with a smile and affection. She looked at her husband's face for a moment, trying to ask permission for what he would say to her husband. Riffan understood with the intention of Marinka's eyes, then He nodded steadily as a sign that He supported what Marinka would do. Marinka smiled happily.

"Adrian darling... Will you allow me to be your mother? I'll take care of you lovingly, come home with me" Marinka looked at Adrian expectantly.

Adrian doesn't know what to answer, he can't choose a decision for himself at the moment. Adrian was a kid, all he knew right now was that he was losing his father and mother. He was wounded and only these two people in front of him took care of him and cared about him. Adrian just nodded without saying a word.

***

Adrian has been in the living room of the Domino House. The house was so big and luxurious, different from where he had lived before.

"Dear Adrian, I want to introduce you to someone. You wait, yeah," Marinka rubbed Adrian's cheek gently.

An old woman walks into the living room, introducing herself as Bi Anah, a domestic assistant at the Domino Family Residence. Adrian looked at Bi Anah's figure carefully and found the figure of a girl hiding behind her fat body.

"Irina, why are you hiding? Come here, you said you wanted a sister, right?" Marinka persuaded the girl gently.

With a slight blush of embarrassment, the girl came out from behind Bi Anah's body. With his innocent face he watched the figure of little Adrian carefully.

"Adrians... She is Irina Domino, from now on she will be your sister" Riffan explained to Adrian.

"Irina, come. Come on, greet your brother. His name is Adrian" explained Riffan again introduced Adrian to Irina.

Irina smiled cheerfully, She ran over to Adrian and immediately hugged him. Adrian was surprised, not expecting that he would be greeted like this by Irina.

"Irina, don't be.. Adrian just got out of the hospital, his body is still weak" Marinka told Irina to let go of her tight hug.

Adrian was happy to see Irina. The figure of Irina who was so cheerful and innocent as to transmit warmth and happiness to Adrian. Adrian feels that he is no longer lonely, He has a Father, a Mother, and a sister who will accompany him to live life.

Adrian felt very lucky, in his heart he thanked his parents who had been in heaven because they had left Adrian in a family that would make him happy. Adrian returned Irina's smile with gentleness.

"So, I'll be his doctor, brother, later,"

"If you're healed, we're both toys, brother..."

"I'll introduce Big Brother to my friends, I'll tell them that now I have a big brother! Hehe... "

Irina continued to chatter in front of Adrian. Riffan and Marinka chuckle at Irina's behavior, how happy they can both see her son smiling so cheerfully because of Adrian's presence.

Bi Anah took Irina and Adrian to their room. After Bi Anah and her two children passed from the living room, Marinka approached Riffan and hugged him.

"Darling, I think we've done something right. Right?"

Riffan kissed Marinka's forehead affectionately, "Honey, I'm pretty sure that we've done the right thing. Adrian's presence in our lives is destiny, nor will I disappoint his late Father and Mother. We have to take care of Adrian as best we can, love him as much as we love Irina."

Mariska hugged her husband tightly, smiling and whispering softly in Riffan's arms. "Definitely darling, don't worry...."

***

After his first meeting with Irina, the two of them grew more and more familiar. Playing together, going to school together, joking days of cheerful laughter. Adrian is so happy with Irina and her parents.

Adrian grew up to be a proud boy. Adrian is an accomplished child who also has high manners. Adrian is also so considerate and caring to Irina, she becomes a figure of a sister who is so good for Irina.

Until one day, when stepping on adolescence and sitting on the bench of Junior High, Adrian changed. Adrian became a cold brother.

Adrian is still a caring and caring sister to Irina, only she is no longer warm to him. For Irina it was like a heavy blow, she thought maybe it happened because she was no longer a school with Adrian. Maybe his busy life as a Junior High student made him a serious figure. Irina repeatedly tried to remain carefree and warm to Adrian, although many times also Adrian will reply all treatment Irina by still showing a cool attitude.

Irina once complained to her Father and Mother about the change in Adrian's attitude. However, his Father and Mother only responded lightly.

"Irina, your sister has Junior High, you understand her attitude. Never mind, don't overdo it baby. " said his mother with gentleness.

"Irina, it's just a transition period. Later you will also be a son of Junior High, maybe later you may not be more cute than Adrian." joked his father.

Irina was astonished, how could her Father and Mother give such an understatement? In reality, Irina's heart was in pain! The older sister who had been so good to him changed drastically, like Irina could not reach the figure of Adrian anymore. In his imagination, he only saw the figure of someone who was foreign, someone who was very cold in the form of his brother and protected by cracked glass.

"Sister.." he murmured inwardly.

***

"Adrians....." Riffan awakens Adrian from his daydream.

"Sorry Dad, I was daydreaming too much" Adrian came to his senses from his daydream and gently rubbed his own face.

"Adrian, do you think you should just tell Irina the truth?" riffan asked which made Adrian flinch.

"Come on Adrian, until when do you want this?" continued again.

"Dad, please don't say anything to Irina. Can the secret between us remain a secret until I'm ready to say it myself?"

"Huffs... Adrian, you know? Although Father and Mother are very sorry for the way you treated Irina, but since you convinced us that this is the best way you have, we don't mind. But until when?"

"A little more Dad, the time is coming. I don't want to because this secret is exposed, Irina's not ready to accept it,"

"Adrian, you know very well I believe in you. I just wanted to change a little, pity Irina.."

"Dad, did I make things too difficult for Irina? Am I so mean?" Adrian bowed languidly waiting for his father's answer.

"Adrian, I'm the one who's making things difficult for you, son.. I put you in a difficult position and you've borne this secret since you were Junior High. I'm sorry, Son..." Riffan pleaded with pity.

"Adrian, I'm so proud of you. You grow up to be a proud man, and you will become a great man. I believe in my faith in you."

Riffan got up from his seat and left the room. Before he left, he said a few words to Adrian and left Adrian alone in his study.

"Adrian, start behaving better to Irina. Soon you won't be long beside him. At the very least, if you can't reveal a secret that you've kept from her for a long time, make a good impression before it's too late" Riffan closed the door of the room.

***

After a while Adrian just sat quietly in the workspace owned by his father, Adrian chose to leave the room then went upstairs and headed to his room.

Adrian put his body on his bed. He recalled the sad look on Irina's face when she explained some things to him during a debate before dinner.

"BAD BOY!!!"

"BAD BOY!!!"

"BAD BOY!!!"

The words echoed in Adrian's head, just two short words but were able to stab Adrian in the heart. Adrian held his chest tightly. It's not good, it hurts so much!

"IS THAT A SHIT???" ask him to himself.

***

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CONNECT...!