THE FLO!

Bag. 1

NEW YORK CITY'S.

The sound of Brenda's calling made me lift my head from the laptop that was in front of me. I who was initially busy making a new formula for the program I was developing was forced to leave my busyness for a moment. I removed the glasses attached and placed them next to my laptop and looked at Brenda.

"Your Dad, line two," Brenda said as she poked her head from behind the door. I smiled and thanked him.

"Please make more coffee dong. Exhausted," I asked as I lifted up my empty cup of coffee.

"About? It's only one o'clock in the afternoon and you've spent three cups of coffee? Have pity on your stomach, son," he said, shaking his head in concern. I just grinned while shrugging both of my shoulders. Brenda rolled her eyes and turned her body.

I picked up the phone next to me and pressed the number two button. I couldn't hide my strange feelings when I heard Papa calling. He rarely calls me, maybe if there's just a need. I usually call him first. I cleared my throat twice and tried to control my voice.

"Hello, Pa. Can Flo help you?" ask me kindly. I massaged my sore nose because I hadn't taken my glasses off since morning.

I frowned when I didn't hear an answer. I called my father again and thank God my father cleared his throat because otherwise I would hang up. The frown on my forehead grew as I heard Papa's heavy voice and the slow stuffing I knew of my mother's as well.

"Papa? What's up?" ask me gently.

"Flo... Can you go back to Jakarta?" ask my father weakly. I frowned at me. My dad doesn't usually sound like this. He is the type of guy who is assertive and always able to keep his tone. Hearing that weak voice made me raise my eyebrows.

"Did something happen?" ask me slowly.

My father was silent again. Isakan behind him increasingly heard clearly in my ears. I'm getting scared. Did something happen to my family?

"Flo... Papa beg you not to be surprised." said Papa slowly and very heavy. I laughed softly at the tone.

"Don't tell me there's a problem in Papa's catering business? Relax, Pa, I'll help you, "I answered, trying to melt the atmosphere that I felt was getting tense. But my father didn't sound like he was laughing. He sounded like he was holding back a cry.

"It's about Freya, Flo. It's about your sister."

I frowned at me. Bizarrely. I just Skypeed with him last night and I told my dad about it. But Papa suddenly cried.

"Creia... Frey... She... died.suicide..."

My father's words were so slow but managed to make my body feel like it was struck by lightning.

Not likely.

That can't be happening!

We just talked last night. He looks as happy as ever. He even talked about his class mates. He's still smiling at me! I let out my thoughts in half hysterical.

That can't be happening.

Papa must be kidding.

"Flo... Papa asks you to return to Jakarta as soon as you can..."

I can't hear my father's words. In my head I still remembered the conversation between me and Freya yesterday. So that's why he told me how much he loved me yesterday? He wants to say goodbye?

The phone in my hand fell off. Brenda who came over with coffee for me looked surprised to see me who was crying hysterically. Brenda immediately hugged me and comforted me without knowing what was happening. As I calmed down, Brenda let go of her embrace and looked at me. But I can't digest what happened.

"Freya, Brenda, Freya. she's dead.." I said stammered on my cry. Brenda seemed to gasp while looking at me in disbelief.

"When?" he asked, hugging me back.

"No idea. I-I don't know the details... I'm..."

Brenda cut my words. "I'm booking a ticket back to Jakarta now. No need to pack. Your suitcase from the trip to Paris yesterday I haven't unpacked. Want me to go with you?" I nodded but I nodded weakly.

"No need" I replied, wiping away the tears that covered my vision. "As long as I'm absent, please drop all my schedules. And about the new program, I'll-"

"Not thinking about work, I handle everything. Right now you have to go back to Jakarta and find out what's going on" Brenda said. He turned his body around and headed to his desk to book the fastest plane ticket for me. It wasn't until five minutes, Brenda was able to buy me a ticket at the earliest.

"Let's in three hours. Come on, let's go to the flat now and get your suitcases and passports. The sooner the better," he said as he pulled me up from my stool. I was still in shock and my body was like a robot following Brenda's words.

Brenda closed my laptop and put it in my briefcase along with my glasses. I couldn't do anything about it when Brenda pushed me into the car and she drove it like crazy into our flat. I'm still trying to digest what happened because it's like a dream to me.

I didn't realize I was at JFK airport. Brenda gave me my bag and suitcase and told me everything was going to be fine. He made me promise to call him right away. I nodded and entered the airport while remembering my past.

Were it not for Papa and Mama, I would definitely not be able to be in this country. They adopted me from the orphanage because Mama couldn't conceive a child. She has a severe disorder that if forced to conceive will be dangerous not only for the mother but also for the baby she contains. Because Papa wanted to get Mama out of her grief, he adopted me. They love me and I love them and try my best for them.

But everything changed when Mama was declared pregnant when I was seven. At first doctors were pessimistic that Mama and her baby would not survive. But Mama insisted on giving birth to her baby. With so much struggle and suffering that seemed endless, finally Mama managed to give birth to Freya even though premature. Honestly, I was jealous at first. After all I was just a foster child who would definitely be replaced by the presence of Freya. I'm afraid my parents' love will be taken by Freya. But both my parents assured me that they would still love me as much as before, even if that wasn't the case. I've been used to being numbered by my parents since Freya's presence. When I decided to go abroad, America, to be more precise, did not refuse. Their faces seemed relieved when I decided.

And because of that, I try my best for them. I got into the best High School in New York and tried to get the best grades. Because of my above average grades, I managed to get a scholarship to MIT and graduated with good grades. I graduated even faster than my classmate. I tried to achieve my dreams and make my parents love me and proud of me again. They're proud, but I know it's a duty to me. I felt like I was returning the favor to them. And because of that, over time I started to stay away from my parents.

Even so, I can't hate Freya. She's the sweetest and nicest girl I've ever known. He was able to make me who initially hated him even love him. He remembered my birthday, something my parents had begun to forget, and sent me many gifts. He always makes me laugh between my sorrows. My parents started not caring about me but Freya was paying attention to me. He always made my day coloured with his laughter. And now, that laughter has disappeared. Why can't I catch the signs? I remember my conversation with him last night.

"Son, will we always go to heaven?" freya asked as she finished talking about her schoolmates. I frowned and laughed.

"If we always go to heaven, then what is hell for?" I asked while shaking my head at Freya's ngawur question. But Freya didn't laugh with me. When I called her name, she just chuckled.

"What's up, Freya? Is anyone bothering you? Wh who? Want to hit him for you?" threaten me with a joke. Freya laughed, which made me smile.

"No, Brother, Freya is fine. Freya was just kangen the same brother," he replied that made me touched to hear his tone.

"Kan Sis has invited you to stay with Brother here. At least if here Brother can take care of you and you will not be lonely," I replied.

"I'm the lonely one or the lonely one?" it was his god that made me grin. I nodded and admitted that I missed him too and was lonely because I hadn't seen him in months.

"I'm even more confused than Brother," said Freya softly. "I miss being hugged by Brother and Sister will say that everything is fine."

I frowned at me. All right, Freya's getting weird. "Are you okay, Baby? Are Papa and Mama fighting again?"

Freya shakes. He even smiled at me. "I just realized how lucky I was to have a sister like Brother Flo. Maybe if Freya wasn't born, you'd still be in this house and wouldn't have to leave. Freya who makes you unhappy."

I jerked. Where did Freya have such thoughts? "Listen, Freya, I love you! I really am. Whether you are born or not, Brother has decided to leave home from the beginning. Do you know what your sister's dream is to become a programmer?" Freya nodded. "Never say that! My sister was happy when you were born. Big Brother is happy because Big Brother's family is increasing with your presence."

"Aren't you lying?" ask him with a pill.

I nodded steadily. "What did you lie to? Brother love you, Freya. When the busyness of Brother decreases, Brother will definitely go home and accompany you. How's it?"

I could see Freya whispering something and I couldn't hear what she said. Freya was seen waking up from her seat and I could see that she was in full uniform . Looks like he's going to school.

"Sister, Freya wants to go first" she said, then blew a distant kiss for me. I smiled and kissed him back. And before breaking up the relationship, Freya looked at the camera, as if looking me in the eye directly. Honestly, I was shocked. During this time Freya was shy and rarely looked at people with such a gaze. Moreover, Freya also looks like she is holding back tears.

"Freya very dear to Brother. Please, whatever happens after this, don't be mad at Freya. Brother just need to remember that Freya really loves the same Brother and Freya regretted having been born into this world and made Brother unhappy. I love you, brother," said Freya as if holding back her stuffing. I couldn't afford to ask further because Freya immediately cut off the relationship. When I tried to call back, Freya didn't pick up.

I feel weird but I don't care. I was still tired of coming home from my official trip to Paris the day before. If only I had tried harder, calling Papa or Mama for example, I might have prevented this from happening. I took out the laptop that was inside my bag and stared at the photo of myself and Freya on the screen. I cried softly while apologizing to Freya. The flight attendant who saw me crying said nothing. He gave me a box of tissue and patted me on the shoulder and left me. In my heart, I pray that I will have an answer.

...***...

I didn't realize the cab that brought me back to the house I'd been avoiding all these years had arrived. My house looks quiet but still mounted tent in the yard. Some people look to be cleaning tables and folding benches. A truck was also parked not far from our yard and people put benches that had been folded into the truck back and forth. My arrival seemed to catch their attention. I was wearing a turtleneck sweatshirt covered in a black coat along the knee, because New York when I left was at the end of autumn and the air was getting colder, black trousers and sneakers. Moreover, I also wear a backpack and I pull a suitcase. A middle-aged man came up to me while looking at me from top to bottom.

"Who are you looking for, Mommy?" ask the man. I swallowed my saliva.

"I'm looking for Mr. Tiberius Abdi Kusuma. Any?" ask me kindly, mentioning my father's name.

"Mr hasn't come home from the funeral yet, Ma'am. You know him, Father?" ask again. I nodded slowly without trying to correct the man or tell my identity.

"I was told that Freya died." I said, trying to hold back the tears. The man breathed a long breath. He nodded and his face was sad.

"Tragic, Ma'am. Jump off the roof of the school. Even though the school had tried to take Ms. Freya to the nearest hospital but too late," replied the man.

I bow my head. I tried to hold back my tears by clenching my hands tightly.

"Mother and Father were in great shock. Especially when Freya's pregnant."

My head's up. I looked up when I heard the man's words.

I'm wide in disbelief. Whahuh?

Freya pregnant?