The Monster In Me

Zean and His Brother

“Wah! See it!” suddenly Abian. The young man stood up furiously in his chair. Pasting both his palms and face to the wide window of the bus. His breath vapor left a trail of dew on that clear glass. Adira who was sitting not far from him grimaced in disgust at him. Imagine how many germs are now attached to the skin of his friend's face.

“What's up, anyway?” ask Karsa from one of the seats at the back of the bus.

“That car! Since I saw it from a distance, but now after being this close, it seems that the car looks more luxurious than I imagined!” clearly Abian with a splash. He even mentioned in detail the brand and the advantages of the car that has now breezed ahead of the bus. Disappear behind another four-wheeled vehicle on the same track. “Even the red paint looks very different! Very fancy!”

“About who drives such a car in a dense area like this?” ask Firda suddenly.

Adira turned to her best friend, automatically making her not see how Abian ran and asked the driver to speed up the bus. Hopefully they will be able to catch the luxury car back. “I don't know. Most likely he is not an ordinary person,” replied Adira soberly.

Firda closed her lips while nodding. “If we could bring our own vehicle, it would be very convenient. This bus felt quite crowded, and I started to feel drunk.”

“Oh, no. Don't let you take out your breakfast next to me!”

“No going!”

“Promise! Or I'll have someone switch places with me!”

“Gosh! You're overdone!” Firda snorted in annoyance. Little did he admit that his argument with Adira distracted him enough from the nausea that began to move up his throat. “It looks like I'd better sleep. Wake up if we're up.”

“OK,” replied Adira lazily. He himself is comfortable his position leaning on the chair. There was nothing else he could do but close his eyes. Who knows, their journey will be shorter.

When closed, Adira imagined the four-wheeled vehicle that Abian described as having a bright red color that is striking the eye. However, in his mind, Adira imagines the car's paint slowly turning increasingly concentrated and dark. Slowly come out of the vehicle. It sank, and it flowed down the streets.

The fishy smell that greeted his sense of smell kept him awake. I don't know why he became so nervous.

***

“Kak Zean, the playground is still far?” ask a little girl with adorable round cheeks.

Zean who always could not bear to pinch his sister's cheek then reached out to just damage the short hair of the sister. “A minute until. The patient, yes, Ca.” he said softly. He's back facing forward. Drive the vehicle with full concentration for the safety of both of them. Especially on the road that is being passed at this time there are quite a lot of large vehicles. Like sand trucks, and buses that transport school children to travel.

The young man was shocked to see a boy staring at his car from inside the bus. He then grabbed the baseball cap he was wearing to cover his face more, before slightly increasing the speed of his car. “Better you rest first, so that later can be fresher to ride various rides there.” he continued again after realizing Helsa who continued to be silent.

“What is he a fan of Sister?” The little girl asked, apparently she also realized what Zean saw from the school bus they passed.

“Maybe. You know, right, Big Brother is very up and coming because of the last action movie that Big Brother starred in,” Zean replied proudly. “But you don't have to worry, Big Brother will make sure today we can walk around freely without any interruption.”

“Why pout that? What's up?” Zean started to feel anxious. He crimped the steering wheel in front of him a little too strongly that his fingers looked white. “Did anyone get sick? You're not feeling well? We can go back home, and take a walk the other day.”

“No want! After this, I will be busy again. Besides, I just remember the last time I played with Big Brother,” replied Helsa with a gloomy face. “Until now I am still afraid to see the brothers who have scary faces. I thought they were friends of Evil Brother who at that time forced Brother to buy his white sand.”

The deg! Slowly Zean's face paled.

‘I guess Eca forgot about that. How's this?’ As much as possible Zean held all his panic. Buried it deep in the heart.

“That time he needed money,” replied the young man carefully. “Maybe he thinks that Sister keeps exotic fish in a luxury aquarium. He would definitely want Big Brother to buy his sand to decorate the aquarium.”

Zean felt how his chest narrowed every time he continued the lies he said. Yet he knew very well that the thing Helsa thought of as sand was not sand at all. But a forbidden object that should not be known by a boy like the younger brother.

There's no other choice. Zean only had to deliver a lie that was trustworthy enough before trying to divert the conversation.

“Later after getting there, want to eat first? Anything you want?” asked the young man a little too enthusiastically.

Succeeds. Helsa's face looked radiant again. In spirit the girl seemed to ponder her choice before finally answering. “I want a really big cotton candy! My friend once brought a flower-shaped one.”

Hearing that, Zean shook his head quickly. “Eca, you know, right, if you can't eat too much sweet food,” he said carefully. He really does not want to refuse the wishes of his sister, but how else? Helsa's life could be in danger if he is caught off guard and does not act decisively.

Helsa then whined. “But I can't eat at all, right, sister? Besides I also bring all my treatment, including injection, and also this.” Helsa showed the part of his arm where a small white cube was tightly attached. “I will guarantee that this tool will not sound at all today. I've been very good at regulating my sugar intake!”

Zean took a long breath. Feeling various emotions mixed in his mind. He was very amazed and pleased to find that his sister, Kirana Helsa, knew many things about the condition of her own body. But he also felt very sad. Because a girl who is only 10 years old should not bear the heavy burden of suffering from a disease that she never expected for a lifetime.

“OK, then ...,” somehow it is very difficult for Zean to respond to Helsa's request this time, “we will see later, yes.”

“Ah, Brother!”

Zean only chuckled and reached out to grab Helsa's shoulder slowly.

‘Hopefully today will be the happiest day for you, yes, Ca,’ hope in your heart.

***