The Sheen of Love Alzarin

Chapter 19

Alza's body stiffened as she recalled her first encounter with Grandpa Johan. It happened a long time ago. But Alza could not forget what the man said.

That day... The day Johan comes to the orphanage and takes Arya away from Alza's life. Alza's grim crying can't melt Johan's heart.

"Why did Grandpa take Arya away? Why wasn't I taken too?" Sobs accompanied by calls for protest were aired by little Alza.

Johan simply smiled and replied, "Listen! I don't need a weak granddaughter and she just cries. All I need is a grandson who can lead my company someday. Do you understand? Now let go of your friend so he can change his life."

Alza's shout did not dampen Johan's move to take Arya away from there.

"Don't bring Arya! Please Grandpa! Don't take Arya!"

Alza closed her eyes recalling the memories that had re-emerged in her mind.

"The alza!"

A gentle swipe in Alza's hand brought her back to the present. Alza is now sitting on the edge of the bedroom bed that has been prepared by Arion.

"You must be tired. Now rest!" Arion's voice sounded very soft.

"Maybe it's your first day, so you don't feel comfortable here. But don't be afraid, there I will always take care of you. If anyone hurts you, tell me right away. Okay?"

Alza's eyes began to turn warm. Clear fluid gathered in her beautiful eyelids.

"Aryan..."

What Arion said touched Alza's heart. That sentence that Arya always said in the past when she saw Alza sad and moody, as it is today. Alza feels her 'Arya' has returned.

"Aryan..." Alza hugged Arion who was resting in front of him.

There is a shock that Arion experienced when Alza embraced him spontaneously. Arion returns Alza's embrace.

Slowly but surely, Arion wants to get Alza's trust back to what it used to be.

...***...

The Pratama family residence

Dennis was back on his feet at his parents' house. With some of his belongings, Dennis steadily stepped into the house.

"Dennis?" Amalia was shocked and happy at the same time.

"Mama!" Dennis hugged Lia.

Dennis sits on the family room couch. Beside him was Lia who demanded an explanation from him.

"What's up, kid? You brought your stuff again?"

"Ma, I want to go back to living in this house. Can you?"

Amalia smiled even though she was sad in her heart. "Of course I can. This house will always be open for you."

Soon after, Juno and Zetta joined Dennis and Lia.

"Father!" Dennis kissed Juno's back hand.

"You came alone?" Juno's question got a sharp delicacy from Lia.

Dennis lowered his head. It felt ready not to be ready Dennis had to face today.

"I want to apologize to my mom and dad. I'm sorry about you, Dek." Dennis looked at Zetta.

"What's really going on, Bang? Where is that woman? Why did you come alone?" A question from Zetta made Dennis catch his breath first.

"I'm sorry before, because I didn't talk to you guys about this. Me and Alza... Our... Got divorced."

"WHAT?!"

The screech from Zetta was the toughest among the three.

"Trus where is that cheap woman now?" Zetta.

Dennis shook his head slowly. "I don't know where Alza went. Maybe now he's living with Arion."

"Dragon!" Zetta clenched her hands. "Why did you just let go of him? Brother should have charged him with adultery, what cake! Don't just take it off!"

"Zettaa! Keep talking!" Lia mediating.

"What! Is mom going to stick up for him after what he did to our family? Don't you think about how I felt defending him? He took Arion's brother from me and now he's left Bang Dennis so! How outrageous of you!" Zetta chose to go from there after venting all her anger.

"Zettaa! It's not so, son! Zetta!" Lia called out to Zetta but the girl did not care at all and still went towards her room.

Juno himself could not say anything. It felt too claustrophobic to accept all of her son's decisions. But what to say. Dennis has decided his own life.

...***...

In her room, Zetta could not shed her tears. It's enough of all the stupidity he's done with crying over Arion.

Zetta has to move on with her life. The girl knew what she was going to do to fix everything. Even so, he was not willing if Alza and Arion lived freely and happily while he and his brother had to swallow bitter disappointment deeply.

Tok tok tok tok

"Sir, can you come in?"

Zetta who was about to prepare to head to dreamland was startled by a knock on her bedroom door.

"Let's go, Bang. It's not locked!"

Dennis walked in and walked over to the younger brother who was sitting at the dresser. Zetta is performing a night ritual with the cream in her hand.

"Why Bang? Do you want me to debate again?"

Dennis smiled and shook his head. "Don't just want to apologize to you."

Zetta. "Why should a brother apologize anyway? It should be those two assholes who are apologizing!"

"Dad! I know you're still upset, but there's no point holding a grudge. Or even reply to it. What do we get from revenge?"

Zetta turned around and looked at Dennis. "What is this brother's heart made of? I've been hurt but I still want to apologize."

"Don't talk like that. My brother is also an ordinary man. My brother was sad and disappointed too. But when will you mourn your fate? Life has to go on, Deck. And I'm sure you can do it."

Zetta got up from her seat. He picked up a piece of paper that was on his desk.

"It! I hope you agree with my decision."

Dennis read verse by verse the writing on the paper.

"Students abroad?"

Zetta nods. "Yes, Bang. I enrolled in college there yesterday. And it turns out I'm welcome."

"Congratulations, my sister! Brother pray you can reach your goals and find a better soul mate later."

"Yes, Bang. Thanks!"

Zetta hugged her sister. The two heartbroken people are now trying to get up to reorganize their lives.

...***...

The next day, Zetta told her plan to continue studying in the country. Of course the positives were welcomed by Juno and Lia.

"Mama will support whatever you want. Sorry about last night, mom..."

"Alright, Ma. I have missed it! Now I don't want to look back. I want to step into my future. If they've just moved on, why don't we? Isn't that right, Bang?"

Dennis scrambles slowly Zetta's hair. The laughter echoed again in the dining room of the Pratama family. Even now without the presence of Alzarin.

Meanwhile, in the Nusantara family, the atmosphere of breakfast feels horror for Alza. Because this is the first time Alza sits among the famous Nusantara family in power in this city.

The clang of the incoming message on Arion's phone made the man open it immediately. Arion was afraid if it was about his job and business.

"Alza, this is from the hospital lab." Arion told Alza.

Arion's eyes sparkled happily after reading the message.

"My hunch is right, Alza. The child you are carrying is my son."

Suddenly Arion's statement made everyone stare at Alzarin.

"Arion! What the hell are you saying? You said son?" Arnis made sure that what he heard was not wrong.

During this time Arion always tells about Alza and her baby, but still no one believes if Alza is pregnant with Arion's child.

"Yes, Ma. Mama will soon be Oma, and papa will be Opa. Then grandpa..."

BRACKET!

Johan kicked the dining table hard enough to make Alza flinch.

"Both of you! Come to my office now!"