THE STAR OF HEAVEN

PART 35'S

Zalynda stared at the small drizzle that started coming down from behind the windshield. Right now they're on their way back to the apartment. Zalynda was unceasingly smiling. It seems like all the burdens of his life have been lifted.

"Za.." call Ray

Zalynda looked at Ray driving "Yes, Ray?"

"Smiling from earlier. Think what?"

Zalynda smiled as she shook her head softly "No, I'm just remembering what happened today."

Zalynda was completely unexpected with Ray's family response. Zalynda had prepared herself if Ray's father and mother had refused.

Being among the people who loved him after so long struggling alone, it felt good. If this is a dream, Zalynda will not wake up

But a small part of his heart was still too afraid to claim that happiness because Zalynda was afraid that all of it would come back regardless as it had been.

"That's dumb again." Ray's voice ripped his daydream. Zalynda turned her head while chuckling at Ray

"Thank you, yeah.."

"For?" Ray asked with a focused look ahead

"To be present in my life with your family." Zalynda clasped Ray's hand in the gears

Ray clasped Zalynda's hand and gave a flash on Zalynda's back. Seeing Zalynda smile and laugh again, is a happiness for Ray

The two fell back silent in each other's minds while their fingers were still clinging to each other. Every now and then Ray releases his grip to pass the gear

"By the way, are you okay, Ray?" Zalynda asked suddenly

Ray frowned while looking at Zalynda

"What am I really doing?"

"Ng, earlier when hit with sandals with the mother, it must have hurt really huh. You okay?"

Ray laughed loudly at Zalynda's words. Ray understood Aya must be very irritated at him because the dream of a mother one of them is to see the marriage of her children.

To be honest, Aya's punches did not have much effect on Ray's body. After all, Aya was not too hard to beat him, but Ray's jail brain seemed provoked into action

"Yes, my body grieves. Later please apply the same massage oil in a little massage can not Za?"

Zalynda looked at Ray with a look of pity. Zalynda's hand slowly stroked the soft shoulder of Ray who had been beaten by Aya. The taste buds appear along with the touch of Zalynda

"Well, where else is driving." Ray's heart in my heart. The young man only grimaced to hold back something that started to appear. But in Zalynda's mind, Ray looks in pain from Aya's punch. Zalynda immediately removed her hand from Ray's shoulder and grimaced

"It hurts? Yes, until my apartment is balurin. Sorry yeah.."

Ray glanced at Zalynda with a meaningful smile

***

What Ray planned worked. With the mode of asking for a massage, Ray actually got a plus service from Zalynda. Ray named it a sweet hoax operation

Ray kissed the top of Zalynda's head gently. The two were sleeping in bed hugging in a blanket after a sweet feint operation went well

"Ray.." call Zalynda slowly

"Hmmm.."

"Thank you very much."

Ray chuckled while tightly hugging Zalynda's innocent body

"How many times have you said thank you today, Za?" Said Ray. Her fingers gently caressed Zalynda's long hair that was draped. Zalynda laughed a little, though,

"That's because I'm so grateful, Ray. You know that? I never dared to dream this."

"Why?"

"Because I realize my position is not comparable to yours, Ray.."

Zalynda took a deep breath before continuing her story

Tonight, the girl was determined to tell me everything. Tonight, Zalynda begins to tell the story of herself in front of Ray.

"How long was it there?" Ask Ray

"Till the age of 8 I was there. Mamah died in an accident when I was 8 years old.."

Ray tightened his arms around Zalynda as if giving strength to the girl. Zalynda buried her head in Ray's shoulder

"The last manat mamah is for me to go to Jakarta to find Wijaya's grandfather. He is the om mama. Grandpa might pity me to see me live alone, and then tell me to stay with him. I thought, by living with my grandfather I could come back happy and forget my sadness left behind. I was wrong.."

Zalynda's voice trembled slightly. It felt as if the girl's palm was clenched in Ray's chest. Ray immediately gently touched Zalynda's hand and squeezed it. I heard the breath of Zalynda

"There, only grandfather, bik Ijah and Pak Udin are good to me. The rest of them all oppress me.."

"They?"

"The Yono family."

"Who are they?"

"Praternal grandfather. Om Yono's parents and grandfather are adoptive brothers."

Zalynda paused her story. The girl breathed a few times. Ray patiently waited for the girl to restart the story while stroking Zalynda's hair

"They were only nice to me in front of grandfather. Behind their grandfather treated me like a maid. Tell me all kinds of things, starting from the village boy, the unlucky boy, the bastard child.."

Ray closed his eyes. At a young age, it turns out Zalynda has felt a variety of bitter humiliation that incised wounds in his heart.

"I did come to Jakarta to live with my grandfather, but I never asked my grandfather to finance my life and education. Is that how I owe you, Ray?" Zalynda. His voice sounded vibrating

"No. Grandpa Wijaya actually has an obligation to support you. You are his family. Did Vijaya's grandfather collect everything he gave you, Za?"

Zalynda shook her head "Not grandpa, but Yono."

Ray squinted his eyes. Looks like Ray found a little red thread of the events that happened to Zalynda

Zalynda continued his story

"Om Yono said, I'm just a distant relative who has no rights in that house. Everything Grandpa gave me counted as a debt and I have to give it back."

"That's why you're at club XX?"

Zalynda nodded. Ray felt a warm liquid on his chest. Ray knew the girl in his arms was crying. Ray tightened his embrace

"Is that what scared you the first time I was about to touch you?"

Zalynda was silent as she closed her eyes. The events Yono did flashed in his memory.

"I'm a victim of sexual abuse, Ray. Since I was 15 years old, om Yono started harassing me.."

Ray's reflexes brought Zalynda into his arms. Zalynda sniffles in Ray's arms. Ray regretted asking the question, which provoked Zalynda to recount her greatest trauma

"Don't continue Za. If it hurts to remember, don't continue." Whisper Ray while tightening his embrace

"No, I'm fine. Tonight I plan to tell you everything.."

Zalynda adjusted her breathing to relieve her emotions that had been sticking out

"One day Yono promised to stop harassing me if I could destroy the Frederick Groups Company. I thoughtlessly agreed to it because I wanted to get away from him."

Zalynda took a deep breath

"He gave me five years and promised not to harass me for five years. But if I fail, he'll make me satisfied with his passion and atm his walk.."

Zalynda sobbing

"I don't have a choice, Ray.."

Suddenly Zalynda swung her palm..