Trapped by Pandora

Chapter 10: Confused

That afternoon in the dressing room of the operating room of Persada Hospital, Alin took off his special operating uniform and changed into a light purple shirt combined with a matching color plisket skirt that he had been wearing when leaving.

The surgery today is not difficult, but there are three patients with the same case who are treated. And it's quite exhausting. Fortunately, he was helped by Doctor Rikko Narendra, his upperclassman. At least the operation was completed sooner than initially expected.

Alin put the operating gown into the basket of dirty clothes that were available and threw the mask and surgical stamp into the medical trash. After which, he picked up a pair of shoes neatly stored on the shelf then stepped out leaving the operating room area.

“Alin!” I heard someone calling him.

“Hai, Brother Rikko!” sapana.

“Where are you? In a hurry, too?”

“Yes go home, where are you going?”

“I think I'm going to practice.”

“Today I'm off! By the way, thanks for helping me!”

“My pleasure! Often yes,” said Rikko.

“Ah, Brother can aja!” suddenly Alin's vision was diverted to a car that he knew well. The car stopped right in front of the emergency unit next to the surgical building where he was standing at the moment.

A driver got out of the car, opened the door and half ran in to call for help. As soon as the officer came in with the safe, a very recognizable person Alin got out of the car with a worried face.

A child was carried and laid in a safe, and officers pushed him into the emergency room. Mata Alin bought when he saw who the child brought in.

“Kika...,” hisses.

“Kak, I go first! Let's talk sometime again, really sorry!” without waiting for Rikko to answer, Alin immediately ran to the emergency department.

Rikko was dumbstruck watching Alin as fast as lightning blurred from before him. More surprisingly, the girl ran to the emergency department. Rikko wondered what really happened. The worry made him follow Alin.

Alin circulated a glance at each room divider in the emergency room. His eyes looked for Kishika's existence. Not long after, Mallory's shadow came out of the reception room.

“Rory!” his yell. Mallory turned to the origin of the voice.

“Sister Alin!”

“Ki-Kika why?”

“Kok Kak Alin know?”

“So Sister came out of the next building and saw Kika being brought in here. What the hell's going on? Kika why?” Alin could not cover up his anxiety.

“Kika already three days fever up and down Kak. The body is weak, not eating. We're all worried, we finally bring it here.”

“What does your Daddy already know?” ask Alin doubtfully.

“Daddy has not returned from Japan, so we have not had time to tell.”

“Japan?” alin's memory revolves back to Kishika's birthday a week ago.

“Iya, so after Kika's birthday party yesterday Daddy suddenly went to Japan because there was a similar problem project there. And until now not home,” finally Alin know what happened to Beryl at that time.

“Hmmm, yes let's see Kika!” bring Alin.

Alin could not bear to see the little boy lying helplessly. His face was pale, his usual cheerfulness was gone. Her little lips are dry. Alin tries to talk to the pediatrician who handles Kishika.

“Mommy Alin,” Kishika.

“Iya, darling!” Alin grasped Kishika's hand gently.

“I miss Mommy,” Alin's heart melts hearing Kishika's words.

“Mommy also misses Kika. Now that Mommy is here, wonder woman should know what the doctor said! Let's get healthy quickly and can mess around again, okay?” Kishika nodded her head.

“Alin, how is Kika?” ask Lady Aretha.

“Mrs Aretha,” Alin is nervous about facing the great mistress of the Monza family.

“Sssstt..., no! Not the Madam but Mama. That sounds better, doesn't it?” protest Mrs Aretha. To her, whatever happened between Alin and Beryl, she already considered Alin like her own daughter.

“I-iya, Ma!” alin replied awkwardly.

“Doctor says Kika may have typhus. But, to be sure we wait until the results of the blood test come out. If it is true typhus, then Kika needs an opening at this hospital.”

“Ehm, so yes!” Madam Aretha frowned.

“Maybe Kika should be treated here, the healing process is definitely faster. Can Mama ask for help?” continued Mrs Aretha.

“Sure, Mama would like to ask what?”

“Can you help keep Kika in care here?” Alin was a little surprised.

“Eh sorry, it's not that we can't take care of him. It's just, Kika is just like Beryl or you. Beryl's on business overseas. Maybe if you take care of him, Kika will definitely be happy and willing to obey. Hows it? Sorry if Mama got to bother you,” Lady Aretha looked at Alin expectantly.

Alin was worried, stuck in a mind that floated around. A lot of thought is in his mind. Alin loved that cute little girl. However, he was also afraid of getting too close. Afraid I won't be able to let go.

“Alin!” madam Aretha's voice disperse her immortality.

“Ehmmm, yes Ma. I will take care of it, I will rearrange my schedule,” Alin really regretted the sentence that just slid free from his mouth. From now on he thought about how to refuse subtly, in fact, the lips sided with a pitying little heart to see Kishika still rolled limp.

“Thank you yes, Lin!” Lady Aretha hugged Alin tightly while praying in her heart for her dream to come true.

^^o^

Alin has been to the hospital for four days. Kishika's condition gradually began to improve. The boy who had just had his seventh birthday was cheerful again, eating a lot, agile and starting to cherry as before.

Alin deliberately took a week off, and bestowed his practice on Ragnala. Itung-itung as compensation for the time Alin replaced Ragnala some time ago. His closest friend had protested because Alin was on leave too long, but what can be done. He also fell when Alin was hoping to introduce him to Rikko Narendra, an idol since college in Dentistry.

“Lin, what is the condition of the child?” asked her father as Alin was preparing breakfast at the dinner table.

“Alhamdulillah, has improved Pa. The doctor will let her go home today if her blood test results are normal. Next need to rest at home only.”

“Thank God. And what about his father? Has he come home?”

“It doesn't look like Pa, because even now I haven't met him in the hospital.”

“Have you tried contacting him?”

Alin took a long breath. Honestly, he was confused to answer Papa's question like what. Many times he stared at Beryl's name on his phone, but not a single word he received nor could he send.

Lord Vishaka observed his daughter's gurgle. He felt that there was something Alin was hiding. His daughter did not even tell about the continuation of the relationship with Beryliano Monza.

Lately the girl became quiet and more often daydream. Looking at your phone all day as if you were waiting for something. Whenever I am asked what is going on, the answer is always the same. Alin would not admit. Mr. Vishaka is worried that his daughter's psychological disorder is back.

Alin pulled out a chair and sat down for a moment, drinking the glass of warm orange he had made. His throat felt so dry, fusing his suddenly quiet days.

“Alin confused, Pa!” says slowly.

“Bingung? Why?” Alin fell silent, his gaze fixed on the surface of the dining table. Jemari tapped on the table, and began to bite her lower lip. Mr. Vishaka is very familiar with the signs of anxiety experienced by his only daughter.

“Lin, do you love him?” Alin straightened his head, staring deeply at his father who was sitting right in front.

“Ehmm, lie if I said I didn't have any feelings for her. I'm not sure if that's love. I'm scared, Pa!” Alin looked back.

Mr. Vishaka does not blame Alin for his fear of love. The pain in the past made Alin close his heart for so long. It was not easy for her daughter to open the door of the heart again to any man.

“My dear daughter, if you love her why did you reject her?” Alin gaped, how did his father know that he planned to reject Beryl's proposal.

“Papa know?” Mr. Vishaka nodded.

“Young master Monza himself said it to Papa,” his papa answer makes Alin more confused.

“Beryl? Ta-but how is that possible? I haven't even said anything to him,” Alin was worried, he remembered that he hadn't said a word that day.

“Seeing you so often daydream at night, makes Papa quite worried. You don't want to tell Papa either. Finally Papa called Mr. Beryl, but he said he was in Japan. He also said that while in Japan you do not contact each other because you have rejected it.”

“He said that, Pa? How does he know? That day, I wanted to talk to him, but he's been hustling away.”

“Contact,” Mr. Vishaka puts his shoulders.

“Lin, try to open your heart Nak!” Mr. Vishaka grabbed both of Alin's hands.

“Not all men fight bad. Not all men are bad. If you are the same level as that, it means you consider Papa the same as them.”

“No Pa, Papa is a very nice person!” Alin tightened his papa hand.

“Then, you believe that there are still many good men in this world?” Alin did not deny what his father said. Not all men have the same traits as Alaric. However, he was still afraid to open his heart.

“You know, when you asked Papa's permission to come home late for dinner with Mr. Beryl, he came here to see Papa.”

“Hah? Really, Pa?” Alin was in disbelief.

“You think Papa knows where his phone number is?” sindir Mr. Vishaka.

“At that time he came to introduce himself and express the intention to ask you. He knew that it might not be easy for Papa to accept his good intentions, given your introductory background. In addition, the age distance that he believes no parent wants to marry his daughter to an old man their age, except because of forced.”

“But he convinced Papa that his feelings for you were sincere, pure, not because of his three children, not because of the parents' insistence. He has liked you since he first met you. Love at first sight. He himself is not an easy person to fall in love, his heart has been locked since twenty-seven years ago. Just like you,” continued Mr. Vishaka who tried to open the eyes of Alin's heart.

“Twenty-seven years, Pa?” Alin blinked his eyes. It did not cross the slightest thought if the young master Monza was able to close the door of the heart for that long. Alin, who has only been living for six years, feels nothing compared to the man.

“From there, Papa felt he was a good person. He's a very responsible adult. Although the first to know him, it is undeniable that Papa likes him,” even a little, but Mr. Vishaka believes that Beryl Monza can take care and love his daughter well.

“No harm in trying, right, son? Papa see you have the same past experience, maybe you can heal each other's heart wounds. Moreover, you said you had feelings for her, hmm?”

“Does Papa mind having a daughter-in-law who is as old as Papa?” alin Goda.

“As long as he can make you happy, Papa has no objection at all. Your happiness is Papa's priority,” Mr. Vishaka glances one eye.

“You love each other, fight. If at the end of the day it turns out you really have to separate, it means you are not a match. And at least you are both trying to escape the shackles of the past.”

Hearing the advice of his beloved papa, Alin was like getting a fresh breeze on the barren terrain of his heart. What his father said was not much different from the words of Ragnala. His friend though from the outside impressed tomboy and cute, but the thought he sometimes much more mature than Alin.

One thing to remember from Ragnala's long advice is “Love is a gift born of a process. The process that only God Almighty Knows how to design. It can appear instantly, days, weeks, months or even years without us knowing it. However, how do we know that love will be beautiful in the end if we do not enjoy the process. All meetings and partings that occur are the destiny line already written by the Almighty, grateful, live and enjoy.”

Suddenly the sound of the front door bell rang. The father and son pair stopped their conversation for a moment.

“There are guests like,” says Mr. Vishaka.

“Let me look ahead first huh, Pa!” Alin leaves his papa in the dining room.

Half in haste, Alin opened the front door of his house. How shocked when he saw Mrs Aretha Monza already standing at the door of the house at a time that was still this morning.

“August, Lin!” sapana.

“Again, Ma. How early is Mama here? Kika is fine right?” Alin's mind was soaring, there was a strand of anxiety that appeared without permission.

“Ah, Kika is fine, no need to worry. Can we talk inside?”

“Ah, sure Ma! Please enter,” so anxious Alin to forget to invite the Madam of the Monza family into the house.

“Sit, Ma. Is there something going on? Rory's? Shaqi?”

“Ehm, no problem with children. Mama's here to ask you to help you look after them, because Mama has to go. Forgive Mama who keeps bothering you.”

“Go? Where do you want to go?”

“Mama must go to Bali, Lin. Beryl was hospitalized there.”

“What? Beryl's sick? What pain Ma?” Alin panicked, because Mrs Aretha who looked very upset.

“Mama also does not know what the pain is, said Eijaz he suddenly fainted during a meeting with a client. Mama is confused, on the other hand Kika is still being treated, but Mama also can't let Beryl there alone.”

Alin understood the feelings of Lady Aretha. He would have been like that if he had experienced a similar incident.

“Don't he go to Japan huh, Ma? How to stay in Bali?”

“Mama was also surprised by the boy. When it comes to business, he goes crazy. Going here and there doesn't know the time or place. I don't know if the more days he gets older, it's easy to get sick. Instead of making his parents hepi, even make confusion. I don't know, Lin!” madam Aretha's emotions overflowed.

“Sick child he did not return home, this even directly flew to Bali. Mama really did not end up thinking the same way her mind. Now he's sick like this, bothering about it all. You can help Mama right, Lin?” Alin thought for a moment.

“Ma, if for example I go to Bali, what can?” alin asked nervously, out of nowhere the crazy idea came from.

“Hah? You want to go to Bali? Seriously?” in the heart of Madam Aretha cheered with excitement.

“Are you sure you want nengokin Beryl in Bali?” Alin mangosteen, his brain and heart were completely out of sync. His brain said no, his heart stimulated his head to nudge a sign of agreement.

“Of course you can, the child would be happy if you visited him. Then Mama will tell Eijaz to arrange your departure today to Bali. You better get ready, how?”

“Ehm, i-iya Ma.”

Mrs Aretha called Eijaz and gave her instructions to change the flight ticket to Bali. While Alin rushed to the room to prepare the needs after previously asking for Mr. Vishaka's permission.

This time he would follow his heart, fight for feelings and enjoy the process. After all, there were a lot of questions that Alin wanted to ask the man. The guy who's been messing up his world lately. The man who had ransacked the locked door of his heart.

\~***\~