Under the Same Sky

Chapter 15

" What's that for, Alya?" father asked as I sat in front of my papers at one in the morning. " It seems, very busy until it did not come out at all from earlier." said Dad again, insinuating my absence in the midst of relatives last night.

I stopped my drawing to respond to Dad's questions. " This is what Alya told me the other day, Dad. Alya had to hand over some pictures to designers from Australia. So, while Alya is on leave, Alya must still complete this task." I tried to explain my work to Dad. Dad looked at my papers at a glance, then sat down beside me.

" You're on leave?" ask Dad again.

" Yes, Dad."

" When?"

" Until my grandmother's seven-day event is over and there's one more week I'm at home, after which Alya returns to Singapore."

Dad looked at me sharply. I defended myself not to feel guilty about Dad. I've sacrificed three weeks for Grandma, sacrificing my professional attitude for Grandma's sake. What else does my father want from me?

" Your sister's going to be proposed next month. You weren't here when the show happened?" ask Dad.

I exhaled my short breath. " If it's Sunday, Alya try to come. But, if it's a weekday, sorry Alya can't come, Dad." I said.

" Daughter is betrothed once in her life" said Father again.

" But there's still their wedding day, Dad. Kan, at that time Alya can come. Not all of Princess's ceremonies should be Alya's." I complained.

" When are you in Singapore, Alya? I hope you return home soon and stay home. The princess is leaving with her husband. You better find a husband here. I see, Adit likes you. You shouldn't be together."

" Dad!" I cried out in disbelief at what Dad just said to me. How could Dad demand that I stop working for Singapore, demand that I return home and marry Bang Adit? Yesterday, Mom, now Dad. What exactly are they planning for me?

" If you are with Adit, you can still live in this house, you can still often visit the tombs of Father and Mother and Grandmother and Grandpa here, and of course you can still keep Grandpa's trust to be able to stay in this house, Alya." Dad said patiently in response to my violent reaction just now.

I fell silent after hearing Dad's words just now. Ayab's tone was not as firm as usual when she had a will towards her children. Dad's tone was a tone of tiredness and despair. I looked at Dad with regret.

" But Alya can't be with Bang Adit" I said in the end.

" For Alya regarded him as a brother. Because Alya doesn't love her, Dad." I replied.

" Learn to love him." said Dad firmly.

" Where can that be, Dad?" reject me again.

" Love exists because it's used to it, Alya."

" Can you?"

" Everyone is so in the past, and all their marriages last until the end of life."

" But that was before, Dad. Are you married without love?" ask me to challenge Dad.

Dad was silent to my question. Check for Dad. Irritated, I hurried to tidy up my papers and left him to go to the room.

I stared at the ceiling of my room with a bright look. My view has become increasingly blurred. Not because of my sleepy eyes, but because of the presence of tears without power I hold for now. I miss Mark so much right now.

I glanced towards the wall clock attached to my right. At one in the morning. Mark must have rested. But, I miss him. Finally I picked up my phone and started typing messages for her.

Indira.

01:17

Mark... have you slept?

I was still staring at the phone screen for a few seconds, hoping that Mark would reply to my message. But, until my phone screen went dark, there was no sign of a reply from Mark. Sighing, I put my phone next to the pillow.

" I miss you, Mark." I said slowly and began to close my eyes. May Mark be in my dreams.