Knock~ ... Knock~ ... Knock~ ...
Aldy and Maureen turned towards the door. Ally got up. Screamed a little when he felt the pain in his right abdomen again. Maureen could see that Aldy endured the pain so bad.
But for what?
Aldy should not have moved a lot. But it seems Aldy is already used to such pain.
Aldy walked to the door and opened it to find a uniformed online motorcycle taxi driver carrying two packs of burgers they ordered.
"Mr. Harry?" the man asked.
"I am his son."
"Oh, here's your order. Two cheeseburgers. This order has been paid for via Go-Pay."
Aldy received the package from the hands of the online motorcycle taxi driver. After the person left, Aldy came back in and sat on the edge of the bed. Maureen was already seated too.
"You like cheeseburgers?"
"Why? You don't like it?"
Aldy shook her head in response. He took out a pack and gave it to Maureen. "I'm not picky about food."
"So, what's your favorite food?"
"Mmm ..." Aldy also took out a cheeseburger and placed the crackle bag on the floor. "I never feel like eating this or that again. When I'm hungry, whatever I think is the easiest to get, that's what I eat."
"It's very complicated. I'm just asking your favorite food."
Aldy immediately took a bite of his burger in a big bite, while Maureen tried to cut the burger to the size that his mouth could fit.
Aldy could see Maureen's hands were still shaking a little even though she was just trying to rip the burger. Aldy put his burger back into the wrapper and placed it on the nearest table. After that, he took over Maureen's burger.
Aldy tore it into pieces, not too big but not too small, then thrust it right in front of Maureen's mouth. "Don't worry. My hands are clean."
Maureen opened her mouth and took a bite of the burger slice from Aldy's hand. After chewing it a few times and swallowing it, Maureen looked at Aldy. "Aren't you going to eat?"
"I'm not that hungry yet."
Aldy feeds Maureen again. After feeding Maureen three times, Aldy looked around the room. "Looks like dad forgot to order us drinks."
Aldy got up, and he screamed again for a moment. It seems that every time he gets up from a sitting position, Aldy will again feel pain in his right abdomen. The stab wound he suffered was quite fatal. But fortunately, the stitches are really neat so that no blood escapes.
Aldy took a glass of water and gave it to Maureen. Even Aldy held the glass while Maureen sipped the water in it.
"Do you still want to eat?" asked Aldy while holding Maureen's burger.
Maureen shook her head.
"Why do you eat so less? Eat some more," said Aldy while gently feeding Maureen again.
Maureen actually wanted to refuse, her appetite was not as big as when her body was fit, but with a piece of burger that was already in Aldy's hands right in front of her mouth, for some reason, Maureen didn't have the desire to refuse it.
Everyone can see it. Aldy's appearance is still a little scary and intimidating, especially with injuries like that. But in contrast to his appearance, his attitude towards his sister broke it all.
After Maureen really felt full, Aldy put Maureen's burger back into the wrapper. He helped Maureen to drink and put the glass on the nearest table.
Aldy grabbed his burger and started eating.
"Aldy ..."
"Hmm?" Aldy responded while trying to chew his food.
Maureen was confused about what to ask. From Aldy's chatter that she heard while lying in a coma, Maureen already knew a lot about Aldy. Aldy even told about his childhood. About how he got out of the orphanage and ended up in prison. And also about his daily life at school.
"What is it?"
"Erm … Nothing."
Aldy smiled. "Confused what to ask? It's natural. You've been listening to my ramblings for a year when you were still in a coma. How about it. I'll be the one who asks you the question."
Maureen nodded in agreement.
"Did you know that you had an accident that made you like this?" asked Aldy. Maureen just nodded in response.
"You know that you lost your mother at that time, don't you? Are you okay?"
Maureen was silent. Actually, Aldy knew that it wasn't the right time to ask that. But sooner or later, they will discuss it anyway. Aldy also wanted to know how Maureen felt after knowing this. He wouldn't stop Maureen from being sad or crying if she wanted to. Aldy wanted Maureen to know that she wasn't alone.
"Actually, I'm still sad because I can't see mama again. But ..."
Aldy could see it, Maureen's two shiny eyes indicated that tears had begun to well up there.
"But, I'm also happy that I have a papa who still cares about Maureen. And also, I have an older brother who is kind to me."
Even though Maureen was smiling, Aldy noticed the vibration on Maureen's lips. She held back her tears. Without further ado, Aldy brought his body closer to Maureen and immediately embraced the body of his beloved sister.
"Maybe you want to look tough in front of dad. You don't want dad to be sad when he sees you cry. But, you don't have to do that shit in front of me. If you're sad, you can cry as much as you want. If you're happy, you can laugh as much as you want. In front of me, you are free to be yourself without having to hide anything. I don't mind. You just need to know that I will always be by your side."
In Aldy's arms, no matter how hard Maureen wanted to hold it, her tears still escaped. Her lips trembled violently.
"M- … Mom …"
Maureen said it bitterly. Gradually, his whimpering also grew louder.
"Mom … Mom … Aldy, Mom. Mom is gone! I can't see her anymore! … Mom!~ …"
Aldy rubbed Maureen's shoulder, although, in this position Aldy would feel the pain in the right side of his stomach again, he didn't care. All Aldy cares about is that he wants to make Maureen feel as comfortable as possible so that he can reduce Maureen's sadness, even if only a small part of that sadness is reduced.
And at that very moment, the awkwardness between the two of them began to slowly fade away.
***
Several days have passed. Aldy went home yesterday from the hospital, while Maureen had to stay in the hospital to get some therapy so that she could move her body back to normal.
Aldy always accompanies Maureen whenever Maureen is given light therapies by the doctor.
That night, Maureen had just finished doing therapy to train the muscles in her legs. As a result, Maureen was able to stand on her own without holding on to anything. Of course, Aldy was next to him.
"Then, I'll let you rest. Remember! Don't stay up too late, okay?"
The doctor left the room where Aldy and Maureen were.
"Reen, take a look," said Aldy while handing the iPad to Maureen. Maureen came closer and rested her head on Aldy's shoulder.
Maybe because Maureen is used to Aldy, Maureen is super spoiled after all. And Aldy didn't mind that either.
"Which do you like?" Aldy asked while showing various room designs for women that he was looking for on the internet.
"Aaaw, they're all cute!" Maureen complained as she scrolled through the web page with a completely confused look on her face. "By the way, I've never seen your room."
Aldy gave the iPad to Maureen and took his cell phone then showed Maureen a photo of his room.
"This is your room? Where's the bed? Your room is full of gaming equipment. How did you sleep? On the chair?"
"There's a sofa there."
"Is it good to sleep on the sofa?"
"Don't underestimate my sacred sofa, little girl!"
Maureen chuckled at Aldy's answer. "Do you really want to become a professional gamer? It seems you once told me that you were offered to become a professional gamer. Why did you refuse?"
"I only play games to fulfill my hobby. I don't like it if the things I want to do are limited by contracts or whatever." Aldy explained, who made Maureen o-ed her mouth without making a sound. "So, which design do you like? If you ask me to design your room like mine, then just dream about it."
"Huh? Of course not. I don't want to sleep on the sofa. It looks very uncomfortable. Mmmm ... I want this room design."
"Are you sure?" asked Aldy to be sure. Maureen's room choice was dominated by white and pink. More specifically, light pink. The furniture also looks very girl-ish, with hanging dolls on the wall. Even so, it still seems minimalist but still modern.
Maureen nodded. Aldy also saved the picture, which he will use as a reference for Maureen's room which he will redecorate soon.
"But I also want a computer."
"Do you like playing games too?"
Maureen shook her head slowly. "I can't, but I want to give it a try. Who knows I might beat you."
"If you want to play games, you can go to my room. Because it looks like your room design won't be suitable if you add a personal computer. Maybe a laptop is more suitable, you can put it on your study table later."
"Hmm … Alright then." Maureen finally gave up.
Aldy stroked Maureen's head with a smile. To him, Maureen's expression when she was giving in like that looked very adorable.
Aldy feels lucky to have an adorable sister like Maureen.
That night, with Maureen leaning her head on Aldy's shoulder, time seemed to fly by.
Aldy stayed there until Maureen fell into a deep sleep.
While looking at Maureen's peaceful sleeping face, Aldy smiled kindly. "From now on, I will try to be a worthy older brother for you," he said, stroking Maureen's face as gently as possible.
Maureen held Aldy's hand, which was on her face, still asleep. Aldy also smiled at Maureen.
Aldy just loves Maureen too much.
For him, Maureen was the figure of a sister he had never had before.
A sister who is beautiful and also adorable.