After jogging, we returned home. I ran to the room, it's just a habit.
It was so hot, my clothes was damp with sweat. After showering and cleaning up, I went to the dining room for breakfast. All members were already sitting together at the dining table.
"Ara, what's your favorite menu for breakfast, fried rice, bread, or rice noodle?" Aunty Lusi asked me.
"I'll have all these three menus on my dish", I answered.
"You've to eat a lot to gain weight" Ryan said.
Suddenly the ringing of Ryan's phone dominated the atmosphere, he immediately answered the call.
I was startled for a second, Ryan whom I know was never picked up any call when he was with me. Besides, Bunda often told me that the only one Aunty Lusi's complaint against Ryan since he was a kid is ignoring her phone calls or text messages so many times.
"Who is calling?", Uncle Sofyan asked Ryan.
"Dato Ilyas", he replied.
He left home before even having a spoon of breakfast. From his mother, I knew that Dato Ilyas is a father of one of Ryan's leukemia patients; Anne Kumala.
Anne Kumala, she had undergone a spinal cord transplant operation, her condition was slowly getting better even she wasn't fully recovered. If her condition started being deteriorating, Ryan will be the first person whom contacted by her family.
After breakfast, there was nothing to do besides accompanied Auntie Lusi watering and taking care of flowers and other plants in the backyard.
In spite of having a bad allergy of stamens, but I like seeing the flowers sceneries from afar. While waiting, I went to the pantry preparing some glasses of orange juices and a plate of brownies.
I came back to the porch while she almost done with her work. She came over me and enjoyed drinking together while having a nice chat.
"Since you're here, Aunty has a friend to talk to", she said.
I only responded her words with a smile. In the middle of our fun conversation, Ryan who had just returned from Dato Ilyas's home, joined us.
"How is Anne's condition?", she asked.
"Anne is better, she's feeling well", he replied.
After releasing fatigue with a brief chat, Aunty Lusi took me to Da Lusi Restaurant so that I could learn on the spot how to manage a restaurant.
She gave much support on my father's idea whose encouraged me to expand the café into a restaurant and open a new branch.
According to her, by becoming an entrepreneur we have helped many people by providing jobs to reduce the number of unemployed society.
Ayah also had the same thoughts and gave me more support to learn business management from Aunty Lusi. In contrast, Bunda wanted me to pursue my higher degree and found a reputable university in Malaysia.
"Ara, the reason why I'm coming home is taking you to the movie", Ryan complained because I prefer visit Da Lusi with his mother to the movie.
"You'd get ready and go to the hospital. Don't put off any appointment, it wasn't like you", I replied.
"I already have two days off", he said.
"Ah, I shouldn't remember you that the hospital is belonging to your family, you can…", I answered.
"Ok, ok. I'll get ready to the hospital", he answered immediately before I'm even finishing my words.
"Bang Ryan…", I called out his name after he stepped away.
"Um, yaa... ", he answered.
"Let's set another appointment on your vacant day", I said.
"Anyway, you look good wearing doctor suit", I said while raised up double thumbs.
"Hey, my sweet little liar, you've never even seen me wear the white suit", he answered.
"I received your letters and read them all as well as kept your photographs on an album", I answered.
"Since you bringing the topic up, I wanna ask you why you never sent a reply?", he asked.
"I'm already late, Aunty is waiting for me", I answered avoiding his question.
***