Chapter 13
Sydney China Town, 8th January 2019
The lion had danced until the last highest pole. The background music was being played very loudly behind Erick Vildy watching over the performance from below. When Iwan Agustan raised up Subur Kapoor's body, both of them turned round fully in 360 degrees. The audience watching the performance were very amazed and gave them hectic applause.
Again Iwan Agustan put down Subur Kapoor's body and both turned round to the poles in front of them. This time Subur Kapoor did not look down anymore. His sight was always to the front and he seemed to be very confident with his performance at the grand-launching of a newly-opened restaurant in Sydney China Town. Erick Vildy kept nodding his head as a signal of being satisfied with his members' performance tonight.
Erick Vildy sighed a long breath. Unfortunately, he would be no longer staying in Sydney and this lion and dragon dances studio had to be handed over to his members. What would happen to this studio in the future all depended on his members.
The lion reached the shortest pole in front. A while later on, the lion dance would finish. When the lion jumped down and reached the ground, the audience were amazed once again. All gave their spectacular whoopee and applause. Most of the audience inserted their red pockets into the box put by Melisa Rayadi near the entrance door. There were some of the audience asking for some photographs together with the lion. Some of them just went away after taking some photographs. Some of them inserted red pockets into the lion's mouth after taking some photographs.
"Okay… Okay… Let's get in and give our dishes a try, Mr. Erick Vildy," said the boss of the restaurant inviting Erick Vildy and his members to get in.
After arranging all the stuff and the appliances back to their own places, all had been seen sitting inside the restaurant and enjoying the dishes as well as the beverages served that night.
"Oh, so the farewell party and the performance are held at the same site, aren't they, Rick…?" asked Melisa Rayadi smiling a little bit wryly.
"Yeah, coincidently they'll be performing at this restaurant, so I think it's a good idea I book two tables. On the grand-launching day like this, there's a 50% discount. Not really bad, isn't it?" said Erick Vildy a bit grinning.
"How much do we attain tonight, Brother Erick Vildy?" asked Sisca Jessica with her sparkling eyes.
"I haven't counted it yet, but I ever glanced at the money inside the red pocket given by the boss to me. It's about 500 until 600 dollars. It hasn't been added to the red pockets inside the box put by Sister Melisa near the entrance door. Going back to the studio from here, you guys just count it and divide it equally among you all…" said Erick Vildy gulping his drink on the table.
The other members cheered up delightedly.
"Are you sure you don't want a part from it, Brother Erick Vildy?" asked Paul Johnson slightly frowning his forehead.
"Never mind… I am going to return to Medan. You guys just divide it equally among all of you. But, it's only for the members who perform and assist the performance tonight. For those who are absent, just reckon their luck hasn't come yet."
Again Erick Vildy's protégés cheered up excitedly. Shortly afterwards, they raised up their glasses and had a toast.
"Moreover, the red pockets inserted into the lion's mouth after the performance are counted Subur and Iwan's luck, okay…?" Erick Vildy continued his statement, while gobbling some pieces of chicken and vegetables offered to his mouth by Melisa Rayadi.
All his members nodded their heads steadily.
"It's still two days left, Brother Erick Vildy… Are you sure about your going back to your hometown? Isn't…? Isn't…?" asked Subur Kapoor not being able to go on with his statement.
Melisa Rayadi stared at Erick Vildy with her one thousand hidden meanings.
"Exactly, Bur… There's something having been hidden for five years. It's impossible I don't face and settle it. This time going back to Medan to settle the problem five years ago as well as to declare my relationship with Sister Melisa and attain our parents' approval."
All the members cheered up excitedly and clapped their hands. Erick Vildy and Melisa Rayadi looked very blushful.
"Congratulations, Sister Mel," said some members to Melisa Rayadi.
"Congratulations, Brother Erick Vildy… At last you're sold out, Brother. There will be many girls heart-broken, both in Sydney and Medan…" said some other members to Erick Vildy slightly joking.
Again Erick Vildy and Melisa Rayadi looked very blushful.
"So, Brother Erick Vildy… How about… How about… your two other siblings? Are they coming back to Medan as well?" asked Ana Simanjuntak seriously this time.
"No idea, Ana… I absolutely don't get any news from them…" said Erick Vildy shrugging his shoulders relaxingly, "Only when I arrive at Medan can I know whether they're coming back or not."
Secretly, Melisa Rayadi withstood her smile, definitely without Erick Vildy and the other members' knowing.
"They haven't been talking to one another for five years, Ana…" Melisa Rayadi directly strafed forward without any mercy.
"Because… Because of… Because of what, Brother Erick Vildy?" asked Iwan Agustan who seemed to enjoy much the dishes that night.
"When I used to live in Medan, evidently my two siblings and I ever had relationships with a same and similar girl. But, those relationships only lasted for a year. Finally we knew that we'd been deceived," said Erick Vildy with his gazing stare.
"Only because of that, Brother Erick Vildy?" uttered Sisca Jessica with the food filling half of her mouth.
"One day after we knew her deception, she was found dead by Sister Melisa in our studio building, back in Medan there," said Erick Vildy waiting for his whole team's reaction first.
All the members sat quietly and tensely in their own places.
Erick Vildy continued again, "On her chest, they found a scar – a scar which could merely be made by my siblings' and my mysterious powers," said Erick Vildy and again gobbling several pieces of meat and vegetables offered by Melisa to his mouth.
"So, the ones being suspected as the murder were…" Paul Johnson could not continue his sentence. He gulped his drink.
"Quite right, Paul…" mumbled Erick Vildy, "one of the three of us."
All the members were quiet for a while.
"Did you… Did you suspect one of your two brothers as the murder having killed that girl, Brother Erick Vildy?" asked Ana Simanjuntak with the rest of the food sticking between her teeth.
"When I'm thinking it again now, I think that I was so stupid suspecting one of them as the murder at that time, Ana. Perhaps, at that time we were still young, and the problems came one after another, so that we couldn't think clearly. I suspected them and they suspected me. Yeah, we had a big quarrel after that and we decided to have our own solo ways," said Erick Vildy gulping his drink at this moment.
"It's such an unfortunate situation…" uttered Ana Simanjuntak still chewing her food.
"Do you hear that?" Melisa Rayadi's mouth was seen still chewing her food. Erick Vildy solely smiled wryly at his darling.
"Yeah, just go back and settle it then, Brother Erick Vildy," said Subur Kapoor with his chicken still sticking between his teeth. "It's impossible you three brothers killed that girl, I'm dead certain of that."
"Yeah, but still the real and concrete evidence is needed to make the police believe them, isn't it?" uttered Paul Johnson, "Hopefully this problem can be clarified soon, Brother Erick Vildy…"
"Yeah, thanks very much, Friends… Thanks a lot. After my returning to Medan, I hope you guys can still be active in this studio and improve it, Friends. Don't dismiss it directly, won't you? If everything has been settled, perhaps I can come back to Sydney again and at that time I'd like to enroll our team to join the national dragon or lion dance championship. Can you guys do it…?" Erick Vildy gave such an encouragement to his protégés.
"Yeah we can…" answered all his members simultaneously.
Everyone raised up their own glasses and had a toast again. That night was spent until ten o'clock.
***
Singapore, 12th January 2019
The super busy airport seemed to have never been asleep. The plane from Tokyo boarded by Erwie Vincent and Julia Dewi had just landed.
Julia Dewi Sofia Luvin shook her head for a while. Flying for quite a long time had strained her neck muscles. Julia Dewi and Erwie Vincent were seen queuing up behind the immigration gate to have their passports stamped. After being from the immigration gate, they took their luggage and passed it through the scanner. After everything was over, Julia Dewi directly searched for a seat to sit down for a moment, to relax all her strained muscles. She was also seen yawning for several times. Erwie Vincent was seen giving her a kind of massage from behind.
"You don't usually take such a long flight like this, do you, Jul?" Erwie Vincent's relaxed smile was seen.
"Ever going to Singapore, actually… But, that happened when I was fifteen – it's been a long way away… Gosh…! Change the planes here and there…. Stamp the passport here and there… It seems that I'm not different from those stewards and stewardesses, Wie…" said Julia Dewi yawning again for several times.
"In the future, we'll be flying to and fro between Medan and Los Angeles for quite often. So, as the time passes by, you'll get used to it," said Erwie Vincent still with his grinning smile.
Erdie Vio and Sabrina Marcelina appeared exactly behind Erwie Vincent. It was such a coincidence that Erwie Vincent and Erdie Vio were standing back to back, so that they did not see each other.
Erdie Vio also yawned for several times, "It's just been ten and our flight back to Medan is at two later on. I wonder why I should arrive at the airport this early."
"You've promised that you'll be accompanying me eating the Thai food on the second floor of this airport…" uttered Sabrina Marcelina a little bit grinning.
"Is there any difference between the food sold in the plazas out there and the one sold here in this airport?" asked Erdie Vio slightly grumbling.
"Of course, there is, Die… The one sold here in this airport tastes more like and more similar with the real Thai food. Every time I fly to or from Singapore, I always eat at the café on the second floor of this airport," said Sabrina Marcelina searching for thousands of reasons.
"Okay then… Out of the blue, I've got a stomachache right now. You kept rushing me off, so that I don't have any time to poop this morning. I want to find a toilet first. You just wait for me in the waiting room, Rin…" said Erdie Vio.
Sabrina Marcelina nodded her head quickly. Erdie Vio passed by to the toilet. Sabrina Marcelina looked for a row of chairs to wait for her sweetheart from the toilet. She pushed her own luggage and her darling's luggage to the row of chairs which was also behind Erwie Vincent's back.
"Been hungry already?" asked Erwie Vincent to Julia Dewi. "You last time ate ten hours ago. Do you want me to buy you some food?"
Hearing that voice, Sabrina Marcelina's attention was instantly directed to Erwie Vincent in front of him, who was coincidently standing with his back facing her. Oh, my Buddha…! This voice… This voice… Isn't this voice Erwie Vincent's voice? From behind, this guy looks the same with Erdie, but it's obvious that Erdie went to the toilet just now. And that girl is obviously not Melisa. So, this guy can't be Erick Vildy. So, it's been obvious he's Erwie Vincent, isn't he? Oh, Buddha… Evidently, Erwie Vincent has also got his sweetheart out there. What a fate… What a fate…
This time, Erwie Vincent was seen turning around and standing in front of Julia Dewi. Spontaneously, Sabrina Marcelina raised up her handbag to cover her face. She did not want Erwie Vincent to realize quickly her existence in that place.
"Okay then, Wie…" Julia Dewi's voice was heard. This time, Sabrina Marcelina was dead certain that this guy was Erwie Vincent.
"What do you want to eat?" asked Erwie Vincent calmly.
"I think I prefer noodles," muttered Julia Dewi.
"Okay then… Wait here first for a moment. I'll buy you the super-duper delicious noodles here in Singapore," said Erwie Vincent slightly grinning.
After Erwie Vincent had passed by, Julia Dewi started to engross in her own cell phone. Out of the blue, there was somebody patting her right shoulder lightly from behind. Julia Dewi instantly turned back and she saw a beautiful young lady who approximately had the same age with her. She smiled gently and frowned her forehead a bit.
"Do you speak Indonesian?" asked Sabrina Marcelina first in English. She was a bit doubtful that this girl was an Indonesian inasmuch as Erwie Vincent spoke English with her.
"Not really fluently… As I come from US," uttered Julia Dewi still with her gentle smile.
Oh, evidently for the past five recent years, Erwie Vincent was staying in US…
"Okay then…" continued Sabrina Marcelina again in her sufficiently-fluent English. "Let me introduce myself… I'm Sabrina… Sabrina Marcelina Tiogana, from Medan, Indonesia…"
"It's such a coincidence. Two o'clock later on, my lover and I will be flying to Medan. I'm Julia… Julia Dewi Sofia Luvin…" said Julia Dewi introducing herself. "Have we… Have we… Have we met before?"
"No, but I know your lover. He also comes from Medan, doesn't he? Just the same with my lover then," uttered Sabrina Marcelina.
Julia Dewi frowned her forehead even deeper. She did not understand a single thing here. Sabrina Marcelina knew that Erwie Vincent could be back at any time. She did not want Erwie Vincent to see her so quickly. She directly took out her cell phone and showed Erdie Vio's photo to Julia Dewi. Julia Dewi's eyes gaped a bit wider when she realized the similarity between Erwie Vincent and Erdie Vio.
"Hah…? Erwie… Erwie…" Julia Dewi started to feel perplexed and she could not continue her sentence.
"No… It's obvious you were with Erwie within these past five recent years, weren't you? This man isn't Erwie. He's my lover… He's Erdie… Erdie Vio Makmur…" said Sabrina Marcelina intentionally slowing down her sentences so that Julia Dewi could digest them well.
Before Julia Dewi recovered from her shock, Sabrina Marcelina continued again,
"And it's such a coincidence that you guys want to fly back to Medan today as well. But before that, I'd like to ask for your help. Can I…?"
Meanwhile, Melisa Rayadi and Erick Vildy had just got off the plane and at the moment, they were queuing up behind the immigration gate.
"Many people are also coming from Sydney, just like us, Mel," said Erick Vildy sighing his long breath. He could not stand waiting in such a long queue.
"Be patient a bit… Despite a small country, Singapore can be said as the city with the most expensive living costs in Asia, so it's no wonder why there are so many people coming here," whispered Melisa Rayadi.
Erick Vildy snapped his lips. He faced front again. Melisa Rayadi felt that her cell phone was vibrating. Evidently, Sabrina Marcelina sent her a Line message. So, although Erick Vildy did not know where Erdie Vio had been staying for the past five recent years, Melisa Rayadi did know about all of that inasmuch as she had been secretly keeping in touch with Sabrina Marcelina, and vice versa. Nevertheless, both of them had promised not to tell their lovers about this matter before they succeeded in bringing 3E together again and reuniting them.
"Mel… Any idea whom I've just met in the waiting room?" asked Sabrina Marcelina.
"Who's that? Tell me quickly. Don't make me curious please," replied Melisa Rayadi.
"Erwie Vincent and his darling from US," typed Sabrina Marcelina.
"Wow… So, within these times, Erwie Vincent has been staying in US and now, he's already got a girlfriend as well?" typed Melisa Rayadi.
"Yes… So, how about our plan to bring back 3E together again, Mel…? Don't tell me it's been canceled, Mel," typed Sabrina Marcelina again.
"Obviously, it has to be executed…" replied Melisa Rayadi again, "We've been working so hard within these times, to equalize their flight dates and hours, so it's impossible for the plan to be canceled. No kidding please… Moreover, coincidently, the middle brother also appears here, right now, in this airport. This fate mustn't be wasted away, Rin…"
Sabrina Marcelina replied, "Okay… So, the next step is you must find a way to bring Erick to the waiting room exactly in front of the immigration gate, Mel. With one-thousand reasons, you must leave him alone there. Afterwards, meet me in the female toilet right beside the waiting room. From this female toilet, we can watch the next scenes freely. Okay…?"
"Okay… Okay… The plan will soon be executed…" replied Melisa Rayadi while smiling to herself.
At last, it was Melisa Rayadi and Erick Vildy's turn to have their passports stamped. After being from the immigration gate, both of them went to the luggage claim. Having claimed their luggage, then Melisa Rayadi could execute her plan.
"Ouch… Ouch… Ouch, Rick…" screamed Melisa Rayadi gently.
"What's the matter?" Erick Vildy looked slightly perplexing.
"I've got a stomachache. It seems that I must go to the toilet first. On the plane just now, I'd got no chance for poop," said Melisa Rayadi touching her belly.
"Oh… Okay then…" Erick Vildy nodded his head sincerely.
"Wait for me here…" said Melisa Rayadi pushing her luggage to the waiting room indicated by Sabrina Marcelina previously. Indirectly, she had directed Erick Vildy to the meeting site.
Shortly afterwards, she had got into the female toilet and saw Sabrina Marcelina and Julia Dewi there.
"Let me introduce, Mel… This is Erwie Vincent's lover coming from US. She's Julia Dewi Sofia Luvin," said Sabrina Marcelina introducing Julia Dewi.
Julia Dewi stretched out her hand, "Nice to meet you…"
"Nice to meet you too… I'm Melisa… Melisa Rayadi… So, for the past five recent years, Erwie Vincent was staying in US, wasn't he, Jul?" asked Melisa Rayadi in her sufficiently-fluent English.
"Yes… That guy is your sweetheart, isn't he, Mel?" Julia Dewi pointed to Erick Vildy.
"Yeah… He's the eldest brother. He's Erick… Erick Vildy Makmur…" said Melisa Rayadi being a little bit blushful.
Julia Dewi kept nodding her head. From behind, Erick Vildy was seen exactly the same with Erwie Vincent and Erdie Vio. In the next seconds, they had been waiting for what precisely would occur to 3E's reunion that morning.
Erick Vildy was engrossed in his cell phone. He was checking all the information and messages via his Line and WA. Meanwhile, Erdie Vio had finished from the toilet. Their three girlfriends quickly hid inside the female toilet because they did not want Erdie Vio to see them. Meanwhile furthermore, from the entrance door, Erwie Vincent was also seen having come bringing a box of noodles.
The three women hiding in the female toilet began to be tense watching the reunion scene which had been drawing to a close.
Erick Vildy leant against a big pole which was right beside him. He was facing the airport windows and the airfield. He was still seen being engrossed in his cell phone.
Erwie Vincent did not find Julia Dewi in the waiting room anymore. He merely saw their suitcases there. Where has she gone? It isn't usual Julia is so careless leaving all the things everywhere she likes. Erwie Vincent began to take out his cell phone and send a message via Line to his sweetheart. Pressing the keyboard on his cell phone, Erwie Vincent also coincidently leant against exactly the same big pole.
Erdie Vio got out of the toilet. He looked to the left and to the right insofar as he did not find Sabrina Marcelina who had said wanting to eat Thai food. Even she herself is nowhere to be seen. She said she wanted to eat the Thai food on the second floor of this airport. What the hell is going on…? Where on earth has she gone? Without realizing it, Erdie Vio also leant against the same big pole.
The three women at the toilet looked at one another. It had really been a fate for 3E to meet and reunite again – meeting and reuniting again after separating for five years.
Erdie Vio took out his cell phone from his pants pocket. Inasmuch as he was not careful enough in holding it, the cell phone slipped out of his hand and fell to the floor. Two other people at the other sides of the pole heard something fall to the floor. Evidently, it was a cell phone. Both of them wanted to help take it. Erdie Vio also wanted to take his cell phone. Three hands went down at the same time and finally, 3E's eye rays also bumped into one another simultaneously.
"Hah…?" Erdie Vio was startled. "You guys… You…"
Erwie Vincent's eyes were also seen gaping widely, "What… What… What are you guys doing here in Singapore?"
Erick Vildy sat onto the floor owing to his excessive astonishment, "I also want to ask that. What are you guys doing here?"
Second by second passed by. Three E stared at one another with their gaping eyes, still keeping lots of question-marks, confusion, and astonishment.
The three women watching from the female toilet, were waiting for a second by a second within their tense atmosphere.
Again and again, it was Erwie Vincent who broke the ice. He stretched out his hands to his two siblings while smiling relaxingly. Slowly, Erick Vildy and Erdie Vio's hands also rose up to welcome their middle brother's hands. Three E were now standing facing to the airport windows stiffly and did not know what to say.
"I…" they seemed to speak out the word simultaneously. Now, three of them also burst out into laughter simultaneously.
"Okay… Let Wie Wie begin first, Die…" said Erick Vildy to his youngest brother.
Erdie Vio nodded his head enthusiastically now, "Yes… Among three of us, you're the usual one to break the ice, Wie."
Erwie Vincent smiled calmly. He stared at his two siblings for a while and started to open his mouth, "I… I… I've been staying in Los Angeles within these times. I worked in a hotel as a receptionist. Because Dad also has an apartment there, I stayed there within these times. I didn't need to rent an apartment anymore."
"I've been teaching in a general private school in Sydney," said Erick Vildy while smiling slightly wryly. "Same, Wie… I was also staying in Dad's apartment in Sydney there."
"How about you, Die…?" asked Erwie Vincent to the youngest brother.
"Wow… Wow… Wow…" mumbled Erdie Vio full of spirits and cheerfulness right now. "Both of you ran to the far way away places, Rick, Wie. I'm not that far… I was merely staying here in Singapore and working in the entertainment field. Same… I was also staying in Dad's apartment here in Singapore, so I didn't need to rent an apartment anymore."
Three E were seen giggling to one another.
"It's such a coincidence we plan to fly back to Medan today, with the same flight and the same hour," Erick Vildy patted his forehead for a while. "I've known it… Melisa must have planned something behind all of these."
The middle and the youngest brothers gaped their eyes and mouths hearing the eldest brother's statement. Erick Vildy raised up his right hand and instantly clarified everything about his statement.
"Yeah… Yeah… I admit… I've made up with Melisa… Melisa Rayadi – the girl who used to be in Eternal Solidarity team," said Erick Vildy a little bit blushful.
Erdie Vio cheered delightedly and Erwie Vincent burst into his crisp laughter.
"You're finally sold out, Rick," said Erdie Vio. "Yeah, perhaps this has been our fate, Rick, Wie… Me too… I've made up with Sabrina… Sabrina Marcelina who also used to be in Eternal Solidarity team."
"Yeah… You're also sold out already. That means our fates are the same…" said Erick Vildy pointing to his middle brother. "So, how about our middle brother's love, Die?"
The eldest and the youngest brothers ogled their eyes to the middle brother. Erwie Vincent solely smiled calmly.
"Already… Already sold out as well… She's a crossbreed girl between American and Singaporean. Very beautiful, graceful and wise. Her name's Julia… Julia Dewi Sofia Luvin. I'll introduce her to you later on…"
"Yoosss…!" shouted Erick Vildy full of enthusiasm. He was seen squeezing gently his middle brother's shoulder in full spirits.
Erdie Vio also cheered up delightedly and was seen squeezing his middle brother's shoulder in full spirits and enthusiasm, "Yeah, I tell you what… Three of us have been sold out altogether. Our loves come at the same time."
Erwie Vincent merely smiled relaxingly, "I've never thought before Melisa and Sabrina would chase after their loves to their each runaway places. Now, they succeed in struggling for their loves and happiness."
Erick Vildy smiled broadly, "Don't know why I can make up with Melisa. But obviously, the real love doesn't need any reasons, does it, Wie, Die…?"
The middle and the youngest brothers nodded their heads steadily.
"But, I think our reunion and meeting here are merely owing to our fates," uttered Erwie Vincent.
"Precisely, I thought that it was Sabrina and Melisa who had planned everything behind all of these," muttered Erdie Vio.
"Yeah… Perhaps they could've been contacting each other these times and they equalized our flight numbers and hours. My tickets were all settled by Melisa. How about yours, Die?" asked Erick Vildy a bit sniffing.
"Same, Rick…" said Erdie Vio a bit giggling. "I was so busy with many schedules and shows, so it was Sabrina who settled all my tickets."
"Yeah, they could equalize all your flight numbers and hours, but not mine. Julia doesn't know both Melisa and Sabrina, does she?" mumbled Erwie Vincent while smiling relaxingly.
"Yeah… You're quite right…" said Erick Vildy nodding his head.
"Perhaps it's been our destiny to meet up and reunite again, Rick, Wie…" said Erdie Vio with lots of hidden compassion inside his latest sentence.
Three of them were seen sitting in the waiting room. The next conversations were about their lives in three different countries for the past five recent years.