Chereads / A Glimmer Of Past Memory / Chapter 7 - EDDY'S PAST

Chapter 7 - EDDY'S PAST

Even though Erwin loves Yoshie so much, the arrival of Aida who is looking for her biological grandfather is quite disturbing.

He was still thinking about it. "Weird. Why is she so sure that grandpa's name is Edward Chow?"

He was silent for a moment, furrowing his brows. His surprised smile reappeared. He tried to calm himself down.

"Ah, maybe she's dehydrated. Never mind, forget her, Erwin."

Meanwhile, in Seattle, United States of America on the same day, it was noon…

In a fairly large house, an old man was painting. He painted a young woman. This man had done many paintings, but at that time, he was painting a beautiful girl.

A nurse looked at the painting in awe. The nurse expressed her admiration.

"Wow, your painting is amazing, Eddy," said the nurse.

While continuing to paint, Eddy replied, "Thank you, Sharon. She is my soul mate that I haven't met until now."

Sharon then asked, "Oh, she is so beautiful. Who is she, Eddy?"

"She is Kinarsih. She is like the moon in my heart. He has never been replaced, even by the late Martha Reese," said Eddy while still painting.

"But don't you have a child from the late Martha?" asked Sharon.

"Yes. You're right. However, Kinarsih still lives in my heart until now," said Eddy.

Eddy was silent. He smiled as he took a deep breath. He finally finished his painting.

"Phew, finished this painting too," he said with a smile.

For a moment, he looked at Sharon. "Sharon, please tidy up my painting kit."

Sharon nodded. He immediately tidied up the painting equipment. After that, he took medicine for Eddy.

"Okay, time for medicine, sir," said Sharon while preparing the medicine.

Eddy sighed. Apparently, he wanted to continue the story. He poured out his heart again. Sharon understood. She listened again.

Eddy immediately continued his story, "Martha is a woman who completes my life. She is indeed a special woman that I will always remember, but Kinarsih is still in my deepest heart."

Sharon asked curiously, "Does Martha know?"

"Martha knows. She understands. I remember, Martha came with a cute little baby, Richard Reese," said Eddy with a long sigh.

For a moment he took the medicine that the nurse gave him. Eddy, who is in a wheelchair, asked Sharon to take him to his luxurious front yard. There, he looked at the beautiful flowers, and occasionally he touched them.

Eddy continued his words, "Although Martha is not Kinarsih, I also love her. She also gave me a son, Samuel Reese, Richard Reese's half brother. We lived a small business, and now you see, because of Martha's support I became successful. However, after his passing 20 years ago, I remembered Kinarsih again."

Sharon said, "Kinarsih? Unique name. Like the name of the land of Java."

"Exactly, Sharon. She is a beautiful nurse, who is gentle and loving," said Eddy with a distant gaze.

Patiently, Sharon continued to push the wheelchair around the huge front yard. Not long after, two people came over to Eddy and Sharon. He is Samuel Reese and Kenji, a Japanese citizen who is working in America.

"Papa, someone wants to meet you," said Samuel, looking at Kenji.

Kenji approached Eddy. He smiled kindly at Eddy as he lowered his body.

With a surprised face, Eddy asked, "Sam, who is he?"

Samuel answered, "Papa, he claims to be Kinarsih' nephew."

"What? Kinarsih?" Eddy was so surprised.

With slightly trembling hands, he took out the worn photo in his left pocket. Samuel was surprised to see the old photo.

"Dad, who is she? Why am I only now seeing the photo?" asked Samuel with a surprised face.

Eddy answered, "Son, papa has kept this photo a secret for a long time. Martha actually knows about this, but papa wants to bury this memory, son. After Martha died, these memories bothered papa again."

Samuel handed the photo to Kenji. Kenji smiled at him. In Japanese dialect, Kenji said to Eddy.

"Right, sir. The woman in the photo is Aunt. Aunt Kinarsih, I know Aunt Michiko Matsumoto," Kenji said in English.

Eddy was surprised. A smile of happiness shone on his face. With enthusiasm, Eddy immediately asked. "Then, how is Kinarsih?"

Kenji took a deep breath. He looked at Eddy's face with a sad expression. He felt sorry to see Eddy, who still seemed so hopeful that he could meet Kinarsih, his long-lost aunt.

"Sir, I'm sorry. She is gone. Aunty died at a young age, she died in 1957."

Eddy looked sad. Her tears dripped. "Kinarsih, ... I'm sorry ...," he said to himself.

Eddy was silent again with a sad face. Sharon tried to calm him down. He really paid attention to Kenji's words.

Kenji continued his conversation. "Kinarsih' child is still alive, sir."

Eddy was surprised. He looked at Kenji. "Kinarsih' child?"

Kenji smiled and nodded his head. "Right. Her child is your biological child. Her name is Ayumi Morimoto, and she has a child named Aida Masaru whose face looks like Kinarsih."

Eddy smiled again after hearing that his biological child was still alive. And what is more surprising, his grandchild is very similar to Kinarsih. "Is that true?"

Kenji answered. "That's right, sir. He's grown up now."

Eddy reminisced about his past. The spirit of life seems to have returned. Staring at Kenji and Samuel.

"Um, I remember three months before the Pearl Harbor incident, Kinarsih and I were married. I left him when the Dutch were at war with the Nazis. At that time, Kinarsih was pregnant," said Eddy, starting to remember his past.

Eddy looked far ahead. He was silent for a moment. Eddy began to briefly tell the incident that made him separated from his wife. Everyone listened carefully to Eddy's story.

"After World War two ended, the Dutch East Indies had changed its name to Indonesia. I searched for Kinarsih, but to no avail. I want to meet my son," said Eddy after finishing his story.

Kenji nodded. "She'll be here tomorrow, sir."

Eddy smiled. Not long after, Ellen and Azka came from Boston to visit Eddy. Ellen immediately approached Eddy and hugged him, while Azka followed behind him.

Ellen greeted him, "Grandpa, I miss… how is Grandpa doing?"

"Ellen, Grandpa is fine," replied Eddy with his trademark smile.

"Oh yeah, Cake. This is Ellen's boyfriend. He's Azka, an Indonesian," said Ellen introducing Azka.

Eddy was surprised. He looked at her for a moment. Asuka smiled kindly.

"Grandpa, I'm Azka. I've worked in Detroit," Azka said introducing herself.

"Um… Indonesian huh? I have a lot of sweet memories there," said Eddy pleasantly.

Ellen and Azka were shocked. Ellen immediately expressed her astonishment. "Grandpa have any memories there?"

"Yes. Maybe it's time for you to know what I'm keeping a secret," he began to tell his secret.

Eddy took a deep breath. He invited everyone into the house and gathered in the family room. After everyone gathered, Eddy began to share his memories with Kinarsih.

---Eddy's story---

Buintezorg, October 12, 1941

In the afternoon, near Malloy Dormitory, Edward and Kinarsih were seen sitting on the front porch of the hostel. Darmi, who had just come home from work, greeted Edward with a smile while teasing Kinarsih.

Edward and Kinarsih' relationship is getting closer. They love each other even more, despite their different social classes. Because of the power of his love, Edward again declared his intention to Kinarsih.

"Asuh, I'm sure I want to propose to you. Tomorrow morning, I will meet your parents."

Kinarsih was surprised. She looked at Edward and said, "But, Ed. My parents never approved of our relationship."

Edward replied with confidence, "I'm not giving up, Asih. I will fight for our love."

"But, Ed ..." said Kinarsih in a worried tone.

Edward gently held Kinarsih' hand. "Honey, with or without your family's blessing, no matter what, I just want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Edward was silent for a moment. He kissed Kinarsih' hand, and touched it to his chest.

"Kinarsih, every beat of my heart is only for you, and until whenever, I will have you, as well as you," he continued confidently.

Kinarsih was so flattered, her eyes filled with tears of emotion. She just smiled sweetly at Edward.

"Lord, unite us…. I love him so much," said Kinarsih in his heart.

Kinarsih was silent for a moment looking at Edward. "All right, Ed. I'll obey you. Tomorrow, I'll accompany you to meet my parents."

The next morning, Kinarsih and Edward went to Kinarsih parents' house. Their arrival was greeted by his father's distaste for Edward. However, Edward, who loved Kinarsih so much, didn't care. Edward tried to convince Kinarsih' parents.

"Sir, I only work, I have never looked at Kinarsih as an Indigenous person. We were both born from the belly of a mother."

"ENOUGH!! I will never approve of your relationship with Kinarsih!" snapped Kinarsih' Father.

Kinarsih got up and knelt before his father. "Father, I beg you, … bless our relationship. I love him so much."

Her father ignored him. He remained unmoved even though Kinarsih kissed his feet.

He said in an angry tone, "Kinarsih, I won't approved of your relationship with the invaders. Why don't you marry Tjokro, our neighbor?"

"I don't love him, ... I only love Edward, Father ...," said Kinarsih starting to cry.

She hugged her father's legs tightly. Her father was so angry to hear Kinarsih answer. Roughly, her father let go of Kinarsih' arms and pushed him down in front of Edward.

Edward helps Kinarsih to get up. "Kinarsih, are you okay?"

Kinarsih who was still crying just shook her head. Edward got up and approached his father Kinarsih.

Edward who was trying to be patient said, "Sir, with respect, I ask for your blessing to marry Kinarsih. We love each other."

Kinarsih' Father, only smiled sadly at Edward's words. "Nonsense about love, Colonel! What do you know about love?!"

"Father, I love Edward so much. He's a good man." Kinarsih expressed her heart in the midst of her tears.

Her father was so angry. He immediately turned his face away and pointed towards the exit.

"Alright, Kinarsih! Please continue your relationship with him, and from now on, you are not my son anymore. Get the two of you out of here… GO!!" he snapped with an angry face.

Her mother just kept silent while sobbing. Before leaving, Kinarsih met her mother, hugged her tightly.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I ... I loves Edward very much," said Kinarsih in her mother's arms.