Eddy put the photo. His memory goes back to the day he separated from Kinarsih and Nurlela, his mother-in-law.
---Eddy's memories---
Buntezorg, December 9, 1941.
That morning, at an airport, it looks like a military plane has arrived. It's so crowded there. General Willem was seen saying goodbye to his wife and children. Meanwhile, Kinarsih and Nurlela let Edward go with emotion. Edward hugged his mother-in-law.
"Mom, I want to go. I'll leave Kinarsih, ma'am," said Edward.
Nurlela advised her son-in-law, "Yes, son. Mother will take care of Kinarsih. All right there. My prayers will always be there for you, son."
Edward smiled sadly. "Mom, I will remember your advice."
For a moment, he looked at Kinarsih. Edward still finds it hard to part with his wife. He hugged her so tightly as if he didn't want to part. His tears were unstoppable. "Honey, it's fine here. Trust me, after everything is over, we'll be together."
Kinarsih could not hold back her tears. "Yes, honey. I'll still be waiting for you."
Kinarsih couldn't hold back her tears when Edward released her hug gently.
"Honey, please pray for me to come home again. I promise, after all this is over, we will always be together," Edward said with tears in his eyes.
Kinarsih who was still crying only answered briefly. "Yes Dear."
Edward tried to be strong. Nurlela put her arm around Kinarsih to calm her down. Before leaving, Edward gripped Kinarsih's hands tightly. "Honey, stay with your mother while I'm not here."
Between her tears, Kinarsih nodded. "Okay, my husband. I'll stay with Mom until you get home."
Edward tried to smile. He kissed her lips, before finally going into the plane that was about to depart.
----Eddy's memories----
Eddy's face looked so sad remembering the incident. While looking at the photo that Kenji gave him, he resumed his words.
"That was the last time I saw KInarsih. Since then, I haven't seen her anymore. In fact, after the war ended in 1945, I couldn't find Kinarsih and her family. At that time, I participated in disarming the Japanese. I heard from Darmi, Kinarsih was taken to Japan, and her family was slaughtered by the Nippon army," said Eddy.
Azka, who listened to Eddy's story, remembered his history lesson when he was still in school. He was so enthusiastic and moved to hear the story that was told by Eddy.
Ellen asked again, "Grandpa, did you ever looking for grandma to Japan?"
Eddy sighed. "Sure, Ellen. Grandpa once went to Japan looking for grandma. But, I had lost a photo of Grandma at that time. I don't know where it's lost. Reluctantly, Grandpa looked for Grandma with only information from Darmi. However, no one knows Kinarsih," said Eddy.
Ellen nodded. Kenji finally explained. "Sir, since auntie came to Japan in 1944, Auntie has changed her name to Michiko Matsumoto. That's the name given by Hiro Tetsuya Harada, Masaru's older brother. He gave that name so that auntie has the same rights as other Japanese."
Kenji sighed. He approached Eddy.
"Sir, Masaru's entire extended family and I love you very much. Auntie is a good woman. Until the end of her life, Aunt continues to think about you."
Eddy gently touched Kenji's shoulder. He smiled sadly.
"Thanks for the information. I want to go to Japan, son." Eddy's said.
Kenji just nodded. Unconsciously, it was noon. Sharon reminded the lunch hour.
"Mister Eddy, it's time for lunch."
Eddy looked back smiling sweetly. He looked at Sharon. He nodded.
"Come on, let's have lunch together," said Eddy.
They headed to the dining room in the big house. Apparently Sharon and a maid in the house had prepared lunch. With a happy atmosphere, they had lunch together at the house.
While in Tokyo, Ayumi is preparing supplies for America. Goro, the husband helps her. After everything was over, Goro and Ayumi were having a conversation. In Japanese, Goro said, "Ayumi, you look so happy tonight."
"Sure, honey. Finally, I met my biological father," Ayumi replied.
"Oh, what about Aida? What's up with our youngest daughter?" asked Goro then.
With a sweet smile, Ayumi replied, "Tomorrow she's coming home, Darling."
Goro smiled sweetly seeing the smile of happiness from his wife. However, he again thought of Aida who was so curious about her grandfather.
"Unfortunately, she can't come to America. Doesn't he miss her grandfather?"
"Um, that's right," she answered curtly, thoughtfully.
Meanwhile in Jakarta, when it was late at night, Erwin who had just taken Yoshie home suddenly heard his cellphone ringing. He took it. He saw that it was an American phone number. Erwin recognized him.
"Ellen?" he said in a surprised tone.
He took the call. "Hello, Ellen."
From behind the phone, came the voice of Ellen, her sister. Apparently, she was so glad.
"Brother, when are you coming back to America? Grandpa wants to meet you."
Erwin was surprised. "Grandpa? why did grandpa want to see me?"
"Grandfather wants to take you to Japan. He already found aunt. And you should know, it turns out that grandfather has another grandson named Aida. Aida Masaru," said Ellen from behind the phone.
"What?!" Erwin replied surprised.
Erwin did not expect this fact. For a moment, he was silent.
"Aida?" Erwin briefly recalled his fight with Aida.
"Oh! Is he really my missing relative?" he thought.
Erwin remembered the girl he thought was playing a play. His heart was so pounding.
"So, he is my missing relative? But, why didn't you tell me?" he said in his self.
Erwin tried to convince himself. "No, this must be wrong. This must be wrong!"
Because Erwin was silent for a long time, Ellen spoke again.
"Hello? Are you okay, Brother?" asked Ellen over the phone.
Erwin was so nervous. He spoke again to Ellen to reassure her. "Ellen you're not kidding, are you?"
Ellen immediately answered him with a serious tone. "Kidding, huh? Come on, brother. I'm seriously. Grandpa just told me about his past that he's been keeping a secret for so long."
Erwin was silent. Ellen resumed her words. With a serious tone, he said, "You know what, our grandfather's real name was Edward Chow. He did have time to marry Kinarsih. Aida is indeed Kinarsih's grandson, grandfather's grandson too."
"But why I didn't know about it?" Erwin asked in a surprised tone.
"Grandfather deliberately kept it a secret. Grandpa has been keeping this secret for a long time. Tomorrow, Auntie leaves for America," replied Ellen explaining.
Erwin was silent. Inwardly, he began to think.
"If Aida is grandpa's grandson, … ah… no way. Why only now? Why did Grandpa keep it a secret?"
Erwin spoke again to Ellen. "Ellen, after all this time, why did you keep it a secret?"
Ellen replied, "Sis, the story is too long to tell now. I will go to Indonesia after dinner at Grandpa's house. I'll tell you everything later."
Erwin sighed and answered curtly. "Okay …."
"There's a lot I want to explain to you. It's been a while, brother. See ya."
Then she hung up the phone. After hearing the shocking news, Erwin was pensive again in his room. He took the photo Aida had given him. "Um, did grandpa look like me back then?"
Erwin looked at the old photo. "The woman who is with grandpa is also beautiful. Very similar to Aida. Do you really have memories in Indonesia? Why didn't Grandpa tell me?"
Erwin looked at the photo in more detail. "This photo was taken on December 9, 1941. And..."
Erwin was surprised when he turned the photo over. There is an inscription, a kind of pearl of wisdom. Out of curiosity, Erwin read it.
"A love story born in World War II will be eternal and legendary like a fire that continues to burn on water. By Johannes Wong."
Erwin frowned. "Johannes Wong, who is he?"
Erwin put the photo on the table. In his heart he said, "Uhf, what a strange day."
Erwin lay down. Meanwhile, Aida who had finished filming had packed up. She was sitting in the lobby of his apartment. While waiting for a taxi, she reads a book. About ten minutes later, the taxi order arrived. She immediately closed his book and took his luggage into the taxi. Not long after, Aida left for Soekarno Hatta airport.
On the way, Aida pondered. "Grandpa, I miss you. Erwin doesn't seem to recognize Grandpa."
Aida just stared at the road she had taken on her way to the airport, occasionally glancing at her watch.
Meanwhile, in his room Erwin who felt unable to sleep that night went to the living room. He sat pensive. "Is it true that Aida is Grandpa's grand daughter?" he said in his heart.