Chereads / A Glimmer Of Past Memory / Chapter 12 - MEETING DISTANT RELATIVES

Chapter 12 - MEETING DISTANT RELATIVES

On the same day, in America it was early morning. It's been a while since Ayumi and Goro waited for Kenji. And, finally Kenji arrived. Without further ado, they headed straight for Eddy's residence in Seattle.

During the trip, Kenji talked a lot about Edward. Thirty minutes they traveled and they arrived at Eddy's house. Because it was still early, Eddy was still asleep. There, it was Sam who welcomed Ayumi and Goro.

Kenji introduces Ayumi and Goro.

"Sam, this is Ayumi, the daughter of Eddy and her husband, Goro Taniguchi," he said to Samuel while introducing the two of them.

Samuel smiled sweetly. He shook Ayumi and Goro's hands without speaking. Sam spoke again to Kenji.

"Kenji, I'm glad I finally found out, it turns out that I have relatives in Japan."

Kenji just smiled at Sam's words. He continued, "Kenji, take them to the guest room."

Kenji nodded, then he took Ayumi and Goro to the guest room. Sam showed them the guest room. Even though he can't speak Japanese, Sam still invites Ayumi and Goro to rest.

"Um… Make yourself at home," he said with a friendly smile.

Ayumi and Goro just smiled, looking at Kenji because they didn't understand what Sam was saying.  Kenji immediately explained Sam's words. "Kare wa itta, hitori de ie de kangae nasai."(Meaning: He said consider this your home) 

Ayumi and Goro nodded. They looked at Sam with a smile. Ayumi said, "Arigato, Samyueru," (Meaning: Thank you, Samuel)

Kenji explained the meaning of Ayumi's words to Samuel. Samuel just smiled. Then, they went straight to the guest room and rested after traveling from Japan to America.

After dropping Ayumi off, Kenji and Sam went to the living room. They had a conversation with Richard. Time keeps running. It was morning, and Eddy had woken up. Sam and Richard met him.

"Papa, Ayumi and her husband are coming," said Richard.

"Is that true?" asked Eddy with a smile.

Sam confirmed Richard's words. "That's right, Papa. Richard and Kenji picked him up."

Eddy smiled. He felt so happy after so long, he finally found his daughter.

"Ah, this morning is a beautiful morning for Papa," he said with such a happy face.

He asked Sharon and his maid to prepare breakfast. They understood and immediately prepared breakfast. Then, Eddy told Sam to call Ayumi and Goro. "Sam, call our guest, Papa wants to meet."

Samuel just nodded. He invites Kenji to meet Ayumi and Goro. Before long, the food was served on the table. At the same time, Sam and Kenji appear with Ayumi and Goro. She looked at her father full of emotion. Her tears were unstoppable.

In Japanese, Kenji explains who the parents are in front of Ayumi. "Sis, this is your papa. Papa Chow. He is often called Eddy."

Ayumi was silent, and walked over to Eddy. The cry was unstoppable. He immediately hugged Eddy tightly and cried. 

"Papa… after decades apart…, we finally meet. I miss you, Papa," She said in Japanese. 

Eddy wept bitterly. However, to his surprise he replied to her words in Japanese. "Yes, my daughter. I misses you and Mama a lot too."

Hearing that Eddy was able to speak Japanese fluently, Sam, Richard and Kenji looked at each other with surprised faces. They whispered to each other.

With an astonished face, Sam whispered to his brother. "Richard, did you hear it?"

Richard just stared. "Yeah! I'm all ears, Sam." 

"Oh! I'm completely baffled," Kenji said, shaking his head.

The three of them were stunned to see Eddy and Ayumi who were conversing in Japanese. While the three of them are stunned, She let go of her longing for her father. She poured out all his longing all this time.

"Pa, mama is gone," said Ayumi.

"Yes, My Dear. Papa has heard it," said Eddy.

"Papa, mama loves you very much, even to the end of her life," said Ayumi.

Eddy nodded. He gently caressed his daughter who was hugging him tightly "My Dear, Papa wants to go to Japan. Papa wants to see Mama's grave."

Ayumi nodded. Sam and Kenji just staire at their meeting. Goro approached his wife, and touched her shoulder. 

A few moments later, Richard reminded his father again. He touched his father's shoulder. "Papa, we have breakfast together, while celebrating this meeting."

For a moment, Eddy looked at Richard. He nodded, then looked back at Ayumi. In Japanese, he invites Ayumi to eat together. "My Dear, let's have breakfast together. This is the most beautiful day for papa."

Ayumi understands. Finally, they had breakfast together. While having breakfast, Eddy introduced Samuel and Richard. Even though Ayumi and Goro don't speak English, they seem close. The cheerful atmosphere at Eddy's house seemed that morning.

After breakfast, Eddy takes Ayumi around the garden around the house. Accompanied by Goro and Sharon, Ayumi pushes her father's wheelchair.

"Dad, I want to spend the time with you while in America," Ayumi said as she pushed her father's wheelchair.

Eddy smiled while looking at the flowers in the garden. "Yes, My Dear. Papa is happy to finally meet you."

Ayumi smiled sweetly. Eddy tells Ayumi a lot about his youth. His face looked cheerful, and his spirit returned. Meanwhile, in Kenji's living room, Richard and Samuel were conversing. Kenji expressed his astonishment. "Sam, since when did your father speak Japanese?"

Hearing Kenji's question, Sam laughed instead. "Since when? Since I met your cousin, Dude."

Kenji frowned. With a surprised smile, he said again, "I mean, how could he suddenly speak fluent Japanese?"

Sam laughed out loud. "Are you surprised? I was even more surprised. In all my life, Richard and I never knew that papa could speak Japanese. We just found out today. Just now."

Richard laughed out loud. "Are you surprised? We jumped instead."

Kenji, who didn't understand Richard's joke, frowned. "Jump?" Richard and Sam burst out laughing.

"Dude, that's just a figure of speech. If you're surprised that papa can speak Japanese, let alone us. That's what it means," said Richard.

Kenji nodded while laughing out loud at the cuteness of the brothers. They again engaged in light conversation,

Meanwhile in Jakarta it was evening. Erwin sat alone in his room. He looked back at the photo of Aida. Inside, he was so upset.

"Aida… for some reason now I feel sad after losing you. Why it happened to me?" he said in his heart.

His thoughts were interrupted when suddenly his cell phone rang. Erwin saw it. An unknown number called him. He was surprised for a moment, but he took the call.

"Hello, sorry who's there?" Erwin asked.

"Hey, it's Ellen here. I've arrived at Soekarno Hatta airport," said Ellen in line.

Erwin regained his composure. "Yeah, Sis. I prepared to leave. I'm coming about 25 minutes."

"Okay. I'm waiting," replied Ellen as she hung up the phone.

Erwin rushed to pick up Ellen. He said goodbye to Mitha, then headed to his car, and immediately went to the airport. It took a while for Erwin to reach the airport because the traffic in Jakarta was a bit congested that night.

Finally, he arrived at the airport. He saw Ellen looking at him with a frown on her face.

"Bro!! You said in 25 minutes? How come ten minutes late?"

"I'm so sorry. Traffic jam. You know, Jakarta is different from Seattle," Erwin explained.

Ellen understands. She smiled again.

"Okey, Bro. I got it. Um, he is Azka, my lover. He's from Indonesia," said Ellen introducing Azka to Erwin.

"Nice to meet you, Azka," Erwin said in Indonesian.

Azka was surprised, as well as amazed. "Y-Yeah. Pleased to meet you."

Erwin immediately helped Ellen and Azka to put their suitcases into the trunk of his car. After everyone entered, Erwin immediately drove his car out of the airport area. Azka who was sitting in the front opened a conversation with Erwin.

"Bro, you can speak Indonesian well. And, you have been in Indonesia for a very long time," said him in Indonesian.

Erwin smiled at Azka's words. While driving, he replied to Azka's words, "Five years ago, I just settled in Indonesia. I just started learning Indonesian five years ago."

Azka was surprised. "Five years ago, did you learn Indonesian?"

Erwin smiled and nodded. He reminisced about his youth. In Indonesian, he said to Azka. "Yes, Azka. Five years ago. However, my interest in Indonesia started when I accidentally read the diary of my grandfather, Eddy."

Erwin recounted his actions when he secretly opened a wooden box that he had never seen in his grandfather's room. He found a letter in Indonesian. That's where his interest in Indonesia came from.

Then, Azka replied, "So, have you ever opened your grandfather's Diary?"

Erwin Nodded, "Yes that's right. But, I thought it was from grandfather's best friend."

Hearing her brother's words, Ellen was shocked. "Hey, Bro? So, have you ever opened Grandpa's diary?"

"Yeah. But, I don't know if it's Grandpa's diary. If only you knew …." Erwin said again in silence.

They fell silent. And not long after, they arrived at Mitha's house. Mitha welcomed Ellen's arrival with a friendly smile. She hugged Ellen to release her longing for her child.

"Ellen, I miss you. How's Samuel?" Mitha asked.

"He's good, Mom," replied Ellen.

"Azka, you just stay here. Tomorrow morning you will go home," Erwin said in Indonesian.

Azka just nodded. Don't forget Ellen introduced Azka to Mitha.

"Ma, Azka is Ellen's lover," said Ellen to Mitha.

Mitha looked at Azka for a moment. She invited Azka to chat, while Ellen carried her suitcase into the guest room. Not long after, Ellen returned to accompany her mother who was having a conversation with Azka. She was so impressed with Azka's attitude. Mitha approves of his relationship with Azka.

"He's kind, Ellen. Mama agrees with you," she said, approving his daughter's choice.

"Thank you, Ma," replied Ellen with a happy smile.

They gathered in the family room. Ellen immediately discussed the purpose of her visit to Indonesia.

"Mom, Grandpa wants Erwin to come back to America, and Papa wants to take Mom back with him."

Then, Ellen gave the letter to her mother.