Competition (2)
~ Others don't believe that they are full of surprises in life. But some others believe because they have got the surprise.~
Alex's Gratitude. ©Copyright-A-Novel-Irma-Karameena
***
Alex left the class without further ado. And come home with a burning vengeance, like a fire in the husk that will someday burn too. Maybe that's how Alex feels right now. When Alex tried to plead no one heard. Alex was alone like a lost duckling. He just cursed but to no avail.
"Watch out all of you," he thought. Ever since Alex was expelled from school. He didn't dare go home. Alex left with his backpack. As a result, several days Alex lived on the streets. Not in school. slack off.
He lives in a slum in Jakarta. Alex became a porter at the market. And help Mrs. Ijah sell vegetables. Then suddenly.
A luxury car suddenly stopped in front of him.
"Young master Alex, come on up. Incidentally Mr. Waleed, your biological father was in Indonesia. We were asked to pick up you. He wants you to go home," said the man in the suit and black glasses.
"Hah?" Alex was still dumbfounded. Alex was still in a daze, "home you mean?"
Alex frowned and tried to process what had happened. He ran away from the man in the suit then returned to the house. The house he has lived in since childhood with Mr. Rustam whom he calls Dad and Alex's brothers. Alex thinks Mr. Rustam is his real father.
He met Mr. Rustam in the room. Alex as the youngest child and fifth child of Rustam Wijaya. Rustam is dying. He is about 70 years old. His first brother, Ardhy, is married, second, her sister, Yunita, is also married, third brother, Pras, is still in college, and fourth, his last sister, Puspa or called Pupus, is in the 3rd grade of high school.
They all gather. Rustam's heart is getting weaker. The doctor who examined him wasn't much help either. The doctor ordered them to accompany their father at the last moment.
"Alex," Mr. Rustam grabbed Alex's muscular hand.
"You're my son, the youngest and most handsome. But let me tell you the truth, my son. You... You... are not my biological child," said Mr. Rustam stammering.
"What did Daddy say?" Alex was taken aback. All the family members there also gaped. Of course they were shocked.
"So all this time, she wasn't my brother of sibling?" said Puspa, her nickname was Pupus, "I knew it. No wonder he's an outcast."
"Right... But I want you to still love your little brother. He is also your family," said Mr. Rustam advising his children.
"I do not want! He's naughty, Dad," said Puspa, "he even stole!"
"How could it be! My son can't steal?" Mr. Rustam touched Alex's cheek affectionately. Alex's eyes filled with tears. Because his uncle believed in him. Alex immediately hugged Mr. Rustam. Only his father believed in him. There is no one but Rustam.
"Daddy… Why are you saying I'm not your son? Then who is my father?" said Alex while kissing Rustam's hand.
"You are the son of my sister, Syima, Alex. She married a foreign man from Arabia. I took you when he died just as you were born." Rustam Wijaya stroked Alex's handsome face.
No wonder he was different himself, unlike his brothers. They also often call Alex not Rustam's biological son. Because his physique is a mixture of Indo-Arabic.
Rustam Wijaya's breath rose and fell. Like it's about to run out and like someone is slowly pulling it. Then, Rustam read the creed. Rustam breathed his last.
"Daddy.. !" all screaming. Moreover, Alex has been the most loved and pampered by Rustam. Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi roji'un.
Rustam's face is covered with a blanket. Everyone was crying and wailing sadly. After that, Pras got up from his seat.
"Go away!" he said to Alex.
"Brother... don't throw me out!" said Alex still sobbing.
"Because you always cause trouble, our Father is died!" said Pras, "Go!"
"No, brother, no! Alex doesn't want to go." Alex roared. The sadness hasn't subsided.
"Alex, go!" Ardhy said a little with a softer tone, "you are nothing to us. You're just our cousin."
Alex nodded stiffly. He fell silent. Yunita just looked at Alex sadly. She couldn't do anything. Because Ardhy is the first child. As a result, no one dared to argue. Ardhy is also a little cold.
"Okay, brother. But let Alex go after Dad is buried," said Alex with teary eyes, "after that I left this house."
That afternoon. Rustam Wijaya has been buried. All the mourners have left. Unless they're his daughters. Then, an inheritance attorney came to them. He got an assignment from Mr. Rustam before he died.
"We'll just talk at home, yes, sir," said Ardhy. Arriving home, seconds before Alex was kicked out a second time. In the living room. Everyone gathered.
"So, Alex got half the inheritance because all of this property belonged to Alex's mother, Syima Wijaya. She got her wealth from her foreign husband, Alex's biological father. And handed over to Rustam Wijaya when he died. So the four of you get half and divide each by four," said the lawyer.
"I can not! Alex is not our little brother!" said Ardy.
"Right, sir. But this house belongs to Syima Wijaya, Alex's mother," said the lawyer, "this house belongs to Alex. And the shop also belongs to Mrs. Syima Wijaya. But Mr. Rustam left it to the four of you. So that it can be managed. This decision took effect after Alex was 17 years old. So as long as Alex is not yet 17 years old, this house is entrusted to Mr. Ardhy first as an adult."
The lawyer came home after giving the news of the inheritance. And what happened after that?
"Alex!" Ardhy put on a grim face, "Go away, I don't like you. You said you were leaving here after the funeral."
Alex's mouth clenched shut. His face was pale. Alex is still a teenager. Still small. Don't know anything.
"Then where will I live?" said Alex. "Up to you!" said Ardhy in an angry tone, "you are looking for your biological father."
"Go!!!" Pras throws Alex's things out. They didn't want Alex to control the treasure in the house. Alex returns home to his slum boarding house. Before entering the boarding house. Alex was splashed by the smelly sewage water by his boarding house mother.
"Pay! It's been a week living in the room, but haven't paid yet. Get out of here!" As a result, Alex was forced to leave the boarding house. Walking alone on the sidewalk. Alex had no goal anymore. Alex's body was really smelly and dirty. Everyone just walked by just looking at him. When Alex sat on the street bench. The luxury car and the man in the suit came again.
"Come on up Mister! The big master is waiting," said the man in the suit with smooth and neat hair. The man opened the car door for him. Hesitantly Alex got into the luxury car. His body is still smelly and dirty. It's really embarrassing. However, nothing lasts forever in this world. If happiness is not eternal, it means that sadness is also not eternal. After this, Alex's life will change, becoming his true self, his lost identity. On the way, Alex wondered. Who exactly is the person you married? He repeatedly looked at the contents of the luxury car. How rich is that person? ***