"I don't know either, Bob. Mom said she cried all the time when she left me at the orphanage. But she had no choice. Her parents were angry because she had a child with a bad man. I still remember a little. Her hair was blonde. Beautiful. I also remember, I cried all the time at the orphanage when she left." Manfred recalled the events of his childhood.
"Too bad for you both. Do you know your birth mother's name?" asked Yuana.
"Amanda Greta Filius," Manfred answered. "Occasionally it pops into my mind like I could go there and look for her. It's crazy, isn't it?"
"No, maybe your mother also thinks about you a lot," said Bobby.
"You didn't look her up on social media?" said Yuana.
"I can't find her. Maybe she uses another name." Manfred shrugged.
Yuana remembered the first time she met Manfred in middle school. She was surprised that there was a Caucasian in junior high school. The funny thing was that when he spoke there was no Caucasian tone. Totally Bahasa. And he was Yuana's classmate. His name was Manfred Clarence Filius.
*****
Time was going fast. Yuana was in 12th grade. The top class of the high school. Spending days with Bobby and Manfred were always full of laughter and joy. They even planned to enter the same college.
"I don't forget, you said you want to be a teacher? You have to go to teacher training, don't you?" Bobby said to Yuana.
"I changed my mind. You know I'm an impatient person. It could be dangerous for children if I am getting angry," answered Yuana. Bobby and Manfred laughed.
"Imagine if Yuan was a teacher, she would teach the children like this ..." Manfred started to interfere with Yuana. "Kids, I want you to be terrible at the 10th page of the assignment, of which there are 10 numbers. It will be collected on the 10th date, and I hope you all get 10 points."
"Manfred!" Yuana pouted. But she clearly wanted to laugh at Manfred's joke.
"Then they are taught the song The Little Star," added Bobby.
"What song is it?" asked Yuana. She turned to look at Bobby.
Directly, Bobby and Manfred stood and started singing with funny moves. Yuana laughed at the behavior of her two best friends. Basically, nosy but it was precisely what made Yuana comfortable with them.
"Come on, guys, let's go home! It's going to rain soon. It's cloudy," said Bobby.
"Let's go!" Manfred replied.
They left school. Then, it was not long after the rain was down.
Christmas was almost there. Yuana decorated the Christmas tree at home. Ira helped her. Yuana liked to sit by the Christmas tree looking at the lights that were often flickering alternately.
Her mother was at home for several days. But that afternoon she left again. Her father had been in his room working that afternoon.
Yoel was at home too. He and Yuana were sitting near the Christmas tree.
"It was so cool, Yu. Those lights know when to flash and when to go out." Yoel said.
"Yes. That's how our lives are. God knows when to answer prayer when He allows us to pass the test of life. He made all of us strong people." Yuana was still staring at the bright tree.
"Yu, I'm going to work." Yoel looked at Yuana.
"Work?" Yuana turned to Yoel.
"Yeah. After college, I was just hanging around. Now I want to start something new. I wanna live on my own feet. I don't want to rely on mom and dad's money anymore," said Yoel.
"What kind of work?" Yuana didn't expect Yoel to think about his life either.
"There is a good offer in Singapore," answered Yoel.
"Singapore?" Yuana glared at her brother.
"Yeah, I'm leaving in five days. I'll be staying there. It might take a long time. Even though the original contract was only two years." Yoel explained his plan.
"Are you sure?" Yuana was surprised by this. There was an uneasy feeling in her heart, a fear of losing.
"Yes. I've thought about it." Yoel nodded.
"Did you tell mom and dad?" said Yuan.
"Do they care, Yu? I'll just chat them, and it's enough." Yoel's voice sounded a little curt.
Yuana turned her body to look again at the bright tree. True, she felt like she would be left alone. Yoel would go, soon.
"Yu, before I leave, I wanna apologize for everything I've ever done. I was very rude to you. I knew you must have been hurt so much." Yoel held his sister's hand.
"Just get along, and you'll be gone." A sad tone was felt from Yuana's words.
Yoel put his arm around his sister's shoulder and smiled. "You're a good girl, Yu. Keep shinning. We'll keep in touch later. Okay?"
"Okay. I wanna apologize too." Yuana looked at Yoel.
"What for?" asked Yoel in surprise.
"You're my brother. Sorry, I ever said ..."
"Forget it. I hurt you more." Yoel widened his lips. He had to admit he often made Yuana cry. "I love you, Yuan."
Hearing that Yuana really cried. He hugged Yoel back tightly. It felt was the first time she heard her brother saying he loved her sincerely.
If only this had happened a long time ago.
*****
Before Yoel left Yuana, he spent a lot of time with his sister. Especially, it was the school holidays. Yoel took Yuana to hang out every day. He seemed to want to make up for the years lost between them.
Yuana was very happy. Finally, she knew the feeling to have a brother who loved and cared for her. Yuana smiled more often.
It was the day Yoel had to leave. Yuana stayed by him until Yoel was picked up by the car to travel to the airport.
"Have no a farewell present?" Yuana asked Yoel.
"A present?" Yoel looked at Yuana.
"Red on my cheeks." Yuan smiled. She was kidding. Yoel got it, a slap. Ah, Yuana, why was that joke?
Yoel smiled widely. The dimples on his cheeks looked good on his face. He hugged Yuana and kissed his sister's forehead. Yuana hugged Yoel back tightly. She felt it hard to let his brother go.
And Yoel got into the car that had already picked him up.
"Bye, Yoel, take care ..." Yuana waved.
Then she went back into the house. From inside the house, her mother came out with two large suitcases.
"Mom, where are you going?" asked Yuana.
"Hi!" A man, the same age as her mother, greeted Yuana. "Hello, my name is Agung. You are beautiful. Just look like your mother." The man smiled kindly.
"Oh, who are you?" asked Yuana confused.
"My friend, Yuan. In business," her mother said flatly. Exactly did not like Yuana to ask.
"Eva, how long will she not know about us?" said Agung. She turned to Yuana. "I'm also your future father to be. So, after this, you won't be sad after your father passed away. Hm?" Agung pinched Yuana's nose.
"What??" Yuana roughly waved Agung's hand. "Mom!!" Yuana saw her mother. She asked for an explanation.
"Listen, Yuan ..." Eva approached Yuana.
"No ... no ..." Yuana ran away from the house. She ran as fast as she could. As it was raining, it got harder and harder. All Yuana thought was one. Bobby's house.