At 20.51
Reiner stopped reading the book. He picked up his pen and started writing on a blank page:
"My dear Rosie, I didn't have a good fate either. In fact, for me, before I met you, it was the darkest period of my life, which I never want to go through again. We both have quite similar family backgrounds and dreams. We both craved love so much. I guess that's why we got along so quickly. Ah, Rosie, where should I begin to tell you about that dark past? Well, like you, I'll start by introducing my name. You know my full name is Reiner Kristiansen. Kristiansen is my mother's surname. My mother's name is Carlee Kristiansen, and like your father, my mother is also European. My father's name is Devananda Wicaksana. He is originally from Indonesia.
Rose, did you know my family is no better than your aunts and cousins? Okay, I'll tell you everything. Oh yes, I have a sister who is 533 days younger than me. Her name is Hattvika Kristiansen.
I was born in Mayakarta on June 25th, 1982. And I grew up in this cold-temperature town. At first, my family was as normal and loving as any other family. Father and mother got along well. At that time, my father worked as a lawyer and was able to support us well. My brother and I lived in abundance of love and materials.
Until when I was 10 years old, my father failed in an election to become a member of the House of Representatives. I was in the 5th grade of elementary school at the time (I entered school early). Father owed a lot of money to the bank for the election. However, fortunately, father's debt at the bank could be repaid by selling my mom's house located in Europe. Maybe my mother came from a fairly well-off family, I don't know.
My father's debt was paid off, but he changed drastically. He became very sensitive, violent, and would throw tantrums over small things. As I remember, when my mother was late serving coffee, he would get very angry and throw the furniture. He started yelling at my sister and me a lot. I thought it would only take a few months for him to get back to his old self, but it didn't. He got worsen and worsem. His behavior became more and more severe. Until finally, he once slapped me in the face. I never thought that the father who had been proud of me and spoiled me would slap my face. It was very shocking to me. He slapped me just because I bought the wrong kind of cigarettes that he wanted. When he slapped me, I was shocked and scared. I ran into my room and didn't want to come out until mother forced me in.
Mother then told me about his change. Apparently, she knew that he had slapped me. I remember her frustratedly telling me that he wouldn't return to his old ways and that their life would change forever. His debts at the bank that he had used for his candidacy had indeed been paid off, but he felt that his pride had been tarnished by his defeat in the candidacy. He had often overestimated himself, but I didn't know that losing the election had made him feel so inferior. Mother cried. I cried too. And what mother said was true, father was never the same. My father who used to be loving, gentle, and always spoiled me had now turned completely into someone else. He became an arrogant and irresponsible monster, who took out his feelings of inferiority over his failures by beating his children and wife.
He didn't hesitate to go on a rampage by breaking plates and glasses in our kitchen. Later, he also often beat my mother, me, and my sister. Even for very simple mistakes. He also insult us as often as he hit us. It was his insulting that was so disgusting. For example :
"Idiot human. How can a human being as stupid as you be my daughter. You're a fool, that's why you didn't pass the test."
There was a whip in my father's hand. He hit Hattvika with the whip, while Hattvika screamed for mercy and cried. And this is one of the things I regret most about that time: I was too scared to help hattvika and fight my father.
I only escaped to my room when my sister was suffering. I went into my room and locked the door from the inside. I couldn't bear to hear Hattvika scream, but I was also afraid of getting hit. I was stupid, timid, and cowardly back then.
Later, my father's change obviously had a psychological impact on me, my sister, and my mother. I was very stressed in that house. I didn't make many mistakes so I was rarely beaten, but my sister... My sister Hattvika was beaten almost every day. If not with a whip, then with a belt. I also remember father throwing hot tea at mother's face because it lacked sugar. Her face got hurt from that. I really wanted to fight him, but I was scared. What a coward I used to be, Rose.
Father also stopped working. For years he was unemployed. He just sat at home and got angry. Mother worked hard to support us by selling cakes. Perhaps you don't know why I love tiramisu cake? It's because it's the most delicious cake mother has ever made. I'm really sorry to see her bearing everything alone. What's more, Dad liked to take Mom's money as he pleased.
Later on, Dad went even crazier. He owed a lot of money at the bank just to have fun with sluts. He often came home drunk. In fact, he once brought a slut to stay at our house for a few days. See how crazy it is, Rose. What a terrible state my family is in. Can you imagine how hurt my mother was, Rose? Her irresponsible husband once slept with another woman in our living room. Literally in our living room. My father was truly mentally ill.
In the midst of the darkness that surrounded my life, I found light. When I was in ninth grade, my last year of junior high school, my class had been assigned by the art teacher to draw a sketch of an inanimate object. I went to the warehouse to look for a model. Perhaps there was a good object that I could sketch. And I found a miracle in the warehouse. I found a painting.
I swear that before I met you, that painting was the most beautiful thing my eyes had ever seen. It was of a beautiful young girl holding a baby reindeer in that painting. That girl really looked like you, Rose. Very similar. The only difference is that the girl has blonde hair and blue eyes, meanwhile you has black hair and brown eyes. The rest are same, even your hairstyles are the same. The girl in the painting wears a crown of flowers. And underneath her hair, there is a stunning beauty. Your beauty is more mesmerizing to me, Rose. The girl is smiling and her smile gives me peace. And your smile is the same as hers. What is it that makes you two so similar?
I found that painting when I was a 14 year old teenager and I found you when I was 30. There is a gap of 16 years. 16 years, Rose. 16 years I had known your beauty before I finally met you. Are you and the girl in the painting really as beautiful as I say for another person? I don't know, there may be other beauties out there who are far more beautiful, but to my eyes, you are the most beautiful.
I really liked the painting and decided to take it to my room. I asked mother about the painting. She said it was one of the precious things that came from her old house in Europe. The house was sold, but mom did not sell some valuables and brought them to Indonesia. Well, this painting was one of them. In fact, the name of the girl in the painting is the same as yours, Roxelana. You two are Roxelana. It's too magical if you call it a mere coincidence.