"Mande Rubayah can only regret what she has done, but it's too late. Sadly, there's nothing else she can do. The end~" I finished my story, making the atmosphere around silent.
But this quiet atmosphere will not last long.
"Miss!"
Ah yes, of course. Here we go again.
"Yes, Donna? Is there something you want to ask?" I looked at the little girl who had just called me.
"Yes!" Donna lowered her hand. "From the story 'Malin Kundang' that Miss just told, it was said that Mande Rubayah a.k.a Malin Kundang's mother felt sorry for having cursed her son to the stone, right?"
"Yes, exactly."
"Then why did the mother curse her child from the start if she regretted it in the end too?"
"Well... because she felt hurt and couldn't stand the attitude of her child who had disobeyed herself as her birth mother, so she unconsciously cursed her child."
A boy joined in. "Then why did Malin Kundang refuse to acknowledge his mother?"
"Because Malin Kundang didn't want his wife who came from a rich family to know that her mother was poor."
A girl with ponytail hair also asked. "So what if the mother is poor? What's wrong?"
Duh, were they all listen to my story carefully or not?
But well, it's okay. Actually, I also quite like how fussy these children are
I prefer this kind of atmosphere. The atmosphere when my relationship with all these children felt so close and warm.
"Well, that's because Ma-"
"Heyyo kiddo~" Suddenly a woman with long red hair appeared from behind the door. "It's already 12 PM, you know? Do you know what that means? It's lunchtime! Yey! Come on!" Said the woman cheerfully.
"Hoorayee!!" Everyone cheered happily. They all in a bit of a hurry immediately stood up and ran towards the dining room.
"Please be careful! Don't run everyone!" The woman shouted, before then looking at me. "Good job again for today, Miss Indah. Thank you very much for being willing to look after and entertain the children at this daycare while I cook food for their lunch."
I couldn't stop myself from smiling. "No problem, Miss Nina! I also feel very happy while accompanying these children."
"Pleased to hear it." Nina handed me a white envelope.
"No, thank you." I quickly rejected the gift.
"But-"
"Ah, since it's already 12 PM then I'll take my leave first." I immediately said goodbye and hurried away. "See you later, Miss Nina. Just call me again if you need my help again tomorrow or even in the future!"
"Eh. Euuum, okay. See you again, Miss Indah. Once again, thank you for all your kindness, and good luck!"
*******************************************
It was already 1 pm when I was finally there and standing right in front of the gate of a hospital. A black backpack hung tightly on my back.
With a little rushed, I immediately walked into the hospital and then headed to the 4th floor. After passing through long halls, I finally arrived at the special room, which is located at the end of this hall. With a slightly trembling body, I pushed the door and saw a sight that was my nightmare but I still have to see it every day.
A man lying on a hospital bed with various medical devices attached to his body. There are infusion tubes, a nasal cannula, a urinary catheter, and others in his body. His chest seemed to move up and down so slowly that it was almost imperceptible. Also, his body is very thin even though he is always given intravenous intake. Of course! How can an infusion replace daily meals and nutrition for 3 years?
His face was pale but had a peaceful and somewhat radiant expression. His mouth and eyes were closed tightly, not moving an inch.
"Hi, Kak. Your beloved sister is here again today. How come you still haven't woken up?"
I tried to make my voice sound as cheerful as possible. But, even a child would know how hollow and trembling my voice was.
I sat down on the chair next to the hospital bed. My eyes were still looking at my brother, hoping for a miracle to appear, even though I knew it was impossible.
Ah well, I haven't had lunch yet. I intended to grab the lunch in my bag, but…but why are my hands struggling again? Instead of reaching for the bag, my hand immediately held the hand of the man who was lying down on the hospital bed tightly.
"K...Kaaak. Please, open your eyes. Open your eyes for a moment, please. I...I can't part with you. Please, please just for a moment you show me again, your smile, like that time. I miss that smile so please, show me again your smile even if it is for just a moment." My eyes feel as if they are going to burn, my whole body trembled violently and felt cold, and the dam in my eyes seemed to collapse, spilling all the water inside.
Why? Why do I still feel so sad like this even though it's been 3 years? It's been 3 years since my brother has been in a coma, and during those 3 years, I always come here every day, only to wail and beg him to wake up. Every day for 3 years I visited him, but, but my body still can't adapt. I always sat beside him from noon until late at night, just to talk to him. Always begging and wailing at him. Also for talking about how annoying people are to him even though I knew he can't hear or answer me at all.
My brain started playing again memories 3 years ago, memories of the worst day of my life.
________________________________
"Hey Kak, you need to be more expressive when playing, you know? When playing, you looked like an Undead!"
"I was just being serious."
"But you looked paler on stage!"
"The important thing is to win, wasn't it? Besides that, not only did we win, but this your brother also won the top player title again in this year's tournament! Isn't that great?"
"....Is that so important?"
"..Looks like the little kid doesn't know anything."
"Huh! But why is it that when holding the trophy, you turn out to be the most cheerful?"
" Of course! It's all because of the money we will get! If that's about money, why not? Anyway, do you have something to buy?"
"That's your money, brother. I don't need it."
"Oh come on! I just want to spoil my little sister once."
"Huh, you always spoil me! I'm not a kid anymore! I'm an adult now, you know? Even in 2 months to come, I'll have a birt- aah! It hurts! Why did you pinch my cheek?"
"Hehe, nothing. That's just, my hand wants to do that. Anyway, let's go to the shop first. The groceries are running out"
"Okay! If that is so... I want to make chicken soup today!"
"...Did you remember you were banned from the kitchen? Just remember, the neighbors screamed at the last time."
"Argh, that was a long time ago! I'm good at cooking now!"
"Hmm... My sister cooking... It's like..."
"Ah come on, my brother! I'll prove my skills! You will enjoy the special food of victory today! I swear!"
"...If something burns, be prepared to see the kitchen door padlocked every day!"
"Oh of course! It will not happen anyway! I'll prove my skills!"
"Hmm ok. But do you know how to put-" The smile on the man disappeared. "INDAH!... Watch out!!!!"
"??????!!!!!!!!"
TIIIN!!!!
*BRUAK*
"NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!"
_____________________________________________
"Is he all right, Doctor? My brother will be fine, right? Right?" I asked worriedly.
"I'm sorry Miss, but I can't say that he's fine now. His body is not badly injured and his heart is still beating, but almost all the cells in his brain are dead. The truck had hit him on the head so hard."
"But he'll be fine again right?"
"Your brother has a bad concussion and is in a coma right now. I'm not saying it's impossible, but the chances of him waking up are very small."
"But there's still a chance right?"
"Everyone who experienced this before, none of them managed to wake up again"
"But, my brother is different!"
"Well of course, but we can't be selfish. Keeping him alive will only torture him. All we can do now is let him go to-"
*BRAK!
My hand hit the table and then grabbed the Doctor's coat collar, "Don't you ever take those tools off my brother or I'll sue you!"
"All the courts will agree with me. There's nothing we can do now anyway. You can't just keep him alive to suffer."
"But, but he's the only family I have. I have no one else besides him. Therefore, please keep him alive, Doctor. I'll do anything. Anything."
"…..Haah. Well, I understand how you feel. I will transfer him to a special room, put various life support devices on him and take care of him every day. For the rest, we can only wait for a miracle. Do you agree?"
"Yes, Doctor. Thanks for your help."
"Okay"
_____________
Now I can only stare at the face of my brother who was lying unconscious in front of me. His thick black hair blended well with his tanned skin. Very different from me who has shoulder-length straight blonde hair and pale white skin.
I already knew that I wasn't his sibling.
Even though he never said it, I knew it because we both look so different. My guess seemed to be true when one of my brother's E-sport team scolded me, "Don't bother us! Don't act like you're so important! You're even just an adop-" and he didn't have time to finish his words because he received a punch from my brother.
Even though my brother denied it and said that his friend was just joking and don't mind it, I knew that what his friend said was true. But I don't think too much about it. After all, even though we are not siblings, our relationship remains close. It didn't bother us if we don't come from the same parents, since we are even closer than siblings.
Since childhood, I was raised and cared for by my older brother. He's so great, being able to raise a brat like me on his own. Cooking, washing, cleaning the house, even taking me to school, and helping me with homework. There's nothing he can't do.
He is a great parent to me.
Native parents? I never asked about that. After all, if they were alive, they wouldn't even care about me.
He was also fairly well-known as an e-sport member. He was very good at playing games and were often recognized as a champion by peoples. He also often wins tournaments, so he was quite popular and earns quite a lot of money.
That unfortunate accident also happened when he was coming home with me after winning a tournament. However, after he fell into a coma, all contracts were terminated unilaterally. In fact, none of his friends or even managers came to see him. They also did not mention this to the media at all.
Ugh, I wanted to get revenge on them, but it seems like there's no need, since they were rumored to have gone bankrupt long ago and never participated in tournaments again. But, still...
"Kak, look what I brought today!" I took and opened a lunch box. "Tada! I made some donuts, your favorite food! Look, I've grown up, haven't I?
My food is no less delicious than yours! Are you proud of me, Kak?"
The atmosphere became silent, not a single sound could be heard or answered my question. I daydreamed for a moment. I didn't know how much time had passed until there was a sudden knock on the door and it slowly opened
"Excuse me, Miss Indah. Sorry, but it's already evening. We have to start replacing all the medical devices on your brother. Besides, the time for visiting patients is over." A doctor with a friendly smile but also a bit sad was seen standing in front of the door. "But don't worry, you can always visit again tomorrow. If anything happens then I will contact you immediately."
"Already? Well, okay. Please look after and take good care of my brother, Doc. I'll leave him to you."
"You can trust me."
"Kak, now I'm going home. But, don't worry. I will come back here again tomorrow while bringing food for us to eat together. So, please wake up from your coma tomorrow, Kak. Please."
With languid steps, I walked out of the hospital to go home.
The sun was already setting when I got to the house. Slowly, I opened the door while wiping my cheeks which still felt wet.