That night, Berna could not sleep. Not because he had insomnia. But it was because his heart was producing so much happiness that his brain was imagining his meeting with Ellie tomorrow. But he was trying to sleep. Although he did not sleep well so he woke up after dawn when the sun had not yet risen.
Berna rushed to take a shower and put on her normal clothes. When they came down for breakfast, Marudi and Merna were surprised that their adopted son was not wearing the clothes that Jonan had provided.
"Honey, why are you wearing normal clothes?" asked Merna while putting her arm around Berna's shoulder.
"Mother, I don't want any distinction between me and Ellie," Berna replied.
"Smart boy," said Marudi.
"Before leaving, you have breakfast first, okay? There is bread and chocolate jam," said Merna.
Berna nodded and ate his breakfast with his adoptive parents. Not long after, a female servant came with her provisions placed in a large wooden box and wrapped in a dark red cloth.
"This is the provision you asked for, sir," said a female maid.
"Thank you," Berna smiled sweetly.
"I'm cooked beef stew for both of you," Merna smiled at Berna.
"Thank you mom. Sorry I didn't recognize you at first. Because it's too sudden for me."
"No problem. That's a natural thing," said Marudi.
After breakfast, Remin was ready with his horse carriage. Berna hurried to say goodbye to Marudi and Merna. He brought her bag of food supplies and a sweater for Ellie as a present. When Berna got on, Remin immediately rode his horse so that the carriage slowly walked towards the gate of the house and turned right.
"Young Master, what time did you finish meeting your friend?" Remin asked while driving the horse carriage.
"Maybe afternoon or evening. Is that too long?" Berna asked back.
"No sir. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't worried."
"Then it's evening. I'll meet you at the shop myself."
"Alright," Remin nodded.
About half an hour, they arrived at the tavern located in the middle of the village market. The atmosphere on Sundays is so crowded. Merchants spread their wares along the main road. Remin stopped at a shop and parked the horse-drawn carriage and tied the rope so the horse wouldn't go anywhere.
"You want to go straight there?" Remin asked after opening the door.
"I'll just go ahead," Berna replied.
"Then I'll wait in the shop drinking coffee and chatting with people."
Berna then walked to the village park which was maybe five hundred meters away. When we got there, it was quiet. Berna then sat on the swing and waited for Ellie to come holding her bag. Berna had been waiting for half an hour. He was worried and now his face was starting to look sad. But suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder.
"Berna," said someone who tapped his shoulder.
Berna looked back and saw the figure he wanted to meet.
"Ellie, I thought you weren't coming," Berna stood up.
"We promised."
It didn't take long, Berna opened her bag and handed her a sweater that was neatly folded.
"This is for you," Berna lowered his head in shame with his cheeks slightly flushed.
"Uh, what is this?" asked a confused Ellie.
"A…a pink fleece sweater."
Ellie took the sweater and unfolded it and looked at it carefully. Instantly her eyes lit up because it was the first time he'd held a sweater like this.
"Berna, this sweater is beautiful. Is this really for me?" Ellie asked as if she couldn't believe the sweater was for her.
"Of course it's for you. The sweater was made by a tailor from the Rombepayung family."
"Now you're part of a noble family," Ellie smiled sweetly.
"Actually, I'm just an adopted child. Nothing special, Ellie."
"You should be grateful. This is your destiny."
Berna nodded with a smile.
"What did I carry in your bag?" Ellie pointed to Berna's bag.
"Ah, I brought food," Berna replied as he took out food wrapped in a crimson cloth.
"Noble food," Ellie's eyes sparkled again.
"You want to try it?"
Ellie nodded.
Berna invited Ellie to sit on the ground and unwrapped the food. Seen a basket made of wood. Berna opened the box and he didn't expect it to contain so much. And there is also a thermos filled with hot tea.
"Wow, that's a lot."
Ellie tried the beef stew and suddenly her eyes lit up with tears in her eyes. She was touched because this was the first time she had eaten such delicious food.
"This is delicious," Ellie said, chewing.
"Swallow before you speak," Berna chuckled.
"Berna, aren't you ashamed to be friends with me now?"
Berna swallowed her food then replied, "I want to be friends with anyone. I want to be considered by everyone."
"Now you have got what you wanted. That noble family now thinks you exist."
"Yes. But somehow I prefer to be friends with you, Zaru, Veda and Nandi."
"You are weird."
Berna just smiled.
After Berna and Ellie were full, unexpectedly Zaru, Weda and Nandi came. They immediately approached Berna and Ellie.
"Well, well, well, you guys didn't invite us to eat," said Zaru with a sharp look at Berna.
"Please try the food," Berna held up a basket filled with sweet and spicy fried fish.
"Seriously we can try it?" Nandi asked.
"Hey! Wait for Zaru's orders first." Weda patted Nandi's head.
Zaru was silent for a moment looking at the food. He then took a piece of fish meat and started to put it in his mouth. Instantly his eyes widened in surprise. Zaru is also the same as Ellie. It was the first time he had eaten such delicious food.
"Delicious," said Zaru in a low tone.
"I want to try," Weda took a piece of meat.
"I also want to try," Nandi also grabbed a piece of meat.
When Veda and Nandi were chewing, suddenly their eyes both lit up.
"This is very delicious," said Weda and Nandi almost simultaneously.
"Glad you like it," Berna smiled broadly.
"Everyone will like it if the food is this good," said Weda, picking up another piece of meat.
"It's true what the Wedas say," Nandi also took another piece of meat.
"I didn't expect you to be adopted by a noble family now."
"You are a rich man now," said Nandi.
"Don't praise him," Weda patted Nandi's head again.
"Ouch, sorry," Nandi rubbed his head because he felt sick after being patted by Veda.
Berna explained, "The rich ones are my adoptive parents. While I'm still the same as before."
Berna and Zaru then looked at each other. After a while, Zaru closed his eyes then he turned to leave.
"Brother, where are you going?" asked Ellie.
Zaru paused then he glanced back and said "Ellie, next week the debt collector is coming again. I have to help my father and mother sell in the market so that I can pay off the debt."
"Let me help you," said Berna, rising to his feet.
"We can handle our own family problems. Outsiders better keep quiet," said Zaru then he left.
"Come on Nandi, let's help Zaru," said Weda.
"B...but," Nandi looked at Berna but then he also left.
After the three of them left, Ellie then looked at Berna with a sweet smile.
"Thanks for wanting to help," said Ellie.
"I do want to help."
"Just being friends with me, it helps. It's better if we don't interfere in family matters. We're just friends."
"But...."
Ellie shook her head then said, "Berna, we can't help with all problems. Sometimes we just know and be listeners. There's no need to interfere."
Berna then fell silent while lowering his head with a sad face.
"Hey, there's no need to be sad. Be proud. Now you are recognized. What more do you want?"
"Only one thing I wanted and still haven't achieved."
"What's that?"
"Acknowledged by Zaru."
"Don't you have a lot of friends at the orphanage?"
"They never thought of me."
"Didn't Zaru often bully you too?"
"But their reasons are different from those of friends and Erma the nanny."
"Reason?"
"That's because I'm a smart kid. They are jealous. But I never asked to be a smart kid either. I never asked to be adopted by the royal family of Rombepayung."
"So all this time you just wanted a sincere friend?"
Berna nodded.
"Then," Ellie suddenly hugged Berna tightly and closed her eyes.
"Ellie, what are you doing?" Berna felt embarrassed and shocked.
"Allow me to be your sincere friend."
"Ellie," Berna fell silent but then, he also hugged Ellie.
"I promise to help you Ellie. It's up to you what you want to say. I will still help you. Because you're the only and first person who thinks I'm even praising me."
For some reason, Berna sensed that something had happened to Ellie. On his shoulder, it felt wet. Ellie was crying in his arms. The cry is very deep. Without even being asked, Berna already understood that Ellie had been harboring sadness for a long time.
"Get it all out, Ellie," Berna said as she continued to hug Ellie.
Ellie was crying loudly. Her tears kept flowing.
"I…I don't know who else to turn to for help. My family is in debt from the meanest person in the village. Next week, the debt collector will come. And if we can't get paid, we'll all be kicked out," said Ellie, sobbing.
"Ellie," Berna hugged Ellie tighter, "Believe me, I will help you."
Then Ellie let go of her embrace and Berna wiped the tears that rolled down Ellie's cheeks.
"Thank you," Ellie smiled sweetly.
Berna smiled. They then separated and promised to meet again next week.
To be continued...