40 Days, One Love
Birthday Cake
It's been 7 hours that Yua's asleep. He has not had any nightmares since noon and his condition is fine. While waiting for Yua to wake up Joe invites Arga to the dining room to discuss Yucil's birthday party plans. Then Arga remembered the incident this afternoon. He saw Yua who suddenly stopped and looked at the strawberry tart.
"So noon Miss Yu had stopped at the shop across the street. She kept looking at the strawberry tart, maybe Miss Yu wanted to buy it for Yua" Arga explained.
"Strawberry tart huh??" mumbling Joe. Arga nods and Joe decides to order one more cake for Yua.
On the sidelines of discussing Yucil's birthday party plans, Joe saw Arga seemed to be thinking about something and put on a serious face. The curious Joe immediately asked Arga about it.
"Arga.. What do you think? See you confused again?" ask Joe.
"Of.. Miss Yu is Yua's mother?, You see they both look alike..." Arga responded to Joe's question by directly asking him. Yep.. Arga seems still confused because of the figure of Yua who suddenly appears in the Joe family.
Joe who heard it laughed. He did not dispute Arga's question. Joe doesn't want Arga to know about Yua coming from the future. For this time Joe seems to have to lie for the sake of Yua's safety. "Take it. Yes." replied Joe.
There is no other reason and it makes sense than if two very similar people are one family. In Joe's residence, no one ever knew the whereabouts of Mother Yua. Joe was looking for a reason to cover up where Mother Yua had been.
"mmm.. Miss Yu was Yua's mother but she had just returned from the hospital" The reason Joe gave Arga. Arga easily believes Joe's words.
...***...
As Arga and Joe are engrossed in conversation, Yua comes out of the room. He walked towards them. Joe and Arga looked serious because Yua's attitude was serious. Maybe Yua will apologize for making them worry.
"I....L'm... A.ku.." said Yua faltered.
"I'm..." Joe and Arga repeat Yua's curious words.
The mood is getting serious. Yua looked pale and agitated. His fingers looked uneasy. "I'm hungry." said Yua.
Joe and Arga were a little disappointed. They thought that Yua was going to say seriously, but it turned out that only a hungry expression came out of her mouth. Understandably Yua has not eaten since last afternoon and her journey today is also tiring.
Seeing Yua's pale face Arga immediately rushed to take hot rice and water for Yua, while the side dish was already on the dining table. After preparing rice for Yua, Arga was ready to go home because it was almost 8 p.m.
...***...
At the dinner table, there are only Joe and Yua.
"So said Arga you had a nightmare?" ask Joe.
Yua who was eating then stopped spooning food into her mouth. It's like he's thinking. But after a long wait it turns out Yua does not remember anything while sleeping. Joe also did not forget to ask where he was this afternoon and why he called little Yua with Yucil while he called himself Miss Yu.
No need to wait for long, this time Yua immediately told her everything she remembered without missing anything. Where he went, whatever happened until he and Yucil finally met Arga and managed to return home safely. Yua also told me that both she and Yucil did not want to change their names.
"I don't want to change my name, because my father gave me that name" Yua explained.
Yua also realized that Yucil also had the same feelings as her. Sure was! because they are the same people. Therefore, Yua called him Yucil, short for little Yua.
Joe understands Yua's good and sincere intentions for Yucil, but Joe thinks it would be better if he had a pseudonym. That name he can use when he goes out of the house. Joe also reminded Yua that there will likely be people who are after him if he knows he is from the future.
Yuapun. He also imagined if he would be kidnapped, then his body dissected and made into experiment by scientists. "All right, but Dad uh.... Joe gave me a new name just to get out" said Yua.
Joe happily accepted Yua's request. He promised to tell me his new name tomorrow.
...***...
The expected morning arrived. Today is exactly 3 years old Yucil. When Joe introduced Yucil he fulfilled his age to 3 years because his birthday was just counting days. Yucil's birthday celebration will also be held tonight along with Arga.
Today was not as usual Yua woke up faster. He also took Joe to work to the front door. Sure was! It was not only Yucil who had a birthday, Yua also had a birthday today because they were the same person. It's just that Yua is doubtful whether this day can also be considered as her birthday or not, whereas she is from the future and is still 3 months away for her to celebrate her birthday.
Yua would then remember her moment in the future. His father celebrated his birthday until he was 15 years old. After his father's business was successful, his father never celebrated his birthday together again.
Not only that, at school to college, none of his friends remember his birthday. Even so if there is a friend whose birthday he never misses congratulating and giving gifts.
In the future, it will be difficult to socialize. He can only get along with people if he already knows each other and trust each other. He is very stubborn and selfish. He is never angry but if he is angry no one can stop him. That's why he doesn't have any friends to celebrate his birthday.
Although he is from February 2021 but because he is right on his birthday in his heart he also wants to celebrate. But again this year its existence faded. It was sad but Yu was used to it.
So that he was not too sad, Yua took the initiative to try to improve his habits. Thank goodness Yua had already introspect herself a little. He did so after seeing the state of this old house. Yua realized that at this time her father was still very young alone taking care of her young self. Dad's finances are low too. Therefore, Yua no longer wants to trouble Joe because it will be a burden for him.
Today Yua will try to start from cleaning the house as Joe wrote on the To-do List (list of what to do). Yua did it as a thank you for wanting to accommodate it from 2 days ago and days later.
...***...
"Tok Tok Tok"
The sound of someone knocking on the door. Yua rushed forward and opened the door. When the door opened, Yua saw a beautiful woman standing at the door of the house.
"I'm a neighbor next door, Arga's mother. Call me Risma" replied Risma. "Is there anything?" ask Miss Risma.
Yua only realized that the one in front of her was her own mother-in-law. He has often seen the old version of Bu Risma but only this time he saw the younger version.
"Please come in" Yua asked. Yua lets Risma into the house. Risma then handed Yucil's birthday cake to Yua and asked to be stored in the refrigerator.
"Yua was sleeping in his room" Yua replied.
"Yua's mother, huh?, You see Arga said that his mother Yua had just returned from the hospital after being treated long enough" asked Risma.
Yua is surprised to hear Bu Risma ask about herself if she is her mother Yucil. He didn't know what Joe was telling Arga until this question came up. But Yua remembered Joe's message last night so that no one would know his identity.
Yua also has not received a new name from Joe so she can only ask Risma to call her mama Yua. This time Yua would follow anywhere in the direction of the conversation.
"Hahahaha yes mbak, just call me "mama Yua" he asked resignedly.
"Alright. it turns out that her mother is beautiful too yes similar! surely the magnitude of Yua will be similar to his mother" said Bu Risma.
...***...
While brewing tea, Yua tries to figure out how Joe lived in the past. Yua Pu asked Ms. Risma, what Joe does every day.
"As long as I'm not around, how's Joe doing?" ask Yua.
Risma then replied that Joe was very attentive to the needs of Yua until when Joe was sick he never stopped working. Joe also spoils Yua. He also tells that Joe was almost betrothed to other women when Yua was a baby because there was no wife who took care of them both.
Yua's tears fell. He was very excited to hear the story of Miss Risma. He had been a burden to his father since childhood. He thought if he didn't exist, maybe his father could have lived better today.
Feeling himself talkative, Ms. Risma hugged Yua and said, "I thought Joe was a single parent, but today you're back as part of them. From now on take care of them both".
...***...
Evening has arrived. As planned today there will be a Yucil birthday party. The decorations were prepared by Joe after he came home from work. Pink decorations add a festive impression. Don't forget Joe bought a trumpet and a confenti. Arga also brought gifts for Yucil.
After the main star was present wearing a beautiful dress, the main menu was issued. Yucil's birthday cake decorated with candy and fruits did not forget a candle bearing the number three.
The main event begins. Starting with Make A Wish, blow the lilip, cut the cake to give the cake to a special person. Although only celebrated four but it feels festive. Yua smiled slightly imagining how happy she used to be. Joe unwittingly notices Yua hiding her tears.
Acarapun finished with the opening of gifts from Arga. Arga gives a bando to Yucil. Seeing the bando made Yua remember that in 2021 he also found the same bando when cleaning his father's room.
...***...
After cleaning up all the rest of the party, everyone went back to the room and rested. It's just that Yua can't sleep. He went to the back yard of this house. He still remembers the party. Although this party is for Yucil but he considers this a party for him. But the tears fell back. Another in the mouth another in the heart. In his heart he felt the celebration was not for him.
"Hmmmm" Joe's voice. Just like Yua, Joe hasn't slept. "So I saw you crying at the birthday party" Joe said.
"not really. kepo!" yua replied while wiping away her tears silently.
"kepo?" Joe was confused by Yua's strange words. "But you have to wait here!!" joe's orders.
Yua then waited for Joe who went towards the kitchen. While waiting he then looked at the starry night sky.Suddenly the lights went off and someone sang.
"Happy birthday. Happy birthday..happy birthday..happy birthday.
Joe also brought a tiny strawberry tart. Not large but very beautiful and can be grasped with both hands. Yua was moved but also laughed, she did not expect to first after all these years she got a birthday cake just for herself.
Joe lit a candle flame on the cake. The dark room was illuminated by candlelight.
"Why was I also given a cake?" asked Yua while wiping her tears.
"Because you are also a birthday today, you said you came from February 2021 that means your birthday is only 3 months away. Let's just say we're speeding up your birthday celebration." replied Joe.
Joe asks Yua to make a wish and blows out the candle. Yua puts the cake on the table and hugs Joe.
"Thank you" said Yua. The first time Joe heard the word from Yua though it sounded thin.
Joe also did not forget to give a speech to Yua. "Happy Birthday...It's nice to be able to celebrate my daughter's 24th birthday that I never had time to celebrate in the future" Joe said with a hearty heart, but funny now they're the same age.
Joe remembers if he promised Yua to give him a new name. "Lily, if you're out, just use Lily's name if anyone asks you what your name is" Joe said.
"Lily??" yua was astonished.
Lily is the name that Joe gave to Yua if he needs a name outside the house. Just like the Lily flower, Joe wishes Yua to be more feminine to be a graceful princess and be able to make everyone happy. Yua smiled too. She called herself Lily while nodding her head in agreement.