After Two Decades
Eyes Replied

"A long time ago, Tan and I were coworkers" Mr. Roy began to tell the story. "We are working together in this company. Twenty-one years ago, our great company was just built. It's still a small company that doesn't have branches everywhere. Even his name was not Korp. Masadepan, except PT. Megateknoj. Still at the beginning of the pioneering period. Start crawling from the bottom, starting from zero. Tan and I were both employees who worked there from the beginning. In short, the company continues to grow. Although we do not have a technology development sector in the past, we are still focused on producing ordinary electronic goods. Still building success. Introducing our products to markets that are even domestic. In one year, the development we achieved was so rapid. Our products are all sold in the market. The name Megatekno became famous throughout the country. In essence, this corporate trip continues to climb the glory. Our careers are also starting to climb. Tan and I became the most reliable people by Mr. Bram, the first director and founder of PT. Megatekno itself. Our position becomes very important because it is most instrumental in the rapid development of the company. It made me become obsessed with an uphill career. I'm hunting for the company's directorial position. I feel like being a director is the coolest job. I started trying hard to get that job. By working harder to get Mr. Bram's heart, hoping that one day I will be appointed in his place. However, I darkened my eyes from being blinded by obsession. I've already got a high office, but I'm never satisfied."

Mr. Roy pause for a moment. I still cannot hear it while holding back the emotions that are still bubbling.

"One day, Mr. Bram fell ill. At first it was normal, but it turned out that the pain suffered was unusual. He spent months in and out of the hospital. His physical weakness and must be treated in the hospital also for months because of complications of the disease that attacked him. In the meantime, the company should keep going well. Fortunately, in such a situation Tan and I were able to carry out the task well. We managed to maintain the stability of the business even though Mr. Bram was lying in the hospital. Mr. Bram is really proud. He said one of us would replace him if he was gone. As if in line with that, it turns out that the disease suffered by Mr. Bram is acute and severe. His physique was no longer able to withstand all these diseases. Until he finally died. PT. Megatekno. Everyone respected him. However, by the time I was blinded by ambition, I was already impatient to rise to become the director in his place. The problem is, all office employees actually support Tan to assume the position. Everything was. No one supported me. I was only made second choice. Eventually Tan really rose to become a director and I couldn't possibly protest. Everyone celebrates it except me. I don't accept. I secretly harbored resentment and heartache. For several months, Tan led PT. Megatekno is good. All along I started not working. I still can't accept the fact that Tan went on to become director. It should be me, not him. I was so scared that I finally made a decision that I regret millions of times to this day. I darken my eyes. Think short and make decisions based on ambition and ego. I choose the dirty way even with my own hands. That day, I and all my ambitions devised a plan to finish Tan off. We have forgotten our struggle from the beginning to build this company together. My obsession has covered common sense. So that day, with all my mature plans, I executed. Let alone Megatekno, one country frenzied because of the murder case. Our company is suddenly in chaos. Not long ago lost its director, already lost again. There I took the opportunity, to rise to become a director. Not a single office person thought that I was Tan's killer, so it was easy for me to get this job. The police actually did a long investigation, but they were deadlocked. I was a suspect, but I had an alibi and they had no evidence. I was completely safe with all my plans going smoothly. After a long time the case dragged on, it finally closed just like that."

I panned sharply. Full of hate that began to boil again into the crown.

"So, you're right, son," continued Mr. Roy. "I am a savage. I am indeed an impious human being who is only selfish to the dark of the eye by ambition and obsession. I am indeed a dog*n contemptible who uses dirty ways to get the position that I still have today. But trust me, I regret everything. For years my life has never been quiet. Because it's haunted by guilt that comes every night."

I grunt.

"For several months I led PT. Megatekno, the company is back on its feet. I thought I would be happy and relieved to have achieved my goal. However, it turned out wrong, I was not calm. I'm starting to feel so worried. For days. For weeks. Then the guilt appeared. Then the regret arrived. What's more, I got word about you, Ren. I heard that you, who was ten years old, went to the hospital for days locked up and didn't eat. It's all because of your grief of losing a father. And I am the cause. My heart broke instantly, Ren. I'm so pitying it. You remind me of myself when I lost a newborn child in a hospital fire. I was exactly like you when I lost. I know what it's like. There I finally got a hard slap. I'm so very sorry. However, it was too late and could not be repeated. I was confused and could not live quietly. Tan's shadow and you're always tickling me every night."

I'm still tight-lipped. Don't know what to talk about.

"Finally, I decided to take care of you, Ren. That's why I volunteered to take care of you from childhood until you grew up today. I voluntarily financed all your needs, giving you whatever you wanted. I always make sure you'll live a good life with a bright future. That's all I do because I feel guilty. I wish I could atone for my sins with that. Until now I've considered your own biological child whom I love with all my heart. Maybe you don't know, but ever since you were a kid, every night when you were asleep I used to cry lamenting my past sins. How else would I make it up to you? To whom else should I ask forgiveness? I wish I could atone for my sins by taking care of and raising you. And that's also the reason why I insisted that you accept the director's position in my place. Because you deserve to lead this company. I told you once, you deserve and have the right to lead the company your father inherited. It means not me your foster father, but your own biological father. Since this company was supposed to belong to your real father, it's just that I was snatched away in a dirty way. Now you understand why I always force you to accept this directorial post?"

I'm down now. Instantly I became worried. It's hard to explain, how could this old man have been the one I've been most afraid to lose for so many years.

"Nearly ten years you've lived with me" continued Mr. Roy. "Slowly you're a teenager and growing up to be a tough young man. All these years we've been together, I've been hiding this secret from you so you never think about it. However, I began to think, it was impossible for me to hide it forever. I've taken care of you, sent you to school, and given you a life. However, guilt still haunts me. That wasn't enough to make up for my mistake. In the end, I have to accept the fact that you should know. I'm starting to think hard about how to tell you this. You really think I'm your father. I can't just tell you so straight away. That hard. I was confused for a long time. It was a crazy idea to create a time machine. I thought, you have to know everything and you have to see it with your own eyes in order for you to believe. That's the first reason why I want a time machine. Maybe yesterday I told you to make history, no. That's number two. I want to create a time machine so you can see the past and know everything. I know in the end you're going to hate me half-dead, but I have to be ready to accept the consequences of my own actions."

I'm mumbling. My eyes are shining sharply. The old face in front of it did look full of regret. Unable to be lied to, the look really displays the sincerity of a deep sense of regret. Makes me worry more.

"I've been taking care of you since you were ten years old. Now you're thirty years old. After two decades, maybe everything I give you is incalculable. But still, all of that is not enough. I've spent millions to raise you, to eat you, to attend your school, for all your life's necessities. I think that's enough to make up for my mistake. Apparently not, Ren. It will never be enough. My life has never been quiet. Two decades have passed, but guilt still haunts me."

"I know," said Mr. Roy hoarsely. "Everything I do for you is not enough to make amends. I understand the expression of the eye in the eye, the life in the life. I've been asking God for forgiveness, but I'm not going to beg you for forgiveness, Ren. Then from that ...." Mr. Roy started to reach into the pockets. Take out a Desert Eagle gun. I glared in shock. But instead of pointing, he threw the gun at me.

By reflex, I caught the gun. Then I looked in wonder.

"Now, please avenge your father, Ren! Let me die peacefully after making amends!"

I glared in disbelief. This old man gave his life to me? That was enough to show that he was truly sorry. I thought for a moment.

Then I started to raise the gun. Shooting right into his brain. I heard Jan and Hadni outside the room banging on the door and frantically calling out to me. I don't care. My gun is ready to fire accurate shots. Up ahead, Mr. Roy voluntarily accepts his sentence.

The seconds were really stressful. My finger is a few inches from the trigger. Just pull, finish this old man's life.

"Do you know ... about all this?" I finally asked in a hoarse voice.

Mr. Roy shook his head. Answer, "No. Until the end of her life, your mother never knew the least about what I had done in the past."

I let out a breath. Good thing, at least I know that my foster mother who has loved me is completely sincere and has nothing to do with this case. I'm glad to hear that.

Drap, I finally dropped the gun on the floor. Mr. Roy glared in surprise. I turned my body to pass immediately. My anger was overflowing and hatred had reached the crown, but I still could not afford to kill my own foster father who I loved for years. So I began to step away leaving the old man leaning against the wall.

"Ren, where are you going?"

"I quit this company."