Canvas Aksara
THE WOUNDS THAT ASK TO BE HEALED

Section 23

[WOUNDS THAT ASK TO BE HEALED]

The simple wooden house was still the same as the last time Regan came. Both on the day of his first, second, and third arrival, he always met the same figure. She always seemed to be sitting on a bamboo cot on the porch of the house whenever Regan came. With reading glasses and pencils and sheets of paper in hand.

Her figure that was like was completely unchanged in Regan's eyes. Neither today, nor a dozen years ago. That guy still looks the same. It's just that a vague wrinkle began to appear on the skin of the face as well as a few strands of hair that began to whiten, indicating that he had grown older.

"You're coming again."

And he always greeted Regan with a smile. In the past and present, Regan always saw the man smiling in various conditions. She never lost her smile, she always looked calm and dignified, looking gentle but also firm at the same time. Although one thing Regan was aware of, the glow in the man's eyes had faded from time to time. The world is cruel, eroding the lives of people as good as him slowly.

"Isn't today an important day? Why are you here?"

The man Regan knew as a close friend of his father had once come to give a support to rise for him. With a shabby dark blue-covered book, she gives Regan the capital to move on. And now, Regan brought back the book. He was issued right in front of the man he often called the Professor.

"You know for yourself, on an important day, of course, you have to go to a place that is equally important" Regan said, taking the book and opening the first sheet.

"You're still being formal. Son of Argus, my son too. Just call me to go ahead."

Dad's hand swept over Regan's hair. Instantly the feeling of de ja vu approached him. He was stunned for a moment, then returned to the page of the book containing various notes on his lap.

"Today, exactly twelve years after the incident," muttered Regan as if she was piquing something while stroking the book sheet on her lap. "It must be hard to banner."

He sighed for a moment and took off his glasses. Hearing his son's name called made him feel the weight of the burden that was cradling on his shoulders. The man glared towards the blue sky that Panji was very fond of. At the same time the wind blows slowly by bringing memories for memories and longing for a happy past.

12 Years ago on the same date, the sky was not as bright as it is now. In the past, clouds blackened. Rumblings were muffled by a terrible storm. That day was as horrible as what I saw before my eyes. And he thought it would be the most painful day of his life. Where his hard work, his colleagues, his best friend, even his baby was snatched the same day. But, so many years passed, who would have thought the time came when he felt the same pain the second time. It's even more torturous. The feeling of helplessness of losing her only daughter and also the sense of failing to see the terrible state of Panji after losing Siena.

"Speaking about difficulties.we all feel it together. But, after all, everything is always comparable."

Regan commented a little smile, "Right, if we are given trouble then it will be given ease as well."

Regan closes the book and gets up. He said goodbye and immediately entered his car. Regan's goal to come is to meet Panji just like the previous arrival. But today he suddenly thought of something better. Rather than forcing Panji out of hiding, it was better for Regan to withdraw until Panji found ease for the hardships she was experiencing. Regan will wait for Panji to find a solution from the shackles that bind her strong. Just like Regan who managed to escape from the clutches of her mother.

All the way home Regan occasionally hummed softly. Sometimes also muttered among the strains of piano instruments he played. Then for the umpteenth time he will definitely glance at the dark blue-covered music book that he put on the dashboard.

While his car was on a bridge near the waterfall, Regan paused for a moment. He grabs the phone and captures the scenery out there with his cell phone camera. Then he sent the image with an accompanying message.

'good, no? Want to play out?'

Which gets a reply; Alena: 'Don't disturbed'.

Getting such a reply Regan smiled and without hesitation contacted Alena's number. He put up the earphones and then drove his car back.

"What?"

"You're still hiding apparently?"

There's no answer. Regan commented on the smile despite knowing the person across there would not be able to see the smile. He held one hand by the window and spoke again.

"Alena, you want to cry again like in the library at that time?"

"Whisper!"

Hearing Alena's sharp tone made Regan laugh. It's been easy laughing lately. It feels more spacious and quiet. Regan is able to live her days better. And because he can, he will make sure Alena can do the same. However Regan and Alena have long had trouble together. They will continue to support each other to be able to stand upright properly.

"Whatever it is, Alena, remember that you still have some buffer to rely on. We have fallen many times, the pain is no longer a problem. Now the slightest care is no problem. Falling down again is okay. You still have a grip, still able to stand back. You're a stubborn man, Alena. Don't let anything make you give up. It's been falling many times there's no way you can't learn from experience, right?"

"Whisper, Regan."

Alena's voice sounded more subtle. However, Regan knew the girl was thinking deeply about her words. Just getting there, Regan thinks that's enough. Time to let Alena take care of herself from here. Regan ends the call by leaving a few words for Alena.

"Do as you want, not as people say. Dissenting it is also part of growth, Alena."

<<<<<<<<<<<

The first sight that Regan found when entering the house was the whereabouts of his two brothers who seemed to be talking in the living room. He decided to head to his room because it was awkward to join them. However, Regan did as Aeera called her to sit with them.

"Where are you from?" aeera asked, while Aaron beside her tended to be quiet and busy checking the incoming e-mail on her car.

Regan took a seat, "From a friend's house. Also visit Papa."

"We were out of there too. Next time let's go together," said Aeera commenting on a big smile. Then he quickly shifted the subject.

It turns out they were talking about Aeera's engagement event which will be held soon. Regan finds out after hearing Aeera's explanation of the family's upcoming meeting tonight.

The conversation was ultimately dominated by Aeera and Regan. Lately, Regan has a different impression of her older sister. Aeera has also been talking to him more lately.

"How's the concert going, Regan?"

Aeera and Regan's chatter is interrupted by Aaron's question. The person finally spoke after getting bored just shut up earlier. And it was also the first time for Regan to be questioned like that by her eldest brother.

With a nodding smile, Regan replied calmly, "So far everything is smooth. The preparations are done seventy percent."

The carefree tone that Regan could not cover up made Aaron stunned. Just this time he knew, someone could be that happy just because it discusses what he likes. Just this time also Aaron saw his sister can smile loosely without burden. A genuine smile that is not just a formality.

At this point, Aaron glued to his two younger siblings. Aeera will soon lead a new life with her chosen one. Regan who dabbles in the world she loves. They both look happy. Thankfully, Aaron was relieved to see it.

Slowly, that smile came out of his lips. Aaron's gaze looked shady. Then the question came out of his mouth. The question he should have asked from the beginning. Questions that have long been buried among mounting anxiety.

"Have you guys been okay all this time?"

Is she okay? The answer is 'no'. Regan wasn't okay all this time. He has been injured and injured repeatedly. However, he was also fully aware that he was not the only one who had been trained all this time. With this, he also gives an answer to Aaron's question.

"Nobody of us has been completely fine all this time. We have fallen, been injured, been trained almost to give up. Therefore, no one is okay."

Seeing Aaron speechless, Regan spoke back, "It's not okay, but we've been fine. We've gone through that difficult time and become good as the years go by."

The two people that Aaron considered weak and fragile turned out to have surpassed him. Those he had been protecting behind his back, had instead turned to his back bravely.

And by itself, the burden was completely off Aaron's shoulders. He was relieved, really relieved. No load. Without worry. Aaron is finally free from the terrible shackles.

The relief Aaron felt was contagious to someone who noticed the three sisters from the outskirts of the stairs on the second floor.

"They're great kids, aren't they?"

Irine smiled proudly at the sight of her daughter's son who grew sternly. His shock over Argus' departure was resolved today.

"Yes, like Brother, they're great."

Receiving the compliment, Irine turned to the Little Sister. The youngest of the Galilean family who decided to leave their family a few years ago, Denada.

"What about Doctor Wen?"

Denada focused his elbows on the trellis with his eyes focused on one figure below. He is the nephew and student of ZHS, Regan. What would the child hate him for what he did last time?

"Doctor Wen has already returned to his home country after Regan completed her treatment. He made sure Regan was fully healed."

Doctor Wen is a young, genius doctor. Irine brought her from a neighboring country to help with Regan's treatment. Irine also placed Denada on ZHS to monitor the flower. During this time secretly he always took care of his children in his own way. Make sure they stay okay.

She thought it was the best way to protect her children. However, without realizing how it hurt them. Like when he stopped Regan from playing the piano. He thought it was the best way for Regan to focus on treating her illness. But that made Regan fall and get hurt. Although in the end, his son was able to cope with everything.

"I'm sorry, because of me, you've become hated by Regan."

Denada gave an amused snort hearing her haughty brother apologise to her.

"No problem. After all he suffered all this time also because we were cowards and left brother alone."

Denada never hated Irine. As the eldest child, Irine was already the best sister for him. He used to leave the house aimlessly and Irine provided a place for him to hide without anyone knowing. Denada can live freely without the shackles of Galilee now is due to the sacrifice of Irine who chose to continue to be bound by the shackles of Galilei.

Not only was she the one Irine saved, but also her second brother. The only boy in the Galilean family who disappeared years ago. In fact, the child is now living quietly in other parts of the world. Building a small, happy family.

"How are you?"

"Last month her youngest child was two years old. Then the oldest child who attended ZHS rose to level III with the highest points in his class."

Irine closed her eyes for a moment then commented a thin smile. "Thank God, you seem to have lived well" he said with relief.

Denada straightened her body and embraced Irine's body from behind, "We've been living very well all this time, don't think of us anymore. Brother should rest and enjoy life properly from this second."

Patting a glance at her youngest sister's cheek that was resting her head on her shoulder, Irine then nodded calmly.

He will rest well after this.

<<<<<<<<<<<

"Do as you want, not as people say. Dissenting it is also part of growth, Alena."

Alena let her phone fall to the floor just like that after Regan's sentence finished entering her ear. He was snuggled in front of his desk. Hugging yourself tightly with tightly clenched jaws.

'As I wanted, huh?'

Netra Alena was fixed on the scissors on the table. Found a piece of paper stuck between the scissors, his lips slowly turned to a smile. Alena's laughter sounded in the room. So sad and pathetic. Which in the end turned into an irresistible frenzy.

While out there, Grandma was standing awkwardly at the door. He wants to knock but he knows exactly Alena hates others most knowing her weak side. In the end all he did was move to sit in the nearest place. With trembling legs he slowly sat himself down with a photo album on his lap. With his frail hands, he flipped sheet by sheet trembling. See the development of Alena in the form of pictures.

One thing Grandma realized was that her only granddaughter had lost her smile from time to time.

The smile and happiness that were eroded from Alena slowly, this life was so cruel.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The room was white with one side made of glass. All the furniture in the room was neat. Except on one side. Where a large frame lay horribly on the floor. With broken and scattered glass and pictures in it that have been brutally torn.

And Adimas was pensively looking at the broken figura from his desk at this time. Another look in his memory when the other day he found a commotion in his study. And when he arrived, what he found was a picture figura of his wedding that was shapeless. And the Perpetrator who stood quietly with scissors in his hand.

She's Alena. The boy made Adimas die of lice with a dim glow in his eyes. Without speaking, that day Alena passed him by with a cold and desperate look.

"Until when will you continue to be stuck in the view of the past?"

That question made Adimas aware of other existences besides himself in this room. He turned to the old man sitting on the sofa in the corner of the room. The man had spoken at length since then, but Adimas only dissolved in his own thinking.

All because of the same thing. That's Alena. That boy.... No matter how hard Adimas thought about it, he was still unable to accept it. Loving the Wife too much makes the hatred arise in her. Hate the figure of Alena who is his own flesh and blood, because the presence of Alena is the cause of his loss of his wife.

Until now Adimas still can not accept. Why is his wife more concerned about the child than he is? Wasn't Adimas the one who was with him longer? Didn't Adimas love him more? Then why did he leave Adimas just because the child was present for a while in his life?

"It's not fair for Alena to accept hatred from you. Remember Dim, it's not just you who's lost. Alena was the same, she lost the figure of a mother who should be beside her, "Grandfather is still trying to give understanding to his stubborn son. But, the response Adimas gave was just to freeze in place.

"He sacrificed his life to defend your son. Then with what you're doing now, how do you think it would feel to see you now? He entrusted Alena to you, Dim. And you're ruining that trust."

Until the moment Grandfather's figure had passed from the room, Adimas was still also dissolved in his mind. He was stuck, digesting word for word that the Father was saying. Until the flashes of memories that he had long forgotten came back.

The shadow when his wife smiled happily knowing the presence of their baby. When Adimas often found his wife stroking his stomach affectionately imagining the Fruit of the heart he craved would soon be born into the world. When his wife always talks happily, fantasize about their baby-to-be. Until the time when the Wife bore untold pain in order to keep their child. Also when his wife with a pale face covered in tears asked him to promise to save their child no matter how.

Every memory is scattered. Like a sudden rain falling from out there. And when Adimas brought his memory back to the day he hugged the body of Alena who was still a red baby, the day the boy's cry became deafening as the last breath of his wife's lips blew. Adimas felt it again. Countless suffocations that rained down on his chest due to the painful loss.

And between the pain he realized it. Through the cries of Alena who was ringing in his ears. Adimas realized, about the precious thing that he had wasted all this time.

'I'm sorry Papa, Alena.'

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