Death Flute
Ibu?

Sui She's screams were heard up to Uncle Khung's room. Chien Wan and Uncle Khung gasped in shock. They're out of the room immediately. They saw Sui She walking with a hasty weak step while calling, “My son! My boy!”

“Nona Sui She!”

Uncle Khung's shockingly spoken call made Sui She turn her head. Her once beautiful face that was so pale and hollow, was now flushed and radiant with the light of life. His gaze was fixed on Chien Wan and his face immediately shone. A sweet smile splashed on his lips as he rushed over to the young man and instantly dropped himself into Chien Wan's arms.

“My son!” his sigh was full of love and longing.

Chien Wan was aghast at receiving that hug. He tried to escape. “Nona Sui She, don't be..”.

But Sui She did not take off her embrace. He said in tears, “I'm sorry I left you alone! I didn't mean to throw you out, son. Really, Mom accidentally!”

Back then, the Luo Family plus Meng Huan had arrived there. They were astonished to see Chien Wan being held so tightly by Sui She who was sobbing. Chien Wan herself looked shocked and so embarrassed that she could not say anything.

Mr. Luo approached.

“Sui She, she's not your son. You don't have any children! Chien Wan is my student!”

“Mr...” Uncle Khung approached Mr. Luo, intending to speak. But he doesn't care. Mr. Luo was too worried about his sister's condition that he suspected was not cured of his madness but experiencing another madness.

Finally Sui She let go of her arms. Despite this, he still tightly grasped Chien Wan's arm so that Chien Wan did not wrench and could not escape. Sui She looked at her brother fixedly.

“Kakak don't know anything!” sui She said firmly. “I don't remember what happened to me these twenty years, but I don't forget that I gave birth to a son. Twenty years ago I gave birth to a baby boy. Maybe I forgot his face. But I can't forget his birthmark!

“Since birth he was separated from me by force. I'm so devastated! My feelings die and I forget everything except my sadness and anger at being separated from my baby!” Sui She was crying. His tears poured out, making everyone fixated on staring at him.

“Sui She Mr. Luo did not know what to say.

“Now he came to me! Fate has united us mother and son. And I'll make sure that none of this happens again! I will defend my son and will kill anyone who tries to separate us!”

Mr. Luo was stunned. Is it possible that Sui She has not yet recovered from her madness? Sui She did recognize them all and her behavior clearly revealed that she was cured. However, he recognizes Chien Wan as his son, but neither does he marry. Could this be another form of insanity?

Chien Wan tried to explain, “Nona Sui She, I am the servant of Wisma Bambu. I'm not your son. I...”

Chien Wan's remarks were cut quickly by Sui She, “A feeling of a mother can't be wrong, Son.” Sui She looked dearly at Chien Wan. “Maybe you hate me because I used to not take care of you. But I will correct my mistake. I will always take care of you. I'll give you all the love you're supposed to have all this time. I promise you, no one can separate us, boy!”

Chien Wan was glued. Somehow Sui She's words made her tongue muffled so she couldn't say a word.

The Luo and Meng Huan families were stunned to witness this incident. They can't do anything. Even Sen Khang who usually never had trouble speaking, is now unable to comment on this extraordinary event. They were only able to fall into silence waiting for the response of Mr. Luo as the head of the family.

Mr. Luo would've spoken if Uncle Khung hadn't grabbed his arm. Mr. Luo turned his head and saw the wordless gesture made by Uncle Khung. The old man asked him to follow him and he had no choice but to obey.

***

“Alright,” said Mr. Luo as he folded his hands in front of his chest. “You always have a proposal for any situation involving Chien Wan. What else is on your mind right now?”

“Only one: let Miss Sui She be happy!”

Uncle Khung's stern words made Master Luo frown. “You mean?”

“Nona Sui She has recognized Chien Wan as her son. Why don't you just let it go? You see for yourself, don't you, how happy Miss Sui She is right now? Besides she recovered unexpectedly.”

“This Khung uncle how?!” jolt Mr. Luo. “My sister has not healed! How could he acknowledge a child he had never born? Uncle, she's still a girl! She has never married anyone. After all, how could Chien Wan be his son?”

“I'm not saying that Chien Wan is really his son. I'm just saying that Miss Sui She recognizes Chien Wan as her son. If he is happy with such thoughts, let it go! Slowly, we will tell the truth. Right now, just let them be mother and son.” Uncle Khung looked at Mr. Luo deeply.

“Can't! If this were to spread outside, my sister's reputation would be tainted! A girl has a child out of wedlock. This will be a scandalous Bamboo Guesthouse!” hardik Mister Luo, forgot to be polite.

“Which is more main; good name or healing Miss Sui She?” challenge Uncle Khung calmly.

Mr. Luo opened his mouth to answer, but closed it again because he did not know what to answer.

“Master, all this time Sir saw Miss Sui She was suffering from pain. He's very unhappy. Why should this happiness he has just enjoyed be deprived of it? After all, for so long we managed to cover his condition from the outside world. It also won't spread anywhere if we don't tell anyone!”

Uncle Khung's words sounded reasonable in Master Luo's raging brain. He did not think at all about how Uncle Khung could propose something like that. He did not expect Uncle Khung to have any other meaning with his proposal. All he had in mind now was the joy of his sister's recovery and how exactly everything Uncle Khung said. He no longer considered anything.

***

When Mr. Luo and Uncle Khung returned, they saw Sui She was persuading Chien Wan to call her ‘ibu’.

“Call me mother, son. Please...” pinta Sui She full application.

Chien Wan gulped. His heart began to wobble. He looked at Master Luo helplessly.

Master Luo sighed. Uncle Khung's proposal was no harm done. Then he nodded at Chien Wan.

Sui She looked at Chien Wan. Eyes glazed. “My son, when you won't forgive Mom?”

Chien Wan was destroyed. “Mother,” call it down.

Sui She's face instantly glowed. His wet eyes were shining. A clear tear slid down her flushed cheek. The smooth cheeks were once ashen as bloodless, but now the soft reddish look signifies his health and happiness. Smile expands.

“Oh, My son..!” isak Sui She while hugging Chien Wan tightly.

Chien Wan no longer tried to resist. He closed his eyes. I don't know why his heart felt so comfortable and warm. She always misses a mother. Let Sui She think of her as her son, and she will pretend that Sui She is her mother.

The others looked at them with wonder mixed with haru. They still didn't say a word.

Since that day, Sui She's condition has improved. He grew healthier and brighter, just as he had before he lost his memory. He was very attentive to Chien Wan. He loves and spoils her. He wanted Chien Wan to always be around him. She often cooks for Chien Wan, patches up torn Chien Wan clothes, and does small activities that a mother should do.

Chien Wan himself liked it. He loved being near Sui She and felt a touching closeness to the woman. He often blows soft songs to ‘ibunya’ it with his flute.

Chien Wan's cleverness blew away Sui She's mesmerizing flute. His eyes were teary listening to that wonderfully melodious song. Then he noisily asked the whereabouts of his soy sauce to his brother. Before he got sick, he was very good at playing the harp. It was his cleverness that led him to the Valley of Nada.

But other than blowing the flute, Chien Wan was asked very much by Mr Luo not to mention the Nada Valley once in a while. Master Luo did not want Sui She to be reminded of the existence of that place. Mr. Luo was still convinced that it was Nada Valley that had caused Sui She to lose her memory. The birth of the baby Sui She was telling her, Mr. Luo was sure, was just a mistaken memory.

“But, Sir.... Teacher asks me—“

“Chien Wan,” Mr Luo said. “My sister is almost healed. I hope you will be patient until Sui She's completely recovered. After that, we persuaded him once more to give up his strange belief that you were his son. He is very happy now. I don't want him to be sick anymore.”

Chien Wan sighed. “Alright, Mr.”

“And from now on, you'd better call me Uncle. Sui She was very surprised to hear your call to me. Yesterday he protested against me for letting you call me master. He said, when a nephew calls his uncle?”

Chien Wan nodded again.

At that time, a call came from the direction of the park: “My son, where are you?”

Chien Wan looked at Mister Luo who immediately signaled her to get out of the study where they were talking.

“I'm here, Mom.”

Sui She's face was beaming. “Mother look for you everywhere. Are you called your uncle?” tanyanya cheerful.

“Ya.”

Sui She held Chien Wan's arm. “You want to, accompany Mom for a walk? It has been a long time since I have seen the environment of Wisma Bambu. You know, I've been locked up in the Back Garden Pavilion all this time. Or are you tired of accompanying Mom and want to be with your cousins?”

“I'll accompany you, Mother.”

Sui She's smile widened happily. He looked at his ‘son’ happily.

Sui She's enormous affection for Chien Wan made the young man feel bad. He felt that he had deceived Sui She. He felt he did not deserve the affection he should not have. But seeing how happy Sui She was, Chien Wan could not bear to say anything. He also behaves like a filial child. He acted as if he truly loved Sui She.

Over time, it was no longer pretending. Chien Wan truly loved Sui She from the bottom of her heart. There was something radiating from within Sui She that made Chien Wan feel very close to her. He began to secretly hope in his heart. She wished that Sui She was really her mother. But it's just a hope that won't come true.

He knows it!