Giving Birth to My Brother
92. End of Story

Elin did not make a decision. He even has Ariel's phone number, but he is reluctant to call Ariel. It was not that he did not miss that figure, not because he did not want to meet Luna. But he also felt very guilty. Had he not left, would this story have been any different?

Elin is currently looking at a photo of Luna sent by Gladis to her mobile phone. He shifted one by one starting from when Luna was a baby, where she was still treated by Sinta, to Luna who had entered kindergarten.

Elin smiles occasionally, she sees Luna's closeness with Ariel in the last photos, probably when Ariel is divorced with Sinta. From Gladis, Elin hears that Ariel is more at home than at the office after she divorced. Ariel must have poured out a lot of affection for their daughter.

"Sorry Mama" muttered Elin, clutching her phone. He kissed Luna's face in the photo and muttered, "Mama must have come for you."

***

After 2 days of turmoil, Elin decided to return to Indonesia. He did not return home with Gladis because his sister still had a job in Malaysia. However, he believes Gladis has told Ariel because Ariel called her new number several times. And none of those calls were answered by Elin.

Elin is now in a taxi that will take her to the hospital where Luna is being treated. Elin opened her phone to look at the old photo of Galang. He smiled faintly and said, "I'm home, Mas. After a long time I've finally come back here."

Elin brushed off the thin fog that had just stopped by when she recalled Galang, the kind man who had helped her a lot. However, he could never give much to Galang.

"Udah arrived, Ma'am," said the taxi driver disperse the daydream Elin.

Elin nodded. He gave some money and got out of the taxi. He only carried a small backpack so he did not have to stop by the hotel first. He just wanted to see Luna.

With a wild heartbeat, Elin finally arrived at the corridor of the VIP room where Luna was, perhaps Ariel was there too. That was disturbing for Elin. So, he just stood there for a few seconds.

"Elin?"

Elin turned towards the voice that called out to her. He took a step back to make a distance with Ariel who had just appeared from behind him.

"You really came," Ariel said with a quivering voice.

Elin nodded slowly. His lips were so faint that he could not respond to Ariel's words. Ariel moved forward and eroded the distance between them. Elin was pounding more and more and she hated this. He had long wanted to forget Ariel, but now Ariel was filling his head. Ariel looks the same as 5.5 years ago. Especially when Ariel smiled.

"I'm glad you came" said Ariel splitting the silence.

"Where's Luna?" ask Elin.

Ariel raised her chin. He went first and Elin followed. Just like Elin, Ariel pounded countless times. He was waiting for a meeting with Elin. He had even prepared words of apology for Elin before and he regretted that what he said was different from what he wanted to say. He wanted to say that he missed Elin, he lost and he was always looking.

Elin paused for a moment in front of the door of Luna's room that Ariel had opened. He could hear the sound of various tools inside and immediately Elin's tears were shed. Ariel turned to Elin, convinced that Elin was being overwhelmed by sadness or guilt or that she might still be angry with him.

"Luna is a strong boy. He was just in chemotherapy yesterday and now he's much better" Ariel said, widening the door.

"Can I be with Luna?" ask Elin.

"Yes. Sure aja. He can definitely recognize you if he wakes up" Ariel said.

However, until minutes Elin sat in a small chair next to Luna's bed, the little girl did not open her eyes. Elin continued to cry as she clasped Luna's tiny hand. The girl had already gone through a lot at such a small age, even when the baby was getting unpleasant treatment from Sinta.

Both of Elin's eyes circulated until she saw a small frame containing her photo on the nightstand. Then a photo of Ariel hugging Luna. And finally he nailed his gaze on that piece of paper over there. Elin took the picture. He smiled, but he also cried because of the image made by Luna. It was a picture with Papa, Luna and Mama writing under each character.

Gently, Elin rubbed Luna's forehead. "You need to heal, honey."

Elin did not realize that Ariel had joined him a few minutes ago. Ariel sat on the long sofa she used to sleep on while accompanying Luna overnight.

"Are you all right, El?" ask Ariel.

Elin looked over and rubbed her cheeks. "Ehm, it's like you see it."

"I've been looking for you all this time" said Ariel. "But you don't want me to meet."

"Why is my sister looking for me? I heard ... Luna needs a spinal cord donor. What because ...."

"Don't get me wrong," Ariel quickly cut. He stood up and approached Elin. "I can't be . I'll never use you again. I'm sorry for our past. Sorry me. I feel guilty about you every day, every night. I'm .. I always miss you. You see ... Luna .. she's got your face. Every time I see Luna, I always remember you. I never missed you."

Elin. Well, when he saw Luna's face for the first time, he was amazed. How can the little girl inherit her face while she lives with her father alone? In fact, he really hopes that Luna can be as similar as possible to Ariel. God is more powerful in painting.

"I would be a donor to Luna if it was necessary" Elin said, holding back Luna's small hand.

"It also still needs an examination. If it is suitable, you can only be a donor" said Ariel. He took a long breath. "I hope you didn't just come because Luna needed a donor. I hope you don't misunderstand."

"I know," said Elin. They were silent for a while until Elin remembered Gladis' words. "I was shocked when Gladis said .. Brother has long liked me. Is that true?"

"Yes. I feel guilty for harboring love for you. It's wrong, you're my foster sister, so I intend to do a lot to forget about you. And .. I was shocked when I heard from Gladis that you have the same feelings as me. You even wrote a book about how you felt about me since you were a teenager" Ariel said. He looked at Elin who was also staring at him. "I'm sorry .. I should have been more willing to confess my feelings long ago. None of this would have happened if I had been braver."

Elin nodded. Seeing Luna made him not want to think about the past anymore. He felt a little warm from knowing, Ariel had also loved him for a very long time.

They remained silent for a while until Ariel spoke again. "What are you doing? Are you ... married or .. dating? I heard from Gladis, you were with Galang all this time."

Elin nodded. He took out a ring from his cardigan pocket. "He's calling me."

Ariel nodded. His heart was uncomfortable now, but if it meant good for Elin's life, he would be happy too.

"A year ago" Elin continued. "I haven't given you an answer. But he asked me to keep this ring. I ... I almost said I want to marry her. But, a week after he proposed to me he had an accident. He's new ... climbing on the mountain, but .. there's a landslide and he didn't survive."

Ariel saw Elin clutching the ring. He did not know the years Elin spent with Galang, but he guessed there were many things there. Galang must have been a valuable figure to Elin.

"I'm so sorry" said Ariel. He looked at Luna who had just moved. "Luna .. are you awake?"

Luna did not respond, but Elin could feel a grip on her hand. "What's going on?"

"Maybe he feels pain" Ariel replied, rubbing Luna's face. "She's under the influence of drugs, so maybe her sleep is a bit long. But ... He'll wake up later."

"I want to see a doctor" Elin said. "When can I test?"

"Later on, we'll wait for Luna to wake up" Ariel said. He rubbed Elin's cheek this time and moved closer and hugged Elin.

Elin wrapped her arms around Ariel's waist and she was sobbing there. He could not bear to see Luna in pain.

"I should have come yesterday" said Elin. "How long ... has it been since when did Luna get sick?"

"About 6 months" replied Ariel. He gently rubbed Elin's head which was now covered by the hijab. "It wasn't your fault. He's waiting for you patiently."

Ariel released a hug and knelt down in front of Elin. He held Elin's hand gently. "I'll love everything I can do for Luna."

Ariel nodded. "Thank you."

The two looked over as Luna moved slowly. Ariel stood up to check on Luna who was frowning then slowly opened her eyes.

"Hey, are you awake, beautiful?"

Elin smiles at Ariel's affectionate call to Luna. He thumped as Luna looked at Ariel who was sitting on the edge of her bed. Both looked.

"Papa, I dream" said Luna.

"What dream are you, Luna?" ariel asked as she rubbed Luna's face.

"I saw Mama."

"That's not a dream. Your mother has come" said Ariel, turning her gaze to Elin and smiling. Luna followed her father's point of view.

"Luna ...." Elin called and carefully touched Luna's hand. He's waiting for a response. He was afraid that Luna would scream, get angry or cry because she was gone too long.

However, Luna smiled faintly. "Mama."

Elin's heart immediately felt warm. Luna's short call to him managed to make him shed tears again. However, Elin knew it was not tears of sadness. He was sure it was tears of happiness.

Ariel releases Luna's body and lets Luna stretch out her hand for Elin. Touched, Ariel looked at Elin who was holding Luna's body. She was so sad when she remembered the time Luna was born, Elin did not even have time to hug her.

"Mrs ... My mom is coming." Luna spoke softly.

"Yes, Honey. Mama apologized for just coming home" Elin said trembling.

"Mama's not going away anymore, is she? Said Papa ... Mama will stay with me as well Papa," said Luna innocently.

Elin smiled faintly. He did not know what future would welcome him. He looked at Ariel who was just smiling expectantly.

"You want Mama to stay with you?" elin asked Luna..

Luna nodded enthusiastically and Elin laughed. "I also want to be accompanied by my mother."

Elin nodded slowly. "Mama's not going anywhere. Mama promised."

After much talk and talk with Luna, the doctor came. Elin asks permission to immediately perform tests so that she knows if she is suitable to be a donor for Luna. He wanted his daughter to be healed soon.

"El, I'm sorry" Ariel said as Luna went back to sleep. "I've been talking nonsense to Luna. I just want him to have a little hope that you'll be by Luna's side."

"That's not bullshit. I'm going to keep Luna going" said Elin.

"You sure?" Elin nodded. "So .. you want to stay together ...."

"I didn't say yes to that problem. I came for Luna not for ... Brother."

"Ah." Ariel nodded. "OKAY. I understand. But ... You believe our future can still be stacked again? We three. Me, you and Luna."

Elin took a deep breath. "Our relationship is long over, brother."

"I knew. But my feelings never change." Ariel convinced.

Elin smiled faintly. "Let's talk again about the matter after Luna recovers."

"Yes, that's good." Ariel smiling. "Obviously, I'm glad you're here. As if, now I could breathe more freely. We ... I hope we can unite someday."

Elin is pounding now. "We focus on Luna's recovery first. Okay?"

"OKAY. Okay." Okay." Ariel nodded. "But .. can you be honest now. Do you also have hope that we will be united again?"

Elin looked at Ariel who was smiling at her. "I'm not sure. But ... maybe, we can unite again. I'm .. I'm also sure, 5.5 years ago wasn't the end of our story. Maybe we can make a fresh start and we'll have a different ending."

"Together with Luna."

"Yes, the three are with Luna" said Elin, holding Luna's hand. He also felt Ariel clutching his left hand.

Now, Elin is ready for their much happier ending.

.

EXPIRE