Hacking Flavors
Why Refuse Love?

The next few weeks, I never saw Karina again. He also never again just stopped by to share his newly created snacks. Or also accompany Rinaya who wants to meet me.

Even so, my super-hearing could still hear his voice, even though we were blocked by several layers of walls between us.

If Rinaya comes to visit me one weekend, usually the one who will pick her up now is her Aunt Karina's housekeeping assistant.

Related to that, Rinaya once commented on the Karina gelagat. Of course I heard from their conversation through my super hearing.

Rinaya: Mama why not play with Uncle Good again?

Karina: Mama's got a job, honey. If you want to play, nothing. Just play. Auntie's coming home, okay? Keep the attitude, honey..

Rinaya: Why did Auntie pick you up? Why not Mama?

Karina: Because Mama still has a job, honey..

Rinaya: Mama is fighting with Uncle?

Karina: .(silent for a moment).not fighting. Just don't play together!

Rinaya: Why not play together?

Karina: Because...Mama's and Uncle's likes are different now, Nai. It was yes. He said he wanted to play? So no?

Rinaya: So, Ma!

It was the second conversation I accidentally stole while I was in the TV room.

Not long after that I heard the sound of Rinaya's steps running in a hurry and approaching Mark's door. With a hurry, I had already opened the door to greet the little girl, before she even had a chance to say hello.

"Good Uncle!" Sapa Rinaya with a big smile.

And I was made captivated by Rinaya's smile. That smile also reminded me of the smile of her Mama, Karina.

***

Day by day, it keeps changing. And I'm getting used to not seeing Karina again.

The emptiness I felt. Yet again and again I remind myself of my choice in keeping my love for the late Laila.

Sometimes I get to see the figure of Karina when she just came home from teaching. That usually happens during my working hours and Mark happens to be on the same day as Karina's return.

Usually the position of Mark's car is behind Karina's motorbike.

If Karina finds out that Mark's car is behind her, then she'll speed up her motorbike to enter her fence. It was obvious that he was in a hurry to get into the house to avoid me.

Mark can even guess the status of my relationship and also this lousy Karina. In his comment he said.

"It seems like brother again clash is the same Karina? Why is it Bang? I think the relationship between Brother and Karina will be more advanced. Don't bother me, Bang. I've moved on!" Mark commented.

We were relaxing on TV. I'm not too focused on seeing MMA on TV was a bit disturbed by Mark's comments just now.

"It's not because of you, Mark. The problem is in me. Anyway, we won't be able to fit in," I'll give it up.

"Where can you tell that you will not be able to relate to Karina? Have you guys ever been seriously dating? Yesterday was just a boyfriend lying, right, Bang for ngibulin Nila?" Cecar Mark's.

I take a sharp look to the side. Right into Mark's eyes. Again he talked about Karina's ruse about fake girlfriends. Given that, I feel ashamed.

Our conversation changed to another topic.

"Yes, Bang. Next week, Uncle Amir said he wanted to come back here," said Mark suddenly.

"Amir?!"

Instantly my attention was focused all over to Mark.

"Is that right, Mark? Amir, husband of Ar... Mm. I mean, your Aunt Arline right?" Ask me to make amusements.

Amir was the husband of the late Arline. And Arline is my twin sister who died almost a year ago.

In this world. The only people who can prove my identity as Erlan are Amir, Nunik (a friend of Laila) and Darman (a half-brother of Laila). Unfortunately, the three members are not in Indonesia at this time.

Thank goodness Amir said he was going home. If so, I would love to see him again. I hope he still remembers some memories of the time we had our first conversation, when I was alive as Erlan.

"Can I meet her, Mark?" Ask me again for help.

"Could only. But why..? Oho! Hmm. I guess yes. Is this about your desire to prove to me and also Nila about your identity as Papa Erlan?" Mark guessed exactly what purpose I wanted to meet Amir.

I just nodded.

"Don't know, huh? Actually, without the need to prove that Brother is Papa I am sure that Brother does not have bad intentions to me and also Nila. I mean, Brother could have lured Nila with his muah is not it, if indeed the brother incar from my family is a treasure..?" Mark said his thoughts.

"But.. Brother tidka did his. Brother still insists that Brother is Mama's first husband who died. And I also witnessed how my brother treated his late mother. It really touched my heart, Bang," Mark continued.

"Don't care about your aging mother. Brother also does not care about the physical condition of Mama who is not healthy. My brother took very good care of my mother. Even better than us, his own biological son.."

"Since I witnessed for myself how my brother treated Mama while he was alive, even until Mama died, I can make sure that you are serious about how you feel about your late Mama,"

"Indeed, in common sense, his taste is not mausk sense. When a prime guy like Brother likes my Mama. And it makes no more sense about Abang's story about the transmigration of souls to other bodies.but, I'll put all that aside, Bang. I will continue to give my greatest respect and gratitude to my brother,"

"Thank you kaish, it's made my mom smile a lot for the rest of her life. I personally admit, that I and Nila never saw Mama as happy at that time. Except maybe when Papa Kiyano was there, too,"

Negating the name Kiyano called, spontaneously just my mouth pursed. Jealousy is natural when maish returns. Because it's proof that I still love Laila, even if her body is long dead..

"I'm sorry, Bang. I know that you don't like it every time I talk about Papa Kiyano. But Bang, I mean to say all this is, so that you know that Mama is also very happy when she is with Bang Erlan," Mark continued.

"Therefore, Bang. I guess, that means Mama also has the same great affection for Brother. I can see that from the way Mama looks at you every time. You look at each other like a true lover.

Degs..

My heart ached when I heard Mark speak like that.

"And, therefore, it is also Bang. I can think that Mama would also want you to continue your life with full happiness. If you're with Karina, you can come back to a happy life, why would you refuse the love that came before you?" Mark asked with a serious look.

Deg.

Deg.

Hearing Mark's question, my lips suddenly became twisted. My heart was frozen instantly.

I really don't know, the answer I'm supposed to give you to Mark's question.

***