Hansa & Geeta
Chapter I

I began to lose my childhood memories at the age of ten. Since then, I no longer believe in fairy tales, ghosts, and such.

Ever since Grandma died, I've lost the will to live. Grandma is everything to me. Therefore, I decided to erase all my memories with him.

...…...

The night I was ten, when my parents were planning a party at Grandma's, our house phone rang.

I who was drinking warm chocolate milk made by Mother immediately stopped when Dad suddenly shed tears.

He looks very sad. I've never seen him that sad.

Mother calmed him down and took over the phone. His reaction was not much different from Dad's.

She cried.

I remember Grandma's words. He said, if a tear falls from the right eye first, then it is a happy cry.

But, if a tear falls from the left eye first, then it is a cry of sorrow.

I put down my glasses and approached them. I see, Dad shed a tear from the left first. So too with Mother.

I pulled the end of Mother's clothes. I want to make sure.

Mother turned her head and looked at me, without taking the phone away from her ears. Then he smiled.

I'm surprised to see Mother's smile.

It's not a happy smile.

I secretly wish there was no bad news coming after this. I hope Mother cries because she hears her favorite drama character lose or get sick.

But then why are you crying too?

I turned to look at Dad. He did not dare look at me.

I hid my face and went to the bathroom.

I looked back at Mother who was talking on the phone.

“Iya, fine. I'll tell him later.”

I saw Mother several times nodding. Then look towards the bathroom, where Dad is. Then talk on the phone again.

Lastly, before ending the call, Mother looked at me slowly, and spoke again.

“Before... Can we come tomorrow morning?... Ahem, yes. I'm afraid he's not focused on driving. All right, thank you.”

Call ended. Mother put the phone back on and knelt down in front of me.

He hugged me, then rubbed my head. Without saying anything, I know that Mother is very sad now.

His habits. If you are sad, Mother must hug and rub my head.

“Hannie..” Mother's voice sounded raucous.

“Tomorrow, we're going to Grandma's house. Sleep now.”

I frowned.

Then why do you look so sad now? I don't even want to look at me.

I take off Mother's embrace. Makes me look at me in wonder.

“Continue, why do you and Dad cry?” shirihku.

Mother was surprised not to play hear the question. Her tears are back. He's bowed. Then crumple my shoulder.

“Sleep now.”

The wrinkles on my forehead are getting deeper. No, that's not the answer I want.

I'm shaking Mother's hand. He jerks.

“I asked why?!” My voice's up.

“Why are Mothers up to this sad? We're going to Grandma's tomorrow. As planned. Continue why Mother and Father—”

“Hansa!”

I'm choked. The cry of Mother interrupting my sentence echoed throughout the house. I took a step back. Just this time Mother snapped at me.

Aware of his actions, Mother sighed full of regret.

“Sorry, Hannie. But please sleep now. Tomorrow morning, Mommy will explain it to you.”

Mother's voice vibrates. Body too. This time, Mother was also unable to look me in the eye.

But at that moment I was too surprised to realize the vibration of his body. Without a second thought I ran straight to the room, and fell asleep.

As Mother commanded.

The next day, Dad could look at me again, only without the smile he usually gave me every morning.

I think everything will be back to normal this morning. But it didn't.

Mother knelt down again in front of me, like last night.

Look, he didn't call me by a nickname.

“Now take a shower and use a black suit. We have to leave this morning.”

Mother's word sounds awkward. Wait, black suit?

I took a step back. If I sort things out last night, everything's clear.

I cried, Mother too. We're going to Grandma's. Black suit.

I fell down. Not trusting my mind.

“Hansa!” Mother was surprised and supported my body. Dad stood up from the chair and came to me.

They knew. I was pretty quick to understand something. But this time, I don't want to believe in my own brain.

Unknowingly, tears fell from my left eye. I wiped those tears and looked at her.

So hurt. My chest hurts so much. I looked at Mother and Father in turn.

“Mother... Can I talk to Grandma now?”

Mother and Father choked. The frown on their foreheads was very clear.

“Call Grandma now, Mother. Phone Grandma..” my door is weak.

Tears falling down the cheek. I don't care anymore if Mommy yells at me. I just want to shake off my weird thoughts.

“Mother! Phone Grandma!”

I'm clutching Mother's collar. But he didn't fight.

I switched to Dad. My father never did not grant my wish.

“Dad! Call Grandma, Dad. I beg.”

Tears flowed from the adult man's eyes. He's down. And replied with a great shaking voice.

“Sorry, son. We have to leave right now.”

My tears are getting louder and louder. Tears flooded my face.

No. gabe. Nah! Nah! Nah!

“Call Grandma! I don't want to know! Phone Grandma!” whine me to them.

After that, I don't remember how clear it was. To be sure we, myself - and my parents, made it to the funeral home safely.

Grandma is gone. So said Mother.

I-i understand. No need to explain further, I already understand the meaning.

After getting out of the car, I saw many close relatives, as well as far away gathered to meet Grandma's mansion.

I walked past them. With eyes still puffy as a result of crying all the way.

Some held me, I brushed them off. Some just call. Exclaims.

I don't care and keep moving forward.

At the end of the crowd, I could see Grandma's stiff body that was already thick in white cloth. And again, I fell down.

Mom and Dad ran towards me.

“Hansa!” exclaim Mother. He hugged me right after he arrived.

“Hansa, you must be sincere, yes?” aunt said.

He's the second kid. Aunt May. Good guy, but I don't like him very much. Because he's too chatty, and he likes to kiss me.

Next I can't hear anything anymore. My view turned blank.

All I have in mind is Grandma, Grandma, and Grandma. It was just him and his smile that was on my mind at the moment.

“Nana...” muttered slowly.

That was my call to Grandma when I was a kid.

“Nana..”

A call to the grandmother of her native land.

“Nana..”

My tears are back. Mother rubbed her face on my face.

“Already, Han. Grandma left with a smile on her face.”

I grimaced. I know, Mother. I can see it clearly from here.

At the exact age of ten years and a day, I lost Grandma.

.

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