Me And My Step Brothers
First meeting with Aldista
I have promised to protect my mother, but I cannot completely replace my father.
Finally, we - me and Mom - returned to Bali, my mother's hometown. Aim to forget for a moment the atmosphere where there is a father in it. Building a new life there.
I was 24 years old when I learned Indonesian. At that time, the racist differences were visible. I felt I was ostracized in that religious neighborhood. No wonder, even though I have Indonesian blood - the genes of my father are more in my body than my mother. Even my blonde hair came from my father. I have a pretty different belief.
“ excuse me.” someone greeted me. I thought he would laugh at me, but it turned out that he wanted to take shelter in the same tree I was sitting under.
Asian face is noticeable, but looks awkward and not look familiar with his extended family who are in front of him. He even chose to be alone.
“ are you not familiar with your extended family?” my many.
“ do you speak English, sir?” ask the woman.
“ erm? Yea? My mother is Indonesian even though my face inherited my father's genes.”.
“ oh? I'm here because I want to greet you, but I'm not fluent in ingrish so I can only say sorry to you.” said the young girl.
“ say hello?” my wonder.
“ yes, this is the first time I see a European face like you wearing traditional Balinese clothes, look cool and my name is Aldista.” said the girl.
“ Ale?” I said it because he said his name too soon.
“ Aldista! But you can call me Ale.” said the girl smiling.
“ I don't have money!” I said I don't know why. I fell down for fear of his reaction.
“ money? For what?” wonder the girl.
“ you approached me for money right?” my wonder.
“ I don't even know you. It is impolite not to directly ask for money from people who are not familiar.” said the girl honestly. Because that's what I saw.
The girl was silent. I suspect the girl was in shock because I had learned of her plan.
“ do I look beautiful sir?” the girl's words confused me.
“ eh? Er..” is quite pretty, more precisely sweet.
“ I don't even have anything to be proud of to tease you. I'm fat, I'm ugly, I'm sloppy, I'm clumsy and er. “ he stares towards his lack of legs.
“Yes anyway I don't even have anything to be proud of, maybe that's why, nobody wants to be close to me. And yes, I think it would be cool to be friends with you. That way, at least I can break the words of my sister who says I'm stupid and no one wants to be friends with me.” said the girl berlinang.
“ what? Your little brother say that?” I unconsciously spoke the international language.
“ well, that's it.” reply.
‘ he understands what I said?’ My inner. I felt he was smart enough, he understood what I was saying even though he couldn't pronounce it.
I looked towards the girl's eyes. That's family? And they're cool doing everything without this girl in it? I made a conclusion if what I said while addressing him was; right. He is not close to his family. He was not confident in his shortcomings and his family did not try to make this girl rise.
I remember when I was down, maybe if it wasn't for my extended family, I would still be at the bottom of the pit of regret right now. It turns out that he was also lonely because his family did not try to understand him.
Even his sister blatantly said him; stupid? Has this big family always been hanging behind this girl? until his sister underestimated him.
I want to protect this girl. My hands were stretched out, about to stroke the woman's long hair.
“ Ta.” but I have not had time to pet it, already someone called it. Her mom? The tantenya? Looking at their looks that did not look like I came to a second conclusion. I saw him heading towards the person who called him.
“ where do you live?” ask me before the girl leaves.
“ ouch, I don't memorize. If fate brings us together, we will definitely meet.” said the girl's origin.
I know the words he said were of origin. But it still stuck in my heart. It was as if lighting a fire of spirit again in my heart. Unfortunately, I never saw him again.