Rayyan
Chapter 4. Rean

Ray chuckled, laughing at the question he had just thrown.

"I'm kidding, Dad!" his dejection stopped, the look on his face also began to change. The hope that came when he saw his father, now it was back buried deeply. He knew that his presence was troubling his stepmother, but did his father also think that way?

"Tante Sasha has a child?" His voice was barely audible. His eyes are now out the window. As soon as the father left his mother, until now he had children from other women.

"Father's son?" His voice filled the space inside the car. Arnold was silent. Focus on the road ahead of him. Trying to ignore every question Ray. One thing Arnold can't deny, he and Sasha already have a child. A 4-year-old boy named Renand.

"I understand why Mother chose to leave Dad!" his voice sounded hoarse.

"Because Dad doesn't really love you, does he?! You don't love me, do you?!"

"Shut up or I'll drop it down here!" jolt Arnold. Not ignored by Ray.

"Dad's kidding, right?" his voice echoed in Arnold's ear. The car stopped on the side of the road. Silence enveloped both.

"Down now!" jolted Arnold with his cold tone. Ray breathed. Ray opened the car door and got out. But deep down, Ray hoped his father would hold him back and pull him back into the car. But his hopes were dashed when Arnold said nothing, as if waiting for Ray to leave, and he would drive his car back.

"How did Ray go home?" No response from Arnold. He just stared at the road in front of him without looking at the figure of Ray who was now standing outside. Slowly, he drove his car at a moderate speed. Leaving Ray there. But Ray's still staring at the car, he should know it's not coming back.

"Well, when can you love Ray again?"

***

He didn't go on the way home. Not this time. Let them be confused looking to and fro. Let her ulcer recur again for skipping her lunch. Let everything happen as water. Blank. Which is in his mind. His father already had a wife, his son was grown. He still doubts whether his existence in the Chandra family is really necessary.

Ray stared at the lake water which suddenly became turbid. He frowned, what kind of crazy kid threw water with rocks on the edge of the lake. The boy looked very frustrated. But in the next few seconds, the child on the edge of the lake was silent and then sat down while hugging his knee. Ray continued to watch the child, it seemed like he knew the figure on the edge of the lake. His pace was faster when he was sure, the child on the edge of the lake was a person he knew.

"DORRO!" Ray shouted at the figure of a teenager who now turned to look at Ray.

"Sister Ray ..." she said as she raised her face. Feeling Ray's warm embrace. Ray knew exactly who this kid in front of him was. He is Rean. One of the children who was very close to him. A 2-year-old boy younger than her.

"What are you doing here?! It's not home yet! Why is it outside, huh?!" The consecutive questions that Ray asked only got an answer in the form of darkness.

"Sister, sorry Rean, huh? Surely Big Brother left because Rean likes to take care of Big Brother, right?" Ray let go of his embrace. He sat down next to Rean and looked at him gently.

"I've never been bothered by you. You're my sister, why feel bothered?" Ray smiled to comfort Rean.

"I'm not your real sister ...."

"What are you talking about? Let's tell me, why are you here, huh? Not afraid of punishment?"

"Let's tell me, what happened to you?" Ray kept pushing Rean. The teenager was silent. He looked at the lake which was now calm.

"Why are you here too? Isn't Brother the same as Brother's family?" Family?! Ray was silent for a moment. Letting his mind wander among many other problems.

"You're also Brother's family, don't shift the topic! Answer me!" Rean was silent. He avoided Ray's gaze which had continued to intimidate. Trying to find the answer he wants from Rean.

"You got bullied again, huh?" Rean was silent. Rean's silence is a question, someone's trying to silence him. It is possible that the child has been blackmailed, bullied or any other form of bullying. Ray had always wondered who really made Rean become like this.

"Samuel ..." he wrote. Samuel's? Which samuel? There were so many samuel in his life. But Ray assures her heart that Rean is not Samuel Shan's younger brother. I hope it wasn't.

"Samuel?"

"Not Samuel .. but his friends!"

"What did they do to you?"

Rean was silent. If the time he had at the moment he used to scavenge answers from Rean, then he would not get them. Not only is Rean sturdy, but he also does not want the fact that what is in his mind is true.

"You mean Samuel .. Not Samuel Chandra Aditya, right?" Rean looked at Ray. A moment later, Rean nodded slowly then said,

"Yes." Yeah." Ray breathed. He has to deal with Rean's bullying and also involves his cousin's sister whom he trusts a lot. Ray took a deep breath, as he felt the wind blow his face. He has just been discharged from the hospital, dropped off by his father on the street, and now he has to deal with Rean with a bullying case involving Sam. It is very dramatic today.

"I'm not hungry." Rean spoke flatly, staring at the lake before him.

"You don't be like this! Brother will help you out of this matter!"

"What would you do?"

"I? So you don't believe in Rayyan Chandra Arrega?! Who are you to dare underestimate Rayyan's speech ability, the wired speaker?!" Rean chuckled at Ray's words. Ray can really entertain someone. Ray smiled at Rean. All he could do now was comfort Rean with his words. The word that came out of Ray's mouth was sedative, like opium that made everyone always want to listen to his voice again.

***

Samuel repeatedly checked the watch in his hand. It's late afternoon, and he's still on the basketball court. For some reason, today his friends forced Sam to stay longer. Though he could not bear to see the condition of his cousin who today should have returned home from the hospital. He was worried because his grandfather told Arnold, Ray's father and also as Sam's uncle to pick up his brother. Not because of anything else, but seeing Arnold's attitude towards Ray made him not believe fully in his one uncle, know Arnold was different from his other brothers.

"Why do you bengong aja on the sidelines?" Dion's voice made Sam's daydream instantly disappear. Dion walked up to him and sat down next to Sam.

"Today, can I not go home early? There's business."

"Yes, you're not cool!! What business is it that you believe to cut our play schedule?!"

"Heh, inget, huh? Our training schedule is only up to half-four. And it's been a long time!"

"Gue doesn't talk about the training schedule, I'm talking about our schedule!"

"Yes! I'll go home first!" Sam moved out of his place. And Dion was still there with a sigh.

"Well, Rean! Why come here? Haven't come home?" Sam was surprised to see Rean coming, he looked at the teenager who had just arrived. Rean avoided Sam's gaze that looked for a gap for him again asking.

"I ... I .. I want to take the bag ..." her voice stammered.

"Bag?"

"Bag what do you mean?" Dion came to both of them. Rean just looked at the teenager with a dislike look.

"Where's my bag?" Dion looked at Rean, then smiled faintly.

"You mean?! Am I importing that cheap bag of lo?! Such a rich buluk bag, suitable for doormats in front of the house, you know?!" Sam stared at Dion.

"What the hell are you talking about, Yon? What's the hell?!" Dion rolled his eyes at Sam's words.

"I just want my bag!" Lirih Rean looked down deeply.

"Hey hey, Dion's words don't get in the heart, huh? He is that guy! Sorry huh? Yon, apologies for that!" Dion rolled his eyeballs back.

"Gue?! Sorry for him?! Not wrong, you?!" Some of Dion and Sam's friends who were busy with an object called basketball, now also stop their activities. Start approaching them.

"What the hell is this?"

"Here, the orphanage boy asked us for his bag!" They smiled sinisterly towards Rean. Rean was still standing in front of the basketball boys.

"Where did you live in the bag?" Sam asked nicely. He got no answer. Rean looked at Sam's friends with a gaze that was hard to decipher.

"That child doesn't know himself! Who are we, taking your buluk and kuel bag?! No one wants such a rich bag! It's not a 24-carat gold bar covered in diamonds!" nial Eject. They laughed except Sam who looked at them didn't like it. Unknowingly someone approached them. He showed a flat face with his sharp gaze.

"So those who bully you, Yan?!"

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