RUN WITH ME
CHAPTER 38: IS IT TIME?

A black sedan car is slowly entering the area of one of Indonesia's luxury cemeteries, San Diego Hills Memorial Park. If the green land is shown without mentioning its name, people will definitely think the place is a park or golf course. Its beautiful natural scenery is able to slightly comfort those who are left behind. Besides, doesn't the desire arise in the mind to provide the best view for him who has died? Expect the figure to be happy when "visiting" to the place.

Gavin still remembers it very clearly, the day he stood beside the still-wet mound of earth. In his black suit, little Gavin lowered his head with his father standing next to him with a sad look. The greenish-blue net felt extremely hot, but not a single grain came out from those eyes.

After the funeral procession was over, many people came to him and the father to offer condolences with faces full of sadness. Harris only thanked her while trying to give her a friendly smile, but not with Gavin who put on a flat face while nodding occasionally. His eyes were more focused on the group of people standing not far from him. The Kanagara family.

There was not the slightest bit of sadness or concern from those gazes. Everything felt cold and reluctant to stand there for long. Even his grandfather, aka the father of Harris, gave a sharp look at the tombstone, then stepped his feet away from the place with his wife.

Moments after the departure of his grandfather, Aunt of Gavin, or younger sister Harris walked up to him with a faint smile on his face. Only Gavin could see that clearly, as if that smile was indeed meant for him. The six-year-old was silent. Did his mother's death really bring happiness to his father's extended family? Did they not like that for their mother?

"Big condolences to you, honey. Never thought she would go this fast, may she rest in peace." This was the first time Gavin was upset to hear such a condolence sentence. The words spoken with a smile on the face really raise Gavin's emotions to the crown.

"Thank you, Aunt Florence." Finally it was only that answer that Gavin could give. The woman who was at the age of her third head was silent while continuing to look at Gavin, then she turned her head.

"Dumm." Gavin's eyebrows swooped sharply. Although that one word is spoken in a very small voice—more sounds like a mutter—Gavin ears can still function properly. It is also impossible that he did not understand the meaning of the word because he had been living in Germany. At that moment Gavin realized, his aunt said it deliberately and wanted him to hear it. That's bad, isn't it?

But again Gavin can only be silent and give anything in return, he will certainly be blamed for making a scene in this quiet place. Besides he also did not know what to reply, this all felt too fast for him. Little Gavin finally could only look at the departure of those who had insulted his mother comfortably without the slightest guilt.

"Master?" Gavin gasped a little when he heard the driver's voice that had opened the car door for him. He looked to the right and found the man giving a confused face.

With a faint smile, Gavin set foot onto the grassy ground and took his body out of the walking machine. "Thank you" said Gavin, who answered with a small head bow from the driver. After Gavin got out of the car, he could see Harris, Rebecca, and Erlano who were also getting out of the car. Without waiting, the little guy ran towards Gavin.

"Sister, where are we going?" erlano asked with his head turned to look at Gavin. Gavi smiled gently and raised Erlano's light body to be in her arms. Indeed, this was the first time Rebecca and Erlano had been introduced to Anahita, so it was only natural that Erlano had not known what the purpose of their arrival to that place was.

"Erlan will get to know a new person here, a person who is very valuable to big brother." There was confusion in Erlano. He was a child, did not understand the meaning of the word 'valuable person' in his life. Gavin caught the confusion so he went back to explaining it in the language of the children.

"Erlan loves mom, right?" asked Gavin in a soft voice. At certain times Gavin did have to call Rebecca by the name of mother, especially when he talked to the sister, he did not want his sister involved in his problems.

Erlano nodded his head in excitement, "Yes, I'm very much the same mother."

"Well, brother is the same as Erlan, has a very dear person." Erlano nodded with his mouth rounded, looking so adorable in Gavin's eyes that he chuckled and peeked at his sister's head.

"Don't you realize how mature Gavin is? He could have had many reasons to dislike Erlano, but he chose to love her and not involve her in her heart problems" Rebecca said in a soft voice. Harris turned his head and looked back at his wife.

"But I think that's what he should have done as a brother. No matter Erlano is his biological sister or not, he must love the child born of his new mother." Rebecca was silent at the words. After saying that, Harris walked ahead of him, leaving Rebecca who was still standing in her composure.

After walking for about five minutes, the little family finally arrived in front of Anahita's final resting place. The tomb looked very neat and well-groomed, as if someone had just visited it. Yeah, who else if not Gavin? Do you remember Gavin visiting this place a few weeks ago because he missed it? Where did the unexpected encounter occur with Arunika?

The flower that Gavin last laid there was already withered, but no one moved it. Now, Gavin had brought a fresh and fragrant bouquet of new flowers until he switched the two bouquets. Harris, Rebecca, and Erlano were silent.

"Hello, mama, Gavin is back here again" said Gavin with a gentle nudity at the end of the sentence. Rebecca silently looked at her stepson, while Harris was still focused on the tombstone.

"If I'm not mistaken, Gavin was here about three weeks ago, right?" asked Gavin who of course did not get an answer, there was only silence.

Gavin smiled a little after. "Usually Gavin came alone because he missed and wanted to tell his mother, but today, Gavin brought someone who must have been very familiar." Finally Gavin got into the heart of the conversation. After saying that, Gavin slightly removed his body from the front of the tomb so that Harris and Rebecca could fully see the burrow.

There was silence there. The couple stared at the woman's name with mixed feelings. Harris really felt awkward and didn't know how to start his sentence. He again counted how many times he visited the woman who filled the ten years of his life. Unfortunately, only five of his fingers were raised. But that's all there is a reason. Harris always felt hard to come to this place, there is a part of him feels tight and throbbing pain every remember the time of Anahita's death. Harris didn't want to feel it so he decided not to remember much about the Asian woman, including visiting her grave.

"Don't see you, Ana." After a few minutes of silence, Harris finally opened his mouth and let out a sound. His tone sounded very sad, making Rebecca think, is actually the man still not healed from his pain?

"I'm sorry I just visited you now after my last arrival three years ago. Somehow I always needed more strength to be ready to set foot here" Harris continued, bowing his head. Then he took a deep breath and took it out slowly.

"I don't know if you saw my condition after your departure, but I'll be frank here. The days after your loss were one of the toughest in my life, I seemed to lose my way because all this time you were the one who helped me to move on." Gavin was silent to the words in that. Has he misjudged his father?

"Then I met this woman standing next to me. He accompanied and healed me of that endless pain. It also allowed me to forgive myself for what happened to you. We've been in this relationship for nine years, I hope you're willing to accept it and support us" Harris said, ending his brief explanation with a faint smile. Her hand gently stroked Rebecca's back, making Rebecca smile along.

Gavin watched the introductions made subtly by his father with a sad look, then he lowered his head and took a deep breath. Is this the time for him to really accept his mother's departure without bringing back what happened in the past?

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