SAVANNA
CHAPTER 26

After the wall clock turned 9pm, Luke finally drove me home, in his grandfather's 90s Sedan.

Our trip was quite short, because my house was not so far from here.

We were in the car for about 10 minutes in an awkward atmosphere. Several times Luke was seen making jokes to dispel the atmosphere, and so I responded with a laugh that I was trying to make as natural as possible, but still the awkward feeling never went away.

After a while, I arrived in front of the fence. Luke got off first and opened the car door for me. I said my gratitude in tandem with the strange feeling that came after doing that with her. Luke looks the same to me. With that feeling, he was alone and I just nodded shyly to let go. Luke passes, and decides to enter the house.

****

My first footrest that stepped on the living room floor made a familiar silent atmosphere welcome me. I learned to accept all of this, tried to be indifferent and walked straight into the room.

I removed the shirt I was wearing right now and replaced it with a plain white shirt I used to wear at home.

I laid my body on the bed and looked at the ceiling of the room with a moon sticker and neon red stars.

Memories of the sticker were playing in my brain.

I was 5 years old when it was my first day to start school. Father who looks more enthusiastic than me, gave this sticker as a gift for the first day I entered school. Together we put it up with laughter. The mother in charge of holding the stairs for my father with her warm smile could not escape my memory.

Huh...

Geck! Geck!.

The sound of knocking on my bedroom door made those memories come to a halt. I got out of bed and opened the door. Behind him stood the mother with a glass of tea that still reflected the smoke in her grasp.

"May you come in?". Ask mom with her matted face.

I nodded and let him in. Mom sat on my desk chair and I sat on the bedside. He sipped his tea, then looked at me while smiling blankly.

"You want to?". He offered it to me while offering his glass.

"No need ma'am, Vana was drinking coffee with a friend". I reply to mom.

"so yeah. I'm glad that Vana has a friend for coffee. Is James the one?". Ask mom later.

Be ill.

My heart still hurts to hear that name. Moreover, the name came out of the mouth of the mother.

I smiled blandly as I shook my head at Mom.

"James already has a fiancee mom, I'm not continuing my relationship with her anymore". Keep trying to accept the reality.

Huh... It really hurts.

"so yeah. That means he's not the one, kid". The mother who looked at me was full of meaning.

Mom's right.

James is not the right man for me.

I nodded at mother's words and gave her a resigned smile.

"That's how your mom and dad are". Continue now by staring blankly at the glass.

Huh...

Now I really understand. I understand the situation and how mom feels right now. Deep down, he loved me very much. But not the father of the person, although he had stopped in the mother's life and made it comfortable. So that's how life is. Everyone's world will always revolve around finding the right partner for him or her.

I rubbed my mother's arm, trying to strengthen her. He looked back at me with a blank smile.

"Son, our divorce will take place in 3 days". Say mother then.

I was shocked to hear this unexpected news. I swallowed my bitter saliva upon hearing this news. I didn't expect it to happen as fast as Mom said. I think they'll do the trial this weekend.

I who do not know what to reveal can only be silent in accepting this bitter reality.

"After that, we'll move to the village". Mama who surprised me again.

"Why ma'am?". Many finally.

"So, your father came here to take back the right of home that was written on his behalf. It was written in our divorce agreement. The choice given is this house or you, Savana. For mom, this house is nothing if you have to exchange it for you. So I chose to give this house to your father". It was obviously the mother who smiled wryly at me.

I who heard his explanation could only be stunned and think. Is that how hard you fought for me?. I can only cry and whine for my own selfishness. I'm really a self-informed kid.

I looked down at Mom's words. This situation makes me unable to be sad and happy at the same time. It hurts. I made the choice, the rest is with me.

Huh...

"Then what about Vana bu's school?". Tanyaku later.

"There's two weeks left, Vana's going to the graduation exam". I looked at my mother who looked very tired.

"For a while, mom would rent a simple apartment until Vana graduated. After that, we will move to the corner of a small town in this region. Mom while taking care of her, they offer a free residence for 3 years for a person like mom who already has one child. But the mother refused it, the mother preferred to buy a house and planned to settle there. The price is not expensive, you can get a house with two rooms equipped with new furniture and a fairly spacious home page... Does Vana not mind?". Ask your mom at the end of the story.

"It doesn't matter ma'am, then what about the apprenticeship you offered first?". Ask me again to consider my mother's decision.

"The company is not just one son, they also have branches around the city of Teora. I've seen it, you can use mom's vehicle". Clearly again.

"Then what did you use?" Askaqua.

"Mom decided to retire from the office world. In the place of the mother there are several benefits, I think the amount is enough to finance our lives later, while helping Vana to go to college". Answer mother with patience.

"yeah. Vana will study really ma'am, let's graduate in that company. Let me keep the alimony for more important purposes". Reply to my mother while convincing her.

"Mom sure you're the same. Your education is also very important for you, so don't feel too burdened". My mother advised me sincerely.

I smiled no less sincerely at mother, nodding in response to her advice.

"So, when it rains. Jacob came to visit. It turned out that quickly he realized that something was wrong with our departure. But I explained it to her..."

Mom stopped her saying that. I looked at the mother with narrowed eyes because the tone was hanging at the end of her sentence. Did Jake tell you about the incident this afternoon?. It can't be. It was the same as digging his own grave.

Sretti.

Mom pulled out my desk drawer, and pulled out a little black box and thrust it at me. I was surprised there was this thing in my drawer immediately received it for me to examine.

A cellphone?!.

"Mom bought Vana?". I asked who suddenly realized this box object contained a new cellphone.

"Jacob". Said mother slowly.

I was immediately stunned to find out if Jake bought this item.

Wh why?.

The question immediately popped into my head.

"Looks like he put personal feelings on you, son...". Continue with the mother while breathing heavily.

I was confused what to say. I admire Jake, not that I have any personal feelings for him. If amazed... It's true I admire him, he's handsome and rich. But still he's my uncle, just as he values mother as his brother, so do I to him. I appreciate Jake as my uncle, nothing more.

"That's why I was shocked when Jacob himself asked you to call him 'Jake'. Only certain people call him that way, son. Even the mother who had known him for many years still called him Jacob. Because I know very well, what the name 'Jake' means. But..."

Again, my mother hung up her words.

"But why mom?". I was curious at once to feel trapped.

"Mother doesn't forbid you, if you have the same feelings for her. It's just, I think it's gonna be really hard for you, son. You know very well how your adoptive grandmother behaved to us. If you are in a relationship... Will you be able?, I don't want your heart to be hurt just because you can't be with her, son". Clearly mother was long while looking at me with great worry.

I who heard that explanation immediately shook my head strongly in front of mother. How could he think that I like Jake too?!. No. gabe. No. gabe. I need to clear up this misunderstanding.

"Mom, Vana is not. Vana respects Jacob, Vana does not put more feelings than that ma'am. Vana was amazed, as well as grateful because they wanted to take care of mother. Vana thanks them after what grandma has done, ma'am". I'm clear on my mother's misunderstanding.

"Is that so?". Ask my mother to doubt me.

"Yes!. Vana is convinced by Vana bu's feelings, after all Jacob is too old for Vana!". My words ended with a joke and made my mother laugh softly.

Now he seems to believe my words. The worry that had been seethed at the end of his eyes slowly dissipated hearing my confession. Mercifully...

After talking to me, my mother decided to go back to her room. I kissed him on the cheek and said good night to him, and then he passed.

I lay back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. Sometimes I lyrics the cell phone box that is still located on my desk. Huh...

Is Jake that serious to me?.

Not likely.

Technically, we are too far away. There's no way he likes a boy like me.

Yep!. I'm certain. He must have felt sorry for me.

- April Cn