Second Change
Chapter 26's

The workspace was more minimalist than I imagined.The four sides of the room were displayed in large paintings and Chinese calligraphy. The corner of the room was a porcelain vase as tall as me.

I sat on a wooden chair that could rotate with trembling legs, facing the resolute-faced Papa David. The lines on his forehead were clear, indicating he was about to talk to me about something serious.

"You're serious about David?" suddenly tanyanya.

I was fixated on the question that I myself did not know the answer either. Before anyone asked me, I asked myself dozens of times this question. My answer is always, go first.

"Or did you stick with David because of Tony?" ask again.

The question is like a bullet casing that shoots right in the middle of the heart and then successfully penetrates my skin. Instantly I could not breathe and was fixed rigidly on the chair.

"I know your relationship with Tony. And know how you got here. If you stick with David because of Tony, say whatever you want. Take it and go." Papa David frowned waiting for my answer.

How does Papa David know about my relationship with Tony? How does he know everything? Isn't it just me, David and Tony who know this truth? I get rid of all those questions and think quickly about what to say.

"I. I mean, I. Ummm.. Um..." I took a breath, closed my eyes counting slowly.

One

Two

Three

"I was a prisoner of David. I was upset and annoyed at being forced to live with him. But over time, that irritated feeling disappeared. I'm getting used to David in my life. To be honest, I was afraid that David would decide to send me home. I'm afraid to go back to an environment that doesn't accept me anymore." I squeezed my thighs hard to cover my trembling body.

"The point is that you're just using David" he said

"I don't think so Om. I just let everything go with the flow. I never even thought about how this ends."

"That means if David dumps you, you'll go with the flow?"

"I don't know." The answer I said after being silent for a few seconds.

"Say whatever you want."

I looked down, thinking of Papa and Mama. I remember my life when I was a kid in that warm house. Remembering the fact that I destroyed the house with my own hands. I remember I could no longer live there. I also slowly ruined my life, until I could get lost in a place that wasn't mine. Until I forget my dreams.

"Are you really going to give me whatever I want?" my many.

"If you dare to say it, anything I'll give you." Papa David moved his body forward, as if accepting my challenge.

"I want Om to buy my parents' house, rebuild it and make it a livable home" I said.

"That's all?" tannya

"I'm going to use that money to go to college in another city. As long as I'm in college, I won't be back here. But I want my relationship with David not to be about by Om. If our relationship runs aground in the middle of the road, I'll never come back here again. But if we can hold on, I beg Om to bless us."

My heart is beating fast. For the first time I was this brave to make such a big decision.

"You're a smart girl. Unfortunately, your fate is less than lucky."

"If Om could grant my wish, this would be the luckiest thing I've ever had in my entire life."

"Why haven't you ever made this request to David? You feel like he can't afford your parents' house or he's not willing to let you go to college out of town?"

"If he buys my house, I'll be tied to him for life. If one day we part, when I think of my parents and a house full of memories, I will think of him. If Om's buying, I'm going to think of Om as a random buyer who's interested in the house."

The look on his face stretched, Papa David leaned back against his chair while still looking at me for almost a minute.

"Tomorrow I will ask the notary to take care of the sale and purchase agreement. My secretary will help you prepare the necessary papers."

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Thank you, Om."

"Call David here." he ordered, fixing his seat.

...****************...

"What Dad told you. It seems serious." asked Emi.

"Something that's a relief anyway." I said.

"Ihhh what the hell? Kasi tau dong." refer to Emi.

"It's nothing. You've been going, mending not usa too much thinking and worry about small things like this again deh."

"Relatedly nothing? Dad told you to split up with my brother?"

I'm shaking.

I'm sure Tony was standing in the corner of the living room looking at his phone, but was actually listening to our conversation.

I'm nodding.

Emi got up and ran to her mother who was in the kitchen.

In the living room I and Tony looked at each other, as if they had a million questions to ask me. I wish he'd come up to me and actually ask me a million questions.

"And I told you, our father is easily persuaded. Lia made it, didn't she?" Mama David shows up with Emi.

He carried a tray containing two plates of fruits. Emi put one plate on the living room table and handed the tray to me.

"Lia, please bring it to the study room Om. It seems their conversation will be long."

I agreed and grabbed the tray carefully.

"Thank you the future ghost." said cheerfully.

It's nice to have such a friendly mother. If Mama were alive, I think she'd be happy to know I have a boyfriend. Every night Mama would go to my room to share her love story with me.

I went up to the second floor carrying a tray full of fresh cut fruits. There are kiwi, yellow dragon fruit, watermelon, peach-colored melon, grapes and lychee. Not for a minute, I was at the door. I used my elbow to lower the doorknob. The door opened slightly and as I was about to enter, I heard David's voice.

"I'll make sure Lia gets back to her parents' house" she said seriously.

"It's good that it's your decision."

What the hell is going on? What are they talking about? Didn't I agree that I would move to another city. Not even going back to my parents' house. Didn't you promise to buy that house?

"Let that be where he comes from anyway."

I can no longer hear. I was in shock, my body was shaking violently. I tried to stabilise my steps and go down. Emi who was waiting for me under the stairs realized something was wrong with me.

"Why Lia? You all right?" tanyanya's worried.

"No." I said fucked up

I just handed the tray to Emi. I unintentionally let go of my hand without realizing Emi had not grabbed it properly. As a result the tray and plate fell to the floor producing a loud shattering sound.

"Sorry, Emi. Ma'am sorry, I didn't mean it."

"What's wrong, Lia. You why?"

I ignored their shackles and ran out of the house. I ran alone while crying. The streets were already dark and the atmosphere in the housing was already deserted. My brain is too messed up to think I should turn. I just follow where this foot is going. My heart was too sore to realize I wasn't wearing footwear. Tears that did not stop this made my vision blurred until I did not realize the lights of the car that was lit turned out to be very close to me. A long horn sounded and my steps came to a halt. I'm ready to end up here.

My body staggered to the side violently until I fell on someone who was groaning.

"Lo is crazy? Does the car look like it can't run?"

"I want to die." I squat on the side of the road.

"The ones I know aren't that weak." Hardy

"Because you think I'm strong, so you want to throw me away?" I got up and hit Tony's chest so many times that he held my arm.

"Gue didn't throw Lo away. Too good to call it a waste. L'm ... I´m... "

"If not throw it away? Remember you said I was disgusting? By the way, you have to think about my feelings, right?"

"Lo the girl I like the most. I really like Ama Lo, Lia. But I can't go on with Lo. I have responsibilities in my family."

"What?" ask me not to believe what I heard.

"I'm sorry, Lia. If I were a bushy boy, I'd live with Lo Ampe forever. Lo the great girl who managed to make me melt. I love Ama Lo."

"So why are you married to Emi?" tanyaku.

"Gue had no choice. Nyokap I threatened to hurt Lo if I did not split with Lo. I'd rather Lo hate my Ama than see you get hurt."

Tony staggered back and slammed in a split second. David just slid a fist into Tony's cheek.

"Tony." I cried

My arm was held when I was about to pick up Tony who was lying on the floor.

"You have no business here" said David, holding my arm with all his might.

"Take me off, Dave!" Exclamation

Tony got up and pointed his middle finger at Dave and left us.