Secrets of Lakefront House
CHAPTER 22. FUNERAL

Friday arrived and the church was filled with invited guests by the time the family had entered. Jilena swore she felt the stares of people sharp at her. The townspeople love their mother and sister, and they respect their father and aunt. But jilena? He could assume that they saw him as the black sheep of the family, the one who ran somewhere. Jilena kept walking. He tried to ignore that feeling. Most likely none of those people even knew who he was.

A middle-aged woman sitting on a shiny black grand piano began to play the piano softly, and a coffin made of finished mahogany was already on display in front of the church.

The crate was covered, the volume knew the crate would be opened soon and he had to see the pale face of his father. Walking with his family forward, he recognized several people as his gaze roamed— there were the mayor, his father's friends, Mr. Arsyanendra and his wife, and Noah. His eyes turned forward for a moment when Noah saw him.

The funeral will begin soon. Jilena fidgets as she sits in the first row of the church with her family members, her toes knocking on the floor nervously, feeling Noah's sharp gaze on her. A series of events for the funeral have been prepared, mostly by Aunt Goddess, but with some input from the three girls. Music, speakers, speeches. Then people would queue up to pass through the open coffin to see Rafael Ginanjar and say their final goodbye.

Jilen had to stay in his seat for the next sixty minutes, Jilena's mind was reflected in the same papa's face and the words that were carefree. Ramira squeezed his hands several times during the event, bowing and whispering something in his ear occasionally, but the Mind was so agitated that the words of his friend could not be understood.

Finally, the priest descended from the podium and opened the top of the coffin, making the body of the jilena tremble. He closed his eyes tightly, took a slow breath and************ his hand. Good Lord! I don't want to see it, not like this.

Instead, he wanted to see the papa he knew as a girl, the papa who gave him a horse ride on his back and made him laugh. The man who took him fishing in the bay and playing roller skates in the Park. They should never have moved to this city. Warm tears flowed in her eyes and fell on her cheeks. Sarah handed him a tissue, and Ramira held his hand.

The pastor gestured for the family to start walking forward to see and pay their last respects. It was jilena's turn, she couldn't do it, couldn't. His eyes blurred unable to look at the face of the paps, his gaze focused at the end of his sleeve, just above his folded hands — it—the best he could do. His lips formed a silent goodbye, a few drops of tears fell on his cheek and his jacket stiffened in the chest.

Jilena walked following her sister down the aisle towards the back of the church, Jilena kept her head down. As he approached the back row, a hand stretched out and gently clasped his finger.

Jilena looked up and saw Jonathan, standing upright beside him wearing a dark blue suit, his facial expression grim. Jilena smiled a little at him as she let go of his hand and he continued walking.

...**...

After the funeral service, the women in the church prepare a buffet lunch in the church hall. Jilena was relieved because she did not have to see everyone in her father's house or Aunt Goddess' house. As the people began to pick up their food, Jilena stood by the door and observed

Ramira went to The Upper Spot that morning, as usual, and baked his father's favorite carrot cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Ramira had brought the cakes to the church kitchen before the service and placed them on one of the long tables.

"Do you want a cupcake?" ask Ramira, get close to Jilena.

Jilena continued to pay attention to the crowd, not reacting to the question. "Do you think papa really knows all these people?”

“Of course. Your father is quite famous in this city, well respected. Why are you asking?”

"It's okay." Jilena shook her head. “I feel I barely know her. These people probably know you better than your own daughter. ” He turned around and looked into Ramira's eyes. “You know him better than I.”

“Maybe, but you should know he loves you. I remember him saying several times how proud he was that you worked in a big newspaper and you went to various places.”

"That doesn't sound like papa." Is Ramira making things up to make her feel better, telling her what she wants to hear? He would have never said such a thing to Jilena.

"Oh look. Ada Keenan Hadinata.” A bright smile adorned Ramira's face.

"He's waving at us." His attention was quickly distracted. "I'll go talk to him.”

Jilena watched as Ramira walked to where Keenan was standing. Is there something going on between them? Is Ramira his lover? Ramira deserves a good man.

“Cupcake?”

Jilena turned towards the man's voice. “Jonathan.” He grins. He held out a cupcake on a small plastic plate. “Cupcake is delicious.”

"Later on."

"I'll keep it for Vino then." He took his plate down. “Again, I'm so sorry about your papa."

"thank you. I really appreciate your arrival. Nice to see your handsome face, familiar face." The warmth that suddenly flowed within him whenever he got close to Jonathan, made his heart always beat fast.

"I just want to see how you're doing before I get back to work." Jonathan's hand swept his arm and he felt a spark.

"I appreciate that." Jilena smiled at him. “I wish we could talk again."

"Yes, I'm very happy if we can meet later. Maybe I'll bring Vino." His eyes sparkled at the face of Jilena, the beautiful girl he loved.

"alright. It must have been so nice to meet Vino."

“You know, I have found something very important in the case of the corpse I am investigating and I would like to ask you some questions.” As jilena said those words, the gleam in her eyes dimmed.

"Oh so. You only want me to seek information from insiders, and I think you only intend to use me or maybe you are only interested in my body.”

Burned cheeks. “I... I... well, no, I mean—”

She laughs. "I'm just kidding, jilena."

Jilena pinched Jonathan's arm. “Jonathan Benedictus! You never change. Always mocking me.” Although, the man has changed in many other ways — anyone can see that but his nosy attitude towards Jilena has not changed.

“I have to go, how about I stop by your place after my shift ends, around nine?"

“Good. I'll be at papa's office later. Hey, I remembered something, do you know who can unlock it?"

"Of course not. I couldn't open the drawer on my antique table, Aunt Dewi was so angry when I said I was going to forcefully open the drawer. I thought you might know someone who can open the drawer that keys, can I know his name and mobile number.”

“There's no way I'll let you bring a foreign man into your house. Jesus, jilena. For someone who is very smart, sometimes you can be very stupid.” He grins.

'Smart people who are sometimes stupid' the words he often said to Jilena when they were in high school. Jilena retorted by clenching her fists and wiggling at him playfully. "Hey, Jo, you want this?"

Jonathan caught his fist with his hand. "What about the locksmith?"

“I thought of that, but I prefer someone who can shut up about whatever they see in the drawer.”

“Listen to me carefully, I will bring my equipment and I will open the locked drawer for you, but now I have to work." Jonathan slightly bowed and kissed her on the forehead.

A man, standing near them cleared his throat. Jilena and Jonathan turned towards the voice.

"Am I bothering you?"

"Hello, Noah," said Jilena, folding her hands back, chest pounding at the man before her.

“Noah.” Jonathan was a tall burly man, one hundred and seventy-five, taller than Noah by at least three inches.

“I'm here to express my condolences to Jilena.”

Jonathan pushes the door open and leaves, leaving Jilena to settle his affairs with Noah.

"I didn't mean to throw him out" Noah said in a sarcasm.

"Did I say that?"

“Don't worry, you didn't say that. What can I do for you?" His voice sounded calm and his eyes looked towards the crowd as the jilena stiffly leaned his back against the wall and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

Noah leaned his hand against the wall behind him and leaned over the body making the faces of the two close together.

The ex-boyfriend who had hurt her came to say hello and offer his condolences?

Jilena looked at Noah's face and her eyes met him. He was now only a few inches away from her. Those black eyes and wavy brown hair reminded her back to her teenage years, as if she was standing before the man as a seventeen-year-old girl, who was in love. His chest started pounding and his chest was tight, suddenly the room felt stuffy and hot.

Forcing himself to turn away, his eyes circulated looking for the whereabouts of Ramira or Sarah or Aunt Dewi—anyone who could save him at this time. But his eyes could not find them.

Noah must have felt how uncomfortable Jilena was, he distanced himself from the girl and straightened his position. “I still want to meet you and be with you again. It has been a long time since we met. Things have changed, for both of us.”

"I'm not sure"

"Look," cut it. "If you're going to live in this town and work in a newspaper, I want us to be friends, so as not to be awkward every time we meet."

He's correct. They will continue to meet each other—Lembayung City is a small town—Tante Dewi even said the same thing. Perhaps if he spent more time with her, those hurt and hurt feelings from the past would disappear and they could only be friends. Maybe if we met Noah often, we would have to awaken past wounds at least love would never have existed.

"What do you think?" Am I crazy for saying that? Could this guy think otherwise?

"How about I take you to dinner tonight?" Jilena opened her mouth to protest, quickly pressing a few light fingers over her lips.

"Nothing special" Noah promised to lower his hand. “Only dinner between two old friends. Do you agree?"

His eyes were fixed by Noah's eyes, his lips tingling with the touch of the man's fingers. Should I trust him again after so long—or run from him? Jilena hated what she felt every time they met— the feeling between wanting to vomit looking at that handsome face and the feeling of her heart pounding fast. If the town of Lembayung will be his residence again, perhaps he should try to make peace with it, for his own sake. If you can't make peace as a friend, no one can say you haven't tried.

"alright. Pick me up at six.” Jilena said as she stepped towards the crowd to find her family, leaving Noah standing alone by the door. Jilena sensed Noah was watching him leave, and glanced at a glance from behind her shoulder to be sure. A chill, nervousness ran down his back as he looked at his eyes without continuing to follow him. Jilena wasn't sure if she should be happy or upset.

Ramira and Sarah huddled in conversation with Aunt Goddess near the buffet table and she walked towards them. What would they think about her decision to have dinner with an ex-lover? It's probably best not to say anything

...**...

It was almost five o'clock when Jilena sat down at her papa desk and opened her laptop. He has promised Keenan will make a story about the father and the funeral, a little background information about him. He makes up a story, and after sending his article by email, he sits in silence and contemplates the murder of Mariana, Ramira's mother.

Eleven years ago, Ramira was eighteen and graduated from high school when her mother said that she and her boyfriend would go for a more exciting life in another city. With no family, Ramira knows she is alone in the world, if not for the Ginanjar family.

Jilena closed her eyes and let her imagination run wild with theories. He likes to call it a game. What if Mariana's boyfriend kills her? Mariana and her boyfriend are often drunk and her last boyfriend has turned her into a drug addict.

Instead of heading straight to the destination city, what if they went to the lake for the last party? Once a teenager and a college student would often do that, but would—Mariana and her boyfriend do it too?

What if he overdoses? Or, what if he and the man had a fight over something and he accidentally killed her?