Secrets of Lakefront House
CHAPTER 6. BACK TO LEMBAYUNG CITY
Over the next few hours, as she drove down a busy highway, Jilena remembered her father. As a child, he remembered how tall and dashing his father was. He was sixty-three years old, slender in stature, with black hair and eyes. Aunt Goddess had the same hair and eyes, which were passed down to Sarah, Although Jilena inherited her mother's beautiful brown hair, but she inherited the father's bright eyes. Jilena and the papa were both born in August and they have the same stubbornness.
Tracing the toll road, Jilena's thoughts remind her of the memories of their family trip to the fun places in several tourist attractions in the country and abroad. He recalled his childhood, the father took him on vacation to Bali, played on the beach building sand castles together, boating and fishing in the bay, and ate crabs at beachside restaurants. The papa has been a good father, and they are a happy family—at least at that time.
"Oh, papa," he said, "why do we have to move to that small town?"
As he passed through the second exit towards the town of Lembayung, the cold blew on him and him
she held back the tears that began to cloud her eyes. In this place, right on this highway where his mother died.
The flashback
The day after Christmas, his mother came to Jakarta to visit him and bring him Christmas gifts. Jilena went to the town of Lembayung a month before Christmas that year, and her visit did not go well with her father, so she refused to get together with her family at Christmas.
After a few days with her daughter, Lydia Anouk Ginanjar drove her car to the town of Lembayung. The thick fog that was covering the streets that afternoon obscured the view of the motorists who crossed the freeway and Mama Jilena had a consecutive accident where his car was squeezed in the middle of two trucks. Police reports said he died on the spot during the collision, his small SUV sandwiched between two semi-trucks.
News of her death had destroyed Jilena. He felt guilty and constantly blamed himself. If she wasn't so stubborn, if she obeyed her mother's request to spend Christmas together in the town of Lembayung, the mother would still be alive. If only he could turn the clock back and prevent everything from happening. But if he could do that, he would turn back over twelve years and change everything.
As soon as she received news of her death, Jilena, who was at work, immediately left and returned to the town of Lembayung. He returns to his parents' house, expecting to live there, hoping to make amends with the father, but he does not want Jilena there. The father asked him to stay at the house of Aunt Dewi, where he stayed that night.
Flashback off
Tonight, though, he will stay at his family home, the papa is not there to throw him out. Why should papa avoid and treat her like a bad girl? Sarah even did the same bad—or even worse—just Sarah never got caught off guard. The papa's disappointment led him to build a high wall as a barrier between them, distancing him further and further with each harsh word, always looking at him with an angry look of disapproving signs.
The father's attitude seemed warm and caring towards Sarah, and he even treated Ramira like part of the family, but not with Jilena, never did he get the warm attitude of the father, he said, since he was seventeen. For God's sake, it's just one mistake — why can't he forgive me? Unable to withstand the turmoil in his chest, tears flowed profusely on his smooth white cheeks.
Jilena took a deep breath and wiped away her tears, but her mind still recalled the events of the past, the years she had spent in the small town of Lembayung. By the time he passed the boundary sign of the city, seen the gate with a welcome inscription in the town of Lembayung, he suddenly heard the sound of sirens roaring behind him. Glancing at the rearview mirror, seeing a police car following him with blue lights flashing. He pulled his car to the side of the road.
For a moment he thought whether he was daydreaming and was unaware of the mark of the speed limit drop or was he driving beyond the speed limit? Jilena then pressed a button on the door, lowered both front windows, feeling the cold air from outside. Lembayung City was on a plateau precisely at the peak area, so the air in that place was cold.
Jilena shut off the car engine and ruffled the front compartment, tried to find the insurance letter and STNK, took the SIM out of his wallet, and soon afterwards heard “SIM, STNK, and his insurance, Ma'am,” heavy male voice heard.
He handed everything to her, she felt a little awkward to make eye contact. "On STNK you are written in the name of Jilena Margaretha Ginanjar."
"Yes, that's me, right" he replied, still bowing. The cold air hit his exposed shoulder, he forgot to put on his jacket and only wore a shirt with low shoulders that revealed smooth shoulders and neckline. For some reason his heart was pounding, a strange feeling of someone's presence.
The high-ranking police officer leaned over next to the car so that his head was at the window. “I knew someone named Jilena Margaretha in high school. Is that you?” Jilena glanced towards the man taking off his sunglasses.
The man's face looked familiar to him, but it had been a very long time since he had finished high school, he does not recognize at all the owners of this handsome plow and— is usually teenagers tend to change his appearance as they grow up. There was no way he would have forgotten to know this handsome guy if indeed they had studied at the same school.
“Sorry, it's been years since I met someone from high school. Your face does look familiar, ”he said, more polite than before. 'Handsome too, the body is also good' with the corner of Jilena's eyes glancing towards the man who has a nice body.
"What's your name?"ask Jilena
"Are you kidding? It's me, Jonathan Benedictus .”
“Jonathan?” He was surprised with his mouth open. He looked different in high school, his inner self. They were friends during middle school, both school mading managers, but at that time Jonathan was skinny, tall wearing braces and acne all over his face. He was not as handsome as the muscular burly body he was now.
“I'm sorry if I didn't recognize you, because it's been years, you've changed a lot. ”
“What's wrong, the important thing is I still recognize you, you are still like before. Beautiful.” Jonathan looked at Jilena.
"It's not fair, you've seen the name on my SIM."
“Quite fair, I still recognize you. Your beautiful brown eyes are hard to forget.”
Huh huh? Did he just tease me? Inner Jilena. His heart rate is getting faster.ahh koq I deg degan gini ya think the girl.
"Eleven years." - Jilena
"What are you doing in this town?"ask Jonathan again.
“My father just died.” Those words were stuck in his throat.
“Oh, sorry yes, I'm sorry. Your father was a good man. He's a lawyer in town, right?”ask Jonathan back.
“Ya, right. Thank you, but I'm sorry I really have to go. Are you going to give me a ticket?”Jilene.
“Because it's you, Jil, and you have a pretty good reason why driving exceeds speed, this time I will let you go without a ticket.” Their gazes met and fell silent for a moment. Jonathan stared intensely at Jilena's face.
“We will definitely meet again as long as you are in the city. Maybe I can accompany you around." Jonathan handed back the SIM and other documents to Jilena.
He accepted and nodded. "Yes, maybe."
Jonathan put his hands on the door, backed away and walked back to his car. Jilena watched him through the rearview mirror. That really was his old school friend Jonathan Benedictus? He raises his window glass and turns on the full AC, wondering what Jonathan did with his life over the years.
Surely the man went on to college, and now he's a cop. Regret befalls her, thinking about how she lost contact with all her schoolmates back then, except Ramira. It is not possible to change what has happened, even if there is no reason to return to Jakarta now, it is best not to repeat the mistakes of the past, he thought.
Whatever happens, now his future is in the city that is now right in front of him. Lembayung City, this is where he lives now, for a moment he thought it was likely to meet with Noah Arsyanendra? A hopeful smile on his face. As promised, Jilena called Aunt Dewi to let her know that there was already a— there. But before heading to her Tantenya home, she decided to stop by The Upper Spot Bakery & Cafe, the city's popular bakery and cafe, he wanted to see if Ramira and Sarah might still be there. Ramira and her mother Jilena opened The Upper Spot Cafe about six years ago.
...*****...
Mama Jilena took a culinary course while her father opened a law firm in Lembayung City, before they had a baby. His mother loved to make cakes and became an expert pastry chef. She never worked for anyone else, she always made delicious pastry treats for her husband's clients, made gift parcels filled with delicious pastries or birthday cakes ordered by her husband's colleagues. Often people from the company ask him to make a spectacular treat for their client's party, he is very fond of his work.
As Ramira spent much time at the Ginanjar family home, her mother Jilena taught her to make pastries, cakes, bread, and other food. Jilena and her sister Sarah have never been interested in making cakes, so their mother is very happy to share her knowledge with Ramira. After Ramira graduates from high school, Ramira's alcoholic mother escapes with her lover, Ramira and Mama Jilena spending more time in the kitchen. Finally, they had an idea to open a bakery together.
The father tried to prevent them. He does not like if the wife works, fearing that the community will consider him unable to support the family—at least that's what Jilena's grandmother said during her life, it is the duty of a wife to take care of the family and a husband who is responsible for making a living. Finally, he gave up after unsuccessfully persuading his wife and The Upper Spot Bakery & Cafe was born.
...*****...
As Jilena drove into the city, she observed the old-fashioned shops and new shops lined up along the main Road. There was a large minimart and Supermarket on the freeway, not far from the university, right in the center of Lembayung city, the atmosphere of the city was still the same and charming as he remembered. The Upper Spot Bakery & Cafe is located on a street corner, small tables and chairs set outside under a pink-white striped tent with the name printed with black inscriptions on it.
Jilena stopped in a diagonal parking lot in front of the store and went inside. "Geez, Jilena!" Ramira exclaimed with a wide smile, his black eyes wide and his ikal hair smeared on his neck. He came from behind the table and hugged his friend. “I'm so happy to see you."
Ramira is a few inches shorter than Jilena's slender body. Jilena returned his embrace. He was very lonely in the big city, hugging tightly his best friend who had not met for a long time, he was even reluctant to take off his embrace.
#Visual Ramira Rahayu?
“Isn't this the worst thing in the world? Your papa died?” Ramira spoke with a low nanda, her voice breaking with sadness. "I'm so sad, I'm so sorry."
"Thank you, Ramira." Jilena patted his best friend's back. The papa was like a father to Ramira, too. "I know he thinks of you as part of our family."
“Aww.” Ramira let go of Jilena's embrace and wiped her tears, then took a deep breath.
“Yes, we're just about to close today. Sarah's gone to Aunt Goddess' house. They're waiting for you.” Sarah takes care of the bookkeeping for her mother and Ramira works part-time after they open the business, but since Jilena's mother died, Ramira leaves her regular job and takes an active role running the place.
“I'll go there later,” replied Jilena. Jilena and Sarah both attended university after high school, but Sarah was much more interested in dating and partying than she was in her education. After two years of college, Sarah decided not to continue her studies. He earned a diploma in Business and that was enough for him. He once worked as a bank teller and later became a bookkeeper for general contractors in the area. Since her mother's death, The Upper Spot Bakery & Cafe has been her primary focus. In addition, Sarah also helps take care of the flower garden of the deceased grandmother.
“Why don't you go now? I'll see you when I'm done here." Ramira lowered his voice.
“I should have closed this shop as soon as I got the news, but since I'm not family, I think it's better to give them some time alone."
“You've been like family for us.” Jilena wrapped her arms around her best friend again.