
Reckless, yes. I should have realized that any discussion of Jack Peterson's life would make the atmosphere sad, sad, and the like. But after I realized all that, I chose to be quiet for a moment. I don't want our dinner that night to be interrupted again.
After we finished dinner, Jack and I sat back on the couch, and I asked. Because, it feels -- there is a sense that is not plain if I do not know everything about Jack - about the wounds that I often see in his eyes. The wound that made me so curious, so curious, and made me so eager to care about him: something strange and interesting to me to dive into Jack's world as deeply as possible. And I don't know--- why--why I'm like this: as ambitious and as caring as this is about the dark story in Jack's life.
Well, I finally asked: how can the chronology up to his sister, Rose Peterson, be lost without a trace?
"I don't know for sure" said Jack.
"Lo's? How come?"
"I was in Germany, I was twenty-two years old, and I was in S2. Just stay in the diwisuda."
Oh, I'm gawking. "You're scholar? Waw...! Great, lo. I didn't think you were a scholar."
"Yep, but in the end there's no point, right? Unused degree."
Geez, how come this is the discussion? I'm confused myself. I clasped Jack's hand and clasped it tightly with both hands. I feel guilty. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I was just. excited, I didn't think that you were a scholar. Not that I want to. I'm sorry."
"It's okay. It is the truth."
"Okay, sorry, yeah. Don't talk about it." I took my hand off her. "So, what's the chronology you know?"
"All I know" said Jack, thinking. "My sister disappeared after she came home from school. A little bit too late, anyway. Maybe because we thought he was used to going home and going to school alone, so it didn't happen to me. Who knows? Who would have thought that that day she wouldn't come home after coming home from school?"
I'm nodding.
"Yeah, in the end, I didn't have a choice. I have to go back to Indonesia. I need to find my sister, and take care of my mother. We don't have anyone. My father died a long time ago. It's just me and my mom. And yes that is. The point is, after school, my sister went missing without a trace. Just like that."
Alright. I-i understand. But, one of my questions right now is, how will Jack ever recognize his sister?
Rose Peterson, when she disappeared, was only ten years old when she was a child. And now, eight years have passed, if she's alive, of course, Rose Peterson is already a young girl. He's 18 years old. Of course, he must have experienced a physical change. And I asked Jack about this.
"I hope he hasn't changed much" said Jack, then he pulled out his phone and showed me a picture of little Rose.
Of course, she's beautiful. There's a dimple on the right-left cheek. His nose is sharp and thick. She has brown eyes, just like her hair color. And his skin is pure white.
"She's beautiful" I murmured.
Jack smiled. "Yeah, pretty. As beautiful as you."
Hmm.. you tombal! He made me blush. I smacked my lips so that my smile would be restrained. "About, are there any special features that make it easier for you to recognize it? Maybe some kind of birthmark, for example?"
"There was. He had a birthmark in the middle of the ridge of his left hand, and there were three moles on the left side of that birthmark. If I see a young girl who looks like my sister, that birthmark and mole will be the first identifying mark. And somehow, I have to do a DNA test if I meet a girl like that. Ribet, yes. Weight." Jack breathed in tightly. "But I know, I can't stop looking. That's my responsibility as a brother. Whether I'll find him or not, I can't stop looking for him."
I'm nodding. He's correct. "Somehow it will be, but I know, you've done your best. I'm proud of you. Especially your mother, she must be so proud of her son. Aye, right?"
Oho! I think I mispronounced.
"What's wrong?"
Jack shakes. "Come," he said.
Practically, my two eyebrows shot up. I'm confused, what's wrong?
"Please, tell me. I know, something must be wrong. Something's bothering you, isn't it? Tell me a story, huh? Maybe it'll make you feel better, please?"
Again, he sighed and came back feeling claustrophobic. "My mother has been mentally retarded since she lost her daughter."
"Oh," I said*. "Sorry, I don't know."
"It's okay. I'm okay."
"Yes, I know. You're powerful. I believe that."
"Ep. It should be, right?"
"By the way, if you don't mind, may I know, where is your mother now?"
Jack looked uncomfortable, I waited for a moment expectantly, and he finally replied, "He's in a special hospital."
"thank you. At least I still have it, right?"
"Ep. You still have it, and you still have time to feel its affection. That's luck."
"Yeah," he said. "You're right. That's a fortune to be grateful for. I don't have to complain about anything. It's his destiny like this. How else would you like?"
"Hu 'um. At least it's better. Than my fate, right? I lost my mother when she gave birth to me. I didn't even get to feel her embrace, let alone see her."
Tightly, Jack clasped my hand. "But now you are not alone. You got me. And I have you by my side."
Oh God... Why doesn't he make this relationship clearer? What am I on his side? Say, Bang Jack....
"You'll never leave me, will you? Isn't that right, Rose?"
I nodded, half-heartedly. Half-hearted from pleasure, and, half-hearted from confusion, but, also stubborn and ashamed.
"I love you."
"For.... what?"
"You think?"
"I-I don't know."
"I want you to be my lover."
"Emm? To..lover?"
"You ready?"
"Oh, eee.. i...."
"Please?"
"You...seriously?"
"I'am so serious. Please, be mine?"
"Yes, yeah, I. I want to."
"Thank you."
"Yes" without a sound.
"Rose?"
"Emm?"
"Your face is flushed."
"IIiii. You're kidding me, aren't you?"
He smiled, shook his head, then stood up. He held both his hands on my shoulders, and then he pulled me up. "May I hug?"
"From yesterday also never asked for permission" I said.
Euw. "So, can you, right?"
I'm nodding. And...
He hugged me, and said softly in the ear, "I love you."
Aaa... God.happy I am. This is how it feels: happy, haru, gurgling, pounding, everything becomes one.
This feeling is so clear. My feelings are welcome, and my love is reciprocated. He makes me very happy.
Thank you, Lord. Thank ye. I love you too, Jack....