So In Love
EP. 31. The Never Too Late

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On Sunday morning, everyone gathered in the dining room for breakfast. Shanna who usually wakes up during the day on holiday and is still lazy, also already looks neat and fragrant.

Shanna observed Shien who somehow kept sighing with a blank look in any direction. Shanna felt that her sister was thinking about something, but I don't know what.

Yes, it was already one week after Sky's departure to Spain and the man had never informed Shien at all. What exactly did the Sky do there to the point of wasting some of its time so as not to take the time to give Shien any news?

Shien could not deny it anymore if he indeed felt a deep longing, though, but Shien also could not demand anything or contact him first because he and Sky were not in any relationship to be able to demand each other at this time.

Ck, totally crazy. We humans can never choose to fall in love with whom. It might be too late for Shien to prevent his feelings for the already deep Sky.

Shien did not want to lie to his own heart anymore, because his heart was tired of facing him who kept his voice, even though his heart was already in revolt was eager to hear Shien convey his love sentence to Sky.

But even so, Shien still did not have the courage to take a step. In advance, Shien had to get rid of some of the things that stuck in his heart and mind.

May it? Can Shien risk his own happiness? Without thinking about his illness which will definitely affect the life of Heaven, and also. . . . Shannas.

“Shien.”

Shien let out a long breath. It might be about three or four more days Sky returned to Indonesia, but Shien had yet to prepare an answer. Ahh, Shien was like being chased by a loan shark who would collect a debt on him and he did not yet have the money to pay.

“Hallaw, Shien.” Shanna snapped her finger before Shien's face, but the girl remained unmoved.

Should Shien ask for a little extra time? But, until when? Shien could not hang the feeling of the Sky any longer. Lucky if the sky is willing to wait. But if he gave up and looked for another girl, Shien would not be willing either. Very unwilling.

“Shien. Geez, this child early in the morning already dumb as a horse to sell.” Oceh Shanna who astonished herself with Shien's behavior this morning. Looks Papa and Mama are also as good as Shanna.

“S.H.I.E.N. Shieeeen.” Shanna spelled Shien's name and shouted later while banging her spoon on the plate to make a boisterous clanking sound like a porridge.

Hearing the noise, Shien instantly gasped and instantly disperse his reverie. “Ehh, yes, how are you?”

Shanna blinked in amazement with her gaping mouth and deeply folded forehead, strangely enough with Shien who had lost concentration even though it was still morning. So did Papa and Mama who even smiled amusedly at the behavior of the youngest girl.

“Good news. You drink first, deh.” Shanna who sat next to Shien then shifted the glass filled with water on her twin sister.

“Ndreamunin what the hell are you? I call nyahut.” Grunts Shanna.

Shien blinked, his eyes staring straight at the water-filled glass before him. His expression was like a daze for a moment, then he regained his senses after a while.

“So I was thinking about work. The food is not focused.” Said Shien with a stiff smile on his back at both corners of his slightly pale lips, but did not make his beauty diminish.

“Craftsmanship in mind, holidays too.” Shanna's Comment. Shien didn't respond. The girl chose to chug down her white water, hoping to refresh her mind filled with Heaven.

“Udah, let's start eating.” Papa said that Shanna stopped chattering, although she was still amazed by Shien's ineptitude.

Mama then began serving her husband and children by taking breakfast menu. Although Shien always refused coldly, Mama still did it in the hope that her little girl would accept the food she took.

“Still, Ma.” Shanna said cheerfully shortly after Mama filled her plate with some breakfast menu. The middle-aged woman then turned to Shien, looking at him doubtfully for a moment. His heart throbbed pain every time Shien rejected him.

“Shi.” Mama thrusts a full barrel of fried rice onto Shien's plate.

Shien was dumbstruck for a moment, fondling whether he should lift his plate or not. Since one week ago Shanna reprimanded him, Shien had always tried to try to open himself up. But until now it has not succeeded, the fear continues to hinder him. Even to call them Papa and Mama, Shien still has difficulty, as difficult as he said the first two words when he began to recover from his previous aphasia “Mama where?”

Just to say the word, it was as if an enormous hand was silencing him, so Shien had to try his hardest to try to get rid of it.

“Thank you for the plate.” Tell Shanna to mutter without opening her mouth while nudging hard on Shien's arm. If the sister refuses again, Shanna promises to ruffle Shien's room until it is shapeless.

“Ohh. i . . . Yes.” Then with trembling hands, Shien slowly raised his plate. Just contact this made everyone look in disbelief accompanied by a sense of haru that suddenly burst into the hearts of everyone who saw it. Especially Mama, the woman's eyes even look shiny. Just by looking at Shien willing to lift his plate, Mama's happy heart was incredible.

“Say what?” Shanna again gave instructions by nudging Shien's foot under the table with her foot.

“Mm. . . . thanks. . . ., Ma.” Shien murmured after his plate filled up, very quietly, yet still audible in everyone's ears.

Papa, Mama, and Shanna looked at each other for a moment, then threw meaningful smiles at each other. While Shien simply looked down on his fried rice. Just because of one centong of fried rice, his feelings instantly became mellow like this. It felt jumbled, Shien could not describe it.

His hands trembled, even to the point of breaking out in cold sweat. Ahh, his body's reaction was really excessive.

“Mama where to go?” Shanna asked a little screamed as soon as she saw Mama get up from her seat and walk towards the kitchen.

“Eung. . , kitchen. Vegetable snack.” My mother without looking.

Mama didn't check the vegetables, Shanna knew that. Mama must be crying again, but this time not because her heart was sad, but moved.

********

“That was funny, yes, Pa.” Shien said as he approached Papa sitting down enjoying his coffee in front of the yard while observing the gardener tidying up all the grass and plants to keep them looking neat at all times.

It appeared that the girl with colorful hair was writhing spoiled in the arms of the Papa while leaning her head on the middle-aged man's shoulders.

“Emm.” Papa nodded while smiling knots. Given Shien's unusually misbehaving face like a man in love when his wife was spooning rice for him just a moment ago, it made Papa ticklish and full of excitement all at once. Especially when remembering the face of his wife who is amazing full of days, Papa is very happy.

“Papa Rasa Shien has started to open his heart.” Continue Papa, still with a smile on the face that began to wrinkle a little.

“Truthful.” Shanna agreed.

Papa smiled, then sighed deeply with a blank look. “But. . , when is Papa's turn?” Lirihnya. Considering that Shien had already called his wife Mama, he also wanted the girl to call him Papa with her small mouth.

Withdrawing, Shanna looked up to reach out to her view with Papa before saying. “When Shien was a baby, he needed time to say the word Papa, right?”

Papa is tickled. This eldest daughter although looks naughty and childish, but is actually very good at entertaining and mature-minded. He is the best mood booster.

“So, Papa don't worry. I'm sure Shien just needs some time. In a moment, Papa will listen to Shien call Papa until Papa's ears hurt.” Shanna calmed down again. Papa chuckles amusedly hearing Shanna's words.

“Can only, brother.” Ledek Papa while ruffling Shanna's hair that was met with amused laughter from the girl.

“And I think, here there should be Papa with Mama Lakanin. Pedecate reset.” Said Shanna who according to him Papa and Mama is indeed lacking action, in the sense of just waiting for Shien to open himself without any effort to make the girl melt quickly.

Papa looked at Shanna for a moment with a doubtful look. “You know? It's hard for Papa or Mama. We are too shy. . . .”

“Don't say that before trying.” Sambar Shanna interrupted Papa's words while patting him on the shoulder like a friend. “Just give it a shot.”

“In the truest sense, can also.” Papa's voice that was greeted by Shanna's laughter.

“But, Papa doesn't know how.” Papa complains while sighing slowly. He did not know what to do to make up for all the opportunities he had wasted in order to give Shien more attention. The little girl was already too angry.

“Emm, how about you take time for a holiday of three?” Shanna's suggestion while playing her eyebrows.

“You guys, right, never expect Shien family vacation.” Shanna's chirps unconsciously. Papa's face suddenly turned sad when he heard that. Remembering him who is not wise to be a father, so bega let one of his children do not have a happy experience in his childhood.

“Is it not too late?” Papa asked softly, then turned his eyes away from Shanna to hide her teary eyes.

The girl looked at Papa understand, then smiled wryly. “Ckckckck, I wonder why Papa could be CEO with that little bravery.” Shanna clucked while shaking her head.

“Po ever heard this phrase, no? Better late than never.” Imbuh Shanna who immediately made Papa's heart warm.

Yes, it's never too late as long as we have the chance to change for the better, it's never too late to start again, never too late.

“Papa and Mama are calm. Let me get the vacation package ready. I'll let you know when it's ready, okay.” Shanna blinked one eye. While Papa just nodded his head in understanding.

********

Late in the afternoon, Shien, who was bored because his day off was only used by glaring at his cell phone, opted out of the room and walked towards the pool. The girl appeared quite polite with a long-sleeved swimsuit that has a long-sleeved cut on the top, not forgetting her left hand carrying a bathrobe and towel to dry her body after swimming later.

Although Shien has a weak heart, Shien still regularly exercise to keep his heart working properly. Of course, the type of exercise that Shien does according to the advice of doctors and does not have a high intensity. One of them is this swim, although it must pay attention to temperature and pressure under water. Fear even made his heart work harder.

Warming up for a few minutes, Shien then plunged himself slowly into the elongated designed swimming pool. Swimming pools are deliberately made and suitable for people who have health problems like him.

Shien sighed deeply, then threw it away roughly as soon as his head fell back to the surface.

If you remember, actually Papa and Mama are very attentive to him. Even this house is designed with all the facilities that can make it easier for Shien to do any activities.

His name is also human. Sometimes a thousand good things are forgotten because of one bad or wrong. All the good things that have been done seem meaningless. Just like Shien is today.

But there are times when one must forget a thousand evils and remember one good. Just like Shien was working on right now.

Shien closed his eyes, letting the breeze of the afternoon wind blow his face that was above the surface of the water. While his hands and feet dynamically paddled the water in the pool to make his body move.

Ahh, swimming in the ridge style does make Shien's body and mind relax. He could forget the sky for a moment.

However, Shien enjoys swimming. Suddenly the boisterous sounds of several people were heard approaching, so Shien was disturbed by it and was forced to stop his activities, then moved towards hand railing to make it easier to get out of the pool.

Shien furrowed his brows as he looked at Shanna with Reno and Fina following her. Likewise with some housekeepers who look hassles carrying tools and materials for barbeque.

Is there an impromptu party here? Uhh. Please, Shien just wants to be alone now.

“Ngapain you guys here?” Shien asked in a faint tone to Fina and Reno. The girl then sat herself in a lounge chair while drinking the orange juice that the housekeeper had prepared for her.

While Fina just snorted. Although he had known Shien for a long time, but still the cold attitude and Jutek Shien was annoying.

“I invited them. Bored to know, there are no activities at home. Coincidentally Fina is relaxed and Reno has also returned home ngampus.” Shanna light up while tidying her hair in front of the phone screen. His head was slanting, his eyes flickering. Shien guessed that Shanna was making a boomerang to upload on her insta stories.

Actually, what ruined the atmosphere was Shanna. Wasn't the Shien who was here first? Colorful hair took over the place and drove it away.

Shanna then opened the bathrobe, then ran and jumped into the pool. Eating a barbeque menu after swimming will be more satisfying, that's how Shanna thought.

“Ngapain smile-smile?” Sambar Shien looked at Fina and Reno holding back his laughter from hearing Shanna's words. They were satisfied to see Shien's oppressed face.

“Ihh, who's smiling. People just laugh.” Fina's law while thawing. While Reno just squinted her eyes as if she was getting mocked.

“Ooy, you. What is diem? Here in. Let Auntie do her barbeque.” Shanna cried while waving her hands, giving instructions to Fina and Reno to swim along.

“Gue don't want ahh, Ma'am. You said you only wanted a barbequean. I'll help Auntie.” Reply Reno who did not bring a change of clothes. It's a little uncomfortable because he's his own man. Obviously Reno would not willingly show his body.

“I also don't, deh.” Fina Timpal.

“If you want to swim together then book a hotel pool, not at home.” Sahut Shien walked towards the pool and sat on its edge.

“Dihh, tell me you're distracted. Yeah, right?” Sergey Shanna.

“Yaaa, bit.” Reply Shien honestly as his hands toyed with water, then recklessly splashed it at Shanna to make the elder sister yell in annoyance. Had Shien not had a weak heart, Shanna would not have been reluctant to pull or push Shien, then plunge him into the pool. Shien's endurance was as fragile as an egg shell, making everyone have to be careful.

“But I agree with Shien. If outside can be more freely, here I do not feel the same Om and Aunt.” Fina was honest. The girl then sat down next to Shien, but in the opposite direction where Fina was facing towards Reno.

“Gak fun you guys. Pake no bad show all.” Shanna snorted before she went back to swimming.

“Ren, see here. . .” Pinta Fina half yelled, and it turned out that she was making a video. Then Reno pointed her handsome face towards the camera while raising her two fingers to form a V sign.

Fina smiled anxiously at the sweet-looking Reno with the apron covering her front body as well as the food clamp on her right hand.

The man was seen laughing crisply with Bibi, it seemed like the burning activity was quite pleasant, or indeed the Renonya was pleasant because Fina knew the child was the most good at the business of melting the atmosphere.

“Shi. . .”

“Awas if dare.” Shien blocked Fina's camera phone that was pointed at her. Because, Shien does not like to enter the camera. He is not the kind of narcissist who slightly capture moments with a camera.

“Iya deh yes.” Said Fina relented, rather than having to fuss just because of the video. Then he pointed his cell phone camera at Shanna who was welcomed by the girl who was still engrossed in swimming.

Before long, Reno and Bibi approached them with a tray containing several barbeque menus such as sausages, meatballs, meat, and vegetables in the area. The distinctive aroma of combustion that is evoked in the sense of smell, able to hypnotize everyone to eat it.

“Eating is already a miss.” Excited Reno while putting one of the trays containing grilled sausage on the edge of the pool.

Shanna who was still at the end of the pool then joined in shouting happily and hurriedly pulled over.

“Wahh, good. I have not made a long burning event like gini.” Said Shanna while trying to climb up to sit on the edge of the pool with the help of Reno.

“Do not eat first.” Shanna hit Shien's hand that was about to pick up the grilled veggie. Shien who received such treatment immediately raised a protest look at Shanna.

“We photos first.” Shanna said as she moved towards the lounge chair to pick up her phone.

Shien could only snort with Shanna's throes. According to him, if you want to eat, just eat. The habit of Shanna who likes to photograph food before eating it is really bad. What's the purpose of trying? To show off on social media?

“Well, done.” Shanna exclaimed shortly after she photographed the food.

“We groofie first let more perfect momentnya.” Shanna then held her phone up high to let everyone into the frame.

“Shi, makep here, doong.” Shanna's word from seeing Shien turned her face toward the pond.

“Make. Here let me take a picture of you.” Reject and bargain Shien then while raising his hand asking for a cell phone.

“Please, yes. So people do not stiff keep kayak kanebo dry. Gaul dikit napa.” Omel Shanna who was replied by a sewot by Shien.

“Come, once doang. Ren, hold him.” Shien continued, then raised his head imperceptibly towards Shien.

“Sorry, Ma'am.” Reno said timidly looking at Shien's sour look.

And it didn't take long, Reno immediately turned Shien's body to face the camera, then locked the girl by embracing her shoulder.

“Reno, what are you doing?” Shien who was shocked as well as annoyed tried to release Reno's hand from his shoulder.

“Can diem not heh, Shi? I'm hungry for this.” Omel Shanna was upset.

“Yes if hungry eat.” Shien's voice was fierce as he threw Reno's hand off his shoulder.

“Udah spout.” Said Shien finally, even with a face that was still bent.

“That, dong. From earlier, kek.” Grunt Shanna and re-set the pose and direct the portrait subject.

“Every yes, one. .two. . .three. . .”

And on the count of three where the camera was precisely aiming at them, Shien was surprised by Reno who suddenly re-embraced him. And Shien was uncomfortable with it. It was so different when the sky did it. Ahh, he thought back to the sky.

“Well, come on thenaaan.” Shanna was excited and immediately grabbed her favorite chicken wings with one hand again busy fiddling with the phone to upload the photo she had taken to her social media.

“Fin, your name id what?” Shanna asked without turning her head because the tag was still busy beautifying her photo before it was uploaded.

“Sini.” Instead of mentioning it, Fina instead volunteered to write it herself. Shanna then handed her phone to Fina, then after that alternately given to Reno.

“Udah, Ma'am. Should not need tags, later add many followers I.” Reno said confidently while handing the phone back to its owner. Shien who heard that screeched amusedly without shifting his focus on the grilled vegetables he was eating.

“Shien. . .”

“No need to ask, Sha.” Sambar Fina seemed to know if Shanna would ask for a social media account with a pink logo owned by Shien.

“Lho, why?” Shanna looked at Fina questioningly.

“Don't tell me you. . . .” Shanna was silent for a while, hesitating to continue her sentence. “Do not have?”

“Nothing is wrong too.” Reply Shien cuek. Shanna gawked in amazement, and so did Reno. Is Shien a primitive person straying into the millennial generation?

Fina then recounted the skeptical thoughts of Shien who did not have the social media account with the reason not too useful. Because in it only contains portraits of people who like to show off and pretentious exist that are igin flattered.

“Lo's mind is very conservative, Mbak.” Cibir Reno who Shien immediately approved.

“Emang in fact is useless, really. Tuh, for example.” Sahut Shien as he flicked his chin towards Shanna. Given that Shanna always wanted to continue to exist, too happy if she got a complimentary comment, and grumbled unclear when she got a bad comment.

Shanna sniffed. Not knowing, the girl chose to write a caption.

“We should reach the sky also to make it more exciting. Huuft.” Shanna exhaled. Then it came to mind to mark the man in his post.

“Why not be invited, Ma'am?” Ask Reno. Hearing the name Sky called, suddenly Shien's appetite disappeared. It sucks because the man had not given her any news until this point.

“Says he's again abroad.” Shanna replied, then smiled as she reread the captions she had assembled.

Less fun without @prince_sky

Not to forget Shanna imprinted some hand emoji covering her mouth with reddish cheeks.

“She has a connection with you, sis?” Shien asked impatiently. Not a reflex, he was wondering if the Sky had contacted Shanna or not while he was in Spain. But apparently Shien's urgent expression was too obvious to attract the attention of Reno and Fina who immediately squinted her eyes full of question marks.

But luckily, Shanna didn't seem to be dizzy as the girl immediately replied after putting down her phone.

“No. I called him, but I couldn't. I know it from Om Wijaya.” Shanna grin. Remembering him who was desperate to contact Om Wijaya because it had been a week Sky could not be contacted.

“Ohh, gitu.” Shien murmured, then took a sip of juice to hide his misguided expression. Inexplicably Shien was relieved to hear Shanna's reply. Just the thought of Heaven contacting Shanna alone had made her heart cringe and sad.

********

Shien came out of the bathroom after cleaning himself after a barbeque show that was completed until eightpm due to dinner and fireworks. Of course it was Shanna's childish idea. But Shien did not deny that he also enjoyed their togetherness. For the first time after sixteen years had passed, Shien again felt the warmth in the house.

Sitting in front of the dressing table, Shien rubbed his watery nose. It seemed that the girl had a cold and fever because her head also felt very heavy, as well as her body temperature which was very hot when Shien held her forehead using his palm.

Perhaps it was because Shien had been outside for too long, not drying his body immediately after swimming.

Shien moved towards the bed after he took his medicine.

Suddenly, the phone rang when Shien had just laid down his body. Then lazily, Shien grabbed his phone and looked at the name of the caller on the screen.

His eyes gnawed as he read the name of the Sky there, then read it once more because anyone knew his vision was wrong.

Biting his lower lip, Shien's heart raced back even just by looking at the name of the Sky on the phone screen. Then, with a single swipe of the thumb, Shien raised the video call.

“SHIEN YOU ANYTHING WITH THE BOCIL?”

Surprised to hear a scream that was quite deafening to his ears, Shien reflexively threw the phone at the end of the bed.

********

To be continued. . . .