Sun Princess & Snow Prince
Episode 71 - A Father and A Lover (2)

*~*If there is someone who can make Ave happy, please help him (Zaid) ~

Mr. Fariz was silent to Zaid's explanation. He really did not know the reason his daughter was so sincere.

"I even mocked him. What if those who are dating break up? The cafe will no longer be visited. You know what Ave said?"

The special dining room became silent for a moment. There was only the sound of a glass that Zaid lifted to wet his throat before continuing.

"Ave said they'll definitely be back. For a memory. To remember the family members who are gone, for the lovers who are gone and for the friends who are not back. Everyone needs memories as an excuse to be grateful and alive. Just like her, who survived to live for the memory of her mother."

Unknowingly, Mr. Fariz's eyes wet, making Zaid gasp and apologize. Mr. Fariz hastily wiped his tears.

"It's okay, Son Zaid. I'm just overwhelmed." Then he looked at Zaid in admiration. "Ave really didn't pick you wrong."

Zaid. He knows Mr Fariz didn't come to know about Avelia in Sydney. But Zaid wanted to tell his lover's father about it ever since he heard it. Her chance. This is Zaid's way of making Ave and Mr Fariz's relationship better. But he also understands. There's something Mr. Fariz has to say.

"Maybe you already know the reason I called you here, son. But I want to ask clearly? What can you give Ave if I accept you?" ask Mr. Fariz while sipping his tea.

"If it's a treasure, Ave might not need it. But I want to give him freedom" Zaid replied briefly.

Silent. Mr. Fariz just stared in wonder. Zayd explained further.

"Whatever Avelia wants to do, if it's good for her, if it's her dream, I'll give it and support everything she wants. He wants to go to school or open a business. He wants to work or play. Anything. For me, Avelia is who she is, not Avelia who has to do what I want but Ave who is who she is."

Mr. Fariz smiled hearing that. Inwardly, if he could choose, Zaid was indeed the right partner for his only daughter.

"I just want to accompany Avelia because I want to take care and love Avelia wholeheartedly. I may not have anything and my abilities are limited, but I want to give everything that can make Avelia happy."

No flowering words sounded, just a simple promise. But there is the sincerity of every promise because it is spoken without pause and without any doubt at all.

"But Zaid... My mother Ave also left a message for me. And I'm sorry that in order to deliver on that message, I have to ask you to sever your relationship" Mr Fariz said. A depressed tone sounded clear as he said it.

Zaid. Hiding his paled face. Allegedly right.

Catching the sadness emanating from in front of him, Mr Fariz hurriedly added. "Look, Son Zaid. As you know, I don't know anything that's happened to Ave in Sydney. Grandpa Ave story but not much because since his mother died, Ave more live in his apartment. I just found out that Ave had a little depression also from Eagle, his friend. Recently. Since Ave returned to Jakarta, my relationship with Ajie has always been a distance. That's why, I'm afraid, your problems and Ajie's will make their relationship worse."

"I can help fix that, sir. I can. " said Zaid expectantly as he looked at Mr. Fariz. But the helplessness in the eyes of the parents stopped his speech.

"Truly I know you're a really good kid. Nak. But I know Ajie. My son has changed a lot since he was Junior High, I don't know if that was you until yesterday. I know, you might not expect it either. But a lot happened in those days.me and their mama divorced, Ajie had to move out and part with his only sister. Then plus the trauma because of the problem. All that accumulation. changed Ajie and Ave."

Mr. Fariz took a long breath. "I don't dare risk anything worse, Son Zaid. Lily's presence helped me a lot, but your presence. Ave and Ajie are both stubborn. As their father, my heart is very sad when I see my children noisily. Ave doesn't know anything right now, but if he does... " Mister Fariz's eyes looked bright. There was sadness in his eyes.

"Ave is a rebel. Look what he did this year and a half! Just because I challenged her a little bit, she dared to risk getting out of her comfort zone. I don't care if he meets a bad-hearted man. Really am. I'm grateful that Ave met Nak Zaid. Who loves and takes care of him for us. It's just... Please understand my position as a parent, son!" pinta Pak Fariz again. His two hands fused together on the table, like one who was begging Zaid.

Zaid really could no longer say anything. He began to understand the direction of this conversation.

"I just want to keep their mama's trust. Our kids should always get along. This family must be back. Really am... Uhuk! Uhuk!"

Mr. Fariz's words were interrupted, and he was busy covering his mouth from coughing. He spoke too fast and started to get emotional. Her face flushed.

Zaid stood up and helped him drink tea. Zaid's hand rubbed gently on the middle-aged man's back.

"I understand, Sir. I've understood. You calm down!" pinta Zayd's.

Mr. Fariz nodded, taking a deep breath before exhaling slowly.

After Mr. Fariz was much calmer and his cough stopped, Zaid sat back down. Quite a long moment of silence was felt in the room.

"I wanted to keep trying to convince Ajie to accept my presence, sir. I promised I'd do anything to make Ajie forgive my mistakes. I promised Ave I'd marry her. But... "

Mr. Fariz smiled bitterly. His head was weak. "But that's impossible... It's not easy to change Ajie's decision. If Nak Zaid was ever Ajie's friend, you know what I mean, right? If this relationship continues, Avelia will be the victim."

Zaid forced a smile to appear on his grim face. Acknowledging the truth of Mr. Fariz's words. Finally with a heavy heart, the young man nodded.

"I'm sorry, Son Zaid!" pinta Pak Fariz is sincere.

Seeing the earnestness in the eyes of the young man in front of him, Mr. Fariz nodded. Then suddenly Zayd stood up.

"But before that, I want to leave something for Ave. I can't give it to you right now, so please give it to her when we're apart. He will understand my reasons and God willing, Ave will not blame anyone. He will surely accept our farewell. Sir, wait a minute! I'll take it first."

Without waiting any longer, Zaid walked out of the room. Outside he meets Mr. Aaron, but they only nod at each other at a glance before Zaid exits the Cafe towards his car. Before long, he walked into the cafe again holding a brown envelope. In front of the cashier, he asked for paper and a pen. Zaid wrote a few sentences in the paper, folded the paper before putting it in the brown envelope. He also wrote Avelia's name on the front of the envelope. When he finished, he entered the room where Mr. Fariz was waiting for him.

Before sitting down, Zaid handed the envelope to Mr. Fariz.

"This what?" ask Mr. Fariz.

"That's actually the wedding gift I prepared for Avelia, sir," Zaid replied with a wry smile.

Mr. Fariz looked with pity at Zaid. "If you can't leave something that's gonna make Ave even sadder, son."

"Only in this way can I sincerely release Avelia, sir. At least there's something I can give him. In this way, I also have no reason to meet Ave or Ajie anymore. Father, don't worry! You could say you bought it from me."

Mr. Fariz's forehead is wrinkled. "May I see it?"

For a moment there was doubt on Zaid's face. Seeing that, Mr. Fariz no longer waited for Zaid's permission and opened the envelope. He did not see the folded paper on the map of the document he took out of the envelope but immediately saw the contents of the map. He was stunned when he read it.

"What are you doing all this for, son? There are other girls you can love and care about. This... It's..." Mr. Fariz was speechless as he pointed at the map.

Zaid smiled. "I'm not doing this for Ave, sir."

"For whom?"

"For myself, sir. As long as Ave is happy, then I am happy too. Far or near, I want to keep him happy. He can continue his life, me too. Even if we're not together, as long as he's fine, I'll be fine too" Zaid said with a smile on his lips.

Mr. Fariz closed the map and stared intently at Zaid. "Are you going to be okay, son? Without this Avelia already had her own rights. How about yourself? I don't know what Ajie did to your company. Now this again... Say it! What can I do to reduce your losses, son? I really don't want my kids to destroy you like this."

Zaid laughed again. Shaking his head. "My love for Ave is that simple, sir. There is no profit and loss relationship, who wins or loses. Just want to give and take care of each other even though we can't be together. All this time I've been doing everything myself, sir. For something I don't know what either. Once there is Ave, I have a purpose. If it's just a gift like this, it means nothing to me."

"But, Son... "

"Please take care of Ave for me, sir! If there is... " Zaid lowered his head for a while, trying to suppress his own emotions before he raised his head again. "If there's someone who can make Ave happy, please help him, sir. Consider that person me."

Mr. Fariz looked at Zaid. Little did he learn from this young man in front of him about the meaning of love. Even now he who feels the loss of a prospective daughter-in-law as good as this. It would be difficult for him to find a young man who loved his daughter as much as the young man before him.

"Then, excuse me, sir."

"Not dinner yet?" ask Mr. Fariz.

His heart refused to give up the opportunity. Doubts hit Mr. Fariz. He now understood why his hard-hearted daughter was able to melt in front of this young man.

Zaid shook his head while laughing. "I just got a broken heart, sir. If I stay here for a long time, I can cry in front of you."

Despite laughing, Mr. Fariz could see sadness in the eyes of Zaid. It was so obvious, that the young man's smile also looked pitiful.

When Zaid turned around, the firm shoulder slumped a little and deep in his heart Mr. Fariz felt guilty. He is no longer as sure as before. He doubted his decision.

Anyway, just talking to Zaid for a few minutes already made Mr. Fariz like him. Until now it will be difficult for him to forget a young man like Zaid. Somehow with Ave himself.

Mr. Fariz took the dossier, put it back in a brown envelope. The folded white paper was also taken, about to be put back.

But Mr. Fariz's hand stopped. Curiosity intrigued him and he opened the letter. It's not long. Just a few lines. But Mr. Fariz knew he had lost something valuable.

Then, after some time, Mr. Fariz sat quietly until Mr. Aaron knocked on the door and entered. Nodding to himself, Mr. Fariz finally decided on something very important.

He was able to unite Lily and Ajie. Now he will do it again.

*****