The Bride Pay
Despondent
By late afternoon, Aaron was surprised by Alex's return in a mess, the man who used to look cool and neat, now with disheveled hair and a pungent smell of alcohol.
"Alex, what's going on?" asked Aaron in surprise.
Hayley, who was in the kitchen making milk, rushed to Aaron when she heard him say Alex's name.
"Alex, aren't you papa?" hayley asked curiously, not usually Alex looks very moody.
Not wanting to answer, Alex sat in the dining chair, followed by Hayley and Aaron.
"Please say something, don't confuse us" Hayley said. "Are you okay?"
"No!" alex answered briefly, without looking at anyone, his gaze blankly staring at the glass upside down on the table.
"Alex, is this all because of Aunt Friska?" asked Aaron, but only answered by Alex.
"Then why? why are you?" urged Hayley, it feels impatient to wait for Alex to open his mouth and tell a story.
"Melanie," said Alex quietly in a hoarse voice.
"Melanie? what happened to Melanie? you guys had a big fight?" ask Aaron.
"Is Melanie pregnant and you don't want responsibility, and then she runs away?" between Hayley, somehow the big pregnant woman could not control the question that was in her head.
Again Alex just shook his head, making Aaron and Hayley more confused and curious.
Long enough, Alex was still silent, seemed busy with his own thoughts, Hayley took the initiative to the kitchen and made a warm drink for Alex, then brought it in front of Alex.
"Drink," Hayley said, stroking her brother-in-law's back gently, like channeling strength to get Alex back stronger as usual.
Sipping a drink in front of him, Alex breathed a heavy sigh.
"I don't know, Melanie's been sick, she's been hiding her illness from me the whole time. And now, he's gone" Alex said.
"Go? please explain what the sentence means to go, Alex. I don't understand" Hayley said.
"The stage 4 leukemia he suffered, was severe. He can't hold on much longer. Her parents said Melanie went to another country to continue treatment, although she could not recover, but may be able to extend her life," explained Alex.
"Keep, you're letting him go?" ask Aaron.
"I ...." Alex lowered his head, he had no answer to Aaron's question. "I don't know where he is, it seems he purposely avoided me, and his parents kept something a secret" Alex continued.
"Stupid! where's Alex who usually never gives up, maybe you give up just because Melanie avoids, where are your efforts?" peeker Aaron, not out of thought with what Alex did.
"Alex," Hayley said gently, touching Alex's shoulder.
"There is something scary when someone has already left, which is regret. While Melanie's alive, go after her. Find him, follow your heart. Is there something in you that hurts so much when you lose someone who's been supporting you? that's the feeling, between love and compassion. I know that feeling is there for Melanie, it's just that you don't realize everything" Hayley explained.
Alex looked up, looking at Hayley who was standing next to him. True what Hayley said, maybe the feeling of love had grown a long time ago, just that Alex did not realize it, he was too selfish to admit that his heart was also weak.
"Am I not too late?" ask Alex.
"Go, Alex. Find him" said Aaron. "Are you sure he went to another country?"
"I don't know" Alex replied.
"Are there any favorite places Melanie, such as villas, apartments, private houses?" ask Hayley.
"Melanie loved living in the highlands, a modest house surrounded by tea gardens. He often told me that one day if he was married and had children, he would like to buy a house in such a place, and would spend his old days there" explained Alex.
"That's a clue."
"Then, how should I go?" ask Alex.
"Hows it? do you keep asking this and that. Go, find him. You know more about Melanie, you should know where she's going" said Aaron, for some reason this time he felt annoyed to see Alex really soft and desperate, losing Melanie also made Alex lose her mind.
"Please, help me Aaron," asked Alex with a lethargic face.
"Best possible. Now, clean yourself up, then go get some information. I'll send someone to monitor Mr. Gio and his wife, so they might hide Melanie and lie that her son went abroad. In our country there are many advanced treatments for cancer patients, no need to go far abroad should be," explained Aaron.
Alex raised a little corner of his lips, he smiled. Alex is grateful that she has always been surrounded by good people, Aaron has always supported her under all circumstances, and Hayley, she is like a fairy godmother, give encouragement and motivation like the oldest person in this house.
As he was about to walk up the stairs, Alex turned around, hugging Hayley and Aaron simultaneously.
"Thank you for everything" Alex said.
"That's it, don't be whiny!" Aaron mocked his cousin. "Just go, we have a lot to do."
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Aaron calls his confidants, he gives orders to continue monitoring the whereabouts of Mr. Gio and his wife, while Alex, he checks all flights to continental Europe, he hopes, found Melanie's trail and her destination to which country.
Alex tells someone to take care of all Nora needs in the hospital, including the cost of care and temporary shelter for Nora as long as the girl is not really healthy.
"Send my apology to the girl, I'm busy" Alex said.
"Good, Sir."
Alex prepares some gifts for Nora as an apology, he also slips a blank check that Nora can fill at will for the cost of living and the cost of control to the hospital.
If only Alex had been more careful while driving, he would not have harmed Nora and kept her busy taking care of the girl in the hospital, to the point that she forgot her promise with Melanie.
Alex checks all of Melanie's identities, and the favorite places she frequents before getting to know Alex, until Alex finds a place that matches her expectations.
There is a remote area located in the far reaches of the country, an area with extensive tea plantations and pine tree plants along the way.
Coincidentally, Alex still remembered his conversation with Mr. Gio a year ago when they met at a banquet, Mr. Gio told of Melanie's request to independently manage the tea garden.
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