The High School Bad Boy
Chapter 52. Past Stays In The Past.

STALINGRAD, GERMANY.

"Salut (hallo), Papa," said Max once inside his apartment and found Ludovic sitting on the couch watching television and enjoying a bottle of beer.

"Ah, Max .. You're home" said the father. He motioned for his son to sit next to him. "Where are you staying two nights?" she asked as Max sat beside her.

Max grimaced while stroking his head. "A friend's house."

Ludovic took a whole bottle of beer on the table, opened it, and thrust it at Max.

"Merci."

"How's your school, Max?" ask Ludovic.

Max turned his shoulders. "Rien de spatial (ordinary)," he replied. "I can't wait for July next year to graduate."

"Are there plans to go to university?" ask her father back.

"Maybe ...."

Ludovic. Then sip the beer bottle.

"Do you have a boyfriend, Max?" ask Ludovic.

Max grimaced and stroked his hair awkwardly. "Yes, I have a boyfriend," she said. "You alone?"

Ludovic chuckled. He poked his lips and shook his head. "You want me to give you a stepmother?" joking.

Max laughed at his father's joke. Then sip the beer.

"Many things I've missed about you, huh, Max?" said The Father. He moved the television channels with origin.

"C'est pas grave (it's okay)."

"Non, I'm embarrassed."

"Pour moi, ca va (make me, I'm fine), Papa."

"It's not too late, is it, to be a good father?" ludovic asked, more like a mutter.

"You understand your position enough, Papa. I'm an adult, you don't have to worry about anything I do" Max said. "For now, you just focus on improving your life."

Ludovic. "Look, who is Father and who is Son. You grew up to be a wise boy" he said. "Where did you learn all that?"

"Obviously I didn't get those lessons in the school curriculum" Max quipped. He took his beer bottle back. "Experience teaches everything, Papa. Age getting older is inevitable, but adulthood is self-awareness."

"Wow!" Ludovic's lips murmured in admiration.

"But I wasn't always like this. Sometimes I have trouble controlling my emotions. Humanely."

"Hmmm ... Where have I been all this time?" Ludovic massaged his forehead.

Max took a slow breath. "Don't regret anything, Papa .. You know what it is to be happy that you have felt pain. Ying and Yang."

Ludovic raised his beer bottle. "Let's toast."

Max followed the movement of the Father raising his beer bottle. The two clink bottles at each other.

"For a new leaf" said the Father.

"Chante (cheers)."

***

After teaching, Wulan got a call from Pierre. Her ex-husband invited her to meet. He thought it might have something to do with his mother. Maybe the Mother also contacted Pierre. In the past, when Wulan and Pierre visited Indonesia every year, they were quite familiar.

And it was here, in a cafe across from her apartment, that she sat opposite Pierre, her ex-husband. The man looks fresher. The thin sideburns that usually adorn his face are no longer visible.

But Wulan felt he was calmer to face Pierre.

"How are you?" tanya Pierre opened the conversation.

"I'm good," Wulan replied as she stirred up her caramel macchiato. "What do you want to say?" tanyanya.

"Ta maman m'a apple (your mother called me)," replied Pierre. Then sip the coffee.

Pierre breathed slowly. "Some of this time I was thinking, Wulan." He paused on his words. "I've treated you badly during our marriage."

"I've started a new life, I don't want to talk about it anymore, Pierre," Wulan said. "So you said my mom called you, and then?"

"Listen first" Pierre asked. "I'm getting married to Amelie in a few months. I'm going to start a new life with him. A more organized life." Pierre took a breath. "But before that I wanted to correct the mistakes of the past. My mistake with you, Wulan."

"Just get to the point, what do you want?" ask Wulan ketus. He did not like Pierre's words. It is not because of jealousy that her ex-husband is getting married. He just felt uncomfortable that his old wounds were being re-expressed.

"I used to ask you nicely from your mother, I wanted to return you to your mother in a good way too."

Wulan hissing. He turned his face to the empty road.

"When are you going back to Indonesia? I'm going with you. Let me talk to your mom."

"Come," replied Wulan lazily. But undeniably, in his heart he felt relieved.

"I hope your life is better now, Wulan."

Wulan smiled faintly. "By the way, congratulations, Pierre. You've found the right woman for you" he said sincerely.

Pierre patted the back of Wulan's hand with a smile.

"Young man back then, was he your girlfriend?" ask Pierre.

Wulan did not answer. He pretended to drink his coffee glass.

"Well, whatever it is, I wish you all the best, Wulan."

"You done yet?" tanya Wulan switched the conversation. Then he got up from his seat and reached into the bag to find his wallet.

"yeah. Emm .. let me go, "sold Pierre as he passed a fifty-euro note from his wallet. Then put it on the table.

"Merci," said Wulan as he grabbed his bag and prepared to leave the cafe.

He stepped across the street followed by Pierre who was about to go to his car parked in front of the Wulan apartment building.

"Guil!" call him as soon as they get across the street.

Wulan who was about to open the main door of the apartment building broke her intention. He turned to face Pierre, who was standing next to his car.

"If you need anything ...."

"I'm doing fine. Thank you," cut Wulan down quickly. He does not like to be pitied. Especially her ex-husband.

"German ...." Pierre stepped closer to Wulan who was only two meters away from him. "May I hug you?"

Wulan let out her breath heavily.

"I want between us no resentment or anger left. So that we can continue each other's lives in peace."

Wulan looked at the pair of gray eyes before her, which she had once worshipped. Then slowly he approached Pierre who had spread out both hands, welcoming him in his arms.

He closed his eyes. Pierre's perfume still smells the same. His brain began to slightly display the memories of the past with the man.

Pierre let go of his embrace. Then cupped Wulan's face and kissed her forehead gently.

"Remember, Wulan. Let me know when you're going back to Indonesia" Pierre said as he opened his car door.

Wulan just nodded.

Pierre waved a small wave at him before finally driving his car away from in front of Wulan.

For a moment, Wulan stood staring at Pierre's car until it disappeared in the corner of the road. Then he turned around and stepped towards the main door.

He was surprised when his eyes caught a tall figure standing not far from him with a reddened face and a pair of eyes looking at him sharply.

"Max!"

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