Trapped in Brother Love
TCS 28'S

Mike spends time in Johan's apartment long enough to late at night. He deliberately did that to find out if Alice would worry about him. That Mike accidentally turned off his phone. 

“Mike, you're not home?” ask Brandon.

“In the meantime, I still want to be here,” said Mike.

“Ah, are you avoiding Alice?” timpal Johan's.

“No. I just feel bored at home, no entertainment. So I'd better spend some time here with you guys,” said Mike.

Mike again sipped a glass of whiskey while smoking a cigarette, although the women of the call had been evicted from Johan's apartment, the three of them still gathered to enjoy the party. 

Meanwhile, at home Alice is restless waiting for Mike who did not come home. From then on he just walked back and forth in his room while occasionally looking out the window whether Mike's car had been seen. 

“You actually went where, Mike,” muttered Alice nervously.

Alice grabs her phone on the table, searches for Mike's contact and tries to reach him. Several times he tried to make a call but Mike did not respond. 

“Why don't you pick up my phone,” said Alice growing worried. 

Since Mike did not pick up his phone, Alice tried to send a short message. Alice waited a while, but the message was not answered. 

Alice, who was in the room, finally went out for a moment to get some fresh air. But while passing through Raina's room, something stole her attention. He saw Esme in the room tidying up her personal belongings. Alice initially wondered why her mother had moved all her belongings to Raina's room. 

“What do mama,” murmured Alice.

As Alice realized, with a disappointed look she realized her mother's intention of moving all her stuff into this room was none other than wanting to master Raina's room. 

Alice looked around to see if Haris was there. Alice went into the room while her stepfather was in the bathroom. Alice immediately reprimanded Esme who was busy tidying up her belongings.

“Ma, what are you doing in this room?” ask Alice.

“Of course move my belongings, this room will already be mine,” said Esme without even turning her head towards Alice.

“What? What mama mean? This is a room owned by his late mother Mike,” said Alice. 

He rebuked his mother and said that her mother had gone too far. Alice really disliked her mother's arbitrary actions in this house, even though they were immigrants here.

“Mama is so outrageous once. What if Mike finds out? He would be angry if he saw his late mother's room in use by his mother,” said Alice.

“You're talking too much. Raina is dead, so let mama occupy this room. Besides Haris also does not mind if mama occupies this room,” said Esme who was getting upset.

Alice continues to try to deny her mother who remains adamant about occupying the room of the late Raina.

“Can't be like that Ma!” said Alice.

His mother was immediately angry that Alice was too involved in his affairs. Both fights were not avoided. Esme continues to defend herself because she feels that she is the mistress of this house and deserves everything she wants.

“Raina is dead and now I am entitled to all things in this house. I'm the mistress of this house!” snapped Esme.

“No Ma! Mama is not entitled to control everything in this house because this is Mike's property,” argued Alice. 

“Already Alice stopped to argue with me. You just enjoy everything there is. I did all this for your own good, so that you could have a decent life,” Esme said.

“I don't need any of this, if mama gets it in a dirty way,” Alice insisted.

Plakk!

Esme's hand landed right on Alice's left cheek which made her instantly shocked. Tears began to wet Alice's cheeks, she did not expect her mother to be rude to her.

“Jagan sayings, Alice!” snapped Esme.

Apparently the noise between Esme and Alice was heard by Haris who was in the bathroom. Haris came out of the bathroom and wondered what was going on.

“Hey, what's going on? Why the night storm like this?” ask Haris.

“Darling, am I not allowed to occupy Raina's room? esme asked with a sad face, trying to find face in front of Haris.

“Sure you can occupy this room dear,” said Haris while stroking Esme's hair.

Haris defends Esme in front of Alice, and it makes Alice even more disappointed with the treatment of the two.

“But, Pa..” told Alice before finally being cut by Haris

.

“Already Alice, why are you fighting over something so trivial? This room is no longer occupied, so rather than empty let your mama occupy this room,” said Haris trying to give understanding to Alice. 

Haris and Esme continued as if to continue to corner Alice. Alice was silent because no one was defending her. As soon as he remembered Mike, if only Mike was here now he would not feel himself cornered like this.

Alice who was initially silent, slowly tears wet her eyes, her chest felt tight. He ran to his room, leaving Haris and Esme crying.

“Indeed the selfless child,” murmured Esme.

“Dear, don't think about Alice. If you really like this room, you can occupy it,” Haris said.

“Then, how about Mike? What if he doesn't like to see me occupy this room?” esme asked with a face pretending to be sad.

“You don't have to worry, baby. This house is mine, so I have the right and power here,” Haris said.

In her room Alice opened her phone again to confirm if there was a reply from Mike, but unfortunately Mike still ignored it. Fear began to haunt Alice. He is afraid that Mike will return angry if he finds out that his late mother's room has now been occupied by Esme. 

“What if Mike finds out about this? Surely he will be furious,” murmured Alice.

Alice sat quietly as she stared out the window, looking at the cluster of stars in the sky. 

“I'm sorry, I can't prevent my mother from taking all the precious things in this house. Really, if I could turn back the clock, I wouldn't want to go into the family. I don't want to destroy your family,” Alice said as she looked up at the sky.

Inexplicably Alice's heart ached, again feeling guilty to the late Raina and Mike. Alice has always felt guilty for her mother's attitude which has taken everything from Mike and the late Raina.