Our Happy Ending

Chapter 3. Our Past

"I met Eka this afternoon." I started a conversation with mom in the living room once I was back home. "She was also the one who drove me home earlier. I asked her to come in, but yeah... she was busy." I added more details. Okay, for this time I was really waiting for what kind of reaction my mom would give.

"Oh, Aunt Bella's son, right? How is it? Is he still the same as he used to be? Or has something changed?"

"I think it's the same." I took a glass of mineral water from the living room.

Mom's eyes immediately bulged as if to say "Don't take that. It's for guests." Then, she started investigating again. "Really? According to Mama, he's much more mature now. Oh, and did you know... that he's getting married?"

"Yes, he also said it earlier. Wow, I didn't expect that." I tried to accept everything.

"When are you? Introduce yourself to Mama. If you're twenty-eight and don't have a boyfriend, I'll find one for you, okay?" That sounds like a threat. Think of it as a sweet threat.

"I'll introduce you if there is one. I'm ugly, it's hard to get a boyfriend. Unlike aunt Bella's daughter, Dwi. Ah, I guess it's really hard to be loved with a face like this." Without realizing it, I started blaming the situation again.

In this world, not everything we want will come true. There are things that affect all of that. One of them might be luck. Unfortunately, as a child who was abused by my stepfather from a young age, I felt that if anything, it was a curse.

I've been used to such mentally crushing words since I was a child. It was nothing new. If I could, I'd like to turn back the time and stand up to my father's words.

There is a wounded inner child - that's the cool language. The trust issue I have is probably the biggest influence on why I don't dare to be in a romantic relationship until now. Now, my world is all about myself. I went back to my hometown because I had to.

"Your other friends are already married." Mom is still trying to discuss a topic that is not at all interesting to your ears.

"Oh, you mean Santi? Yes, he is! Already pregnant first. If you don't get married, well ... what do you want?”

"You're like this, when you're told, you're just being stubborn."

"Yes, I am like this."

"If you know this, you had better not go home!"

"Oh, is that so? That's good, I don't really want to come back here either. This house is hot. There are demons."

"Gin ...."

"It is, isn't it? Mama's husband is a demon."

"He's your Papa, Gin!" mom snapped.

I chose to remain silent. After all, there was absolutely no point in fighting back. This is where I feel that the rights you have as a child are completely absent. My family is fairly well established, it's just that there are things that can't be forgotten.

The person I called father or papa was not my real father. To make matters worse, I'm still holding on to everything-that bitter taste. The man who is now with mom is not a good man. How could he have the heart to have an affair with another woman? The strangest thing is that he so easily brought a little girl into this house?

"What a clueless father and daughter!" I cursed. "Where is that child? How old is he now? Well, let's hope he doesn't grow up to be like his clueless father."

The resentment is still there. Everything about my family now just irritates me. I did have an intact family and people always saw our family as very happy. Unfortunately, no one knew how I really felt. To get out of that city, I was even willing to study desperately to get a scholarship.

Once again, my family was well-respected and had no shortage of money. However, all that did not allow me to relax. My stepfather was at the house planning something first. He didn't want me to study outside the city. Whatever he had in mind, I was definitely against it.

"If I hadn't gotten the scholarship back then, hm... I would definitely be languishing in this house. Ugh! How annoying. What is Mama looking for in a man, anyway? Papa's inheritance is a lot."

I still don't understand that one thing. What was mom's big secret reason for choosing to marry the man who eventually betrayed her? I walked casually to my room. Everything was still the same there. The objects were still in place.

"Giselle, maybe I should contact Giselle now." I get very excited whenever I remember that name.

Then, I took my cell phone from my pocket and searched for my best friend's contact number.

There was no answer until the third call. My only thought was one-Giselle was defending the truth. Who would have thought that chatty girl could become a lawyer? Once again, seeing my friends succeed with their life paths made me feel envious. Being a little late in graduating from college was something that made me feel inferior to my classmates.

"It's not my fault, is it? It's just my advisor who's making things difficult for me." You start complaining and blaming the situation once again. "Ash! Don't be like this! Gina, you're strong! Don't worry, everything will be fine."

I couldn't stop looking at the picture in the frame. I also mentioned the names of my classmates one by one. A pretty good memory made me laugh occasionally. Just by looking at their faces, I can imagine how it used to be at school. Many funny things happened.

"Ha-halo?"

"OMG... Gina!" someone exclaimed from the other side of the phone. "Are you back in Jayapura? I was looking at your f*******: account. You should have told me earlier. I could have picked you up. Oh my, how exciting! We should have a reunion at this rate. How about inviting Eka too, hahaha!"

I only replied by laughing at first. I knew exactly what Giselle meant. She was teasing, maybe. "Eka? Hm... unfortunately I even met him earlier."

From Giselle's voice over the phone, it was clear that she didn't believe me. Okay, I didn't force her to believe it either.

"Ehm! I'm serious Giselle. I've met Eka."

"Did he tell you that ...." Giselle hung her sentence. I understood that she probably didn't want to hurt my feelings.

"I already know. She's getting married, right? I'm happy about that; maybe."

"Hm, I don't know. However, as I recall, there was a child who confidently told me that she would be matched with Eka."

"Hahaha, gosh! When did I say that?" I asked pretentiously.

"That time."

"That time? When?"