The Life That You Gave Me

Have you ever been so sentimental about your life? Wonder about your achievements and start comparing your life with all your friends like a crazy person? Well, that ain't wrong tho. I did. Not gonna lie about this, but I feel my life sucks! After surviving the quarter-life crisis, my life is not run on a good path. Just lost my job a couple of months ago, and I am jobless. A big achievement, huh? Luckily, asian always become an asian no matter what. I lived with my brother and his family and became completely useless for a while. Or I wish. I didn't need an extra problem while I was wondering why so many people looked successful at my age while I became a clown in my own life. Such a pity. The thing that saved me is ... I can cook. A decent gourmet, even if it's not the best. At least it's edible, and I do not look like a weird old wallflower with no skill. At least, looking busy is something that I could do. Even it's weird. "Aunty Dee ... I'm hungry." Yep, my alarm was ringing. What's that? Just my dear nephews ... Or sometimes, it's my niece. They yell because they crave food that they can actually cook by themselves. For your kind information, my brother has three children. Two boys and one girl. They have already grown up. The oldest, Amira, is a university student. 19 years old, but acts like a baby just because she's the only girl among the boys. The middle, Armand, 12 years old. He started his teenage era and became clingy to all family members. Normally, teenagers love to spend their time in their room, but not with this guy. He loves to play around. And the youngest, Azka, 4 years old. He's the real baby here. Well, the youngest in the family is always treated like a baby, no matter how old they are. "Aunty Dee ..." "Coming!" "What are you going to cook this day? Rendang?" asked Armand with his puppy eyes and that made me roll my eyes for sure. "You are not tired of that menu? Seriously?" "Your rendang is bassin! I love it!" "Should I feel honored for that?" "Aunty ... I am just hungry, okay? Can you make one?" "Dear, if you think that cooking rendang was so easy and not taking so much time to do it, you are wrong. Try another one." "But I want it." "Making it yourself." "Aunty ..." "Nope." "Just this time." "No. Or I'll give you kimchi instead." "It's sour and spicy. No." "Then you can cook by yourself and not bother me with your silly request." "If only I could do it myself!" "Perfect." "That's not okay." "I know. Life is not always good for everyone." He grunts, then goes somewhere I don't know. Bring back my peace. Something that I will thank him later. No drama in the kitchen. Such a luxury of life. "Dee, we need to talk," said my brother, Zain. He came so suddenly and made me almost throw a knife at him. "Can you just make some sound when you come before said anything? You surprised me and I almost threw this." I showed him the knife and he sighted. "If not because of this situation, I'm not sure that I'd have a peaceful conversation with you. You have already postponed all the answers that I asked you months ago." "What now?" "Back to work or just do something. You are almost 30, for heaven's sake!" "Not tomorrow. So I can do another thing for now." "With just become a cooker for your niece and nephews? That's not how you made life. Can you just be more serious, now?" "I tried to do a remote job. I do something even if it does not look like a serious job. Don't worry." "But you need relation. Going for a walk, having a real job in real time can make you connect with more people and make your chances of getting a husband become more relatable." "Do I look like someone that is so depressed about getting a husband?" "Women at your age already have at least two children and a happy life." "You said this because Mas Hisyam asked you about me, right?" "Yes and no." "I'll look for a job, a real job if I may add it so you are not upset, and that's it." "And husband?" "I'll think about it if I want it." "Dee ..." "Just because I am a woman, nearly 30, looked like a leftover dish, doesn't mean I am desperate to have one. A man always being a man and love is not suitable for someone like me. And if you are upset about my love life story because you remember our mom, don't worry. I'll tell her on the day after tomorrow about why I choose not to have one for now." "I just asked you to think about it." "I know you love me. Don't worry. I love you too." "That's not the topic I would discuss with you." "I know." "Dee ..." "Just be calm, okay? I'll work like what you say. Don't worry." "Oh, gosh ... You're not listening to me." "I am." Mas Zain sigh. He stared at me with his cold eyes before raising both his hands. The sign that he gave up talking about this topic with me. "Next time, we'll talk again. And I hope that moment you have a more reasonable reason, so I am able to talk about this with Mas Hisyam calmly." "If he asks about that again, tell him to ask me privately. So he won't bother you." He nodded. "Dee ..." "Hm?" "Don't hate us. We just try our best to take responsibility for you after our parents passed away." "I know. You just try your best to be a good brother. Don't worry. I understand." "I want you to be happy." "I am."