Chapter 3 [2] BURIAL

Burial.

03 June 2014

The drizzle that fell did not bother the girl wearing black overalls. She was still trying to stand firm between the three mounds that had been covered neatly. Flowers were spread out beautifully on it. Each one already has a name that makes her part of the family.

The glasses she wore covered up how swollen her eyes were from crying. Especially when the hearse arrived at her grand residence, she roared. Shouted hysterically until she fainted many times, but still, the three people she loved so much would not wake up to greet her. They were lying stiff, happy to face God.

Leaving her, who is still very young, to face the world. The foothold that Fathia had was felt to have collapsed without any more support, especially when Tian told this sad news. And Fathia's collapse gets worse when she is allowed to look at her three family members for the last time, even though they are in a coffin. Papa, Mommy, and the older sister, Felice.

"Miss, drink milk first, okay?" Narti offered a moment before they all headed for the funeral. Since last night, Fathia did not swallow or drank anything. To her, all tasteless and filling at the same time.

"No, ma'am. I don't want to," said Fathia while wiping her tears. The family, either from Papa or Mommy, have started to arrive. They all hugged Fathia and conveyed their condolences. Fathia still doesn't want to believe everything that happened so fast.

How on the night they said goodbye, Felice had advised her to be careful during the exam. If the value is good, vacation rewards to Bali are waiting. Fathia pouted because last year was the same; a holiday to Bali.

If she remembers, her parents gave her many messages that night. Starting from maintaining health, don't forget to eat regularly; one thing is bothering her now.

"Fathia must be a strong woman. Strike all that gets in your way. Don't even think about giving up. Clairine never give up, Fathia. You should know that." Alvin Mehram Clairine said while rubbing the top of Fathia's head affectionately. Her eyes were gentle yet firm in them.

"Fathia is Papa's child. Surely I also doesn't give up easily like Felice, who often wins the tender. Yes, right?"

Alvin laughed, pinching the tip of Fathia's chin, which was split affectionately. "You're right. Felice example. But remember one thing. Papa would rather you live your life as you do in your heart."

Fathia's brow wrinkled even more as her father continued his speech.

"Because the heart knows best, where it will be anchored."

"I don't understand, Pa." Right. That's true. Fathia, who understands this. All he thought was school, participating in the activities she chose to fill her spare time and returning home. Life is not very colourful. Ordinary. Even for this fifteen-year-old teenager, having a close friend or a boyfriend is entirely unthinkable. She is very different from her friends.

What they talk about can't be separated from talking about the handsome young man at school. "Look. Very handsome, right, our student council president?"

"You don't need to understand. One day you will understand. Just remember Papa's message, okay?" Alvin looked at Fathia so closely. At the same time, the youngest daughter in the end nodded and smiled a slight assent to her father's request.

Fathia never thought those words would be the last message before they are now different worlds.

Again Fathia wiped her tears. The memory was so suffocating her.

"We're going home," said someone who made Fathia turn her head. Slightly looked up because the man beside her was towering. His body is well built, especially this time. He wears a black shirt that is a bit dirty at the ends. During the funeral procession, this man did not hesitate to help lower each coffin at its final crossing.

"I want to be alone, Tian." Fathia returned to rearrange the graves of her parents. Squatting a little still wants to let go.

"I'll accompany you then."

She looked back and was right. Tian was the same. Aligned himself beside Fathia. "You can go home. I wants to be alone."

"I won't leave you alone."

***

(now)

"How was your college?" Tian asked while eating his dish. The grilled grouper menu is the choice. It seems appropriate considering that since this morning, he had only eaten from the origin of the food. Meetings are also meetings with many very time-consuming clients.

Not to mention the many reports from Vino that made him discouraged from just filling his empty stomach. If it wasn't for Mika's visit to the office, maybe Tian still had to do a thing or two. The seduction of the beautiful woman was enough to make Tian waver.

But now? So he was stuck with Fathia in one of his regular restaurants.

"So far, so good." Fathia doesn't know how often she has chewed the corn cake, which is the mainstay of the menu here. A typical Manado restaurant in Serpong is their destination. Fathia followed the significant steps of Tian, who took the lead. They had nothing to say the whole way.

Many things have changed in their five years together. Whether Tian feels it or not, what is clear to Fathia, the man beside her is getting colder and stiffer. Her words were short plus full of orders and intimidation. As if what slipped from her slightly blackened lips was a must for Fathia.

Only this time, she heard Tian use her voice to ask. Usually, this thirty-five-year-old man's voice was only for commanding. That's what caused Fathia to stare at Tian in surprise.

"Your grades?"

The more Fathia's brows furrowed in confusion, Hitting on one centre, Tian was now also looking back at him. "Not bad."

The motion of Tian bribing the fish paused slightly. Meet Fathia in the end. Then snorted softly as he shook her head. "Prepare yourself in two years, Fathia."

Now it's Fathia who doesn't understand the direction of Tian's conversation. "It means?"

"I can't work for you all the time. I want to be free from the Claire Group."

At first, Fathia was eager to finish the grilled fish, which was still almost half of the portion left. Not to mention the sauteed papaya flowers that look delicious and want to add rice again. But when he heard Tian's words, her appetite just disappeared.

Even just bribing the rice stuck in the air, Fathia had no desire.

"Business is dirty, Uncle," Fathia whispered. Her eyes were downcast, and the image of her parents and Felice saying goodbye on the last day they met five years ago came back vividly.

"There is me. You're safe." Tian spoke casually. Enjoyed eating without glancing at the little girl in front of him.

Hearing Tian's words, Fathia's heart suddenly heated up. "I remember that Uncle spoke to Felice as well. What do I get? My sister's coffin." She put down the spoon that was still filled with rice earlier with a little move. She grabbed the small bag earlier and left Tian with a wound she could never close.

It doesn't matter if Tian gets angry in the apartment; this time, Fathia must let go of the sadness that has plagued her again. Full of certainty, the sadness that still haunts her about the meaning of loss crashes into her mercilessly. It made the tears roll down her cheeks.

"Why, Tian? Why?" Fathia finally complained. At the same time, stopping a taxi that passed right on the side of the road to the restaurant where she had eaten earlier. "Amore's cafe, sir," she said shortly after he settled into the passenger seat.

***

"Why is your face like that?" Elma asked casually, wrapping her arms around Fathia's neck. Usually, Fathia will scream in disapproval because Elma's treatment of her can make her straight hair messy and messy. But this time, Fathia was silent.

Elma doesn't know how often she stirred her iced cappuccino without interest. Even her sighs suggest that she is in big trouble.

"Suddenly mute, eh?" Elma was still babbling. She looked at her friend with a confused look. Since arriving at the cafe, Fathia doesn't use her mouth to talk.

"Fathia?" This time, Elma used a low voice full of sympathy. Unravelling her embrace earlier, she replaced it with a soft touch on Fathia's shoulder. You know that she seems to be urging Fathia, who is often in a world that Elma can't touch.

"Why is my last name Clairine?" Fathia asked quietly. More towards the mutterings that Elma couldn't hear clearly.

"What did you just say?"

"I am home." Fathia then stood up and grabbed her carry-on bag from the table. Without finishing her Iced Capuccino order. At first, she thought, meeting Elma in the middle of her busy schedule of managing a small cafe near her campus could ease the burden on her heart a little.

"Certain?" Elma doubted Fathia's words. The girl's habit, if she has a lot of thoughts, can make her heart beat wildly. Fathia is like a mute girl who doesn't make a sound if her mind flies somewhere. Elma paid close attention to that. "You'd better be in my room. Rest."

Fathia stopped walking. Thought for a moment, Elma's words sounded tantalizing. The room on the top floor of this cafe has a view that calms Fathia. The window was intentionally installed there, only covered by large curtains and even a mattress without a couch. She often slept at Elma's place, making her so familiar with the parts of her best friend's room.

But if she stays? Fathia has not dared to cross the boundary that Tian made. She had to be back before eight o'clock. Since she first stepped into the man's luxurious apartment, the rule was made without writing.

"Roy didn't visit?" Ah, Fathia remembers one name. Elma's lover sometimes comes to her. Moreover, she remembered that it was Saturday. I don't know where the custom comes from if Saturday night is the official visit of the lovers to the girl's house.

Except for Fathia, of course.

"Well... I can go out later, okay? Easy." Elma winced at being reminded of tonight's promise. For her, Roy could wait and be diverted somewhere first. The most important thing is Fathia.

"Nope. Next time ." The girl gave her best smile. She didn't want to be a burden on Elma tonight. She was used to dealing with Tian, whether in the apartment or watching her over the phone. She didn't want to take the risk of Tian's words that had hurt him so many times.

Ah, just remembering his figure made Fathia sad again. Tian's influence on her mood was truly impudent.

"Be careful coming home. Let me know when you get to the apartment."

Fathia just gave a thumbs up and a fake smile. She didn't want Elma to worry more about her.

Bringing up the topic of Clairine in the conversation just now made Fathia tired. She could not deny that Sachdev Rendra was preparing herself to continue her father's business. All of Fathia's values and behaviour are under Tian's high-level supervision. You can't recognize defects, and there are also minor scandals.

The sky is approaching this time of night but does not want to expel the remaining sun. Leaves a dramatic orange effect. Fathia stared at her for a long time. Then heaved a long sigh of preparation, returning to her luxurious cage. Not until he stepped up to stop a taxi did her cell phone ring again.

"Where are you?"

Fathia closed her eyes for a moment. Even though it had not been three hours since she had disappeared from Tian's radar, the stiff and cold man had reached her again.

"Campus."

"Wait there. I'll pick you up."

There is no need for an answer to just Fathia looking for an excuse to avoid. All she did, was step aside around the bus stop. Sit there. Wait. Killing time by listening to the saxophone reminds her of her home's living room.

The place where the four of them gathered happily. Now and then, her mother's voice hummed softly between Felice and Alvin's exciting debate. Meanwhile Fathia? She chose to read her favourite comics while lying on her mother's lap. The warmth of the meaning of family lost from Fathia's heart made her even more miserable.

The playlist on her cell phone was filled with things she had always heard before. Especially the music her father liked; Kenny G. Closed her eyes, filling her heart with many fond memories of fifteen years with her family. Whole. Until the roar of the car engine made her open her eyes. A man in a neat suit that Fathia knew was Tian's assistant opened the door.

"Miss," he greeted.

Fathia nodded slowly. Sign in without waiting for any more orders. While next to her was Tian, who sat stiffly without looking at him.

"Don't add to my burden, Fathia."

Those words were so imprinted in her heart. Not only once or twice, but Tian also said things like that to her. And those words were launched by Tian more and more without the man knowing how much Fathia wanted to cry because of it. She tried to argue or voice her objections, but she couldn't.

"Sorry, Uncle."