Their Fisrt Conversation

"Dad, can you help me walk? After a year, I've been lying down. Tt's quite difficult to balance when I stand up." Maureen asked Heri, who was sitting on the sofa looking at his cellphone screen.

"Where are you going?"

"To my brother's room," said Maureen as she rose from her lying position. Now, she was sitting on the edge of the bed. Trying to lower her legs though not yet touching the floor.

Heri put his cell phone in his jacket pocket and stood up. "Don't push yourself too hard just yet. Wait a minute. I'll find you a wheelchair."

Maureen looked down at her own toes. After undergoing some simple therapy given by one of the doctors recently, she is now free to move her toes and even her ankles. However, moving the knee and thigh joints is still homework for Maureen. That's why even to stand while holding on to something is still quite difficult for her.

Maureen returned her gaze to Heri. "Okay. I'll just use the wheelchair."

Heri immediately left Maureen alone in her room after smiling a warming smile.

Heri helps Maureen to sit in a wheelchair. After he made sure his daughter was sitting comfortably, Heri transferred the IV to the hanger already provided in the wheelchair. They came out of the room where Maureen had been living and headed for the hospital hallway.

The sight that was usually presented in the hospital hallway didn't really bother Maureen's eyes.

"Dad."

Heri turned Maureen's wheelchair and carried her all the way to the front of the elevator door. "Hm? What's wrong? Are you feeling dizzy?"

"No. That's not it." Maureen replied, still sitting quietly in her wheelchair.

"So, what's wrong? You're still hesitating to meet your brother?"

"That's not it either. If I hesitate to meet him, why would I ask you to take me to see him?"

"So, what's the matter?"

They are now in the elevator. A nurse holding a document containing data on one of the patients who may be her responsibility smiled kindly at Heri and Maureen. He walked out of the elevator.

After making sure that no one else wanted to enter the elevator, Heri pressed the button to close the elevator door with the number of the floor where the room where Aldy was being treated was located.

The elevator door opened. People who wanted to get into the elevator let Heri and Maureen out first. Heri then continued his steps taking Maureen to the room where Aldy was.

"So, what do you want to say?"

Maureen shook her head slowly. "What kind of person do you think Aldy is?"

For a moment, Heri remembered when Aldy asked him the same thing when he first met Maureen. About a year ago, when Maureen was in a coma after an accident that took the life of his ex-wife, Maureen's mother.

"Mmmm ... It's hard to explain. At home, he's a polite, obedient, and disciplined child. When he's outside, as you can see, he likes to fight."

"So you're saying Aldy is a bad person when he's outside?"

Heri still remembers the real reason why Aldy was so brutal when he was outside the house. He really remembered why Aldy was willing to fight with other students from other schools.

Yep.

He was willing to be battered even to the point of almost losing his life in order to create a safe school life for Maureen.

Although that reason sounds ridiculous, Heri has no problem with it. Because of what Heri saw, Aldy wanted to do this useless, silly thing for Maureen.

Also, the reason why Heri doesn't mind Aldy choosing that path is that Heri has traced Aldy's past. He has also gone to a psychiatrist several times, not for himself but to study Aldy's character secretly.

Heri already knows what Aldy did when he was in prison. Aldy once made a big mess that even made several prison officers injured.

Heri knows very well what Aldy can do.

That's why Heri dared to take risks like this, letting Aldy run amok outside the house.

He didn't want Aldy to feel constrained by living with him. Heri also didn't do that for free because Heri could also read Aldy's character that Aldy was able to think about his own responsibilities. Thus, Heri believes that Aldy is not a child who is stupid enough to do something that could bring him back to prison.

What Heri is more afraid of is if he restrains Aldy from fighting at all. He was afraid that Aldy would feel uncomfortable and even rebel at home.

But for now, Heri doesn't need to worry anymore because Maureen had woken up from her coma.

Why?

Of course, because Aldy will have a sister.

He knows, slowly, Maureen can be the one who guides Aldy to get out of his dark world, eliminating his thirst for fighting even though it won't be easy.

In his heart, Heri wanted to cry happily. He has Aldy and Maureen. Because Aldy is an older brother who Heri believes will take care of his sister. And Maureen is the sister who will lead her brother to a better path.

Heri is feeling very happy.

Because he himself didn't know how much longer he could be with Aldy and Maureen.

Maybe he doesn't have much time.

Heri smiled, "Here we are," he said as he opened the door to the room where Aldy was being treated and brought Maureen in.

***

From where she was sitting, Maureen could see Aldy's peaceful face. No, Aldy wasn't in a stupor. He's just sleeping.

Heri brought his face close to Maureen's ear. "Looks like Aldy is sleeping."

Maureen turned. "Without you telling me, I also knew that Aldy was sleeping."

"So, what do you think? Should we come back when he's awake?"

Maureen shook her head slowly, "No. I want to be here a little longer."

Heri looked at the watch on his left wrist. "It's time for lunch already. What would you like to eat?"

"Actually, I wanted to eat a cheeseburger. But it looks like the doctor will scold me if--"

"Two cheeseburgers," said Aldy, who for some time opened his eyes. Now he is sitting on his bed. Maureen turned towards the source of the voice, finding Aldy with a rather pathetic look.

Bruises are visible everywhere.

Even so, Maureen again saw a smile that was so calming and also gave a warm feeling behind Aldy's battered face.

And in fact, Aldy's battered face still looks handsome no matter how Maureen looks at it.

"But the doctor said—"

"If you don't want it, I don't mind eating both."

Heri smiled. He put his right palm on Maureen's head and stroked it gently. "Then I'll order you two cheeseburgers."

Heri walked out.

"Can't you order on your phone from here? Why go out?"

"It's fine. I also have something to take care of."

And after closing the door, Aldy and Maureen were left in the room. Maureen returned her gaze to Aldy. Now things are quiet.

Aldy looked at Maureen for a moment. And for some reason, Maureen's heart was beating faster than usual.

Was it because Aldy was looking at her?

Impossible. Aldy is her older brother. Although it can't be denied, for her, Aldy is still a stranger she doesn't know.

"W-why?" Maureen asked because Aldy was still staring at him without saying anything.

"Nothing … It turns out that you are more beautiful than when you were still in a coma."

Bathump~ …

Aldy's simple answer made Maureen's heart beat a little faster.

Aldy lowered his legs from where he was lying while holding his right stomach. The place where he received the stab wound, which has now been stitched up and bandaged. "Damn. It still hurts, haha ..."

"Why did you wake up?" asked Maureen, who had not received an answer from Aldy.

Aldy got out of bed and walked towards Maureen. Now Aldy stood behind Maureen and pushed Maureen's wheelchair, bringing her closer to the bed.

Aldy stopped and stood beside Maureen. He stretched out his hand. "I know you must be tired of sitting for too long. Your spine is still not adjusting, considering you've just been lying coma for over a year."

Maureen was still looking at Aldy's outstretched hand.

"Just lie down on my bed."

Maureen slowly took Aldy's outstretched hand, and Aldy helped Maureen move from the wheelchair to the bed. At that moment, Maureen felt their bodies were too close. It made Maureen's heart flutter again.

Even Aldy held the back of Maureen's head when she wanted to lie down.

Now Maureen was lying down, with Aldy sitting on the edge of the bed. "Feel dizzy?"

Maureen shook her head. "Aren't you hurt too?"

"It's fine. A wound like this is just a breakfast for me."

After saying that, things turned quiet again.

Aldy held back his laughter, making Maureen confused. "Why? Anything funny?"

"I know you must still feel awkward with me. Don't worry. I feel the same way."

"Hmm," replied Maureen. There were a million questions in her head, but now she couldn't say anything.

To be precise, she didn't know what to say to Aldy.

"Right. I haven't introduced myself yet. Rizaldy Pradipta. You can call me Aldy. Since I'm an adopted child, that means now I'm your brother."

"Maureen … Maureen Gabriella."

Yep, Maureen is still too awkward with Aldy.

Aldy laughed softly. "I hope we can get along quickly."

"Y-yes."

"By the way, I'm curious. When you're in a coma, can you really hear anything?"

"Yes, I can," Maureen replied curtly. The girl was still confused about how to act in front of Aldy.

"So you heard everything I've been telling you all along?"

Maureen nodded her head.

Aldy smiled broadly, showing his row of front teeth. "Sorry, you should be resting. But because of me, you have to listen to my ramblings for a year."

"Mmm ..."

"What is it?"

"Is it true you were adopted from ... No ... Nevermind."

"You mean prison? Yeah. And I guess I have to apologize that you got a criminal brother like me."

Maureen opened her eyes wider. "Eh, no, it's okay. From a year of listening to you talk to me, I know that you are a good person."

"Is that true?" asked Aldy, who again received a nod from Maureen. "Thank you."

"Thank you for what?"

Aldy smiled. One hand had reached Maureen's head and stroked it gently. "Besides Dad, you're the second person to say I'm a good person."

A blush appeared on Maureen's face, which was still relatively pale. Maureen still hasn't returned to her post-coma fit state, so it's only natural that her skin looks a little pale.

Maureen was silent as Aldy rubbed her head gently like that.

She didn't hate it.

In fact, she felt like she wanted to continue feeling that way. It was as if Aldy showed that he really loved her. Behind his handsome face that was covered with bruises, Aldy's eyes gave Maureen comfort.

The feelings Maureen felt she couldn't really understand.

It feels weird.

Too weird.

But she liked it.

She loved the strange feeling that ran through her body.

The feeling of being loved by an older brother that she had never felt before.

Aldy is the figure of a loving brother that Maureen has never had.