The alarm has been ringing since ten minutes ago, trying to do his job well this morning. But it seems that it has not been able to wake the master, who appears to be still sleeping peacefully.
"Nakula, wake up."
Nakula groaned, turned off the sound of the alarm clock, covered his head with the blanket, and turned on his face, falling back asleep. He ignored the now more apparent knocking on his bedroom door.
"Nakula, wake up. You will be late for school."
The knock sounded again, along with his mommy's voice. Nakula did not move. Nakula was still on his bed, hugging the bolster and burying his face in his pillow, trying to get back to sleep.
"NAKULA ANDARU, WAKE UP NOW!"
Nakula jumped up and immediately woke up because a knock on his door had only happened a few times. It had become a brutal knock as if his mother was ready to destroy the door at any moment―or so he would do it; hearing Tania's shout made Nakula wince.
Nakula immediately got up instantly, turned the key, and opened the door, which Nakula more or less regretted. Because Tania Hasian-the mother-stood, there with her hands on her waist and her eyes blazing, ready to eat.
Holy shit.
Nakula smirked for a moment. "Good morning, mom. "
Tania's eyes narrowed sharply, making Nakula's fine hair bristle instantly. Tania immediately grabbed Nakula's ear, making Nakula squeal and groan. Then Tania dragged Nakula into the bathroom and pushed him inside.
"Hurry up and take a shower! Sadewa and daddy are waiting for breakfast!" Then the bathroom door closed.
Nakula was silent for a moment, then yawned and scratched his chest and back of his head. Then start the morning routine.
When finished, now Nakula, with light, steps down the house's stairs towards the dining room. There was already Sadewa and Prabu - the father - who seemed to be eating the dish prepared by Tania.
Not wasting much time, Nakula immediately sat next to Sadewa, who seemed to be enjoying pasta. Nakula frowned, especially when Tania handed him similar food.
"Pasta? Why isn't fried rice my favorite?" Nakula asked Tania.
Yes, they still often eat their hometown food. Tania loves her home country and doesn't want Nakula and Sadewa to be poisoned by western culture and food. So as much as possible, the habits and food he serves are still with a sense of hometown.
"Today is your first day of school for the new semester, and I just wanted to make something different,"
The mother glanced briefly before finally pouring a water glass and handing it to Nakula.
Nakula was still silent, looking at the dish in front of him. A plate of pasta, a glass of milk, and water. His brow furrowed faintly, then turned to Sadewa's word beside him.
"I already made coffee for us earlier, but Mom threw it away," said Sadewa, who seemed to understand with Nakula's gaze.
Twins telepathy? You can say that.
Nakula sighed slightly. "Come on, Mom. You know I can't live without coffee," complained Nakula.
Tania glanced at Nakula sharply. "Of course, I won't allow you to drink coffee anymore, especially since it's the start of the new semester. Are you 17 years old and already addicted to coffee? Seriously."
"But mom...." Nakula whined dramatically.
"No. From now on, you have to get used to a healthy lifestyle." Tania looked at Nakula and Sadewa alternately.
"Honey, just let them drink coffee. You drank coffee too when they were their age." Prabu, who had been silent for a while now, spoke up.
Tania glanced at her husband sharply. "But I'm not as bad as them, Dad."
"Leave them alone; they're teenagers, honey." Intending to encourage, Prabu spoke with a smile towards his two twins, who replied with a smile of approval from Nakula and Sadewa.
Tania took a deep breath. "You always spoiled them."
King smiled. "I spoiled you too, honey."
"EWH!"
Nakula frowned in disgust at his parents, and Sadewa blinked with red cheeks because of Prabu's words. Tania? Tania's face also blushed, matched with Sadewa's face. At times like this, Tania and Sadewa are very similar. And Nakula's expression, which wrinkled his nose, was very similar to Prabu's. Even though Nakula is more like a cheerful Tania, Sadewa is quieter like Prabu.
Tania pinched Prabu's waist, who chuckled, satisfied with the reaction of her husband and two sons.
"You idiot."
Prabu burst out laughing when he heard Tania's mumbling; he knew very well that Tania had been slapped with rags like that in front of their two sons. Still chuckling, Prabu sat straight and took another bite of his pasta. But glanced at Tania, who was still blushing.
"What are you doing, honey? You've been very sensitive these past few days. Are you pregnant?"
Prabu's question succeeded in making Tania spit out her pasta and cough. The two twin sons gawked with half-open mouths, and Sadewa pushed his glass of water to Tania, which she immediately drank.
"You are such an idiot!" Tania's tone rose, but the red hue spread to her neck. Prabu looked at Tania innocently while biting his fork on his lips.
"Why? I'm just asking. Because you're so sensitive, the twins may have a younger sibling, right?"
Tania hit the head of Prabu, who groaned but laughed. "I'm forty-two, you idiot. How can I get pregnant at my age?" Tania massaged her temples; she was tired of this King who liked to tease her.
"Hmm, is that so?" murmured the King. "Then..." Prabu hung his words. "Want to make a brother for the twins, honey?"
"Dad!"
Complaints were heard from their two groaning sons. Nakula had buried his face in his palms while Sadewa looked down deeply to hide the blush on his face, even though it was useless because his ears were also red. Tania herself had already boiled crab and was at a loss for words from shock.
"Sorry, sorry. I just can't help but tease your mother. She's so cute when she's shy," Prabu chuckled again.
Then another moan came from Sadewa and Nakula. They both got up from the table at the same time, making Tania turn her gaze to them. "Are you done with breakfast?" Tania looked at their plates which were still half full.
"I lost my appetite," muttered Sadewa, to which Nakula agreed. Tania blinked.
Sadewa and Nakula left the kitchen, leaving Tania and Prabu in silence. Then after a few seconds Nakula again poked his head from behind the wall.
"Please, get a room, will you?" Nakula disappeared from behind the wall.
Then there was Prabu's scream because Tania hit his head in annoyance.
***
Nakula sipped his coffee that he and Sadewa bought on the way to school.
Today it was Sadewa's turn to drive because Nakula lost the game of rock, scissors, and paper.
"What do you think if we do have a brother?"
Sadewa's voice made Nakula turn down the volume of the music. Nakula wrinkled his nose.
"Please don't make me imagine it," Nakula shuddered. Sadewa glanced at Nakula briefly. "But the possibility is still there, isn't it? I don't think having a brother is bad anyway." Sadewa is always the one who reasons between the two of them.
"Seriously, Alex. Do you want to have a brother our age? You forgot that I'm your younger brother anyway?" Nakula shifted his head to look at Sadewa after calling out Sadewa's English name.
"You're only four hours younger than me, Axel," replied Sadewa, who also called Nakula's English name.
"But still, I'm your brother,"
It's true. Sadewa and Nakula are only four hours apart.
That's because Tania went through complications when giving birth to both. From the start, Tania's obstetrician had told her that Tania's body was not strong enough to accommodate the two babies, and Tania had to give up on one of them.
But Tania roared, crying in her mother's arms because she didn't want to give up one of her babies. She wanted both of them, and they finally agreed with a heavy heart, with a note that they had to return to Indonesia to take care of Tania.
And everything went smoothly until Tania had contractions and gave birth to her first baby, Sadewa. However, Tania was bleeding profusely when she was about to give birth to Nakula. Nakula, who was trapped in the placenta, had to be operated on immediately, or the lives of Tania and her baby could not be saved.
Tania has spent two hours in the operating room, and Prabu, who is carrying Sadewa, prays for both of them to be safe. When the doctor came out for the first time, Prabu pleaded desperately to do his best.
But a miracle came to them two hours later. Nakula was born safely, and Tania is also in stable condition. That's why Nakula's other name is Axel, which means peace because Nakula's presence brings peace to their little family.
Growing up, Tania did seem to love Sadewa more than Nakula. Because Nakula's character is the opposite of Sadewa, which always gives Tania a headache, that's not true. Tania always has a soft side for her youngest son. She remembered how her struggle when giving birth to Nakula and Nakula, who survived then, always made Tania almost shed tears.
Tania loves her two sons equally. However, that soft side was always there for Nakula. And Tania had already told this her eldest son, Sadewa and Nakula didn't know because Tania didn't want any misunderstanding between them. Tania explains how Tania feels guilty because Nakula has asthma, and is lactose intolerant and Nakula is often sick compared to Sadewa. And Sadewa, who was indeed a good boy, understood very well and even promised Tania that he would take care of his sister as best he could. Tania proud? Of course.
Sadewa parked their black jeep in the parking lot and got out together. Sadewa threw the car keys to Nakula, which he caught perfectly.
They walked hand in hand down the corridor of lockers and smiled at anyone who greeted them. Yes, they are that good.
Nakula opened his locker then took out his geometry book and closed it again. Then a familiar voice sounded behind him.
"Alie-poo, Axie-poo!"
It was Ferdy Lee-who patted him on the shoulder and hugged him from behind-then giggled to himself. Nakula ignored him, and Ferdy released himself and turned to hug Sadewa from behind, who was lightly patted on the head by Sadewa.
"Good morning, my dearest twins!" A thick British accent was heard from Ferdy's sentence. Nakula just mumbled casually and Sadewa answered 'good morning' slowly.
"So.... what you both been up to?" Ferdy linked his hands in the hands of Sadewa (left) and Nakula (right), then dragged them both to their first class.
"What's this, John is not here yet so you decided to bother us?"
Nakula pulled his arm which was linked to Ferdy's arm. Not what, his arms are quite sore considering Ferdy's height, which is far below him. Nakula doesn't understand how Ferdy doesn't grow taller even though Ferdy is a swimming athlete who often brings gold medals.
Freddy pouted. "Jason won't be in today, because he still has a tournament in Chicago." Oh, yes. Nakula remembers that. Jason who is a rollerblade athlete is taking part in the annual tournament at the moment. Reminds Nakula why Jason didn't grow taller like Ferdy either. Maybe it's not time for them to grow taller, Nakula thought.
"What about Luke?" Nakula asked, as they turned and saw their class at the end of the corridor.
"I don't know. I've texted him, but that idiot didn't reply. At least he overslept again," Ferdy then reached into his pocket and checked his cellphone. "See, right? He just replied and said he was late, idiot." Ferdy rolled his eyes and put his cell phone back in.
"Tell him don't forget his summer geometry assignment. Luke didn't sleep until dawn just to do it last night. Ah, no, let me tell him," Sadewa joined in opening his phone and typing a message.
Ferdy froze, making the Andaru twins stop looking at them they were now right in front of the classroom door.
"What is it?" Nakula asked seeing Ferdy's horror face.
"We have a summer assignment?" Freddy's great-grandson.
"I've reminded you many times in the group chat," Nakula sighed. Knows his actions reminding his friends is futile. Because no one else was doing the work but him and Sadewa and Luke; even though it was just last night copying his work until dawn-but still.
Ferdy gasped and bit his finger. Then Ferdy gasped and bit his finger. Then he checked his watch and gasped even more. "Gosh! There's not going to be time to do that now, my God, Mr. Sheppard is already there!" Ferdy shrieked, pointing at the end of the fork in the corridor. A man in his forties with square glasses walking along carrying some books to their class.
Sadewa and Nakula burst out laughing when they heard Ferdy's scream, which was like a girl.
Sadewa patted Ferdy's shoulder. "Good luck, bro." Then he chuckled and walked into the classroom.
"Yeah, good luck."
Nakula followed Sadewa and rubbed Ferdy's blonde head, leaving Ferdy frozen in front of the door, then flinched in surprise when Mr. Sheppard sent him into the room.
"Mrs. Arunika, can you collect the homework for the whole class?" Mr. voice Sheppard heard.
"Yes, Mr Sheppard."
"And what are you doing there, Mr. Lee?" Mr. Sheppard raised his eyebrows at Ferdy.
Ferdy screamed excitedly, making Sadewa and Nakula burst out laughing again.