[Mid-Term] Hana Elleonora - The Conqueror (short story)

By: Hana Elleonora

It was at the summer breeze fondling my eyes to keep opened. I can’t even blink at once, keep staring at the beauty scenery up here. With no words spoken. The shining sun, the clear sky, the blooming flowers, the tiring breathe, the wet sweat, oh, how could I not care with such peace.

As we rest for a while and drink, she lays her head on my shoulder and whispers softly to my ear “there is no mountain I can not conquer”. I tighten my shoe and jumped out,  “never stop then. I will always here to support you, Al”. “I do love you, Andre” she smiles. Then, we start to continue our trip to climb the mount Argopuro with the energetic stride.

We’ve been carrying our heavy carrier and walking by foot for 2 days and 8 hours. It’s exhausting and treacherous, yet pleasing at once.

Right between a small river and a big tree,  I command my team to split into two. Some build a tent there, and some others cook our meal. I help my friends to build the tent.

I think we’ve been starving and really need our mealtime, and of course an enough sleep to rest our tired limb.

Alya belongs to them whose responsible to cook our meal. She has to take some water at the river. As she carries the empty bottles and run through the river, she steps on a hole and falls down. She screams like worst “aaaaa something has bite my leg!!!”

My friends and I panic at the moment and I quickly take the first aid kit to help her. The blood scattered on her leg. As I clean it to take care of her, the scars shown. It still bleeds and her skin softly turned into blue. It scares me, really.

Terribly, the ‘something’ was a snake. Alya’s leg was biten by a snake. She stares at me with her browny beautiful eyes and start crying. My friends get her a rope and tie it tightly on Alya’s leg. She cries to me “Andre, it really hurts. I can’t stand this anymore”

“No, Alya! I can’t let you sick like this. Be patient baby, you’ll be okay, just tell me you’re alright”

She stops crying and slowly silent.

Been 4 hours stuck like this. I’m worrying Alya. I can’t think clearly. I am nearly insane.

“Just cut the rope now! I can carry her myself!”

“Easy, friend. We won’t hurt your girlfriend.”

Just after the rope has been cut, Alya’s browny eye turns into white and her body turns cold. I can’t feel her anymore. She has gone forever.

[Mid-term] Jessica Nathania - He Deserves It (Short Story)

Today, October nine 2012 I saw him from the window of teacher’s room with proud. He walked out from a black metallic nice car. He came to school today to fulfill his promise that he made last Friday. He is Edwin Rune, one of my best student. When I looked at him from the distance I remembered how tough his life was. Today was exactly fifteen years ago when the first time I caught him sleeping in my math class. During algebra lesson, I saw him fell asleep on the table. It was a strange view for me because Edwin was the most enthusiastic student in the math class. Edwin loved math so much. I approached his table to wake him up and continue the class. In the afternoon three hours after my class, I was checking midterm math’s score and i found Edwin Rune got 29, the lowest score of this class. I was shocked and wanted to meet him as soon as possible. I called him to my room to ask about his condition which troubling me. He told me everything.

“I’m just very tired. Really tired” Said Edwin. He casted down his eyes.

I asked him “What happened, Edwin?”

“I just left my house because of many problems at home. My parents were fighting almost everyday. They are stressed because they can’t pay the school fee of my sister and I anymore. They also mad at me because I read comic and draw all the time at home. They said that reading a comic wouldn’t make me successful. They also said that if I still want to live at home then I have to sell all my comics and find a job to pay my own school fee. They mad at me all the times, they blame anything I did. I can’t stand anymore, so i decided to leave my house.” Said Edwin while he shed a tear.

Edwin worked at Chinese food restaurant almost two weeks. He slept at the kitchen of the restaurant. He was very tired because his boss gave him an extra job. He had to do all the works in order to be able to sleep at the kitchen. He didn’t have time to study or do homework. That makes him failed on the midterm. I really wanted to help Edwin with all of my strength. So, i offered him a free tutoring twice a week after school. I also treated him a dinner after tutoring session. I knew that he always hungry and didn’t have much money to buy food. It turns out that his salary from working at the restaurant was not enough because a lot of necessary as the third grade student.

Then, he tried gambling for the first time. Apparently that day was his unlucky day. The police went to the alleys to arrested the gambler. Everyone was safe except Edwin. He was jailed for five years without telling anyone including me. In those days, I tried to find Edwin to his house, but the house was empty. His neighbour said that the owner of the house had moved. Later, after he released he continued his life alone. He went to the restaurant which he worked five years ago, but the owner didn’t accept him anymore. So, Edwin did any work he could from being a market’s porter, a newsboy, and even a dustman. I often thought of him and longed to meet him but i lost his contact. I couldn’t do anything, but Edwin was always on my prayer. I hope he doing well wherever he was and I hope someday I can meet him.

Five years have been passed, one morning when he was delivering newspaper from door to door he accidently saw the first page of the newspaper. The headline of the news was “A great teacher led her students to the Math Olympiad” and the picture was me and my students. Edwin was surprised and immediately brought that paper home. At home, he stared at the picture of me and wanted to meet me. But, he thought that he was nothing. He didn’t have anything to make me proud. But at the same time it inspired him to get a better job. He promised himself that he had to be successful and he would meet me soon. Edwin was a good man, he never forgot any advices from his teacher. I once said to him “To be successful, the first thing to do is to fall in love with your work. So, do what you love and love what you do”. Still on the same paper, he starred at the comic section and realized that he really loves comic. He knew that drawing was his talent.

On the next day, he started to draw a simple character and made a comic. In the afternoon, he went to the Bangkok Post, a local newspaper. He tried to submit his first comic. He wasn’t confident until two months later when he had already forgotten his comic, he received a call from Bangkok Post that they were really interested in his work and offered him to make comics regularly every month. That was a good beginning for his career. As he grew up, he was getting more creative. A lot of people and media adored his work. He started to do collaboration with many huge media companies. He earned a lot of money from the collaboration. At his age of 25, he had enough money and partners to build his own company. Comic House was the name of his company. Yet he never changed, he was still Edwin Rune, a good student who never forgot his teacher. He felt that was the perfect time to meet me. So, he came to school to find me on October five. He arrived at school at 3 p.m. but unfortunately I already back to home. Edwin asked my address to the administration. He can’t wait for another day, so he drove to my house straight away. He arrived at my door and rang the bell. As I opened the door, I saw a charming and sturdy man with a neat shirt standing in front of me. 

“Mrs. Anne?” He said with teary eyes and a big smile on his face.

“E-e-edwin? Are you Edwin Rune?” I asked shockingly.

“Yes, I am Ma’am”

He could not resist to hug me. I hugged him very tight. That Friday was like the answer to all of my prayer for Edwin. I was speechless so did him.

“Come in. How have you been, Edwin? How did you get here?”

“It’s a long story, Ma’am. I am sure that you will be the first person to know everything. Do you have time tonight, Ma’am? Let’s have dinner together and I will tell everything”

He treat me a dinner at the five stars hotel’s restaurant. He told me every single thing while we were having a dinner. Before we went home, I asked him one last question.

“Edwin, do you still love math?” I asked.

“Yes, Ma’am. Now, I am an entrepreneur and a comics. But, math is always my favorite.” He said.

“Do you want to teach math at school next Tuesday? I missed seeing you in the math class.”

“Of course I want Ma’am. I really miss being in your class” He said excitedly.

I was so amazed with his struggle. Edwin Rune, a successful 30 years old man. He deserves it. I am a proud teacher.

Jessica Nathania.

[Mid-term] Debrina Ayu Virgoyanti - Love, Edwin Ave. (Short Story)

by : Debrina Ayu

Hi Mom! How’s life? I want you to know that I’m fine even though you might see different thing from up there. It has been 6 months that you left us and Dad already find someone else. He lives in our house now, having his own family. Dinda and I live in grandma’s house even though there is no grandma, grandpa, or you. Our house is no longer a home for us.

The new semester has just begun. Time flies, huh? I remember the time you brought me a lunchbox for my first day in junior high school. I’m in the 9th grade now. Since you left, Dinda and I walk side by side to go to the school. She will go to Mrs. Triana’s house after school to help cleaning her house. Then, I will do whatever I can do to provide us food on the table.

Don’t be sad, Mom. I meet a new teacher at the beginning of this semester. Her name is Mrs. Farinda. I’ll tell you about her.

She is my new science teacher. She asked me, “Why did you get score 30 out of 100?” Sorry mom, you know I’m never a big fan of science. Then she kept asking me, “Why did you sleep during my class?” or “Why didn’t you attend today class?” – That sort of thing. I am not an extrovert person, I never will. But her determination of asking my condition touched my heart.

I’m never open up my life to her as I did to you. “I have to work in a restaurant, a shop, even a house. I have to have 3 part time jobs in a day”, that was my only answer to her. She didn’t pity me. She didn’t judge me. That’s what I liked about her. Instead, she helped me, mom. Every day after school, she would tutor me in the library. She was nice.

One day, she even invited me to join her family’s lunch at some good restaurant. It was not a glamorous restaurant like you and dad liked to visit. But it was good. The food was good. She even brought me a take away for Dinda. I asked her, “How could I ever pay your kindness?” The next thing I know, she just smiled. She said, “Don’t think about it. You can thank me later when you have achieved your dream”. I felt so grateful to meet someone like her.

Huh, Mom, I just got my mid-term test yesterday. I got 70 out of 100! Aren’t you proud of me? I even danced in the class this morning. This is because Mrs. Farinda. She has helped me sincerely. Ah, I wish you could meet her. Wow, I’ve been writing forever. I’ll be back as soon as possible.

Love,

Edwin Ave

⃝⃝⃝

Jakarta, 22 June 2003

Dear my beloved mom…

I’m sorry I haven’t writing for so long. I miss you mother, more than you know. Things have been difficult lately. I want to share what had happened in school but promise me you won’t get mad.

Do you remember when our drunken neighbors stole our mangos tree? Then he used the money to gamble in the table card? Well, I might have done something a quite similar. I didn’t gambling though. I was the one they would pay to when the wrestling about to start. But as the show went on, the police came and captured me for involving in gambling. Then I realized, no! The police won’t let me go if there were no family member. Everybody that involve in this business was also captured. So I have no one else except for the fact I couldn’t let Dinda knew about this.

One person that passed my head was Mrs. Farinda yet I was too ashamed to ask her help. She had done so much for our family but I might have let her –or you down with this. But she came and asked me, “Why did I involve in gambling?” I couldn’t help it anymore. I just burst into tears. “I want to create a special gift for Dinda. She is in the 6th grade now and will have a birthday soon. My 3 part time jobs are just not enough to buy the materials.”

She bailed me out, Mom. She didn’t yell at me nor got angry with me. She just kept helping me with her angelic intention. But once again, I let her –you down. Somebody stole the restaurant owner’s money and they accused me. I was dragged into a police station. But this time I swear I didn’t steal his money. The only person trusted me was Mrs. Farinda. She (again) bailed me out. I felt terrible with her –and you for continuously trapped in a jail. When my class year was about to end, it turned out that his own son had stole it for drugs. The owner had apologized to me. The best thing I learn from Mrs. Farinda is to forgive and don’t judge people. I forgive him –something that is so difficult for me especially because what Dad has done to us.

Hey, I start my senior high school next month. With the help of Mrs. Farinda, I got a good score and entered a nice school. Aren’t you proud of me, Mom?

Love,

Edwin Ave

⃝⃝⃝

Jakarta, 05 September 2010

Dear my beloved mom…

TODAY IS MY GRADUATION DAY MOM! I just finished mechanical engineering study program – something that I would never think in the million years before. I thought I was not smart enough to understand science but it turned out I was wrong. Mrs. Farinda has changed me a lot I high school until I chose science major in senior high school. By the why, she comes to my graduation. I wish you do too.

Hey, I could make an invention right now. I just gave Dinda a new tv that I made by myself. It used old materials but I could modify it into a sophisticated tv. I like to make new things for her birthday. Anddddd, I’ am nominated for my invention in science fair. I hope I can win it.

Something that I hate could be changed in a matter of seconds that is what you –and Mrs. Farinda surprisingly had said to me.  I never thought to like science. I never considered forgiving my father. I never expected to trust someone. But I do. I do. I do now.

I’m applying to a vehicle company. I’m hoping everything will be better from now. Wish me luck!

Love,

Edwin Ave

⃝⃝⃝

He has become a successful inventor. His hard work has paid off.  Today, before he is awarded as ‘Inventor of the year’, he is sitting next to his teacher and sister. Edwin gives his pieces of diary to his teacher now, after almost 13 years. “Thank you for everything you had done to me. This is only a tiny proof of so many great things you have done for me”. That is his only sentence with a smile before receiving the award.

Mrs. Farinda couldn’t say anything but answering with a smile.

[Mid-term] Rahmat Alwi - I Couldn’t Fulfill Your Wishes (Short Story)

I couldn’t fulfill your wishes

When i was a child, i like to smile at my father. I wonder he will stare at me, but he didn’t.

I love saying “i love you” to my father, waiting him to say something. I wonder if my father heard me, but he didn’t.

I asked him to play football at the bakyard; I wonder if my father would follow me out.

I draw and hoped my father would see it, but he didn’t.

I grow up to be a cheery kid.

I made a camping place at the backyard. I wonder if my father would join just for one night, but he didn’t.

I’m looking for worms for fish-bait. I wonder if my father would go with me, but he didn’t.

I was 15.

I asked my father to sharing. I wonder if my father would share too, but he didn’t.

I gave him a championship schedule that i played, wondering if my father would come. I thought my father would come, but he didn’t.

I want to share my childhood with my father. I wonder if my father wants it too, but he didn’t.

Then, when i was 20, state assignment called me; i must go to the battlefield. My father asked me to come home safely.

But...

I couldn’t fulfill his wishes.

[Mid-term] Amalia Fitri Annisa - It's Only Four (Short Story)

It’s Only Four

By Amalia F. Annisa

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If you don’t mind, now I’m going to tell you about my love problem. Pretty strange if I could say, but for me it’s not that weird.

What? Are you sure you want to hear this? If so, then stay and here me out. If not, feel free to disappear right now.

For you who stay, there are four reasons why my love seems can’t be real. And now I will tell you why it seems so.

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Believe it or not, from the first time I saw him, my heart beat faster as it never happened before in my life. At first I questioned myself, "what happened to me just now?" It didn’t even make any sense. I just met him for the first time and now my heart was beating like crazy. It went worse when he made his way to me and say, “Hi there, are you the one my father has told me before?” I just couldn’t do things better or productive except nodding slowly like an idiot little kid being asked by stranger. My heart beat became uncontrollable (or may I say it became worst?) as I saw him smile and raised his hand to me as if he wanted to grab it warmly, well he did want to. He smiled to me softly when saying this, “I’m your new big brother. It’s nice to meet you.”

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Reason one: He’s my big brother now. Can you tell how messed up my love life become?

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Our parents seemed not care at all if we share room together. I guessed they thought it would help us to make a bond as soon as possible after they married and decided to live together straightaway. Well, I’m pretty sure they didn’t know that one of their children would end up has a feeling to another. Damn it. I didn’t really care if my mother wanted to marry again with some British man after father left us for years, but to think my father-to-be has a handsome (and very gentle) son on his own is not what I'm expected. I didn’t really think that we would get along. I know I'm an introvert person and like to spend almost of my time alone at home. I rarely get out and socialize with other kids, not even start a conversation or interact with them. They knew me as a quiet person who rarely talk and make a sound. They said that my aura is so bad that to even bully me they didn’t want to. Well, I kind of liked this way of life, even though I felt a great pain of loneliness because of it. But it was much easier not to think others feeling and lived to your own. I didn’t need to worry if someone hated me, rejected me, or cheated on me. It was so painful to even think about that. That was what exactly I thought at first when mother told me her new husband had a son on his own. “Well, well! Look who is going to have a brother! Isn’t that lovely, my dear? Now you will have a friend if you feel sad and need companion!”

Oh how I really hate that idea. Well, it was only at the beginning, though. I remembered how I thought he would feel disgusted knowing he would have a new relative that had a bad aura and really weird. I was so sure he would reject me completely. He would never want to have a contact to someone like me. Those kinds of negative thinking continuously revolved in my head. I grew quite as the time of our day to meet up with my father-to-be came to discuss about their marriage. I didn’t even dare to look up to him. I just kept shut my head down and refused to talk or look at him. I felt so bad to him because I could see that he was a good man for the way he addressed my mom and me, but I couldn’t really pull myself to talk with someone after my long shut in, moreover to a stranger. I never met him, only mother did. Mother told me that they were met when my mother was sent to work in England and he was her person in charge. She worked hard to meet up the company's need where she worked. Even so, she still showed her kind sides to people around her, whether she knew that person or not. In short, that man fell in love with mother, and asked her to marry him. At first mother refused his proposal, but he kept on chasing my mother hundreds of times (a trait that I think he shared with his son) and finally mother accepted his proposal. When I asked why she accepted the man’s proposal and whether she loves him or not, she just said this with soft smile, “You’ll know why after you met him.”

At first I didn’t understand of what mother said, but after I met him I started to get why she said that. He was an earnest person, I knew it. He looked right into mother’s eyes each time he talked to her. His gaze was so passionate and tenderly, yet sincere and serious. But when he turned his eyes on me, my reaction would be turning my head down. I could tell he was concerned of me from the tone he used. He kept asking if I was okay but what I could do was nodding. Now when I think about it again, the way I met my new father is same with the way I met my new brother. Well, like father like son. Both of them have same trait and personalities. I guess it is because they way my new father taught him. They had lived together without any presence of woman. They lost their beloved woman in a car accident when my new brother was only two. Since then, the man raised his only son by himself, trying to fulfill both roles for his son. Fortunately, his son grew up as a fine gentleman, like how he is. I could tell by how he first appeared in front of my eyes. How could such creature exist in the world! My heart beat so fast I couldn’t care less about what happened around me.

That was the first time I was looking right onto someone’s eyes other than my mother. It was him. I forgot that mother and my new father were also there. After I shook his hand softly (without losing any eye contact with him), my new father came to me then petted my head and smile. The same kind of smile that my new brother had each time he smiled at me. “I hope both of you could get along.” That man said that so softly with a tender look. And once again, I could only blushed and shut my head down. It became my habit, you know. And that was the first time I thought, “How could I turn down such request like that?” after being asked nicely. He didn’t exactly ask me to get along with his son but that voice of his could not make me say no to him. Now I realized why I felt in love with my new brother. It was just the same like mother. Me and mother both fell in love with the same kind of men. I felt in love with how he kept insisted to get along with me, even when I didn’t give any kind of response to him. I loved with how he tried to talk to me softly, yet wanted me to respond to what he said. I loved his great effort to make comfortable with him.

I bet my new father did the same to my mother. But I knew my mother could respond well. For being as myself, of course I didn’t have any courage to answer back or respond normally as I rarely said anything. I just kept silent each time he entered our room and tried to start a conversation with me. He always made sure whether I had eaten properly, did my homework, and consistently asked if I got any problems in school or not. I wasn’t used with this kind of attention. He was so sweet to me as he never got bored or angry because of my behavior. Sometimes I wondered why he did even bother to talk to me. Ah how I love him. Now I can even tell him some of my secret (I’m not going to tell you that) as he listened carefully, as if I watched him if he didn’t really hear me. Not only that, now I even can talk to my new father. I don’t have that uncomfortable feeling whenever I near him now. Maybe because I am so closed with his son, I could familiarize myself to him. And I could feel that he began to spoil me to show his gratitude for being accepted by me. I’m not such a cold-heart child, but it makes me hard to express my feeling. He already acted so kind to me and thought me as his own child. Mother also never been so happy in her life (it was our dark times when father left us) because I am being more opened to those men. How could I dishearten their hearts by saying “I'm in love with my foster brother”?

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Reason two: Now my parents gave me those kinds of love and attention, how could I love my brother legally without breaking their heart? Well, it’s not like I’m going to marry my real brother; he is still my foster brother, though.

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He always smiles at me. No matter how bad his day was, or how worse his mood was. He would always smile. You know that kind of smile? It’s that kind of smile which make any person who saw it immediately think that he or she is so grateful of your existence. And you can tell that right away after you have some doubt before. Yes, he GAVE that kind of smile to me. You can tell how red my face was after he gave that angelic smile to me as he petted my head. Yes, he petted me. Can he tell how hard it was to act normally around him, for god sake? After giving me trouble not to act strange or creepy to him, now he made me have to suppress my wild urge to hug him as he made physical contact. Yes, I got aroused easily when he freely touched me like that. Now I made him sounds so dirty, but well, my imagination thinks so. He actually just touched my hair and smiled at me. What made it worst is that I remembered it as clear as crystal when he said, “Each time I saw your face, your figure, I feel, like, calmer and softer and I surely love that feeling. Would you mind to be here closer to me?” Can you believe he said that? He asked me with a pleading eyes and soft beautiful voice. How could I refuse such request from such man with such face! But did he know that each time I saw him smile I had to stop my wild mind to not to kiss and pounce him? Did he know that I really wanted to pounce on him? Did you think he know, huh?

I doubt he will know or even realize that, even a bit. He is so oblivious (or he is just purely stupid? But I think I might want to say he is cutely stupid) to this kind of things, that somehow it made me cried and relieved for the same time. I have seen some of his gal friends dropped a subtle hint and some even a bit bold of giving hint, but he never realized that. He would always end up misunderstand about it and make the girls angry and cry. I sighed so hard each time I saw that but then I cried when I knew I will just end up the same as those unlucky girl. He won’t ever notice or realize my feeling. But to think that he would know what kind of feeling I had for him, I'm certainly sure that he would be terrified of it and think it is disgusting. Oh, for god sake, no! I really don’t want to think that even for a bit a possibility of him detested me like I wasn’t even a human. No I don’t want to. I just thirst for his love, and he himself, of course.

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Reason three: He would feel disgust of me if he knew what kind of things I ever imagined with him. And I just want to DIE if it does happen.

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We have been together for many years now. He is now in his 24 and me in my 19. I have kept this love a secret for already nine years. Hurrah for me. Now you know why I'm so desperate to tell this to you. I can’t keep it any longer. Even in this age, we sometimes still cuddle and hug each other when one of us felt sad. These kinds of activities that made me still hope and yearn for his love. I keep telling myself he only sees me as a little kid that he must protect, no more than that. But I can’t. My heart always desires more and it tortures me. It tortures me so much. I couldn't help to sniff his scent each time we hugging. His sweet scent aroused me easily as it slowly weakens my mind and my body but down there it was tingling so much. He successfully made me can’t think clearly as he buried me in his hug and petted my hair softly, tenderly, and lovingly. No word changed between us but our presence could have made our anxiety, sadness or anger disappear. I couldn’t help myself to hug him harder and refuse to let him go. And each time he let go of his arm around me, I feel like my breath has been taken away forcefully from me. I choked; need air as I cried for his love. In a short word, my love could only grow stronger as he is always in my sides. Now, here comes the problem.

I told you before that he is in 24, right? My foster father thought that it was already the time for him to select a suitable woman to accompany him and asked him to consider about marriage. He said that in the middle of dinner with me and mother. After he said that, I could only be shocked in silence and stopped my eating. I lost my appetite all of sudden and wanted to throw up all foods that I had eaten. In fact, I wanted to throw it up to my foster father. How could he say such thing?! We were just fine like this and didn’t need another member of family! Couldn’t he see that brother and I just fine with each other?! I just kept silent and stared at my brother, waited in anxiousness, hoped that my brother would reject the idea blatantly. But my brother only said this after a moment of awkward silence,

“I’ll think of that.”

I could feel my world collapsed right in the moment he said that. Suddenly mother said something I really hate and despise, and that was the first time I ever hated her in my life, “You too, dear. You also have to find a woman after your brother. After all, you can’t always be with him. Let alone he will have a woman to accompany him. I want you to find a good bride too and become a good husband. Don’t repeat your father's mistake.”

I really hate my mother now. She only thinks about her happiness. Does she think that if I marry someone else it will make me happy? The answer is a big NO. Only MY brother could only make me happy. No one else could. It became worse as that stupid old man said something unnecessary, “You could be his best man at his wedding, son. I know your brother will happy too. Since both of you are very close to each other like being glued, no one is suited to be his best man.” My head went blank as I felt my tears swelled up. I didn’t want to think of that! More over about best man! Enough was enough! I ran to my rooms and locked my room. I could hear my brother asked me to open the door now. But right now I don’t want to see his face as he already disappointed me with that kind of answer.

To be exact, that talking only happened four hours ago, but I need some strategies to destroy all those stupid ideas about my brother's marriage. No one is marrying my brother. No one is and no one will. Brother is mine, and no one will ever take him from me.

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Last reason: I know we have same gender, but I don’t care.

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Now I’ve told you everything. And now you have to help me through this. Did you think I'm going to tell you these without any consequences? Don’t you ever dare think of that! Now tell me, what is the right solution? I will wait for your answer.

[Mid-term] Farhan Syafiq - The Vampire and Roses (Short Story)

The Vampire and Roses

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Somewhere, on the realm of endless night, stood a large castle named Moonlight Castle. The castle was overflowing with elegance and a beautiful garden with roses in full bloom, and as the name suggest, the castle was always bathed under the moon light. The castle itself belonged to the Alucard family, a royal family of vampires. A young girl in a black and crimson dress was sitting in the middle of the garden enjoying her favorite teatime. Her eyes were red as the roses that surrounded her, and her skin was white and flawless. That young lady is none other than Rachel Alucard, the current head of Alucard family. Standing next to her was her loyal elderly butler, Valkenhayn, and her pet, Nago the cat and Gii the bat.

            “How is the tea today, Madam Rachel?” asked Valkenhayn politely.

            “It is fascinating as always, Valkenhayn, well done.” replied Rachel while sipping her tea.

            “Ah, you flatter me, Madam. It is an honor to be able to serve the best for you Madam Rachel. Shall I serve the scones right now, Madam?” asked Valkenhayn while looking at his antique pocket watch.

            “Not now, Valkenhayn. After this I want to go outside, go for a stroll perhaps. So the scones will have to wait.” replied Rachel.

            “Can you wait here for me and guard the castle until I return Valkenhayn?” asked Rachel

            “Very well Madam, to serve you is my only purpose. Please do be careful outside.” replied Valkenhayn with a polite smile.

            “I sure will, Valkenhayn,” said Rachel. “Gii, Nago, Let’s go.”

            “After you, princess.” said both Nago and Gii happily.

            Rachel then stood up from her garden chair; she walked a few steps, and vanished in a swirl of rose petal. Rachel was able to teleport long distance, and this was her only means of transportation to travel to earth realm.

            Not long after, she appeared on a park somewhere in Canada. She looked for her surroundings before strolling through the park. Without any order Nago suddenly transformed into an umbrella to protect his master from sunburn. After some good stroll, she sat on a bench, but someone in the distance caught her attention. She saw a young girl watering flowerless rose plants. Then, Rachel decided to approach the girl. After getting close to the girl Rachel stopped for a moment, she saw something special on the girl. The girl was not an ordinary human, she was a beastkin. Beastkin was a race of human-animal hybrid, usually seen as a human that had animal body parts, like ears, tail, or even wings.

That young girl suddenly smelled a scent of rose behind her, and then she turned back.

“Ah!! Who……who are you?” asked the young girl in shock.

“Oh my pardon me for surprising you, my name is Rachel Alucard, but please do call me Rachel. Your ears and tail look so cute. You are a beastkin are you not? May I know your name?” said Rachel slightly giggling.

“My…..my name is Zoe, Zoe Wesley. And yes I am a beastkin, ha….half weasel to be précised. I sense a powerful force coming from you, you are not here to kill me are you?” said Zoe nervously.

“Worry not my dear little beastkin,” she giggled. “I am here because I have an interest in you.” answered Rachel.

“These flowerless plants, these are rose am I correct?” asked Rachel.

“Yes, you are correct those are roses. How did you know that?” said Zoe.

“I like roses so much and I have a rose garden in my place, and I can tell that your rose is having a problem, yes?” answered Rachel.

“Yeah, I think so. It’s been a long time since this rose grew a flower. I really want to this rose grew a beautiful rose.” said Zoe.

“I see. Very well then, I shall assist you in growing these roses.” said Rachel with a smile.

Rachel then checked Zoe’s roses one by one. Her pets helped her to make this task easier and faster. After she saw the problem, she took a sit on Nago’s back and began her tutoring on how to grow a beautiful rose. She told Zoe everything she needed to know about roses. Zoe was paying attention on each word that Rachel said and noted it in a piece of paper. She also watched carefully on everything that Rachel did. They talked for a very long time, and without their notice, the sun began to set. Rachel then, bid farewell to Zoe and promised that tomorrow she will come again to help her fixed the roses until Zoe managed to grow some flowers. Rachel began to visit Zoe every day, nurturing roses, and having a chit-chat on afternoon teatime. Rachel did this for several months until Zoe’s roses grew some flowers. When the flower bloomed, both of them overjoyed with happiness, and they celebrated it with tea and pastries. The afternoon turn into evening, and it was the time for Rachel to go home.

“I think it is time for me to go home, congratulation on your mini garden of roses Zoe.” said Rachel with smile.

“Oh thank you so much Rachel, I couldn’t have done it without your help.” she hugged Rachel. “How could I repay you?” said Zoe.

“No need to Zoe, I am glad to be able to grow your roses.” said Rachel. “But before I go, please take this device. It enables you to go to my place, just say castel lumina lunii and you will be right there right away.” said Rachel while giving her device to Zoe.

“Oh thank you Rachel, I surely will visit you.” said Zoe with happy tone.

“I will wait for your presence, my dear friend. Let’s go, Nago, Gii” said Rachel.

“Right you are, princess” said Nago.

“I’m so proud you make a new friend.” said Gii.

“Shut up, Gii!” said Rachel while pinching him.

“Ouch, princess it hurts” screamed Gii in pain.

Then Rachel and her pets walked a few steps, and vanished with a swirl of rose petal surrounding her. She waved her hand to Zoe before vanished.

Few months had passed since Rachel and Zoe part each other, Zoe’s mini garden of roses grew larger and larger. Now her garden filled an entire field on the park, and the roses’ scent blew to the sky. Zoe looked so happy, because she finally had a rose garden of her own. She nurtured them every day, and not forgot to check each patch of roses. She remembered every word that Rachel had told her. While thinking about Rachel, Zoe suddenly remembered the device that Rachel gave to her. Then, she went to her garden, picked up some roses and wrapped them up. After that she dressed up, and prepared herself, and then, she picked up the device and shouted out the spell. A bright light gathered around her, and she vanished instantly.

She finally arrived on Moonlight Castle. She gazed in awe for the amazing scenery in front of her. Never in her life had she seen such a huge castle, and the moon was full and bright as if the moon itself was the sun. She had no idea that Rachel lived in such a huge castle. But, something caught her attention in the distance. She saw Rachel standing silently with Valkenhayn, Nago, and Gii behind her. In front of Rachel laid a field of destroyed and withered roses. Zoe was shocked with what she had just seen, because she was told that Rachel’s rose garden was beautiful. She then walked slowly towards them, until Valkenhayn realized her presence.

“Ah you must be Miss Zoe, is it not?” asked Valkenhayn politely.

“Yes I am, and you must be sir Valkenhayn.” answered Zoe.

“Please, just call me Valkenhayn, there is no need such formality.” said Valkenhayn humbly. “Madam Rachel told me a lot about you” said Valkenhayn.

“I’m so happy to hear that.” said Zoe with shy face. “What did she told you?” asked Zoe.

“Well, she told me that she finally able to meet good friend. She told me that you are so kind and cheerful, she also told me that you love flowers especially roses. She is so happy to finally make a friend with someone that has the same interest as her.” said Valkenhayn with happy tone. “But, as you can see…….She is having a tough time now.” said Valkenhayn now with sad tone.

“Oh yeah, I was going to asked you about that. What happened here? This place looks terrible.” asked Zoe with panic tone.

“Well, several hours ago, an evil spirit suddenly appeared here. The timing was not right, because Madam Rachel was having her teatime, and she didn’t like her teatime to be interrupted. Madam Rachel ordered us to stay put, and she fought the evil spirit. The battle was fierce and Madam Rachel eventually came out winning, but unfortunately at a cost of her rose garden. Now Madam Rachel has been like this for some time.” explained Valkenhayn.

“I see that was horrible. She loved her roses so much, but now this bad thing happened.” said Zoe in sad tone. “Valkenhayn, may I go talk to her?” asked Zoe.

“By all means Miss Zoe, this way please.” answered Valkenhayn politely.

Valkenhayn took Zoe to Rachel’s side. Rachel looked at the distance silently, her face showed no sadness, but some tears had fallen from her pretty eye. Deep inside she was devastated.

“Hi Rachel, it’s me Zoe. Valkenhayn told me what happened here, and I’m sorry about that.” said Zoe mourning.

“Oh, hi Zoe. Long time no see, are we? It seems that Valkenhayn had given you a background knowledge.” said Rachel sadly.

“Yes, it’s been a while, my dear friend. Look, I know your rose garden took severe damage, but let me help you to restore it. I want to repay you for helping me with my roses. I’m sure Valkenhayn, Nago, and Gii would be happy to help you too.” said Zoe cheering Rachel.

“Of course we will help, Madam Rachel. We are ready for your stead, Madam.” said Valkenhayn.

“Is that so? Well, I will be grateful if you really managed to restore my garden.” said Rachel wiping her tears.

“That’s how our princess says thank you.” said Nago.

 “Shut up, Nago!” said Rachel while pinching Nago.

“Ouch! Princess, that hurts!” screamed Nago in pain.

And then everyone burst into laugh.

For several months everyone helped Rachel fixed her garden, she even let Zoe to have a sleep over at her castle. Firstly they spread the fertilizer around the garden, and then everyone spread rose seeds from Zoe’s garden to the fertilized soil. Those seeds eventually grew into small flower plant. They water the flower every morning and evening, but sometimes they filled some of their time with tea time and jokes. Finally the roses grew back, and once again the garden was restored into its beauty once again. After seeing her newly restored garden, Rachel hugged Zoe firmly, this the first time Rachel felt so happy and also this is the first time she ever hugged someone.