Short Story (Romance)

I hugged her, “It’s okay.”
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“It’s okay, to be not fine.”

It’s okay to be not fine, as long as you’re not hiding it.

“Thank you,” She said, crying.

I wonder why humans hide their pain? Perhaps, they got used to not opening their heart to anyone? And if they did share the pain, no one listened?

I was born a rich, spoiled, and arrogant child. I can get everything I want, I desire, anything that makes me happy, I can get it. The only thing I need to do is go to the room of my parents and say, “Mom, dad, buy me this.”
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“I never got a problem in my whole life,” I thought to myself.

I chuckled, “What the hell,” What am I saying, “It’s okay, to be not fine,” As if I’m sympathizing with her? I never even had a single problem in my life. Or should I say, I never felt pain.

One time, I asked my parents, “Mom, dad, why do I need to go to school? Aren’t we rich already?”
“Son, being rich is temporary.”

“That’s right,” Mom said.

“Is that so?” I asked. “Then, I just need to finish school, right?”

I said that like school was just nothing.

But it really was just nothing. I was not only born a rich, spoiled, and arrogant child. I was also born with good intelligence. Not high nor low, just enough intelligence to get out of school without sweat. And then...

I graduated.

“Congratulations, son!” my parents shouted.

“Now what?” I asked bluntly.

“...?”

“What do I do from now on?”

“Uh, nothing?” Mom answered, confused.

“Now, your future is safe!” Dad said, smiling.

“My... future?”

“You know, son, whether you accept it or not, people die,” Dad said.

“That includes us, your parents,” Mom said.

“...”

Yea, I never had a problem in my life nor felt pain. But there was one thing I realized after the conversation with my parents.
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I’m alone.

My parents raised me so well from me being a rich, spoiled, and arrogant kid. To a rich (still) but humble, and disciplined adult. My life was perfect.

But, it was lonely.

I got myself a business degree. I worked, and worked, and worked until I had enough budget for my own business. Turns out I’m a Manager now.

My parents are gone.

My dad died 2 years after due to a stroke, my mom died 5 years after due to kidney failure. I’m sure they lived a pretty good life. Considering I’m not even that hard to raise at all, I bluffed.

“People die.”

I remember what my Dad told me before when I just graduated college.

I visit my parents every year, pouring wine on their tombstone to pay respects.

“Mom, dad, can I ask again?”
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“Now what?” I asked, crying, “What do I do from now on?”