All Which Remains

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Arron

I pile into Mr. Albar's car and we head off somewhere to shop. I stare out the car window the entire time. Everything is whizzing past us as we enter a highway.

"Where are we going, Mr. Albar?" I ask as I turn away from the window to look at him.

"We're headed to Pakuwon Mall." He says, with a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Okay." I say, "What are we looking for?" I don't even know what a "Pakuwon Mall" is.

"Just clothes and a few necessities." He replies, his eyes on the road.

I choose not to respond. I turned back to look out of the window. Surabaya sprawls below us as we pass everything by. Flying down the highway, I watch as we exit the highway and enter the city. I'm in awe. There's art scattered around like dice rolled at random. Art seems to be everywhere where you wouldn't think art should go. Is this modern art, or some other form? I wouldn't know. Looking up, some of the buildings are strange looking; like they might fall over any minute, but you can tell that it was structured to be that way. I can only imagine how Surabaya must look during the night. I can't wait to explore this wonderful and alluring city. As we change streets, we near Pakuwon Mall, or what I assume is Pakuwon Mall. Pakuwon Mall is gigantic. It's hard to tell if it's even a mall at all. It looks similar to an American Football field but larger.

I'm amazed to be anywhere near this mall. It's breathtaking. As with everything else in this city. I can't believe that it's real. Mr. Albar leads me to the entrance and we walk inside the supermall. The inside is as enormous as the outside. Columns are reaching the sky that surrounds a smaller part of the mall. And it has more levels. There are so many shops that it's hard enough to decide what shop you want to buy, let alone what you want to buy. I drag my feet a little, as I stare towards the ceiling. Everything is so grandiose. I can't help but wonder how long it took to build such a monstrous building.

I keep stopping Mr. Albar so that I can absorb everything that surrounds me. There are so many shops. There are playgrounds inside! I can't believe what I'm seeing. It's like a mall inside of a mall but with things that differentiate it from other malls. They have stores that are so diverse. Some even sell items from different countries. Continents, too! Mr. Albar grabs my arm and pulls me away from a shop selling cats that you put coins and money in. I want to stay, but I won't pull away from Mr. Albar's grip.

We wander through the mall for a little bit before we settle on a store that Mr. Albar likes to shop at. He helps me choose clothes that fit and aren't too expensive. We spend what feels like a few minutes, but it's past 17:00 when Mr. Albar insists that we leave. In Pakuwon Mall, I can forget all about my problems. They seem almost like they're happening to another person, not me. I can just stay here and never see all of the shops before I die of old age. But, at some point, we have to leave. I can't avoid everything forever.

We buy clothes, a toothbrush, and a mattress and leave the mall. We need to transfer the mattress to their house. As we head back to the car, I start to feel nervous. I don't want to have to face Ramelan.

I stare out the car window again on the way back. I want to run away from their house'. But if I do, though, I wouldn't have anywhere to live. I don't want to live on the streets, so my only choice is to avoid Ramelan. I don't want to do that either, and I don't want him to know that I know. Ughhhh, I bang my head against the window. The coward in me says to weather it and avoid Ramelan, but we have one more day before school starts again on Monday. It's going to be hard to avoid him, especially since we live together.

Whatever happens, I'm not going to avoid him or run away from him. I'm going to do the right thing and act like I don't know anything. Is that the right thing? A small part of my brain asks me. I shake my head and don't listen to it.

I spend the entire car ride thinking. I look out the window and see us nearing the residence. Their house is fairly large, with a small garden in front and a fence surrounding the house. It has a homely feel to it. I'm prepared to see Ramelan tonight, but I don't see him anywhere. I don't see him during dinner either. So, I ask Mrs. Albar where he is.

"Oh," she says, "Ramelan left a few hours ago. He said that he was going to hang out with a friend and stay the night."

"Alright..." I say, disheartened by the news.

Problem solved, but it feels like he might be avoiding me.

How childish.

Like I hadn't considered the idea. I go to bed, and before I know it, my eyes are closed and I fall into a deep slumber.