CHAPTER 1: HE'S BACK
It's been more than fifteen years since Thomas decided to leave hometown together with his son, Tomilson. It wasn't easy but he needed to fix his self and be a better father to his son. He visited speacialists to ask remedy for his depression. Even until now, he still have the sadness in his heart, the longing for Jurri's presence but he learned to control his emotion. He needed to be a father to his son.
"Hey dad."
"Hey Tomilson." He greeted his son casually.
"It's Tommie, dad." His son corrected.
"Hi uncle Tom!" A feminine voice greeted him. He turned around with plates in his hands and smiled at the girl.
"Good evening Suji." Thomas greeted formally.
The three of them dine together for dinner. However, Tommie knew that behind the smile and the laughter of his dad is the pain and hurting that his mother left them. Yes, he was young back then and as he grew up, he started to learn things. That heaven isn't really a place where living people can go and that the ticket that his mother keeps on talking about was her leukemia. But he understood his mom. He was too young to understand those things before.
"Umm, dad, I want to tell you something." Tommie started. His dad look at him expectantly while his hands held Suji's hand under the table.
"What is it, son?" Thomas smiled.
"Suji and I are dating." He confessed.
Thomas cleared his throat, "I see no problem about that. You're already nineteen and Suji here is already eighteen." Thomas looked at Suji and smiled.
"Thanks for your blessing, uncle." Suji beamed.
"But uhh, have you already tell Suji that were going back to Australia next week?"
"Yeah I did." Tommie answered.
"Umm, if it's okay with you uncle, can I come?" Suji smiled.
"That is, if your parents will let you." Thomas answered. Tommie just listened to their conversation.
"Actually, I've already asked permission from them and they're okay with it." Suji explained.
"Well then, I guess you can come." Thomas decided.
"Thank you uncle Tom." Suji said sweetly.
After eating dinner, Tommie and Suji went upstairs. They usually hang out in Tommie's room. Ever since Tommie arrived in London, Suji became his friend because they were neighbors. She was kind and friendly. And one afternoon they admitted they like each other and so he scribbled something into a piece of paper and both of them signed it. They call it their, contract papers.
Tommie was taken aback when Suji sat on his lap and started kissing him. "Sue...Sue, stop." he said between her kisses.
"But Tommie, isn't this what couples do?" Suji pouted.
"Not all couples are the same, Sue." He said.
"Well, I know but we can already do stuff..." Suji seductively said and caressed Tommie's cheek. "I bought you a condom." She whispered.
Tommie held Suji's hand and moved her away from his lap. He looked at her half mad, "Sue, I'm not doing the stuff inside your head. We're dating, yeah, but I respect you."
"Oh...sorry for acting agressive. Maybe I drank too much wine." Suji behaved and shyly spoke.
"Yeah...maybe you did." Tommie agreed.
"Sooo, umm, I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight Tommie." Suji stood up and walked outside his room.
Tommie buried his face in his palms after Suji stormed out from his room. He likes Suji but he respects her. He respect every woman like how he respects his mom. He looked at his mom in the picture frame beside his bed.
"Hey mom. It was the right thing to do, right?" he spoke. Then he stood up and walked downstairs. He found his dad washing dishes.
"Hey dad." He said and grabbed a glass of water.
"Oh, hey champ." His dad greeted back. "How you doin'?"
"Good..." He answered. "I guess..." He added.
"You're ready for next week's trip?" Thomas asked joyfully.
"Yep. I missed home." He muttered.
Thomas looked at his son and smiled teasingly. "You mean, you missed someone?"
"Who would that be, dad? I was just a kid when we left home." He chuckled.
"You got a point." His dad stated but it sounded like his dad wasn't convinced. His dad stood up and pour a wine in his glass. "Your Aunt Felly says 'hi' by the way." His dad added.
"Rebound." He muttered then a name appeared in his mind. "How's Emy?"
"You mean, Emily?"
"Yeah."
"She's doing fine, I guess." His father said.
Tommie looked away and stared at the emptiness. He miss his bestfriend. It's been ten years since he stopped talking to her. He thought it was the only way to move on and now, they're coming back to the place which reminds him of his mom.
"I'll go to sleep now, champ." His dad said and stood up, carrying a glass of wine.
But Tommie knew better, he knows his dad haven't forgot the pain. It's still there, the pain after the death of Jurri, his mom.
Tommie smiled when he stepped out from the airport. It has been a long time ever since he left and now he's back. To the place where he was born. To the place where he once tried to forget. A hand held his hand and he realized, it was Suji, smiling at him.
"Welcome to my place." He whispered and planted a kiss on her forehead.
They were still walking when they heard a familiar whistle. They searched where the whistle came from and they saw his Aunt Felly waving at them.
"Come on, son..." His dad tapped his shoulder and walked first.
"Good to see you back!" Felly exclaimed and hugged his dad.
Then she looked at him, "Wow, you're a big boy already! Emy is waiting for your comeback for years!" Then she hugged him.
"Nice to see you again Aunt Fel!" Tommie returned the hug.
"Who's Emy?" Suji asked out of the blue.
"Oh, we have someone here." Felly acknowledged Suji's presence with a smile.
Tommie put his arm around Suji's shoulder, "Aunt Fel, meet my girlfriend, Suji."
"Oh...You've grown a lot." Felly commented.
"Yeah he did! Sooo, let's go." Thomas said and they all got in the car.
"Who's Emy?" Suji whispered to Tommie.
"She's my bestfriend when I was a kid." He said.
"Oooh..." Suji commented.
Tommie is looking forward to seeing Emy. He have a lot to talk about. How he's been and his life in London. How he met Suji and other stuff. And in return, he also want to hear how she's been doing. It was needless to say that he miss the person who constantly tapped his back when he cries before and tell him that he'll run out of water in his body if he keeps on crying.
