13 || ra’s Cry ||
After hearing that ra is in the hospital, Joe immediately ends his lunch event. He cancels all his work schedules for the day, concerned about ra, especially since she hasn’t contacted him for three weeks.
Although worried, Joe is confident that ra will be okay. “Postpone the meeting with the important client and meet with somepanies offering coboration,” Joe instructs Fadli, his loyal secretary.
“Alright, Sir,” Fadli responds.
Joe swiftly leaves the cafe, driving to the hospital at full speed. Arriving at the parking area, he walks towards ra’s room.
The door opens, revealing Mario and Nadia sitting. Worry is evident on both of their faces. Joe inquires, walking forward and observing Nadia and Mario alternately.
“What happened to ra?” Joe probes, looking at Nadia and Mario.
“ra fell while rock climbing, Uncle,” Nadia responds. She steals a nce at Joe. Handsome, it’s understandable why ra liked him even after being rejected; she couldn’t forget him.
“Is she still unconscious?” Joe asks, looking at ra. There are scratches on her cheek, and a bandage covers her eyelid.
“She woke up earlier, Uncle, but now she’s sleeping, probably due to the effects of anesthesia,” Nadia replies.
“Have you two eaten?”
Joe is sure that the teenagers haven’t had lunch, too preupied with worrying about ra.
“Not yet,” Nadia rubs her growling stomach. Meanwhile, Mario remains cool, not too concerned about the offer from the man in front of him.
“Have something to eat!”
Joe takes out five red bills from his wallet.
“Take this!”
He insists, forcing Nadia to ept.
“Okay, Uncle,” Nadia replies.
“Come on, Mario, let’s eat!”
Joe invites Mario, who is still sitting on the sofa.
“No, I’m not hungry. I’ll stay here and wait for ra to wake up! I’m really worried about her!” Mario refuses. “Let’s go, Nadia, we’ll eat first!” he adds, ignoring Joe’s sharp gaze.
“Come on!” Nadia persuades, slightly forcing him. Fearful, she sees Joe’s gaze changing when he looks at Mario.
“Worry about yourself first before worrying about others!” Joe jokes.
Without much thought, Nadia grabs Mario’s hand and forces him to leave the room immediately.
Joe sits on the sofa previously upied by Mario. His gaze is fixed on ra, still deeply asleep. She looks thinner than three weeks ago. Her slender fingers and hands appear smaller than before.
Joe looks up, then sighs in frustration. It seems he has made a mistake with ra.
ra opens her eyes, waking up from her sleep. Her gaze sweeps across the room, then focuses on Joe sitting next to her. She blinks and pinches her cheek lightly, realizing that this is real.
“Uncle Joe, why are you here? What should I do?” ra whispers.
“Are you awake, ra?” Joe asks, very t and maintaining the same expression, not letting his face show the relief he feels.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.
“Yes, Uncle,” ra replies softly.
She tries to sit up, and Joe helps her. Now ra and Joe are staring at each other, quite close, and getting closer.
Silence.
Joe looks at ra, who ignores him, observing her longer and longer, but ra still doesn’t turn her gaze towards him.
“ra,” Joe calls.
“Yes, Uncle,” ra whispered, choosing to lower her gaze instead of looking at the man. She felt embarrassed, awkward, and in pain. Yet, her heart and mind continued to adore him. His name was etched in ra’s memory and couldn’t be easily reced.
“Why didn’t you meet me?”
“Why didn’t you send a message to me?”
“Why didn’t you take your monthly allowance?”
Joe rambles on, not knowing how to express his anger towards himself for being too selfish. ra has no one but him, and when he’s angry, ra doesn’t dare to confront him. This hadn’t crossed Joe’s mind before.
ra doesn’t answer. Tears start falling, wetting her cheeks, coinciding with the opening door. Nadia and Mario stand at the doorway, staring at Joe with scrutiny.
‘Why is ra crying?’ Nadia wonders.
‘Why did you make ra cry?’ Mario thinks.
Seeing Nadia and Mario’s arrival, ra covers her face with both hands, revealing her vulnerability.
Nadia chooses to stay silent, not daring to speak. using and questioning Joe would require more courage than she currently possesses. Mario, on the other hand, is different. His gaze sharp, he strides confidently towards Joe.
Now, their bodies face each other, although Joe’s stature is taller with a muscr build. Mario appears unfazed.
“What are you doing? Why is ra crying? Can’t you, just not make her cry? You have no right to hurt her!” Mario says firmly in front of Joe.
“Enough, Mario! Uncle Joe is not at fault!” ra interjects amid her sobs.
“Is your heart made of stone? Look! When you make her cry and sad for days, she still defends you!” Mario protests louder than before. He’s furious with Joe, who always makes ra sad while he can’t do anything tofort her.
“Quiet, Mario!” ra shouts, wiping her tear-streaked face.
“Both of you, go home now! Let me handle this with ra!” Joe orders, signaling Nadia to take Mario away.
Nadia steps forward, pulling Mario’s arm to leave ra’s room.
“Let go!”
Mario roughly pushes Nadia aside and walks back towards Joe.
They face each other.
“Once again, I see ra cry, just wait and see what I’ll do to you,” Mario boldly threatens.
Silence, a sharp stare exchanged between them.
“Take care of ra tonight!” Mario instructs the older man.
“I will take care of ra without you telling me, kid!” Joe retorts. He can’t remain silent when a teenager dictates to him without any respect.
“I entrust you to take care of ra tonight! Apologize to ra immediately, and promise that you won’t hurt her again!” Mariomands fearlessly.
Joe doesn’t respond. He observes, ring at the teenager with a deadly gaze.
“I have to go now because Mama told me toe home!” Mario says while checking his watch, indicating it’s already five in the evening. Then he turns around, followed by Nadia, who waves to ra, eager to return to the dorm. She closes the door behind them.
“Damn, kid!” Joe curses in his heart, frustrated with Mario’s attitude.
Now in the room, it’s just him and ra. Joe steps closer to ra, who is still crying.
To be continued