3. The Proposal

Samara's face was sad, but she tried to calm Shawn down. "Brother, no..."

"Fuck!" Shawn cursed while kicking a nearby trash can. His face was red, and his hands were clenched into fists. "Where is she? Let me find her!"

Samara quickly shook her head and looked at Shawn worriedly. "No, Brother, please. Sammy is sincere as long as mommy can recover quickly."

"She's not sick, Sam! Why is it so hard for you to understand, huh?!" said Shawn angrily. "500 million? Which rehab that's so expensive like that! And where do you think she got the money to pay off? There's no way she can collect that much money! Do you know what she means by doing this?" he asked sharply. "So that she doesn't have to think about you again for the rest of her life," he said. "Why? Because she doesn't love us, that's why she wants us away from her life!"

Samara's tears finally spilled. She tried to hold back, but she couldn't. The memories and all those violent words were still vivid in her mind, hurting her every time she remembered them. And that wound was what she tried to cover up by doing whatever her mother asked so that she would get a replacement from the pain all this time.

"If that's the case, then mommy just doesn't love Sammy," said Samara quietly.

Shawn sighed. "What do you mean?"

Samara looked at Shawn with wet eyes. "Because mommy never even asks if Sammy had eaten, even though we live together, while mommy never forgets to ask Sammy how you're doing every day, asking Sammy to ask you whether you had eaten or not. Even when she was intoxicated with drugs, your name was the only word she spoke. It was never Sammy's name, even though it was Sammy beside her."

Shawn choked. Shit. Didn't Shawn already know? Then, he had to ask in order to make Samara declare it, which would only make Samara hurt even more?

Seeing Samara sobbing, Shawn's heart softened, and instead, he pulled Samara into his arms, letting Samara pour her tears into Shawn's chest even though Shawn felt his mother was not worth crying over. "Sorry, Sammy, I didn't mean to."

Samara lifted her face, which was wet with tears. "Brother, if you really don't care about mother, Sammy can't say anything. But, please, let Sammy take care of mommy. Sammy really loves mommy, Brother," said Samara sadly.

Shawn took a deep breath, then sighed slowly. He let go of Samara, but only to wipe the tears from his sister's face. "500 million," Shawn said quietly.

Shawn looked at Samara's sad face, which still looked cute even when she was crying. His sister is still too young to be burdened with this heavy problem. She's too sweet to be destructed that easily.

And even though Samara may be damaged by now, Shawn had a responsibility to keep Samara from getting more damaged than this. So, Shawn finally said, "You leave this dirty job by now, and they get that 500 million in this week."

Samara stopped crying and looked at Shawn, confused. "How do you mean?"

"I'm selling my car tomorrow," said Shawn, making Samara glare at him. "Brother, don't be crazy! That's the only legacy from father for you. Sammy can't let you lose the only memory you have left about father."

"There is," said Shawn. "Alright, come on, let's go. You leave this horrible job," Shawn said as he walked towards the car, but Samara quickly chased after him to hold him.

"Brother, don't! There's no way you'll sell the car. There will be no more memories..."

"I said there is."

"What is it, Brother?" Samara insisted.

Shawn stared at Samara silently, then touched Samara's nose with the back of his forefinger, saying, "You. Samara," he said, running his finger down Samara's nose. "Living memories are still better than inanimate things."

Samara burst into tears once more, then hugged Shawn again. Today, she could be grateful because even though her life was too heavy and cruel, she at least still had a brother who loved her so much and was always willing to be his hero.

***

Shello looked at the sparkling diamond-eyed ring in front of her with sparkling eyes. Very beautiful. She couldn't even speak a word as the ring was held out to her.

And as if the view wasn't beautiful enough, now Shello was struck again by the question that's just as beautiful as the diamond, "Will you marry me?"

Slowly, Shello looked up from the diamond. She stared at the man kneeling in front of her. What did this man just say? Is this man serious?

"I-I…." Shello covered her mouth. "Are you ready? We haven't even talked about this yet."

"Is a yes or no question actually," said the man. "The other things, let's think about it later."

An uncertain smile graced Shello's face. "Satya, are you serious?" "Otherwise, I won't be stupidly embarrassing myself kneeling in front of you without you saying 'yes,'" replied Satya.

Shello's smile widened. "Then how's your work? You know it's impossible for me to live in Melaka, right? And I don't want us to live apart," said Shello again.

"I'm the one who will move to Jakarta and work at your hospital," said Satya making Shello's eyes widen. It took them months to argue about this, and now... Satya finally gave in?

"Work, Shell. Not lead," added Satya.

Shello laughed. "About that… I can seduce you later."

"Okay, seduce me later. But, now… may I know your answer?" asked Satya. "I'm a bit tired down here," continued Satya.

Shello suddenly remembered that she had not yet given an answer to Satya. Seemed like now was the signal for her to consider everything, make up her mind, and give her final answer.

Shello stared at Satya for a longer time now before she finally opened her lips.