244 | Families

"From the results of their Chinese-Javanese marriage, three children were born," I said, "one of them, the middle child, was named Lidia Tanoto."

"Who's she?" asked Zoey.

"She is my mother."

"What?" Zoey asked surprised. "That's not possible. You don't have the physique of a Chinese."

“As I told you, my mother is half Chinese, a half Javanese. My father is Javanese. My mother married a native,” I explained.

When I said that, it reminded me of my father. I feel like I haven't called him in a long time.

“My father himself was not a native of Surabaya but was born in Yogyakarta, Central Java Province. He served as an Indonesian National Army personnel. My father was a captain and is currently on duty in Papua.

He rarely came home, even once a year. My family was sincerely let him go to carry out his mission of the state. Keeping the peace, my father ever said. Yes, there was still indeed a separatist conflict in Papua,” I said to