Losing someone close to you

Due to unstoppable curiosity, she eventually decided to answer the phone call. Clara was utterly surprised to receive a call from her mother. She never expected her mother to know her cellphone number. Clara remained silent for quite some time until she ended the call abruptly.

"How did mother find out my number?" Clara continued to mutter to herself. Clara wondered why her mother, who had never asked about her, was suddenly contacting her. Disappointment still lingered in Clara's heart. She never imagined this would happen. Clara felt neglected since her teenage years. She thought her mother would only contact her if she needed something.

Clara's phone kept ringing. Her mother continued to call persistently. Clara still looked confused about whether she should answer the call or not. Out of humanity, Clara answers her mother. Not a word came out of Clara's mouth, while her mother kept expressing her longing with words.

"If you miss me, why did you only look for me now?" Clara whispered.

"That's not what I meant. It's just..." Meisya seemed hesitant to explain, her words trailing off. Meisya fell silent as if something was holding her back from speaking. Clara said she'd end the call if her mother didn't talk. Meisya quickly interrupted her. Meisya hoped her daughter would come home because there was something important she needed to say. Clara immediately refused firmly. Meisya kept pleading with Clara to visit.

"It's about your father," Meisya said.

Since it involved her father, Clara thought her presence was indeed necessary. Clara thought her father might have realized his mistake and wanted to apologize directly to her but felt too proud. Finally, Clara agreed to her mother's request and ended the call.

Time flew by. Clara remembered she had a promise to her mother that day. It was 6:00 pm time for Clara to finish work. The office was still busy. Clara seemed anxious, constantly glancing at the clock in the corner. She couldn't leave work, but she couldn't cancel her appointment. Feeling restless, she finally bid farewell to her colleagues and headed towards her parents' house.

Clara paused at the gate, looking at her childhood home. She had flashbacks to when she lived there. According to Clara, the house still looked the same, unchanged. With slightly trembling hands, she pressed the doorbell. A servant opened the door for Clara. Clara seemed reluctant to enter. She waited in the living room. Then someone came down the stairs. It was her mother. Clara appeared tense. Her palms were sweaty, and she seemed nervous.

"Finally, you're here, Clara," Meisya greeted her only child.

"Yes, I'm here," Clara replied a bit curtly.

"Come here and sit next to me. You look so beautiful. How have you been since you've been living alone? I hope you're okay and not having too much difficulty," Meisya tried to lighten the mood.

"No need for pleasantries. What does mother actually want to say about father? And where is father now, is he working? I already knew he still resents me," Clara said cynically.

Meisya fell silent. She tried not to cry, but her tears fell uncontrollably, confusing Clara. Clara didn't think her father had done anything. She felt her father didn't want to see her.

"It's not like that, dear. Your father is no longer with us, Clara," Meisya spoke between sobs.

Clara was shocked, staring at her mother. Clara couldn't believe her mother's words and immediately searched the house to find her father. She couldn't find him anywhere. Clara cried loudly. She couldn't believe her father was gone. Meisya could only hug Clara tightly, patting her back.

"Why? Why did you only tell me now? Why didn't you look for me immediately? After all this time, you didn't try to meet me, and suddenly you inform me with news like this?! Why, Mom? Am I your child?" Clara kept asking her mother amidst tears.

"We've been looking for you for a long time, actually. After we found out you left home, your father kept searching until he fell ill. After your father got sick, we decided to stop searching for you because he had to undergo treatment abroad. But fate had other plans," Meisya revealed.

Clara could only remain silent, listening to her mother's explanation. She couldn't even speak a word. Clara was incredibly shocked. She got up and left her parents' house. Meisya couldn't stop her and just let her go because she knew Clara must be devastated.

With a dazed mind, Clara left her parents' house. She took out her phone and tried to call Gio. The only person on Clara's mind at that moment was Gio. Clara kept trying to call Gio, but he didn't answer.

In the taxi, Clara cried, thinking about her mother's words. Clara hadn't had a chance to apologize to her father when she was a teenager. Clara felt her heart shattered, experiencing an overwhelming sense of suffocation.

When she got home, Clara lay down on her bed. Then, she heard her phone ringing. Clara looked around and found her phone. Without looking at who was calling, she answered.

"Hello," Clara answered softly and sadly.

"Hello, Clara. Sorry, I was busy meeting a patient earlier. What's up, Ra?" Gio asked.

"Nothing, Gio. I'm sorry if I bothered you," Clara replied with a slightly hoarse voice from crying.

"You've been crying, haven't you?" Gio immediately realized something had happened to Clara.

Clara fell silent and tried to hold back her tears. Gio knew something had just happened to Clara, making him anxious. He wanted to rush to Clara, but he was still on duty. Gio felt awkward and could not speak. Gio knew Clara was struggling, but she did not tell him. Gio did not want to make Clara tell him. He told her to rest so she would feel better tomorrow. Clara listened to Gio.

"Thanks, Gio, for making me feel better." said Clara.

"Get some rest." Said Gio.

After the call, Clara cleaned up and went to bed. She decided to forget about her problems for a while.