-25- (8)

I'm currently in town, after a few days finding out about Manis's whereabouts. Now, Manis and I are just silent after our small talk.

I don't know, I also don't know when the distance was created. I'm not really good at starting conversations like the others. But now, Manis was completely different.

Her smile is now gone, much of her talk has evaporated somewhere. All I saw was a cutie, bowing full of weight. I know if those eyes hold a thousand sorrows, the light has disappeared, replaced with thousands of clouds that are ready to fall. But, again, Manis doesn't seem to want to let that happen.

"Why don't you tell me about your problem, Manis."

"This is my business, my business, why should I tell you?" She says. And her words really hurt me. "Thanks for coming here, Jun. I thought you had forgotten," said Manis. Her words seemed to be sarcastic if she was an insignificant part for me to remember.

"How could I forget, after all? To my best friend, and my little sister. I'm even angry, you know, this. Why can't you tell me something like this, Nis."

She seemed to smile bitterly, her glazed eyes glanced at me then she looked away again.

"For what? After all, things won't change even if I tell . . . " she said. "You've been busy with your own world, Jun. And I realized that we are no longer small children who only know how to play, who might get angry if their playmates don't want to play together anymore."

I lowered my eyes to hear Manis's words. Honestly, this is the first time I've heard such a mature speech from her, and it really made me choke. It was as if in my eyes, she was an insignificant comrade. However, it's not like that. Not at all!

"Well, there is skipper Arjuna here, after all?"

I lifted my face to hear a voice that was not beautiful. Apparently, he was Minto - the village head who was the same age as Romo was visiting.

"Mr. Minto, is this, anyway?" I asked because I was confused. Why is this person here? Even though, after all, I know, he is not a relative of Manis.

"Mr. Minto, come on... come on, please come in," said Manis in such a friendly manner.

Really, hearing Manis talk like that with Minto makes my blood boil.

I just followed them, even though I knew Manis had kicked me out many times. Or maybe, because of this rancid man he kicked me out?

"How is your Grandma, are you okay?" asked Minto, whose voice really sounded like a rotten thunderbolt in the daytime.

"Okay, sir. Fine," replied Manis.