chapter 11

Finally, the three of them went with Juno's car. Rhea asked. Juno drove, Sean sat next to him while Rhea sat in the back. Earlier, Sean had insisted on sitting in the back with Rhea, but Juno didn't allow it because he didn't want to be like a driver. Throughout the trip, silence occurred between the three of them. Rhea kept staring out the window, looking at the beautiful city atmosphere at night, Juno was busy driving, while Sean was secretly busy with his own thoughts.

(("There was a call from Madam. She said she couldn't reach Mas Sean's cellphone. Madam wants to talk to Mas Sean."))

Sean remembered before coming to Rhea's place, Bibi had said that his mother called and wanted to talk but Sean refused. However, all of that was not without reason, Sean refused to talk to his mother for a reason that Sean still couldn't forget until now. And his relationship with his mother was not so good. Besides they rarely met, Sean also didn't get enough affection from his mother.

Flashback

"From now on, Mama will probably rarely come home because Mama is taking care of our company's business in Australia. Are you okay, at home alone? If you need money or anything, just call Mama." Angel advised.

At that time Sean was still 12 years old, of course at his young age, Sean really needed the affection of his parents, especially his mother. But his mother said she would do business abroad and rarely come home. That made Sean sad and disappointed.

"Sean." Angel stroked Sean's head gently. "You have to understand that Mama is busy. You're a big girl now, so it's okay if Mama stays, right? Besides, Mama will come home once a month or two."

Sean just nodded.

After Angel's departure to Australia, the woman really kept her promise by saying she rarely came home. In fact, she never came home once a month or once every two months, until almost a year Angel never came home even for a short while. Angel only sent money every month. But that was not what Sean actually expected.

For years Sean and his mother had only talked on the phone or sent text messages, chatting face to face on the computer. Again, that was not what Sean had expected.

Because he was annoyed with his mother who never kept her promise, Sean, who was already a teenager, secretly went to Australia to meet his mother. But there he saw his mother sleeping with another man in a hotel room. Since then he has never wanted to take a call or reply to a single message or chat from his mother. And that has been going on for two years.

Back to the present.

Sean adjusted his sitting position, then glanced at Juno who was seriously driving the car next to him.

***

The three of them arrived at the karaoke place. Juno rented a room for them to do karaoke together and also ordered some snacks for snacks. Sean was the first to appear, he held a microphone and was ready to sing with the music that sounded very loud in the room.

Rhea and Juno sit on the sofa snacking.

"My loveeeee is no ordinary loveeeeeee If you have iteeee Sean used all his energy to sing Afgan's song, which was definitely intended for Rhea. "And you who have been my friendeeee all my lifeee ...

Juno laughed to himself watching Sean sing. When else would you hear someone with a lisp sing, and it was so funny to Juno.

Then it was Juno's turn to sing, she sang Irwansyah's song entitled Lover of Women with an expression full of emotion.

"I am indeed a lover of womoooonds but I am not a crocodile.... Who is loyal to a thousand womnds, I only love her...." Juno sang while pointing at Rhea.

Sean threw his empty snack wrappers at Juno, while Rhea laughed sarcastically and turned her face away when she heard Juno's singing.

It was Rhea's turn. She held the microphone and stared intently at the two guys who were now sitting in front of her, gawking at her while snacking on fried peanuts. Rhea turned on her music and sang Duo Ratu's song - Lelaki Buaya Darat.

"Leeeelaki buuuaya daraaaaatttt Stop I'm fooled again....Leeelaaaakiiiiiii buuuuaaayaaaaa darrrraaaatttttttttttttttttttttttttt..."

Rhea didn't point at Sean and Juno with her hand, but pointed at them with her foot.

Sean had to turn his face away because Rhea's foot almost hit his nose.

Rhea then sang dangdut while shaking the ngebor (drilling dance). With her style that was more like a stressed person, Rhea got into the song. She untied her hair and shook her butt and messed up her hair similar to the dance of Trio Macan when they were performing.

Sean and Juno were scared when they saw Rhea's extremely scary appearance, especially her sharp gaze and her singing which was starting to become incoherent because she was half screaming.

"Young," Juno whispered to Sean who was sitting next to him. "So Rhea is also wild, huh?"

"You just found out?"

Realizing the situation was chaotic and out of control because Rhea started throwing everything at them, Sean immediately intervened. He grabbed the microphone and joined in singing with Rhea by showing off his ngebor dance skills that rivaled Inul Daratista. Juno certainly didn't want to lose, he also grabbed the microphone and joined in singing.

Finally, the three of them sang a duet singing any song while jumping up and down. And for the first time in the last five months or so, Sean saw Rhea laugh out loud like tonight. Sean secretly watched Rhea who was competing in the ngebor dance strength with Juno while singing. Although their voices were not very good, you could even say they were ruined, but they were all happy. After being satisfied looking at Rhea who was happy, Sean joined in again and sang together.

***

Juno's car stopped in front of Rhea's boarding house. Juno, Rhea, and Sean got out. Juno approached Rhea and glanced at Sean in annoyance.

"Why should I bring that beetle here again?"

Sean smiled in satisfaction. "Because my motorbike is here."

Juno snorted, then smiled at Rhea. "Let's go to karaoke again sometime, Rhe. But just the two of us, no need to bring that Polar Bear." Juno glanced at Sean.

"Why are you staring at me?

Who do you mean Polar Bear?" Sean was confused when he was called Polar Bear.

Juno didn't care. "Okay Rhe, I'll go home first, okay. You hurry up and go inside, then lock the door. Because there are many dangers outside." Juno glanced again at Sean who looked very annoyed.

Rhea nodded. "Yes, thank you for taking me home."

Juno smiled. "Yes, of course. Wherever you want to go, Juno will be happy to take you there."

Rhea just smiled.

"Dadaaaaahhhh...." Juno waved his hand and kissed away.

Rhea raised her hand but Sean pulled it. "What the heck?" Rhea protested as her hand was pulled.

"Don't use the same drugs as Earthworms," said Sean, pointing at Juno with his pursed lips.

A few seconds later Juno's car drove away, leaving Sean and Rhea there. Rhea turned to go into the house and Sean blocked her.

"Rhe," called Sean.

Rhea turned her body again, facing Sean.

"I'm really happy tonight."

"Why?"

"Because I can see your laugh again."

Rhea was silent. She didn't quite understand what Sean meant.

"One year," Sean said. "One year I waited for you to smile and laugh happily again like before. And tonight, I just saw it all."

Rhea knows what Sean means now. But what makes her wonder is, is he really that happy today?

Sean smiled. "Maybe I'm not better than 'him', but I sincerely love you. And until now I'm still waiting for you, you know."

Rhea remained silent.

"I won't leave you, that's why I won't let that playboy Juno do anything to you. I don't want you to be hurt by him, Rhe. I won't leave you."

Rhea turned her body and walked away from Sean, this time Sean did not stop her. Rhea kept thinking that Sean was really serious about saying that to her, saying that he was still waiting for Rhea and would not leave her. Sean loved Rhea, that was what Sean had always said all this time.

If Sean really loved Rhea, then why did Rhea hear Sean say I love you to another girl? Rhea stopped and turned back to Sean.

Sean still hadn't moved from his spot. "Why, Rhe?" Sean asked, surprised that Rhea suddenly stopped and turned around.

"Sean...."

"Hm?"

Rhea swallowed her saliva. "What are you....?" Rhea left her sentence hanging.

Sean furrowed his brows. "Why?"

"Do you... like another girl?"

Sean was confused. Of course he didn't think he would get that question from Rhea. "Huh?"

"Are you tired of waiting for me?"