Merlinda (Ranging Back)
Should Be From A Long Time

The lunch hour was over, and just then, for the umpteenth time he went back to inspect his flat object, and he sighed every time, after doing that. He has not heard from Meili. And it managed to make his mood mess up. He was unceasingly agitated at the thought of the woman. And his heart would not allow him to calm down.

This morning, Nado came to his room very upset. She wanted to put him on after what the man did to her. Last night, his bad luck was not enough just because he was let by Jerry to go home by online taxi. But also, the phone's battery runs out. After waiting a long time, the offline taxi did not come, and finally he decided to walk, until he finally found an offline taxi. But by then, he had already walked over four kilometers. And during that time, he swore endlessly at Jerry. Asking the man to be unlucky, because of his cruel deeds, which made him walk.

But this morning, he regretted what he said last night. And the intention to berate the man became obsolete. He knows too much about Jerry, his childhood best friend. He could even tell the man's condition, just from the light of his eyes. And this morning, the light was dim. And at that moment, he immediately realized, that the man, was not in good condition.

His eyes were sad, and his radiance was full of anxiety . But Nado's chauffeur, even though they're close friends. He never dared to ask and seemed curious as to what was going on with the man. He just watched and waited until the man spoke.

" Sign this ", he said, the voice that originally wanted to raise the man, is now made normal. "an hour away we meet the client", he told Jerry, and the man just nodded. Even Nado, very sure. The man did not even know what color his clothes were today. He was too busy with his thoughts.

They still have fifteen minutes, before continuing to review the development of the project, at two in the afternoon.

Jerry took the opportunity, to contact Meili. He was too upset, if only waiting for the news of the woman. And for the fourth time he repeated his call, but there was no answer, and Jerry grew more and more agitated. Even from thinking about that woman, she had only touched a little of her lunch earlier.

~

Reymond, Viona and Elin. They returned to their large mansion. After a long time in the building, which became Elin's wedding gift, from Mr. Vernandes.

There Elin came to his official ownership file on the luxury building. And he felt very moved at that moment. Banyu, too generous to give such a fantastic gift. Of course everyone knows. There are no cheap buildings, in the middle of New York City.

And because of that building, he promised. His dream of becoming a successful designer must be realized, with or without children. That dream should not be buried, therefore the reason for coming to New York. And the Banyu gifting building, must not be in vain.

At that moment, he looked at Daniel and he was sure that he would support him later.

Jamie welcomed their arrival, and Elin immediately hugged him. Without regard to their position. In his eyes, Jemie remained his aunt, not the butler in the Mansion.

" Have you eaten ? ", Jamie asked almost in a whisper. He really did not want to sound disrespectful, for calling you, to the Young Madam in that luxurious mansion. Elin nodded, "I've been taken to their favorite restaurant" Elin said, smiling. When he remembered the incident at the restaurant. At that time, Daniel was no longer with them. The man continued his work. So he was alone among his two in-laws.

He poked his lips not to smile, when he realized that Reymond and Viona looked so stiff. Like the two people who first met, after exchanging news through social media. Seeing them is so funny. They don't talk to each other. Instead, the two just talk, when the chatter between the three of them connect. The point is, indeed he was brought for it, to melt a little awkwardness between them.

Elin turned her head, when the sound of the car came heard. She was too happy, imagining she would welcome her husband home after work. And today, first of all it will happen. She became the wife of Daniel Remkez.

But then, he was a little disappointed, because it was not Daniel who came. But Meili. And he was a little surprised to think she was in his room, as he said this afternoon, who just wanted to rest all day.

Elin noticed the woman's eyes. But Meili seemed oblivious to her body standing in the doorway before the hallway . He passed by without greeting her. In fact, it preceded the steps of Reymond and Viona who were still walking in the hallway towards the main door.

" Meili", exclaimed Viona, and the woman remained unkempt. Everyone was astonished at each other. Including the servants who were welcoming in the doorway.

" What's the matter with him" said Elin muttering. He just wanted to step up to the woman. Viona, looks first do it, and at that moment, she immediately undoes her intention. Her role is no more important than that of the woman.

Viona always returned with a sad look. After repeatedly knocking on Meili's room door, the woman did not open it.

" Mommy please" she asked Elin. " Maybe if it's with you he wants to talk ", he said. Reymond was also not far from the door of the woman's room. And his request to Meili, to open the door was also unsuccessful.

Elin nodded. "give her a minute, mam. Maybe he wants to be alone first. I'll ask him to talk ".

Although still staring anxiously, but Viona agreed, to let Meili alone first. Not to urge the woman to open the door. And a little pushy, a waiter managed to convey quickly that Meili was fine. The woman was sitting pensively on the balcony of her bedroom.

~

Meili heard, when the door of her room was repeatedly knocked, even she also knew with her phone that kept ringing by Jerry's phone call. But he can't afford it yet. He was not ready to talk to anyone else, after what had just happened to him. In fact, her tears are still breaking to this day. The events inside Brian's house, still heartbreaking, were as light as he recalled the silent glare of the man's eyes as he looked at him.

" I'm sorry Brian" he said sobbing, and he finally managed to say the sentence very loudly. But he still did not have the guts to tightly hug the man's body.

" I'm sorry I hurt you, Brian. I really don't know why this happened. Really am. I will accept if you curse me, even slap me once. I'll take it ", it's sobbing.

" If I slap you, does it hurt to be the same Meili ? ", he said slowly. Meili fell silent, only her sobs were getting heard from her. Brian was right, even hitting him relentlessly, it would not replace the pain he felt. The betrayal he gave was too cruel for her, and the sweet promise he simply denied. Of course the painful thing can not be equated with anything. "excuse me", he repeated. That's all he can say. Just sorry, and sorry. Even a million times said it, will not be able to replace the disappointment he gave.

" I should have given up long ago" he said. Meili heard the man's sobs. And it made him even more devastated. "I should have realized from a long time ago. That you won't be able to be with me. Meili's chest was tight, but she couldn't shake the man's words. Only tears are flowing more and more. The words coming out of the man's mouth were too painful to hear. And just then, Meili heard a full sigh from him. " See from anywhere, indeed we will never be able to unite." he said again. The sentence was paused by a cry. "I should have given up long ago", he continued and at that time, the more bitter cries sounded.

And once again, Meili could not shake his words.

" Or, there shouldn't have been this relationship in the past. Even this feeling ", he said, was becoming more and more bitter. Meili's cry broke out right then and there. What the man said, he asked God. Why should there be a feeling of love, if the story is this difficult. Why is the man in his heart, if the place so quickly happens.

" You don't have to cry Meili. The wounded here I was. "he said he faltered, and at that moment, unknown to him Brian had already looked at him, and he was getting crushed, when he found the man's eyes full of tears.

" I'm a bad Brian. But I'm also devastated by hurting your feelings ".

The man screeched, in the midst of his raucous voice. "what before falling in love with the man did you think of him. You thought that I would hurt Meili ", she said snapping, but slowly her voice was drowned out by the sound of crying. "do you think about it. And his words sound very heartbreaking. His voice was barely heard anymore.

" I never knew I'd fall in love with Brian. I never knew this would happen ".

" Then you shouldn't have promised Meili either. You shouldn't have promised to keep loving me, if in fact you don't know what your own heart is ". Brian snapped, though his sentence continued to be choked by the tightness in his chest. And after saying that, he buried his face in both palms. And his tears broke out there. "I still convinced myself that everything was going to be okay. Even if you don't tell me. I still assure myself that my place will never be changed. You love me so much. As you said at that time Meili, why now you can deny it ".

" I've always believed in myself that you were busy with a fiancee's event, and then my sister's wedding. I always thought that you didn't have time to tell me, even if it was just a short message. But in reality it's not that. In reality, my place has been changed very easily. And I finally realized. That, you never really loved me Meili. All your theatrical remarks..".

" It's not so", said Meili, with tears still streaming down her cheeks. There's nothing wrong with Brian, it's just that the last sentence wasn't right. He used to love that guy so much. Brian's hug was the most comfortable place he'd ever had.

" That's how Meili really is. You may just not realize it yet.. "

" You don't love me. You just need me, and it's not Meili's love. Love is not easily changed "

Meili's tongue was stuck to talk. He was eager to dispute that, but again. The words of a man have no fault, maybe all this time, indeed he has not understood the meaning of the word real love, and he naively calls him loving, he said, with just an excuse because he had someone who was always there for him, when wrenching circumstances befell him, that someone was always there. Maybe in fact, he just can not distinguish the sense of comfort and love. Brian's right. Love is not easily replaced. Just like his mother did. He still loves, despite being constantly hurt. He persisted, though the painful reality continued to hit him heartlessly. It should be that strong love. Not as weak as what happened to him.

Jerry's face is no more attractive than Brian's. Jerry's meetings aren't as frequent as Brian's, and he doesn't know Jerry, like he knows Brian. It shouldn't be that easy to fall in love with that guy. But that is love. He fell for no reason. And it looks right, when here, in front of Brian's cries, he was still convinced that he had indeed fallen in love with Jerry. The man's cry, devastated him but did not change his feelings for Jerry.

" Go Meili ", pinta Brian, with a breath so deep, and a face down. "don't hurt me to stay here." he said faltered. " I just want to see you, to make sure I'm still around. But it turns out there isn't any more. Not even left. Go awayl... ".

Meili clasped her fingers tightly. He was upset, because this crying had to happen. He hated the hurtful words that came out of Brian's mouth. He hated it, because he was the reason the man was crying today. And he caused the wound in the man's heart.

The man moved out of his place. And until then, he had not been able to look at Meili. Looked at the woman's face, even though it might be the last time. It's okay, it's okay if there's no goodbye hug. Their story is not that sweet, to end with a hug. It's okay if one day he'll regret, for not hugging that woman one last time. It's okay if those regrets come up someday, or maybe even midnight. It'sit's okay.

His heart was too wounded to see her face.

" Thank you Meili. Although everything is fake ", he said hoarsely, and after he stepped away. No matter Meili was still sitting on the floor of his house with tears flowing. He didn't care if at that time, it might have been so cruel. He really tried not to care. He wanted to ignore her, as he did her. He even wanted to be more cruel than that. But he's not capable. She loves Meili too much, she loves him too much. The woman he could never have, he should have realized that long ago. When, he learned, that his father was a lawyer from the opposite side at the time of the trial that once horrendous one country, and his father fought against the woman's mother. He should have given up since then. Everything should have been impossible since then. Meili's family would never accept it.

At the end of the stairs, Brian's body collapsed. He can no longer try hard. Their separation was too painful for her. And her tears flowed back then. His hand moved to hit his own chest. He hated why he was so broken. And then Jacob's hand was stretched out on him. Even hugged her so tightly. The man did not speak, he just hugged tightly, as tightly as he could. If only the pain felt by the man could move. He really will do it. It was too painful to see her best friend cry.

Meili's on the floor of Brian's house. She has not moved and her crying is not over yet, and at that time, Vale came with Billy. The woman did not say anything, she just hugged him so tightly. Just like Jacob did with Brian.

And the house, soared by the sound of sobs, cries from the bitter end of the story.