Aneska felt confused and afraid when she saw Zean's change in attitude. When he was about to dodge and hide behind Edwin's back, the man held Aneska's waist tighter, holding the girl from moving.
Zean's slow steps because he couldn't believe Aneska's presence stopped right in front of the girl. Without realizing it, Zean's tears fell from his eyes, and the man cried.
Fear made Aneska glance at Mianca, asking her friend for help but Edwin didn't allow it, making Aneska stay there, even Edwin's hand on Aneska's waist became stronger.
“I won't let you. So keep it like this, Aneska. Let Zean take a good look at you," whispered Edwin.
Mianca, who saw Zean's change in attitude, approached, but standing by their side didn't bother Aneska. Finally Zean raised his hand and touched Aneska's cheek, who was silent, her body was shaking, but because Edwin was behind her, the girl calmed down a little.
“This can't be you. How did you—" Zean's voice faltered then stopped. Tears streamed down the man's cheeks even harder.
Edwin remained silent behind Aneska.
“You – how are you still alive?”
Aneska fell silent upon hearing Zean's words. Even Aneska's body froze when Zean took her body in his arms. Aneska could feel her body shaking violently. Aneska doesn't know why, and what happened to Zean.
Zean hugged Aneska for a long time, even though Edwin didn't remove his hand from the girl's waist and let Zean hug Aneska, letting it all out. Edwin could understand what Zean was thinking and feeling, therefore Edwin did not stop his friend.
Mianca looked at Aneska who was looking at her silently. Aneska became even more confused when she saw Mianca crying, the girl even tried to hide her tears. As long as Aneska knew Mianca, she never showed her tears carelessly. Of course, Aneska had seen Mianca cry, but not in front of anyone. But this time Mianca seemed to be able to feel what Zean was feeling, which Aneska couldn't understand.
Zean calmed himself in the embrace, then broke away but didn't take any distance, instead, he stared deeper and longer at Aneska's face, observing every inch of the girl's face, starting from the hair, forehead, eyebrows, eyelids, irises, shape, nose, both eyes. cheeks, and chin. Zean rubbed his thumb against Aneska's cheek who remained silent.
Apart from that, Edwin was still holding Aneska's waist, but one of the man's hands started to circle Aneska's stomach.
"You look alike. But, I'm sure, you're not her," said Zean while blowing his nose. The man's voice was hoarse and his eyes were red. "What's your name?" Zean asked.
Aneska wanted to glance at Edwin, hoping that the man would help her. However, the corner of Aneska's eye caught a brief nod of Edwin's head indicating she could answer.
"Aneska," answered the girl then.
“So you are Aneska. But, you are very similar to someone I used to know. Seventeen years have passed.”
Aneska's heart beat fast when she heard Zean's words. How could it be? Seventeen years ago? Is that a coincidence?
"But you are prettier," said Zean.
"Thank you," said Aneska, moving slightly to show her discomfort.
It seemed that Zean sensed Aneska's discomfort and pulled away.
“Sorry for my attitude. I miss my female cousin who looks a lot like you. As soon as I see you, I forget myself. Sorry for my attitude, Aneska," said Zean.
Tried to smile knowingly, but Aneska's lips trembled.
“N-no problem. I'm just a little surprised," said Aneska in response to Zean.
Zean tried to smile but the man's gaze couldn't leave Aneska. Hoping that the girl would change her face but in reality, she didn't.
Meanwhile, Edwin could feel Aneska's body shaking, even limp as Zean said seventeen years ago. This time Edwin didn't hurt Aneska like before. However, Edwin is sure that Aneska has something to do with the incident seventeen years ago which also involved Edwin.
Without saying anything, Aneska turned to Edwin who did not remove his hand from Aneska's waist at all.
"Edwin," Aneska looked at the man.
"Yes, I know," answered Edwin and directed his gaze at Zean. "Mianca, you look after Aneska, I'll talk to Zean," said Edwin to his female cousin.
Mianca did not refuse, nor did she argue, and reached out to Aneska to come with her.
Before leaving there, Aneska looked back at Zean who was still silent.
"See you later. If your feelings have calmed down, I'll talk. Nice to meet you, Sis Zean. Good evening," said Aneska, nodding her head.
Zean couldn't say anything other than nodding his head quickly even though deep inside his heart the man still hoped to find out more about Aneska, who was similar to Zean's female cousin.
Aneska looked at Edwin for a moment and the man nodded his head. After that, Aneska went with Mianca so the two men could talk. I don't know what Edwin might explain about Aneska to Zean.
After confirming that Aneska and Mianca had left, Edwin looked at Zean who directed his gaze to where Aneska had gone.
“Edwin, are you sure that—”
“I'll show you something. Come on, but not here," said Edwin, interrupting Zean.
Seeing Edwin's serious facial expression, Zean no longer said anything. Edwin walked towards his minimalist house which was behind the big house. Zean followed without saying anything.
Meanwhile, Aneska breathed a sigh of relief when she entered Mianca's room. But they didn't say anything because both Aneska and Mianca were shocked by Zean. How could a man cry like that? It's painful to look at.
“You don't need to ask me. Because I don't even know what happened," said Mianca to Aneska who stared at her for a long time.
"How long have you known him?" Aneska asked.
"Quite a long time. Maybe when I was little. But, this is the first time I've seen a reaction like that. I also want to know what happened to Zean," said Mianca.
Aneska was silent, but she was lost in thought when Zean's words came into her head about Zean's female cousin and the seventeen-year-old boy.
“I didn't forget, but I forgot what happened that day. What did I forget about an incident?” Aneska thought.