The girl opened her eyes, but the face she saw this time was completely different from before. Was it a dream again?
“Are you awake?” Aneska could hear the soft voice again, her mother’s voice now smiling at her.
Aneska could remember two other faces, her father and Helen there.
“You guys…."
All three smiled warmly and gently.
“Because you came, you will be fine now, Aneska. But unfortunately, we won’t be able to stay long,” her father said.
Aneska looked at the man who used to always carry her.
“From now on, live well, with yourself. You are not alone, Aneska. So, be happy,” her mother said.
Aneska’s mouth suddenly went numb, unable to say anything else.
“You have come, and we meet again. However, we have to go because we have been here too long,” her father said again. “Take care of yourself, Aneska. Believe that you can, and be happy.”
Aneska's tears began to fall from her eyelids, wetting her face. With quick movements, the girl wiped her eyes because she wanted to stare at the face she missed so much longer.
"I entrust you to Edwin, be happy, my beautiful little sister. You grow well like a flower. Aneska, see you later. Take good care of yourself," said Helen, Aneska's older sister who looked very much like her, no wonder many people were surprised when they first met.
"Give my regards to your aunt, and to everyone who is around you right now. Let go of all the things that make you sick and burdened. Let go of people who do bad things to us, don't respond with bad things because it will come back. Aneska, just let them be. You will always be protected," said her mother.
The warm kiss given by her mother made Aneska better, and her heart was at peace. Likewise, the warm kiss from her father made Aneska even more peaceful.
"Give my message to Edwin, take good care of her, and love Aneska like you loved me before. Aneska, goodbye." Helen was the last person to kiss Aneska's forehead and hug her warmly.
Slowly the three figures began to disappear with warm smiles on their faces, saying their last goodbyes in the girl's subconscious. Everything went dark again.
***
Aneska followed a glimmer of light and opened her eyes again.
"Aneska?" The voice answered, calling her name anxiously.
"Are you awake, honey?" Kira greeted Aneska who opened her eyes.
The girl looked around and realized that she was no longer in that place.
"What happened to me?" Aneska asked softly.
"You fainted," Mianca answered. "Making us all worried," the girl continued while wiping her wet face.
"Where is this?" Aneska asked.
"At Auntie's house," Huilen answered.
Aneska sat on the sofa, looking at every face there. The women were closer, while the men were on another sofa, including Edwin. The man remained calm but his gaze implied anxiety.
"Are you okay, Aneska?" Kira asked.
“Yes. I’m fine. I just said goodbye to them,” Aneska replied.
Everyone looked at each other hearing Aneska’s words. The girl then told about her meeting with her father, mother, and older sister and then conveyed a message to everyone, but there was only one message from Helen that was intended for Edwin that Aneska did not convey now because according to her, it was only conveyed privately.
Huilen cried again hearing Aneska’s words, feeling guilty for only being able to find Aneska now.
“I want to know, what caused that incident to happen?” Aneska asked.
But everyone was silent.
“Tell me, I won’t get angry or do anything stupid. However, I need to know what happened at that time,” the girl said convincingly.
Although it seemed difficult, Zean was willing to explain it.
In the past, Edwin and Zean were close friends and often met Helen, Aneska’s older sister. Although they were different ages, Helen and Edwin liked each other. However, some were jealous of Helen. In addition to being kind, independent, friendly, beautiful, and smart, Helen managed to make Edwin like her, even though the man was the incarnation of an ice prince who was so cold and untouchable. Jessica was very much in love with Edwin at that time and introduced their one-sided relationship to everyone. When Jessica found out about Helen and her relationship with Edwin, Jessica's blind anger and jealousy made things gloomy. The woman hired a hitman to kill Helen, but who would have thought that her parents were also killed when they tried to stop the hitmen?
"Your father was conscious for a while but was critical until he finally left with your mother and your older sister. We arrived too late," explained Zean.
Aneska did not respond, just listened and controlled the emotional turmoil in the girl.
"What happened to the perpetrator?" asked Aneska in a choked voice.
"They got the punishment they deserved," answered Zean.
"But not the mastermind, huh? Is it that severe Jessica?" said Aneska flatly.
Everyone seemed surprised to hear Aneska's words.
"You don't need to worry. I won't take revenge because I promised Mother and Sister Helen," Aneska said as everyone looked at her anxiously. "I just want to live my life my way. Revenge will only destroy me. However, the mastermind behind the incident must receive the appropriate punishment," Aneska continued with a piercing cold gaze.
Everyone fell silent upon hearing that.
"Enough. You don't need to worry about that because without us dirtying our hands, the mastermind has been caught," Alendra said.
This time all eyes were on Alendra who was focusing on the tablet screen in his hand.
Huilen's husband turned on the television, and a news story immediately appeared on the screen. The news reported that the police had raided a gambling and drug den and arrested the mafia behind it along with their children who were involved in illegal prostitution, child trafficking, and premeditated murder. The police had also obtained evidence and the people involved.
In the news, Jessica's face was seen not accepting the incident and rebelling, However, the policewoman who was carrying Jessica did not let her move at all and instead dragged her to the police car. That is the news conveyed today.
Everyone in the house who saw the news smiled and sighed in relief, even Hulien cried happily, and so did Kira and even Aneska. Mianca also cried.
Edwin and Zean were silent but they felt relieved with the news that had happened. They didn't know who reported it, but that was more than enough for them.
Hiluen would make a sumptuous meal to celebrate Aneska's return, to let the girl's family go forever, and to catch the mastermind behind the incident that made Aneska's life difficult. But behind all that, the tough girl was grateful.
"So, you're not bothered by me, right?" Aneska asked Edwin when they got some private time.
"No," Edwin answered briefly.
"Okay. Thank you for that. However, if you're not sure, maybe we need some time. I'm fine, I just need to calm down," Aneska said without looking at Edwin at all.
The situation between the two of them suddenly became awkward. Aneska turned her back on Edwin.
“I will ask Auntie to let me stay here for a while so you can have some alone time,” the girl said softly.
However, the girl fell silent when Edwin hugged her from behind.
“No. I will follow you wherever you go. I have no problem with that. The fact that you look like Helen makes me doubtful. Can I love you or am I just a substitute? You are Aneska, not Helen. At first, it was hard for me to accept it. But now, I am starting to understand my feelings. So Aneska, I beg you to never think of leaving me, or even abandoning me. So, let’s love each other, spend time, and go through this life’s difficulties together,” said Edwin conveying what the man wanted with Aneska.
The girl herself fell silent, her tears fell again, cried again and nodded. Edwin turned Aneska’s body so that she could look at his wife’s face.
“You are my wife now. So, stay with me, hm.”
Aneska nodded quickly in agreement with Edwin’s words. Then Aneska conveyed Helen’s message in Aneska’s dream.
“Of course, and I promise I will,” Edwin said and kissed Aneska’s lips softly.
The kiss stopped when Mianca knocked on the door, informing her that dinner was ready.
They had a lively dinner in Huilen’s yard with sumptuous dishes made by the women. Aneska was now happy because she had a family, and someone she loved even though there were still difficulties that were challenges in her life. But at least, Aneska began to believe that she could get through those difficulties as long as there were people she loved beside her and people who supported her.
But for now, at least Aneska was grateful for her happiness. Thank you.