In Edwin's office, Zean stared doubtfully at the brown folder the man had given him.
"The answer you're looking for is in there," said Edwin, sitting on another sofa while watching Zean.
Sighing, Zean opened the folder slowly, took the contents, and fell silent. The man's expression turned tense, even crying later.
"Are you sure?" Zean asked Edwin.
"Yes, I'm sure. That's the answer you and I are looking for," Edwin answered firmly.
"So, Aneska is..."
Edwin nodded confidently. Zean closed his eyes, crying again between being moved, angry, and sad because he didn't know anything about Aneska all this time. What kind of brother can't protect and look after his little sister?
"But, the girl, lost her memory. Aneska doesn't seem to remember anything related to the incident and doesn't even remember who her own biological family is. Aneska was adopted by a family and finished her studies abroad. Graduated as a doctor with expertise recognized by a major hospital. However, everything was done by the girl herself without the help of her adoptive parents," explained Edwin, telling what he got from the investigation.
"You investigated it, huh?" guessed Zean.
"Yes. I couldn't keep quiet when I realized something was wrong. You know, Aneska looks very much like her older sister. So, how could I not know? However, it wasn't just me, but also Dad who investigated Aneska's background," explained Edwin.
"Is there a way to convince Aneska that she is my family?" asked Zean who was starting to get restless. "Mom wants to meet Aneska, but it's really hard to meet her," continued Zean with a sigh.
"Just try, maybe you can do a DNA test or something," suggested Edwin.
Zean looked at the man.
"You don't mind?" asked Zean.
“No. Even though it will be difficult for me, I think Aneska should have a clear family, and a real identity, rather than be confused, right?” said Edwin. “After all, Aneska is my wife,” he added.
Zean nodded his head, then read the file again and looked at its contents. There was another piece of paper, it was the marriage certificate between Aneska and Edwin. The girl used her real name and her parents’ real data.
“What is this?” asked Zean.
“Aneska’s real family data. Father started investigating Aneska after seeing the data, and I started investigating because of the girl’s strangeness. Aneska’s adoptive parents provided the real data. It turns out that all this time, Aneska was adopted unofficially,” Edwin explained again.
Zean looked very angry but he could not do anything.
“What is your plan?” asked Zean.
“I don’t know,” answered Edwin. “I just want Aneska to live a better life. And I promise to take care of her as my wife.”
“Are you sure about that?” Zean seemed doubtful about Edwin’s decision.
“I will try and do my best. I think there might be a reason why the girl is here now. Could it be Aneska’s older sister, or even her family who sent the girl to me? So, I have to be responsible and take good care of her, right?”
Hearing Edwin’s words, Zean nodded in understanding. After all, what the man said was true. Aneska’s family might have entrusted the girl there.
Kira had loved Aneska like his own child, so it wasn’t easy for Edwin to entrust Aneska to her because her mother would protect the girl no matter what.
“You said Aneska doesn’t remember what happened?” Zean asked.
“Yes,” Edwin answered briefly.
“I have an idea. We have to do it as soon as possible, or Jessica will take action,” Zean said firmly.
Edwin looked at his best friend, then nodded in agreement with Zean's idea.
Meanwhile, in her sleep, Aneska had a dream. In a large empty house. Lightning that occasionally struck lit up the dark room, the rumbling sound in the sky added to the gloomy impression that occurred there. The little girl walked in fear, hoping that someone would come to find her but no one came.
Aneska was sweating, in her dream the little girl saw helpless bodies there, lying on the cold marble floor. A delicious fishy smell, liquid spreading on the floor. The girl froze there without being able to scream because her voice was choked.
The girl was jolted from her sleep, waking up with sweat pouring down her face. Aneska glanced to the side, Mianca was sleeping soundly there. Aneska woke up and threw back the blanket.
"That nightmare again," the girl muttered as she got up from her bed.
The clock showed two in the morning. Aneska decided to leave Mianca's room to calm herself down.
"The dream felt so real. Can't anyone explain to me what it means?" thought Aneska.
But the girl didn't know about Zean's plan.
She didn't know where her feet were going, but Aneska realized that she had left Zeelar's big house, standing in the backyard of the house that led to Edwin's house. Aneska sighed but the girl only stared at the minimalist building that had been her residence for the past few months.
"What are you doing outside?" Edwin's deep voice surprised Aneska from behind. The girl turned her head.
"You surprised me," Aneska complained while holding her pounding chest.
Edwin approached Aneska and stood in front of the girl.
"Why are you here?" Edwin asked again.
Aneska looked nervous.
"I woke up because of a dream. So I came out of the room, but I didn't realize that I was walking here," Aneska answered then looked at Edwin. "What are you doing here? You're not at home?" Aneska asked while pointing to the two houses.
“I have business with Dad, and I’m sleeping at Mom’s house, and also to keep an eye on you guys,” Edwin said.
“You watching me? Why?”
“I’m worried,” Edwin admitted.
For some reason, Aneska seemed to smile a little, feeling funny but also happy.
“Why are you laughing?”
“It’s okay. Oh, yeah. What about your friend?” Aneska asked, referring to Zean.
“Zean is at home, he has a business,” Edwin replied.
“Oh, I see.” Aneska nodded.
“Come on, come in. It’s too cold here,” Edwin said as he grabbed Aneska’s hand and pulled the girl into his house.
Aneska just followed wherever Edwin took her. Besides, there was no point in refusing because the air outside was indeed cold in the early hours of the morning.
“Go back to sleep,” Edwin said.
However, Aneska just stayed silent near the man, seeming hesitant to go into his room. Usually, after that dream, Aneska would have trouble sleeping again.
It seemed that Edwin realized Aneska’s anxiety.
"Come with me," Edwin invited and pulled the girl's hand again, this time towards his room.
Aneska was confused but still followed what the man did, taking her to the room.
"I'm still sleepy. If you can't sleep anymore, sleep here," Edwin said and continued to pull the girl to the bed.
Edwin did look tired, and the man chose to lie down on the bed, leaving Aneska awake beside him.
In the dim light, Aneska watched Edwin's face with both eyes closed. The girl looked fascinated. From his forehead, Aneska's gaze went down to Edwin's eyebrows, his closed eyelids, his curly eyelashes, then to his fairly high life. Aneska felt like she never got tired of looking at Edwin's peaceful face in his sleep, and the girl's gaze stopped at Edwin's lips and was silent for quite a long time.
Who knows what the urge was, and where it came from? Aneska stepped forward and planted a kiss on the man's lips. But it turned out, Edwin was not asleep yet so the man returned Aneska's kiss.