The remaining rainwater slid smoothly down the large, wide leaves growing around the house. The afternoon sun slowly emerged shyly at the western edge. The beautiful sky, a pretty orange color with several reddish streaks adorning the open sky above the small town of Karby. A cool breeze blew. It ruffled Jason's hair as he sat alone on the front porch. He took a deep breath, placing his hands behind him to support his body while he looked far up at the sky. Someone then appeared beside him. Jason straightened his sitting position, seeing Mrs. Jema already sitting beside him. The middle-aged woman placed ginger tea on the table and small snacks in the form of biscuits she had just taken out of the oven. The smell was quite appetizing.
"Mrs. Jema."
"Here, don't look at the appearance, it tastes pretty good," the woman said. The biscuits were made by her and the kids, they made them in large quantities and would sell them to the city. Of course, they were delicious.
Jason smiled.
"Heh, of course, Val often says he likes your homemade biscuits; they must be delicious."
Mrs. Jema smiled. She looked towards the room where Val had fallen asleep again. At least he gets better.
"Heh, that's right, Val won't eat anything else but my cookies. One day, he wasn't feeling well, just like now, he had a very high fever, and woke up hungry. The first thing he said was to ask for my biscuits. That day, I hadn't made them, but for the kid to eat, I quickly made them. I don't know what makes him like them so much."
Jason smiled.
"It's probably because you put your heart into them."
Jason's words made the woman chuckle.
"You're so sweetmouthed."
The woman then fell silent, looking at Jason for a long time. She wrung her hands together.
"Val, is seriously ill, does he? He won't tell me anything, and when he's like that, it must be something big. That child is so stubborn; he never wants to say anything, so that people around him don't worry. But I get used to it, worrying about the kids here, it's become a special joy for me. He always tries to be strong, but deep down, that child is so fragile; he needs a place to lean on."
The woman then looked at Jason for a long time, as if scrutinizing him.
"Oh, Jason, I ask you, if you cannot give him peace, cannot always be by his side, cannot hold his hand, then it's better not to give him that hope. That child has suffered many times; I don't want him to experience it again now."
The woman took a long breath before continuing her words.
"He came to the orphanage when he was six years old. For years, he wouldn't talk to anyone else. He was traumatized and always kept everything to himself. That made other children who wanted to play with him change their minds. He also often screamed suddenly for no reason, squatted on the floor, covering his ears, crying hysterically. One day, while I was baking biscuits, he came closer, and from then on, he started to open up and talk to me."
Jason lowered his head, then looked far ahead.
"I've been here before, ma'am. You might have forgotten me. I've known Val since he was little. I saw him that day. I saw him smile while playing with the chicks behind the orphanage, and from then on, I told myself, I want to keep those smiles. He has a very beautiful smile, so beautiful as if it could light up the world."
Mrs. Jema looked at Jason for a long time. She frowned, then she smiled.
"I apologize, it must be because I'm old, my memory isn't as good as it used to be. But you do look quite familiar."
Jason smiled.
"Heh, yes, I was fifteen when I first came here. My grandfather brought me here to see the children at the orphanage. I never expected to meet Val again. Don't worry, ma'am, I won't disappoint Val. It took me time and effort to get here. Would I do that for someone who isn't important to me? Whatever the future holds, I don't want to think about it too much. All I know is that right now, Val is everything to me. He has filled the space in my heart; if I were to remove him, that heart would become empty, not Val, but I would be the one to suffer because of it."
Mrs. Jema smiled. It seemed her worries were unfounded; she shifted in her seat, pulling something out from inside her coat pocket. She held it out to Jason.
"In that case, I can entrust Val to you."
Jason turned, looking at something in the woman's hand. He frowned.
"What is this?" Seeing a small, colorful bead, as if made from plastic straws. It looked like a child's bracelet.
Mrs. Jema took Jason's hand and placed the beads into his palm.
"This, Val wore this when he first came to the orphanage. After a few days here, he lost it. The child cried for days, refused to eat anything, and kept looking for this bracelet; he was so hysterical. Recently, an older child who lives outside the orphanage said that he was the one who hid these beads. He only remembered when he was unpacking his belongings and found them. Tell Val that he feels sorry, apologize for being naughty."
Jason took the small object. It was just an ordinary small accessory, worthless at all, but, for this child, it was very important.
"This."
...
Back in Argent City. The bright sun appeared between the skyscrapers of busy Argent City with all the hustle and bustle of a big city that pulsed every second, very different from the small town of Karby.
The sound of the photocopy machine filled the small room next to the pantry. Val was seen sitting in front of the machine with so many papers piled up. He had to do all of it, at least for that day. To make him comfortable, Anwar and the others even put a chair for him to sit on to do his daily work since he was forbidden to participate in promotions outside the office. He looked bored.
"Heh, how annoying, do I have to do all this?"
Although he was back at work, everyone, especially his boss, treated him like a very fragile glass, protecting him from falling. They even prepared everything for him, including breakfast, lunch, and even healthy snacks. Also, because of him, his boss changed the uncomfortable lounge and provided a new couch for him to rest if he was tired. Would everyone treat him as a weak person? Although, that was actually what was happening.
"You have to start treatment next week, no ifs, ands, or buts?" Jason said as he escorted him out of his room after five days of hospitalization. He lowered himself in front of the wheelchair to lift the footrest, Jason's personal driver opened the car door for him.
"Here, hold my hand," Jason said, extending his hand to help Val down.
"I can do it myself, boss, thank you."
Jason pursed his lips, seeing Val who couldn't even lift his back to get up. He then bent down in front of Val and carried him down.
"Let me."
"Boss."
Val was surprised, but he had no choice but to wrap his arms around Jason's neck so he wouldn't fall. His boss easily lifted his body and moved him into his big car.