Slowly drowsiness began to fill Jack. He almost fell asleep in front of his laptop that was still on. His work was still unfinished, so he held himself back from falling asleep.
But every time he almost fell asleep. He forced his eyes to stay open. The work from his office was never-ending. He was forced to continue working even though he felt tired.
When he almost fell back asleep, suddenly the image of his sister's face reappeared in his mind. The fatigue that greeted him every time, made him miss his sister's figure
***
The next day after work from the office. Jack saw a woman who seemed to be struggling with her grocery bag that looked full of lemons.
BRUK
The woman's shopping bag fell, and the lemons inside spilled onto the street.
Jack then helped to pick up some of the lemons that were scattered on the street. He quickly collected the lemons and returned them to the woman.
“Here. Please be a little careful. No need to force yourself to carry too many groceries,” Jack advised.
“Thank you. I will listen to your advice.” The young woman smiled and when the young woman and Jack looked at each other they both fell silent.
“Nina?” Jack immediately recognized that the woman he was helping was his sister.
And just like Jack, Nina was also surprised. “Brother, what are you doing here?”
Slowly drowsiness began to fill Jack. He almost fell asleep in front of his laptop that was still on. His work was still unfinished, so he held himself back from falling asleep.
But every time he almost fell asleep, he forced his eyes to stay open. The work from his office was never-ending. He was forced to continue working even though he felt tired.
When he almost fell asleep again, suddenly the image of his sister's face appeared in his mind. The fatigue that greeted him every time made him miss his sister.
***
The next day after work from the office, Jack saw a woman who seemed to be struggling with her grocery bag that looked full of lemons.
BRUK
The woman's grocery bag fell, and the lemons inside spilled out onto the street.
Jack then helped to pick up some of the lemons that were scattered on the street. He quickly collected the lemons and returned them to the woman.
“Here. Please be a little careful. No need to force yourself to carry too many groceries,” Jack advised.
“Thank you. I will listen to your advice.” The young woman smiled and when the young woman and Jack looked at each other they both fell silent.
“Nina?” Jack immediately recognized that the woman he was helping was his sister.
And just like Jack, Nina was also surprised. “Sister, what are you doing here?”
“Ah, I just got off work. I accidentally saw you drop these lemons,” Jack said.
“Huh... You seem to be so busy that you rarely give me news. I can't even meet you in this way.”
“I'm sorry Nina. I didn't mean to ignore you. Oh, and since we've met, how about going to a cafe? I'll treat you to your favorite pancakes.” Jack then invited his sister to eat at a nearby cafe.
But Nina refused, saying that Lea must be waiting for her at home. “No need. You just got off work and I'm sure you're tired. Besides, Lea must be waiting for you at home. You're married, so please prioritize your wife.”
“Lea won't be too concerned about that. It's fine if I come home late. But if you still don't want to go to the cafe with me, how about having dinner at my house?”
Jack demurred, but finally offered the alternative of inviting Nina to have dinner at his house. Jack intended to cook for Nina and Lea.
Nina's eyes rounded in disbelief. “Are you okay with that?”
Jack shook his head. Smiling warmly, he patted his little sister's head affectionately. “This time you have to accept it and not refuse.”
***
At home, Lea was surprised to find Jack home with Nina. As soon as she entered the house, Lea looked happy.
“Nina, I didn't know you were coming.” Lea greeted her warmly.
Nina looked a little uncomfortable, but Lea treated her with warmth. The three of them sat down at the dining table, and Jack started cooking as he told her about his childhood with Nina.
“Nina, from a young age, has always been the light in our family,” Jack recounts while stirring soup on the stove. “After mom died when Nina was four years old, things became difficult. Dad remarried, but our stepmother was less attentive, and dad started to get busy on his own. At that time, my maternal aunt offered to take care of Nina and me, but I refused when her lips wanted to take me because I felt I couldn't leave my father. That's why Nina ended up living with our aunt.”
Lea listened attentively, and occasionally made comments that warmed the atmosphere. “I always wanted a little sister,” she said with a genuine smile. “Probably because I'm an only child. So, Nina, you can think of me as a big sister too.”
Nina smiled shyly but seemed pleased by Lea's attention. After dinner, they sat together in the living room, talking more about their lives. Nina recounted how their aunt took loving care of her, but she still missed Jack and their father.
As the night wore on, Jack drove Nina home. After Lea entered the house, Jack and Nina continued their conversation on the terrace.
“Lea is a good woman, brother. I'm glad you married her,” Nina said.
“Yes, she is. And I didn't expect her to be so warm to you,” Jack replied. “I may feel lucky to have her. But now more than ever, I feel happier that you're here, Nina.”
That night, Jack and Nina felt closer than ever. They talked about their childhood, their dreams, and how they would support each other in the future. Jack promised to visit Nina more often, and Nina promised to always be there for Jack.
After Nina left, Jack entered the house feeling calm and happy. Lea greeted him and was seen standing in her place looking at Jack intently. Seeing his wife like that, made Jack curious.
“What's wrong?” Jack asked.
“I know you missed Nina,” Lea said. “I'm glad you can see each other again.”
Jack nodded at his wife's sympathy. “Thank you, Lea. Thank you for not seeming to mind my sister's presence in the house earlier.”
Lea raised one eyebrow. “Did you think I would hate my own sister-in-law, just because we had a forced marriage? No, Nina is just a sweet child I like her, even if I don't like you, I will still like Nina and think of her as my own sister.”
A small smile appeared on Jack's face. “Is that so? It's good to hear that if that's the case. It's late, you should go to bed.” Jack then walked and was about to go to his room.
“Don't push yourself. If you feel tired, you should rest. Remember I'm not saying this because I care about you. I just don't want to see you become a corpse in this house, dying from a pile of work that never gets done,” Lea said coldly.
“Yes, take it easy. You don't have to worry about that. No matter what happens between us, I will try very hard so that you don't feel bothered by my presence in your life. Good night,” Jack said.
Lea was silent, but she still stood where she was. And noticed how her husband's back seemed to be getting farther and farther away from her sight.
“What a freak,” Lea muttered to herself.