"Where's the pancakes?!" Someone shouted.

"OMG! Please wait! We still make the order."

Hello there, my name is Alice Ram, just call me Alice and ignore my surname. I had long since given up my surname, and lived as Alice alone. Right now, I'm busy with the crowds of customers who come to the cafe where I work. It was so crowded that we were all overwhelmed. "Alice! Don't daydream!" A menu book floated into my head. I winced in pain and threw the book back at her. "Aww! Hey, I'm your boss! Have a little respect why?" She said angryly.

"Sigh, I don't think of you as a boss!" I say lazy. That woman is my friend and owner of this cafe, her name is Seira Reika. The name of this cafe is taken from her name 'Seira's Cafetaria'. Seira has a chubby face and glasses, shoulder-length short hair, white skin and thick eyebrows. His body is full but not fat, a little taller than me, it feels soft when you hug her.

"It's very crowded!" The tall man sat in the corner after all the customers had stopped ordering. The man who complained, his name was Nonilo Bellamy. His face is handsome but unfortunately too childish. Of the three of us, Nonilo was the tallest. If we were standing at the same height, we would form three steps.

"Alice, do you have free time after work?" Ask Nonilo with a happily face.

"No!" Seira quickly replied.

"I asked Alice! Not you!" Nonilo was annoyed with Seira and a fight broke out between them. All the employees here are used to this kind of scene. Every day, there is no such thing as not fighting for the two of them, at every opportunity there must be something for them to fight. So often, we'd say "Well, they'll be fine in a minute." After the fight, they will make up in five minutes. But the next day there will be another war, continue like that until they are tired of themselves.

"Alice? My question hasn't been answered yet," Nonilo scowled, still fighting with Seira.

"No, why you ask?" I asked.

"Then, do you want to come to the painting exhibition with me? I have 3 idle tickets," said Nonilo excitedly. He took out 3 small pieces of paper and handed them to each of us. Nonilo again asked if we wanted to go with him or not, Seira excitedly answered yes. I still hesitant to join, on the ticket paper, it was written the name of the family I really wanted to avoid. "Hendrix," I mumbled quietly.

"Alice?" Seira asked who didn't hear my muttering.

"Never mind. Let's go there," I said with a fake smile. The two adults in front of me screamed with joy.

...****************...

After Nonilo and I finished our working shifts, the three of us went straight to the exhibition site by bus. Nonilo was constantly nagging when he found out how full the bus was. "Even though now it's not work time, but it's very crowded," he said annoyed at having to stand with the pressure of other passengers. Me and Seira lazily rolled our eyes, lazy to hear Nonilo's chirping like birds chirping.

"Oh, we stop here." Nonilo pressed the button for the bus to stop. With a happy face and occasionally humming, Nonilo went in first, followed by Seira behind him. I was still standing in front of the gold-painted building, and reading the nameplate on it. "Hendrix," I said wearily. I took a mask from my bag that I had prepared earlier, and put it on.

I went inside with an overwhelming sense of doubt mixed with fear. But that feeling instantly disappeared when i saw the contents of the building which was so luxurious. Just entered, I was greeted with a red carpet that stretched along the hall. Fountain in the left corner with vines on each side. The smell of the room was so sweet, like honey and chewing gum. But what caught my attention the most were the long paintings on each wall.

"This painting is similar to the style of that man's painting."

I walked down the hall while looking at one by one the paintings on the walls. My steps stopped when I saw a painting that was so crowded with visitors. Ahh, looks like that painting is the main topic today, I thought. Many reporters gathered there, even I myself could not see the painting clearly. Because I was curious, I tiptoed my feet to look at the painting. The painting contains a woman who have a beautiful and charming face. Her smile was wide and formed an eyesmile on her face. Beautiful, but so familiar to my eyes. It felt like I'd seen her somewhere, but didn't know where.

I put my feet back down and intended to look at another painting. But I didn't have time to look to the side, as one of the reporters with a camera walked towards me. Brakk. He hit me and I fell to the floor. He quickly gave his camera to his friend and helped me. Just as I took his hand, there was a hand grip that pulled me up. "Uahhh!!" I screamed in surprise. The reporter and I looked at the person who grabbed my hand earlier. "Are you okay? I'm so sorry," asked the reporter worriedly.

"Oh yes, thank you. It's okay, it's my fault," I said turning my head to him. The reporter apologized once again and continued his work. I turned my body to the man who had pulled me, "Ehmm, thank you earlier," I said while cleaning my clothes.

"You're welcome."

My hands stopped, I was surprised when I heard his low baritone voice. My eyes opened wide when I saw the face of the person who helped me earlier.bHis blue eyes met my brown eyes. His firm jaw made me gape in surprise. Suddenly all the things that I used to be hard to forget, now come back by themselves. My legs were weak, he immediately caught my hand when I suddenly wanted to fall.

Congested.

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked worriedly. I hate his voice, his voice immediately filled my mind. "Devano?" I spoke softly, but he could still hear me. "This voice? Alice?!"

From what started as a soft grip, it turned into a firm grip. He grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him. He stared intently at my face which still covered by the mask. "Alice, right?" he asked, he grabbed the mask I was wearing and took it off. "Alice!" He shouted, instantly both of us became the center of attention. The reporters started pointing their cameras at the two of us.

I hate cameras!!

"Let go!" I grabbed his hand roughly and ran away from him.

"Alice!!" Call him. He didn't chase. He couldn't catch up with me because the reporters had surrounded him. He just called my name and told me to stop. But I don't care, only security pays attention. They tried to stop me, but were blocked by Nonilo and Seira who came out of nowhere.

"Don't touch her."

"Thanks Nonilo!! Seira!!"

I don't want to see him again.

I've been sitting in the cafe where I work for 2 hours. Seira and Nonilo still hadn't returned from the exhibition. After leaving there, I didn't know where to go, so I decided to return to Seira's cafe. The workers there looked at me confused and worried, it was because I had finished 2 cups of milk coffee and 2 plates of strawberry cake. Now I'm back to ordering my 3rd strawberry cake. Seira's cafe is quite far from Hendrix's studio, maybe he won't find me here.

That man name is Devano Hendrix. He is tall and sturdy too. His handsome face and firm jaw always managed to make women fall in love. Aside from his face, his navy blue irises are the most conspicuous. It's so beautiful when you look closely. He was the eldest son of a respectable family, the Hendrix family. He is an older brother to a younger sister named Nora Hendrix. From what I heard, he's the only one who inherited his family's company, and became the youngest CEO and genius in the history of his company. But I never heard that he also became a painter.

"I thought Nora was the one who became the painter, but instead her brother."

Now I remember why I felt I knew the woman in that painting. Actually I know her. Her name is Soraya, there is no family name like me now. Her smile is exactly the same as the painting I saw earlier, her wide smile and her eyesmile are so cute. She is a woman with a strong heart. Not only strong, but also filled with kindness. But sadly, she's already dead. At our seventeenth year, she died. She never come back.

"I think Devano still likes Soraya."

After finishing my third cake, I went to the cashier and paid for my order. I also decided to go from Seira's cafe to the beach which was quite far from there. I did not use any vehicle there, just walked using my two feet. A lot of time has passed, and the world has changed a lot. There used to be a lot of wild plants growing around the road, but now, many tall buildings have been built. In the past, the streets were not crowded, now there are traffic jams everywhere. Time has passed, but nothing has changed in me. Still a coward as ever.

When i arrive at the beach, I took off my shoes and immediately sat in the beach gazebo, staring straight at the rushing waves. It is now half past six in the afternoon, sitting and waiting for the twilight to appear on the surface. In the past, when Soraya still alive, the three of us used to come to the beach just to see the sunset, which she loved so much. I, Devano, and Soraya, we always sat on the beach, littering our school uniforms with sand. Soraya always hummed a song when the twilight had begun to appear, she would look very excited when the twilight was fully visible. "Tomorrow, we'll see it again!" She would say that after the twilight was out of sight. At first, I didn't like the sunset or the beach. But all that changed when I got to know the twilight maniac, Soraya. From then, my eyes got used to seeing that beautiful sight.

It's my first time to the beach after 4 months back from Japan. Everything changes, but this beach stays like this. On the other side, I could see the old me sitting with Soraya and Devano. I could see Soraya jumping up and down for joy because of the twilight. In fact, I can still hear the hum of the song she used to hum. Her hum was so soft, warm, and soothing. I've carved out too many memories here, that I can't run away from this city forever.

I looked at the clock which showed 5:55, the twilight starting to appear. My eyes opened wide when I saw the twilight that was so beautiful that radiated and hit my body. I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of the light for a moment. Suddenly, I felt that the light was blocked by something, I opened my eyes, and saw someone standing in front of me.

"Alice?"

"Devano?" I call his name.

The blonde haired boy lowered his body, bringing me into his arms. "Don't run," he said, looking at my face. He brought his face closer and closer until there was no more distance between us. I suddenly turned my face away from him when I saw how close my lips were to his. "What?" I said annoyed and pushed his body.

"Why? Why did you run earlier?" he asked with a flat face but listless.

"Why? Do I have to answer your question?" Ask me with an anoyed face.

Silence.jpg

The atmosphere between the two of us turned to silence. He didn't speak, just looked at my face straightly. I feel uncomfortable with the look in his eyes that seemed sad. I immediately put my shoes on and quickly got out of there. Staying near him will make my condition even more awkward, I better get out of here. But only 3 steps I moved from the gazebo I was sitting in, someone held my hand and pulled me roughly, crashing into his chest area quickly. Of course, who else if not Devano is the culprit.

"What the hell?" I say annoyed.

He gripped my hand tighter, his head lowered, as if he didn't want to see my face. "The twilight, not gone yet," he said then raised his head and pointed at the beautiful twilight. "I don't care, I want to go home," I said trying to get my hands off him.

"Don't go, accompany me to see the sunset. Like before," he pleaded with a pitiful face. I relented, I pulled him to sit on the beach. Like we did with Soraya before. Devano seemed to enjoy the twilight, occasionally he hummed, singing the song Soraya always sings here. I turned my gaze to the other side, not daring to look at his face.

"Why do I have to see him again?" I asked in my heart.

After a few minutes, the sun was gone. I went to leave because the sun was already finished. But again, he stopped me by holding my hand. "What again? Twilight is gone," I said lazily.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I want to go home. It's late," I replied.

"Let me take you," he pleaded and dragged me to his car. I refused, but my feet seemed to want to go with him. We stopped in the parking car, I was surprised to see his car is so luxurious, a very elegant black sports car. "Enter!" He drove his car after he asked my home address and I answered. During the trip, the two of us remained silent. No one seemed to intend to break this silence. It's awkward, but I'm used to it when I'm with him.

It's too troublesome

We stopped at a small cream-painted house and its large yard. This is my house. Initially I had to spend the night for one week at the hotel. Because I thought I was too extravagant, so I was looking for a small but decent house to live in. Then I met and instantly fell in love with this house. Small, but the yard is so wide.

"This is your house?" He asked.

"Yes," I answered properly and opened to the car door. Devano pulled my hand again, I sighed annoyed with him. "What again Devano?" I asked angrily. "You didn't invite me to come in?" He asked. I took a deep breath, "Want to come in?" I offer him. He nodded and immediately turned off the engine. I opened the gate of the house, and Devano followed me from behind. While opening the door, Devano walked around my yard which I had filled with beautiful roses. "Devano," I called and used a glance in my eyes to tell him to come in. He nodded. He went inside and sat on my red sofa. I grind the coffee beans and brew them, serving the coffee to him.

"Try this," I said, handing him a cup of hot coffee.

"Delicious. Instant coffee? Or do you make your own?" he asked and drank one more time.

"Made myself," I said proudly.

"Nice." He put the cup back on the table, and turned his head left and right. Explore every inch of my tiny house. "Your house is so small," he taunted. I gave an ignorant gesture with my body. "Yeahh sorry, if my house isn't as big as your house that has a swimming pool on the yard."

My attention was focused on the black coffee at the edge of his lips. Unconsciously my hand moved to clean the coffee from his mouth. But he brushed my hand away roughly and gave me a horrified look. It's obvious that he doesn't like me touching his face. "Ahh, sorry. My hands are moving on their own," I said awkwardly and pulled my hand away, hiding it behind the table. He was still looking at me in horror, while his right hand took a handkerchief in the left pocket of his jacket. He cleaned his own mouth.

"When did you come back here?" He asked.

"I didn't want to tell you," I replied, turning my face away from him.

"Does Ezekiel know you're here?"

"No," I answered clearly. "Don't tell him I'm here. He'll definitely be mad at me."

"You don't want to see him?" He asked. "I'm sure, he must miss you. You've been gone for 5 years."

"Is that what you think? I'm sure he must have hated me for leaving him alone with my bad family."

"Alice, what's your reason for going to Japan?"

I was silent, my eyes widened at the man who was sitting with a sharp intimidating aura. I was shocked, how did he know that for the past 5 years I was in Japan. I fled to Japan and threw away my surname, no one knew about it. Even the only family I have, Ezekiel, he doesn't even know that I'm in Japan. Then how could he know that?

"You went to Japan to escape right?"

"H-how could you? How did you know I was in Japan all this time?" I asked and gave him a savage look.

"You forgot who I am? I have a lot of spies in my company. All I have to do is tell them to find you, and boom!! It worked." He flashed me a triumphant smile.

He unbuttoned his navy blue coat and stood up and walked over to me. "What do you want?" I asked warily.

"Why did you come back here?" he asked and loosened the tie around his neck. Showing the nape of his neck freely. "Alice, are you provoking my patience?" His hand reached for my shoulder, pulled me and whispered the words. "You really want to be killed by me, don't you? To the point that you come to me alone?"

He tossed the brown envelope and told me to read it. He walked towards the door of the house and left me with a blank mind. I quickly opened the envelope he gave me earlier, how surprised I was when I saw the contents. The writing on several sheets of paper included my name and photo. Starting from my name, date of birth, blood type, where I lived while in Japan, and the things I often did in Japan. Turns out it's true, he really spying on me, isn't this an invasion of privacy? Can I sue him in court by showing this envelope?

"That's impossible! The trust is, he will bring up Soraya's murder case again, and i'll be the one at fault."

...****************...

I sat on the edge of the window holding a glass of star pictures filled with hot chocolate. Right now, I was looking out of the window, looking straight at my flowers and yard that was wet with rain. Now, it is raining heavily in this city. Several times thunder sounded in my ears, and the internet network began to be disrupted. I looked at my computer screen that was on and showed a few paragraphs of writing.

While in Japan, I became a writer, and had a pen name as "Allie". Actually, it's not a pen name, Allie is a nickname that Ezekiel gave me. Ezekiel once said that he was the only one who could call me by that nickname. But now, I use that name to support my financial. To be honest, I purposely used that name while in Japan. Because if I use the name Allie, I will remember home, and remember my only dear little brother.

He's the only family I have. After the car accident that left both of our parents dead. At that time, I was 10 years old and Ezekiel still 7 years old, had to be taken care of by my father's brother's family. I thought they would be nice to us, but they just used our inheritance arbitrarily. I still remember how sad Ezekiel's voice was crying in my lap when his body was full of bruises from being beaten by our uncle. I even remember how we fell asleep on the floor and hugged each other with a tear on our face.

And i would say, "Don't worry, when I grow up, I will take you away from this family."

I'd be lying if I didn't miss him. I really miss him. I want to meet with him, even if only once. I don't care about how he feels about his sister who has left him alone with family matters that should be mine. But I'm sure, if it's Ezekiel. He could have done it all by himself, even without my help. Devano said that Ezekiel must really miss me, but for some reason, I doubt it. After everything I did to him, he must hate me. I also don't want him to meet me, not when I've failed to be his older sister.