Episode 7

Arriving at the school, Sean stepped out of the car first, before Ajeng had a chance to open the door for him.

Ajeng even had to hurry out to catch up with Sean, who had left without uttering a single word of farewell to his father.

"We're off then, Dad!" said Ajeng, bowing her head respectfully.

Reza was momentarily stunned; for some reason, witnessing Ajeng in such a manner made him feel as though he had acquired a new child.

Moreover, Ajeng's petite frame made her appear as if she were still attending elementary school.

Reza didn't respond to any of it until Ajeng eventually slammed the door shut with considerable force.

Bang!

Truly, Ajeng hadn't meant to do it. It was purely a reflex, a result of her rush to follow Sean.

"Sen! Wait for sister Ajeng, please."

Sean remained silent.

"Why didn't you say goodbye to dad earlier? Remember to do it next time, okay?"

Sean continued his silence, persistently walking until he finally joined his friends.

He began to talk and to laugh, seemingly oblivious to Ajeng's presence.

Patience, seek forgiveness internally. Ajeng thought, managing a smile and a wave as Sean began to enter his classroom. Meanwhile, she waited in the visitor's area, which the school had prepared.

From her seat there, Ajeng could still hear the sounds of Sean's classroom activities.

From drawing, identifying different animals, to playing cat and mouse.

Among the numerous bursts of childlike laughter, Ajeng couldn't seem to hear Sean's laugh.

Driven by curiosity, Ajeng dared herself to peek, observing Sean maintain a stoic expression even while taking part in the activities.

At 10 o'clock, the class ended.

Sean's classmates exited joyously, while Sean did not. He offered only a small smile and said goodbye to the teacher before approaching Ajeng.

"Sister Ajeng, I'm tired; could you carry my bag, please?"

"Sure," Ajeng replied obediently and eagerly.

They left the school together, with Sean’s car already waiting outside, the driver standing by ready to welcome them.

Ajeng sat in the front again, per Mr. Reza's instructions that she must always sit there.

"Sister Ajeng, I want skewered meatballs; you'll buy them for me later, won't you?"

"Sure, where from?"

"It's just up ahead there."

"Okay."

The car drove on, far from the school's vicinity, even taking a different route from the morning's journey, as now Sean wanted to buy his favorite skewered meatballs.

"There, sister!" Sean pointed out.

The driver slowly brought the car to a halt.

Ajeng got out of the car alone. Meanwhile, Sean watched from within, observing sister Ajeng still queuing.

"Let's go," Sean said, his gaze turning icy. No matter how good sister Ajeng was to him, Sean didn't want to be accompanied by a caregiver.

He wished it was his mother with him on such occasions, not someone else.

"But Sean, sister Ajeng is still outside," responded Deri, the driver.

"I said let's go, didn't you hear?"

Deri had no response to that. Even though he felt very guilty towards Ajeng, eventually, he pressed down on the accelerator pedal yet again.

Before long, the car resumed its journey, truly leaving Ajeng alone there.

"What? Why is the car leaving!" Ajeng panicked; she turned to verify the wellbeing of her charge, only to discover the car driving away without her.

Anxious, Ajeng began to run, even though she hadn't managed to buy the skewered meatballs.

"Sen!!"