1 The Beginning
South Continent, Java City, 2016. [Four Years before prologue.]
A high school in the South Continent is having a graduation party for third-grade of high school students.
A beautiful young woman with unblemished skin and a slender body runs into the arms of her lover. The man gives a hug that is no less tight. Before the young woman can congratulate him, he tells her about the shocking news.
"I'm leaving to study abroad, Beb." He says with a wide smile. He has a scholarship to the best university in West Continent. (In this story, the world is divided into four major continents, North, South, West, and East.)
Liffi is stunned to hear the news from Ace, a senior whom she had been dating for the past three months. Liffi is supposed to be happy because she knows that it was Ace's dream. But, why? Why is her heart feeling so tight when she hears the news?
"When are you leaving, Ace?" Liffi hides her worries with a sweet smile.
"Next weekend." Ace hugs Liffi. Liffi feels a sense of warmth and a light vibe running through her body, she doesn't know how to react, happy or sad.
"Just wait for me for four years, okay." Ace whispers in Liffi's ear.
Liffi's face blushes, a reddish hue covers the line of her cheekbones, expressing her happy mood. It turns out that Ace does not decide to break with her and asks her to wait.
"Although it's not expensive, but let this ring be a reminder of our relationship, Liffi." Ace gives a silver ring to Liffi and puts it on Liffi's ring finger.
Liffi is pleased. Even though they have to be LDR (long-distance relationship), Liffi still happy. Ace is Liffi's first love. For the cute girl who grew up in an orphanage, Ace's love makes her life becomes much more colorful. She no longer has to keep everything alone, there is a tough figure that she can share stories.
It is only four years.
Four years, that's not a long time.
Liffi only has to wait.
These thoughts make Liffi has faith in Ace's love for her. She lets go of her lover to study outbound, twenty hours at different times.
Ace continues to contact Liffi every day, by chat or call. Liffi is pleased when she receives and hears Ace's voice on the phone.
However, Liffi's happiness does not last long.
It begins with infrequent communication.
Once a week.
Once every two weeks.
Then once a month.
Liffi doesn't ask many questions ...
Not because Liffi doesn't want to ask, but Liffi is afraid of losing Ace. Fear of being labeled as a possessive, restrictive, and demanding girl. Liffi believes Ace's love for her is not that shallow.
A year later, Ace has disappeared. Lost contact, Liffi never receives his call anymore, and there is never a notification light that lights up in Ace's photo on Liffi's smartphone.
Liffi is sad, but still brushes off the negative thinking in her mind.
***** THE TWINS' PET *****
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Light of Love Orphanage House, 2018.
After the school hours, several children rush into the orphanage and occupy their rooms. They change clothes and prepare to go to the central hall for lunch. Usual schedule in the orphanage.
But there is one who does not do it. She is a beautiful teenager named Liffi. The girl enters the office of the head of the orphanage.
"Mother." Liffi greets the old nun who is busy stitching a torn shirt.
"Yes, Dear? Come in here!" She pats the empty sofa seat beside her.
"Sister Liffi got a scholarship, Mother!! Abroad!!" Suddenly Jaya, a younger brother of Liffi, who is also an orphanage child, enters and seizes the chance to say this good news.
Jaya kisses the back of Mother Asri's hand and hugs her.
"Jaya!! I wanted to tell Mother by myself," Liffi says to her brother.
"Really, Liffi?" Mother Asri's face looks excited.
"Yes, Mother. Liffi got a full scholarship at West Technology and Science University." Liffi takes out an announcement sheet legalized by the domestic and foreign education office stamps. Liffi gets a scholarship at the university where Ace studied.
"Congratulations, Darling. You're great," Mother Asri's praise makes Liffi's face becomes sad.
"But who will help you take care of the kids?" Liffi's face looks sluggish, her eyebrows knit together.
"It's okay, dear. Your future is much more important. Jaya is also getting older. You can help Mother, right, Jaya?" Mother Asri looks at Jaya.
"That's all right, Sister. Reach your dream to be a world-class architect." Jaya opens his arms wide, showing how big the world is.
"Thank you, Mother." Liffi hugs Mother Asri with great affection.
"You're welcome, Dear. Prepare yourself well. You are alone there. You have to work hard, Liffi."
"Yes, Mother."
"Take care of your health. Send news often, OK?" Mother Asri hugs Liffi tighter. Liffi nods while crying with emotion.
***** THE TWINS' PET *****
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West Continent, Fog City, Downtown.
Liffi shoves her suitcase into a small apartment building. Located close to her campus, Liffi can reach there in a fifteen minutes walk. Liffi looks at the flat, and then swallows her saliva. This is the first time she lived alone, she used to be surrounded by her younger siblings at the orphanage before. Crowded and boisterous. It hasn't been a week and Liffi has been missing them already.
Silence accompanies Liffi. It's only the clacking sound of worn wooden floors and locked doors that will accompany her days from now on. Liffi doesn't complain, she rushes to organize her things.
After done. Liffi lays down on the bed, hard but comfortable enough. At least she doesn't have to share the bed with her sibling anymore. Liffi closes her eyes for a moment, resting after a long air trip that drained her time and energy.
[You can do it, Liffi.] She tries to cheer up herself.
***** THE TWINS' PET *****
