Draft

"I'm home ..."

Mia, the twenty five-year-old girl was seen taking off her boots and putting them on a shelf neatly displayed at the door. Then she turned her gaze to her father, Mr. Philip in the bamboo chair. She stared blankly at the wide-spread field in front of him. Finding that the old man was still unaware of her presence, she could only take a deep breath and walked her way into the kitchen to prepare dinner. In the midst of her busy, the woman stared down at her old dad's back from behind the kitchen. It was not a new thing for Mia to find her father who continued to be in his world. In the morning when Mia was about to leave for the field, he already sat idly and accompanied by a flock of birds perched on the top of yellow rice buds. Likewise as twilight began to decorate the expanse of sky blue in the village of Bamburgh, the old man was still unmoved in the same position.

This scene had been going on since he lost his first son. Gary, that's how Mia's brother name, was found murdered in a city street alley a few months ago. Two years ago, he released his only son who dreamed of becoming a successful trader in the capital. Of course, at first, he did not allow his son urbanize to the city because he wanted his son became a successor to his business in coffee and tobacco plantations. Moreover, he was worried to let him go in the midst of a city that had a high crime rate. Yet, his hard hearts melt instantly considering Gary who was a submissive boy and never demanded anything other than that.

"Dad, time for dinner. I've prepared your favorite meals..." Said Mia who was crouched in front of him and hold his sagging fingers tightly.

"Oh, yes." Mr. Philip caught off his reverie and rose slowly from his throne. Although he was almost 70 years old, his footsteps are so agile like a 40-year-old man in general. It was just the physical strength that he got from hoeing a few years old, but not comparable to the hurt he felt today.

"Mia, go to the market tomorrow and buy some seeds and gardens." The old man's exclamiation stopped her new hand from scooping the food into his mouth.

"Dad, tomorrow is a holiday. How about we take a trip to the beach? We also have not visited the beach for a long time, right?" Mia replied with her radiant face. But not with the old man in front of her. He was seen stopping his food activity and staring hard at his daughter.

"How dare you to think like that when this all happened to your brother!" There was a flash of sharp eyes radiated from Mr. Philip.

"Dad, why do you hard like this?! You are not aware that you have fallen into deep sorrow? Why is it so difficult to release sincerely sad departure?" She shouted that was seen holding back her tears.

"It's not until I know the culprit!"

"Dad, please. If you still like this then you will be drowned in misery..."

"..."

"Don't you just think about brother? How about me? Is it because I am not as competent and as brilliant as him, then I am not your precious child anymore? Are you still believe him even though he did not tell us for two years? "

"Do you doubt your brother who is so obedient?"

"Well, then I admit that I'm not the kind of obedient kid that you want anymore ..." Mia replied while leaving him with tears that had wet her face.

But just before Mia entered her room, the ringing of the phone rang loudly that broke the silence between them.

"Hello...."

"Wh-what?"

"Alright, thank you, sir ..."

"Dad, the suspect who killed brother has been found..."

"What did you say?! I will kill the man! " In a hurry, he was packing his bag.

"Stop dad!"

"You are out your mind! How can I let the savages live comfortably! "

"Dad stop it because brother is just as barbaric as they are!"

"Wh-what?"

"Ye-yeah, it's all happened be-because brother was ra-raping her daughter. So, stop this all dad!"

Suddenly Mr. Philip bowed weakly while feeling his chest all of a sudden tightness. Unknowingly he shed tears of disappointment and Mia who embraced her in the silence of the night.

 

Iffah Fikzia

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