STAHD 5

I woke up, not because I had to wake up early to go to the market. I just can't , I couldn't sleep well. I was sleeping, but I was also waking up. Nightmares of whatever happened to me. What happened came back again and again. I Ignore it. But it came back on it's own. I didn't know that there were tears running down my cheek if I hadn't felt a hand caressing my cheek. I looked at my brother, Anorld, he seemed to have woken up because of me.

"Sister, is there a problem? I woke up because I heard you sobbing." He said sadly , still caressing my cheek. I quickly hugged him and kissed his head.

"Sister is fine, just go back to sleep."

"Did you have a bad dream that made you cry?" His face looked up at me, I laughed at his cute face so I gently pinched his nose.

"Yes, it is said that someone wants to take you away from me. They want Arjun and Arnold, they will keep you both away from me." I answered sadly. He shook his head.

"We won't go without you, that's a promise! Arjun and I both believe you are the best sister in the whole wide world!"

My smile turned into laughter. I hugged him tightly and he did the same.

"Thank you,baby I promise to do everything for you two. I will not leave you!" I looked up when I felt the impending tears. I smiled when I felt a hug from behind me.

"I love you Sister!" Arjun from my back, and hugged me tighter. He also seemed to have woken up because of me and Arnold.

"We love you very much Sister, don't leave us." Arnold's words brought me to tears.

"That's a promise! Ate won't leave you, Ate loves you too! You'll always remember that okay!"

Because it was almost morning, I didn't sleep anymore and just got up after watching the twins who fell asleep again. I went to the bathroom and washed myself, then went to the kitchen. I sat down to see that it was still quite dark outside. I'll cook later, I should be at the market by this time. But because of what happened, I decided not to leave the house. It's good for sure, later I'll talk to my aunt and uncle again. If they don't willing to leave here, I will be forced to leave with my two brothers. I don't want them to get involved in the trouble. It's better for me not to leave my brothers.

I sighed and stood up and started cleaning the living room. After that, I cooked breakfast when the sky started to lighten. When I finished cooking and put what I cooked on the table, the twins were already awake.

"Good morning Sister!" They are together. I smiled when I saw that they were both still rubbing their eyes. I approached them and ruffled their messy hair.

"Good morning, go wash up so we can eat breakfast!"

I said and I looked at their faces in surprise. Then they looked at each other, their eyes talked as if they were the only ones who understood each other. Then they faced me together.

"You're here Sister, you didn't leave!?"

I was taken back by their simultaneous shout, I smiled and approached them again.

"And why am I leaving? Didn't Ate promise that I wouldn't leave?"

"We know that. But don't you have a job? Didn't you go to the market today?"

Arnold answered which made me smile. I thought what they were saying was that I would not leave them.

"Ate will stay here first, so you can be with me. Don't you want that!" I grinned.

"Of course I want to, it's better when you're here. We won't miss you!"

My eyes watered at what Arjun said. I stood up and led them to the bathroom.

"Ate won't leave today for work so wash up so we can eat!"

They followed and gave each other water from the small container . My throat hurt from holding back tears so I went to the kitchen first to wait for them there. Because of what happened, I became very emotional. If it was when my mother disappeared, I would have been able to be strong. But when it was at her funeral that I couldn't up. The tears that I thought would never come out, all poured out there. I took a deep breath and wiped my tears. I need to be strong. I can't be weak. Especially now, my brothers need me.

When the twins approached, I was already smiling and filled their plate with food. I only cooked simple fried rice and eggs. They are not picky about food. As long as what is on the table. They will eat it, especially ' when their favorite is fried chicken. After eating, they left and said goodbye to the two children who were going to our aunt house. I gave them a look before starting to wash the food we ate.

"Nerissa!"

I turned to the one who called my name and saw her. I wiped my hand and approached her who didn't enter the house and was just at the door.

" Tiyang, good morning."

She shook her head and directed me to follow her. Even though I was wondering, I just followed. We entered their house and there we caught up with three children playing snake and ladder. My Aunt and I went straight to their kitchen, she led me to sit on the opposite chair where uncle was also sitting having coffee. I looked at my brothers and cousin who were having fun in the living room, I could see the living room from here in the kitchen and it was a little far away.

"Your aunt told me what happened. I'm sorry for what happened, and I wish your father was here to answer our questions. But he's unlikely to show up, especially now. What's your plan, because if you ask me. It's better that we leave it to the authorities."

I was immediately shaken by the last thing uncle said.

"We're leaving, I'm going to keep my brothers away from here!"

I wa determined , I really don't trust the police. And I have a reason why.

"Nerissa, calm down. Don't rush your decision. Those children are also my nephew . And I will not allow them to be far from me!"

"But tita, they are my brothers too, and I will not allow them to be away from me. I would rather perish, seeing them being taken away ! So if you don't want to leave, we will be the ones to leave."

She shook her head at my answer, she and uncle looked at each other.

"Nerissa, what if you are the only target of the men who want to take you n—"

"—Your know tita, you also said that men in black come here. And I'm not stupid enough not to know their purpose! When I enter the restaurant, there are always men following me. It's out there, there's always a van waiting. Let's not turn a blind eye to what's going on. Whatever trouble dad got into, it's not just a matter of course!"

I started to cry remembering what happened to me again. The things that have been happening in the past few days that I tried to ignore. But now, I can't ignore what's happening anymore. Tiyang attended me and hugged me. I know she also noticed,there's always the van on the other side of the road and looks like a look out.

"We will find a way to get you and your brothers away from here . For now let's let the police do their work."

I nodded against my will. I really don't trust the police, but since there's nothing we can do right now, I have no choice. We were separated from each other's embrace when uncle spoke.

"If you want, go to my sisters province first. Maybe those men won't be able to follow you!"

We looked at each other and tiyang returned to where she was sitting and was already concentrating talked to her husband .

"Are you sure, isn't that far from civilization. Nerissa will have a hard time finding a job there."

She told her husband , and uncle held his wife's hand.

"There is a plantation there, so she can apply there." Tiyang nodded and smiled sadly at him.

"Is that all right, Nerissa?"

I nodded at Tiyang's question.

"Of course, the important thing is that we get away from here."

She also nodded and she and uncle started talking while I listened. He said he was going to call his sister who lives in their province first. He left the kitchen and said that he would call her now.

We're left, me and tiyang. I smiled at her and he stood up from his seat and came to me.

"Once your uncle has talked to his sister, she will surely agree. I will send you, we can't leave the house. I hope you understand, those men will do us no good .Also, your uncle doesn't want to leave here either, he says they will kill each other before they can get any of us. But you want to leave so we won't stop you. It looks like you've made up your mind, all I can advise is be careful always.”

She said and hugged me, I was very grateful and she agreed to let us go. Uncle talked to his sister and agreed that we will be there the next day. We will leave tomorrow. Uncle also left to get our tickets. He didn't let us out anymore and I just arranged things our clothes to bring.

The day of our departure came and I was nervous. Fely also came early to help us with the things. We talked on the cell phone last night and I told her about my decision. She wanted to go with us at the terminal, and would still like to go with us where we are going.

"If you're coming, what about your mother?"

She gasped in what I said.

"By the way, I can't leave my mother at that drunkard ! I still have a cell phone, and when I'm free. I'll visit you, I'll miss you!"

She said and hugged me, then hugged the twins too. I laughed at the faces of the twins when Fely hugged them, both were frowning. I lost my smile when I remembered their reaction when I told them we're going somewhere.

They asked why we had to leave. My only answer was that we were going on vacation. That was the same reason they tiyang had given to them before. The twins were very happy to know that we were just going on vacation. That's all they knew, better.

We took the things outside because uncle called us and the to ride was there. The twins went first because they were both excited, still shouting and obviously really excited. We were carrying our other bags, and Fely was with me who was also carrying our other things. I stopped when Fely stopped and took a deep breath. I looked at her in wonder.

"Fely?"

"Bes!"

Her eyes were big and she was looking ahead. I followed her gaze, I also gasped at what I saw. I let go of the bag I was holding in both hands and my feet went soft,that I kneel down. I'm in tears shaking my head looking at my brothers and tiyang who are also shaking their heads crying, my brothers who are also silently crying. "

" I told you to go along properly so no one else gets hurt!"

He said smirking . They got ahead of us!