Chapter 28

"Matt your dad had a heart attack." I immediately returned home and went to the hospital where Dad was taken.

As soon as I heard what my uncle said, I didn't think twice about going to see him.

"Matt!" Mama called me while her eyes were puffy. I approached him with a heavy step. My whole body seemed to be softening and weak from the sudden event.

He hugged me tightly and that's when I heard Mama's loud crying.

Dad is still almost in the ICU and the doctor told us that there is a chance that his whole body will be paralyzed.

When I heard about that, it was as if a big wall fell on my back and all my dreams in life suddenly crumbled and disappeared in an instant.

I just sat in the waiting area and bowed my head.

"Matt, what are we going to do? where are we going to get money from your dad? almost, I've spent all of our savings for your college." Mama promised me anxiously. I was not speechless right away and my mind was confused.

Just for a few moments, I suddenly felt a vibration from my pants pocket. I groped and picked up the cellphone and when I looked at the phone screen, I received a text message from the university I enrolled in.

Congratulations! you passed the entrance exam for Fine arts course! said the text message I received.

Almost suddenly I felt depressed and pitied myself. I just bowed my head again with tears in my eyes.

What I've been dreaming about for a long time is here. I can start what I have been waiting for a long time. I worked hard for a long time just so that I could pass the course I wanted without difficulty. But it is unclear if that will happen. It looks like I'm really just dreaming.

"Don't worry Mom. I still have something hidden here, maybe that will be enough for what we spend on Dad." I tearfully promised him. He held me in both hands and wiped the tears that fell from my face.

"I'm sorry, Matt. I would love to help you and continue your studies, but you must understand the difficulty of our situation right now, right?" he said and I just nodded my head. He hugged me again and that's when I realized the weight I was feeling.

I want to be angry and lost. But what can I do, everything has happened. I will not be able to return to a good situation what happened.

But there is still a little pain in my heart. Because I regret so much every time I think about going to college.

I almost prepared hard for that course and then just now a big problem happened in our family.

There was nothing I could do, but accept the truth. I gave Mama all the money I had saved for my college and also for the future of me and Furi.

I was going to sell it as a proposal ring for our upcoming wedding anniversary.

I asked Tito and Mama for a favor, that they don't tell Furi about what happened. I don't want him to worry about me and I want him to focus only on his studies.

That's why the day I found out that he also passed his entrance exam in college, it was as if I suddenly became smaller.

I could clearly see the joy and happiness in his eyes. But I couldn't smile or even be happy for him.

I have so many thoughts and problems. I'm almost confused, what should I do first of the two. Is it my own family that needs me more now? or the girl I dream of being with for life?

I think I'm stuck with the two most important things in my life. I am the only one who is expected in our family, but the future of Furi and I also depends on me.

That's why I immediately looked for a job. I did not inform him about that. Because I'm afraid that he might suddenly change his view of me and just leave me.

So I thought of working hard to earn a living. I scratched in the morning and I got a part time job at a convenience store every night at seven o'clock.

I didn't put up with sleepiness and tiredness just to be able to balance my responsibility as a son with my parents and boyfriend for Furi.

I often come home to find him sleeping. I'm going to rest for a few hours and I'm going to prepare his breakfast right away, then I'm going to take him to our corner so that somehow I can reassure myself that he can leave safely and get on the jeep.

That way at least I can still be her boyfriend. After he left, I would hurry to enter the restaurant where I was working.

There is still trepidation and fear in my heart every time I think of my secret from him. I know one day he will also know the whole truth about me keeping a secret.

Three months later. Dad has regained consciousness, but as his doctor told us, there is a chance that he will be paralyzed. Almost even his speech was impaired by his illness, which is why Mama and I both felt heavier.

His vigorous and healthy body suddenly collapsed and gave way. It's so hard and heartbreaking to see your parents struggling.

It's like you're confused and don't know what to do. I also pray to God for their health and safety almost every day. But sometimes, I also get asked about him. Why, among the many bad people in this world, why did this serious situation happen to us?

In the past, when I used to watch the scenes in the movie of people getting angry inside the church and shouting at the heavens, I could only ask myself.

Why do they always blame the misfortunes happening in their lives on top? almost the only thing he does is to listen to all the requests and prayers we ask him.

However, now I am here in this situation. I feel like I understand how some people feel. It seems that I also want to shout and get angry at him, but who am I to blame him for what is happening? I know that this is really a part of life and I will overcome every test.

Everything has a limit and you just have to be strong but all your accumulated strength will be wasted. Everything will just be ignored and you will come off as a loser.

That's why for five months I just kept working. Even though I felt tired in my body, I still endured and continued.

Little by little we are able to solve our problems. Until we brought Dad home.

His body is still the same. Weak and always lying down. But Mama does not neglect him. She takes care of him and reads him his favorite jokes. In that way, the sadness that Dad feels in his heart will be reduced. We know that he is also shocked by what happened and every time he stares at me, I can read in his eyes what he wants to tell me.

Sorry son. Sorry, Matt. That's what he said with his eyes on me. So I just smiled and held his hand tightly.

"Just fight, Dad. Don't give up, we can do it." I always remind him. Even though he couldn't tell me the words he wanted to say directly, I could see in his eyes that he was ready to fight for life and he would try to regain his old strength.

When we got Dad home, I felt like a thorn was pulled out of my heart. My feeling has also eased and I am now reassured by what I see in him now.

When he was in the hospital, I was almost restless every time I caught some nurses running in the ICU or in the emergency room.

I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack every time I see such a scene. I suddenly run to the room where Dad is and I can only breathe a sigh of relief when I make sure that he is in his room with Mom.

But now that his doctor has allowed him to go home and recover at home, it only means that he is okay. His body is slowly recovering and I am happy because God did not abandon us even though I doubted his ability a little.

FIVE months have passed since Matteus started working in a restaurant. While his girlfriend, Furi, is studying at the college university.

Unbeknownst to the girl, her boyfriend did not continue his studies due to a sudden incident in his family. He had no idea that he was struggling to work every day and he had given up on his dreams just to provide for his family's needs.

However, all secrets have limits.

Furi was walking around that day, with his new friends and classmates. Among them are Kiko and Nasher who have also become close to them.

"Hey, Kiko! what, where are you going to free us?" Tanya suddenly turned to the two young men who were following behind them.

"Wait, why me? I didn't ask you out but this Nasher!" he responded while pointing to his friend who was still on his shoulder.

"Hey, Nash! what? don't tell me we're just going to walk around here all day." Tanya always promised him. Furi turned to them for a moment and the young man was shocked when they both looked at the girl.

"I'm hungry." He said weakly.

"Ahh.. we're already here!" Nasher just said as he pointed to the restaurant right across from them.

"You mean, here?" Tanya asked him and the young man just nodded his head.

"Wow dude! Why do you seem so gallant now?" Kiko jokingly told him.

"Can we just go inside?" Nasher invited them.

As soon as they entered the entrance, they were almost overwhelmed by the size and beauty of the restaurant inside. A waitress immediately greeted them and greeted them.

"Good day! Ma'am and Sir. Do they have a reservation here?" this open question to them. They looked at each other and suddenly turned to Nasher.

"Hey, Nash! answer him." Kiko whispered to the young man who still elbowed him in the arm.

"Umf- just table for.." he stopped speaking for a moment and counted how many people were together.

"One, two, three, four, five. Table for five please." He replied. The female waitress smiled at them and then showed them the table seat that would fit five people.

"Thank you. Can you leave us for a while? I'll just call when we order." Nasher said to the waitress and she immediately left.

"Oh, Nash, I really idolize you! You answered so well earlier!" Kiko was happy knowing that there was still a thumbs up in front of the young man.

"Well, not bad." Tanya said as she looked at Nasher, but he just ignored her and glanced at Furi who was sitting quietly across from her.

Because they have a round table, the five of them sit in a circle.

"Oh my goodness! are you sure we're going to eat here today?" Miranda said to them in surprise when she opened the menu book and saw the prices of the dishes listed there.

"Why? What's the problem?" Kiko was curious and suddenly he also looked at the menu book. They were all surprised and looked at Nasher who didn't even react to the list of prices written there.

"W-why?" he wondered as he looked around at his companions.

"Admit it bro, are you the son of a billionaire?" Kiko said to the young man with a serious face. Nasher suddenly grinned and bowed his head for a moment.

"What do you mean by that? Is it because of the price of the food here?" he replied with a smile still on his lips.

Suddenly, Tanya and Miranda stood up, carrying their things at the same time.

"Where are you two going?" Nasher asked the two young women.

"And where else? It's coming out of this golden restaurant!" replied Tanya. Furi and Kiko also stood up while the mischievous young man just followed them.

"Why are you acting like that? What are you afraid of?" Kiko looked at him in surprise.

"Bro, what are you doing there? Come on, let's get out of here." She invited him but Nasher was still stubborn and his lips twitched again.

"Hey, just leave him alone. Maybe he'd rather wash dishes here and spend the night." Tanya said to them and continued walking out of the restaurant again.

"Stop!" it shouted. The four quickly stopped walking and turned to the young man who was still sitting on the chair with his legs crossed.

"What is he doing? Is your friend out of his mind?" Tanya whispered to Kiko as the two eyebrows met.

"Hurry up, let's go out. It's embarrassing for other people here and they're looking at us." Miranda said to them and they were about to take a step when Nasher suddenly appeared and blocked the four of them.

"Where exactly are you four going?" he asked while his two hands were in his pants.

"Hey, Nasher! stop it! you're embarrassing yourself." The girl promised him weakly but firmly. The young man grinned again at what he said and looked around them.

"What's embarrassing? You four look even more embarrassing! Look at your looks now. You look like customers who will run away after eating your food." He replied but Tanya just raised an eyebrow at him.

"No matter what you say, we'll still get out of here!" he said and continued walking again. The young man stopped him and held him by the arm.

"What is your problem? Didn't I tell you that I will release you and I will pay?" after he said that, the girl turned to him again and winced on his lips.

"Wow, wow, wow! (he claps his hands three times) how arrogant you are to speak Nasher. As if you really have something to pay for. I know you're going to single us out and after everything, you'll pay too, right?" the girl said to him.

"Is the trickster in my face? Take a good look at this look. Do you think I can trick people with my handsome face?" he said and suddenly Furi burst out laughing at him.

His attention shifted to the girl and he seemed to feel joy in his heart when he saw her smile.

"Wow. Your head is also strong." Miranda always promised him.

"Aren't you joking bro?" Kiko asked his friend.

"Where? I'm handsome?" he joked while hitting Tanya on the head. Nasher was just shocked and looked at the girl angrily.

"When you really tricked us. Remember, you will never get out of here alive." Tanya said to him and he returned to their place earlier.

The four followed him and also sat in their respective seats.

"Is it okay if I order what I want?" Miranda asked as Nasher just grinned at her.

"If I say it's not possible and you only have water, will you still whine?" The young man asked him philosophically but he just stared at him and ignored him.

"By the way, you can only order worth 100 pesos." It squealed again, so the four looked at him and slammed the book menu down on the table.

"Just kidding! You guys really aren't kidding." He suddenly took back what he said while he continued to laugh.

"Get settled, Nasher. I'm really hungry." Tanya pointed out to him.

"What else were you acting like earlier!? I wish we could have desserts now!" he said and the girl just gave him an evil glance, so he immediately avoided her.

"By the way, Furi. What do you want to eat?" he gently asked the girl. Furi turned to him for a moment with a smile on his face.

"Whatever." He replied.

"Hey, Furi. There's nothing on the menu. Get ready." Suddenly, Kiko turned to them, so Nasher quickly looked at him with a raised eyebrow and a pointed look in his eyes.

Kiko immediately avoided her gaze and just bent over the menu book she was holding.

"Don't be shy, Furi. Just order what you want to eat, I'll treat you." He turned to the girl again.

"Wait a minute. Why is it that when you come to Furi, you seem like your baet-baet? Do I like him?" Tanya asked curiously as she looked around at the two.

"W-what are you doing, Tanya! Nasher is just really nice to me." That's what Furi said to the girl and he just avoided looking at her.

"Or why you, Nasher? Why did you seem to suddenly be quiet there?" he said to him.

"Why do you have so many complaints today? Did I do something wrong to you? Or maybe your visit is visiting you?" Nasher responded to the girl.

"Just lower your voice, it's embarrassing." Miranda said to him.

"This is just like Tanya! I think she wants me to date her." He said that surprised Tanya and her two nostrils widened in exasperation.

"Hey, you two are going to stop. What time do you plan to eat? Aren't you hungry yet or maybe you just want us to watch you two kill each other?" When Kiko said that, the two of them became silent and Nasher called the waitress who was assisting them earlier.

"Two of this, one of this and two of this." He pointed to the menu while the waitress wrote down what he was teaching her.

(IN THE RESTAURANT)

While the service crews were placing their orders on the table one by one, Nasher couldn't take his eyes off the girl next to him, Furi.

He is really nice to watch. He never gets tired of looking. He whispered in his mind. The girl turned to him for a moment and their eyes met each other.

Nasher was surprised and quickly looked away.

"Hi, thanks! We can eat now." Kiko said and suddenly poured the pasta in front of him.

Furi also started eating, enjoying the food they ordered.

"Wow! their carbonara is delicious!" Miranda promised astounded, her companions just grinned at the same time and resumed eating.

After a few moments, they all finished and leaned back in their seats because of their fullness.

"Thank God!" Tanya said as she grunted.

"Yak! You're disgusting. You didn't even cover your mouth, you're embarrassing!" Kiko suddenly turned to the girl next to him.

"Your art! That's just weak!" it replied to him.

"Even now!" the young man said to him. While the two were teasing, Nasher once again glanced and stared at the girl next to him, while she kept smiling on her lips and looked at the two with comfort.

"By the way, just a moment and I'm just going to the restroom." Furi suddenly us.

"You're going to the restroom? wait, I'll go with you! I don't want to be left here with this bitch!" Tanya said to the girl and she also stood up.

"As if I want to be with you!?" Kiko promised the girl to follow up, but she just glared at him and turned away from him again.

As the two of them walked to the restroom, they kept their eyes on each guest coming out of the VIP room. Because some women there are wearing gowns and the men are wearing formal attire.

Just by their appearance you can tell that they come from rich families. Most of them are also foreigners who came from different countries.

"Great! This restaurant of theirs is really very social! I never thought I would be able to eat at such an expensive restaurant." Tanya said to Furi in a whisper, as they looked from head to toe at each of the foreigners they encountered.

"Yes. Even me, I've only been to such a casual restaurant." He replied.

"Do you think Nasher can really pay for what we ate earlier? Just by looking at him, it looks like his modus operandi." The girl said to him.

"Oh, Nasher seems like a good person."

"Hey, that's what I'm talking about. Didn't I tell you to never fool handsome guys like him? They're the type who will use your weakness to get what they want from you. ." He said and they stopped walking for a moment when Tanya turned to their right.

"It's just like that man! Isn't his face very handsome, but you shouldn't tempt people like him." At the same time, the girl pointed to the waiter who was not far from the two of them.

Furi turned to what he was teaching her and was shocked when she realized that she was referring to Matt, her boyfriend.

"Or why? don't tell me you fell for that guy right away?" Tanya turned to him. The girl quickly ran inside the restroom while her friend also followed behind her.

"Hey, Furi! Are you okay? Are you about to pee, that's why you ran all of a sudden?" Tanya said jokingly to him. The girl was just facing the mirror and powdering her face.

Meanwhile, Furi was surprised to lean inside the bathroom and was holding his heart.

Is what I saw earlier correct? Is it really Matt that I saw? but, what is he doing here and he's still wearing a waiter's uniform? sailing and wondering it in his mind.

"Furi, have you been there for a long time? I'll be back with you there first, right?" Tanya let him know and he left the restroom.

Furi was left there alone and his mind was confused. He was about to go out the door when he suddenly heard a conversation between two women who also seemed to work at that restaurant.

"April, why do you seem to be blooming so blooming right now? It looks like you're getting some inspiration right now, huh?" said a waitress to her companion as Furi exited the bathroom.

He went to the sink for a while and washed his hands.

"Is it obvious?" said April who seemed to be thrilled and was still holding her cheek. Furi glanced at him for a moment and smiled on his lips.

"By the way, who is this lucky guy you're obsessing over right now?" asked the woman with him. After Furi washed his hands, he thought of going out of the bathroom and returned to their old place.

"It's Matt." April responded to her companion which shocked Furi and stopped for a moment in front of the door.

"Oh! I already said that and it's Matt again. Anyway, I can't deny that he's really handsome and smart. But do you know what's being said now? that maybe Matt will take over as manager and take over for all of us."

"Wait a minute, isn't he just new but he'll be promoted to manager right away?"

"That's what we're wondering about. But others say it's because of the son of the owner of this restaurant."

"Huh? What does our boss's son have to do with Matt?"

"It's because he also likes Matt. And he himself is the one who requested his parents to raise Matt's rank as manager of this restaurant."

"Wow! Matt is really lucky and blessed with a handsome face. After all, even I would probably do the same. Maybe, not only that. Maybe I'll even ask him to marry me!" after Furi heard everything the two talked about, he continued walking and sat quietly in his seat.

He just bowed his head and was stunned on the floor. Nasher noticed that and he watched it closely.

"Furi, are you okay?" the young man asked him but he didn't say a word and he was still stunned.

"Hey, Furi! are you sleeping?" Tanya said while gently pushing him on the shoulder. The girl suddenly came to her senses and looked at them.

"Looks like you weren't satisfied with what you ate earlier, huh?" Kiko joked with him but he just smiled with effort.

"By the way, aren't we leaving yet? I still have a lot to finish." Miranda said, Kiko turned to her.

"Porket, you're done eating, are you going to leave us?" he said but he just ignored him and stood up while carrying his things.

"Alright, the three of us are going out. We'll just wait outside for you and Nasher! (he points to the young man) pay now." After Tanya said that, he also stood up and they left the restaurant.

The mischievous young man looked at Kiko for a moment and suddenly he handed the bill receipt to him.

"Wait, what am I going to do here?" he wondered.

"Thanks for the exemption, Kiko." He stood up and turned his back on his friend. Kiko quickly stood up and stopped him by the arm.

"Bro! Wait a minute! What are you talking about? Aren't you going to pay for what we ate earlier?" he whispered in her ear while she just grinned and cupped both hands.

"Will pay? Who, me? Did I say something like that earlier?" he said maliciously and still pointed at himself.

"Dude, there's nothing like that. The woman is already waiting, oh, it's embarrassing for her." He said as he kept glancing at the beautiful waitress who was waiting for them to pay.

"It's better for him that you were embarrassed. But for me, not." He responded at the same time he removed Kiko's hand that was holding his arm.

"Are you serious, Nasher? What are we going to do now? It's my first time doing this so don't joke like that." He said straight to his friend but his lips were still twitching.

"Just. After I count to three get ready to run out of the restaurant, did you get it?" he whispered to the young man while walking on his shoulder.

"What?! Are you serious about what you're saying?" he said with furrowed brows and Nasher just hid his head.

"Are you ready?" he whispered and Kiko briefly glanced at the waitress who was waiting for the two of them.

"One." As soon as he counted, Kiko suddenly ran out of the restaurant, while Nasher was still standing in his place and laughing at his friend.