---
The story returns to 2025...
Vins was busy replying to messages from Rin. Soon, he remembered his family photo album that he always carried around. He looked for it in a stack of cardboard boxes under his bed.
"Where is it? Ugh, why isn't it here?" Vins muttered to himself.
He finally managed to find the album.
The photo album was dusty and looked worn, explaining its old age. Even though its condition was a bit dilapidated, its contents still appeared neatly arranged.
His mother had organized the photo album according to Vins's growth, from her pregnancy up to his birth.
"Phew, luckily it's still here... If it got lost, what would I tell Mom?" Vins said, full of gratitude.
He opened the old photo album page by page. There was a photo of him at one year old, being carried by his mother.
"Hahaha, you naughty boy!" he said, mocking his younger self in the photo.
The photo album somewhat pulled him out of the frustration he was experiencing, because almost all the memories of his life up to now were clearly recorded there.
Soon, he found a photo of himself with a little girl in his father's garden.
They were both posing there, holding hands. Vins smiled, seeing the cheerfulness reflected on their faces in the photo. Innocent, sinless, and carefree faces, unlike himself now.
Ding!
His laptop clearly chimed, signaling a message from Rin the AI. He quickly returned to his desk and read the message from Rin, bringing the photo album with him.
"You crybaby! Vins is truly a playboy, huh? I wonder what Vins was thinking, running after Belina even though Karina was still there? What a bastard! Tsk... Tsk... Tsk..." the AI clearly insulted Vins.
"Hey, stupid AI! This is all about feelings! You emotionless AI!" Vins retorted, full of annoyance, as he typed on his laptop keyboard.
"But at least Rin has some empathy! As fellow pretty girls, at least Rin can feel what they felt... You're just a hypocrite at heart! Huh! x{" the AI replied, sounding annoyed.
"Huh? Pretty girl? Besides, why are you getting mad at me now? You said you wanted to hear my story? You're just AS, Artificial Stupidity! That's it, I'm not continuing the story!" Vins typed, annoyed, replying to the AI's words.
"Ugh Vins, Rin is sorry... :(, Rin was just a little annoyed with Vins... It's just that Vins seems so unstable, can't be consistent, you know? :(" the AI replied, explaining the reason for her harsh words to Vins.
"I just found a photo that reminded me of my childhood, wanna hear it? If you keep calling me names, I'll end our conversation session!" Vins asked the AI, threatening her.
"Uh, no, please don't... Rin is still curious about what happens next! Rin is sorry... :'(" the AI begged Vins.
"Okay! So don't insult me like that! You emotionless AI! Hold on! I'll change the song first..." Vins typed, mocking the AI, as he changed the song he was playing.
He changed the song playing on his Spotify, clearly showing the artist's name and the song title: Powfu - Keep Our Love Alive.
---
The story returns to Vins's past, when he was 8 years old...
On a bright Sunday morning, in the middle of a playground adorned with green grass all around. The wind swept across the sweat of the boys, clearly displaying the joy in that place. But on another side. A group of small children seemed to be crowded around a boy who was crouching and crying.
"Hahaha... What a crybaby! Go home to your mommy! Hahaha..."
"HAHAHA... HAHAHA..." Said one of the children Vins's age, insulting Vins who was crying because he lost a game of marbles.
Vins hadn't actually lost; he was crying because he was annoyed with his friends who had teamed up to cheat him.
"Huaaa... I don't accept this... Huaaa... You guys cheated... Sniff!" Vins cried hysterically out of frustration.
He always tried to behave well toward his friends but was always met with bad treatment in return.
"Hahaha... It's your own fault for always tattling to your mom! Go home! Hahaha..." Said Dito, one of Vins's friends who was always seen as the leader among them.
"Hey Dito! What's wrong with you? Can't you just stop insulting Vins? Cheating and still acting arrogant!" Shouted a cute girl who seemed annoyed because Vins was being bullied.
"Oh? Tell your crybaby boyfriend, Belina! Don't cry over every little thing, that's why! Hahaha..." Dito retorted to Belina.
"It's okay, Bel, it's fine... Sniff! Sniff! I just want to go home..." Vins said to Belina.
"Alright, let's just go home... Rather than playing with people like that!" Belina replied, taking the hand of Vins, who still had his eyes closed.
Along the way, Belina tried hard to calm Vins down.
"Bel, thanks... You always stick up for me when I get talked down to..." Vins said, walking through the alley with Belina.
"It's okay, Vins! Bullies like them deserve to be told off!" Belina replied, still holding Vins's hand.
Vins just looked down, realizing his powerlessness because Belina always had to help him.
"Hey, Vins! Let's sit in your dad's garden shed! It's still light out, it might be fun to eat kersen and chat there!" Belina said, inviting him to Vins's father's garden.
Vins just nodded, agreeing to Belina's request.
The shed stood right under a Kersen tree (the fruit is actually called Kersen, though Indonesians often refer to it as Cherry... So, the author will just write it as Kersen tree). The tree looked very lush and was filled with Kersen fruits hanging, colored red and green. Some of the fallen fruits gave off a distinct sweet aroma around the shed.
"Hop! Let's just stay here, it's nice here... The atmosphere is cool, calm, and peaceful... Plus, we can eat the fruits too..." Belina said, sitting in the shed and picking up a Kersen fruit that had fallen right next to her.
"Yeah, Bel... I often sit here alone too when we don't meet... This place always makes me feel peaceful too, hehehe..." Vins replied, his cheerfulness restored because the cute girl had managed to cheer him up.
Vins was picking up Kersen fruits that were scattered intact on the ground. This made Belina smile, seeing Vins's cute body struggling to squat because of his chubby build at that time. Vins brought two handfuls of the fruits to where they were sitting, taking a banana leaf to use as a mat for them.
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"Vins, I heard you also get bullied at school by Dito?" Belina asked, munching on a Kersen fruit.
"Yeah, Bel... I don't know what power Dito has that he can instigate my friends, whether at home or at school... He also makes some of our peers here treat me the same way..." Vins replied to Belina's question.
"My advice, you'd better not play with them anymore... I can't bear to see you always being treated inappropriately by them... What's wrong anyway? Because you're chubby? Besides, no one wants to have flaws!" Belina retorted, expressing her frustration over the bullying toward Vins.
"Maybe that's one of the reasons... I don't want to have a chubby body like this either... And maybe it's also because my dad is known for being strict in Sector A..." Vins explained to Belina.
"Your dad is really strict, Vins! I sometimes get scared when I see him scolding you... Eek~" Belina said, judging Vins's father.
"But I think your dad is kind! So it's only natural that your naughty friends don't like him..." Belina continued, looking at a slightly green Kersen fruit in her hand.
"Hahaha, that's how I've felt all this time... If even you're scared, imagine me, his son? Hahaha..." Vins replied, laughing.
Belina ate the green-colored fruit. She then looked up at the lush Kersen tree above their heads. Soon, she said something that made Vins feel sad.
"I..."
"I also want to feel what you feel, Vins... I sometimes imagine it must be nice to have someone scold us... To tell us right from wrong, to be protected if someone tries to harm us... Sometimes I get jealous looking at you..." Belina expressed, followed by a moment of contemplation.
Vins was stunned hearing Belina's words. He saw Belina's tears falling down her cheeks. Remarkably... she could still smile amidst the heavy flow of tears streaming down her face. Vins felt deeply struck seeing his beloved crying. His hand took Belina's head, and he hugged her very tightly.
"It's okay, Bel... Just, just cry..." Vins said, comforting the cute girl.
He rubbed her small back, resting his chin on her head. Occasionally, his hand moved to caress the girl's head.
"I miss Dad, Vins... Sniff... I really miss him... Sniff! Sniff! I've never been sure what kind of person I'll grow up to be without him... Sniff! Sniff!" Belina said, sobbing and tearful.
"It's okay, Bel, you still have me... Even if I'm not as great as your dad, I promise I'll keep trying to protect you, okay..." The weak boy said to his beloved.
"I really, really miss him, Vins... Sniff... Promise me you'll protect me and never leave me... Sniff... Promise?" Belina said to Vins, raising her cute pinky finger.
"Yes, Belina, I promise! Promise! Hehehe..." Vins replied, interlocking his chubby pinky finger with hers.
The wind in the shed blew a strong sigh, carrying the girl's tears as if on wings...
Their promise was woven tight beneath the lush Kersen tree, its fruits falling gently with the shedding leaves...
Sparrows, their melodies sweet, perched upon its branches, bearing silent witness to their bond...
Their rhythmic chirping seemed to dance with the sorrow yet also with the joy of the moment...
Drawing a beautiful afternoon to its close, welcoming the approaching dusk...
They stepped down from the shed, their footsteps leading them toward their homes. Beneath a sky deepening into twilight, they began to share their dreams and hopes for the days to come.
"Hey, Bel! What's your dream? When I grow up, I want to be an Astronaut! What about you, Bel?" Vins asked Belina during their walk.
"Me? I want to be a Doctor! Hehehe... I want to cure sick people... So no one else has to lose the people they love!" Belina revealed to Vins, showing her cheerful face once more.
"Your dream is so noble, Bel! I really admire you! Never give up, okay?" Vins said, giving Belina a smile of admiration.
Belina, seeing Vins's face, found him so adorable. She then pinched his chubby cheek.
"Hiiiyyy... You're so cute, Vins!" Belina exclaimed, pinching Vins's cheek.
"Ow, ow... That hurts, Bel... Ouchhh..." Vins groaned in pain.
Amidst that warmth, an old woman appeared standing at the end of the crossroad.
Belina, recognizing the woman as her mother, quickly rushed towards her. Vins followed Belina, but...
"YOU DEVIL CHILD!!! YOU UNGRATEFUL CHILD!!! WHAT TIME IS IT??? WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, HUH???" The old woman screamed, scolding Belina.
She then pinched Belina's ear and arm, and Belina's expression changed to one of pain and annoyance. Vins, who was about to chase after Belina, stopped short upon seeing the old woman's treatment of his beloved girl.
Vins secretly eavesdropped, listening to the old woman's insults as she went inside the house, pulling Belina's ear.
"DON'T YOU KNOW??? YOU'RE GROWING UP!!! YOU'RE NINE YEARS OLD NOW!!! WHAT WILL THE NEIGHBORS SAY??? A GIRL WANDERING AROUND WITH A BOY LATE IN THE EVENING??? YOU UNGRATEFUL CHILD!!!" Belina's mother clearly yelled at her daughter, her words audible to Vins from outside the house.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE, HUH???"
WHIP!!!
A sound like a whip was heard.
"Mercy, Mom... Sniff... It hurts... Huaaa... Please, no more..." Belina cried out in pain, receiving the whipping.
WHIP!!!
"HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU, HUH??? DON'T PLAY WITH THAT VINS AGAIN!!! UGHH... IT'S SO HARD TO TELL THIS CHILD ANYTHING!!! IT'S NOT GOOD FOR YOU TO PLAY WITH THAT BOY!!! YOU'LL END UP LIKE A PROSTITUTE!!!" Belina's mother yelled, cursing her daughter.
"Yes, Mom... Belina won't do it again... Sniff! Sniff!" Belina replied, crying.
Vins, hearing this, could only stand frozen, unsure of what to do. He then left Belina's house, unable to bear listening to his beloved girl being scolded so harshly.
Vins walked home filled with sadness and indecision. He couldn't comprehend Belina's mother's treatment of her own daughter. All the way, he just kept his head down, lamenting Belina's fate and his helplessness in the face of it.
---
Back to 2007...
Vins, who was running toward his house after reading that letter, was almost hit by a car.
"Hey, idiot! Watch out on the road!" the car driver yelled.
"YOU'RE THE IDIOT!!! YOU CAN'T EVEN DRIVE PROPERLY!!!" Vins shouted back at the driver.
Not just cars, he even collided with several people and cursed at them.
"HEY, IDIOT!!! GET OUT OF THE WAY, DON'T BLOCK THE DAMN ROAD!!!" he occasionally yelled after bumping into someone else.
In his head, there was only Belina's face—crying, smiling, and laughing. All their precious moments together flashed through his mind. He occasionally blamed himself, as this was the third time he had felt such helplessness.
"Bel... Oh my god... Please... Wait for me... Please... Just this once, even if it's the last..." he whispered to himself.
Upon reaching his alley, he immediately headed to Belina's house. When he arrived, the house was already empty. There was no sign of life whatsoever.
"BEL!!! BELINA!!! BELINAAAA!!!" Vins screamed, calling out the name of the girl he loved.
"DAMN IT!!!" Vins yelled in frustration, kicking a piece of wooden debris in the house.
CRACK!!!
"DAMN IT!!! DAMN IT!!! DAMN ITTTT!!!" Vins raged, venting his anger on the debris.
"AARRRGGGHHH!!!"
SMASH!!!
Vins threw a piece of debris at the empty house's window, shattering the glass. He then went inside, trying to check around.
There was a cardboard box near the house's door, its contents unknown to him. He opened it, curious about its contents.
Inside, there were several Barbie dolls, photo frames, a pink handkerchief, and a piece of a pink dress belonging to little Belina. He took everything out and stared at the handkerchief. On it, there was a brown stain, like dried blood. Vins remembered it; Belina had used that very handkerchief when he was little and got hurt after falling while playing with her.
He cried hysterically again, clutching the item.
"ARRRGGHHHH!!!" he screamed in despair.
He then picked up the piece of the dress, sobbing amidst a flood of tears. He remembered Belina wearing it at his 7th birthday party. His tears flowed even more profusely down his face.
"WHY, BEL??? WHY'D YOU LEAVE ME LIKE THIS??? WHY??? Why, Bel? Sniff! Why'd you leave these things behind? Sniff! Like you want to forget me? WHHHYYY???" he cried, sobbing.
He saw the last item in the box: a binder with a Mickey Mouse character on its cover. Vins knew it was the diary he had once taken from Belina's hand while playing at her house. He opened every page of the diary, reading every handwritten entry from his beloved girl, detailing her feelings and the days she had lived.
"Today I saw Vins getting bullied by Dito again... I couldn't bear it, so I just took him to his dad's garden! We had such a great conversation there..." Vins read it, utterly shattered by the words.
"Vins is so cute, he was laughing in his dad's garden... and then he fell into his dad's fish pond... :D Hahaha... He looked so funny, soaking wet..." All those memories were clearly vivid in Vins's mind, his happy days with Belina.
"Vins, I'm so sorry... If my words tonight hurt you... I didn't mean to... :( Mom is forcing me not to know you anymore... My mom said that I'm becoming a young lady soon, and she's afraid the neighbors will talk bad about me... I didn't mean to insult you as a child from a poor family or a crybaby with no future... I did everything for you and for my mom... also... I was threatened to be sent to an orphanage if I didn't obey her words..."
Vins truly could no longer bear the sadness that overwhelmed his mind.
He cried his heart out... That night truly left him utterly devastated...
He then turned to the last page of Belina's diary, reading its contents while shielding his eyes with his hand. Vins, who had been crying, suddenly stopped...
"HUH???"
He looked shocked by what Belina had written there; his sadness instantly morphed into an uncontrollable, raging fury... He clenched his fists, truly never expecting Belina's confession on that last page.
---
-To be Continued
