Chapter 1 A Broken Family
My name is Yudha Batara.
I study at Harapan Muda High School. When this story begins, I'm the new student there.
People often say I'm handsome—much more handsome than most boys my age.
I inherited my looks from my mother.
I used to think being handsome was a blessing.
I was wrong.
Sometimes, a good-looking face only makes people remember a tragedy more easily.
And that tragedy...
destroyed my life.
Before everything happened, my family was happy.
My mother was a loving housewife. My father was a well-known surgeon in our city. He was busy, but he always tried to make time for us.
At least...
that's what I believed.
Then social media changed everything.
After reconnecting with her old classmates online, my mother began attending school reunions. At first, it was only once in a while.
But little by little, the reunions became more frequent.
And she started coming home later and later.
One afternoon, after school, I found my mother standing in front of the mirror, putting on makeup. Wearing a light blue dress, she looked much younger than her age.
"You look beautiful, Mom," I said.
She smiled while fixing her hair.
"Thank you, sweetheart."
She picked up her handbag.
"Yudha, Bi Lastri has prepared dinner. Please look after Yuli while I'm gone."
"Where are you going, Mom?"
"A reunion. This time it's with my elementary school friends."
I let out a quiet sigh.
She had gone to one last week.
And now another one.
I didn't like it when she went out at night.
After spending the whole day at school, all I wanted was to come home and know she was there.
We didn't even have to talk.
I just wanted us to be under the same roof.
That night, Dad came home earlier than usual.
He walked into my room while I was doing my homework.
"Where's Mom?"
"She went to another reunion."
Dad fell silent.
His face showed disappointment.
"Tell your mother not to come home so late."
He walked out of my room.
A moment later, I heard him making a phone call.
"Marni, where are you?"
...
"You should be home."
...
"Yudha and Yuli need you."
I stopped writing.
For the first time...
I felt something wasn't right in our family.
A few days later, the four of us had dinner together at a restaurant.
Dad looked at Mom seriously.
"I'm not stopping you from attending reunions."
Mom nodded quietly.
"But there has to be a limit."
Dad took a deep breath.
"Our children need their mother."
Mom lowered her head.
She didn't argue.
The rest of dinner was painfully quiet.
A few nights later...
I woke up when I heard a car stop in front of our house.
I glanced at the clock beside my bed.
2:00 a.m.
I walked outside.
Mom had just stepped out of a car.
A man got out from the driver's seat.
"Oh... you're still awake, Yudha?" Mom asked with a smile.
I nodded.
She pointed at the man.
"This is Uncle Toni. We were classmates in elementary school."
He smiled politely at me.
As they stood close together, I caught a strange smell.
Alcohol.
It came from both of them.
A few moments later, Uncle Toni drove away.
I followed Mom into the house.
"Mom..."
She turned around.
"Dad said you shouldn't come home this late."
She smiled softly.
Then she leaned closer and whispered,
"Don't tell your father I came home this late, okay?"
She walked toward her bedroom.
I remained standing in the living room.
For the first time in my life...
I felt afraid.
I didn't know...
that nights like this were slowly tearing my family apart.
