...I Never Forget About

My dad's sudden passing was a storm I was ill-prepared for. Amidst the haze of grief, a bitter truth emerged — I had been living in a bubble, largely shielded by my parents' unwavering emotional and financial support.

I could survive a few years without a job, trying to pursue my dreams, because I didn't have to worry about money. My dad had ensured that both my mom and I lived a comfortable life.

From there, a realization dawned on me, echoing with a twinge of guilt. That comfortable life came at the cost of my dad's dreams. He had shelved his passion for music, trading it for the predictability of a 9-5 job as an accountant. His sacrifice was for us, so that I might be free to chase my own dreams.

Now, my mom stood alone, the weight of the world on her frail shoulders.

As days blurred into nights, the sparkle in my mom's eyes dulled. She juggled between part-time shifts at the print shop and late-night stints at the local diner, her unwavering dedication casting deep shadows beneath her eyes.

And then, a new storm loomed on our horizon: Grandpa's health had taken a dire turn. He was grappling with a chronic illness, and my mom felt the pressing need to move to the village to tend to him.

One quiet evening, she approached me, her voice shaky but filled with concern. "We still have some money saved up for your college, Nanang," she whispered. "Maybe you want to use it to secure your future?"

Secure... my future?

Ah. yeah. I've had been... so stubborn, and careless.

Pursuing my dreams relentlessly without thinking that it might worry her. 

Where's that famous mangaka I promised I'd become?

Because here I am, freeloading off my parents.

My heart ached as I looked at my mom, realizing the sacrifices she had made for me. I made my decision. "No, Mom. I'll find a job. We'll use that money for you."

After that, my mom moved out of the city to tend to Grandpa in the village. We rented out the house we lived in to support my mom's life in the village and to help with Grandpa's medical bills.

Selling my laptop and pen tablet, I rented a small apartment. This way, the funds Mom had set aside for me would remain untouched, sparing her the worry of having to financially support me. Soon after, I found a job at the airport handling baggage. It kept the bills paid, but each day, my dream of becoming a mangaka seemed to drift further away.

Yet, in stolen moments, with a borrowed pen on scrap paper––my new A6 sketchbook, a cherished gift from my mother, I sketched. It was a quiet rebellion against the reality, a connection to the world I once knew, really.

But I knew...

My dream, while dimmed, wasn't extinguished.

And much like Mom, I learned when not to be stubborn. She had sacrificed so much for me.

Now, it was my turn...

-o0o-

My eyes flickered open, adjusting to the opulent surroundings that starkly contrasted my last memory.

W-where am I...?

Wasn't I just dealing with...

What was that...?

Was I... dreaming or something? 

These luxurious sheets, the plush pillows, they screamed royalty — a setting fit for kings, not for someone like me.

A palace, perhaps?

"Nanang!" Putri's voice held a mixture of relief and a deeper, underlying sadness. She rushed to my side, her embrace almost desperately tight. "You're finally awake." I felt the wetness of her tears against my skin, blending with the confusion still muddling my thoughts.

"Putri...?" I whispered, recognizing her right away. This was the Putri from my sketchbook — not from my high school days. Her usually poised demeanor looked shaken, and her healer's attire appeared slightly disheveled, hinting that she might have stayed by my side for days.

"How long...?" My voice trailed off, the dryness in my throat evident.

"Three days," she replied, pulling back to look at me, her eyes red-rimmed but her relief palpable. "Three very long days. We were so worried."

Trying to push past the grogginess, I murmured, "This is a palace, isn't it?" The grandeur around me was hard to miss.

She nodded, wiping her tears, her eyes heavy with more than just the past days' worries. "Yes, after the... incident, the queen wanted to ensure you received the best care."

"The queen?" My confusion was evident, but a deeper concern quickly emerged. "Where's Pyu? And the others?"

A shadow crossed Putri's face, and she hesitated, searching for the right words. "You and Pyu were found near the Mystic Peaks by the royal guards. They brought you both here."

My pulse quickened, "And the others?"

Taking a deep breath, Putri's voice trembled. "About that..."

What she told me after that, wasn't something I was prepared for.