Chapter 51 #2
Tsabinu had tried to placate me, insisting it was just a one-off teenage slip when Zioh needed an outlet. But what kind of excuse was that? Tsabinu had never thought that way before, and it made me angrier that he thought it was fine.
So, I glared at them, warning them in silence. This time, for their own health, we could have fun in other ways, our ways, not with alcohol, especially when we were all fragile already.
“If they dare, I’ll tell Uncle Bakti—no,” I muttered under my breath, drifting away from them. “I’ll tell Mas Zaeem…”
Mas Zaeem, when angry, could be frightening enough, especially when it came to Zeraiah. He was firm, and Zeraiah listened to him—but never felt hurt by it.
It was different from Uncle Bakti. For some reason, his father’s words always left Zeraiah wounded. He was more sensitive with his dad.
As we boarded Grandpa Ethan’s yacht, I kept my distance from them, leaving Zioh and Tsabinu to throw sharp, warning glances at Zeraiah. As always, Zeraiah shot back his careless, defiant look. “What?” he barked at them.
Yet compared to my irritation, the yacht utterly enchanted me.
Though I had grown used to the Danudara family’s grandeur in Indonesia, Mama Nadine’s family was in an entirely different league.
From the first day I had arrived in London and witnessed the splendour of Zioh and Zeraiah’s maternal relatives, I had finally understood what true luxury and old money meant.
This yacht, gliding along the Thames, was a floating palace.
I kept glancing left, right, and up in awe. The most striking feature was the swimming pool on the main deck. My eyes sparkled, my mouth parted in quiet wonder. Even above it, a minibar stretched out, lined with trays of food, snacks, and drinks, and each side of the deck offered sun loungers.
I climbed staircases, explored every corner, letting the magnificence soak into me. At last, I reached the forward deck on the very top and tightened the coat around my shoulders.
I looked ahead. Wow, we could probably play badminton up here…
Sinking into one of the sofas, I stared at the luxury and scenery around me.
For a fleeting moment, I wished my whole family—Mama Nadine, Dad, Mum, and Uncle Bakti could have been here too, to share this beauty and to be happy together again, as usual.
How wonderful it would be if we could all be here together.
As I was lost in my reverie, Zioh appeared, offering me a warm drink. He had even brought a bowl of fruit dusted with chocolate.
Exhaling, I accepted it, though my face remained sullen, my mood unwilling to soften.
He sat beside me, gazing gently. “Promise no alcohol tonight. Zeraiah’s already been scolded,” he murmured, while I turned away, staring at the Thames as the yacht glided forward. I stabbed a grape, dipped it in chocolate, and popped it into my mouth.
“Tonight we’re meant to have fun, aren’t we?” Zioh coaxed, brushing my cheek as I chewed. “Let’s not stay upset, hm?
I turned and frowned at him, my eyes sharp. “Promise?”
He gave a soft smile and nodded. “Promise.”
“And promise me you won’t drink again,” I pressed, meeting his gaze. “We’re still young, it’s not right.” I meant teenagers, of course. He was already seventeen, but still—it didn’t feel right.
Zioh said nothing. He only gave me a faint smile and plucked a piece of fruit from the bowl, as if refusing to commit.
Something in him had been slipping away for two years—a missing piece. From the outside, he seemed fine, filling his time with studying, drawing, extra lessons, and even the gym with Mas Zaeem. None of that was bad, but it wasn’t the point.
The point was… There was a pattern unsettling him—something gnawing at his peace. The tension radiated from him, heavy and unmistakable.
But he never let me in. He never allowed me to see him.
The time passed as we sat side by side, our eyes fixed on the shimmering city. “Zi… look at that!” I cried again, and each time, Zioh smiled at my excitement. We talked, listened, laughed, and even embraced. I hurried to the end of the deck to get a better view, and he pulled me into his arms.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No.” Not when I’m holding you.
Tsabinu had been at the piano all the time, his music wrapping around us. He had discovered a grand piano on the main deck and had not left it since. Zeraiah, well, I could only hear his chaos, not see him.
“Wow, Zi…” I gasped as we stood on the far end of the deck. “It’s so beautiful.”
“It is,” Zioh replied with warmth in his voice.
Up here, it felt like a swing beneath our feet, and my laughter couldn’t stop at the sensation. Zioh’s arms steadied me. He gripped me from behind, firm but gentle, “Feeling queasy?” he asked.
I laughed. “No! I love it!” Joy bubbled out of me, and we both laughed. “This is amazing!”
The wind whipped around us, cold and biting, yet a steady warmth bloomed inside me. Even the spray from the river against us was ticklish and delightful, and I would never forget the joy of this moment.
“Do you need my jacket? Or I can ask someone to fetch you more coats?” Zioh offered.
I shook my head. “No. I just need your hug.”
“It’s yours then,” he whispered, tightening his hold around me. He pressed a kiss at the top of my head, lingering, and I loved the way my heart beat for him in this moment.
Zioh tightened his embrace as I kept staring at the scene before me.
Dozens of buildings rose like palaces, their architecture grand and unmistakably London.
We passed Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster, and Westminster Bridge.
All around us, other yachts glided along, and ahead of us loomed the giant Ferris wheel—the London Eye.
Oh… it was breathtaking.
Zioh released me and placed his hand at my waist, turning me gently to face him. He smoothed my windblown hair, and his deep gaze locked with mine.
“So, what do you want on this New Year’s Eve?”
I arched my brows. “What?”
“A gift. For the new year.” His eyes glimmered as he hovered over me. “What do you want?”
Oh, right. He always gave me a gift at New Year’s, too. For a moment, I said nothing, only staring at him.
“Do you want something?” he asked again, holding my eyes with his, glowing with a gentle sparkle. “Need something?”
Smiling, I let the truth of my heart slip free.
“I want us to be together again next year.” I held his hand on my waist. “To relive this moment.” A quiet laugh slipped out of me.
“It doesn’t need to be London, or a yacht…
” I rested my chin on his chest, my eyes never leaving his. “But together. Both of us.”
Zioh’s eyes softened, the curve of his lips lifting in the most beautiful way. He nodded, agreeing. “Again?”
Again?
I looked away for a moment. Right, he wouldn’t be satisfied unless I gave him more of my wishes.
So, I told him my dream was when we were grown.
“I want to travel the world with you.” I hummed, glanced around, letting the beauty of the view in front of me sink into my chest, then turned back at him.
“To see all the beauty out there, with you.” To see other wonders besides you.
Zioh locked my gaze, deep and consuming, and I might drown in it. Then he nodded and pulled me into his arms again.
He kissed my ear, then whispered. “I promise, I’ll try to make it happen with all my being.” His voice was low, raw, and full of meaning. “Only for you.” I hugged him tighter in return.
We stayed in that embrace until he whispered again, his voice deeper, rougher. “Thank you, Sophie.”
“For what?”
“For you.” He paused. “For your existence,” he held me tighter, his words breaking into a hoarse whisper. “For coming into my life… thank you.”
I clung to him, terrified of letting go. I should be the one to thank him for his existence.
We finally put a little space between us, enough to meet each other’s gaze. Silence settled around us, the sparkle in his eyes deepening like a soft glow. My lips trembled, and my heart started racing against my ribs, threatening to break free as Zioh lowered his head, inch by inch, toward me.
His hands shook on my shoulder. I expected a brush of a kiss against my cheek, but my breath hitched when his gaze dropped lower, settling on my lips. His lips parted, drifting slowly in my direction. I swallowed and began to close my eyes.
Suddenly, a crackling sound around us pulled us in one quick motion. I released him, then turned toward the commotion and gasped. My lips parted, my eyes shining, as fireworks began to fill the black sky above. I stared at the London Eye, so close ahead, until Zioh’s voice turned me back.
“Later we’ll go there, yeah?” His hand tightened at my waist. “You wanted to ride the London Eye, didn’t you?”
It was as though he knew my list by heart. Because riding that Ferris wheel had been on it too.
My smile grew wide. I nodded in excitement, looking up at him. “Promise?” I held out my pinky.
Zioh linked his finger with mine. “You know I never break a promise.” He locked our pinkies tight. “Especially if it’s you, Sophie.”
Our eyes held, warm smiles curving our lips.
This was only for us, from one heart to the other.
Then a loud crack overhead drew us back to the spectacle, and a wild shout from behind made us laugh.
Hundreds of fireworks exploded and thundered above us, painting the night in splendour. The air roared with cheers and chants from every direction—even from other yachts around us. But the loudest of all was the boy who bounded up beside Zioh.
Zeraiah leapt high, thrusting his Pepsi can into the air. “HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! HOOO HOOO!!”
It hit me—it was midnight. The year had turned.
Another year together.
And many more ahead.
I laughed as voices from the yacht beside us shouted back, making Tsabinu shake his head and pull his hood up.
“Happy New Year, handsome mate!” A girl hollered from the neighbouring yacht, and Tsabinu took a quick step back further into the shadows. I laughed; my twin brother seemed embarrassed by Zeraiah’s antics.
Meanwhile, Zioh grabbed his younger brother, trying to stop him from bouncing on the rail. But Zeraiah shoved him off and slung an arm tight around him instead. He yelled at the top of his lungs: “BE GOOD TO US PLEASE!”
We all laughed at his outburst, his voice building into louder roars. “WE’RE JUST TEENAGERS WHO WANNA ENJOY A FUCKING LIFE! DON’T BE HARD ON US, LIFE!”
I laughed again, then joined him, shouting at the sky. “2014! BE GOOD TO US!!!”
“YEAYYY!!!” This time, the cheer rose from us, arms around each other, leaping as fireworks blazed overhead.
I wanted this to last forever.
An hour later, while we were still laughing, eating, and enjoying ourselves on this grand yacht, everything changed.
The phone in Zioh’s hand rang, and when he answered, his face stiffened—drained of colour. Moments later, one of Grandpa Ethan’s staff came rushing over, urgency etched across his face. He whispered something to Zioh and Zeraiah, and their expressions shattered.
Not only theirs. Tsabinu’s phone buzzed with a text, too. As he read it, his face went pale—and I, reading over his shoulder. The blood drained from my face.
Mbak Mayang: Mas Tsabinu, Mr Prabu has been taken to the hospital. He collapsed earlier this evening and hasn’t regained consciousness.
Just moments ago, we prayed with all our hearts.