THE CROWNLESS HEIR

PART 1: LOSING EVERYTHING

Nicholai sighs heavily as soon as he reads the writing COURT which were displayed very large at the entrace. This place is never been thought by Nicholai before would bring him here.

“Mr. Nicholai Barbara?”

Nicholai is surprised when a coat man comes and says hi to him.

“Oh, yes, it is me.”

“Please, come in!” That coat man walks a little bit in front of Nicholai, bringing him to the room.

“I thought you were not brave to come here.” Alicia welcomes him with her sarcastic smile when Nicholai comes in.

Nicholai looks at Alicia unbelievably. A woman who will be official his ex-wife looks more glamour than usually he looked at. Even Alicia carries an ivory white bag with the merk that Nicholai pretty sure that it is the luxury brand bag. Beside Alicia, a man who ordered that pizza—Justin.

Hearting in Nicholai’s head suddenly attacks him, making him a little bit staggered and almost fall down.

“Are you okay?” Alicia asks. She looks at Nicholai very clearly for a few seconds.

“Nope, I am okay.” Nicholai answers, lies.

“Okay, it is good. At least you have to be strong because nobody will accept all of your poorness. You have to live alone.” Alicia says with her insulting tone.

Nicholai is just silent, in his heart says yes of Alicia’s words. What Alicia said is true that nobody will accept Nicholai’s poorness anymore.

The judge bangs the gavel, signalling that the trial is about to begin.

Nicholai chooses to sit a little bit far from Alicia. He does not want that negative energy and insulting from Alicia influences him more.

The trial went smoothly. Nicholai did not talk so much, just sometimes, it is also when the judge asked him. Meanwhile Alicia, she talked so much. Alicia said so long about her reason why she wants to divorce with Nicholai. What else except because of financial? Alicia said that when she was in her marriage with Nicholai, she was never happy.

Yes, a classic reason from someone who wants to divorce, besides all people there know who is a man beside Alicia. However, the judge banged the gavel, signalling that the decision is valid, Nicholai and Alicia officially divorce.

Nicholai can see how happy Alicia is after she gets the degree as a widow. That woman also shakes hands to all people in that room with her happy smile.

Not like Nicholai who looks so sad. Getting degree as a widower is not an achievement or his goal, but it is fail. He fails to maintain the love that he said on his wedding. What if his mother know about it?

“Hey, Nick!”

Nicholai stops his steps and looks back.

“I know that we bought our house together. But, I will give that d*mn house to you. Yes, at least you will not be a homeless. How? I am a good person, right?” Alicia says, she insults Nicholai anymore.

Nicholai nods. “Yes, you are a good person, thank you.” Nicholai says and walks again.

“Nick!” Again, Alicia calls him, and Nicholai voluntarily stops his steps and turns his head.

“You have to tell Mom—uh, I mean your mother—yes, your mother, not my mother anymore. You have to tell her that we are divorced so she will not thing that I am still her daughter-in-law. I am just a daughter-in-law of Justin’s mom.” Alicia presses her words.

“Okay, I will tell her. I have to go to work now.” Nicholai does not want to turn back anymore. He steps, leaving the court as soon as possible.

Telling his mother about his divorce with Alicia, it is definitely not easy. Especially his mother has a heart attack history. Nicholai does not want his mother to get a heart attack for twice. Maybe one day Nicholai will tell about it to his mother, but not now.

Nicholai almost arrive to the restaurant which is a place of his work.

“Nick!” Mr. Maximillen screams while he is shaking his hand. From his face, that old man looks so tired to handle the customers and needs Nicholai’s help.

Ring! Ring!

Nicholai’s steps stop when he feels that his phone in his trousers pocket vibrated.

“Hello, Aunt Brenda?” Nicholai says to someone.

“Nick, you have to come right now!”

***

Nicholai falls in front of the coffin of his mother. He looks the face of that old woman with full of condolence.

Many times Nicholai tries to pinch his own arm, making sure that it is not only dream. It is so difficult for Nicholai to believe that he has to lost his mother forever. Ah, even Nicholai has not told Mr. Maximllen yet about all happened. Hearing the news that his mother just passed away already made Nicholai panic.

Nicholai takes the phone from his trouser pocket. So many miscall notifications from Mr. Maximillen. That old man must be confused about what happened with Nicholai.

Nicholai types something on his phone.

[Nicholai: Mr. Maximillen, I am so sorry. I heard a bad news that my mother passed away and it made me really panic. I quickly went without telling you. I was wrong, I am so sorry. Two days later, I will go back to work, I promise.]

Nicholai looks at his mother’s face again. The wrinkles on that woman’s face do not make her beauty fade. She looks only like she falls asleep.

“Mom, you are not feeling hurt anymore, right?”

No answers from his mother.

“Mom, I am so sorry because I am home with a sad news. I divorced with Alicia, Mom. I am so sorry because of my ignorance, I could not make her happy, so she ran away from me.” Nicholai’s tears fall down. It is so hard for Nicholai to tell about all.

“Mom, you must be disappointed and angry with me.” Nicholai cries so hard.“

Aunt Brenda who looks her nephew cries alone, she comes. She hugs Nicholai tightly. She pretty knows how heavy the problem that Nicholai should handle.

“You have to be strong, Nick. I know it is not easy for you, but you have to be strong.” Only that sentence Aunty Brenda can say to strengthen Nicholai.

The funeral took place. This time, Nicholai does not cry, letting his mother comes into the grave without crying even just a little bit. Nicholai only looks empty to his mother’s coffin which is starting to be buried under the ground.

“Do you want to go home now? I will make you a hot tea.” Aunt Brenda says, asking Nicholai to go home.

Nicholai shakes his head weakly. He still wants to be in his mother’s grave alone, he still wants to talk to his mother only.

Aunt Brenda nods. “Okay. I will go home now. If you need a help, just call me, Nick.”

Nicholai nods, letting Aunt Brenda go home.

“Mom, you must be disappointed with me. I am so sorry, Mom, I have not made you happy yet even in your last breath.” Nicholai says while he is stroking a headstone inscribed Natalie Barbara.

After pretty enough Nicholai is there, he chooses to go home.

Even thought it is so hard for him to leave his mother, but Nicholai has to go.

Nicholai sits weakly on the chair in the living room. He still does not want to shower or only cleaning his body. He is so tired, physically and mentally tired.

In the middle of his dream, Nicholai is surprised when his phone vibrated. Mr. Maximillen’s name is showed in his phone. Nicholai answers that call quickly.

“Hel—”

“Where are you now, Loser?”

Nicholai has not finished his word yet, Mr. Maximillen said with his night tone, making Nicholai has to take his phone a little bit from his ear.

“I am still in my mother’s house, Mr. Maximillen.”

“Your mother is already in the grave, right? So, what are you waiting for? Come here back and work right now! You do not know how struggle me serving that people. Huh, you went quickly, making my burden is many times greater. Also, why you mother should pass away when I am busy?” Mr. Maximillen asks so many disrespect words to Nicholai.

“Mr. Max ….”

“Come here and back to work right now! I will wait for you until 9 tonight. If you are late, I will think to look for your replacement.”

“You do not have to think, Mr. Maximillen.” Nicholai says, try to be strong.

“What you mean?”

“I resign now. It will be better if I do not work than I have to work on a bad person that disrespect to my mother’s death. Good bye!” Nicholai ends the call without asking Mr. Maximillen’s permission.

Nicholai sighs heavily. All of his body is weak, his head is so hurt. Leately, world seems like do not let Nicholai rest just for a while.

***

A cock crows so loud, waking Nicholai who fell asleep last night on the sofa up.

Nicholai is stretching his stiff muscles due to his lack of sleep, then goes out of the house to get some fresh air. Yes, at least the air in the village is much fresher than the air in the city which is Nicholai wandered.

Nicholai looks around. A situation in this village is still the same as 10 years ago, when Nicholai went for wandering for the first time. The air is still fresh and Nicholai still can see people bringing their cattle to bathe and find food. All is the same, except his mother. That woman usually welcomed Nicholai with a plate of ginger cakes and a mug of hot chocolate. However, this time and forever, Nicholai will not get it anymore.

Nicholai cries again, he really miss his mother.

That bad memories also come, about how Alicia betrayed him and divorced him, how Nicholai losing his mother, and how Mr. Maximillen said with his bad sentences last night. Everything suddenly comes and mixes in Nicholai’s head.

“Mom, the world is so bad to me. And the world is so evil because it takes you from me forever.”

In the middle of his cry, Nicholai’s eyes suddenly look at a knife on the dining table. Quickly Nicholai takes that knife and brings it to his pulse. Nicholai wants to end all of his suffering.

“NICK, STOP IT!”

Before Nicholai could do it, Aunt Brenda arrives. That old woman quickly takes the knief and throws it to a random corner..

“Do not do it, Nick!” Aunt Brenda says, she also cries and hugs Nicholai.

“I can’t handle it anymore, Aunt.” Nicholai cries in Aunt Brenda’s hug.

“You have me, Nick. Aunt Brenda will always take care of you, I promise.”