Chapter 1

A man was seen running very fast on the sidewalk like a money thief being chased by the police.

Brak

"Sorry, sorry," said the man who bumped into someone.

After apologizing the man ran back very quickly, he seemed very hurried.

The man stopped in front of a roadside food stall. He tried to catch his breath and entered the shop.

"Finally you've come Ivan, quickly change your clothes and help us!" said a middle-aged man rebuking the man.

"Okay Uncle," answered Ivan, rushing to change clothes.

The food shop looked very busy, even though the place was quite small. People seem to enjoy every meal served there.

The man called Ivan immediately helped serve the customers, he looked very friendly and was skilled at doing this.

"Bring me another glass of beer!" exclaimed one of the customers.

"Coming soon!" Ivan said with a smile.

The man served customers very well with one or two of his colleagues and a man called Uncle, the owner of the shop.

***

Ivan Reims, a simple young man who has quite handsome looks and a slightly sturdy body.

Every day Ivan worked whatever he could, before finally the man got a job at a shop. Although, only given night shift.

Ivan lives with his mother, who has suffered from a mild stroke, in her modest house, on the outskirts of the city of Aranca.

Mira, Ivan's mother can no longer work due to her illness, so the middle-aged woman can only do housework and her son is the one who works hard to support them.

Never mind continuing school. Even though he works day and night, the money Ivan earns is only enough to meet his daily needs, plus his mother also has to have a check-up every two months.

***

"I am home!" Ivan shouted opening the door as he rushed into the house.

Mira slowly approached the child. "You must be tired, son. Mother has made you hot tea."

Ivan smiled while supporting his mother. "Why haven't you rested yet, it's already late at night, don't wait for Ivan to come home," he said softly as he took his mother to sit on their old sofa.

Mira sighed. "I'm sorry, son, you have to work very hard because our condition is like this."

"Hais, what are you saying? It's my job to earn money," answered Ivan while sipping the hot tea his mother made.

Ivan was seen enjoying the warm tea his mother made, the man smiled so that his mother wouldn't look sad anymore.

"Mother's check up schedule is tomorrow, right?" Ivan asked gently.

Mira looked at the child sadly. "Son, it's better to collect money for your future, Mom is fine."

"How can it be, Mother has to get better first, I can work every day to earn money," he answered directly without hesitation, "the main thing is Mother has to get well first, I don't want to hear anything else."

"Son, you also have to think about your future," said the mother sadly.

Ivan smiled. "Mom, you don't need to worry about that, we'll go check up tomorrow, okay."

Mira looked at her child sadly. It had been almost four years since she had been diagnosed with a mild stroke. However, the disease did not go away, even though it was only a mild stroke that could have been cured.

Ivan smiled at his mother, he kissed her forehead and said goodbye to go take a shower, then rest.

Mira took a deep breath while shedding tears. "If only I had let you go with your father, son, you wouldn't have suffered with mother."

Ivan's father left him when he was still in elementary school. I don't know for what reason the man left his wife and child.

Ivan was about to be taken by his father. However, Mira held back, she thought Ivan would not be happy if he came with his father.

Now Mira realizes that her actions were wrong. After living together with their child and now Ivan is an adult, their life is still the same as before, but it seems even harder after he can't work.

Ivan has to work day and night to meet his living needs and medical expenses. Thinking about this, Mira was very sad, she kept wishing if only Ivan could live happily like other children.

***

The next day ....

Ivan and his mother left the house, they were going to the hospital in the center of Aranca city.

"Mom, what do you want to eat later?" Ivan asked, smiling and holding his mother's hand.

"You have to be frugal, son, don't keep buying Mom something expensive, Mom can eat anything at home," she answered softly.

"That's not allowed, we only go out twice a month, it's okay if we eat delicious food once in a while," said the man, smiling broadly showing his rows of white teeth.

Mira couldn't help but smile seeing how much her child cared about her. She feels very lucky to have a very filial son like Ivan.

The two of them walked to the only bus stop on the outskirts of Aranca. The two of them immediately got into the bus, leaving for downtown Aranca.

After an hour's journey, the mother and child arrived in the center of Aranca city. They both went downstairs and looked for a taxi to go to the hospital.

Along the way Ivan really made his mother comfortable, the man was very attentive so that his mother wouldn't be sad and of course he always looked cheerful in front of the woman who had given birth to him.

They arrived at the hospital and immediately underwent an examination, the results were the same as before. Making Mira take a deep breath.

After completing the examination, the two of them left the hospital, Mira's face looked a little gloomy.

"Mom, let's take a walk to the mall first, okay?" Ivan asked while pointing at the Mall building which was located not far from the hospital.

"Son, Mom told me, don't waste it on me...."

"Shhh... we just want to go for a walk, who said we want to go shopping?" Ivan asked, interrupting his mother's words.

Mira smiled wryly, in the end she just obeyed the child's wishes. Ivan was very excited, she rushed to find a taxi and went to the mall.

One of the reasons Ivan couldn't save was because he wanted to make his mother happy, so he was willing to buy whatever her mother wanted. Even though Mira always refuses when she buys something, Ivan still buys it.

They both arrived at the mall. Ivan took his mother upstairs. The man was not embarrassed at all, holding his mother along the way like a lover.

Many people who saw him felt strange about Ivan. Because they think the guy is dating an Old woman. However, he was not bothered by that at all.

Ivan and his mother stopped at a clothing store. Ivan said, "Mom, the clothes here are nice, I bought one for you."

"No need, son, let's just eat," answered the mother worriedly, because she saw that the prices were quite expensive.

"It's okay, ma'am, last night I got a bonus from Uncle Hull (the owner of the shop), I can buy one piece of clothes for you and have a nice meal today," said the man with a faint smile.

Ivan didn't wait for his mother to answer, he pulled his mother into the clothing store. because he was too excited he bumped into someone.

Bang!

Brug!

"Oww!" screamed a woman who was hit by Ivan, falling along with her shopping.