Chapter 2: Egao No Yakusoku (The Promise of Smile)
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I know you won't forget, All the time we got to spend
Just because it's been a while, Doesn't mean that its the end
So right here and now, I'll swear you a vow
That I will always be with you, Whenever you feel down
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On the morning, In Nico House
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"Nico-chan, let's wake up, sweety...!", Nico Mom woke Nico who still fell asleep in the morning.
"Please take care your little sister Kokoro and Kokoa.. Mama would go to the market for a while."
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It was Sunday, and as this is my activities every day which became a baby sitter for my two sisters, Kokoro (4 years) and Kokoa (3 years). Actually I do not really like to spend my time with them at home, but since my father was admitted to hospital to undergo his treatment therapy, I inevitably had to accustom myself to help my mother take care of them.
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"Onee-chan, when dad come home?", Asked Kokoro, Nico little sister number one.
"Onee-chan, actually where is daddy now ?", Kokoa, little Nico sister number 2 also asking Nico while busy playing her toy, "Whack-A-Mole".
"Dad... Dad definitely will return. You don't have to worry, we will surely to meet with Daddy soon." Nico replied with a cheerful voice.
"That's why you have to grow up to be good and healthy and smart."
"Allright sis..." They said they two together.
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It is the umpteenth time I lied to my sister. Actually, I also found out about my father's health condition that getting worse from time to time. Every night I could hear my mother crying and praying to God to ask for healing daddy. I do not know what to do. I felt useless in this family.
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July 22, 2008
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"Happy Birthday Nico-chan!" My mother said as she lit a candle on a birthday cake.
"Happy Birthday, Onee-chan!" Both my sister also congratulated me.
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This morning I was shocked by the surprise party that has been prepared by the mother and both my sister shortly after I wake up. I feel happy that for the first time I can celebrate birthdays together with my mama and my two sisters. But... I felt there was something lacking in my 11th birthday. My dad is not here.
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"Thank you Mama", I took a birthday cake and blowing the candle flame above it.
"Thanks Kokoro, Kokoa", I unconsciously crying, there is a tear were running down my cheek.
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At The Playground.
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As usual on afternoon I went to the playground alone sitting in my favorite swing, looking at the evening sky.
"Hwoaaahh ... boring.", I said with a sigh.
"Even in this birthday, I still not allowed to visit my father in the hospital! Suck! ", I complained while bowed my head. Not long ago I saw a large shadow of someone behind me. I turned my head toward the back and saw someone getting closer to me.
"Hmm ... who are you?! A Clown?!", The man wearing a clown costume Winnie The Pooh, I think he might be a clown who work in this park.
"Gift?", Clown was issued a gift from his waist bag and gave it to me.
"For Me?"
I held the clown giving gifts. With curiosity I opened the gift and ...
"DUAAARRR !" (explode sound)
I was very surprised to know there is a small firecracker inside that gifts. In a state which a little chaotic I saw the clown that actually appear're laughing at that even though he did not make out a sound.
"GO AWAY YOU STRANGER!", I snapped him to left me alone, but that clown did not budge instead he mimicked my every move. That made me even more angry.
I ignored him and went to where the swing but he also followed me to go there and swinging side. I went to the sandbox, but that clown also stays following me playing on there. It really bothers me.
"STOP! STOP FOLLOWING ME OR I WILL SCREAM!", I threatened that clown. But instead of a clown was gone instead he drew near me, very close and then... He grabbed my arm and sprinting!.
"HELP ME! I was kidnapped!", I screamed asking for help, but the people who were there instead smiling and laughing at me.
"This is not good !" I thought. I was so too panic, I even closed my eyes and did not pay attention to see where the clown was going to take me away. Shortly afterwards, the clown suddenly stopped and I opened my eyes.
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"It's...", I gasped upon seeing that place.
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"It's Fantasy Dreamland!"
"Fantasy Dreamland!". It is an amusement park in my region. I often go to this place every day of the holidays with my father and my sisters. I do not know whether to feel happy or horrified now because I am currently going with strangers who kidnap me. But after being at the playground is directly made to drift with the fun atmosphere there so that I involuntarily immediately headed to the game rides.
The clown rides me to go to every place of my favorite game rides. He really understands all of my favorite rides. To be honest, I find this screwy but I thought it is just a coincidence.
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After playing then we take a break on an empty bench.
"Hahaha... I'm pleased !"
"You know Mr. Clown... Actually today is my birthday. I and my father would always go here on my birthday. But for this year I could not do it... My father was ill and hospitalized." I tell my feelings to Mr. Clown, for some reason I felt very comfortable to be at his side even though we had just met.
"I'm afraid can not able to meet with him in the next year"
"Hmm... hey, kids...", Suddenly Mr. Clown spoken for the first time. "You want a balloon?"
"Ehh?", I saw him holding a pink balloon and give it to me.
"Thank you", I said as I received the gift of his balloon.
"You know why this balloon can fly?", Mr. Clown began to speak. "It is because there is a light helium gas that fills the balloon, that why it can fly."
"Did you know that the helium gas also can make other people laugh. If you inhale this gas then your voice will shrink like a baby, and it's very funny at all... Hahahaha...", Mr. Clown laughing while taking a balloon again for himself.
"Human is like that, they also need a lot of laughs to be able to fly any problems they have."
"I have many expect to you, Nico-chan."
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Ehh ... he know my name? But how can?.
Mr. Clown then release his mask head.
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"NO WAY! DAD?!", I looked him with a hesitate eye.
"Hi, Nico-chan ... Long time not see you, right? Happy birthday!, "My father smiled
"WHY?", I snapped at him.
"Eeh..." My father was shocked.
"WHY ARE YOU HERE? Aren't you supposed to be in the hospital now? "I scolded him.
"That's... That's not a big deal... Hahahaha..." My father said with a laugh awkwardly.
"What's so not a big deal?! You ran away from the hospital, right?!"
"Maybe? Hehehe... "Said my father awkwardly. I've been perplexed by my father's actions.
"Dad... why are you doing this?", I asked in a low voice.
"Nico-chan, it's because daddy will never be able to forget your birthday," he said.
I was stunned to hear that answer.
"Nico-chan, do you know why daddy gave you the name Nico? That's because I want you to grow into a child who was always smiling under any circumstances, therefore, can you promise me one thing?", Asked my father.
"Whatever happens in the future, no matter how bad you face any problems, Nico must be a child who is always cheerful! OK!", My father closes his words with his thumb finger. With great compassion, I hugged my dad while give signaled hand "OK!" to him.
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On that day, my father took me to go to the amusement park to celebrate my birthday as usual until the late night. The next day my father receiving intensive care in hospital. As expected, the head of hospital nurse scolded my father about his reckless behavior.
Not long ago, Mama got a notice from a doctor that she was pregnant of 3 months, for me it is a very happy news. Daddy really has given a great gift to our family because it is a boy. My father asked to give his name Kotaro.
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And then one month later... My father passed away.
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It was a very tough day for me. There is nothing more painful than to see the death of my dad who had gone forever in this hospital room. My mother and my sisters help each other to serve every guest who came to mourn at the funeral hall. Needless to say, our family is really lost in grief whenever there are guests who began to speak in memory of my father. However, I've promised him I would not cry on the day of his mourning. Therefore I still smile in front of the guests.