Autumn In Kent
Refusing Adoption

Puti set herself in front of a mirror installed in the living room of her apartment. He deliberately wears a purple linen blouse that matches his glasses. Glasses are perfect for him. Light, comfortable in his ears and nose. Steve was smart to choose, with the weight Puti admitted in his heart.

‘Hai, already want to go to work?’ Suddenly Emma appears from the entrance of the apartment. Puti turned around and developed her smile.

‘Wow, your glasses are cool,’ praise Emma when you see the new glasses perched on Puti's face. ‘So you can finally buy glasses?’ Reciprocity.

‘It turns out my health insurance covers the eyes,’ replied Puti.

‘Her brakes must have been expensive once,’ commented Emma. ‘Frame also includes?’

‘There's limit. So must add,’ replied Puti. He deliberately did not explain that the price fulfilled Steve Caroll. In particular Emma had warned to stay away from Steve. Until he knows for sure the relationship between Emma and Steve, he will try to avoid Steve.

‘If you can buy glasses, then you do not have to work anymore dong?’ Ask Emma who knows that the reason Puti works part-time is to buy glasses.

‘I think I should try to live independently. For a while working in Belmont I maintained first, until I got a better job,’ replied Puti.

After chatting for a while with Emma, Puti exits the apartment to leave for Arbor Circle. While passing through the Management Building, he heard someone call his name loudly. Puti stopped her steps and looked over.

‘Dad!’ pati shouted happily when he saw who called him. William Gray's. Puti quickly ran up to him. William Gray spread his arms ready to embrace Puti.

‘How are you, my little girl?’ Ask when Puti is in his arms.

‘Great! ‘answort Puti while laughing. ‘Where, Mom?’

‘There's in the lobby waiting for you. Where are you going?’

‘To Arbor Circle, Dad. I have a side job now. I didn't know you were coming here. Why not call first, so I can get ready? Long wait?’ ask Puti while holding William Gray into the lobby.

‘Not so long,’ replied William. Puti had not heard the answer. He ran over to Nancy, who was tired of waiting for him. Puti gave her kiss on Nancy's cheek to erase her fatigue.

‘My father and I came to drop off your winter clothes,’ Nancy started telling stories. ‘We are afraid you will freeze to death later. ‘

‘Ah, you guys forgot snow is afraid of me,’ Puti said. ‘You remember my first year here? Christmas did not have snow that year. And Dad said the snow was afraid to fall because Puti's body was too hot. Remember?’ Puti tried to remind. Nancy and William Gray laughed. They remember that moment. Christmas without snow and Puti who almost cry because it is constantly teased that because of Puti snow does not want to fall.

‘But don't forget, Put, you've been sick for almost two weeks because of being outside the house for too long,’ William seduces Puti, Puti smiles funny.

That night Puti managed to ask permission from Mrs. Belmont not to work. He accompanied Will and Nancy to dinner. During their time together Puti tried her hardest to be cheerful. His heartache and eye pain he threw away. Even though Will and Nancy still capture the impression of grief in Puti. And it really unsettles them.

‘Follow me and your father want you to have this,’ Nancy whispered when the main dinner was over and they were still sitting in the restaurant enjoying coffee. A package as big as a textbook he stretched out towards Puti.

‘What is this?’ ask Puti. ‘I don't have a birthday.’

‘What if it is considered a Halloween gift?’ will's proposal.

‘I don't deserve it,’ said Puti lirih while putting the mahogany box into Nancy's hand again.

‘Puti we want you to have it,’ said Nancy sincerely.

‘No. I have no right,’ Puti refused. ‘Didn't Mommy ever say that this necklace has been in the Gray family for generations? The necklace will only be given to the first woman to change her surname to Gray. Cathy Kates is entitled to this necklace, not me. Mom, Dad, don't change family traditions for me.‘

‘Who will change the family tradition?’ ask Will. ‘Before Cathy uses the name Gray behind her name, you will already use the name Gray behind your name.’

‘You mean?’ tanya Puti was really confused.

‘We will adopt you officially, Puti. ‘

‘No!’ Excited Puti shocked.

‘Why? We love you, Puti. We really wanted to adopt you. But we always postpone it. Then we thought it was unnecessary because after all by marrying Mike you will already use the name Gray behind your name automatically,’ William explained.

‘Dad, Since a dozen years ago, I have been your child even without official adoption,’ said Puti

‘But you know for sure, what is meant by the first woman to use the name Gray is a son-in-law. Not a child,’ continued Puti. ‘I don't think you guys really like accepting Cathy as Mike's wife. Cathy's a good girl and she and Mike love each other. I'm not Mike's soul mate. I'm happy to see Mike happy. Don't worry about me.’

‘Puti, instead of us rejecting the presence of Cathy in the midst of our family,’ Nancy defends herself. ‘But what we are afraid of is, if after their marriage you will take distance from us. We love you, Put, and the thought of you ignoring us is truly unbearable.’

‘Mom, I will never ignore you. You are all I have in this world. Until anytime I will remain your child,’ promise Puti.

‘How about we continue your adoption process?’ William Gray asked expectantly.

‘Dad, I feel so committed. But I don't think it's necessary. I'm an adult, not a child anymore. But I'm still your son. We don't need an official letter to be family,’ Puti said solemnly.

Nancy and William Gray looked at Puti with soft shining eyes. The loving Puti. When he needs entertainment he comforts others, they thought.

‘Please promise that you will still return home, Puti, even though Mike and Cathy may be in Salem on special days. We don't want you to step aside because of them,’ Nancy said.

‘Sure, Mom,’ says Puti hesitate. Maybe not anytime soon. But I had to start learning to adjust for Mom and Dad, thought Puti.

☘️

Day after day passed without feeling. The first snow started to fall on the earth. Like snow that falls without any other choice, Puti also lives his days because he has to live it. He could not resist the days that came to him. Every morning he wakes up, has breakfast, lectures until the afternoon, works at Belmont’s, returns home, and sleeps again. His days passed without the slightest impression. Sometimes he wondered what he was doing all that. What exactly is the purpose of his life? Everything is far away and running away.

Steve Carroll never again appeared in the days of Puti. Like the unexpected, the departure was unexpected. But every time Puti accidentally touches the hilt of his glasses, the shadow of a young man with golden hair, blue eyes, perfect face and impassive behavior crosses Puti's head.