Autumn In Kent
Diamond Ring

‘Puti ...,’ sigh Mike helpless.

‘Take me home, Mike,’ pinta Puti while getting out of her seat.

‘For God's sake, Puti, I didn't mean to hurt your heart,’ Mike said as he accompanied Puti's steps. Puti didn't pay attention to it. He walked straight to Mike's car.

It's been more than five minutes Puti and Mike were in the car but Mike hasn't started the engine yet. He looked at the darkness of the night with an empty look. Beside him, Puti sat leaning against the seat. His hand toyed with the ring on his ring finger. The ring has been there for almost a year. Slowly, the ring he took off.

‘Recover your ring, Mike,’ he said after first wetting his lips that suddenly became dry. Mike looked at her for a long time. Puti avoided that look. A look that usually revolves around love and the future. But that gentle gaze was no longer his.

‘Will you keep it?’ ask Mike. Puti.

‘It is of no use to me, except when my future husband is also named Michael Gray. ‘

☘️

Emma and her boyfriend, Nick, were watching a movie in the living room, when the apartment door opened. Emma turned her head and saw Puti standing frozen in front of the door. His face was deathly pale and his breathing was breathless. Realizing that something was wrong, Emma got up and walked over to Puti.

‘Puti, what happened?’ ask Emma to worry.

‘Mike left me,’ whispered Puti. Emma hugged him and Puti's tears broke. Tears that he deliberately held when he was near Mike, spilled unstoppable again. ‘She will soon mate with her assistant.’

‘Tell me everything,’ Emma said as she led Puti closer to the sofa.

Nick shuts off the TV as soon as he realizes that there is a serious event happening to Puti. She knows Puti and Emma need privacy. He signaled to Emma that he was coming home. Emma nodded. Before going out Nick pats Puti's shoulder.

‘Be strong,’ whispers strengthen.

☘️

When Mike turned his car into the courtyard of the Gray family home in Salem, he noticed the lights in the living room were still on. Mom and Dad haven't slept. They were deliberately waiting for my arrival, thought Mike gamang. He remained in the car, trying to delay for as long as possible the meeting with his father and mother. After mustering up enough courage, he finally came down as well.

Passing through the living room to go to her room, she saw her mother knitting and her father reading.

‘You haven't slept?’ tanyanya tried to act ordinary.

‘Mike, how..’.

‘Mom, not now,’ cut Mike. ‘Sometimes I'll tell you everything.’

‘I just want to ask how Puti accepted your decision?’ Nancy Gray will not give up.

‘I think I killed his soul and spirit,’ Mike said regretfully.

‘Puti is very young. He will move on and soon forget you,’ William Gray said. His speech was flat without emotion. Nancy and Mike looked at her in surprise.

‘Yes, he will soon forget me,’ whispered Mike wryly as he walked away from his parents. Just a few steps he stopped, turned around and walked closer to his mother again. From his jacket pocket he took out the diamond ring that Puti had returned earlier.

‘Puti returned this ring to you?’ Nancy asked while receiving a ring from Mike. Mike nodded.

‘She said the ring was of no use to her, unless her future husband was named Michael Gray,’. Nancy understands Puti. On the inside of the ring there is a graphite inscribed with ‘Michael Gray’

‘Then should I do this ring?’

‘I bought the ring for Puti. Please save it for him,’ said Mike and passed.

He woke up with a strange feeling. She spread her gaze all over her room, but did not manage to find anything that changed. The furniture and room arrangement remain the same. Even the bed linen remains the same, it has not been replaced. He was so sure that something had changed, only he didn't know where the change was.

Slowly he got up from his bed. Suddenly he felt his head throbbing in pain. Quickly he sat in front of the mirror and saw his eyes were red.

‘Iritation,’ murmured to convince himself that his red eyes were not the result of crying. To be even more convincing, he opened the contact lens that forgot he took off last night.

Puti does not know and does not remember what he did after that. He was sitting on a bench at Pancake House. The four pieces of pancakes that were in front of him had not yet been plastered. His mind is really complicated. Yesterday morning he could still dream about the future he would have with Mike. Yesterday morning he still had Mike to lean on. Yesterday morning he still had someone who loved him. But this morning everything was melting. Dreams scummed. Her place leaned lost and the person who loved her had abandoned her.

‘God, why do the people I love always leave me?’ puti is desperate. ‘You used to take my parents. Then you took my grandmother. Now why should Mike go anyway?’ He was face down on the table and crying. He suddenly felt his shoulders being gently touched from behind.

‘Puti...,’ sounds a familiar call. Puti raised her face and saw Nancy Gray standing in front of her. Quickly Puti wiped away the tears that had soaked her cheeks. Nancy immediately sat down beside him and hugged him warmly. As if through that embrace he wanted to absorb the sorrow in Puti's heart.

‘Puti, you will be strong to face this ordeal, son,’ whispered Nancy lovingly. Puti nodded her head.

‘Ya...,’ his sigh is heavy. ‘I'm used to farewell. Even a lasting farewell,’ he continued.

Nancy tightened her embrace. He didn't know what words to say. He came to Kent to comfort Puti. But now he was unable to comfort her. Seeing the state of Puti now is like seeing the state of Little Puti a dozen years ago. One quarter alive and three quarters dead. He once helped Puti to live again but ironically now it is his own biological son who has destroyed Puti's life.

‘Puti, I'm sure all this is just a hindrance. Mike will be back to you soon,’ whispered Nancy. Puti quickly shook her head.

‘No. Mike really loves Cathy. They'll be married soon. I have to let it go. ‘

‘My little heart says that all of this is just a distraction that is about to pass. I can't agree that Mike and Cathy are getting married on the upcoming Thanksgiving day . I asked them to postpone their marriage until next year. I'm sure before that time comes Mike will definitely come back to you.’

‘Mom,’ Puti jerked in shock. ‘Mom, it's not fair for Mike. Let Mike choose his own life. Let them marry immediately. He deserves to get happiness,’ said Puti.

‘Not fair to Mike you said?’ ask Nancy. ‘Is Mike's action fair to you? Listen carefully, Puti. I love Mike and I love you. The most I want in this world is just to see the happiness of you two.’

‘Mike will be happy with Cathy,’ said Puti.

‘What about you? Will you also be happy?’

‘In turn I will also be happy, Mom,’ Puti said. He wondered where he could get those words from. A few hours ago he still felt sure happiness for him did not exist in this world.