A World Between Us

“You are so pathetic.” Aamber turned to the guy next to her, who happened to be her brother.

“None of your business.”

Amber snorted then took a sip from her can and placed it on the dashboard of the car. “Until when do you want to be like this? Until she becomes a granny and remains unaware of you?”

“Sshh!” Aaron did not even turn to face his younger sister sitting next to him, his gaze straight ahead, at the exit of a campus gate. Soon the figure he was looking for came out, with a sweet smile that he had already memorized, was joking with her friends.

“She smiled,” muttered Aaron in relief.

“Of course she smiled, she managed to graduate cum laude,” said Aamber angrily. “And guess what, it's because of who?”

“I don't want to discuss it.”

“Because of you! All because of your struggle.” Aamber ignored her brother's warnings and continued on. “And now you can't even congratulate her, instead peeking from afar like this. How pathetic!”

Aaron continued to stare at the figure until it was farther away, disappearing in the public transport she was riding in.

“She even still takes public transportation, I have to arrange a vehicle for her. So that she doesn't have to be tired of being hot on public transportation anymore.”

Those words made Aamber even more angry because her brother didn't pay attention to her words. “I will repeat once again, you are pathetic, brother. Until when do you punish yourself like this?”

Quiet. It seemed that Aaron did not think Aamber's question needed an answer. The two brother and sister were silent in the luxury car which was parked some distance from the campus, so as not to be conspicuous. Aaron was busy with his own thoughts, his thoughts drifting back to ten years ago, when he was only eighteen years old. Rich, handsome, powerful and ignorant of responsibility.

________________

10 years ago...

“This is my birthday gift car, only two in the country,” muttered Aaron proudly to his friends at that time.

All of his friends admired the red sports car that Aaron parked in the square. “Crazy, this car is so good for speeding!” exclaimed one of his friends.

“Of course, this is a sports car.”

“Come on, let's try driving!” said one of his other friends.

Aaron laughed proudly at the arrogance of his youth at that time. That night they got drunk and partied hard. That same night Aaron learns that momentary pleasure can sometimes claim the lives of innocent people. In a drunken state, the car he was driving crashed into a taxi traveling slowly in the opposite lane. The taxi driver, an old man who didn't know anything, died instantly.

Of course all problems can be resolved quickly. Aaron's father was a very influential businessman because of his wealth and abundant power. There is no question why Aaron is driving his vehicle in a drunken state, bail has been prepared. Aaron himself was more worried at the time than thinking about the dead old taxi driver. After all, the taxi driver had better luck dying immediately, not feeling the pain he did.