Renzo was still standing in front of the old house, staring at the man named Surya. There were so many things he wanted to ask, but for a moment, he found it difficult to speak.
Finally, after several seconds of silence, Renzo broke it.
"You really knew Adrian?"
Surya didn't answer right away. He only looked at the letter in Renzo's hand.
"Yes. I knew him."
"How close were you?"
Surya looked toward the old house behind him.
"Closer than I should have been."
That answer only left Renzo more confused.
Rian, who had been silent until then, finally joined in.
"What does that mean? Why does everyone connected to Adrian always talk like they're hiding something?"
Surya looked at Rian.
"Because there is something being hidden."
"And what is that something?" Rian asked.
Surya looked back at Renzo.
"That depends on whether Renzo really wants to know."
Renzo felt a little irritated.
"Why does everyone keep asking me the same thing? I've come this far because I want to know."
Surya nodded slowly.
"I know."
"Then why are you still hesitating?"
"Because sometimes, a person is more comfortable living with questions than having to accept the answers."
Renzo fell silent.
He didn't like hearing that, but he knew there was some truth to it.
Ever since he found the letter, his life had changed. Every answer he received always brought another question with it.
But he couldn't stop now.
"I want to hear the story."
Surya looked at Renzo for a few moments, then opened the gate.
"Come in."
Renzo and Rian exchanged a glance before following Surya inside.
The inside of the house was simple. Many old things were neatly arranged. It didn't feel like an abandoned house; the place still felt as if someone was taking care of it.
Surya led them to the living room.
There was an old wooden table with several books and photographs on it.
Renzo immediately noticed a photograph sitting on the table.
A photograph of Adrian.
But this time, Adrian looked younger.
Standing beside him was a small boy.
Renzo picked up the photograph.
"Who is that?"
Surya was silent for a moment.
"Look closer."
Renzo studied the little boy.
Something about him felt familiar.
But Renzo couldn't remember what it was.
"That's..."
Renzo stopped.
Surya looked at him.
"That boy is you."
Renzo turned toward him at once.
"What?"
Rian looked just as shocked.
"Seriously?"
Surya nodded.
Renzo looked at the photograph again.
He tried to remember his childhood.
But his memories offered no answers.
"I've never seen this photograph."
"Of course you haven't."
"Why?"
Surya sat down in a chair.
"Because this photograph was deliberately kept hidden."
Renzo began to feel uneasy.
"Who exactly was Adrian to me?"
Surya drew a long breath.
"Adrian wasn't a stranger in your life."
Renzo waited for the rest of the answer.
"He was someone who used to be very close to your family."
"I've already heard that from Alena."
Surya nodded.
"But there's a part you don't know yet."
"What?"
Surya looked at the photograph.
"Adrian was the person who looked after you when you were little."
Renzo fell silent.
"Looked after me?"
"Yes."
"Why don't I remember?"
"Because after that incident, your family decided to erase every story about Adrian."
Renzo felt his chest grow heavier.
"Erase them?"
Surya nodded.
"They wanted you to forget."
"Why?"
Surya didn't answer right away.
He walked over to a small cabinet and took out an old book.
"Read this."
Renzo accepted the book.
Its cover was damaged, but there was still handwriting visible on the front.
Adrian's notes.
Renzo opened to the first page.
The first line made him stop immediately.
"For little Renzo."
His hand trembled slightly.
He read slowly.
"Today you asked again why I always come to your house. I want to answer, but maybe someday you'll understand on your own."
Renzo turned to the next page.
The book was like Adrian's diary.
It was about the days he spent with little Renzo.
About how Adrian always looked after Renzo.
About how Adrian promised to explain everything once Renzo was old enough.
Renzo read several pages.
The longer he read, the more feelings rose inside him.
There was happiness in learning that someone had once cared about him so deeply.
But there was also sadness knowing that all of it had been hidden from him.
"Why did my family hide all this?" Renzo asked.
Surya didn't answer right away.
"Because they were afraid."
"Afraid of what?"
"Afraid you would discover why Adrian left."
Renzo closed the book.
"Why did he leave?"
Surya looked out the window.
"Because he was trying to protect someone."
"Who?"
Surya looked back at Renzo.
"You."
The room fell silent.
Renzo didn't know what to say.
All this time, he had thought the letter was only about someone else's past.
But it turned out that a part of his own life had been missing all along.
"What happened back then?" Renzo asked.
Surya sat down again.
"Before I answer that, you need to meet Maya."
Renzo frowned.
"Maya again?"
Surya nodded.
"She's the one who holds the most important part of Adrian's story."
"Where can I find her?"
Surya handed him a small piece of paper.
An address.
Another new address.
Renzo accepted the paper.
"Why does everyone keep telling me to look for someone else?"
Surya gave him a faint smile.
"Because this story has never belonged to just one person."
Renzo looked at the paper.
He was beginning to understand something.
Adrian hadn't left behind just one clue.
He had left behind many paths for Renzo to follow so he could piece together the truth himself.
Before they left, Surya called out to Renzo.
"Renzo."
Renzo turned around.
"When you meet Maya, don't be angry with her."
"Why?"
"Because you may learn why everyone chose to remain silent all this time."
Renzo didn't answer.
He only gave a small nod.
Outside the house, Rian walked beside Renzo.
"Are you okay?"
Renzo looked at the road ahead.
"I don't know."
"That's an honest answer."
Renzo smiled faintly.
"I just feel weird. All this time, I thought I knew my own life."
Rian patted him on the shoulder.
"Maybe you're just finding the part that was missing."
Renzo looked at the letter and book he was carrying.
The missing part.
Maybe that's what he was really searching for.
But beneath all the answers that were beginning to surface, there was still one biggest question.
Why did Adrian have to leave?
And what really happened that made everyone choose to bury his name?
Renzo didn't know the answer yet.
But he knew one thing.
He would keep searching.
Because now, this story was no longer about a letter.
It was about him.