The morning sunlight trickled gently through the curtains of the mansion's wide living room, where the aroma of fresh-brewed tea and toasted bread greeted everyone. Phuby was the first to come downstairs, already dressed in a soft beige T-shirt and loose jeans, looking more refreshed than usual after a full night's rest. The events of the past few days had been nothing short of overwhelming — welcoming Hana's family, showing them around Cirebon, the spontaneous luxury car purchase, and the laughter that had echoed across the house since they arrived.
As he stood near the glass wall facing the zen garden, Phuby watched the tabebuya tree standing proudly in full bloom. Hana had just walked in, still tying her hair into a loose bun, wearing a soft pastel sundress and slippers.
"Good morning," she said in Japanese, before quickly correcting herself to Bahasa, "Selamat pagi, Phuby."
He turned and smiled warmly. "Pagi, Hana."
They stood quietly together for a while, watching the soft breeze rustle the leaves and the gravel of the garden subtly shift in patterns. It was peaceful — the kind of peace that made one think deeply about life.
"I like mornings here," Hana said, clasping her hands in front of her. "It feels like a dream. Peaceful, but real."
Phuby chuckled. "That's the goal. A place we can live without too much noise, but close enough to keep working and moving forward."
Soon after, Mrs. Wulan came in carrying a tray of toast, soft-boiled eggs, and warm milk for Hana and herself. Om Luky followed, checking his phone and grinning as he read a message from Mamad. Apparently, Mamad had managed to make a new flavor of fried rice that had people lining up again at his family stall.
"Where's Hana's parents?" Phuby asked as he sat at the long table.
"They're still in their room. Jet lag, maybe?" Om Luky replied.
"No," Hana said while giggling. "They stayed up late watching local dramas. My mom really got into it."
As the family gathered around the breakfast table, laughter filled the room again, but there was a pause when Mrs. Wulan casually asked, "So, what's next?"
Phuby glanced at her. "Next?"
"You've got the mansion. The shop is running well. You've given jobs to friends you trust. You even bought a car that makes people stare. What's next?"
Hana tilted her head, curious. "What is next, Phuby?"
Phuby placed his toast down and leaned back. "I was thinking… maybe something for the people in this area."
Om Luky raised an eyebrow. "Like what? Community programs?"
"Sort of," Phuby answered. "Maybe an open space for kids who want to learn. Some kind of creative hub. A place with computers, internet, maybe music equipment. I remember what it was like not having anywhere to go, feeling like the world had no space for you."
There was silence — not because they disapproved, but because they understood the weight of what Phuby had said. This wasn't just about success anymore. It was about giving back.
"That's a noble plan," said Mrs. Wulan, her voice soft. "But we'd need to plan it properly. Permits, land, people to manage it."
"I can help," Hana said quickly. "I can reach out to some people I know from back home. And maybe... we can even add language classes?"
"Japanese, English, even Sundanese," Om Luky added with a grin. "The polite form, of course."
Everyone laughed.
The conversation continued throughout breakfast, ranging from the practical to the silly — from community planning to who would lose first in karaoke tonight. When Hana's parents finally joined them, they too were supportive of the idea, though Hana's mother playfully added, "But no more big surprises like that car yesterday, okay?"
Phuby held up his hands in surrender. "No more, I promise."
But as he looked at his family, Hana beside him, the mansion standing tall around them, and the garden blooming under the morning sun — he knew this wasn't the end of his journey.
It was just the beginning of something even bigger.