Remember Me, Baby.
Accompanying

Andrew walked ahead, followed by Keiko and Kim at the back. The three men walked down the coiled stone steps beside the cliff house. The stairs are semicircular, culminating in a small pier near the bay.

There were only two fishing boats and one fast boat moored there. There was an old man wearing a white hat near the fast boat, apparently the one who was going to pilot the sea ship. Since it was almost afternoon, there were not too many people in the small pier.

“Good afternoon, Sir, Miss,” greet the man when Andrew arrives before him. Reflexively he straightened his body position.

“Sore. Is everything ready?” reply Andrew.

“Yes. We can depart whenever you order it.”

Andrew nodded in satisfaction and turned towards Keiko. “Naik and see if there is still less,” he said while thrusting a hand to help the girl enter the motorboat.

“Good,” Keiko replied as she welcomed Andrew's hand.

Kim followed closely behind and helped Keiko hold onto the urn for a while. From the outside the ship looks small, but when entering the inside, Keiko only realized the fast ship was quite spacious.

In addition to the captain and the three of them, there were still four men who were on standby on the boat. One of the men handed Keiko a small basket of flowers. There are also two lifeboats and a safety rope on the floor. Actually it was more than enough, so Keiko did not ask for anything more.

Andrew gestured to the Old Man who was about to drive the motorboat that they were ready to depart. Shortly thereafter, the engine hummed slowly. The body of the boat slightly jerked before moving forward stably.

Keiko stood on the bridge, glancing at the increasingly smaller cliff house in the back. The waves break down on the right and left sides of the boat, splashing the sea water hard enough to tampias inward. Keiko stood upright while holding her father's urn of ashes tightly. Her silhouette that was struck by the light of the twilight sun gave the illusion of a princess who was from a fairyland.

Andrew was stunned for a moment by the beauty before him. In his vague memories, he once promised to take the girl away on vacation. Unfortunately, that plan was never implemented. His Kinara Lee first left before he realized promises he never had time to keep.

Andrew's throat suddenly felt dry and uncomfortable, as if there was a lump of coals inside, propping up and burning himself from within. The two men's hands clenched tightly ..so tightly that his nails almost poked into his palms.

There was irony reflected from his dark bead. A faint scorn on his lips, a cynical sneer towards himself because even in this life he was not able to make his Kinara Lee happy. I don't know how many tears the girl in front of him had spilled, and she couldn't do anything to prevent it.

As if realizing that she was being observed, Keiko looked back and found Andrew about five steps behind her body. His shoulder-length hair was being blown by the wind. Within that distance, her long eyelashes seemed to tremble faintly, either out of nervousness, or out of sadness.

Unknowingly Andrew stepped forward and reached out his hand. He grabbed a few strands of hair that were sticking out, then slipped them behind Keiko's ears. The girl was too shocked by Andrew's attitude. His round eyes looked at the man before him with a questionable look. While Andrew who realized his mistake immediately pulled his hand quickly.

“Sorry,” muttered the man while turning his eyes, “It was just ... um, I also don't know why—“

“Nothing,” interrupted Keiko and turned her face away. He returned to face forward, trying to relieve the pounding in his chest that suddenly became irregular.

The coastline seems to be getting further away. The expanse of the blue ocean stretches wide to the foot of the horizon, giving a mysterious and calming impression. Keiko looked up to stare at the bright sky decorated with several white clouds hanging down. Fortunately, it was not cloudy or rainy today.

“I think in front is a suitable location,” said Keiko broke the silence.

“Good,” Reply Andrew. He turned his head towards Kim and said, “Please tell Mr. Sergio to stop in front.”

“Ready, Captain,” replied Kim. He rushed to the control room and relayed Andrew's orders.

The man named Sergio immediately slowed down the speed of the motor boat before finally completely turning off the engine. He lowered the anchor to maintain the position of the boat to remain stable.

“I'll go down,” Keiko said after the boat floats quietly.

“I'll accompany you.”

Andrew's words were heard as a statement, not seeking approval. Quickly he took the buoy and handed it to Keiko. Kim helped the girl wear it. When he was done, Andrew had finished wearing his own paddles.

Although they can both swim, but the safety equipment is still needed in case there is a current from the bottom of the sea that pulls them into the vortex.

Adeptly Andrew put a rope on the back of the buoy, hooked it to the side of the ship, then first descended into the water. He thrust out a hand and helped Keiko to descend carefully. After the girl floats steady, Andrew receives a flower basket proffered by Kim.

The view that afternoon was so moving. A daughter escorted her father to the final resting place in a very simple state. There is no proper funeral service, without relatives.

The sun was almost at the limit of the horizon, its golden light bounced off and gave a shady impression. Keiko placed the urn on the surface of the water carefully, then paid her last respects three times and then said, “Daddy, your grudge will be avenged.”

Her tears came back to drip as the water ripples slowly but surely carried the urn away. He received a basket handed over by Andrew, took a handful of flowers and sprinkled them slowly. Keiko did just that until the porcelain jar containing her father's ashes slowly disappeared to the bottom of the ocean.

Andrew paid his last respects and said, “Mr.Sakamoto, rest in peace. I'll take good care of your daughter and help her avenge you.”

Hearing Andrew's words made Keiko sob even louder. When he felt he had no one left, the man promised to look after him in front of his father's ashes. Now he doesn't feel alone anymore. God took his father, but sent an extraordinary man to replace him. For a moment, the girl felt sure everything would be fine.

***