Evan's father sat behind his desk, eyes fixed on the project documents he had just received. The Mindamas Port Expansion—an ambitious project involving major corporations, international contractors, and of course, the government. It was worth trillions of rupiah, with an impact that would last for decades.
At first, he hadn't considered involving Evan in a project this big. His son had only recently started taking work seriously again, after years of being known as a rebellious and unpredictable young man. But lately, Evan had shown surprising growth.
Reza, who usually handled large projects, had even quietly admitted that Evan had remarkable potential.
"He may be young, but his thinking is mature. He understands the market, knows client negotiation patterns, and… he works harder than we thought," Reza had said when they discussed the latest tender.
Evan's father stared at the proposal he needed to finalize soon. If this project succeeded, their company would level up. But they needed someone who understood the details, someone who could think strategically and quickly.
He took a deep breath and picked up his phone.
Evan's Father: "Van, there's a meeting tomorrow about the Mindamas Port. I want you to attend."
On the other end, Evan paused for a moment before replying, "Okay, Dad. I'm ready."
Evan's father gave a faint smile. Maybe it was time to give Evan a bigger chance.
—
Scene: Mindamas Port Project Meeting
That morning, the main conference room was filled with executives, project managers, and representatives from partner companies. Evan arrived on time, dressed neatly, his expression serious. This was his first time being invited to a meeting of this scale—not as "the boss's son," but as part of the team.
Evan's father sat at the head of the table, flanked by Reza and other top executives. As the presentation began, the project director explained that the Mindamas Port Expansion was a multi-phase project involving the construction of a new container terminal, logistics route upgrades, and an automation system that would increase cargo handling capacity by 50%.
Reza: "Our main focus now is winning the first phase of the bidding. If we can secure that, we'll have a strong chance of managing the entire project."
Several senior executives began discussing pricing strategies and technical requirements. Evan listened attentively, jotting down key points. Then, during a pause, he raised his hand.
Evan: "If I may suggest, I think we can offer added value by introducing a tech-based solution in the early phase. Mindamas wants efficiency, not just low prices."
Some people glanced at him.
Project Director: "What do you mean?"
Evan opened his laptop and presented data from similar projects in other countries.
"Ports in Singapore and Rotterdam successfully increased efficiency using a smart container tracking system. If we include this technology proposal in our offer, Mindamas will see us as a strategic partner, not just a contractor."
The room fell silent.
Evan's father looked at his son with an unreadable expression. Reza turned, slightly surprised. Some executives began whispering among themselves.
Evan's Father: "Evan, can you put together a more detailed analysis on this?"
Evan nodded confidently. "Give me two days."
His father leaned back, eyes still on Evan. This wasn't just empty talk—his son truly understood the subject.
And for the first time, he began to see Evan not merely as the heir to the company, but as someone who truly deserved a seat at the table.
—
Mid-November: Goal!
After a full month of negotiations, proposal revisions, and intense meetings with the Mindamas team, the official announcement finally arrived that morning.
PT Arwana Jaya had officially won the first phase of the Mindamas Port Expansion project.
In the company meeting room, the atmosphere erupted in cheers. Managers shook hands, Reza grinned broadly, and the executives applauded.
Evan, just settling down after the morning meeting, received a notification email from the Mindamas team. He read the first few lines, then looked at Reza.
Evan: "Goal!"
Reza, sitting across from him, straightened. "Seriously?"
Evan nodded and tossed his phone on the table so Reza could read the email himself. Reza skimmed through it quickly, then chuckled.
"This is insane. We got it!"
Colleagues nearby looked over, curious. Reza stood and announced,
"We won the Mindamas tender!"
The room grew even louder. Applause broke out, congratulations were exchanged, and someone already started planning a celebratory lunch.
In the middle of the celebration, Evan turned to the large window overlooking the city. This should've been the proudest moment of his life—but in his mind, only one thing mattered more: Raka.
And suddenly, he wondered…
Would his son be proud of him someday?
—
Afternoon at the Playground
Raka laughed gleefully as Evan carried him on his shoulders, running around the park. The little boy stretched out his arms as if flying, while Evan pretended to lose balance, making Raka shriek and laugh even harder.
Raka: "Again, Uncle Evan! Again!" he said excitedly, patting Evan's head.
Evan chuckled and slowly put him down.
"I'm tired. Can I take a break for a bit?" he said, flopping onto a park bench to catch his breath.
Raka ran over and climbed into his lap without hesitation.
"You're not strong? I'm stronger!" he declared proudly, showing off his tiny arm muscles.
Evan laughed, ruffling the boy's hair.
"Wow, looks like I'll be losing to you soon."
Ayla, standing not far away, quietly watched their interaction. Raka was always cheerful, but today was different—happier. And Evan… she had never seen that look on his face before.
His eyes lingered on Raka, as if trying to memorize every detail of the boy's face. His fingers gently touched Raka's hair, holding him tightly, almost like he was afraid to let go.
Ayla bit her lip. There was something in Evan's expression that made her chest ache.
"What if he's sick…"
The thought came out of nowhere. She had suspected something before, and now—with the way Evan looked at Raka—her suspicion grew stronger.
Before she could say anything, Evan suddenly spoke in a soft voice.
Evan: "You know what, Rak? I'm really happy I got to play with you today."
Raka turned to him innocently. "Me too! Let's play again tomorrow, okay?"
Evan smiled, but Ayla saw something behind that smile. Like… sadness. Like goodbye.
And for some reason, it scared her.
—
Toward the End of the Year
Evan sat alone in his dim apartment, lit only by a desk lamp in the corner. His fingers scrolled through his phone gallery, opening one photo and video after another from the past month.
Raka with his bright smile.
Raka laughing at the park.
Raka with ice cream smeared on his cheeks.
Raka fast asleep on the couch after a long day of playing.
Evan tapped "upload" and backed everything up to Google Drive. He even named the folder: For Raka's Future.
His eyes drifted to the calendar on his phone screen. December 21, 2017.
Less than two weeks to go.
New Year's. His birthday.
Would he turn 28 as he should?
Or stay 25 for the third time?
His hand clenched.
He had already lost so much because of this curse. Recognition for his hard work at the company, his achievements, people's trust—even Nadira.
But this time, he didn't want to lose Raka.
He wouldn't let that happen.
Evan took a deep breath and opened his phone camera.
"Hey, Rak," he whispered, even though the boy wasn't there.
"If you ever see this, it means Uncle Evan…"
He paused, throat tightening.
He didn't know how to finish the sentence.
Finally, he just smiled faintly, hit record, and said,
"Uncle Evan loves you very much."
Then he saved the video with the others.