About Taste

He's Back

Two days later.

Ella is out of the hospital, she is in good health, and the baby is healthy. Only a little pain remained in his back. Ms. Mirna, Mr. Louis, Ariel, and their Garrison had already arrived in Paris, and were living together in an apartment. Miss Mirna ceaselessly persuades Ella to stay in her mansion, but Ella still refuses. Although the place here is narrower, Ella really likes this place.

This morning Ella was sitting on her bed, holding her sleeping baby. Ms. Mirna, and Ms. Halimah, they're in the room too, they're putting baby gear on the shelf. Yesterday Andra returned to London, since her parents came she was willing to go to take care of the work that was there.

Ella looked at her little face, her pliable eyelashes, her pointed nose, and her tiny lips, absolutely perfect. Ella stroked her son's hair, brownish and slightly wavy. Ella smiled, everything that was on Billa, was completely similar to Kairi.

"He was born Kai, I named him Salsabilla. She's very pretty, very similar to you. Don't you want to see Kai." Ella said in her heart.

"He's still sleeping?" ask Mirna and sit next to Ella.

"Yes Ma." replied Ella with a smile.

"Let Mama take my lap, you must be tired" said Ms. Mirna as she grabbed Billa, and carried her into her lap.

"Oma's granddaughter's beauty" said Ms. Mirna as she rubbed Billa's cheek gently.

"Yes Ma'am very adorable." said Ms. Halimah while sitting next to Ella.

"If only Andra could be like Kairi, I've been holding grandchildren. Billa will be my second grandson, I will have a handsome, beautiful grandson. Ahh all this is my fault, maybe this is the karma of what I used to do." said Ms. Mirna in a flat tone.

Ella, and Miss Halimah looked at each other. They know what Miss Mirna is feeling. All of this must have been very hard for him, losing a grandson he had not seen. He lost a child he had not long loved.

"Patient mom, there must be wisdom behind all this. We just pray, may God give the best for our family" Ella said, embracing Mirna.

"Yes ma'am, everyone makes mistakes. There is no perfect man, we leave everything to God." said Ms. Halimah.

"Yes Ma'am, but sometimes those mistakes still haunt me. I used to be too stupid, couldn't see the bright side of Mas Louis" Ms Mirna said with a bland smile.

Not yet Ella, nor Miss Halimah recited the words of Miss Mirna. Suddenly the door of the room opened from the outside, it turned out that the one who came was the Garrison.

The garrison smiled as he stepped over to them.

"Good morning baby Billa" said Garnis as she stroked Billa's cheek gently.

"I'm still sleepy Auntie." replied Ms. Mirna with a smile.

"Bik Darmi has finished preparing his breakfast Auntie. Louis is waiting outside. You have breakfast, let me take care of Billa" Garnis said, staring at Ms. Mirna, and her mother.

"Mak Garnis please take breakfast, Billa let me." said Ella.

"Don't El, he's still sleeping you're fast breakfast. Later if he wakes up, and ask for suckling you are full. If you still haven't eaten, the acid won't be smooth" Garrison said as he looked at Ella.

"Garnis is right El, let's have breakfast now!" take Miss Mirna and hand Billa over to the Garrison.

"Bak let's have breakfast too!" said Ms. Mirna while looking at Ms. Halimah.

"Yes, Nis it's okay to stay first" said Ms. Halimah.

"It's okay ma'am, please have breakfast, don't be in a hurry." replied the Garrison with a smile.

"I live first Ma'am" said Ella as she moved from her seat.

"Yes, eat that much El." replied the Garrison with a laugh.

Miss Halimah, Miss Mirna, and Ella they stepped out, leaving the Garrison alone in the room. Garrison stared at the tiny face that was within his lap. Cute, funny, and adorable. But his cute face was as if slicing the heart of the Garrison. Billa's face is exactly the same as Kairi's, ahh Kairi's face whether where he is now, still there or gone.

"Grow into a strong woman, son, as strong as your mother" said Garnis, stroking Billa's hair. He could not imagine how Billa would feel, he grew up only accompanied by a mother. He must have been very sad when he saw another child his age accompanied by a father figure, while he was not.

"I didn't expect you to experience something this difficult as El" Garnis said as he wiped his tears.

His sister's fate was very bad. As a child he had lost his father, and he was required to study hard to get students achievements, so he never had time to play with his friends. While sitting on the bench of High School, he had started working, looking for money for his tuition fees. Graduating from High School he struggled alone in London, his family never knew how difficult it was to live life in San. And now, she is pregnant and giving birth without a husband. Her husband had an accident while they were still newlyweds.

"Oh Allah, Ella is so good, why is the test of her life this heavy" said Garnis, looking down. Again his tears began to drip, remembering the fate of his sister, always making him cry.

***

Day by day, it keeps changing. Time rolls like flowing water, never stopping even for a second. Billa grew up to be a healthy, cheerful little boy. Ella took care of him accompanied by her mother, and Andra.

Ms. Mirna and Mr. Louis returned to Indonesia one month after Ella gave birth, as did Garnis and Ariel. Only Ms. Halimah remained in Paris, she could not bear to leave Ella alone there. While Andra, he still takes care of his business in London, but he also often comes to Paris to visit his nephew.

Ms. Halimah has persuaded Ella several times to return to Indonesia. Not because of anything, but because his family is more there. Staying here, actually Miss Halimah is also a little hesitant. He can not work, and depend the needs of his life on his family Mr. Louis. Although Mr. Louis, and Ms. Mirna never disputed that, Ms. Halimah felt bad for herself. He does not want to look like a person who uses the good of others.

Ella understood what her mother felt. But he was also heavy to leave this place, the one thing that made him want to stay was Kairi. Ella still hopes that one day Kairi will return to this apartment. Others may think it stupid, or crazy, but let it be, love sometimes cannot be measured by logic.

Ella did not completely reject her mother's invitation, but she put it off. He asked for a year to stay in Paris. If Kairi hasn't come back, then Ella will go back to Indonesia. Ella will bury all her hopes.

And now that time has come. It doesn't feel like Ella's been over a year since giving birth. Billa had already grown into a beautiful, active boy. He can walk, and he has learned to talk. Billa is very happy if Andra comes to see him, he is very comfortable in Andra's arms.

As is the case today, Billa is sitting on Andra's lap playing her doll, a small brown teddy bear, a doll bought by Andra. Today Billa's going to be his birthday, that's why Andra came early. Miss Halimah, and Bik Darmi are busy in the kitchen making birthday cakes. As for Ella, she sat pensively in her room.

Then his hand reached for a picture lying on the bed. Wedding photo with Kairi. Ella rubbed it gently, her tears continuously dripping, soaking up the photo she was holding.

"Have six months you left me Kai. Our son is now grown, he is already walking, and has learned to talk. Mom took me home, and tomorrow I'm leaving this place. Is it true that our story ends like this Kai, there is no hope for us to be together again Kai." said Ella sobbing.

"El!" call Andra who suddenly stands behind him. It just so happened that his room was not closed tightly.

"You're crying El?" asked Andra while laying Billa on the bed. It has become a habit, after a long time playing Billa will fall asleep in Andra's arms.

"El!" call Andra while holding both of Ella's shoulders. Ella was still lowered, she was still drowning in her tears.

Andra looked at the picture frame Ella was holding, the wedding photo that was now wet with tears.

Andra let out a long sigh, she sat down in front of Ella, clasping her hand.

"If you're hard to get home, stay here. I'll talk to Budhe, later I'll also come here often, to see you and Billa." Andra said as she looked closely at Ella.

"Why hasn't Kairi returned to Ndra, I need her" Ella said quietly, her voice hoarse as it mixed with her cries.

"Don't be like this El, I know you need Kairi. But you should know too, Billa needs you. She needs a strong, strong mother figure, not a fragile mother like this" Andra said as she clasped Ella's hand tighter.

Ella turned her head to the side, looking at her little daughter who was sleeping in her sleep. Billa slept while hugging her doll tightly. Ella looked down again, she remembered her childhood, when she lost the figure of a father. And Billa, even in the womb he was abandoned by his father, so sorry for him.

"You can be El, you're strong, you're great, I know that" Andra said, wiping Ella's tears with both hands.

"Thank you Ndra, you've always supported me, and you've always been there when I was fragile" Ella said with a smile.

"That's what I should've done El, that's not what friends are for. Support each other, and strengthen each other." Andra replied with a smile.

Ella smiled wider, then she wiped her tears with the thin blanket next to her.

"Don't cry anymore, you've become a mother, you're still a crybaby" Andra chuckled, as her hands ruffled Ella's hair. As was his custom when he was a teenager.

"Collapse Ndra, you're a habit." Ella grumbled in annoyance. Andra just laughed out loud in response to Ella's words. Seeing Ella upset was better than seeing Ella drown in her grief.

After a few seconds, Billa wriggled while passing wind. Andra and Ella turned to look at the little girl, Billa closed her eyes again, and fell asleep again in her sleep. Andra and Ella laughed together, the behavior of children is sometimes very funny.

"Don't you be like that El!" andra Goda.

"Don't be reckless, I never was!" tell Ella quickly.

"You're ashamed to admit it!"

"No Ndra, I never!" ella said while glaring sharply.

"If anger means yes." seduced Andra as she moved from her seat, she stepped out of the room laughing loudly.

"Andra!!" scream Ella.

***

The hour hand shows at 04:00 pm Paris time. Ella, Billa, Bu Halimah, Andra, Bik Darmi, and Bik Ida, they were gathering in the living room. They celebrated Billa's first birthday. Hello kitty-shaped birthday cake, also some food, and drinks presented neatly on the table. Billa looks adorable with a lacy pink dress, with small flowers on her chest. His short hair was decorated with bandanas of a matching color. White doll-shaped shoes appear to decorate his tiny legs.

Ella sat on the sofa holding Billa. They sang happy birthday songs together. Billa laughed as the people around her sang while clapping. Andra stood in front of them, recorded the video, and sent it to Miss Mirna.

After they finished singing, they cut the cake, and ate together. They are like one family, do not look like servants, and masters.

About an hour later, they finished their meal. Only a half birthday cake remained. Bik Darmi, Bik Ida, and Bu Halimah, they brought their dirty dishes to the kitchen. While Billa, he carried Andra, and was taken to the middle room. Andra invited him to open a gift that he bought from London. And Ella, she cleaned the living room. He swept it, and also wiped his desk full of food containers.

While Ella was busy with her work, suddenly the apartment door was opened from the outside. Ella gasped in shock, who could open the door of her apartment so easily. Mr. Louis, and Ms. Mirna are in Indonesia, and Andra, she's inside. Could it be the bad guy?

Ella turned her head quickly, grasping the handle of the broom tightly. If it was a bad guy, Ella would hit him on the head with a broomstick. But how surprised he was when his eyes looked at the figure of a man who was sitting on a wheelchair. His brown hair, his blue eyes, were exactly like someone he was longing for. Could this be a dream?

"Gabriellas!" call the man.

Ella gasped at the man's words, this is not a dream, this is really real. Unknowingly Ella released the broom handle she was holding. The broom fell down, and lay on the floor. Ella ran to the doorway. He sat down crouching in front of the man, his tears just breaking down.

"Is this really you Kai?" asked Ella while holding Kairi's hand.

"Yes, it's me." Kairi replied with a smile.

Ella could no longer speak. He dropped his head on Kairi's lap, and shed his tears there. Sixteen months he waited for this man, and now he's back. There were many things Ella wanted to say to Kairi, but they were difficult for her to say. Ella could only utter it through crying, as well as a tight grip on her hand.

"Mas Kairi." call a woman standing behind Kairi.

Ella was fixated for a moment, hearing that voice she immediately looked up. A beautiful woman with her long hair that was slightly wavy. One hand was holding the wheelchair on which Kairi was sitting, and the other was holding a small brown bag. Ella looked at him without a blink.

But it was not her bag that made Ella fixated, but her stomach. The woman's stomach appears to be bulging, as if she is six, or seven months pregnant. Who is he, calling Kairi Mas. Is that their relationship?

Seriate.......