Arlyn and Adrian

12

"So you gave something to Arlyn?"

Adrian muttering. "Yes." Yeah."

"Goodoo. I pray for you for your romantic life with Arlyn."

Nevan spoke and he could immediately see the red color on the face as well as Adrian's ears were getting thickened. He snorted scornfully but also took pleasure for his best friend.

Nevan still does not understand what is so interesting from Arlyn but if it is Arlyn who fills Adrian's heart then Nevan will support him. "Then? What else are you gonna do?"

Adrian put on a confused face. "What else what?"

"I invited Grace to go watch, go outside, go to Paris, and do a lot of things there. As a couple of lovers." Nevan grinned at the last sentence.

Adrian had not understood Nevan's intentions but once he realized, his face immediately reddened. No longer just on the cheeks and ears but his face now turned very red as if his face had just been hit by a hot shower and then blistered.

Adrian shaking. "I— no. I don't have such a thought."

Nevan raised his eyebrows. "So you're just gonna go to his house, watch him, without improving the relationship between you?"

Nevan's words made Adrian drown in his mind.

When she first approached Arlyn, her desire was as simple as being able to see the female figure when she wanted to.

But slowly, unknowingly, a desire arose within him to touch the woman.

He did it yesterday. He held Arlyn's hand. The hand felt very soft in his hand. Slightly colder than his hand but his big hand was able to warm Arlyn's cold hand.

Beyond that, Adrian has no other desire.

He just wants to make Arlyn happy. If he could use the money he had to bring a pleasure to Arlyn then Adrian would give it. For now he has no other desire other than to see the figure of Arlyn, watching his movements that always have a side of softness, also happy woman.

Nevan watched Adrian sitting in front of her. He could see that the man was deep in thought. Doesn't matter. Drown yourself in the mind. Nevan wants Adrian to understand himself better. What he really wants. The desire of what is really inside him. Nevan hopes Adrian can find it, and eventually pursue his own happiness.

It's at Adrian's.

At Arlyn's place,

Arlyn sat on the sofa. Look at Abi who is sitting with both knees bent towards the chest. His face was down and his expression was blank. He's being moody. Something filled his head. Something Arlyn knew wasn't a good thing.

"Pig."

Arlyn called. Seemed a surprise from the boy. His eyes had widened but then he returned to his initial state. Sitting glumly with knees bent and both hands hugging his own knees.

"What are you thinking?"

Arlyn really had to figure out what was bothering the boy. But if Abi refuses to tell, there is no other way for Arlyn than to make her own prejudice.

Arlyn thinks she knows the answer. It has to do with Adrian. That guy. Who last day gave him a necklace. The necklace that now also hangs on his neck. There was a desire on Arlyn to touch the pendulum on her upper chest. But he couldn't do that in front of Abi. Abi will get worse.

He sighed. He used both of his hands to remove the necklace from his neck. Then put the necklace on the closet table next to the sofa.

"Pig." He called again. "You don't want to tell me what's bothering you?"

There was doubt in Abi's eyes. Like he wanted to say something, but also reluctantly. It's about his ego.

It's morning by noon. Ten o'clock in the morning. Arlyn woke up at seven as usual. Forcing himself to bend from his bed in bed. To see the situation of his three foster children who will be preparing to go to school.

As usual, Azel was ready with his uniform. The bag is well prepared on the dining table. He's in the kitchen. Take three plates. Make a simple breakfast for himself and his two younger siblings. This morning he made three cow's eye eggs to eat with bread. Arlyn could guess that it was from Riel's request.  I don't know what happened to that kid. Since yesterday his appetite has been greatly increased. He must have told Azel that he wanted eggs instead of just bread with jam as usual.

Arlyn should be grateful to have Azel as the caretaker of her two younger siblings. Arlyn had no strength to respond to Riel. Also Abi, at some certain time.

As soon as he finished watching Azel from a distance, he realized that Riel, who was also in uniform, was standing leaning against the frame of his bedroom door. Both hands touched the wall. His head looked into the room. Watching something.

Arlyn is awakened by Abi's absence. Usually the boy would sit on the dining table chair with Riel. Waiting for Azel to finish making breakfast for them.

But now the dining table chair is empty. Riel did not sit there and instead stood in the door frame of the room with his two brothers.

Arlyn approached Riel. Riel was shocked by Arlyn's appearance. He looked up at Arlyn's face looking into the room. Riel has a worried face. It felt like she wanted to call Umi but she then closed her lips. Holding back to make a sound.

Arlyn saw a bulge under the blanket. Someone was still in his bed. Cover yourself with a blanket that has a picture of apple pie pieces. Riel could not help herself to weld anymore. He called to Arlyn in a pleading voice. "Mom..."

Abi refused to get out of bed. Refusing to come out of hiding behind a blanket. It can't hurt. If she's sick she'll definitely whine. Then Azel and Riel will knock on the door of his room. Tell him that Abi is sick.

Abi is not sick. He simply refused to leave the room. Maybe refuse to go to school.

Arlyn looked down at Riel. "What's going on?"

Riel has a face of wanting to cry. She shook her head. "Definitely been acting weird since yesterday."

After Adrian's departure, Arlyn just cleared up some of the mess from the little surprise party in front of her room. He tells Leta and her two foster children that he will return to rest. No one protested. Arlyn guessed Leta would be home in the afternoon. All three kids can do whatever they want. Maybe play a romp in the back garden. Or whatever.

Arlyn did not come out of her room. He only came out when he wanted to drink and to the bathroom. Not realizing any strange thing that is happening.

Arlyn looked at the bulge behind the blanket. He sighed. You know he has to do something troublesome. "You eat. Don't be late for school" he said.

Riel looked doubtful. She is reluctant to leave Abi but also knows she cannot leave her school. Gloomily she leaves Arlyn and her orphanage sister. Meet Azel who also can understand the situation that is ongoing and will let Arlyn take care of Abi.

Azel already knew the reason Abi was moody. It was Adrian. Azel himself had no problem with Adrian's whereabouts. Instead, he wants his umi, the figure of his savior and his two younger siblings, can have a good life. Azel was eleven years old. Twelve years in a minute. But he already had a pretty mature mind.

He knows what's going on. Her Umi has someone who likes her. And even fall in love. Her Umi will have someone who will make her happy.

Azel did not know what was going to happen. Whatever it is, he'll face it.

Even if Arlyn really opens her heart to the adult male she calls as Uncle Adrian, and decides to make her own family, leaving her, as well as Riel and Abi, behind, returning them to the orphanage, Azel will receive them. That's Arlyn's right. Azel will not protest.

That morning all the residents of Arlyn's house were in a state of gloom. Azel did not give much effect because he was a quiet child from the beginning. But Riel's depression due to Abi, makes the atmosphere dull.

Riel and Azel decide to go to school for Arlyn. Just hope umi they'll do something to Abi. Comfort the boy. Azel knew what was going on but Riel knew nothing. All he knows is that Abi is moody and he really doesn't understand what really happened to the boy. Since yesterday Riel has been trying to cheer him up. Inviting him to play, even giving him a joke. But it had no effect at all. Making Riel drown in depression.

Azel did not say anything but he patted Riel's upper back. Telling him that he just needs to trust Arlyn. Umi they're going to do something.

The first thing Arlyn did was take her hp. Making a call to Abi's homeroom. Told him that Abi would be allowed to get sick.

The class guardian only showed concern to Abi. Because Abi never got sick. He is a healthy and happy child. Once she was sick, it was never on school days. And he would instantly recover after taking the medicine and receive a pat on the head from Arlyn.

Arlyn thanked the homeroom teacher and hung up her phone call.

He lowered his phone from his ear and turned his head to Abi. Put his cellphone on the dining table and approach the boy.

Actually, he had no energy to do anything. The fatigue made his firm side reduced. He patted the child inside the blanket in a slow motion. It felt soft for Abi who was patted. "Are you going to get out of here? You don't feel claustrophobic?"

Covering his face in the blanket for too long, Abi will slowly feel tight.

Maybe Abi realized that and ended up opening up a little bit of the cover. The air finally welcomed him back.

Arlyn looked at Abi's puffy eyes. The part of the bedsheet she was sleeping on was also wet. Can be seen from its dark color.

Arlyn was not the type of person who would wipe away the tears of someone who was crying. He let the sticky water stay in Abi's eyes. "What can I do to get you out of the room?"

Not good for a child of Abi's age too long in the room. The room should be just a room to sleep in. A child of Abi's age has to spend a lot of time outside. Seeing a lot of things. Increase his knowledge of the world.

Abi remained silent for a while before curling himself up. Drown his face on the surface of the blanket that depicts pies.

"If you're willing to come out, I won't scold you for ditching. You promised you'd go to school right with Azel and Riel. Didn't I tell you that someone has to keep their word?"

Arlyn's words made Abi open her eyes. He woke up his body. Turn yourself into a sitting position. Her little face is down. Still a little reluctant to look towards Arlyn. But Arlyn's words were already deeply ingrained in her. Someone has to keep his promise. Abi doesn't want to break the promise he made to Arlyn.

Arlyn was satisfied. "good. Now let's get out. Eat your. Azel made breakfast for you."

Abi moving according. She passed by Arlyn and carried her small footsteps outside the room. Arlyn sat on the edge of Abi's bed watching the boy leave before going after him. Seeing Abi who was already sitting on the dining table chair. Holding her egg bun with empty eyes and an expressionless face.

Arlyn sat herself in the chair opposite Abi. Watching the boy with his chin leaning on both of his hands.

Abi ate very slowly. He does not chew and chews. His mouth did not come out of the egg loaf in his hand. He eats like a squirrel gnawing on a tomato.

I don't know how long time has passed. Arlyn finds herself not getting tired of watching the boy eat. He started thinking about making a video of a moody Abi eating. He thought people would be willing to waste their precious hour just to see a food run out slowly in the boy's hands.

An hour may have passed. Arlyn did not check. But she thought that was the time Abi used to spend the food in her hands. He may not even realize he has been eating for a very long time. Too immersed in the thoughts raging inside his head.

Arlyn looked at Abi and opened her mouth. "It's over?"

Arlyn looked at Abi who was nodding slowly. Still refusing to look in his direction.

"Now take a drink and drink in front of me."

Abi according. He got off his chair. Take a glass in the kitchen. Filling water. Sit back in his chair. Drink water in a glass very slowly. Half an hour passed for the boy to finish the water in his big glass. Or maybe it was just Arlyn who was exaggerating. But he really felt that it was time wasted seeing how slowly the boy ate and drank his breakfast.

"Still refusing to talk?"

Abi remained silent. Both hands held a large glass over his thighs.

"Then it's okay."

Arlyn left her stool. He left Abi alone in his chair. The boy was secretly watching Arlyn's departure. Look at the woman's back that leads to the back garden. May want to take flowers to put in a vase.

Umi always looks cute, indicating that she is not interested in flowers, but she will always feel strange when she sees an empty vase. He always went back to pick one or two Azel flowers that put them in a vase.

Abi is still moody. He had the urge to sit on the floor and bend his knees. So that's what he did. He approached the guest sofa at the door. Putting himself on the carpet. A few minutes passed and Abi felt Arlyn coming. The woman did something at the dinner table. Maybe put the flower stalk she took into the vase as Abi guessed.

There were a few seconds where Arlyn stood still in her place. But slowly he took his steps towards Abi. Sitting on the couch.

There is a hose of silence. Before the woman finally called. "Pig."

"What are you thinking?" Ask.

After an interval of some time without an answer from Abi, the woman called again.

"You don't want to tell me what's bothering you?"

Abi did not answer, and finally Abi felt the movement of Arlyn's hand. Umi's taking something off her neck. Then put what she let go on top of the closet next to the sofa. "You know what you're worried about won't happen. What worries you?"

Abi tried to hold his heart back to come out. But slowly he was unable to endure it anymore. She's afraid. She was afraid that Arlyn would leave her. She was afraid she would never be able to see Arlyn again. "Umi's already started accepting Uncle Adrian." Say it with your mouth on your knees. Making Arlyn hear an unclear voice but still managed to catch what Abi said. "If I had accepted Uncle Adrian, I wouldn't have left you. You'll stay with me and your two brothers and Leta's grandmother. Nothing will change." Arlyn.

Abi bit her lip. He sank his face to his knees. Unable to hold his heart anymore. "But Abi remains afraid.." She started crying. Tears came out and sobs rang out in Arlyn's ears.

Arlyn. But he thought he could understand the fear the child was feeling.

Arlyn is tired. He became softer than usual. "Then this is how it is."

He extended his hand. Show her little finger. Abi who was aware of the movement couldn't help but lift his face. I want to see what Arlyn is doing. He's seen. Little finger Arlyn. It was the thing Arlyn always did when she promised Abi something. Then it was copied by Riel and himself. He also often saw it done by his friends.

Sometimes his friends break their promises.

But Arlyn is not. He always kept his promise. When Arlyn had shown her little finger to Abi, it meant that Arlyn was really in her speech.

Usually Arlyn does that when she promises Abi to pick her up from school. Arlyn will give her little finger and Abi will greet her with a big smile. When Arlyn promises something, then Abi must promise something else instead. When Arlyn promises to pick herself up as well as Azel and Riel from school, then Abi will promise not to disturb Arlyn for four hours. For four hours Abi would let Arlyn rest quietly in the living room without Abi approaching her or asking for an elusan in the head.

Abi raised his face. Look at the little pinky that Arlyn stuck out.

"I will not leave you and your two brothers. You'll stay with me. And I'll stay with you." Arlyn's voice echoed in Abi's ears.

Abi raised his face. Looking towards Arlyn. "Really?"

Arlyn gave a sly smile. The smile that became the hallmark of his umi. "really."

Abi closed her lips. "Do I have to promise something too?"

Arlyn let out a ruckus.

"Special for today, no."

Abi looked at Arlyn's face. Before hesitatingly sticking out her tiny little finger at Arlyn's pinky. Make a symbol of agreement. That Arlyn will always be with him, and also his two older brothers. And Abi will continue with Arlyn with Azel and Riel.