Arlyn and Adrian

15

"......" Arlyn looked at the four people on the living room sofa. One of them was a figure that Arlyn still doubted could be considered as a member of his house or not. His presence was not long but it seemed to have fused with everyone present.

Except Arlyn and Abi. Abi stood beside Arlyn. Holding the cloth of the pants that the woman was wearing. Looking at Adrian sitting on the sofa with Leta and Riel as well Azel with wary eyes.

Adrian came to his house on holidays like before. This time Leta also visited. The woman immediately greeted Adrian and invited him to chat. Calling Riel and Azel to join. Abi and Arlyn were also invited but they did not respond to the old woman's invitation.

Leta asked Adrian to talk so excitedly. He talked about a lot of things. About the shop workers, about Arlyn, about Abi, also Riel and Azel. Leta told Adrian all things. Also their birthday. What they like. Where they school. Their favorite. Leta revealed everything that day. Listened to by Adrian with a clumsy smile.

Arlyn frowned. What exactly is Leta doing? What's he planning?

Abi feels calmer when Arlyn does not join Leta and the others. Arlyn's away. Be with him. Sit on the dining table chair. With a squeak on the forehead.

Abi feels Arlyn kept her promise. Although Arlyn promised to be with him, Riel and Azel were also happy when Arlyn did not see Adrian.

"Arlyn MBA! Here!" call Leta. Adrian then also looked towards Arlyn. Quietly hoping. His eyes were like a dog wagging its tail.

Yep. Adrian is a dog.

Arlyn noticed Adrian's eyes on her and refused with a frown. "No."

Abi tightened his grip on the fabric of Arlyn's pants. Arlyn sat down while Abi stood beside Arlyn's chair.

Arlyn noticed Abi's hand grip on her clothes. He averted his gaze and sighed violently without a sound. Grumbled.

"Mas Adrian when do you want to sleep with mba Arlyn?"

The voice instantly made Arlyn turn her head quickly and glare at the eyes.

"What did you say?"

Adrian elsewhere almost bit his own tongue. Didn't expect Leta to say that, and frontally.

Adrian hasn't even dared to think about it. For now he has felt enough to just be able to visit Arlyn's house and see what the woman is doing. He hasn't thought as far as getting married. It made him embarrassed and his ears turned red. His hand squeezed the cloth of the trousers he was wearing. Down shy.

Leta looked at Arlyn. "Why won't you?? Mas Adrian guy fine gini loh. There is also a lot of money. If you have married live foya-foya, all stay mas Adrian who takes care." continued Leta. "Mba Arlyn just lives to be a good and obedient wife. Waiting in room-??"

"Pig! Cover ears!! Azalea! Riel! You too!" Arlyn closed both of Abi's ears tightly. Invite surprise and question marks from the child. While Azel and Riel who did not understand could only have a confused face. Surprised by Arlyn's command but also unable to understand why Arlyn told them to do so.

"Oh my God." Leta shut her mouth. He cursed his overzealous self. Forgetting the existence of three innocent little children nearby.

Adrian who sat next to Leta immediately had a reddened face. He felt his face heat up. I really didn't expect Leta to say anything just now.

Arlyn squinted her eyes at Leta. Leta could only grimace. Curse himself but at the same time also entertained with the excitement that occurred due to his actions. Arlyn's panic comforted her. Adrian's red face makes him almost crumpled.

"Jas. When are you getting married? Why not just get married? Marriage does not need a party. You just need to come to KUA, find witnesses, bring together guardians, and, done. You guys stay-echem." Leta managed to stop herself at the right moment. Otherwise he'll definitely get a shot from Arlyn again.

Arlyn frowned distractedly. He looked towards Abi who was turning towards him with a confused face. He held Arlyn's hands that were closing both ears.

Arlyn can't do that. He has Abi.

Had Adrian really proposed to him, Arlyn still would not have changed his attitude to the three foster children.

Arlyn will continue to be with them. As promised.

Even if Adrian wants to marry her, he will force the man to accept his three foster children. It would be a condition for Adrian to take her to the wedding altar.

Adrian is once again rendered speechless by Leta. It seemed that the woman had already thought of many things inside her head. Adrian doubts he will be able to follow her. Leta's thinking was far ahead of him. Adrian, haven't thought of anything.

Adrian raised his face. Trying to see Arlyn. I want to see the reaction of the woman. Will it be similar to him?

He saw Arlyn. The woman noticed Adrian's look at her and immediately gave a sharp look.

'Don't try'

That's what Arlyn said through her eyes. Adrian gulps.

Leta saw that and chuckled.

He believes he just has to wait. Something will happen between the two. Last week Adrian had given a necklace that looked very valuable to Arlyn. Riel and Azel had already accepted Adrian's presence. Abi hasn't, but Leta is confident the boy will accept Adrian's presence sooner or later.

They have something in common. Both have more interest and care for Arlyn than anyone else. Abi would feel a lot of resemblance to the young man.

When Leta and Adrian came home, the house was filled with four people.

Arlyn laid her body on the sofa. Abi, Riel, and Azel. The books are piled up on top of the closet. Adrian's gift necklace is still there. Arlyn realized it, and had no desire to visit the room just to put the necklace into the box on her dresser.

The one although called the dressing table, is actually just a table with nothing but a mirror. He doesn't have any perias. Rather than her, Azel had more knick-knacks in his room with Riel and Abi. Hairpins, ribbons, crown toys, Arlyn quite often get these things from the mall where he used to work.

She used to work as a shopkeeper for girls' trinkets. She also sells clothes for boys and girls.

His boss is a cuckoo. Just like Arlyn. He doesn't really care about Arlyn but when there are items that he thinks can't be sold or deserve to be thrown away, he'll give them to Arlyn. Small clothes and trinkets for Riel, Azel and Abi.

The clothes of his three foster children may be the clothes of the former results of others. But Arlyn always ensured their eligibility, and made it look good to be worn by the three children.

Azel was putting the cutlery into the dish cabinet. Abi wrote something on the dining table. Riel was beside Azel. Helping her brother by passing the plate to her brother's hand.

The atmosphere was silent as Azel glanced at Arlyn. He could see the top of Arlyn's head from behind the back of the sofa.

He's setting himself up to make a sound.

"Eye."

The sound caught Arlyn's attention. Azel rarely spoke. That made Arlyn's attention go straight to him.

"Hm." response. Not wanting to turn his eyes to the textbook he was reading.

"Umi can marry Adrian's uncle if umi wants."

Arlyn's eyes widened. He woke up his body. Look at Azel who is across the sofa and the kitchen table. Look to the side. Not meeting Arlyn.

Abi heard that instantly speechless. He knows the meaning of the word marriage. He knows the meaning behind marriage. Why did Azel say that? Abi turned towards Azel who was in the kitchen waswas. While Riel who was beside her brother could only put on a confused face. I don't understand why her brother said that all of a sudden.

"Why are you talking about that?" asked Arlyn with a frown.

Azel wiped the plate in his hand with the kitchen elap. "Umi's.. All this time we were hampering umi. If, umi refused Uncle Adrian because of us, Azel would want us to set aside and accept Uncle Adrian."

Arlyn was at a loss for words in her place. Azel, think of that? Also? Not only Abi but Azel as well? Arlyn did not expect that.

But somewhere else, though,

Why does everyone seem to want Arlyn with Adrian? What's with that young man? He was indeed handsome and rich, but it did not give any reason for Arlyn to accept the man, right?

It took a while for Arlyn to think of a response for Azel. If it's Leta, then Arlyn can think of it as the wind then. If it was Abi, he would think of it as Abi being fussy. But because of this Azel,

"Stop thinking about that. You're too young. It's not time for you to worry about that. I promised Abi that I would stay with you. And about Adrian's uncle," Arlyn paused his sentence. "To accept it or not is my decision. I'll decide if I'll accept Uncle Adrian or not. Don't talk about it anymore. Understood?"

Azel was silent in his place. Set yourself up to respond. "Hm."

Arlyn was quite satisfied with that response. Azel will stop bringing it up.

That made him tired. He got up from the couch. "I'm going to the room. You guys don't sleep too late. You guys have to go to school."

There was no response from Azel. Likewise with Riel who still can not understand the atmosphere that is underway.

Arlyn approached her room. Passed by Abi who was sitting on the dining table chair. Ducking with empty eyes towards the paper on the table. His hands were still holding pencils but everyone could see clearly that the boy was daydreaming. And the one being daydreamed is not a good thing.

Arlyn knew she had to calm the boy down again. He hoped that the child would not refuse to go to school this time.

He was not able to do anything so he went to his room. Decided to do it tomorrow even if it was true he had to comfort the boy.

...***...

In the morning, Arlyn came out of her room. Seeing that his three children were not in uniform. Playing cards on the living room carpet.

Arlyn frowned.

"You're not in school?"

Riel. Put on a big smile. "Red date, umi!"

Arlyn did not respond.

Is that so?

He never checked the calendar.

He thought it was the wind then and went to the kitchen to get some drinking water. He sat himself in one of the dining table chairs. Then drink the water in his glass with an empty mind. Unaware of the three children in the living room who shared their views. Then nod each other.

All three stand. Approaching Arlyn who is still daydreaming.

"Umi," call Abi.

Arlyn heard it looking over. The warah saw the existence of the three elementary school children in front of him simultaneously.

Moreover, his third face was coated with confidence. They have something to say. And it seems that the one who will say something is Abi.

Abi clenched his hand. He seemed to be determined to say what he wanted to say. "Umi." call her again.

"We have agreed. Umi has to marry Adrian's uncle!"

"......"

On Monday at seven in the morning, Arlyn was rendered speechless by the three kindergartens and primary school children in front of her.

25/04/2022