Arlyn and Adrian

16

"Uncle! Look it!"

"Uncle! Looky!"

"Uncle!"

The day at week time was filled with calls calling Riel.

Adrian was visiting as usual. It was stunned to get a welcome from Riel, Azel, and even Abi.

They knew Adrian was coming. And immediately welcomed to open the door just when Adrian was about to press the bell button.

The one who opened the door was Riel. Azel and Abi stood behind him. Adrian doesn't understand what's going on. He looked towards Abi. The boy looked at him. It still had a bit of caution but this time the boy accepted his arrival.

Adrian doesn't know what to behave like. Riel pulled his hand. He told her to sit on the couch. Azel and Abi sat down with him. Abi sat next to Azel but his face was down and his hands were tied together. Played with each other.

Azel watched his sister from a distance. The other brother was approaching the dining table. Take all the paper and drawing equipment that is on it. Take her into his arms. Then he took her to the living room. Put everything in his hand on the living room table. In front of Adrian.

"Uncle! Look it!" Then he started showing various pictures to Adrian. He did it many times. And every time he did he would call out to the young man. Invited a sense of wonder to Adrian but he still obeyed all the words of Riel. He tried his best to be able to familiarize himself with the three children.

He has decided. He's gonna try to get Arlyn's three kids to accept him. After that, he would convey his feelings to Arlyn in a more formal way.

It seemed that the commotion caused by Riel woke up someone. Arlyn came out of her room. With a flat face yet slightly exuding annoyance.

"Eye!" exclaiming Riel. Shows Arlyn that Adrian has arrived at their house.

Arlyn on the other hand was reminded of Abi's exclamation last time.

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

Is that really what they want? Or is there something else?

Arlyn squinted her eyes suspiciously.

He ignored Adrian's presence. Doing his activities as usual. Fill the water into the glass. Sit yourself in the dining table chair. Drinking water with an empty mind.

Azel and Abi see how Arlyn behaves as usual. He does not respond to what they are doing.

On the eve of Monday, the three children, with an average age of nine, negotiated in their rooms. They used Abi's bed in the middle.

Previously Abi was a little disappointed in Azel who turned out to support Adrian to have a relationship with Arlyn. But then he heard what his brother said next.

Arlyn deserves to have her own happiness. Abi shouldn't have forced his will on Arlyn.

If Arlyn does want to have a relationship with Adrian's uncle, then Abi has to accept it.

Azel watched Abi who was sitting beside him. Riel noticed Azel's gaze and looked at the boy.

"Abi." call Azel.

Abi raised his face. She looked at Azel.

"You okay?"

Abi was silent for a while before nodding.

"Hm."

Riel on the other hand asked. "So you're getting married to Adrian's uncle?"

Azel did not respond before shaking his head.

"We don't know. But," he paused. "We're going to give Umi freedom. We can't stop him. If Umi wants to get married, then we should be ready to go back to the parlor."

Riel speechless.

"Replace?" reworked.

Azel.

Abi looked back. Look at the two fingers that are on the two legs that are cross-legged.

Arlyn had promised to be with them. He had promised that the three of them would always stay with him. Arlyn never broke her promise.

But if one day Arlyn changes her mind,

Abi will accept it. With Riel and Azel. They will part ways with Arlyn and return to their orphanage.

The orphanage where they experienced violence from the organizers of the place.

Riel was silent but then she shook her head.

"If it is, then so is it."

That was the speech Arlyn had said.

At that time Arlyn took the three of them to the mall. Arlyn bought a cake from a store. Because Riel looked so curious at the cake in the storefront.

Arlyn bought the cake. The cashier put the cake in a paper bag. Arlyn received the pouch and handed it to Riel.

He said he should not eat it while walking. So Riel hugged the bag containing the cake.

Arlyn told the three of them to always focus on where Arlyn was going. Tell them that they should not be separated from him.

But at that time Riel's attention was drawn to a toy. Curiosity makes its steps move towards that thing.

He wants to hold it. He wanted to hold it with both hands. He put his bag of cookies everywhere. Examining the toy in his hands so closely. Until he gets someone's hand on his shoulder.

That's Arlyn. He put on a sour face.

Riel nodded and apologized immediately.

"U-um." He was panicking. "A-I'm sorry."

Arlyn was still upset. His forehead wrinkled. But then he breathed.

"Where's your cake?"

"Hm?"

Riel looked towards his hand. Seeing the bag containing the cake had turned into a toy that had attracted his attention. He looked around. I did not find the brown bag.

"T-just now,"

Riel wanted to say she put it somewhere, but then she forgot where she put it.

Over where? On a shelf? On floors? Or where is it?

He doesn't know. He put back the toy in his hand to where it was before. He put his hands together. Making a nervous move. "A-I don't know. I, I forgot where I put it."

He looked up to see Arlyn's face timidly. Arlyn has a sour face. But then he breathed.

"If it's already happened, then that's what happened."

Arlyn's words back then were deeply imprinted in her mind. And finally Riel said it again after changing her words a little.

If Arlyn really wants to marry Adrian's uncle and he and his two brothers have to go back to live in the orphanage, then that's what must happen.

That night, they agreed. That they'll help Adrian get close to Arlyn. The three of them will encourage Arlyn to marry Adrian. And finally the woman, their mother, will have her own happiness.

As Arlyn had always said to them before.

"Everyone has their own happiness. And that person has to fight for it himself." Arlyn says. "Do what you like. Don't let anyone stop you."

Azel, Riel and Abi do not want to be an obstacle Arlyn has happiness.

Umi they're too good. He did a lot for all three of them. This time it's time for them to repay Arlyn's kindness.

Return to their umi. The person who had taken them away from the organizer of the parlor hurt them.

With the destiny they had, they grew up more mature than most children of their age. They already know a lot of things. They already understand a lot of things. Including what is good and what is not.

Arlyn had also taught them a lot. Most of the things they know they got from Arlyn.

All advice. All words of encouragement. Perhaps Arlyn was unaware of that, but she had already made a huge impact on the three children. Thanks to him, the three of them grew up to be brave children. If they have to go back to the home, they will come back. Prove to Arlyn that they have become brave children according to the wishes of the woman.

The fruit of the deal was what they did on the day of Adrian's arrival.

They have a plan.

Riel looked at Azel. Got a nod from the girl.

Riel then looked at Abi. The boy was surprised. He lowered his head. Playing fingers. Before with a stiff nod.

Riel then nodded to herself. Looking towards Adrian. Meeting face to face with the young man who had already noticed Riel's movements.

Adrian felt, the behavior of the three children Arlyn is the result of a plan. The boys are up to something, and Adrian is involved in it.

Adrian realizes that Riel is staring for approval at Azel and Abi. Once he gets his approval then he will turn to Adrian. Making the two instantly share a close look as Riel turned her gaze to the young man.

"Uncle! Let's play in the park!" Riel exclaimed at Adrian. Looking at the young man. Eyes sparkling. If it's Leta, Riel will immediately get a pinched pinch on her cheek.

He looked at Riel clumsy. He turned to Azel and Abi.

Azel looked at her with a flat face. But Adrian felt the firmness of his heart from both eyes. As for Abi, he still lowered his head. But his eyes glanced at Adrian.

When Riel told me to go to the park, Adrian had a hunch that they weren't really going to play. But there will be something that the three children, or at least Riel, will tell him.

Adrian glanced at Arlyn. Who seemed indifferent to what was happening in the living room. He only drank the water in his glass very slowly and with an empty eye.

Adrian gulped it. He returned his eyes to Riel. Look back at that big smile and those sparkling eyes.

Adrian reassured himself, and nodded.

Riel took his hand. It was interesting to go to the back door to the park. Azel and Abi followed the two from behind.

Adrian looked towards Arlyn. There was no reaction from the woman. He just sat with his own mind.

Riel took him out the door. Then the boy closed the door. It was as if she really did not want Arlyn to hear what she was going to talk about with Adrian, as well as her two brothers.

"Come uncle!" Riel pulls Adrian's hand back. He takes Adrian to the outside of the park. The farthest from the back door. From Arlyn.

"Uncle sit down." said Riel.

Adrian feel dejavu. The first, and last time he went to the park where he is now is when Abi invited him to have a two-eye talk with him.

Speaking of the boy, he noticed Adrian with a flat face. Adrian was curious about what Riel would say.

Did Adrian stop seeing Arlyn? Sayings to Adrian no longer visit their home and disturb them?

Adrian gulped it. Because if that were the case, he wouldn't be able to comply with the children's request.

Because he also decided. He won't just give up. He will continue to try to please the children so that they accept him and bless him with Arlyn.

Adrian sat himself down. And the three children sat themselves down. The last to do so was Abi. He is still seen refusing to carry out the action that had previously been agreed between his two brothers.

He had already approved Azel and Riel's decision but reluctance and rejection were still in his heart. He sat down and watched Adrian with a flat face. Adrian accepts it can only keep the clumsiness in his heart.

"Uncle, we have something to say" Riel said. His eyes were full of seriousness looking at Adrian right in the eyes.

"Hm." Adrian has also prepared himself. Just to wait for Riel to tell her the intention of taking her there. Adrian thinks he can guess what.

Contains a rejection for him with Arlyn.

But what he heard later was not what he expected.

"Married to umi!" exclaiming Riel. Very confident that Arlyn would not be able to hear his voice.

Adrian lost the ability to react in his place. Lips open. His eyes are slightly widened. Surprise was clearly drawn on his face.

He doubted his hearing. Could he be hallucinating? Did Riel just tell him to marry Arlyn?

"Yes?" Adrian pulled out a question mark. Trying to make sure that he's not just hallucinating.

"Married to umi." Riel repeated. More calm this time. And it is full of confusion. It's as if he really hopes for Adrian to marry uminya. "Please make umi happy. Umi has given us a lot. We want to return the favor. But we haven't been able to. So, in exchange, we hope uncle will replace us happy umi. Even if we go back to the parlour."

Riel did not say the last sentence clearly. Makes Adrian unable to catch what he says. But Azel and Abi can. And they agreed with what Riel said.

Their decision is unanimous. Courage has appeared in their hearts. They will dare them.

Adrian was silent at what Riel said to him. In her true self she was silent to Riel's maturity. And Azel and Abi. They are brave children. Children who dare to convey the contents of their hearts and minds. They are not ashamed or afraid of adults. They dare to talk and have a choice of words that surprise Adrian. They are smart kids. It is not natural for children of their age to be able to speak difficult words. In fact, they are so because they often watch television without Arlyn's knowledge.

Adrian resuscitated himself. "You guys, you've become Arlyn's happiness. There is no need for you to return the favor. I'm sure your Umi takes care of you sincerely. Arlyn won't expect anything from you."

Adrian telling. That's what he believes. Arlyn would not be happy if she knew the three children in front of her had such thoughts. At the moment all Arlyn wants is the children's happiness and for them to grow up well.

Arlyn who Adrian knows is a parent like that. Adrian could find out. From how the woman forbade Riel to apologize for something that was not her fault, from how Arlyn always said she was lazy to take care of the three children in her house but in the end always gave the best for them, more than for herself.

That's Arlyn. That's Arlyn that Adrian loves.

"I don't have a clear decision yet to marry Arlyn." Because he already felt enough to see his figure every time he visited. "And the decision is still in Arlyn's hands whether she will accept me or not." To be honest Adrian doubted Arlyn would accept it. Consider the personality of the woman.

She will probably accept Adrian's presence at her house with her three children. He might have accepted Adrian's gift to him. But she will not necessarily accept Adrian's invitation to marry him.

During the day, an agreement was made between Adrian and the three children who were sitting with him. Or rather Adrian with Riel who also represents his two brothers.