
"Ka-kayla."
Kayla could see the woman who was her biological mother standing up and stammered as she said her name. A happy and surprised expression was evident in Kayla's eyes.
Why, Mom? You surprised to see me who's this big? You're shocked to see me still able to survive in the midst of the hardships we've been through?
Kayla walked closer. His eyes locked onto the figure of a woman who could leave him only to work abroad. Not giving any more news. Never came home and lastly, a few years ago he saw his mother's social media accounts showing off her happy new family.
"Nova ..." The woman tightly hugged Kayla's body which stood upright. The woman sobbed feeling moved because she could hug her daughter's body again.
"Mom misses you so much."
Kayla's shoulders were held. Their eyes meet each other. Kayla did shed tears but her hands were reluctant to return the embrace.
Lying if he doesn't miss. Lying if he doesn't miss this hug. But, I don't know why the return of this woman he never expected again since his father died.
He's used to it himself. He was used to living without the presence of his mother. He also no longer expected the woman's return.
"Who is he, Kay?" His mother glanced at Susi who had seen their interaction earlier.
"Your father's new wife? Why do they live in our house? In this house, there's still the right mom, Kay." There was a tone of anger as well as disappointment in the sentence that the woman said.
Kayla swerves. She did not think her mother thought so. A right? What rights are you talking about? Where is the duty that you should fulfill? Why don't you forget that obligation?
Kayla has not answered. But her mother talked about something else.
"He who?" Show it to Kalandra.
"Your husband or the taxi driver, Kay?"
"Or indeed your husband who only works as a motorcycle taxi."
Oh God, it feels like Kalandra wants to be a magician. He wanted to turn those jeans and short shirts into the neat, branded suit he used to wear.
Kayla doesn't care. He put on a flat face without expression and then glanced at the girl behind his mother as a code that he also asked for an explanation about the girl.
"Ah, yes. He's your brother, Kay!" His mother grabbed the daughter by the shoulder and brought her to Kayla.
"Kamila, this is your sister, son."
Kayla smiled fakely at the girl who kissed the back of her hand. There is no way he is angry at children who do not know the core of their problems.
Kayla and the others decided to go inside the house. Because they feel bad for the neighbors who started to appear in front of their homes, they each want to find out what is going on.
"This house is very comfortable. There's been a lot of change. Where's your dad? Did he get a better job, Kay?"
The woman looked around her. This house has changed a lot compared to 13 years ago. The items inside were also some that were still new.
Kayla looked at her mother. "What is the purpose of my mother coming to this house?"
"And why did you come back after all this time?"
"Mom heard the news that you're married. He said with a rich businessman, but even what I saw was a motorcycle taxi driver."
"Who is that guy? Why can mom and she communicate?"
"We recently communicated through social media. You are the only one who does not have social media. You're just like your dad, Kay. Too old."
Kayla thins her lips. He doesn't have it, he has it and rarely opens it. His account also does not use his full name.
"I'm like a father, Mom. All of my dad's habits are attached to me. Because it's just you, the only person who's always been there for me."
"And about my husband's job, what's the problem, Mom? As long as the job is making good money, I don't think it's a problem."
His mother smiled widely. "You'd better go with mom. There you can work and get a pretty good salary."
"If she wants to, take her with you." His mother glanced at Kalandra.
"You can raise money for venture capital here."
Susi came to bring drinks for Kalandra and Kayla. The woman immediately returned to the kitchen because she did not want to interfere in their affairs.
Kayla could still hold back her tears. Despite the tightness of hearing insults after insults come out of the mouth of the woman he once loved.
"It turns out time can change people so quickly" Kayla said.
The woman stared at Kayla.
"Mom changed a lot, Mom. Mom changed drastically. What makes my mom like this? Luxury life out there? Or the huge income that makes mother glare?"
"Mom's forgotten mother's son and husband here." The tears could no longer be shed.
"And mom comes home with hubris?" Kayla threw a face.
"Mom never asked me how I was?"
"How's dad doing?"
"Are we healthy?"
"Can we eat today?"
"Can we live without a mother?"
Kayla shakes. "No, Ma. I forgot to ask that."
Kayla stood up from her chair. "You shouldn't have to go back, Mom."
The woman rounded her eyes. "God has told me. You're married again, aren't you?"
The woman nodded slowly.
Kayla smiled broadly. "Mother, go! Be happy with your new family."
"Don't want to be an ungodly child, Mom. But I'm happy without my mother. I also don't want you to lose your happiness with your new family."
"But you have to go with mom, Kay. There's better work for you."
"What, Mom? Being a housekeeper and driver? Isn't it the same as here?"
"Only armed with information that I'm married, and mom decided to go home?"
The woman nodded. "Yes, I want to make sure you live a decent life after marriage. I don't want you to feel the economic hardships you used to feel."
"It turns out love isn't enough, Kayla."
Kayla laughs. "I should have found more accurate and reliable information."
"Even mother has misjudged what she has seen with her own eyes."
"He is my husband, Mom. Her name is Kalandra." Kayla pointed at Kalandra.
Kalandra greeted her mother-in-law even though she felt lazy because she was insulted.
"This house has changed a lot, ma'am."
"The woman, her name was Susi's mother. He lives here with his son who is still in school."
"And dad ... " Kayla closed her eyes for a moment.
"Dad died 2 years ago."
The woman was stunned. He looked at Kayla with guilt. She did not know that her husband was dead. He did not know that the woman he first saw in this house was no one.
The goal came actually to take care of divorce papers. And if possible, he wanted to bring Kayla along with her rights to this house. But, he was wrong. What he saw was not the same as what he thought.
"I'm sorry mom ..." Kayla only pecked when she was hugged back.
"Mom doesn't know that's the truth."
"I'm sorry, Kayla. Forgive me ...."