Behind the Rain and Memories

15. Mother's Request

"You promised to tell mom every day"

Alina nodded for the umpteenth time "Yes dear mother, Alina will often video call, until I get tired of seeing Alina's face, promise," the girl raised her pinky making Ranti inevitably smile at the words of her daughter. Alina could always make her grief not last long.

"Mother Alina is the son of Max, sorry I'm so troublesome for you," Ranti said again to the man standing next to Alina.

"Mother, I will take good care of Alina,"

" I believe in you, son,"

Alina kisses her mother's hand, followed by Max. Seeing this kind of situation, Ranti feels like she has a daughter-in-law. In his heart he prayed that one day Alina was a match with Max.

Ranti sighed as soon as the first call for the plane with the aim of Jogja sounded, with a heavy heart she took off Alina's embrace and slowly walked into her departure gate.

" Heart Mom, " said Alina with a difficult feeling to describe, this is not the first time they have separated. In the past his mother often went back and forth to Jogja and Bali to visit the grandchildren, the difference when it left Alina, Bryan was with him, so the mother was not too worried like now.

Alina stared at her mother's departure as she continued to wave and only stopped once she was gone from sight.

"We're going home now?" max asked softly, Alina nodded and followed the man's footsteps.

Alina was astonished when Max showed up at the house as soon as he was about to drop off his mother this morning, and somehow Max came to his house just before they left. She understood when Mom said Max would take care of her as long as she wasn't around.

Really, Alina did not understand why you think that far, Mom and Max have only met a few times, but their familiarity seems to have known for a long time. Even mom doesn't mind when Max says he'll bring Alina to live in his apartment for her to easily keep an eye on. Alina did not take it seriously. She was sure Mom and Max were just joking around, where maybe Alina was living with a guy with no status.

" I take the car first, you just wait here," Max said, breaking Alina's mind about the man.

Alina just nodded then sat in one of the seats in the airport courtyard. Alina circulated her gaze, paying attention to the surroundings. The girl was surprised, she felt like she was seeing someone familiar.

The figure was standing near the information counter with a position behind him. Because it was quite far away, Alina could not see clearly, plus the crowded atmosphere made it difficult for her view. Alina walked over. He was caught among people. The girl quickened her pace as soon as she saw the figure was about to leave. Alina continued to follow the figure who was getting away. Alina lost track. His eyes moved wildly looking for the whereabouts of the figure, unfortunately he did not succeed.

Alina's breathing was roaring, apart from being tired of chasing, this thump also appeared due to the existence of the figure.

Alina shook her head, "No, there's no way, I must be wrong" she muttered alone.

But on one side he felt that it could not be wrong, he was very familiar with the posture of the figure. Seconds later he again rejected his own thinking.

" A, Alina,"

The girl looked at the voice that called out to her. Max ran over.

" Where are you going Al?" Max asked with concern. He looked at Alina's slightly pale face.

The girl did not answer.

" Al, what's wrong with you?" Max cupped the face of Alina who was still a thousand languages, the girl looked up at Max with a blank look, one clear circle escaped from her beautiful eyes.

Max Kaget's.

" Hey you why Al," asked Max again as he rubbed the tears on the girl's cheek. Alina did not tear up it had changed into a sobbing making Max increasingly clueless.

He held the girl in his arms, he did not care about the stares of people, Max let Alina spill all the turmoil in his arms.

After Alina calmed down, she led the girl to her car.

On the way, Alina kept daydreaming. Max lets Alina wrestle with his feelings, he doesn't want to bother the girl. Max believes that if it's better, Alina will tell the story by herself.

Right now her goal is to pick up Alina's stuff and take her to the apartment. Although there was a housekeeper, she could not leave Alina unattended. Ranti's mother had already trusted her very much, and she was unwilling to make the middle-aged woman disappointed. After all, without Ranti's mother, she would be happy to take care of Alina, if necessary, all her life.

" Is his stuff all ready?" Ask Max when they get home.

" Already sir, " replied Asti politely

" What is this mbak? all my suitcases are out,"

"That's non, ee anu," Asti's mom said

"As long as Ranti's mother is in jail, you live in my apartment,"

Deg

"I mean father?"

Max exhaled, "Actually before I had a conversation with your mother, and we agreed to while you moved to my apartment, you know, I'm afraid I can't keep you 24 hours in a separate place,"

Alina laughed at Max's "you're too much sir, I'm not a child to be taken care of all the time,"

"Nobody told me you were little Al, which you must definitely come with me," Max started picking up the suitcase and stuffing it in the trunk of the car.

"Idih coercion, no-no, we are men and women, it's a sin to stay together under one roof without strings," Alina tried to take the suitcase back, but it was very heavy.

" Don't be so prejudiced, Al, in my apartment there are 3 rooms, one for me, one for you and one for Asti 'bak, and there's my housekeeper as well. So instead of the two of us but the four of us, " explains Max while lifting the other suitcase.

Alina fell silent. He and Max are still together. Two people with no status other than as co-workers.

"Or you want us to marry first, I don't mind, " Max said as if reading Alina's mind. Alina blushes it. Madam Asti also smiled faintly at the conversation of the two people.

"I don't want to, I want to stay" Alina insisted.

Max puts the shoulder "It's up to you, if you want to live alone also not papa, Madam Asti I bring, let aunt there friends to berberes "

"Have a chance, Asti's mother has been working in this house for a long time, don't bother sir,"

" Who's the ngaco, your mother who said that if you don't want to move, I can take Madam Asti to work with me, of course with a bigger salary, "

Alina looked at the victim to Madam Asti, hoping that she would help him, but Ma'am Asti silenced a thousand languages, even the woman according to him as soon as Max asked her to get into the car first

It seems like the mother managed to make a conspiracy so that he was desperate and could not choose, it is impossible for him to live alone in this spacious enough house alone.

Again, Alina resigned with a shaky step he approached Max who opened the car door for him.

"This time you win, next time I won't let you rule my life" Alina sighed

Max smiled "Happy, miss,"

Upon arrival at their apartment greeted by Bik Retno, the middle-aged woman kindly drove Alina and Madam Asti to their respective rooms.

Alina threw her body on a king-size mattress, compared to the room she was in when she had a fever at that time, this room was a little smaller but still comfortable. There is a bathroom and a wardrobe room. The most pleasant room is also equipped with a balcony.

Alina went from sleep she began to clean up her stuff, After that she changed into a house suit.

Alina goes to Asti's mother to take her shopping for some personal needs, but the woman is not in the room. Alina stepped into the kitchen, it turned out that Asti was there, helping Bik Retno serve food on the dining table.

" Feed first non, "greet Bik Retno please

" Yes Bi, my stomach is hungry" Alina pulled up one of the chairs and started scooping food. He invited the two women to lunch together. While eating they exchanged stories, especially Bik Retno with the spirit she told about the family to her employer.

Speaking of Bik Retno's employer, Alina only realized that she had not seen Max's whereabouts.

***