Casanova Brief of Widows

Chapter 28

I was surprised, a child as small as Caca, was only five years old. How could his friends speak such language. Where do they know the words of an illegitimate child.

"Caca don't be sad, baby. Caca is not a bastard. Every child born in this world has a father. It's just that sometimes they don't get a chance to see their father. Don't be sad, Caca has a dad."

"Yes, you always say so to me. But you never told me where you were or how you saw the picture." Caca started as he pleased, I felt how much pain he was in. I who lost my father when I was an adult only the pain penetrated to the heart. What about the man who never met his father?

I give a warm hug to this innocent child. Perhaps with a touch and a hug from me can calm his heart.

"Jagan sad dear. Consider it Bari your father too. We are the same, om Bari also does not have a father. Caca could've gotten through this. Om knows Caca's a strong boy. Mommy would be proud to have Caca."

"Don't tell mom about this. Later mama sad, I don't want to see mama sad."

"So you don't know that you're often ridiculed by friends?"

Caca nodded.

"Yes, I promise I won't tell you about this."

Caca, a five-year-old boy who was forced into adulthood by circumstances. Children who are forced to understand the state of their families, especially the mother who is traumatized by men, but their children need a male figure as a father. It must be heavy for both.

After I coaxed and hugged her, Caca was much calmer. He could enjoy the clown in front of him. I glanced at my watch, it was ten o'clock over. I saw Arumi's cell phone that might have a call or message there.

"Mas Alvin? Arumi's sister isn't she?" muttered

There were some calls from him, I was so focused on Caca's sad story that I didn't realize there was an incoming call. In the next second, Alvin again contacted Arumi.

"Assalamu'alaikum bang," I said with a heart beat. Honestly, I'm scared, but if I don't get a call from him, then the whole house will be worried because Caca never comes home.

"Vaalaikumsalam. Who yeah?"

"I am Bari bang. Do you remember the man you talked to a while ago? Who told me about sending the same prayer to the one who missed." I'm trying to restore Alvin's memory bang, maybe this way he can remember me.

"Oh yes. How can hape Arumi be on you? She where? He's all right, isn't he? Are you the same as him?" The older brother leaned on me with various questions, it was very noticeable that Arumi was in the mourning of his family.

"Arumi is still in the hospital bang. He's all right. So gini bang..." I told her how Arumi's cell phone was in my hand until I took Caca to the park right now. I'm ready to take the tantrums from Arumi's mother and sister.

"Once again I'm sorry bang, not me sassy. I just want to take a walk Caca, maybe my way is wrong. I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay. Let me see Caca. I switched to video call ya."

I agreed and beat the phone towards Caca.

"Hello abi, I saw another clown like Bari. Mother's friend. Good, don't tell me to go home first. Soon, abi. Mother still works, right?"

Though bang Alvin has not said anything but Caca is very worried if he asked to go home. Does Arumi always keep her at home?

"Yes dear. Abi was worried about you why there was no school. Last time abi to school you so oma tell you haven't come home. You know you're not there. Don't come home soon, baby. Turn to om Bari hapenya."

"Bar, don't be so late."

"Good bang. Ten minutes to go home."

"Ah then om, less than half an hour," whined Caca spoiled.

"Darling, if you wait half an hour. You haven't changed, you're still in school uniform. Comfortable wearing clothes like this? We will change clothes first, eat, rest, later in the afternoon take another walk. Permission used to be the same mother but, later if you give permission we go for a walk. We will also invite you if you want. How's it?"

"Seriously om? Yeee." Caca is back sumringah.

I didn't realize that my phone and Alvin's bang were still on. She seemed to be smiling warmly at the closeness we had just built.

"Not anything Bar. Nitip Caca bentar yes, sorry also if troublesome and thank you for picking up at school earlier."

"No problem, though."

"Yes, I closed first. Asalamualaikum."

"Getishalam."

Ah glad my heart was welcomed by the family of the future-in-law, only my future wife who still doubts me. No problem, I've got the heart of his family.

"Om I'm sleepy," complained Caca not long after the phone was cut off.

"Hemb, he said he wanted to go home in half an hour. Not even five minutes was sleepy," my ridicule that was only in the laughter.

I put Caca into my sling. Whether because it was comfortable or because he missed the father figure, the little boy fell asleep as soon as I walked a few steps, it was seen from the breath that sounded regular.

I deliberately drove slowly so that Caca could sleep comfortably and undisturbed. I don't know when I loved this kid.

After ten minutes on the road, I finally reached my destination. The main door looks open, maybe Arumi's mother is waiting for the arrival of the grandchild. With a slow motion I carried Caca like a son and father. Maybe if other people saw, they wouldn't believe me and Caca if there was no blood relation.

"Assalamu'alaikum" I said to Arumi's mother who welcomed us.

"Vaalaikumsalam. Oh, my God, Caca's asleep? Sorry yes, you are so bothered," said Arumi's mother was not tasty.

"Nothing aunt. His name is also a child. Can I put it directly into tan's room?" ask me carefully. I saw a bang Alvin sitting on the living room couch. I greeted him with a nod and a warm smile.

"May if not inconvenient. Come with mom." I followed Arumi's mother by looking around. I don't know what makes me so comfortable here. Though Arumi's house is large, but quite simple if living in a city of this size. Very different from my parents' house.

I put Caca in his bed. A room big enough for a kid as small as Caca. I had a chance to look around the many plastered dolls filled the room.

"Thank you again for driving Caca ya Bar" said bang Alvin as I reached the living room.

"Yes bang. You welcome. Oh yeah, it's Arumi's hape. Bang, can I have your brother's number? Let me call Caca or Arumi not be confused."

"Why did you call them?"

Apparently, bang Alvin also wanted to test my intention of approaching Arumi. All older brothers would have been so if they had a younger sister. They were as worried as I was when Farah approached.

"I just want to be close and know Arumi and her family. Sorry in advance if I was presumptuous, I fell in love with Arumi." Nervously I ventured to say what I meant to approach her.

Bang Alvin smiled, to be honest, I couldn't interpret that smile.

"Do you know Arumi's past?"

"Already bang. I know a little bit about Arumi and his household first. I don't mind anything that's in Arumi's past."

"Honestly, I'm afraid that Arumi will get married again. I was afraid that she would experience the same thing at the same time as her previous marriage. Maybe you are not like her ex-husband who likes to do physical violence. But nothing guarantees no one hurt Arumi when she remarries. He was already happy with his status now."

"Why do you focus on Arumi? Sorry about earlier bang. Not that I'm pretentious, patronizing or anything. But Caca needs a father figure beside him. Maybe he's been showing that he's okay. He did it for one reason only. I don't want Arumi to be sad. Brother and aunt know what facts I got from Caca today? He was ridiculed by his friend for not having a father. He said bastard. Just imagine a child as small as Caca harboring pain alone. I asked why I didn't tell my mother. He said he didn't want to make you sad. I understand as an older brother, brother must be worried about Arumi, I really understand in the position of brother. Because we are the same, we both have a sister and we are the successor to the head of the family. We are the same bang. I understand the position of my brother. But it doesn't feel good either if we hit all men equally."

"Read the story to you?"

"I think it was Caca's release bang. Maybe he's comfortable with me. As long as I was with him, I realized one thing. Caca is older than her age, which makes her an adult."

The mother and son looked at each other. They might have just found out today. They were probably in shock just like me.

Seriate.