Days After You's

Chapter 8 - The Little Unknown Child

A week abroad, had made me forget the weather conditions that tend to be less stable in City A. It was exactly four in the afternoon, spinning twice in the air due to cloudy weather, the plane I was on finally managed to land. Weather conditions make the air at the airport feel much cooler than normal days but it is not a big problem. Rather than that, the condition of the flooded road is much more concerning because until it triggers a fairly long traffic jam for several kilometers, fortunately the taxi driver who drove me had a shortcut route to avoid it. So, the duration of the trip can be cut to be shorter even through heavy rain.

I arrived at the apartment two hours later than I had calculated, but again it was no big deal to think about. Because the next problem is when I see a little boy I don't know is busy sitting in the tv room when I just step in. Just gone a week and now there's a little kid in this house.

I cringe. Who is this kid? He's not one of my nieces. What's from the Stella family? I don't know the whole family yet so it's only natural that I don't know one or two children in their family.

Unknowingly, I was pecking at the entrance hall while still holding the handle of the suitcase and some souvenir parcels in hand. It was only when Stella appeared and welcomed me in that I jolted from my mind. I gave her a gift package that was entirely filled with a collection of chocolate boxes I bought for her and mom before switching to hauling the suitcases in.

"Why didn't you tell me you were here? How's the business trip going?" Ask Stella. It was a long time not seeing her bright expression, how contrasting it was with the weather out there.

"I forgot about the rush of rain and sleeping on the road. Everything's fine."

"Thank God then."

The little boy on the sofa who had only seen the back of his head finally turned his head amid the commotion that Stella made from moving the chocolate parcels to the kitchen counter table. I stared and he stared back, his eyes round and his curly hair moist as if he had just taken a shower.

"Who is Stella?" My toot. It seems I've seen it around the compound, but I'm not sure.

"Yes?"

I turned towards Stella, "Who is this kid? Your niece?"

Stella recoiled, her voice only realized that she had not explained anything to me. He put the chocolate box in his hand and immediately pulled my hand towards the second floor abruptly. At first glance I could see him smiling at the boy but I don't know what he meant by that.

I looked at the hand that was wrapped around my wrist until Stella let go of her grip while whispering sorry.

"Ah, sorry. You must be surprised to see that kid."

I touched my wrist, "...It'sit's okay. So who's the kid?"

"He's Kevin. The son of a resident who lives two floors below us. I accidentally caught him crying himself while raining in the complex playground when he just returned from the supermarket. Out of pity, I decided to bring her here."

I was amazed, "Why don't you just send him back?"

"He didn't want to. That's been the case since this morning. That's why I let him stay while you're waiting for you to come home to help."

Waiting for me to help? Stella, if you meek and generous smile doesn't manage to persuade the kid, what makes you think this stiff me can do something about it?

"Luiz was always reliable, so I thought you could persuade him better than I could."

I frowned, "I'm not good at this kind of business, Stella. Get him back, if you have to force it, force it."

Stella jumped with a gamang mimic. I know my voice sounds pretty cold, but I'm more worried that he'll get into bigger trouble as a result of his actions. How did the boy's parents feel when they went looking for him everywhere but never found him? I don't want Stella to be accused of anything that won't happen.

"Report him now. I will accompany you," I said and turned around.

Instead, Stella pulled the arm of my shirt with a powerful force. Even if it doesn't put me back, it's enough to stop me. This is the first time I've seen him act so staunchly on something.

"No, no. Don't get mad, Luiz. I wouldn't have meant to hide the boy or anything from his parents if it wasn't for the boy pleading. He said his parents didn't love him anymore and didn't want him back."

"Stella, that's another family matter. The best thing you can do right now is get her back."

Stella nodded but tightened her fingers, "But—! He said his mother hit him.Isn't that violence? What if he was going to be beaten again on his return? Luiz, we have to consider all this first."

I turned my body back completely to face Stella when I heard the word 'Violence'. He has a habit of exaggerating things, but if his guess is right, I'd rather not get him involved in any of this.

"Stella," I said in a more subtle voice to persuade, "Don't provoke a problem you can't handle later, hm? If there's any violence, I don't see any injury to the boy, have you confirmed it?"

Stella shakes. I let out a breath.

"I'll talk to the boy" I said. I'm still quite tired from jetlag, but on the other hand I can't rest quietly letting a stranger in my house.

The boy—what was his name? Kevin?—still in the same position since he left earlier. In front of him at the table, a bowl of food that seemed to contain the food Stella gave him was empty and clean. Glancing at his posture and height, I estimate he was only about five to seven years old.

"Kevin?" I started squatting, I didn't really know how to deal with a child, but let me try, "My wife says you don't want to go home, why?"

Kevin nodded, "Mom and Dad don't love me anymore, they keep yelling at home."

"Ms."

"What's that screaming like?"

"Kevin don't interfere! Kevin's a useless kid!"

I could hear Stella gasping from behind, but my eyes were silently looking at Kevin from the tip of her hair to her ankles, she was wearing an oversized pink sweatshirt that Stella seemed to have lent her. He doesn't seem to be lying, but I don't see any signs of violence on his body either.

"Have your parents ever hit or hurt you?"

"Pulse. Mom hit me yesterday and told me to get out of front of her."

"How often did he hit you?"

Kevin showed me his index finger. I raised an eyebrow.

"Every day once?"

Kevin shook his head, "Only once. Yesterday."

"Did he scold you often?"

"Mom doesn't like to be angry, just dad, and mom always stood up for me every time you scolded me, but. Yesterday mom scolded me and told me to go."

I let out a breath. There seems to be a misunderstanding here. I tried to pat kevin's head softly.

"Your mother doesn't hate you. I don't know about your father, but I'm sure your mother didn't lie to you. He just got out of control yesterday and must be very sorry for it now."

Kevin looked up, his eyes were round like Stella's when he was curious about something, "Where did uncle know?"

"Uncle just know," I replied, "And uncle is sure your mother must be worried because you haven't been home since this morning."

I saw the wall clock. It's almost nine o'clock in the night.

"really? But my own mother told me to go..."

"Your mother was not aware of what she was saying. Adults often do that."

"Really?"

I nodded and smiled faintly, "Everyone will take you home huh? If something happens again.you know the emergency call number right?"

"Luiz.." muttered Stella as she pulled my collar slowly. Whahuh? That's the most appropriate thing, right?

In the end, I sighed and took out my card from the wallet, extending it to the plain-faced Kevin. Her tiny hand clasped tightly onto the card as if it had just obtained a treasure.

"Here, if something happens call that number, you understand?"

Kevin took a sign of understanding.

"Uncle to go home?"

"Yes." Yeah."

I saw Kevin jumping off the sofa while standing back up. Before long, the movement from behind made me turn away. Stella looked at Kevin and then at me doubtfully, but did not speak a word against him. No, he didn't even have to say anything because his eyes represented everything. His eyes were like a window of all his feelings and it made it difficult for me to catch up with Kevin who was now at the door wearing his shoes.

"If there's anything odd about her parents after meeting later, I'll call the authorities to check on them further. For now, let him go home to his mother" I explained.

Stella nodded slowly, "...Okay. I get it."

I'm sorry if I'm not the best person you are, Stella. But I know what I'm doing. If the boy came crying bruised or just saying his parents beat him so many times, I wouldn't let him just go back to his house. Instead, letting a child run away from home without knowing what is really going on is a bad thing.

Stella gave Kevin a box of chocolates from one of the souvenirs I had just brought with a warm smile. I wish everything was okay in the boy's house, and his parents really didn't mean to hurt him.

Things like this have never been my business before. I do not like to interfere too much with other people's problems, because many say I am quite cold and indifferent to the circumstances around me. But now that I am no longer alone, it seems that I have to start preparing for similar events because Stella is the type who tends to have high empathy.