Days After You's

Chapter 9 - Mother and Child

I observed the numbers on the floor designator that still displayed the number five for almost over five minutes in surprise. Me, Stella and little Kevin haven't been able to use the elevator since. I don't know what makes the two lifts that used to operate fast suddenly stuck on the same two floors.

Sure enough, it didn't take long for my question to be answered when a fat man in a pretty messy blue suit emerged from the emergency exit. He is the son of an elderly couple who live on this floor with us. Sweat filled his forehead and his breath was wheezing as if he had just finished running a marathon.

"The shift is having a problem..hah.they just tried to call a technician to fix it..hah.for a while use the emergency stairs if you want to go up and down."

The man, who also sometimes passed me when I left for work then continued walking without saying anything more. His entire strength was already drained from climbing the stairs from the first floor to the fifteenth floor. The passionate soul of the ambitious businessman I used to see did not reveal the nose in the slightest. Lucky for me because it was time to get back from the airport the elevator was still running smoothly, otherwise I would have to take the stairs up to fifteen floors like him.

Without delay I turned to the other two individuals next to me. Stella was whispering something to Kevin who was chewing chocolate. Before leaving, Kevin who had drooled asked Stella for help to open the chocolate packaging so that he could taste it immediately.

"It looks like we have to use the emergency stairs to get down" I said.

Stella looked up and nodded, "Oh, fortunately Kevin's unit is only two floors from our floor."

So, we also changed the direction to the emergency stairs at the other end of the corridor. Lights in the emergency staircase that are usually turned off, are now turned on to help residents who temporarily have to go up and down using the stairs. I walked first followed by Stella who led Kevin to carefully go down the stairs. Aside from the echoes of our steps, the emergency stairs sounded silent with no sound.

Kevin decided to open his mouth in the middle of a quiet atmosphere. His voice echoed and for a moment he shocked himself because of that.

"Auntie, auntie, do you and uncle have children? You know, I get bored at home while I'm working, it must be fun if there's another friend I can play with."

I pulled my lips straight and acted like I didn't hear the question. I secretly want to hear how Stella will respond.

"Auntie and uncle have no children. But if Kevin wants to, Kevin can play around to auntie's place when bored," Stella replied in a much softer voice. It sounded like he was saying that too with a smile.

"Why don't you have one? Wouldn't everyone married have children? Bi Ida has nine children..."

Who is Bi Ida, I do not know and do not care but certainly Kevin so quite chatty and not shy again since out of the daritadi. Instead Stella did not immediately answer, long enough for her to think of the answer until unconsciously I who was waiting for the answer to turn to her right around the corner of the stairs. Unexpectedly, his eyes were also looking towards me and for a while no one had any intention of breaking eye contact.

"Auntie and uncle are too busy to have kids" I looked up at Stella, who now had Kevin in her arms, "If Kevin, what do you usually do when your mom works?"

"Quite a lot! I'm playing this.Watch that..."

I didn't hear all of Kevin's answers because at the same time I chose to cut off eye contact with Stella and continued down the last steps that led us to the eighth floor. Stella really emanated a different aura when she looked calm, for a while she made me doubt if she was the same person.

Kevin still continues to tell this is what he usually does when his mother is out or just busy cleaning the house and can not accompany him to play. He never mentioned his father in his stories. It seems clear that he does not have a memory that can be remembered well with his father. This kid, when he grows up, I wouldn't be surprised if he would take his mother's run from his father.

We stopped at the door of the B-30 unit.

"Rightly this one?" I made sure of Kevin.

Kevin nodded and I started knocking on the door. I knocked for a long time before I finally heard a movement from inside and the door opened. A woman who seemed to be in her late thirties peeked inside while holding a cell phone, her face water pale and her cheeks so curved inward. He looked like someone who had eaten less the past few days.

"...Wh-who huh?" Ask the woman. The sentence was thrown out miserably.

Not yet able to answer, Kevin had jumped from Stella's arms and ran into the woman's arms.

"Mother! I'm home!" Excited Kevin.

The woman flinched then without caring about letting go of the grip on the phone to hug Kevin back just as tightly. The wrinkles on his forehead became more visible as he lectured Kevin with sentences like wherever you were, do not make the mother worry, why not go home, and so on with the characteristic of worried mothers.

I immediately explained what really happened and how Kevin's chronology got to us.

Me and Stella then could only watch in silence and wait until the mother-daughter couple were calm and satisfied from hugging. Accidentally, I found Stella sighing in relief while looking at that scene.

"Thank you, sir, Mom, for taking care of my son Kevin all day. There was a bit of a problem this morning and I accidentally vented emotions on Kevin. I realized that he did not come home and wanted to call the security to help find him. I don't know what to do to repay my mother's kindness."

It turns out that he was on the phone with the security when we arrived, and he wanted to ask for help in finding Kevin because he couldn't report to the police if it wasn't twenty-four hours later that people disappeared.

"It's okay. We wanted to apologize for not bringing him home yesterday. My wife can't bear to force your child who refuses to come home."

Kevin's mother was surprised, "Defuse?"

I nodded, "It looks like he misunderstood you telling him to leave the house and not come back."

"Gosh, I said that Kevin? I'm sorry. There was so much trouble yesterday that I didn't realize I was scolding him...Kevin, I'm sorry."

Kevin wrapped around his mother's neck and grabbed her. Kids really know how to take an adult's heart. Kevin's mother smiled and looked up again.

"One more time thank you very much, sir, ma'am."

I smiled faintly and felt a slow pull on my shirt sleeve. I turned to Stella, who opened her mouth for the first time. While speaking, as if seeking encouragement, his hand did not release its pull from my shirt. Maybe because it's been almost six months living together, I almost forgot that Stella was a pretty shy and awkward person to the new person she met. His cheeks were flushed but he still tried to convey his point clearly.

"If you need something or need a chat buddy, don't hesitate to visit our unit on the B-58. Kevin's a really good kid and he loves the food I make, so don't hesitate to stop by."

Although I disagree with the ease with which Stella invites new people to come home, I am not so disappointed to see the happy hue that appears on Mother Kevin's face thanks to her words. A sincerity will definitely touch someone's heart and that's one of the good things about Stella's nature.

Kevin's mother unceasingly thanked him, promising to repay our kindness at a later time. After that, because there was nothing more to discuss, Stella and I said goodbye.

"I'm sorry Luiz, you have to bother with me" Stella said as we began to climb the stairs.

"It's okay" I replied. I know you're really worried about the kid, "I just can't sleep quietly before the kid gets home."

Stella laughed, "I thought so. Luiz is a good and reliable person."

I'd say that's not what I mean, that I don't like strangers in the house but Stella does have a habit of misinterpreting my every word into something positive. So rather than bothering, I chose to shift the topic.

Stella's invitation to Kevin and his mother reminded me of an invitation from the women's association of wives of other successful businessmen who also lived in the same apartment complex as us. One of the women whose husband was my acquaintance asked me to send a message for Stella to attend their weekly meeting. I don't think there's anything wrong if it can fill Stella's free time other than just staying home.

"Stella, one of my acquaintance's wives invited you to attend their association. I don't know the details, but I have the number if you want to call them."

Stella turned her head, "Oh, what do you mean Esther?"

I nodded, "Has he contacted you directly? Good that he took you, you might be able to add an acquaintance from there."

Stella smiled wryly, "In that case, she has already come to the house to take me directly. I had also been to one of their meetings, just a few days ago instead, but I had no intention of coming back a second time."

I quit, and so did Stella.

"...Why?" My toot.

"Oh, that association is just a women's gathering like Luiz used to. Not that I hate it or anything, you know I like surprises, waiting for my name to come out of the lot taken or guessing whose name will come up is pretty exciting. But—"

I don't know about that Stella, but I didn't cut her words.

"But when they started talking about other people and their own members in the back, it made my head hurt. They gossiped and even started betting on whether the couple living in the next building would get divorced anytime soon. That day I kept imagining that if our contract deadline had arrived and we got divorced, they would have done the same. I can't hang out with people who know what's going to say behind our backs. I don't want to share with them my daily life during the short time I've been here with you, just in case they turn the story into something that's bad for you later."

It's the first time I've heard Stella speak with that expression and tone of voice. It turns out that not only me, but she also always stick to the deadline of four years of this marriage. And without me knowing, all this time he's been trying to protect my reputation in the eyes of people in his own way.

I didn't know how to respond, so I just nodded slowly while saying 'okay'.

That very night when Stella was busy opening the parcel I brought home, I made sure she got a limited edition chocolate box that I wanted to give to my mother. When I bought the box, it was only one left so I decided to give it to the mother who was happy about special or limited things. As long as I don't know, she won't be angry. This time I have to give up first.

I also made sure to text my acquaintance to let his wife know that Stella was not very compatible with the woman's association and to understand not to force any more invitations in the future.