
"Rayyan, Oma there's something for Rayyan."
"What is Oma?"
Esther bends her knees until her height is level with Rayyan standing. He smiled gently at the enthusiastic Rayyan, then showed her something that he had been carrying with him since.
"New painting tools!" he said enthusiastically, which immediately made Rayyan's face sparkle with pleasure.
"Yeyy! That's for Rayyan, Oma?"
"certain. Doesn't Rayyan like to draw?"
"Dad. Rayyan likes it."
"Then, Rayyan can paint now. Mom and I will talk for a while. Don't forget to show Rayyan's best paintings to Oma and Mama. Okay, Boy."
"okay."
Esther raised her right hand, while Rayyan directly patted it, tos. A woman in a white uniform like a baby sitter quickly and responsively takes over Rayyan's painting tools and guides the child to be taken somewhere. It might have deliberately given Mulan and Esther space and time to talk alone.
"He is Nana. The governess I hired to take care of Rayyan." As if knowing what Mulan was thinking, Esther took the initiative to explain.
Mulan, who was only glued to see the scene in front of her, now turned to look at Esther. Kinda clumsy. Honestly, he did not expect that the woman was so enthusiastic about taking care of Rayyan. To the point of willing to spend money just to pay for governance, experienced caregivers of children aged 5-14 years like Rayyan.
Esther herself only responded flatly while staring at Rayyan's tiny back which then disappeared behind the door. Next he walked to the sofa, sat quietly there, and then gave his son-in-law a word.
"Sit down."
Mulan nodded obediently. He walked over to the sofa and sat there cautiously.
For a moment the atmosphere was quiet and somewhat awkward. Where two women who are in-laws and son-in-laws sit opposite each other and have not yet started the conversation.
"How are you, Mulan?" Esther's voice was like a pointy needle that broke a bubble of silence. Mulan who was lowered, instantly stunned. Then answer slowly.
"Okay, Madam."
"Looks like you look skinny. Didn't you eat well while here? Does the chief's cooking in this house not suit your tongue? You can ask them to cook something if it's food they're processing that doesn't make you tasteful. Or do I need to replace the existing chief with a new chief?"
"No, Mistress. That's not it," Mulan said unkindly.
"Then?"
"I'm just a poor person who only knows tofu and tempeh as everyday food. Maybe because my tongue is not used to the expensive food in this house, so I'm thin like this."
"really?" ask Esther in doubt while squinting. "Isn't it because my son didn't feed you well?"
"Not." Mulan smiled clumsily.
"Goodoo. You'll get used to all this."
Mulan nodded with the rest of the smile on her lips. Just chatting for a minute he could already see Esther's sincerity. See also how his son is needed very well by the woman. Not from his friendly yet flat manner of speech, but the shady eyes that tried to cover it up. Instantly it also appeared a taste of haru mixed with trepidation that made him so touched.
"Madam, thank you for bringing Rayyan back to me" he said later with a sincere tone and gaze.
However, instead of the satisfying answer Mulan gets, Esther instead replicates Mulan's words in an irritating tone.
"Reverting?" Esther narrowed her eyes as she uttered that one bright word making Mulan's forehead wrinkled in confusion. Still in his flat tone, Esther then continued again. "It seems you misunderstood my arrival, Mulan."
"I mean Madam?" Mulan finally demanded an explanation. A aura of anger instantly poured out from his face.
"I did bring Rayyan here to meet you. But, just simply treating the longing, doesn't mean letting Rayyan stay here with you."
"Mrs!" Mulan subconsciously raised the intonation of her voice. The woman clenched her hands and almost stood up if she could not help herself. "Mrs is aware of what the Madam is saying?"
"of course. Precisely because I was so aware, that's why I thought I should bring Rayyan back with me for some time" Esther replied firmly.
Mulan gritted her teeth, then shook her head inexhaustibly. How could he meet this crazy family. A family that likes to oppress people. Even Rayyan's small mistake had to be redeemed by her and the son's separation to an unclear deadline. How could he possibly accept it!
"I didn't expect a rich and classy woman like you to be so mean and heartless. You are a mother, aren't you! I certainly understand my feelings! How can you separate a child from his own mother. Are you not sane!"
Missing is the polite attitude that Mulan has displayed since. His respect for the woman who had become the in-law had also simply vanished. Looks like Mulan needed to retract a positive outlook on the woman a few minutes ago.
When Mulan vents her emotions, Esther laughs lightly and responds to Mulan's anger casually. The woman still looked authoritative at her age who was no longer young.
Mulan heard that one sentence.
"Why silence?" ask Ester cynically. "What I'm saying is true, isn't it? You're planning something secret behind my son. You were planning to run away after Rayyan came back with you. Right, right?"
Esther's accusation made Mulan feel slapped. How did the woman know the plan?
"I say once again, Mulan" Esther reminded. "You've come in here because of my interference. So, without my kindness you wouldn't be able to get in and out easily in this house anymore."
"You're really mean." Mulan growled with emphasis. "You want to force my son?"
"No." Esther answered sure. "I'll take her in her usual tone, as is generally the grandmother of her granddaughter. If you want to try to persuade Rayyan, go ahead. I wouldn't force Rayyan if the boy had already made up his mind."
Mulan was like getting a breath of fresh air hearing Esther speak. Those clear eyes instantly showed a twinkle. He would use this time to get Rayyan's heart to also bring the boy back to him.
Esther could catch the happy twinkle of her daughter-in-law. He hurriedly warned before Mulan was proud and had chosen the wrong way to persuade her son to return.
"Remember, Mulan. Never use violence. Don't force Rayyan if the boy won't. He's a boy. He needs to be educated hard to be strong. Give him the confidence to take responsibility for the decisions he makes.
Mulan's throat was choked. It turned out that the woman not only wanted to master Rayyan, but also thought about the psychological health of the son. If only the words of the woman could be trusted ....
The hot chatter finally paused when Rayyan appeared while carrying the painting.
"Oma, Mama! Look at Rayyan's painting." The boy ran small while carrying canvas paper in his hand. Mulan and Esther simultaneously turned to Rayyan and smiled at the same time as the boy showed his painting proudly.
"Beautiful painting" praised Esther to Rayyan while watching the rice field drawing. It doesn't look perfect like the graffiti of a famous painter, but it already looks really good in the hands of a seven-year-old like Rayyan.
"Thank you, Oma," Rayyan responded enthusiastically.
"Come, Honey. Sitting on Mama's lap." Mulan spread her arms, hoping Rayyan would welcome her and follow her orders.
Rayyan smiled sweetly then obediently sat on the lap of the Mama. The woman clutched him lovingly and kissed Rayyan's head crest with great affection.
"Mama misses Rayyan a lot. Mama wants to go through the days with Rayyan again," said Mulan who began to launch her persuasion style.
"Rayyan misses Mama too. But for a while it can't."
"Why, Honey?" Mulan asked in disbelief.
"Because Rayyan's a boy, Mama. Rayyan has to learn tough to prepare for the future. Let Rayyan be cool like Papa."
When Mulan was stunned, Esther smiled proudly. He did not choose the wrong grandson. Rayyan is a good, intelligent, not fussy and easy to manage child. It is suitable to be the successor of their family.
"Mrs ...." Rayyan framed Mulan's face with both hands when she saw the sadness on the beautiful face. "Mama don't be sad. Rayyan promised, every day Rayyan would come to visit here."
Mulan smiled, clasped her little son's hand and then gave him a soft kiss for a long time there.
"Mama's not sad, honey. Mama was amazed by Rayyan. Rayyan's a lot more mature, now."
"That's all thanks to Oma." Rayyan pointed at Esther, but it was like piercing Mulan's heart. He felt jealous because the son was closer to a foreign woman who had no blood ties at all. He's afraid. So scared. What if Esther poisons Rayyan's mind and forgets Rayyan's mother.
However, if he remains selfish and forces Rayyan it is not impossible to make Rayyan hate and change the decision by force. Didn't Rayyan say this was only temporary? Yes, he was sure Rayyan would keep her promise. Mulan believed in her son.
"Huggle Mama, then get in the car with Mama Nana, yes," Esther said in a soft tone, as if she did not want to let Rayyan linger along with Mulan.
"OK, Oma. Mama ...." Rayyan wrapped her tiny hand around Mulan's neck and hugged her tightly. Mulan who did not want to miss the opportunity returned Rayyan's embrace was no less warm. Not even let go until a while.
"Already, Mama. Rayyan's breath is tight." The boy complained, which immediately made Mulan panic until she hurriedly broke down the embrace.
Rayyan smiled gently and rubbed her wet face. "I love you, Ma."
"Love you too," Mulan replied as she held back a cry.
It was very hard for Mulan to let Rayyan go. Letting her son move away under Nana's guidance. However, he was powerless to resist his in-laws' wishes. Maybe he needs to sacrifice a little for Rayyan's good.
"Mulan, we're both women. We are both mothers of a son" Esther said after Rayyan disappeared from view. "I understand how you feel because I also want the best for my son."
Mulan was silent with her forehead wrinkled because she did not understand the meaning of Esther's words. Even more so with the last sentence that Esther uttered before leaving her.
"Treat my son well if you want me to treat your son well. Fair exchange, isn't it?"