I'm Not a Wild Grass

Waiting for Mark to Return (POV Laila)

I waited for Nila until her class ended. On her first day of school, Nila looks like she always does.

Nila became the most cheerful child among her other friends. And maybe because of his age which is also older than a year in comparison to other children, Nila appeared as the chairman for 10 students.

While chatting with some mothers who were also waiting for their children, I found out that almost all children were around 5 years old. Nila is 6 years old.

A little regret pervaded my heart. Because Nila can't go to the same school as Mark. But soon I tepis negative thoughts that far away.

I'm sure all the kids are special. And every child has its own specialties that cannot be measured only in terms of academics alone.

So even though my Nila has to be delayed by her school term compared to Mark, I should always be good at being grateful for other things. Like for example the health condition of my daughter is much better now than a year ago. Where Nila still has to be hospitalized abroad, first.

After Nila's class was over, I invited her to play at the SD building next to Kindergarten, where Mark attended school.

I sent Mark here on purpose. Because this was Mark's own request that he wanted a school close to Nila. And coincidentally these two schools are indeed favorite in this B city.

I took Nila to play to the cafeteria on the side of the building. At that time the atmosphere was not too crowded. There were only a few children running towards her class. I'm guessing maybe the bell coming in from break time just went off.

Arriving at the cafeteria, I casually chose some chocolate bread for Nila. While Nila accepted it without many words.

"ila why? Are you tired, honey? How was he quiet?" Ask me a little worried because from entering the SD building area Nila did not say anything.

"Then it's okay. Just tired, Ma," said Nila with my eyes.

Indeed, Nila felt tired faster than Mark. Because of that I had wanted to home schooling my two children at the beginning. But as time went on, Mark wanted to study at a regular school. And so is Nila.

I finally followed the wishes of the children.

I look around me now. Then I wrote the watch in my left hand. Currently the time shows at 10:25. There is still about an hour less before Mark's class ends.

After considering everything, I finally decided to wait for Mark to come home. While Nila I asked her to lay her head on my lap.

"Sleeping here is okay, son. Brother's class is about to finish, "I give you a word.

While yawning, Nila lay her body down onto a long bench in the canteen. Actually, I could have brought Nila home first. Then go back to school to pick Mark up.

But today I promised to take them to my La Luna boutique. I made a promise today to my two children.

While waiting for Mark's school to end, I played my device. I found that there were a lot of messages from some people. Then I read one by one the messages on my phone.

Stephen: Young Ma, this afternoon is a boutique Tengokin right? There are many reports waiting!

I was upset when I read Stephen's call to me. Young Ma's. Which means Young Mama.

I have often asked the young Christian to change his call to me. Because that call reminded me of one of the rice cooker advertising slogans on television that read, "Young Ma the magic in life!".

It's a shame Stephen didn't make up for my request. Until now I had to be patient every time he called me Young Ma. Hh..

I was even a little suspicious, like Stephen did deliberately call me that to upset me. Because he often mocked me with sentences like this,

"You're too frozen right now, La. Where's the Laila I knew? I rarely hear you ranting or kayaking free stories first. Still can move on from your husband?"

If Stephen had talked about Erlan, I would have immediately covered going and leaving. At those times I still can't talk about my loss to anyone. Even to Nunik.

I was just starting to really be able to move on from losing me about two years ago. It was the busiest and most precarious time my new boutique had to go through for two years.

So because I was too busy between taking care of the boutique and my two children, I slowly began to often forget my sadness for Erlan's departure.

And now I can finally make peace with my pain. And as Nunik said. Indeed, over time, with two helpers who are patient and also pray, I can now rise from the slump many years ago.

Back to this moment. I replied to Stephen's message with a short and concise answer.

Stephen: yes. God willing I went there the same day Son2.

After pressing the sent button, I continued reading the following message that came from Arline number.

Arline: kangen two ishtar ku.. take it to dong's office, brother?

I smiled as I read the message from my sister-in-law.

Arline always calls Mark and Nila by their last name, Ishtar, which means star.

For Arline, Mark and Nila are like two stars sent by God to illuminate our family's bleak life since Erlan's departure.

I'll reply to Arline's message immediately.

To Arline: kind of a pity, Lin. Go to the boutique first.

Hh.. Considering Arline I became overwhelmed with pity. Until now, Arline has not been blessed with a baby. While in the last few occasions we met, Arline told me that she began to often sit with her husband, colonel Amir.

The cause of the feud between the two, among others, Arline's proposal for the husband to marry another woman secretly. To have offspring with that woman.

Arline seems to be giving up on having another child. Because when examined to the doctor, it turns out there is a myoma in the cervical canal Arline. It was known about two years ago.

Indeed, the myoma had been removed in an operation that he did immediately. But according to doctors, the chance of Arline's uterus getting pregnant again is difficult to predict.

It is because of this that in recent months Arline began to propose polygamy to her husband.

But colonel Amir rejected the proposal. As an officer, he was not allowed to marry twice at a time. In addition, he did not want to hurt Arline. Because even though Arline was the one who proposed the polygamy suggestion, Amir knew who was the mastermind behind the proposal. Her own mother, aka her mother-in-law Arline.

In person, just when we were four-eyed, colonel Amir told me that the two had indeed lived in the house of colonel Amir's mother a year ago.

And it turns out that after investigation, colonel Amir only found out that his mother had pressured his wife to ask for a divorce to herself. But Arline refused.

Because Arline did not want a divorce, colonel Amir's mother proposed that the child be remarried.

When I heard the story from Colonel Amir, I was really upset with the colonel's mother. So hearty he wants to separate his own son from the person he loves, just for reasons of heredity alone?

But I broke away. Reflecting on the past experience, momentary emotions will not bring any benefits to me.

Because of that I only suggested that colonel Amir be patient with Arline. While slowly I will persuade my brother-in-law not to ask the colonel for polygamy.

I'm sure, in his heart Arline can not be willing to fully release the husband in the arms of another woman.

Zzt. zz..

A message back in. I open it immediately. And it was from Arline.

Arline: okay. Waiting for you, brother.I prepared ice cream for my two ishtar unyu unyu._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

And I was again made to smile while reading that message from Arline.

I never had time to type a reply for Arline, a message again entered the messaging application on my phone.

Stephen: there's good news for you, Young Ma. Some of our designs managed to pass the selection to participate in the B star fashion event next month. Brava!

And my heart is broken by happiness.

B Star Fashion Week is one of the most prestigious events in the world of fashion. Where there the top models will walk on the paint walk with a variety of selected clothing designs from different boutiques. The show's rating is slightly below that of international fashion.

Stephen: good! We need this ritaine. I buy pizza?

And a reply from Stephen shortly re-entered our chat screen.

Stephen: as always.. mozarella ask a question, Young Ma!

To Stephen: ask yourself to the seller!

Teeett..

Finally the bell came home and sounded. I put my device back in my handbag. Then I reached for Nila's tiny body that was still sleeping.

Nila's mouth opened slightly to form the letter O. With a drop of saliva that almost came out of her tiny mouth. I smile. Feeling anxious with my youngest daughter.

Nila's face looked very peaceful as she slept.

'Like Erlan's face.then.' my inner voice whispered.

My breath is a little rough. Trying to shake off the fog of sadness that almost wanted to lock me up again in the shadow of his gloom.

But I refuse to go back to a moping life. Because I was sure, that Erlan would want me to be able to return to a happy life.

***