Kei And Layla

Chapter 16: Tranquility

The next day Layla stayed at Kartika's house and helped Kartika's work picking up plastic waste. Every time Kartika and Layla take a break. Layla will recite a poem about love making Kartika often shed tears because she remembered her husband.

"You're so smart, son." Praise Kartika to Layla.

Now Layla is a little calmer than the day before. Although her body looks thin and unkempt, but her face still looks beautiful without any polish on her face.

Somewhere in the afternoon, Kartika and Layla stop and rest in a park not far from the highway. Layla and Kartika sat down to enjoy the afternoon jokingly chanting poetry. Without Layla and Kartika realizing there was a handsome, blonde-haired man watching him in the parked car right in front of Layla and Kartika sitting.

The man smiled as Layla chanted a poem. He continued to watch Layla and said inwardly.

" The girl does not appear to be from among the people who do not have. From his face was the son of a rich man. I'm so curious about the language she's reciting poetry sounds like a learned man."

The man decides to get out of the car and approaches Layla to get acquainted. Then the man approached Layla and Kartika who were laughing together.

"Hi" said the man, with one hand scratching his non-itchy nape and one hand he put in his pants pocket. Layla and Kartika turned towards the voice and saw a man standing before them. Layla and Kartika stopped her laughter and nodded her head with a smile on the man.

"Can contacts?" ask the man without saying anything.

Layla and Kartika looked at each other for a moment. Then nod your head.

"May son, Kartika's mother's name and this is Layla." Kartika introduced herself.

"I'm Raiden, call me Rai."

Layla and Kartika nodded their heads for a moment, "sitting down son, if you don't mind sitting with us" Kartika told Raiden.

"Oh, it's okay" she replied as she sat next to Layla who lowered her head.

"I love your poem Layla." Raiden looked at Layla.

"Thank you" Layla replied with a head bow.

"Can I hear you again?" ask Raiden.

Layla looked at Raiden and said. "certain." Then Layla returned to chant the poem, to make Raiden drift carried away every chant of the verse Layla brought.

"Plok block!!

Raiden applauded after Layla finished chanting the verse.

" Cool" he said briefly.

"Thank you."

"Layla, it's getting dark. We better go home." Kartika looked at the sky that looked dark.

"Good Mom." Layla got up from her seat and looked at Raiden, "i'll go home first, see you later." Layla bows for a moment and turns around to help Kartika push the cart.

"We're going home, son!" exclaim Kartika while pushing the cart.

Stunned Raiden stared at Layla's back, believing Layla to be a learned girl. There is a strong desire to get to know Layla further because of curiosity. Raiden immediately moved from his seat and entered the car following Layla and Kartika from behind with Raiden slowly wanting to know where Layla lived. To make it easier to meet Layla later.

Soon Raiden sees Layla and Kartika have reached his yard and they enter the house.

"Hmm, it turns out they live here. All right, I'll be back here tonight" he muttered softly, then he turned his car around and decided to go home first.

***

At nightfall, Layla and Kartika were enjoying the atmosphere of the night on the terrace of his house. Suddenly a car stopped in the yard of Kartika's house. Layla and Kartika looked at the car and saw Raiden coming out of the car.

"Mother's night, Layla's night" Raiden greeted politely.

"Eh, you're apparently son, here sitting." Kartika stood up and let Raiden sit in a chair beside Layla. Because the chair was only two, Kartika finally went inside and made warm tea for Layla and Raiden.

"At the drink boy" said Kartika while putting two glasses of tea in front of Layla and Raiden.

"Thank you, Mom."

"Mother stay first." Kartika smiled and then Kartika went back into the house.

"You know this house?" tanya Layla opened the conversation.

"Are you not ashamed to be friends with me?" ask Layla.

"No."

Layla smilingly looked at Raiden, a handsome blonde-haired man similar to Kei.

"Did you mind?" Raiden asked back.

Layla shook her head, "no."

Eventually they get into a conversation starting with Raiden's introduction, what his job is and where he lives. Then Raiden started asking about Layla. Layla just smiled in response to Raiden's question. Layla took a deep breath and then she exhaled slowly.

"I'm just here hitchhiking." Layla smiled looking at Raiden.

"You mean?" ask Raiden.

"My house is not here, but in Jakarta. It's just, I did deliberately leave the house."

"So, you're not Bu Kartika's son?" ask Raiden again.

Layla shook her head for a moment, then lowered her head, "Bu Kartika is not my mother, but she is just like my mother."

"Ow, interesting." Raiden looked at Layla with admiration. Behind Layla's messy and unkempt appearance. But it did not fade her beauty that was seen shining in Raiden's eyes.

"I'm happy to meet you Layla," Raiden lowered his head for a moment. "oh yes Layla, when will I take you to my house. Do you want to?" ask Raiden to Layla.

"Can."

"In that case, I'll go home first. Tomorrow at noon I'm your thumbs up, I'll take you to my house." Raiden said as he glanced at his watch which showed at 22:30.

"All right."

"See you tomorrow, and give my regards to Kartika's mother." Raiden got up from his seat and walked towards his parked car. Raiden waved his hand for a moment then he opened the car door and got into the car. Soon after, Raiden leaves Kartika's house.

Layla stared at Raiden's car until it was lost at the turn of the road. Layla took a deep breath and said. " Kei" he muttered softly.

"Kok daydreaming?" greet Bu Kartika from the door.

Layla turned to look at Kartika who was standing at the door and Kartika walked over and sat down next to Layla. "Looks like he's a good man."

"Raiden?" ask Layla.

Kartika nodded her head and said. "Yes Layla, are you talking about ghosts?" Kartika Temptation on Layla.

Layla laughed a little at Kartika. "Yes, it seems so" Layla replied flatly.

"Aren't you interested in Layla?"

"Ah Mother, how could she possibly like me? I can't move to another heart anyway." Layla replied.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" ask Kartika curious.

Layla nodded her head, "it's already Mom, but she's married to another woman."

"Why?" ask Kartika.

"His parents went bankrupt, to save their economy, his parents betrothed him."

Kartika nodded her head nod in understanding, "a parent who thirsts for worldly possessions, but sacrifices his own son's future."

"Yes, that's how Mom is."

Kartika took a deep breath, "Layla is already night, we'd better get some sleep."

"Mother sleeps first, I catch up" Layla replied.

"All right." Kartika yawned and got up from her seat and walked into the house.

While Layla was still glued to the porch of the house looking at the star-studded sky, listening to the rustling sound of leaf leaves blowing in the wind, the sound of owls, and the night breeze that touched Layla's skin. It was all Layla thought of as Kei's longing voice to her. That was why Layla had always enjoyed any voice as part of herself as well as Kei. So as to give a tranquility of its own for Layla.