Kei And Layla

Chapter 20: The last meeting

Three hours passed, Raiden had reached the courtyard of Kartika's house. He pulled over his car and glanced at the watch that showed at 19:30. "Sir, Mom, we've arrived."

"Layla's in staying here?" said Surya staring around the yard Kartika house.

"True sir."

"Mom, our daughter lives in a place like this?" said Surya sad to see Kartika's house that is not habitable.

"That's it sir, that's Layla's choice. Didn't we stop him?" Anita tried to calm the heart of Surya who looked very sad.

"Come, let's go see Layla." Raiden exits the car door and follows Anita and Surya.

Just now they set foot in the courtyard of Kartika's house. From the doorway, Layla and Kartika look out from the doorway staring at them.

Alya and Surya walked slowly as they reached out to two hands approaching Layla.

"Layla, my daughter." Anita said with a trembling voice.

Layla widened her eyes to look at the two people Layla had longed for.

"Dad? Mommy?"

Layla walked slowly, then ran and rested at the feet of Surya and Anita. With both hands hugging the legs Surya and Anita.

"Dad..I'm sorry Layla, I'm sorry Layla." He said as he walked down Surya and Anita's feet. Layla spills sadness and longing all at once. Layla, Anita and Surya's tears.

Anita and Surya cry because they barely recognize Layla's own flesh and blood. Layla looks skinny with long, unkempt hair. While Layla was crying because she could not be filial and had not been able to forget Kei until now.

"Layla, why did you choose this path, my dear Layla." Anita said as she lowered her head with her right hand rubbing Layla's head gently. Anita's tears fell down Layla's hair. So does Surya, now Surya understands what happened to Layla.

"Wake up baby, Dad and Mom have forgiven you Layla, you should have forgiven us who were never sensitive to what happened to you Layla."

"No Dad, not Dad or Mom's fault. This was Layla's choice. Forgive Layla Father, Mother." Answer Layla.

"Wake up baby." Anita lifts Layla's body to stand up. Layla stood up and hugged her parents very tightly. The longing words from Layla's lips made Anita and Surya feel happy and sad.

They hugged long enough, shed the longing because it had not met for a long time.

"Layla baby, will you come home with us?" asked Anita while cupping Layla's face that looked very thin.

"I'm sorry Mom, Dad, Layla won't be back" Layla replied staring at Anita's face.

"But baby, go home. Please son."

"No Dad, I'm sorry Layla. It's Layla's decision."

"Layla baby, don't you feel sorry for us?" anita asks him to try to persuade Layla.

"I'm sorry, Mom, Dad. Let Layla live her life in her own way, Layla" said in between sobs.

"Okay, baby, if that's your decision. I won't stop her anymore."

"Thank you Mom, thank you Dad." Layla said then hugged her parents tightly.

Meanwhile, Kartika and Raiden are silent and moved to witness the meeting of a family separated by something that is difficult to accept common sense.

Raiden crossed his two hands on his chest. He looked up at the sky and inhaled the air inside. He tried not to cry to see them. While Kartika only stands sculpting, this event reminds him of Kartika's past. Until he did not feel his tears fall down his cheeks which began to look there were wrinkles on his face.

"Rai, thank you for bringing my mom and dad here." Layla smiled looking at Raiden. Raiden smiled faintly, nodding his head at Layla.

"Sir, ma'am, let's get into my house ." Kartika offers Anita and Surya to rest inside her house.

"Ah yes, Mom, Dad, we go inside." Layla let go of her embrace and invited them to enter the house.

Finally they went into the house Kartika and sat on the floor only with a mat. Layla sits between her Father and Mother in a spoiled tussle. While Raiden just silently watched Layla. "If you could open your heart to me, Layla, happy me" Raiden said.

It was unthinkable for Raiden to like a girl Raiden couldn't have.

"Sir, ma'am, please eat. Sorry, this is all I have." Say Kartika by offering fried cassava and warm tea.

"Son Rai, how come you're dumb? what's up?" Kartika offered a glass of warm tea in front of Raiden.

"Ah, there's no ma'am." Raiden picked up the glass in front of him and gulped it down slowly.

"Thank you Ma'am, I've been willing to put Layla in Mom's house." Surya lowered his head for a moment.

"Same sir, Mom, I've considered Layla like my own daughter" replied Kartika while taking fried cassava and in her chew.

That night, for Anita and Surya a happy night, as well as a heartbreaking night because seeing Layla is much different from the old one. Surya and Anita still have time to persuade Layla to go home and tease Layla with Raiden. Layla laughed and enjoyed every moment of the joke. But still unable to take his mind off Kei. Moreover, Surya and Anita had mentioned the name Kei.

"It's late, Ibu san Bapak, just stay here last night." Kartika offers Surya and Anita to stay and miss Layla.

"If Bu Kartika doesn't mind." said Anita staring at Kartika.

"Of course not."

"Well, thank you so much." Anita smiled a glance at Kartika for a moment, then looked at Layla who was leaning on her shoulder twitching spoiled.

Eventually Surya and Anita decide to stay the night and will return home tomorrow morning to take Raiden.

Raiden glanced at his watch which was already at 23:25.

"Sir, Ma'am, Layla, I'm going home first thing's night, tomorrow morning I'm back here." Raiden stared at them alternately.

"Ah yes Son, thank you very much yes, it has been troublesome."

"Don't hesitate Mom." Raiden smiles.

"Dad, Mom, I miss you guys." Layla hugged her mother while lying next to Anita and Surya.

"You're still my little Layla, baby."

"Cup cup!!

Many times Anita kissed Layla's nose with anxiety. " Layla, Raiden is handsome too huh? looks like he's a really nice guy and cares about you." Anita again persuades Layla subtly.

"Yes ma'am, he's a good man" Layla replied smiling.

Anita and Surya looked at each other for a moment.

"Aren't you interested in Layla?" ask Surya.

Layla was silent for a moment, then smiled " Right now, I just want to hug Mom and Dad while I'm still here." Layla switched the conversation and did not want to argue anymore with her Father and Mother. Now Layla is calmer than ever.

They continued to talk to let go of longing until they did not feel they were asleep. Layla sleeps soundly in Anita's arms. Layla has long not felt the warm embrace of her mother while sleeping like before.

***

In the morning, Raiden came to Kartika's house to pick up Anita and Surya.

"Layla, are you sure of your decision to stay?" Ask Surya and Anita.

Layla nodded her head and smiled. "Yes Ma'am, Dad, I'm sorry Layla."

"It's okay, dear Layla, the most important thing is that you're in good health and can take care of yourself." Answer Surya.

"May the Almighty give Layla the best path" Anita said.

"Amen!" Layla and Kartika answered and Raiden listened to them.

"Then, Mom and Dad go home first, if you miss us. Go home, son ." Anita wipes away her spilled tears from having to part with Layla again.

"Good Mom." Layla rubs softly on Anita's cheek.

Then Layla hugged her two parents tightly, stained with tears. Then Anita and Surya took off Layla's embrace with a heavy heart, finally they say goodbye home. Layla waves her hands at Anita and Surya while running a little following Raiden's car from behind. They had no idea it was the last meeting between Layla, Anita and Surya.