Linger

Everything But Irina

Gavin could only sigh many times when he found that Karel was constantly clinging to Kalea. The man did not let Kalea off the slightest bit from his side. Keep following where Kalea's little footsteps went exactly like the duckling who kept following her mother.

Next to him, Mama who saw the look of Gavin's sour face could only smile while shaking her head. He clearly understood that his daughter-in-law was feeling jealous, as well as upset because Kalea was more fun playing with Karel since morning.

"They are very close, Vin. It's like a sibling." My mother said in the end. He had been itching to say that to Gavin, but was still being held back. And when I saw Gavin start sitting quietly, Mama spoke up.

Gavin turned his head, looked at Mama for a while before exhaling a heavy breath once more and turned his gaze back to Karel and Kalea who were currently having a cool conversation in the living room. I don't know what the two people are talking about.

"Sorry, yes, if Kalea can't keep her distance from Karel."

Hearing Mama say that, Gavin turned his head again. The woman smiled at him, a maternal smile that instantly made her feel guilty. If Mama knew what kind of man she was, would Mama still be able to be nice?

"Slow down, yeah, Vin. Mama believes Kalea is also trying to limit herself." While saying that, Mama reached out, touched the back of Gavin's hand and rubbed it gently.

Gavin looked at his hand that was being rubbed by Mama with a faint feeling. This guilt, perhaps Gavin will continue to take until the end of his life.

"Gavin!"

Gavin and Mama turned their heads towards the living room. Kalea ran from there, scattered while carrying a kitten whose entire body was full of mud. Gavin frowned, where did the kitten come from? And.. wasn't Kalea still cool with Karel in the living room? Why in an instant had the woman been carrying this furry little creature?

"Where did you get the kitten from?" Mom got up from her seat. Panic moves toward Kalea who is just a hermit carrying the innocent kitten.

"So Kalea heard the sound of meow from under the car Gavin, just as Kalea check there was this sweet guy." Kalea explained with a smile that began to linger.

Meanwhile, unlike Mama who dared to get close to the kitten in a tent with Kalea and even rubbed the kitten's head slowly, Gavin instead moved away. He got up from his seat, taking a step back to avoid the hairy creature.

Gavin's movements were apparently caught by Kalea's eyes so that the woman even moved forward still with a kitten in her hand.

"Kal, stop!" prevent Gavin when Kalea is about to walk towards him. He thrust his hands forward as a sign that the woman would stop.

Kalea actually stopped stepping. But wrinkles began to appear on his forehead inexorably.

"Why? Don't you like cats?" kalea's face looked grim. In fact, he intends to ask Gavin's permission to keep this cute boy. But if it turns out Gavin doesn't like cats, what should Kalea do?

"Not that," interrupted Gavin quickly.

"Keep what?"

"I..." Gavin paused for a moment. Escape a look at Mama, Kalea and Karel who had just appeared behind Kalea's body. The three people were staring at him, waiting for an answer. Hela breath escaped before Gavin continued his sentence. "I'm allergic to cat fur."

Reflexes, after her head had managed to digest the information Gavin gave her, Kalea hid the kitten behind her body. As quickly as he could, Kalea took four steps back.

"I'm sorry, I don't know." Kalea said with regret. Apparently, he doesn't know anything about Gavin. What if Gavin got hurt because of his carelessness? Kalea knows that people's allergic reactions to something are different. What if Gavin's allergic reaction to cat hair is severe enough? Kalea heard the effect can cause shortness of breath.

"It's okay, Kal." Gavin tried to calm down when he noticed the change in expression on Kalea's face. He straightened up, trying to convince Kalea that he was okay. "It's ok."

Kalea was going to follow Karel. He also wanted to help bathe the cute kitten. But he remembered that Gavin was now far more important to take care of. She had been playing with Karel since morning, so a little bit of Kalea felt guilty for Gavin for once again ignoring her husband's whereabouts even though she never really intended to do so.

"Are you hungry yet?" kalea asked suddenly, making Gavin and Mama look at each other for a while.

"Why is it all of a sudden?" ask Gavin later. His eyebrows clocked as his eyes rubbed against Kalea's.

"I'm going to eat, huh? You ate a little bit this morning."

Gavin still did not answer. His head was too busy translating Kalea's attitude which he thought was strange.

"Gavin?"

"Yes." Yeah." Gavin answered quickly after his consciousness returned.

After getting an answer, Kalea rushed to the kitchen. He must first wash his hands. So the first thing he did when he reached the sink was turn on the faucet and immediately wash his hands thoroughly using soap and running water.

Finished with the hand washing business, Kalea again approached Gavin who was still standing in the middle room. Soon Kalea grabbed Gavin's arm and dragged him into the kitchen.

Gavin according to him. He let his body be led by Kalea and directed to sit in one of the chairs. Then, Kalea moved quickly to pick up the dishes and began filling them with rice as well as various side dishes.

"Come, open his mouth." Kalea ordered a spoonful of food to Gavin's mouth.

Again Gavin complied and immediately opened his mouth without much protest. In a slow motion, he began to chew the food while continuing to stare at Kalea in confusion.

"Gavin," call Kalea slowly.

"Hmm?" Gavin only cleared his throat because he was still busy chewing. His gaze still could not be separated from Kalea.

"Other than cat hair, what are you allergic to?"

The kunyahan was practically stopped. Something felt stuck in his throat when the question reached his brain and he managed to digest it.

"I feel guilty for not knowing much about you." Kalea said sadly. Slightly lowered his head, looking at the food-filled plate before him. "When you've been trying to find out about me since we were in the approach. But I don't even know anything. You're allergic to cat dander I don't know." The smile of the slenderest. A smile that not only expressed sadness in Kalea's heart, but also in Gavin's heart.

Gavin tried to swallow the food stuck in his mouth with great difficulty. Then, he grabbed the hand of Kalea who was not holding the spoon and grasped it tightly.

Kalea raised her gaze and their gazes met again. For a moment, there was only the sound of their breaths twitching together. Their eyes were fixed for a long time. Until finally Gavin exhaled loudly as if to throw all the load that filled his chest cavity with carbon dioxide coming out of his nostrils.

"You don't have to feel guilty." Gavin begins his sentence. "It's my fault for never telling you anything." Because I keep a lot of things from you. That much I hid because I was too afraid to lose you again, Kal.

"It's okay, Kal. From today on, I'll tell you whatever you want to know." Except for Irina.