Linger

Charity Prayer for Kalea

When the sun was not as bright as before, Kalea and Karel decided to stop playing with Mumu. They left the front yard, walking in tandem with Mamu who was sound asleep in the sling of Kalea.

"Lo's old man very much?" karel asked as they reached the front door.

"Let's just say, maybe the business is important."

Hearing that answer, Karel stopped his steps and turned to Kalea. He stared in disbelief at his friend. For if this were the old Kalea, Karel would hear Kalea whining with all kinds of bad thoughts in his head. Seeing that Kalea could already face things in a more positive way made Karel a little relieved. At least, his efforts to make Kalea stop with the habit of overthinking have paid off. And, Karel felt it was also thanks to Gavin who had managed to make Kalea put her trust.

"Well, it's a lot of fun." Karel patted Kalea's head several times.

"That's a big one!" Kalea brushed Karel's hand on her head. Then the woman went into the house grumbling when she heard Mama's thunderous voice calling her name.

Long after Kalea's tiny body disappeared behind the door, Karel only followed. He was busy calming himself down over the fact that things had changed from his life and that of Kalea. On the fact that his task is not as much as it used to be to keep Kalea because in addition to having Gavin, he also found Kalea was able to take care of herself.

Karel was grateful for the change of Kalea towards the better, because that is also what he has been trying for a long time. Only, there was one side of him that felt not ready to lose the childish side of Kalea. Because he's been used to it since a dozen years ago.

When Karel arrived in the living room, he found that Mamu was rolling on the sofa with a toy ball of thread that he bought two days ago. Beside him, Kalea seemed to laugh out loud watching the dead feather bundle play and sewot itself with toys that sometimes stuck in the nails.

"You want me to take it home, it's time for a nap." Karel's words made Kalea raise her eyes and immediately frown.

"Today Mamu nginep is here. Yaaaa??" pinta Kalea with facial features that are deliberately made as clear as possible.

But no matter how anxious Karel was at the look on his face, he still could not let Mumu roam around any longer inside this house, as it would be dangerous for Gavin. He did not want the man to be sick due to Mumu's presence.

So, after desperately refraining from biting Kalea's nose while she was still trying to seduce him, Karel shook his head as he grabbed Mumu and clasped her tightly.

"Gavin's allergic to cats, so Mumu can't stay here for long." Clearly Karel before Kalea spewed an endless series of protests.

"But I still want to play with Mumu." Kalea said sadly. He stared softly at Mumu as if their separation was the most painful thing he had ever experienced in his entire life.

"If you want to play with Mumu, at my house. Later, wait for Gavin to come home first and let him play to my house."

Kalea wouldn't wait that long. But she also could not resist as Karel pressed her head to stay seated and told her to accept the plate containing the food that Mama had just delivered upon her return from the kitchen.

"Eat first, don't play on." Mama said while putting a glass of water on the table.

Mama sat down next to Kalea, then she glanced at Karel who was standing before them while holding Mumu who would not be silent. "You eat there too. Or is Mama going to take it too?" haggard Mama, but Karel quickly shook his head.

"Karel has to go home to Mumu first so he can take a nap." Karel.

Mama who already understood that Karel had fallen in love with Mumu since their first meeting could only nod her head. "Yes, that's where you went home your son. Come here again to eat."

"Karel eat at home, Ibun already cooked, danger if not Karel eat. Can be crossed out the name Karel from the Family Card." Canda Karel made Mama shake her head. While Kalea still did not touch her food and still looked at Mumu.

"Guard, let's play with Mumu again." Karel Tegur.

"Gue go home first. After the food, if it does not run out, you can not meet your mother." Karel's message before breezing away left Kalea's house.

Kalea did not answer. He just keeps spooning food into his mouth even though in his mouth there is still leftover food that he has not finished chewing.

It made Mama look at him worried, afraid he was choking. "Slow down, Kalea." Reproof Mama.

But Kalea was not listening at all. He just wants to finish his meal so he can play with Mumu again.

...****************...

Two hours after her return from Kalea's house, Karel set foot in the house again. The house that he used to live in is more than his own home.

The sun up there is already starting to move. The light is no longer hot because it is covered in thick clouds of blue color. The afternoon is almost near, but Karel still has not found the whereabouts of Gavin's car in the yard.

He wondered, where did the man go? Why did he leave Kalea here alone? And... what exactly happened that they had to evacuate to Mama's house? Because Karel was a bit in disbelief that their arrival here was solely because Kalea missed Mama.

"Why are you daydreaming there, Rel?" asked the astonished Mama to find Karel standing daydreaming in front of the entrance.

Karel turned his head, he shook his head slowly before walking inside the house, passing Mama who was standing in the doorway just like that.

Karel's footsteps felt heavier, for some reason. She knew Mama was following her from behind, but she still didn't want to say anything. There's too much in his head right now. So he focused on arranging those things first so as not to be scattered to fill the space in the head.

Then, just as Karel was about to climb up the stairs towards the second floor with the intention to search for Kalea in her room, her stride swing came to a halt as Mama's voice went airborne.

"Kalea's in her studio."

Karel turned his head for a while towards Mama, then nodded and immediately continued his delayed steps.

Mama was no longer tailing behind, so Karel could slightly sigh in relief.

Before reaching the door of Kalea's studio on the third floor, Karel stopped again in the hallway. Just to look at the painting of a boy who was displayed there for a long time.

For days since she first posted an article about her search on the blue bird app, there have been no private messages to her account at all. Though Karel believes that way is effective enough to attract the attention of the person concerned.

If so, there are only two possibilities. Among the people they are looking for is not active with social media, or he no longer exists in this world.

Karel shook his head strongly as the second possibility appeared in his head. She did not want Kalea to feel sad.

So with all the sincerity he had, Karel prayed, may this brother they are looking for still be alive and God is on his way to arrange their meeting, someday.

Seriate