MARRIED
Birthday Gift
Julia lived her days with a smile. All the burdens he let go, just want to focus on caring for and raising Arka.
After Irfan's departure, Julia tried her usual. He does not want to regret and cry again for his love story with Irfan. Let all the good memories be stored in his heart.
It doesn't feel like a year has passed ....
The more days Arka gets sticky with Ben. One day, Arka asks Ben to stay with them.
"Ma, let Papa Ben dong stay here with us" Arka said one night before going to bed.
Julia who heard him instantly fell silent. He had to really think about every word the answer would be given to Arka.
"Bad baby, it can't be if Mama and Papa Ben live together without marriage. It must not be," said Julia who was confused to answer what to understand for a child of the age of Arka.
"Then Mama will marry Papa Ben. Easy right?! Papa Ben loves Mama too. Papa Ben once said that to Arka."
"Why does Arka want Papa Ben to stay here with us?" julia asks Arka who keeps urging her to marry Ben.
"Because Arka is very dear to Papa Ben and Papa Ben also love Arka. Papa Ben is very good, Ma," said Arka sure while looking at Julia's eyes as if to convince Julia.
"Then Arka doesn't love Mama?"
"Honey dong" said Arka while hugging and kissing Arka.
After that Julia accompanied Arka to sleep.
Julia was busy in the kitchen that morning as usual. He prepared the school supplies Arka and also for himself. Now Arka is 3 years old, so it's time to go to school. Every morning, Arka leaves with Julia and Ben returns home to pick her up. This is exactly what Arka wanted.
Julia was still busy preparing breakfast when Arka woke up. Then Julia took Arka to breakfast first before taking a shower and finally preparing to leave for school.
Such endless busyness makes Julia no longer think about her love. But sometimes there are times when he also wants to have someone to share in his days.
Julia knew very well that Ben was still waiting for her. But he still convinced himself. He has forgiven and forgotten his bad memories when he married Ben first. Julia knew Ben had hurt her heart. But ... Can humans not change? And Julia realizes that Ben has changed.
Ben also knows that Julia has split with Irfan, but he does not urge Julia. Even Ben just wanted to accompany Julia and Arka without demanding. All this time Julia felt was Ben just giving and giving without demanding anything.
***
This afternoon Julia was busy preparing a special dinner. Ben's birthday today. Actually Julia is reluctant to celebrate at her home if not for Arka's request.
The sound of the doorbell was heard and Arka immediately ran to open the door because she knew that Ben was coming.
"Father!" arka exclaimed sounding happy and immediately hugged Ben with affection. Ben took Arka and kissed her.
"Pa, Mama has prepared a delicious cake," said Arka enthusiastically.
"Oh yeah?!"
"Yes dong, also Arka has prepared a gift for Papa," said Arka while holding Ben's hand towards the living room.
There is ready a cake with candles and a gift from Arka.
"Papa, happy birthday. Arka dear Papa," said Arka while giving a gift to Ben.
Julia smiled at all of that. His heart rippled, sometimes at times like this he imagined that Karel was with them.
"Mama, Arka has given her gift to Papa Ben. What gift from Mama?" tanya Arka invites Julia to the middle room.
"Ow ... I forgot to buy the gift. Tomorrow the prize will follow" said Julia who was confused to give a gift for Ben. He'll ask Ben what he wants.
A simple birthday party. Blow out the candles and cut the cake, but Ben feels very happy. This is the kind of family he dreamed of. Simple yet there is only affection for each other.
Finishing the candle blow event, Julia invites Arka and Ben to dinner. Arka and Ben look very familiar like father and son, like there is no distance between them even though they have no blood relation.
After dinner, Arka asks Ben to open her gift. When he opened it, Ben smiled happily at Arka's gift.
Arka makes a picture of Julia, Ben and Arka standing in the middle of it hand in hand. He really wanted a papa. Arka knew that he had Karel's father, but to him it was like a delusion because he did not really understand what it meant to die.
"Thank you, dear Arka. Papa's gonna stick this picture in Papa's house." Ben then kisses Arka.
"Papa, I'm sorry Mama because she said she has not prepared a gift. He said Mama wanted to ask Papa Ben first what the prize was," said Arka who sat on Ben's lap.
"It's okay, honey."
That night Arka was still playing until bedtime. Julia accompanies Arka to sleep, while Ben helps clean up the toys and dinner.
After Arka sleeps, Julia exits the room and finds Ben sitting in the living room.
"I thought you were home, Ben," said Julia, throwing her body down next to Ben.
"And I'm still waiting for my birthday present from you, Jul," said a small smiling Ben.
"What do you want my gift for, Ben? Don't be expensive" asked Julia.
"Julia, I want you as my birthday present" Ben said, looking straight at Julia.
"What does that mean?" julia asked gulped her saliva, soaking her suddenly dry throat.
"Julia, I want you to give me another chance to be with you" Ben said wholeheartedly.
Julia just fell silent, not ready to give an answer. He realized Ben had changed and was always waiting for him to be ready to accept it.
"Jul, I have always and will always love you. No matter how many years I have, I will wait until you are ready to accept me. My heart is only yours, Jul," Ben assures Julia.
Julia looks into Ben's eyes, trying to convince herself to accept Ben back. But the future nobody knows. He has to make a decision and he knows Ben always feels guilty for him. Maybe he should give Ben a second chance.
"Alright, Ben. I accept you. We tried again from the beginning. I trust you, I hope you never change because I like you now" Julia said with a faint smile. He has long forgotten his story with Ben and now wants to start again.
"Thank you, Julia. I've always loved you and Arka" Ben said, hugging Julia's body, clutching her tightly as if he didn't want to let her go again.
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