MY FOSTER SON

Restu and Secrets

Jojo nodded politely and tried to smile as best he could. This had all become his wish, he himself was eager to bring Kalingga to ask Merlinda for blessing.

"Good night, ma'am," said Jojo politely.

Merlinda did not want to comment. I then let Kalingga and Jojo in. Inside the house, Johnathan was already waiting in the living room and greeted his two guests kindly.

"The next time you come, your mother can't wait for you tonight. We thought you were four" said Johnathan.

"No, I came with a different purpose" replied Kalingga.

Johnathan watched the beautiful girl standing beside Kalingga nervously. The middle-aged man in his sixties was trying to remember where he had seen the girl.

"By the way, who's this girl? His face was no stranger" asked Johnathan.

"Ah, we better get to the dining room first. We're preparing dinner for you guys," take Merlinda.

But they had not moved, the sound of the roar of the car entered the yard. Merlinda and Johnathan look at each other, they have no promise to meet anyone but Kalinga.

Kalingga and Jojo are shocked to see who has entered the house. Apparently Keenan, Kylan and Kai caught up with them. It's not like what was planned.

"Is this a surprise? You all came," said Merlinda gladly. He immediately asked all his children to go to the dining room.

In the dining room, Kalingga tried to chat and be as friendly as possible to Johnathan. They talk a lot about work and business.

"What about you, Keenan?" Johnathan throws a question at Keenan.

"Ah, I'm living life well. Good job and a satisfying career" Keenan replied.

"You are all successful children. Your mama would be proud."

"Of course, Mama is proud of all of you" Merlinda said.

Jojo, Kalingga and his three sisters try to be as good as possible. Kylan and Kai even kept themselves from speaking rudely and behaving disrespectfully. Their goal came to this house to support Kalingga and Jojo. They don't want to ruin the mood.

After dinner, Merlinda took her children to a spacious room with a long sofa and a super wide television on the third floor of the house. This room is a relaxing room as well as a family room.

Kalingga sat down beside Jojo and clasped his hands. He tried to calm the girl who was nervous from the beginning.

"How was school, honey? Where are you going to continue your studies?" ask Merlinda to Kai.

"Sister-in-law suggested I go to State University. I signed up and agreed" replied Kai.

"Sister-in-law?" asked Merlinda with a confused face.

"Ma, our goal came was to tell us that we were getting married soon. Next week, the wedding will be held at my house, then three days later, we also hold a party at Jojo's parents' house" Kalingga explained.

"Married?" reset Merlinda. The middle-aged woman stuttered, she was at a loss for words.

"I know Mama would have objected. But my intention is unanimous, we love each other and we will get married, with or without Mama's blessing" Kalingga continued.

"We support them. Mama has the right to know, but the decision remains in the hands of Big Brother," said Keenan as he looked at Merlinda.

Merlinda was silent, watching her surroundings. Four children who have now grown up to be successful men without affection. And they still intend to come to this house even with an unexpected purpose.

The middle-aged woman took a deep breath. He has explored all about Jojo, education, family, and also about his hometown. Merlinda understands, now he can not underestimate Jojo. The girl he originally hired as a maid is now transformed into a famous model with a fairly expensive fee. He had no reason to refuse Jojo's presence.

"If that's what you want, Mama will give your blessing" said Merlinda. End with a long, calm breath.

"Thank you, Ma. We're glad to hear it." Kalingga smiled, he rubbed Jojo's hand and grabbed the girl's shoulder.

Merlinda had no other choice. He had no reason to oppose his son's marriage. If it used to be, he objected because of their different social status. But now, Jojo is even more successful than he expected.

"Can we talk for a second?" ask Merlinda to Jojo. The girl asked looked at Kalingga, and the man nodded faintly.

Jojo follows Merlinda to her balcony. The woman took Jojo to sit in an iron chair under the lamp.

"You got their hearts" said Merlinda.

"I'm sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, ma'am."

"Ah, it's okay. Anyway, what can I do. I don't want them to hate me even more if it's against your relationship."

"Although they hate you, but at the bottom of their hearts they love you very much. After all, you are his parents, they always need you even though they are all grown up."

"They all protect you, love you. I think you're the person they can trust the most" Merlinda said. He looked at Jojo, looking at the girl who was going to be his daughter-in-law in a few days.

"I'll tell you a big secret. You have to keep it for as long as I live, if I die, tell them that they are not my children" Merlinda continued.

Suddenly, it made Jojo surprised. He gawked, staring at the face of a woman who began to wrinkle with age.

"I-I mean you, what?" jojo asked stammeredly.

"I was diagnosed with an illness five years after the wedding, and I finally gave up my uterus to be removed. I can't be pregnant for the rest of my life. It was like the end of our life and our marriage. Due to Abraham's family's demands for immediate succession, we agreed to seek a surrogate mother. I had an egg treatment in my uterus, and then Abraham gave me his sperm."

"We agreed to carry out the process of tube babies, then look for a surrogate mother to conceive and give birth to our children. Until the birth of Kalingga, Keenan, Kylan and Kai."

"You know what's funny, Jo?" merlinda asked with a bitter smile.

"The surrogate mother we chose was my husband's second wife. They got married secretly after knowing I wouldn't be able to give birth. Abraham manipulated all medical procedures to make it look as if the woman had given birth to a baby that came from my egg. In fact, it was their own flesh and blood."

"I was fooled for over twenty years. Looking at those four children, as if to remind me of the pain and betrayal of their parents."

Jojo felt his chest, there was a spark of pain and anger that he felt. Jojo tries to understand Merlinda, putting herself in the way she feels.

It sounded like Merlinda was breathing heavily. His eyes flickered quickly while slightly looking up, holding back the clear grains that had been creeking.

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