Mystery of Small Shoes

38

Rizal drives forward his car, but shortly after he exits the courtyard of Arini's house, Rizal sees a car in front of him containing people he knows. Sarah and her future husband and a small child.

"That's them!" muttered Rizal with a bit of surprise.

"Yes, that's Sarah and her future husband. That boy! The boy is with them!"

As if not want to lose track, Rizal immediately find a place to turn his car back. Unfortunately, he found nowhere near to do so. He has to go far enough.

"Hopefully they are not too far away," he said.

He drove the car by stepping on the gas pedal while installing an eye to find the car that Sarah was riding.

Finally he saw their car in front of Arini's house. Rizal immediately parked his car behind the car that had been driven by Sarah and then went out to Arini's house.

Sarah is surprised to see Rizal coming. Moreover, he had been told by Arini that Rizal had just come there.

"It's up to you, Sar. But you need to calm down" whispered Arini.

"Ar, please bring Fabio in, will you?" pinta Sarah's. Arini nodded and invited Fabio in.

"Darling, I believe you will decide the best," whispered Rudi with a shady and soothing look.

Sarah took a deep breath and looked at Rizal who was heading towards them.

"Assalamualaikum," said Rizal.

"Wa'alaikumsalam." Rudi and Sarah answered Rizal's greeting.

"Sarah, can we talk?" ask Rizal.

"Please sit down" said Sarah.

Rudi said goodbye to Sarah to enter Arini's house so as not to interfere with their conversation.

"Sar, I'd like to ask you something, but you have to answer me honestly, huh?" Rizal tries to hold Sarah's hand, but Sarah refuses by pulling her hand from Rizal's.

"sorry. I'm a reflex," said Rizal.

"What do you want to ask?" sarah asked while looking at Rizal.

Seeing Sarah's gaze that seemed to intimidate him, Rizal bowed

"Do we have children?" Rizal dared to look at Sarah.

"How do you think? Do you feel like you have a child?"

"Sar, please don't make me feel any more guilty."

"You're innocent, Mom. I'm the guilty one here. I trust you too much."

Rizal sniffled at all Sarah's words. He feels more guilty. After her crying subsided and feeling calm, Rizal raised his head.

"I'm sorry, Sar. I know I'm guilty. I'm ready to get any punishment from you. Sar, do we have any children?" ask Rizal lirih.

"Do you remember if I ever conceived?" ask Sarah again.

"Honestly, I don't remember. Please tell me, Sar," Pinta Rizal solemnly.

"Oh, don't remember, huh? Good. I'll tell you. We have a child."

"Thank God, thank God. Where is he now?"

Sarah was silent and did not immediately answer Rizal's question. He seems to be still weighing.

"Rizal has every right to know his son, Sar. Bio also deserves to know his real father. We can't break someone's niqab. It's sinful, honey." Rudi's words rang again in his ears.

"Sar, where's our son now?" asked Rizal once again who made Sarah realize from her daydream.

"There is, uh" answered Sarah.

"Can I meet him? Please, my dear. I would love to meet him," Rizal said with a hearty tone.

"good. I'll call you." Sarah got out of her seat and went into Arini's house.

Before long Sarah came out with a child, who was none other than Fabio who was carried by Rudi. Rizal looked at them as if asking for an explanation.

"This is our son?" ask Rizal. Sarah nodded.

Rizal looked at Fabio as if he could not believe what he saw. A child very similar to the one who has always been in his dreams. The child he had missed all along.

Rizal extended his hand to hold Fabio.

"here, Son. It's Papa."

Fabio refuses to carry her and makes Rizal sad and disappointed.

"Papa, who is that? Why did he say Papa Bio? Papa Bio is this." Fabio pointed at Rudi.

"Yes, Honey. Papa will always be the Bio papa until anytime. But it's also papa Bio." Rudi tried to explain to Fabio

"No. Papa Bio is just one. It's not papa Bio! Bio doesn't want to have another papa!" scream Fabio.

Rizal cried bitterly to see his son did not want to get close to him and admitted him as a father. Rudi tried to persuade Fabio to come closer to Rizal.

"Honey, Bio Mama and Papa's son. What ingredients do Mama, Papa and Mother Arini teach the same Bio? We cannot make others sad. Aye, right?" Fabio nodded.

"Now Bio saw the father. Dad was papa Bio too. He was sad because Bio did not want to be hugged and carried. Now Bio wants to be hugged by that father? Let the father not be sad anymore," persuaded Rudi again. Fabio nodded and walked over to Rizal.

"Oms. Om don't be sad. Bio wants koq hugged Om."

Rizal lifted his face and wiped his tears. He immediately hugged Fabio.

"Don't call Om, honey? Call papa. Papa Rizal's. Papa it's your papa, son."

Fabio hugged Rizal and turned to Rudi. Rudi gave his thumbs up to Fabio with a smile. Sarah was silent from the beginning and cried. Rudi hugged Sarah and calmed her down.

Rizal continued to hug and kiss Fabio.

"I'm sorry, Dad? Forgive Papa. Papa promised, from now on Papa will always be there for you. Papa promised." whispered Rizal in Fabio's ear.

The atmosphere was so good, Arini and her mother also shed tears watching the meeting of father and son. Another case with Fabio who still does not understand what happened at that time. She just followed what Rudi told her.

Carrying Fabio, Rizal approached Sarah.

"Sar, thank you for taking care of and raising our child. He is God's greatest gift to me. I promise to be a good father to him. I hope you don't mind. I want to make amends for all my mistakes with you. Please give me a chance."

Sarah did not answer Rizal's words.

"Name Fabio. Mohammed Fabio. His nickname is Bio," Rudi explained to Rizal.

"Thank you, huh? Thank you for taking my place when I'm not next to him" Rizal told Rudi

Rudi nodded and extended his hand to Fabio who asked to be carried by Rudi

"Smart kid. This is Papa's great and wonderful son. Papa is proud and affectionate with Bio." Rudi hugged and kissed Fabio's forehead.

"Bio I'm also very much the same Papa." Fabio kissed Rudi's cheeks left and right.

There is a feeling of envy in Rizal when he saw the closeness of his son with Rudi. He was eager to be in Rudi's position back then. Being among the people he loved so much.