Substitute Mother

Chapters 101. Right Time

“I can't believe you proposed to my best friend at the hospital, Kak”

Judith's protest drew laughter from both Mark and Hannah. The woman glanced at Hannah's sweet fingers. “You even proposed to him without ring”

“I did it suddenly, Judith. The important thing is that my application was accepted first, if so anything else can follow” Mark rubbed his nape awkwardly. Realizing that her proposal yesterday might look very unromantic.

Judith shrugged her shoulders. “You're grateful I like you so much as my best friend's companion” Then he glanced at the friend, storming to hug her. Judith hugged Hannah tightly when she was told about Mark's proposal. “I'm so happy, baby. I'm happy for you. I'm always ready if you need me to accompany you to prepare everything”

Hannah rubbed Judith's shoulders, smiling. “Thanks for everything, Judith”

Judith let go of his embrace. Spending every minute chatting while waiting for Jeanno to pick her up. Oh, by the way, Aera is at Mark's house. Deliberately Mark and Jeanno ‘insure’ Aera as a compulsion so that Maria and Jose come home to rest. Can not bear to see the tired face and eye bags of both parents are blackened because of sleeping in a place that is not comfortable.

Judith fell silent, looking intently at how Hannah was feeding Mark dinner. His heart warmed, feeling the happiness his friend felt. Hannah deserves it, after years of tumbling through the hardships of living as a night worker, looked down upon and cheesy. In the end the beautiful moment arrives, when Hannah meets her prince. Judith turned her face away, no she denied there was envy tucked in her chest. No, not because he likes Mark. But more to...when will the beautiful time arrive?

**

Sharin threw her body in the bed. Staring at the ceiling of his apartment room was full of hatred, as if they were responsible for the life woes he had picked up a few years ago. His eyes may look straight up, but his mind is fixed on the one name he hates most in the world.

Nayara's.

When he was in college, Sharin was obsessed with Jeanno Alexander. Well, still is. The desire to have that man is still as great as ever. Sharin is not very aware of Jeanno's life now, but with his return to the homeland, Sharin will use this short time to ‘rebut’ his Jeanno.

Sharin closed her eyes, letting the pieces of memory go back to spinning in her brain. He remembered how powerful his attempt to bring down Nayara was. Sharin's efforts to keep Nayara away from Jeanno.

This morning, just like the morning in general. A luxury car owned by young master Alexander entered the campus area. Although many of them who bring a car no less luxurious, but still belongs to Jeanno attracted much more attention. Especially when the handsome-faced owner went down and turned his body to the steering chair to open the door for his lover. All were amazed mixed with envy. Most of them are of course college students. Those who see, dream to be able to have a gentleman lover, rich and amazingly handsome like Jeanno. Half envious, consider the simple Nayara unworthy to be with the prince as perfect as Jeanno. Only a small percentage are happy about the different caste relationships.

“Jean, from tomorrow let me take the bus only, yes?”*

Jeanno shook her head hard. He brought Nayara's tiny fingers in his jacket pocket. The two of them walked in tandem towards the corridor, ignoring the dozens of pairs of eyes that looked on with various expressions.*

“No, dear. I have facilities to make it easier for us to leave early without the hassle of crammed. Why not use, hm?”*

Nayara let out a faint sigh. “I'm not used to the sudden attention I received. Everyone looked at me strangely. I like my old self, which doesn't look”*

Jeanno turned her head, giving a seductive smile and a wink. “Nayara who is invisible has not existed since you decided to accept my love. And. you can't withdraw your words again”*

“Haah, I'm starting to regret” replied Nayara with a half-tempting tone and ignorant flirting. Makes Jeanno growl in anxiety and shakes her mane gently. Making the girl scream out in protest, her lover replied with a naughtiness.*

“Let's take a break to the cafeteria, huh?”*

“What?”*

“I pay for my own food” he said straightforwardly. Nayara did not wrongly ask for such conditions because Jeanno insisted on paying for all the necessities of her lover's life. Which of course Nayara refused with all her might. Although there was one time Jeanno was much more stubborn so Nayara could not resist.*

“Bby. It's not hard for me”*

Nayara smiled. Released his hand from Jeanno's grasp after he had reached the front of the class. “I go in first. See you later”*

Jeanno waved, her figure still fixed in place, looking affectionately at the back of Nayara who stepped into her class.*

Nayara took a seat that he thought was strategic, placed a shabby totebag containing his books. Half an hour before the course starts, he better use it to read the material, he thought. At least drowning his head in books was his escape. At least that way he did not have to face the strange gaze of anyone who saw his existence.*

Yep, yeah. Two months since officially dating Jeanno, Nayara is still not used to it. There are many surprises that are endless. From the start Andhra was expelled from campus and disappeared from his life. Then he lost his job at the cafe. Then all the special-and luxurious treatment from Jeanno. Oh, regarding the cynical gazes cast on her, it was like a bonus. It makes Nayara much more comfortable in the library than in open spaces such as classes or cafeterias.*

“So she's Jeanno Alexander's girlfriend? I still don't expect his taste to go down. Do you know what his ex-girlfriend is like? Beautiful, rich, like a model. But now? Visible village”*

“Iya, right? Even the bag never changed. His shoes are also shabby like that. Don't you think he doesn't have shoes anymore? Oh, then his clothes now, I kind of saw him wearing the same outfit last week”*

“Jeanno is not shy about showing it off in public? At least he should try to look fashionable, so that Jeanno is not too shy”*

Whether intentionally or unintentionally the girls talked about it with a voice Nayara was able to hear. He knew their seat was behind him. Nayara personally did not know them, she was sure the girls did not know her personally. Why is it easy for their mouths to criticize? As already understanding Nayara and Jeanno inside out.*

Nayara decided to stay focused on the line of words in her book. Although he was not sure if any material was absorbed. Actually the slang-slukan girls was not much compared to other innuendos he had heard. Spicy words like kampungan, cheap, shameless, even considered to pretend innocence for the sake of stripping Jeanno's treasure. At first Nayara did not want to bother. But over time his heart hurt. Do women seem so unworthy to love a man like Jeanno?*

All that, of course, without Jeanno's knowledge. Because those who insinuate, always do it when Nayara is alone. They wouldn't dare if Jeanno was with him. However, even though it hurt his pride, Nayara still chose silence. Silence let her ears heat and her heart ache. But it's okay, as long as Jeanno is with him, that's more than enough.*

**