Substitute Mother

Chapters 107. Bright Future's

Nayara stepped half-run towards Jeanno who was waiting for her in front of the car after their class ended. The girl's face was bright, smiling as if she was storing good news that she was ready to share with her lover. Jeanno smiled back, as well as anticipating what was going on that made Nayara look happy.

“You look happy, may I know why?” asked the young man when Nayara had reached her standing position. While tucking the hair that landed on the girl's face when she brought running earlier.*

“I have happy news!”*

Jeanno chuckled, anxious to see her excited Nayaranya. “What?”*

“But promise me you won't be angry” Nayara's smile faded, replaced with a pleading gaze that she knows must make her lover weak. “...Please?”*

Jeanno threw away his face. If starting with such a sentence must be news that is considered good by her lover, not necessarily good for her. But how else, Nayara's happiness is her happiness too, right?*

The young man looked back at Nayara. “All right, I promise. What's the good news?”*

The girl's smile returned just like before. The sound of Jeanno's hand, as if it was able to channel a sense of happiness that was ready to burst in his chest. “I.. welcome to work in florist”*

Jeanno's face changed, and there was a difference in expression between the young man and his girlfriend. “Work?”*

Nayara nodded. “Iya. I put in a proposal about two weeks ago, I don't think they're considering accepting part-time workers. I even forgot that I proposed there. But I just got a call if my application is accepted and I can start work tomorrow. Isn't that really good news?”*

Jeanno did not answer. The young man opened his mouth, but his opinion was held back. “Let's talk in mobil”*

Nayara, according to her, let Jeanno haul her into the passenger seat. After the two of them were in the car, the atmosphere became awkward. Jeanno cleared his throat for a moment before breaking into silence.*

“Good news, Na. I'm so happy. But I don't think you have any desire to find a job anymore. After what happened last in cafe”*

Just like that, Nayara grabbed Jeanno's hand. Gives a gentle swipe at the back of the lover's hand.*

“During this time we, you look fine without working. So I thought you could go on like that. And again you proposed without telling me, to be honest I was uncomfortable, Na”*

Nayara nodded. Understand what the young man is saying. “I'm sorry for not telling you first. I thought you wouldn't agree if I worked again. But I really can't if I keep idling, Jeanno. I have a need that I have to meet and it can not if I have to rely on savings just”*

“I can meet your needs”*

Nayara smiled. “Don't continue, okay? We've talked about this many times. I don't want your money, Jeanno. You should let me do it my own way”*

“It won't happen again, baby. I wasn't that attractive until it made the men fall for me. Trust me, you should let me work”*

Jeanno took a deep breath. “Good, but with one condition”*

“What?”*

“I'll pick you up every time you work. And if your coworker asks, you should introduce me as your lover”*

Nayara laughed. “Alright Mr. Jeanno, I agree to your terms”*

**

Hannah could barely match Maria's long stride that took her in spirit as she entered a boutique with a distinctive wooden accent on her three-storey building. Hannah never wears clothes from this brand, but she understands enough that this boutique is owned by a famous designer.

“Welcome Mrs Sebastian”

A gentleman came over to the two and gave a warm hug to Maria. “How are you, Michael? Sorry I called you suddenly. Thank goodness you're not abroad”

“My news is good, Madam. And don't act like I'm gonna turn down every time you call. How can I treat Maria Sebastian?”

The two share a laugh, before Maria turns to Hannah who is still glued to her place. “Oh yes, meet dear, this is my daughter-in-law, Hannah”

Hannah ‘knew’ the man, Kent Michael, a young designer whose name is already worldwide. His work in the field of fashion has been recognized by various experts. Rumors to come to the boutique only takes approximately one to two months, depending on the number of queues. Similarly, to be able to use his services to design clothes, do not ask about quality. But price? Oh, certainly equivalent to the price of a car.

Hearing Maria easily come after a call suddenly, it is enough to explain how the woman who looks simple, has a class that even a Kent Michael just went down and welcomed her directly.

“Hai dear, I'm Michael. Ken. Mike, it's up to you to call me if” Michael gives a faint kiss between his right cheek and his left cheek with Hannah. The girl smiled awkwardly. “Hannah”

“Mark has good taste, Mistress. Look at her, it's so pretty. I really like her skin, the skin of a typical Indonesian woman. I can't wait to make her wear my outfit”

Hannah's face flushed to hear Mike's praise. Furthermore, as the clock ticks down, Hannah has no time to turn down when Mike and two of Mike's assistants ‘ drown her’ with a pile of clothes like they're not being carried out by two of her assistants. Hannah thought Maria had only told her to pick one or two pieces of clothing, but her mouth was agape when she lightly said. “I'll take all, Mike”

Hannah had looked at the price bandrol on one of the clothes. Which made him gurgle. He.. not look wrong, right? Hannah blinked a few times, maybe she miscalculated the number 0. He quickly got up, cleared his throat beside Mary.

“Mother.”

Maria, who had just pulled out her wallet, looked over. “Iya, darling? anything you like anymore? If there is, take it. Let me pay”

“Bukan” Hannah shakes fast. “Not so, precisely I want to ask.. is all this not excessive?”

“You don't like it?” Again, Hannah shook her head. “Not, Mother. These clothes are so beautiful. But it is very expensive even for one dress. I'm not sure I can replace it anytime soon”

Maria laughed then shook her head before handing the credit card to the cashier. “Mom just wants to please my son-in-law. After all, I've been dreaming of something like this for a long time, baby”

Maria invites Hannah to sit for a moment while the cashier wraps the clothes she has bought. “Mother has no daughters. I also do not have a niece because Mother's sister, whose father Jeanno only has one son, Jeanno”

“Sometimes Mother envies seeing friends of Mothers who have children or daughters-in-law. They go to salons together, shop together, do things that women used to do. While Mom, every go shopping and invite Mark, all she does is ask ‘What's still long?’, ‘Is there still anything you buy?’ then every mother asks which is good, Mark always answers all good. So when I found out Mark had you, I couldn't prevent you from realizing Mom's dream. Regarding those clothes, never have you had the thought of changing Mom's money. I bought it purely as a gift, and wanted to make you happy. So sorry if Mom makes you uncomfortable, I just. get too excited”.

Hannah smiled, holding Maria's hand. “Mother doesn't make me uncomfortable. I'm so happy, to have the blessing of Mom and Uncle Jose has made me grateful every day. I would be very happy to accompany Mom if you want to go shopping or to the salon. But maybe next time, give me a chance to pay for my own groceries. It's not that I don't appreciate Mom, I just don't want to trouble”

Maria replied to Hannah's finger link. “My son really didn't choose the wrong”

Their conversation comes to a halt when two of Mike's assistants hand seven large-sized goodie bags over to them. Hannah froze again, not daring to imagine how much total groceries Maria had spent. He shuddered, perhaps nominally Mary's spending was equivalent to the savings he had accumulated over the years while working at Victoire.

**