Substitute Mother

Chapters 168. One Step Forward's

Being asked to date by Aleta was something Owen never dared to dream about. Because before it was the party who always invites, although the answer is always the same, namely rejection. So when that afternoon his phone showed a notification on his screen, Owen immediately replied without wasting time. While asking if there is anything that makes her girlfriend call. Of the many shadows about the reason Aleta contacted her, came a sentence that sounded beautiful greeting her ears.

“Hei, Owen. Later tonight.. You have time? I'd like to invite you to try the new restaurant just down the road. Do you mind?”

Indeed, Aleta did not say clearly that her invitation was on a date count. It could be just a dinner call from a friend. The term dating only exists in Owen's beautiful shadow. But it's okay, the important thing is that he has a chance to go alone with the sweet guy.

Their dinner went well. Owen who uttered a joke and was responded to by a crisp laugh from his interlocutor who that night appeared charming with a sky-blue channel dress. Fortunately today he brought a car, so it does not make it difficult for Aleta if you have to ride on tilt using a motorbike.

After eating, the two chose to go to the city square which is still crowded young people and families. The rain that has been pouring down on the city all day seems to be raining the stars tonight.

“You corn burn?”

Aleta chuckles. “We just finished eating, Owen”

“Yes, maybe you're still hungry” Aleta smiled as she shook her head, refusing subtly. The two chose to sit on one of the empty benches, right in front of the square.

“Owen.”

“Ya?”

“You know why I'm taking you out?”

Owen shook his head. His heart rumbled unabashedly, there was no inkling of what Aleta was aiming for. Her beautiful face, which was hit by the garden lights, looks sad. “Before I thanked you for all your kindness. Sorry if any of my words or behavior hurt you”

“You never hurt me. I choose not to give up until you open my heart”

A sad smile was plastered, making Owen feel his chest tightened with pain. “If you still don't want to accept me, don't force it. We can remain good friends, Aleta”

“You know, Owen? I have two names. Aleta Maharani Johan, and Ananta Judith”

Owen's forehead shriveled. “What? I should have heard Micah call you Judith. I think I misheard”

“Not” Judith shaking head. “Aleta is my birth name. While Judith is the name I officially changed when I turned 20 years old”

“You... don't want to ask why I changed the name?”

Owen was silent for a moment before smiling faintly. “If you'd like to tell a story, then I'll listen”

“If I tell you a story, would you promise not to judge my story?”

Without hesitation, Owen nodded. Not as dark as what the story Judith meant, but this was the first time the girl talked about her life, which she had always closed tightly. Owen had never heard of anything about Judith's family, other than her brother's daughter who was ill at the time. And now, when the girl opened the chat first, wasn't that a good start?

**

“They're on a date tonight. I don't know where it went, but Miss Judith came home early. Said to get ready for”

*

Jeanno should be happy, because that means Judith has managed to move on after a year away from her life. Jeanno should be happy, because Judith can already open her heart to accept another man who might be better than her.

Shoulda-coulda…

But why is something stuck? It felt really unwilling, imagining that there was another hand filling the fingers of the female branch. Can't let go when there's another arm that's clutching Judith's slender body. All this time it was only him that far, only Jeanno the only one.

One years. He thought that one year was enough time to reorganize his heart and ego. Jeanno worked hard many times over, not only as a proving ground to his father, but also as a diversion. Hoping that the more he gets busy, the sooner he forgets Judith.

Not really, because he still asked Michelle to keep reporting whatever happened at the end of the day. Making Jeanno often silent because fighting his ego not to book a ticket back to Indonesia to meet the owner of the heart.

Like that day, four hours from the time the date began, Jeanno looked very upset, lost his focus. Even though that side he did not show in front of others. Jeanno was worried, impatiently waiting for the next news. Did Judith's date go well, did they become lovers after this?

Official or not with Owen, it is no longer Jeanno's business. He remembered the promise he had made in front of Mark. He wanted to go away for a while, and return to being the best version of himself. For now, Jeanno still feels he is far from being kind. His ego is not as hard as it used to be, but it feels very difficult to learn how to mengikhlaskan.

“Let him go, Jean. Let go of Judith..” remarks that are always thrown when she is upset. That day, there were countless times when the sentence was passed.

When her phone flashes, Jeanno takes no time and picks up a phone call from Michelle. “How, Michelle?”

“They are officially lovers, tuan”

**

It took about three hours for Judith to finish her story. Of course, he initiated the cooperation of the surrogate mother with Jeanno. He only said he was staying at his sister-in-law's house to help Jeanno take care of his daughter, whose birth mother had just left him. Tucking the man on the sidelines of the story makes Judith grimace to hold back the pain of longing. The name Jeanno still had an impact on his body, his heart rustling and tight at the same time. Jeanno Alexander was still the highest in his heart.

The dark story of Judith, brings an inexorable reaction from Owen. The man is a good listener. Not cutting off Judith's story, rubbing the back of her hand as Judith began to sob. Owen kept his promise to listen and not to judge.

At the end of the story, the man did not immediately respond. Because he was convinced that all Judith needed was a listener. He would respond, if Judith asked.

“After you heard my story, did you stick to your decision?”

Judith wiped her tears with the tissue she had brought from the bag. He was ready if Owen chose to leave. Who wants to have an ex-girl lover at night anyway?

“Your story is very winding. You've been involved in the night world, but there's a background to your decision until you cut corners as an erotic dancer. This is not a good job for many people. But the one thing I do know is that you're a strong woman, Aleta. You are able to get up, stand up, and walk even though you have fallen many times. I'm the man, can't imagine being in your position. For all the troubles that have befallen you, you can still rise, smile, laugh”

Owen grabbed Judith's two hands, wrapped around her gently. “I want to thank you for holding on. You didn't take your life, your sanity is still awake. You still have the love and affection that makes the people around you comfortable. You're great, Aleta”

Praise that seemed sincere, just a moment to make Judith's cry broke. Just this time he heard someone flattering him. Thank him who survived. Judith had never felt how happy she was to hear those beautiful words.

“Thanks.. Owen. Thanks.”

Owen shook his head. “No. The only thing you deserve to say thank you for is yourself. Have you said that?”

Judith shakes. He has never appreciated himself so far.

“When I had a bad day. I always say to myself ‘You're great, Owen. Thank you for holding out today. Tomorrow, do much better than today’. And it had an amazing impact. I hope you say that too, just knowing how valuable you are, Aleta. You deserve appreciation”