Substitute Mother
Chapters 172. ‘Ours’
“Nah has reached”
Judith was getting ready with her luggage when Owen had reached her door. As usual, the man opened the door for her. “Please mr. princess”
The woman laughed a little. “I can open the door myself, Owen”
“I know. But I like doing it for you”
Judith stepped out, now facing the body of Owen who was still holding the edge of the door. His hands moved, touching the face of ayu he always admired. “I love you, Aleta”
His opponent smiled. “I know. You say it every day”
“And I will keep saying until you reply to him”
Three months passed, nothing changed after the opening of their relationship. Owen is considerate and does not give up, and Judith is used to accepting it. Owen had promised to wait for Judith to receive him more than a friend, though she still had not moved to allow Owen to make a name there.
“Owen.. You're tired huh?”
To be honest, that fatigue sometimes exists. Only Owen was too smart to play his mask. He who invites Judith to try, therefore he must accept all the consequences. Including if you have to wait.
“Can I be honest?”
Judith nodded.
“That tiredness must be there, showing up occasionally. But every time we meet, I never cease to be grateful that we can be in our present stage. You need time, and I decided to give you time. We wouldn't know the result if we didn't try, would we?”
Again, Judith nodded. He hugged Owen. A casual hug that is far from intimate. Judith's true friendship was because she was afraid. Afraid that his heart would falter again, especially when he met Jeanno again.
**
Judith held back the screeches when she saw the wounds on Jeanno's fingers instead of getting better and even getting wider. Making the fingers of that level is now damaged in shape. Like yesterday, Jeanno came back to the store in the evening when the store was quiet. Without wasting any time, Judith pulled the man's arm to sit down, while he picked up the medicine box. Alya who had not met Jeanno yesterday, could only gap to see the appearance of a human who was really handsome in front of him.
“Actually what did you do until it got this bad? Instead of healing, the wound gets worse. Sir is not dear yes with the body of the master himself?”
Jeanno grimaced, Judith's feisty chatter prompting her to rub the ointment slightly rough on the still fresh wound.
“Slow-slow, Judith”
“Wild. Let me feel for myself. If treated ointment can make you sick should it can make you think not to do anything if it makes you more injured”
Alya who saw from the counter grimaced, could not imagine how the pain of the fresh wound was pressed with ointment by her superior. If he was in Judith's position, he would definitely not have the heart to make a man as handsome as Jeanno frowned in pain to endure the pain.
“Then until tomorrow you come here with a wound that is not better, I will prepare a Chinese red medicine that is notoriously painful.10x more sore than this ointment” threatened Judith after finishing treatment. Throw ointment into the box and closed the original. He really did not understand how Jeanno could aggravate his injuries.
From Jeanno's side, the man actually held back the smile of seeing and hearing Judith's immorality that he had not heard for a long time. At least he felt there was no awkwardness like the beginning of yesterday's meeting. Which is a good sign in the future.
“Master has eaten?”
“Ya?”
Judith grunting. “Master has eaten? I'd like to order some food online. If you haven't eaten yet, I'd recommend all of you”
“Oh. yes, can”
Judith grabbed the phone, ordered a fried kwitiaw for the three of them. “Indeed your lover does not deliver food?”
The interlocutor puts down the phone after completing the order. “Owen is having a meeting in the Capital. Coffe shop is a franchise business, so several times he had to come to Jakarta for meetings like”
“Oh.. how long?”
“Normally one week” Jeanno just nods his head. Resist the cheers because in the next week, there is no bully figure in his efforts to approach Judith again.
**
Third day
Jeanno went to his shop as usual. This time no longer comes with a scarred fingers, Jeanno actually bought the rest of the cake that is still available. He said it would be shared with his colleagues in the office. Judith and Alya happily serve Jeanno's order, though Judith has to balk when the man pays 3x his total order.
“Wah, master Jeanno is not only handsome but also very good.”
Judith just shook her head to see Alya's behavior that had been staring at Jeanno's car park. The woman realized how her employees looked in awe at Jeanno so nearly lost for words when the man asked her to interact. Judith was not jealous, instead she laughed a little at Alya who was nervous. Because usually the young girl was always full of confidence.
“Ya, she is indeed very good”
“Sister is very lucky to know Mr. Jeanno. If I had acquaintances like him, I would definitely make good use of it. Like ask her job”
“Eh, I don't mean working here isn't a bad thing. No really. That is, if Mr. Jeanno can provide a good position in his company for Big Brother, you do not need to get tired of working like this”
Judith chuckled, her mane was scrambled. “Alya, listen Brother. Brother decided to open this cake shop because it was indeed the wish of brother long ago. Besides, to work anywhere there must be tired. Working behind a computer is not my favorite, I prefer it like this. Set up everything yourself, including scolding an undisciplined older sibling employee”
Hearing the last sentence, Alya got up from sitting down to grab a lap and clean the empty window. Makes Judith laugh.
Fourth day
Eight o'clock at night. The streets have been deserted due to the rain since two hours ago.Making people reluctant to go out and prefer to roll behind blankets.
“You're closed?”
Judith shakes. “Not yet. Maybe in half an hour, usually the last seconds will come. I'm lazy to have to unlock the door”
Owen, who was on a video call, smiled across the street. “The most important thing is not to be exhausted. If it is already quiet, it is better to close it. So you can rest early”
“Ready, Mr. Owen\~”
“Ei, I'm seriously”
Judith laughed. “You yourself how was there?”
“You asked because you wanted to know, or because you missed me?”
“Eum.. I asked only for pleasantries” ledeknya ignorant. Make the other person talk across there turn the ballamata off guard. “Good once”
“I came home the day after. It's boring here.. “ Owen looks at Judith's past-goals. “I miss you, Aleta. Later after returning from here, we have to go on a date”
Before Judith answered, she saw a familiar car stop in front of her shop. Heart rate that was normal, now racing. Especially when Jeanno in his black suit came out of the steering chair and walked towards the door.
“Aleta?”
“Yes? sorry, Owen. There visitors. I'll call you back later, okay? happy resting”
Without waiting for Owen's reply, Judith had already cut off their videocall connection. Putting the original phone, the girl moved out of her chair to welcome Jeanno. There was a slight longing that was healed after a day of not seeing his master.
“Already closed huh?”
Jeanno rested her hair backwards as drizzle drenched her forehead and eyes. A simple, successful gesture left Judith in awe. “Oh? Be-yet kok”
“Thank God. I'm here to order some kind of cake, because tomorrow I have an important meeting. So I want my business partner to taste your homemade cake”
“T-of course can” Judith then grabbed a special book of orders, ready to take notes. “Gentleman want to order what? How much is pax?”
“Eum. 25 pax. It's up to you. I trust you”
Judith nodded. “Master don't worry about that, I make sure your business colleagues won't be disappointed”
Jeanno chuckles. For a moment the two fell silent again in awkwardness. Along with the rain that fell more and more.
“Ah, looks like I should close. No one else can come at this hour. Do you want to go home or here first?”
“This was first just”
Judith simply nodded, letting Jeanno sit in her chosen seat while she went to lock the front door and close the curtains in her shop clad in clear glass. Leave the glass door that she left open.
“Gentleman wants to drink what?”
“As usual just”
Judith returned with a hot chocolate that had been Jeanno's favorite for the past few days. Judith returned to the cashier table, confused about what activities to do because the daily recap was completed before the video call with Owen earlier. The table and the floor are clean.
“Judith”
“Ya?”
“Sit here”
Jeanno pointed at the empty seat in front of him. Judith, who had no reason to refuse to vote, followed Jeanno's request.
“I have something for you” Jeanno grabbed her phone, played a video file which was then handed over to Judith.
“Hi mama Judith, how is mama? Aera is eight years old now. Aera is higher. Papa said, Mama is busy because she has a cake shop. Aera can go there? Papa said if Aera's grades are good, papa will invite Aera to meet mama. Mama, Aera misses mom's cooking. Oma can't cook, so Aera doesn't have any cooking friends like mama. Aera also misses being read a fairy tale by mama. Oma if reading a fairy tale is not cool, always sleep first. Oia, Aera always prayed before going to bed, so that Nayara's mother was happy in heaven, and Judith's mother was always in God's protection. Aera is happy to have two mothers who love Aera. Aera hopes to see Judith's mom soon. Uh, Oma's been calling. Aera studied first, huh? Bye, Mommy. Aera Iaaang very much with mama Judith”
The video stopped at the last minute. As Judith's tears flowed. The long-buried longing exploded as soon as he saw Aera even in video form. He really misses the little guy, he misses holding him. Miss cooking it, miss reading fairy tales. A longing that can not be treated easily because the princess is in the land of people.
Jeanno stretched out her hand, helping to wipe Judith's tears. “I sent the video to your phone, yes?”
Judith nodded. Then type her own mobile number on Jeanno's phone. Shortly thereafter, his flat object rang, indicating the video had been sent by Jeanno.
“Aera is testing. That's why he didn't come with me here. When I told her that I was here with you, Aera immediately sent me a video. I didn't ask for it at all. Judith.. my daughter misses you”
A pair of beads of eyes that collided with Jeanno's eagle leg.
“…. Our daughter misses you”
**
