The Faithful Heart

Warmth In Winter

Aleena walked out of the house to her guests to get back in.

Their conversation is in English.

" Hey, what are you guys doing outside? Come in, it's cold outside. I've prepared a warm drink for you guys." Aleena's remark made Hana and the Gods aghast and immediately wiped away the tears on their cheeks.

" Yes, our lady will be in soon. Thank you for being so kind to us." Hana quickly forced her lips to smile.

" Is he okay? Why do his eyes look so hard, like they're crying?" Aleena closely watched the face of the God.

" Hey you were too apparently. What is this, you just cried?" asked Aleena when she found Hana's face that was not less swollen with her husband.

" Oh, this? Sorry we were crying. My husband and I just had a little bit of a discussion. But now everything's fine. Isn't that right, baby?" Hana is forced to lie to cover up the truth.

" Well, yeah, we had a little argument." God told his wife's lie.

" really? You guys look like newlyweds. Very sweet and look harmonious, what is there to make your perfect partner argue to cry?"

" He, he, that's actually it......" Hana seemed to rack her brain in search of the right answer.

" We eloped." replied the god without a second thought.

" Whattt..?!" hana and Aleena's chuckles together.

" You guys eloped?!"

" Why are you so surprised by what your husband said?"

" I'm sorry, I was a little surprised by what my husband said. I didn't think he'd break our secret about eloping." Hana glared her eyes at the God who could now only continue to cover up the lie with another lie.

" Your love must be very strong because you dare to do it all. You must always defend your love. And you, as a husband, must often succumb to this beautiful wife of yours. Next time never make her cry again. Remember that." said Aleena advised a couple who claimed to elope.

" He he, well Madam thank you for your advice." replied the God with a slight clumsiness.

Why do I look like a husband who just hurt his wife? Hana, Hana, you have a magnet so that everyone can always side and like you. And now my real father's wife who has even just met and does not recognize you can immediately behave like this.

" Oh I almost forgot we haven't introduced ourselves yet. I'm Aleena, and that stiff guy you met was my husband, Russell. He's a very good husband despite his slightly harsh disposition." Aleena extended her hand with a wide smile.

" Hana, and he's my husband, God." Hana greeted Aleena's hand with a smile that was no less wide.

" O you guys from Indonesia?!" pekik Aleena in English. The name "God" is very synonymous with Indonesia.

" Yes, we're from there. I didn't think you could speak Indonesian. Even your pronunciation sounds quite eloquent." praise Hana who was amazed by the eloquence of the beautiful blonde woman in front of her in speaking Indonesian.

" Rightly thank you. Actually I have visited there several times, Bali, Jogja, Raja Ampat, Flores, and some other places that I do not know what the name is I forgot, he he. Indonesia is a very beautiful country." said Aleena sounded very enthusiastic.

" Oh I almost forgot my main purpose for approaching you guys was to bring you guys in. Let's hurry in, the air is very cold here. It is now entering winter. Let's continue our conversation inside while enjoying a snack and a warm drink." Aleena unhappily embraced Hana's arm and took her to immediately enter her house.

" All right, thank you." Hana aligned her steps with Aleena, and the Gods walked tailing behind them.

" Please drink first so that your body becomes warm. It's one of the country's signature drinks." Aleena offered the drink that was on their front desk. He also took one of the glasses for himself.

"It's.... Warm milk with sweet fennel in it?" Hana guessed the composition of the drink after sipping the warm drink slowly.

" You're right. This drink is called anijsmelk here. How do you like it? It is commonly drunk in winter as it is today, efficacious to warm our bodies. Let's drink some more while tasting oliebollen, the typical Dutch cake." Aleena pointed at the doughnut-like but round-shaped cake with a sprinkling of refined sugar on it.

" It's very delicious.... And,, is there a piece of apple in it?" hana comments after biting and chewing on one of the cakes.

" You are absolutely right. Oh you're so sweet, I like you so much. I immediately felt like I fit in with you. Can I call you Honey?" Aleena felt uneasy with the sweet lady who was engrossed in continuing to chew the piece of cake in her mouth.

" Of course I can, because I am as sweet as honey/honey. He he." said Hana in between his meals.

" Ah so sweet..... You are so sweet. If only I could have a child like you, it would be so happy."

" Of course, why not. It would be great to have a mother as good and beautiful as you" replied the gentle God.

" Ah really? Thank ye. All right, as long as you're here, let's just say this is your own home, because you've been considered my children." Aleena looked very happy with the words of Hana and the Gods who were willing to think of her as an old man.

" Eat this one too."

" Waffles?" tanya Hana saw the sighting of the food proffered by Aleena.

" Yes, that kind of thing. It's called stroopwaffle."

" Easy. It's perfectly enjoyed with this fennel milk." Hana put the piece of waffle continued by again sipping a drink in her glass.

" Fennel milk?" asked Aleena in surprise.

" Yes, this drink is fennel milk isn't it? His name was too difficult to pronounce. He he."

" Yes well from today we will call it fennel milk. Ha ha ha." Aleena laughed out loud.

Russell silently stared at the three with a full day. For a long time he had not seen the woman he loved so much laugh like that, as if all the pain he had suffered all these years had disappeared somewhere.

" Mister Russell?" hapa Hana when she realized the existence of her husband's biological father stood up while looking closely at his wife.

" Oh baby, come here. Join us here. They come from Indonesia." call Aleena with passion.

" Food is ready soon. You should also take your medicine right away, right, baby?" Russell approached his wife.

" Sit here for a minute. We were chatting and joking together." Aleena patted the couch next to her.

" Alright but after this you should take your medicine immediately." whispered Russell.

" Yes, anyways medicine won't cure me." Aleena smiled sinisterly making the look on Russell's face change instantly.

" Dear love, she's Hana and her husband, God. They're a very sweet couple, aren't they? Reminds me of our youth."

" BUT....!" god and Russell's views clash with each other. The two pairs of green beads locked onto each other.

What is this feeling? Why do I feel there is something in the eyes of this young man. Do I know him or have a relationship with him? My heart feels warm when I see him. Who exactly is he?

" I'm sorry, have we met before?"

" Not yet, this is our first meeting Master." replied the God flatly. He suppressed the intense feelings within him.

We have never met. But don't you recognize me? I'm your son, your son......

It felt like God had rushed to embrace the body of the man he had been waiting for all his life, but with all his strength he held that feeling.

" Heh, didn't you agree to consider me your parents? Why do you still hesitate and call him master? You should think of us as real mama and papa. Ok?" Aleena Protest.

" Well, we'll gladly consider you our mama and our papa, if Mr. Russell doesn't mind and allows it." Hana smiled gently.

" Of course he doesn't mind. He'll even be very happy. Isn't that right, baby?"

" Whatever it is you're happy, baby." Russell said softly.

" Well, then now we have become one family. We must capture this happy moment." Aleena sparkled and moved to take the camera. He used to capture every important and happy moment in his life.

" Come on, this is our first photo as a family. Don't forget to smile." Aleena set the camera position on the tripod and set it to an automatic shooting suit with a timer, so she can also pose together.

" Cheeesss.." exclaimed Hana and Aleena.

" Boxisk....!"