The Fate Or Destiny

Eps. 17. Brother Bens

Since that day, Ben no longer hesitate to stop at Keke's shophouse. Usually the afternoon after the office or night deliberately came and deliberately also linger, either playing with Lisya or chatting with Rommel. Even the shy Livia now dares to ask Ben for help completing her PR. Keke is the only one to keep his distance.

He knows Ben likes to stare at him for long periods, watching him while he's making desserts, or frying order cakes. Not infrequently Ben reached out to help close the dessert cup using cup sealer, help arrange the cake into a box. But yes it was, there was rarely a conversation, if Ben asked Keke only answer as necessary, sometimes they stand side by side in front of Keke's desk without any conversation.

Ben is just being understanding, enjoying their closeness without forcing or trying to get closer to Keke who restricts himself from communicating with him, although there are many questions at heart why Keke is like that.

It used to be when Ben was angry that Rens or Keke would argue or at least glare also with the same angry attitude. Keke is now very closed. But almost every day the Benaya must have stopped by, because even though Keke was like that, he believed Keke did not reject his presence in this shophouse. Like today, Saturday, noon Ben has appeared again in the shophouse.

"Om.. eat yuk.. food is already on the dining table..."

Rommel appeared from behind, Benaya was sitting behind the counter, Lisya was sitting comfortably on her lap while watching from Ben's phone. There were no more number of times he had eaten here every Saturday or week.

"Oh. ok. hungry already. Have you eaten Rom?"

"Udah earlier before taking the bus."

"Let's eat Yica with om..."

"Yica ton t Tayo duyu..."

"Eat first, huh? Come onl. Rom... there were three credit vouchers that sold, I kept at the table under the money book..."

"Yes.thank you..."

Keke likes to smile silently when he sees the interaction of Lisya and Ben or Livia and Ben, already like papa and child only. Though there was his biological father here in the same city, but never once came to see. Ben passed by in the kitchen, Yica was in her cradle still holding Ben's cell phone. Keke is making klappertart orders. Ben stops, accidentally near Keke.

"For what Rens..."

Ben tries to build communication, tries again to tear down Miss Keke's bulwark.

"Eh. klappertart."

"Oh... Can you do that too? Yesterday when I went back to Jakarta I bought it at Chella Bakery, it was delicious... Has anything been done?"

"No..."

The hand wrapped in a pink glove pointed to the klappertart that had been burned.

"I'm a taster... Yica's down for a second... "

No waiting for Keke Ben's approval to take one mini aluminum foil container from the table.

"It's still warm..."

"Wear the spoon.. eat it, put the spoon there..."

Ben smiled, rarely did Keke speak long words to him. Two months he has been wara-wiri in this shophouse and Keke's attitude is still the same. Ben took a small spoon and tasted Keke's klappertart. Ben realized he was being stared at by Keke.

"Why?"

Ben smiles at Keke, rarely Keke wants to look directly in his eyes.

"No boy?"

Timidly Keke asked, so far klappertartnya one of the most ordered dessert besides the fruit salad, but rarely did he listen to people's assessment of his handmade.

"Enak Rens. Everything you make is as good as it is. fits perfectly on my tongue..."

"May not add..."

"Eh. may. but eat first there, baby the food is cold, not good to eat cold food. There are woku cook fish, usually nyari it right..."

Wow... the longest sentence so far, and it makes Benaya very happy, sounds like a symphony that flowed beautifully, and there seemed to be something blooming in his heart.

"Yes..but klappertart system yes for me do not be given all customers..."

Benaya so want more, lingering talk with Keke.

"I make it a lot of kok. usually like someone looking here as well. later take it yourself if you want, take it home but save it in the refrigerator..."

"Mirror..."

"Yes...?"

Keke looked up at Benaya who had stepped closer to him the closest distance between the two of them all along. There was no one else in this kitchen, Lisya had already entered inside since, and Rommel seemed to have been standing guard at his counter. Keke was uncomfortable being close together like that.

"I have a name, right Rens.. You remember always calling me, right? Brother Bens. You may call me by that name again..."

Staring fixedly Ben finally let out his heart which from the beginning felt strange Keke never once heard calling himself by his name.

"Eh. yes."

Keke immediately lowered his head and shifted the distance. Keke was back to being stiff. The face just now was a little slack and friendly, so it changed. Why should I even say his name. The insecure sense is coming again. Some time saw Ben here he was getting used to, initially because he saw Lisya and Livia who always enjoy when there is Ben, especially Ben also looks not trying to attract attention or try to get close.

See also in the ring finger Ben circular a wedding ring. He is married and seems to have children too, because several times heard advising or persuading small children on his phone. And knowing that brings another sense of security. He is not worried though often find Ben's intense and long stares at him, Keke thinks it is the same as Benaya's figure in the past.

But. interaction earlier, look at the eye earlier, not from Benaya who used to be. Keke was afraid and did not want to interpret it.

Benaya realizes his attitude makes Keke instantly change, realizing that he is careless this time. Ben eventually backed away. Ahh... whereas earlier it was an advancement in their interaction, why did he rush to want their relationship to melt away immediately? He had been patient so far approaching Keke little by little.

"Sorry Rens. I don't mean anything else. It's up to you to call me what, as comfortable as you are. sorry..."

Keke did not answer.

"I ate first..."

Keke still has no voice. What should he behave like to this man? He hasn't interacted closely with a man other than Rommel. And what does he mean it has to be so close like that... Keke was busy with his own thoughts.

Ben finally went inside, lunch this time got distracted, so it's not interesting anymore. Many thoughts came later, why was he so interested in this figure of Rens? The urge to have it is getting stronger in the heart.

Is it because she's in love? If this was true because of love, this was indeed strange, he seemed to not care about Keke's cold attitude, even a moment ago when he saw Keke who closed himself back, as if he did not care about Keke, he was challenged to conquer Keke's heart. He remembers laughing at people in love and calling them naive and absurd...

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Enjoy reading's.... 😄

Blessings 😇

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