The Girl Next Door's

Mama Mika's

The one hour that Deril spent with Mika became a happy moment in Deril's life. Although I do not know why Mika can sit next to him while painting like there is no problem between them. Deril put that reality aside. Silently, Deril glanced at Mika as often as possible. He recorded every second he had. It was rare that Deril could see Mika from this point of view.

As Mika said earlier, she drew beautiful flowers. Without any example, Mika freely drew a flower, as if it was in front of her eyes. The color that Mika chose, was very harmonious and beautiful. The combination makes the eyes fresh. Deril did not mind if he had to look at the painting for a long time.

"Great! Your painting is so good!" puji Deril's. "Have you ever been to a painting class?"

Mika shakes. "Every day drawing" Mika replied.

Deril nodded in understanding. Indeed, the more we learn, the more shrewd our hands are in painting something. "You say every day you draw?" reset Deril.

"Yes." Yeah."

"Are you not in school?"

Mika's hand stopped moving. He turned to Deril who was staring at him blatantly. "No."

"Why? Did Doctor Stephen send you home?"

Mika was silent for a moment. Then he shook his head once. "I'm not in school."

The answer felt awkward in Deril's ears. He was eager to keep asking 'why' until he got a clear answer. However, he swallowed the question roundly. Mika would not give a real reason. The way he talks is strange.

"Did you not like the school atmosphere?" Deril changed the way he asked. "I don't really like it either. The school is noisy. Kids love to get together and do a lot of things. It's too active for me. I prefer a quiet atmosphere and save energy."

"Noisy school?"

"Yes. Noisy."

Mika shakes her head. "What is 'noisy'?"

"Huh? Oh, that means 'mistakes'. People make a lot of disturbing noises. It's called 'noisy'" Deril explained. She was a bit shocked because Mika did not understand such an easy word.

Mika doesn't look like a child with mental retardation. He mastered the situation well, was able to set his expression, and was also polite in front of others. But the way he talks is quite strange. Deril is like talking to a three-year-old who is just learning to string words. It's even stranger when Mika says that she's not in school. Where maybe a favorite child of a specialist doctor, left to not get knowledge at all. In fact, in the movies, parents with a doctor's education, demanding their children to become doctors are also hereditary.

"Do you know that my family is moving around? Maybe Doctor Stephen told you about it?" deril asked, changing the subject again. "My mother who loves to tell stories. He must have been talking about my family everywhere."

"No idea" Mika replied briefly.

"So I lived in many places. My father was actually a good and caring man. It's just, good luck doesn't side with our family."

Mika continued her drawing.

"But I'm grateful to have the opportunity to live here, even though it's an old house that needs renovation here and there" Deril added. "I'm grateful to know you."

"Why?"

Deril was silent when asked such a question. He weighed, should he tell the truth, that he liked Mika. There can be no one who does not like the beautiful look of Mika. Just by her gentle temperament, the male heart was made a mess by Mika. "Not many friends can paint" this answer Deril finally chose. Towards Mika's pretty face, it can be a weapon to eat master for her. It was possible that Mika would feel numb after hearing that Deril liked her face as well.

Mika turned to look at the half-finished painting of Deril. "Curly man. Come over here. Who?"

Deril twisted his brain to understand what Mika was talking about. "Ooh! You mean the Bayu? He's Bu Febi's son. When you don't know?" Deril asked back.

Mika shakes. "I don't know anyone. Papa said, can't come out. Danger."

"People."

"Am I not a dangerous person?"

Mika turned her head, letting their gazes meet. For a few seconds, they were immersed in each other's thoughts. Deril likes Mika's big eyeballs. His white skin was without any flaws. The girl was truly like the most perfect creation of God.

"I don't know," Mika replied while turning her face away.

Deril took a long breath. Apparently, Mika is smarter tug-of-war. He's good at making someone's feelings waver. "Didn't you miss your mother?" Deril starts a new topic, hoping to get to know Mika even further.

"No."

Deril's eyebrows shot up upon hearing Mika's reply. "I heard from the stories of mothers here, you were very close to your mother when you were little. Your mother must be a kind person, because many mothers here like it. What's your mother like?"

"Not knowing."

Bizarrely.

That's all Deril can think of. A girl, certainly very close to the figure of her mother. Moreover, Mika is the only child. There was no way Mika could forget her mother figure just like that. At least, he could definitely describe how his mother used to be. 'Or, she had deliberately forgotten her mother, because of the deep sadness?' inner Deril, trying to make everything feel logical.

"Did you or Doctor Stephen not know where your mother was?"

Mika looked quickly. "Don't talk. Don't ask Mama. Papa says, don't talk to Mama."

"You mean, Doctor Stephen didn't give you permission to talk about your mother?" Deril whispers.

Mika just nodded.

Deril keeps a lot of questions about Mika's mother in his head. Maybe it's not time he found out. "I hear you went abroad? Make what?"

Mika shrieked softly as Deril asked. The originally relaxed hand held onto the brush, suddenly clenching. Mika's face turned deathly pale. "Can't talk about it!" hiss Mika.

"Why?" Deril doesn't even control himself.

Mika held her head. His eyes were glaring, frightened. "There, hell!" he whispered. "Don't talk about it! I'll hear you!"

Deril glanced towards Mika's house. Doctor Stephen's car was there. But, he found no signs of Doctor Stephen around them. "Is it true your mother lost time chasing you abroad? Why be pursued? Did you run away from home?"

Mika smothered her own mouth. He shook his head hard. "She's not chasing me," Mika's voice was immersed in her own hands, but it was still clearly heard in Deril's ears. "He's not going. He's right here. Never been anywhere."

"Who do you mean by 'him'?" asked Deril, not so understanding.

"Mika's mother."

"Your mother?"

Mika shakes. "Mika's mother" he repeated.

***