The Sovereign of the Heart (Bern & Renata)

Chapter 25

“A-Father?”

Not to lose Bern's surprise about the appearance of Renata in his apartment, he was again made shocked when Justin called him father. What's the matter? Why did this mother and son suddenly appear and say something that made Bern's heart seem like it was going to stop beating? And what was that? Daddy's? Dad what does that mean? He will not be married.

“Dad, let's quickly carry Justin,” urges Justin to start whining while extending a hand. His feet seemed to be kicking forward when the man in front of him just silently did not respond. “Hikss, Dad. Carp,” ….

“Um Bern, sorry once. Justin has a fever and he wants to meet his father. I'm .. I'm confused how to explain it to you, but can you now pretend to be Justin's father? He's been crying like this all day. I'm afraid it'll make things worse. I beg you to help us, Bern,” whispered Renata. Let her be stamped as a woman who has no shame. As long as it can make Justin much calmer, then Renata does not mind the nickname.

“Renata, I don't want to. But I'm sick myself. Look, my hand is even still attached to the infusion hose,” said Bern while raising one hand that was holding an infusion bottle. He then looked at Justin as this boy continued to extend a hand to him. Not the heart, Bern was immediately thinking of a way so that this boy could stop crying.

Did I just take them inside? I was afraid of falling if I forced myself to carry Justin.

“Hiksss, Dad,” ….

“Justin, Father's hand is injured. How about we just go in and sit inside. You want no?” bern asked while glancing towards Renata. Poor thing. This woman looks so exhausted. Bern is so sorry.

“Mau, Dad,” Justin said as he nodded quickly. The crying then stopped. “Mother, let's go home,”

Renata looked at Bern for a moment. He asked her permission to enter the apartment. Bern who saw it immediately nodded his head and opened the door as wide as possible. He then shifted to the side, paving the way for the two guests.

“Waahhh, Daddy's house is huge. We just stay here, ma'am?” justin was excited. He clapped his hands in a frenzy as he looked at the exact same painting he had seen in the dream. "Look at that picture, Mother. Justin saw it while sleeping.”

Hearing Justin's speech Bern's steps immediately stopped. He was shocked, unable to believe what he had just heard. But because he did not want to think that was not-nothing, Bern immediately dismissed his assumption. He then walked slowly toward Renata who was now sitting on the sofa while holding Justin.

“Bern, I'm really sorry. You're not well, but Justin and I came to interrupt your break. I am so ashamed,” said Renata while looking down deeply. I don't know, don't ask how thick his face is now. Too embarrassed for Renata to describe.

“Don't feel bad like this, Ren. I can understand your position now. Besides, my situation isn't as bad as you think. So you just calm down. I am not at all bothered by your arrival. Really,” said Bern while smiling little.

That face .. Oh my God. Renata is too similar to Amora. Would he be guilty of thinking of this woman as his lover? But once the shadow of Amora who was smiling flashed in his eyes, in that second also Bern immediately shook his head. As much as possible Bern tried to refrain from being affected by the whispers that arise in the mind. In his heart, Bern continued to convince himself that the woman sitting in front of him was not Amora, but a woman who happened to have a face similar to her. So Bern focused on dismissing the thought, he did not realize that now Justin had moved to sit next to him. He then flinched as a small arm suddenly coiled around his neck. Bern's riveted.

“Dad, Justin is sick. Why don't you come visit Grandma's house?” justin asked as he rubbed his swollen eyes. Because he kept crying, now he has trouble opening his eyes.

“Em is also sick. So I can't see Justin at Grandma's. Sorry yes,” replied Bern with his attendant following the flow of this boy's conversation.

Justin seemed to nod his head after being told that his father was sick. While Renata, he kept his head down while listening to Justin and Bern talk. Really, Renata was completely confused by what was going on. Starting from Justin who continues to whine asking for a cradle by his father, about a foreign number that sends the address of the apartment to his cellphone, also with the fact that Bern is the owner of the apartment. All those thoughts kept running around inside Renata's head until he didn't realize that Bern had been calling him.

"Renata, you okay?" bern asked with a slightly raised tone of voice. He had already called out to Renata repeatedly, but this woman was just silent with her head bowed. Be Bern called out to her with a strong enough voice out of concern for this woman.

"Ren, what's wrong with you?"

"Oh, a-I .. I, I ....

Without any encouragement from where, Bern's hand suddenly stretched out stroking Renata's shoulder. While the other hand still holds the infusion that is occasionally played by Justin.

"Slow your breath slowly, then throw it away. You're so tired, Ren. That's why your mind becomes so unfocused. The calm. Okay?" bern said patiently to help Renata calm down. He was so sorry to see it.

Dutifully Renata followed Bern's direction. He took a slow breath and then took it out slowly as well. He kept repeating it until his feelings became much calmer.

"Sorry, Bern. I don't know what's going on with me. You're right that I'm too exhausted. Once again I'm sorry yes" said Renata as she stared fixedly at Bern's bead. His forehead then puckered, feeling a little familiar with the eye bead.

"Don't always apologize like this, Ren. I'm not married, but a little bit I can understand the difficulty of being a single mother in raising children" Bern said. He then lowered his head, smiling to see Justin humming indistinctly. "Justin looks so happy sleeping on my lap. At the beginning of our meeting, he said that I was a scary uncle. Hmmm,"

"Herne?"

"Yes?"

Bern.

"I don't know where to start. Justin suddenly had a high fever. Then my mother and I took her to the hospital. But all day he even cried nonstop and continued to whine asking in a cradle by his father. At the same time a foreign number sent me an apartment address, and it turned out that this apartment was yours. I really don't know about this, Bern. I'm just following what Justin wants. Really, I'm not a stalker."

Renata soon explains the reason why he and Justin were able to get to Bern's apartment. He was afraid that this man would think about him. So before a misunderstanding occurs, Renata decides to explain it first.

"Whatever's important you're not coming to the wrong place. At first I was surprised to see you suddenly appear in front of my apartment room door. But yes, now I can understand the cause of why you guys got here. The most important thing now is that Justin is no longer fussy and you can rest" said Bern as he stroked Justin's hair. "Renata, it's night. If you don't mind you guys just stay here. I didn't mean bad. You know that, right?"

"But I ....

"I know you're so exhausted, Renata. So just take a break so that tomorrow you can take care of Justin again. Don'tbeafraid. I'm not the man you think I am. You're safe here!"

Renata silently thought about the offer. His gaze then turned towards Justin who looked so comfortable lying on Bern's lap. Trying to defeat the ego for the sake of his son's recovery, with a heavy heart Renata finally nodded in agreement. But before that he asked Bern for permission to meet the driver who was still waiting below. Renata also wants to call her mother first to let her know that she will be staying outside tonight.

Justin, your demi, son. For the sake of seeing you heal, I'm willing to stay at the house of someone I never knew before. Please heal quickly so that you can see your smile again.

***