The Untouched Heart

Chapter 103 - Camping

Hendra looked at me for a moment before answering. “Mama has given birth and raised you well. Of course I love him.”

“Then, Papa will stay with us for forever?” ask Hadi expectantly. Hendra's eyes turned sad. I just bow my head. What people say is true. Knowing that their mom and dad are no longer together is difficult.

“Hadi ...” Hendra was at a loss for words to explain.

“Don't go again, Pa. Stay with us,” pinta Hadi again.

“Rain-rain like this, good also eat boiled noodles, yes.” I tried to distract my son. He looked at me with sparkling eyes.

“I want, Ma! Wear a lot of sausage and meatballs, yes?” he said expectantly.

“Bby. Papa keeps a lot of sausages and meatballs in the refrigerator.” I put the mug I was holding on the small table, then walked out of the tent.

“I'm coming, Ma! I helped Mama make it.” Hadi stood up and extended his hand to me. I helped him to stand up. I looked towards Hendra. He formed a word of thanks with the movement of his lips. I nodded slowly.

Of course Hendra called a mysterious housekeeper whom I could finally meet as well. He won't let me cook noodles on my own. I gave sausages and meatballs to boil to the housekeeper. Hadi bowls get one more each.

Hendra brought the tray with all four bowls of boiled noodles to the tent. Only the unfruitful parts of Dira make it easier for him to eat on his own. The topic was forgotten. The housekeeper came to deliver three glasses of water and one special glass of toddlers. I put it on a small table. The puppy also gets his share. Meat boiled with bone.

We sat full with a view towards the long-lasting rain after finishing each meal. Hearing the sound of something shaking, I turned to the small table. Someone called my phone. I checked the screen and saw a video call.

“Halooo ..!” There was a chorus-like greeting as the faces of my four best friends appeared on my phone screen. The development of communication technology is incredible.

“Haaiii ..!” I returned their greetings. Hadi is approaching soon.

“Hai, Aunt Lindsey, Aunt Qiana, Aunt Claudia.” Hadi waved his hand. The four women returned their greetings.

“Where are you?” lindsey asked while looking at us intently.

“Please, speak a language I can understand,” Claudia asked. We laughed together.

“We are in Hendra's villa.” I aimed the phone so Hendra and Dira could be seen by them. Hadi stood up, approached the puppy, and carried him.

“Oh, Zahara! I'm so happy for you!” claudia said. He even shed his tears. I looked at him confused. “Finally, you guys are back together.”

“Ng, you misunderstood, Claudia. We were just on vacation with the kids. Dira was a kid, so Hendra couldn't spend time with them without taking me,” I said explaining.

“Iya, ‘kan? It would be great if they got back together,” Lindsey said with a happy smile.

“No, no. I still disagree,” timpal Qiana. They talked until I was confused about who to hear and who to respond to first.

“Oh, that puppy is so sweet! What's his name, Hadi?” claudia ignored my presence. Their habits just piss me off.

“The name is Ara, Auntie,” Hadi replied while lifting the puppy to make it clearly visible on the screen. The puppy barked glad to hear his name called.

“Ara? I was like I had heard that name,” said Qiana who was thinking. The puppy came back. Then the laughter exploded. The others laughed too.

“What? What's so funny?” caudia did not understand.

“Do you remember Zach calling Zahara by what name?” ask Lindsey. The shameless puppy barked again. Oh, dearGod. This is so frustrating. Claudia thought for a moment. He then stared at the screen with round eyes, the next second, he laughed along.

“This is so funny! Don't you guys let kids call adults names? And you allowed Hadi to use your name for his puppy?” tanyanya's confused.

“It wasn't our puppy. It belonged to Hendra and it wasn't me who named him!” pissed me. Instead of stopping, they laughed happily.

“You better stop teasing him, girls. Or I will get the sap later,” Hendra approached so that his face can appear also on the screen.

“You don't want to come to Indonesia anymore. What does a celebration mean without your presence, Claudia?” hendra challenged him. Claudia smiled meaningfully. My heart is beating faster. Whatisthis? What are the two of them talking about?

“I will come on the silver wedding anniversary celebration Qiana and Helmut. Can you guarantee at that time I will see you and Zahara back together?” Claudia defiantly replied.

“Depends,” replied mysterious Hendra.

“I know you will definitely cheat. If there is no guarantee, why would I go there? I can watch Qiana's show through video only.” Claudia pouting. I saw Qiana. He who is usually very sensitive, this time does not look offended by the sentence.

“I told you, Hendra's words can't be trusted. Moreover Zahara,” timpal Lindsey.

“Why am I being blamed too?” my protest.

“Shortly, friends.” Darla. We're all quiet. “Hendra not done talking. Tell me, depends on what, Hendra?”

“Depends on Zahara. Does he want us back together or not.” Hendra's looking at. Friends immediately cheered in support.

“Come, Zahara. Show me your skills! Conquer him!” claudia said excitedly.

“Don't let him trample your pride, Zahara. We women can also break the hearts of men.” Qiana did not want to lose. I just stared at them not believing.

The insulting conversation ended after they were content to convey what was in their heads. They called me for no apparent reason. And I don't know where to hide my face. Most shamefully, the puppy kept barking whenever the names Ara and Zahara were called.

“Ma, look!” said Hadi disperse my daydream. “Rain has stopped. Come, Ma. We do our habits. It's not dark yet. Can, yes?”

I needed something to take my mind off the embarrassing conversation just now, so I quickly fulfilled her request. Hendra looked at me in surprise. I helped Dira wear a raincoat and plastic boots. Hendra helped our son wear his raincoat. After I put on my suit and boots, we went out.

“Where are you going?” asked Hendra astonished.

“You should wear your raincoat and special shoes if you want to join.” I looked at his clothes. He returned not long after, then we headed for the road in front of the villa.

“That, Ma! It!” Hadi pointed in the direction we were looking for. We got closer and jumped in the water. Hadi laughed happily even though the water made us drenched. The puppy was running around us.

“What are you doing? Za, don't you know how old you are now? Why do you even invite children to play dirty water like this?” Hendra protest.

“Contact, Dear Hendra. It's just rainwater. Not as dirty as you think.” I took Dira from her carrier and lowered her to the street. She followed her brother toying with the water using his feet. I didn't let go of his hand at all.

We moved and found a pool with more water. This place is deserted, so no passing vehicles have reduced the amount of water in the puddles we have encountered. Hendra, who was skeptical, came to play and laughed with us.

“I'm not sure what we did was safe for the kids. What if they have a fever later?” hendra asked worriedly after we put the children to bed in their room.

“They are fine. When they're a little big later, I even want to invite them to a rain shower.” I can't wait for that moment to arrive. “Such free pleasure should not be missed. You are big with expensive toys, so you do not understand games that do not need to pay and are more fun.”

“I will teach you a lesson if my children get sick later,” he said threateningly. He placed a mug filled with warm chocolate with many marshmallows on the counter. Hm.

“By the way, what did you mean to my friends earlier? Depends me? I just found out that you intend for us to get back together.” I sipped that warm drink. Hendra sat on the high chair that was by my side.

“I never said so.” He looked at me in wonder.

“But you said ...” Did I hear wrong?

“Your friends who want us back together. I am only passing on one condition that can bring me back to you. And I'm not saying, I want US to get back together,”.

“Shoulder once you.”

“I'm just talking honestly. I don't want you to misunderstand and think that I'm giving you hope.”