The Untouched Heart

Chapter 214 - The Application of the Little One

~Za~

Hendra introduced the woman as his cousin. I put the mask on my face as best I could so that the woman did not know what I was really feeling. Even though they were cousins, she didn't deserve to hug someone else's husband like that.

My husband accompanied Colin to fetch his food from the serving table. Hendra returned with a plate of food with meat, chicken, and baked potatoes, as well as lettuce for Colin. A plate of cake for Hadi and Dira. Put the last plate in front of me. There are two peanut butter cupcakes and two pieces of apple pie. Hm …. He bribed me not to be angry for a long time.

“Om, does a man have to marry a woman in order to live together?” ask Colin who made Hendra choke on his own food. Although I was angry with him, I could not bear to see him in that state. I brought the glass closer to him, and helped rub his back.

“Depends, Colin.” Hendra cleared his throat slowly clearing his hoarse voice. “Hadi and Dira are siblings. They don't need to get married to live together.”

“But since Om and Aunt are not siblings, Om and Aunt must get married in order to live together?” he asked while looking at the two of us in turn.

“True once.” Hendra looked at me with a happy smile. I just stared at him flat. He cleared his throat slowly, then turned his head towards Colin. “What are you asking that?”

“Please, marry me to Dira, Om. I want to be able to stay with Dira.” Colin looked at us so sincerely. We both coughed in unison as we choked on food.

Our conversation came to a halt as I watched my family walk from the gate. Hendra immediately stopped me from standing up. He approached them and drove them to see Papa and Mama. I don't see any dislike expression on Mama's face. I sighed softly. The thing I don't want to see today is the drama between my parents and my in-laws.

Hendra also accompanied them to fetch food at the table. I just chuckled at Zach's happy face while watching his favorite dishes on the table. Hendra and Zach deliberately brought an empty table near us. Thus, we can sit while chatting together.

My friends couldn't come because they already had events they had to attend or vacation with their families. Darla and Qiana who were intending to follow came after attending the wedding reception of their close family.

“What are Papa and Mama doing fine here when we go first?” asked Hendra to my parents. I was surprised to hear he hurriedly wanted to leave this place.

“Of course. You guys want to take the kids somewhere?” ask Papa.

“Iya. And the other reason,” said Hendra meaningfully. They laughed when they heard it. Seeing my husband seriously wanting to leave, I cleaned the children's hands and mouths with wet wipes.

“Come home tomorrow. We had dinner together. My dear wife wants all her children, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren to come together.” Papa looked at us all expectantly.

“We're definitely coming, Pa.” Dira held Dira, while I held Hadi and Colin's hands to the table where Papa and Mama were. “Ara, you wait here. Be nice.” The dog was muttering softly.

Hadi and Colin half jumped up and down as we walked closer to the table where my husband's parents were. They sat with people I knew as close relatives of Papa. Things I never realized before. My mother was not close to her immediate family.

“Why are you going home so soon?” asked Mama objected after Hendra conveyed his point.

“The kids will be bored, we better take them to the park, Ma. There are a lot of guests here. So, Mama will not be lonely,” said Hendra half teasing him.

“Go home. Be careful on the road,” Papa said. He stood up and rubbed Dira's head.

“Ya, already. Before you go home, there's something I want to introduce you to.” Mom stood up with a happy face. Papa tried to prevent it, but Mama ignored him. “Ayo.” He walked in front of us, asking us to follow him.

I took a deep breath. Seeing Mama's happy face, I knew what she was going to do. There is another woman, Nora's successor, whom she will introduce to my husband. He would not care if his son refused. He will keep trying until his plan is successful. Yeah, God. Until when will this situation continue.

My mom stopped by a table. He touched the shoulder of the woman who was sitting on our back. She looked at Mama, then stood up. She turned her body and I saw the pretty face of my next rival. Unlike Nora who was much younger than Hendra, this woman might be my age or a little older.

“Ah, we met a few days ago in the mayor's office, Auntie. We attended lunch to discuss the project to build the city,” said the woman named Keva. He just looked at Hendra, not caring about me or the kids.

“We're home, Ma,” said Hendra without caring about the woman. She held his hand, preventing him from moving away.

“Keva invites us to attend the opening event of the newly purchased hotel. You have to attend it. This will be the first step of our company cooperation with them.” Mama looked towards Keva. Understanding Mama's intentions, the woman immediately checked her bag and issued an invitation.

“I don't have any cooperation plans with his hotel. Why is this the first step of cooperation between us and them?” asked Hendra in surprise.

I know he was angry at his mother's actions, but he controlled himself well. He must have restrained himself so that Ara would not cause a commotion. “We're home, Ma. I've wasted enough time on this shit.” Hendra touched my back.

Seeing Mama's face go out red, I interceded. “Thank you for the invitation, Keva.” I stretched out my hand. The woman gave me the invitation. Eventually, they realized my presence as well. “We will definitely come.”

“You are ...,” he said that clearly pretending not to know. Even though he didn't have time to watch television or follow the news online, it was impossible that he didn't know the scandal that befell our family. He knows Mama and Hendra.

“Zahara Aprilia, my wife.” Hendra deliberately put his voice on my wife's word. He looked towards Mama. “I'll come tomorrow. It's time we talked seriously.” My husband is not waiting anymore. He asked me to leave them.

“I'm serious about my words. Be careful when driving,” Papa said as we passed him. Hendra and I laughed.

Hendra called Ara, the dog stood up immediately. With a tail swaying happily, he approached us. Hadi and Colin scrambled to ask where we were going. I didn't know, so I looked at Hendra. He did not answer and chose to keep it a secret.

When my husband turned the car in a park in the middle of the city, I looked at him in confusion. But I sighed in relief seeing that the place was not as crowded as I thought. We can get parking easily.

Ara was running around a little near us. Hendra took us to a place where various games were provided for children. Hadi and Colin immediately ran in front of us looking at the arena they could climb. Ara followed them and kept them while playing.

“Ara!” call Hendra. He waved a small ball that he deliberately carried. The dog barked happily. My husband threw her away, Ara immediately darted after him.

Hendra sat Dira on one of the empty swings, I took over by pushing the swing. My daughter immediately laughed happily and asked me to continue doing so. I watched my husband play ball-tossing with our dog.

I look around us. There are some families who also bring their children to play in this place. They sit on the available benches or carry their own pedestals and enjoy the food they bring. My eyes then saw two familiar figures. They were chatting affectionately under a tree with a pedestal sitting on the grass. There was a picnic basket that seemed to contain their lunch.

“Tante! Ma!” colin and Hadi shouted simultaneously. They ran up to me with happy faces. I immediately turned around, covering up the couple I saw earlier.

“I-iya. What's up?” my many. They're pointing in the same direction. I turned my head and saw a line of food vendors not far from where we were standing.

“What's up?” asked Hendra who approached us. Ara stood by his side.

“Buy ice cream, Pa, Om!” say the two kids simultaneously. Hendra looked in the direction they were pointing.

“Bby. Come.” Hendra held both of their hands together. “You and Dira wait here only.” I'm nodding. My face paled seeing Colin turning to the direction where the couple was.

“Ha? Isn't that Papa?” tanyanya's confused. Ouch, drugging.