The Untouched Heart

Chapter 90 - Uninvited Guest

“Happy birthday!!” we all cheered when the front door opened. Hadi and Dira rounded their eyes and opened their mouths in surprise. Not long after, a smile washed my son's face. We all sang and I came to him with tarts on both hands. I knelt before him. Hearing the lyrics of the song, he complied and blew out all the lit candles on it.

Yuyun immediately took the cake from my hand so I could kiss and hug Hadi to congratulate him. Dira hugged us both. We laughed together. Hadi joined his friends to watch a magic show performed by the person I invited. Dira doesn't want to get away from me.

“There's Charlotte, you want to play with her?” I asked while taking her to the side where the little girl was. He immediately asked to get out of my arms. I let him sit with his friends, while I joined my friends. Yuyun was immediately near them, watching over my two children.

“I still can't figure out how you could conceive Dira when you and Hendra are officially divorced,” Qiana shook her head.

“You never told me what happened, Zahara. Hasn't Hendra never shown up again since he left this house?” lindsey asked to know.

“Do I still have to tell you how an adult man and woman can have a child together?” I half teased them.

Qiana and Lindsey immediately hugged and tickled my waist. We laughed together. Darla who had just come from the back of the house looked at us in confusion. Once she found out what made us tease each other, the three of them compactly urged me to tell her what really happened.

They believed that Dira was Hendra's son was enough for me. What happened that night that I was pregnant with our second child I'll keep to myself. Although surprised, I went through my pregnancy with great happiness. Hendra's absence by my side did not diminish the happiness I could have of having another child from him.

It was time for dinner, the husbands came to join us. Helmut, Gio, and Edu sometimes gather together for coffee. Hendra is also coming. So, to know the latest news about him, I deliberately stood near them. If I'm lucky, they'll say a thing or two about him.

But seeing Helmut's friend also coming, I locked up my intentions. I stared protestingly at Qiana. He just grimaced showing his neat rows of teeth. That man was one of those men who tried to get close to me. He thought he would win my heart if he kept trying. But I already said no.

“I didn't invite him here. You should have scolded Helmut,” said Qiana who objected to my protest.

“I can't possibly talk about this with your husband, ‘kan? It should be you who gave understanding to him,” reply I do not want to lose.

“They've spoken, Zahara. If Dicky still dared to come it means he does not care about my husband.” He shrugged both his shoulders.

“Which men would want to miss the opportunity to have an alluring widow like you?” Lindsey laughed.

“Stop that shit, Lindsey. Remember your age.” I rolled my eyeballs hearing that ridiculous sentence. They even laugh.

“From Vivaldo to Dicky, wow, Zahara. I can't imagine the hardships you go through every time dealing with a man who doesn't understand the word no.” Lindsey shook her head slowly.

“What do you want to be in his position, Lind?” ask Darla. “Have a husband or not, there are always men who bother. See what happened to her wedding.”

“Zahara is wrong. He should have just knelt down and begged Hendra to come back. His ex was still alone until this very moment. I didn't hear any rumors that he was close to any woman. Doesn't that mean there's still hope for our best friend to be back with him?” lindsey said, discussing the same thing.

“Stop calling him my ex. Even though we are legally divorced, we are still husband and wife religiously,” I said I did not like their jokes.

“Ooo-be. So that's why you're secretly still sleeping with him? Are you pregnant with your third child now?” Qiana. They looked at my stomach. I was stunned for a moment.

“Me and her don't secretly sleep together!” I can't believe they're gonna think that. “And I will not be provoked to tell you what happened until I conceived Dira.”

They immediately protested. I walked into the kitchen, they followed me. They told me questions but I just ignored them.

“Hai, Brother!” I heard a greeting from the kitchen door. We all looked. Officially standing in the doorway with a cheerful face. He must have just come with my parents, Zach, and Zeph, their son. “What interesting story until you gossip four in the kitchen?”

“I won't answer anything,” I said firmly. He immediately understood the meaning of my sentence and followed me back to the front room.

“Oh, come on, Brother. Tell me. What really happened?” ask the curious official.

“We have been friends for a long time and always tell everything. Your time covered this one thing from all of us. This is not fair, Zahara. We reserve the right to know.” Qiana urged.

“Hadi's friends' parents will come to pick up their child. Please I share all these parcels.” I brought a few bags of snacks and writing equipment for Hadi to share. My friends and Rasmi helped me while grumbling.

Zach's coming, so I want to talk to him for a minute. Hendra still uses his services as a legal adviser at his company. They meet every day, so surely my sister knows a lot of what she's been doing lately.

“Hai, Zach. How's your job today?” I asked while sitting next to him.

“Kakak does not need to mince words if you want to ask the condition of kak Hendra.” He's laughing a little. I just pouted hearing it. “Did Brother not invite him to this event?”

“I told him that's why he gave me the funds to throw this party. After all he always remembered with all the important dates. So, he knows today his son's birthday,” I said.

“After work earlier, I saw Aunt Naava bring a woman and invite Brother Hendra to come with them.” I felt my chest hurt hearing that. Is Mama still trying to get Hendra closer to women again? “What's with him? I think he's happy to have a successor. Then why did he never come to see his son?”

No one knew that Hendra and I had an agreement on children, except for my three best friends. They can be trusted and to this day there is not a single thing about me that they tell others, including my family.

I've deliberately looked my best this afternoon because I thought we would finally meet again. He used to say that he would come when Hadi was five years old. Then why didn't he come? Did he forget his own promise? Or maybe her relationship with the woman is serious?