The Untouched Heart

Chapter 91 - Just A Suggestion

“What's up, Brother?” ask Zach to know. He looked at my face carefully. “Why does Big Brother look so upset?”

“Nothing.” I had enough information from him, so I walked towards where my friends were. It's time to clean up the room.

“I know the meaning of that expression.” Zach walked by my side. “Kak kidding? Brother Hendra is close to another woman, Brother does not like? Brother dressed up as beautiful as this, with different makeup and hairdressing, did Brother expect that Brother Hendra would come to the event today?”

“Close your mouth.” I stopped my steps and looked towards him. “Listen, yes. Today is Hadi's birthday, my son. I have to look good in front of the guests. Not because I want to attract the attention of men who no longer care about me.”

“Usually also Sister just dressed neatly and wearing lipstick. But what is this? The sisters dress up to the maximum, the hair is spiraled at the ends, and wear clothes that are more suitable to wear when attending dinner than the birthday of a five-year-old. Just compare the appearance of Brother with my wife or the three friends of the Brother.” He looked at me meaningfully.

“Talking to you is a waste of my time.” I turned around intending to leave.

“You wait how much longer, brother? Until when will Brother harbour feelings for Brother Hendra? Don't let Brother Hendra marry another new woman Brother act. It was too late,” he said shaking my stance.

“No. I hurt him enough. I don't want to hurt him anymore,” I said slowly.

“So, Brother prefers to hurt himself by finding out from us who still meet him often? Why not just meet him? He wouldn't hurt her by meeting and talking to her. I'm sure Brother Hendra will be happy to accept your invitation,” he said half a whisper.

“Why isn't he the one who asked to meet?” I asked back. “He let me take care of our two children alone. Do you think I have time to plan a meeting with that heartless man? He can come here and see his two children, if he doesn't want to see me. But where is he? Disappear just like that,” rutukku annoyed.

“Hey, hey, don't be mad at me. I'm just giving you advice. If you don't want to, yes, already.” He sipped a drink in the glass he held.

“What did he tell you to say all those things?” aska I want to know. He even smiled.

“Kak Hendra has never discussed anything about his older brother or his feelings. We're just talking about work. Point. Did Brother forget? I'm just his legal advisor now. No longer his sister-in-law.” He looked up to hear his name called. Rasmi waved his hand. “I have to go. We continue this later.”

Fucking liar. Hendra never treated him as a stranger. He's still his sister-in-law. Because otherwise, Hendra wouldn't have intervened when the Official's parents complicated their relationship. He kept his promise by uniting Zach and Rasmi with the blessing of my sister-in-law's parents. I don't know what he did that they changed their minds, but I really appreciate the effort. Zach is now happy with his small family.

My sister and best friend are happy with their partner and children. I'm the only one who doesn't have Hendra by my side. At times like this it would be nice to be in her arms and occasionally steal a kiss from her. It's been almost three years since the last time I could hug and kiss her as much as I could. I don't regret what happened that night.

“You must be tired of preparing this event.” Someone spoke from my right side. I cursed in my heart for standing dumb away from my best friend. Because of Zach's words, I forgot I was going to rejoin them.

“I have to clear the room, excuse me.” I walked up to Darla.

“Why do you always avoid me? I won't bite, Zahara,” Dicky said. I didn't stop my steps.

After an hour of working together, the room finally came back tidy, the rented seating was piled up, just waiting to be picked up by the owner. All dirty eating utensils have been cleaned and placed in storage.

“Mama.” Dira touched the end of my skirt. I looked up, then lifted him up. He immediately put both his hands around my neck.

“Mommy's child is sleepy?” askaku. He just kept quiet. I kissed her cheek.

“We said, Zahara.” Darla touched my back. I nodded my head.

“Thank you for coming and setting up this event, Darla.” I received his embrace. I also thank my other two friends. Their husbands just shook my hand politely. They then wished Hadi a happy birthday and rubbed his head with anxiety.

“What's this Sunday you have an event?” dicky asked when it was his turn to leave. He still hasn't given up either. “How about I pick you up and the kids for lunch together?”

“No, thank you.” I immediately rejected it. I saw my friends mulling their smiles while standing behind the man curiously.

“Mama has said no. Thank you, Om.” Hadi politely refused.

“Good.” He smiled at me, then turned around and walked to his car. I rubbed my son's head because he did the right thing.

“Usahanya can too,” said Mama who stood by my side. I rolled my eyeballs hearing it. “You seriously don't want to give him a chance? He's a board member, lo.”

“Stop this, Ma.” I hugged and kissed her. “Mama can go home.”

“Durhaka children. Your own parents were also expelled.” Mama pretended to be angry while kissing Dira's cheek, then approached Hadi.

“Senewen's sister because Hendra's sister didn't come, Ma.” Zach who was holding a sleeping Zeph approached me. I just frowned as she hugged and kissed me on the cheek. “Just look at him has performed optimally, but everything is in vain.”

“Leave it. He needs to know what it feels like to be rejected and ignored.” Sometimes I ask, I'm my mother's biological daughter or not. Why did Mama keep siding with Hendra? They laughed and mocked me.

Papa and Rasmi took turns hugging and kissing me. They also did the same to Hadi, while Dira did not open her eyes again as they greeted and kissed her. Finally, everyone went home. The house is empty again.

Dira fell asleep in my arms, so I took her to her room first. I changed her clothes to her favorite pajamas, then helped brush her teeth. He did not refuse because it was his habit. I sat down for a moment on the edge of his bed after laying him on his bed.

The door of the room opened, Hadi tilted his head. I smiled to see that she had changed her own clothes. He immediately ran up to me and hugged me. From the scent of his breath, he had even brushed his own teeth.

“Smart mama's son has cleaned himself and changed his clothes himself,” praise me while giving him a kiss as a gift.

“I've been five years, so I've grown up. Yes, ‘kan, Ma?” he said with pride.

“Iya. Do you want to open your card tonight or wait for tomorrow?” I stood up and took her out of Dira's room so her sister wouldn't wake up.

“I just want to open a gift from Papa,” he said impatiently. “Another gift opens tomorrow only.”

We headed downstairs and approached the pile of gifts that Yuyun and Abdi had arranged neatly in the living room. Gift from Hendra immediately attracted attention because the box was the largest box compared to the gift from the others. Yuyun must have deliberately placed it in one place and not put it together with other gifts.

“Come, Ma. Quickly open!” hadi was getting impatient. I used scissors to tear off the tape that was gluing the top cover of the cardboard. “Waahh ..!” He had to tiptoe to be able to see the contents inside the large box.

I took one box out of it. Cars with control tools, some large boxes with LEGO logos, an action figure of Hadi's favorite cartoon character, and some reading books for children. Of course Hadi immediately embraced the wax statue first.

“How can Papa know, Ma? Mama said, this small statue is very expensive.” He stared at the box with sparkling eyes, then hugged it again.

“Perhaps an angel whispered it to Papa because you were being nice all this time?” my guess. He's laughing a little.

“Mama must have told Papa. Thank you, Ma!” He kissed my cheek. “Mama should not be close to any man, yes.”

“Why did you suddenly say so?” many confused.

“I don't like Om Dicky. I don't want to have a step-father. I just want my papa. She's the best.” Of course he said so after receiving all these gifts. “If Mama marries another, I don't want to stay with Mama. I want to be with Papa.”

Whahuh? Who taught him to talk like that? Since when did my own son dare to threaten me?