20 Years Adrift
Chapter 4. New Status

Affan's car stopped in front of the gate of his house. Aira was nervous. This isn't the first time she's set foot in Affan's house as Faya's best friend. However, this was her first time coming as a hostess there.

Faya is seen sitting on the porch of the house accompanied by Sumi, Affan's maid, when they come.

Sumi has been working since Faya was a baby so it has been considered like her own family by Affan. His age is no longer young to make Affan feel compassion and ask him to do light work only. There were Nami and Heti who also worked in that house.

"Bik Sum!" call Affan after he gets out of his car.

He then walked around to the side door opening the door for Aira.

Faya who was originally sitting became dumbfounded and slowly rose up like a hypnotized person. He did not believe what he saw. He was still dumbfounded as the two of them stood before him.

"Dad, this ... this is Aira, right?" asked Faya while pointing towards Aira.

Affan nodded then said, "We're talking inside."

Aira's face looked pale from feeling tense. Faya immediately approached him and led him into the house. He did not ask much despite feeling strange about the arrival of his best friend who carried a lot of that stuff.

The three of them walked towards the living room and sat there. A moment of silence until Affan starts a conversation.

"Darling, I brought you some shocking news. I hope you don't think anything about Dad. All this happened so suddenly. I didn't think this would happen either." Affan spoke softly to Faya who was sitting and hugged Aira's shoulder.

"I mean, Dad?" Faya looked at Affan with a clueless look.

Affan also told me everything that happened from the beginning of his meeting with Aira this afternoon until the two reached this house. He told me everything without anyone missing.

Faya fell silent. Everything that happened was so shocking to him. Circumstances that made it hard to believe, but this was a reality he had to face.

Aira did not dare to raise her face. Her tears continued to flow nonstop. She was afraid that Faya could not accept all this and blamed her.

After being able to control her heart, Faya grabbed Aira's shoulder and hugged her. This unexpected treatment made Aira's cry even more. She vented all her sadness in her tears.

Faya's tears fell unbearably. The two friends cried together until they both calmed down.

Elsewhere, Affan also felt a sense of novelty. Somehow in the future, the most important thing now is that Faya has accepted this reality.

After feeling better, Faya stretched her arms and looked at Aira. His hand held the cheeks of his best friend who broke into tears.

"Aira, I know it's hard for you. I myself may not be able to deal with such a bitter thing as you are going through, but believe me, my father was a good man, he would not hurt you." Faya tried to calm herself down.

Aira was silent. It never occurred to her that she would be a stepmother to her own best friend. At first he thought Faya would get angry and berated him for this situation. He did not expect that his best friend was seen sincerely accepting his father's marriage.

"We got into a loveless marriage, Faya. I'm far from the criteria of a dream mother. I don't regret this marriage but I'm also ready to accept the worst that's going to happen in the future." Aira spoke in a raucous voice.

Faya looks disappointed with Aira's reply. His great desire to see his best friend happy made him have to act.

"Don't play a wedding, Aira. Can you change the rules that God has set? I accept you as my mother. It doesn't matter if we're the same age." After saying that Faya turned to her father. "I hope you will be patient. I'm sure you two can accept each other someday."

Affan. Everything Faya said was true. Honestly he is not interested in marrying an underage woman, but he can't play a marriage even though he doesn't want it.

After everything calmed down, the three of them went to the dining table. The wall clock shows at eleven o'clock in the evening. They will not sleep well before filling their stomach with food.

Tonight, Aira sleeps with Faya. There were actually guest rooms and some empty rooms, but Faya could not bear to see Aira who was being overwhelmed with sadness.

At three o'clock in the morning Aira woke up to perform evening prayers. A habit he never gave up. The sound of water makes Faya wake up. He forgot that Aira was there.

"Is it dawn, Ai? I mean Mama." Faya corrected his words. He will try to familiarize the call in his honor.

"Yet. Go sleep! I'm having a night prayer" Aira replied while wearing a mukena.

Faya nodded then went back inside her blanket. He still felt sleepy, tonight they slept too late.

Morning, the morning,

Affan was ready with his office shirt. He was reading the newspaper in the dining room when Faya and Aira came.

Faya walked quickly over to her father while Aira was still glued behind her. They are used to having breakfast together before doing their respective activities.

Aira stared at Affan. Even though he was an adult, he still looked very handsome. She looked much younger than her actual age, probably because her relaxed nature made her become ageless.

"I know my dad's handsome. But you won't be full just by looking at it. Sit down!" Faya pulled the chair beside her for Aira.

Aira blushed embarrassedly hearing Faya's joke. She did not answer him and immediately sat down on the seat reserved for him.

"You don't do that, Faya." Affan shook his head while looking gently at his daughter.

"I just want to express my happiness, Dad. My father is very handsome and my mother is very beautiful, I feel like a very lucky child in this world." Faya smiled and then went back to enjoying the food.

"Mama?" Affan scrunched his forehead.

"Yes, Aira's mom. Mother's call to a mother who's gone, so she's my mother. I'll respect her like my real mother." Faya looks very happy.

Aira still looks awkward. He doesn't talk much like before. Although Faya can take it well, but she is still not used to her new status.

Sumi comes to them and says that the room for Aira is ready. Affan asked her to move her belongings to that room.

"Wait!" exciting Faya.

Sumi stopped her steps and turned to face them again.

"What's up, Non Faya?" tanyanya.

"Bring Mama Aira's things to dad's room" he said.

Aira and Affan looked at Faya in disbelief. They did not expect that Faya would say that.

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