A Handful of Love for You
16. So Om

Atep POV

Today, I had to forget the thesis. Teh Iyah's husband didn't come home so I'm still staying at his house to help clean up.

“Iiiih Mang Atep really didn't answer Aris siiiih's question.” Aris slipped spoiled on my arm after I finished helping with their stuff.

“Which question is more, Aris....?”

“Ah, Mang Atep mah like it, often not horrified if Aris again talk,” protest Aris.

“It's not so, Ris. Mang Atepnya was busy helping Aras and Aris's mother to forget what Aris.”

I chuckled at the look on Aris's annoyed face.

“Udah don't pout so. If the pouting face Aris funny like a duck,” my god.

“Mang Ateep's... Masa Aris is named the same duck anyway?”

“Iya..sorry..sorry. Aris is handsome, not the same as a duck. So what does Aris want?”

“That's dong if asked,"

"So what's the question?" my many.

"What yes... Aris forgot to." Aris laughed to herself realizing she had forgotten the question that was about to be asked me.

"Aris is senile like grandfathers," my god.

"Enak just said Aris is senile. What the hell's that pikun, Mang?"

I laughed at Aris's question.

"The senator is forgetful."

"Aris is not senile just forget to ask what was it, because Mang Atep did not immediately answer even busy work."

"That's it, huh?"

"Ah, Aris has remembered what to ask," cried Aris.

"Ask what?"

"Where is Atep?”

Geez, this brat is just like that until it sulks. I chuckled at the simple question.

“Mang Atep is busy with college and work. Lagian Aras and Aris will also be long in Jakarta so long ago also did not meet Mang Atep,” I replied.

“Iya also yes... he-he-he.”

“Aris at home in Jakarta?” my many.

“Come anyway, Aris is happy to stay at dad's house. Aris also likes to see the buildings there are a lot and high. Aris neck to pegel because of the frequent look up. But Aris doesn't like the heat. It's so hot in there.”

“So Aras and Aris want to stay here?”

“It. Father also lives here so we will not be far away from the same father,” replied Aras who suddenly came to me and Aris.

“Mang Atep have met Aunt Lena yet? Aunt Lena is beautiful. Surely Mang Atep likes Aunt Lena.” Aris was talking about Aunt Lena whom I don't know.

“Who is Aunt Lena?” my many.

“Tante Lena's aunt Aras and Aris. His sister's father,” replied Aras.

“Oh...” sahutku brief.

“Let Mang Atep marry Aunt Lena to be our Om. Mang Atep married Aunt Lena like Om Fian same Aunt Keisha,” cerocos Aris.

“Kan now also Mang Atep has become the om of Aras and Aris.” I tried to explain to Aras and Aris about my position.

“Now, Mang Atep just so mamangnya Aras and Aris. Not Aras and Aris. Later if married with Aunt Lena just become her om Aras and Aris,” explained Aras.

“Samely atuh, Ras. Mamang and om it's the same,” replied I was anxious.

“Kok can be same? Mamang and om are the same?” ask Aras critically.

“It's just different. If mamang is Sundanese if om is Indonesian,” explained me.

“Oh... Aras understands then.”

“But Mang Atep and Aunt Lena can still get married, right?” aris asked with his offer.

“Yah it could be if Aunt Lena wants to marry Mang Atep.”

“Then later Aris said to Aunt Lena that Mang Atep would marry Aunt Lena.”

“Eh, not so, Aris. Mang Atep did not say that Mang Atep would. Mang Atep just said..” I tried to explain the relationship between their aunt and me to the boys. I haven't finished explaining, Aras has cut it.

“Ya already then let Aras who later said the same Aunt Lena if Mang Atep does not want to marry Aunt Lena. Let Mang Atep be scolded by father for not wanting to marry his sister father,” threatened Aras.

“Lho why Aras so follow?” my protest.

“Biarin!” answer the boy immediately.

What the hell is that great Aunt Lena like? I became curious about the figure of Aunt Lena who had managed to take the heart of my two beloved in a short time.

“Indeed what good Aunt Lena anyway until you guys maksa Mang Atep married her?” Aunt Lena is beautiful isn't she? Mang Atep will not want if the same marriage is not beautiful,” I replied casually.

“Kok Mang Atep like that anyway? Poor dong if the not beautiful can not get married. Mang Atep can't be like that. Mother said, we can't say ugly to others.” Aras. Fucking kid.

“Who said Aunt Lena was ugly? Mang Atep just said that Mang Atep only want to marry the same beautiful not only beautiful face but also beautiful heart,” I explained.

“We can see a beautiful heart?” ask Aras.

“Hat is beautiful that can be seen from his actions. If he is good with others, does not like to be angry, never insult others it can be said his heart is beautiful.”

“Ooh... Like mom, huh?” ask Aris.

“One stop. Like his mother Aras and Aris, beautiful face and also beautiful heart,” I replied straightforwardly.

"But sometimes mothers like to be angry," said Aris.

"Mother's angry because Aras or Aris often pissed off mom, right?"

Aras and Aris thought and said what I said.

“Tante Lena is also beautiful face and heart. Aunt Lena also wears a hijab like mother, surely Mang Atep likes. Aunt Lena is also very good, likes to buy Aras and Aris toys. Aren't you, Ris?”

“Iya... Very beautiful Mang,” exciting Aris.

“More beautiful where same mom?” tanyaku.

“If Mother is the most beautiful in the world. No one is as beautiful as my mother. But Mang Atep can not marry with mother, so Mang Atep married with Aunt Lena alone,” cerocos Aris.

It's true that your mother's beauty nothing can beat. Your mother is beautiful inside and out. It is true that I will never be able to marry your mother even though I would love to marry her and be a real father to both of you.

I breathed a breath of realising this reality. There would be no gap for another man in the heart of Teh Iyah. All the chambers of his heart were already filled by the father of Aras and Aris. I also don't know if there will be another female figure who can fill the space of my heart after being abandoned by the previous owner, Teh Iyah.

*************

to be continued....