A Handful of Love for You
52. Training as a Parent

Alena POV's

“Let your year when?” suddenly tanyanya.

“Create what you know?” I answered the question with another question.

“Mau give me a gift. Can ya?”

“Tersubscribe.”

“What do you like?” ask again.

“Means?”

“That's you, every question I ask you answer again with the question,” the protest.

“Finished your question is unclear.”

“I'm clear again. I want to give you a gift for you. What gift do you want?”

“Ya is up to you.”

“I'm worried that you don't like the gift I picked if you say it's up to.”

“Ah ribet you mah. Don't give me a gift,” gruntuku.

“How about I give you cin... uh...give you... Hm...” He stuttered a little.

“You want a gift of love? don't need. No need!” my ketus.

He chuckled at my loud tone.

“You received. Need or not. I will still give my love to you.”

“Gombal.”

“I'm not a dreadlocks. I'm serious about my words.”

“Since when did you love me?” manya curious. Since we first met, it was very rare that we did not argue or fight.

“I also did not realize since when I started to like you but certainly after the first time we met. You are often in my mind. At first I thought that I didn't like you but the longer we interact, the more often you come to mind and interrupt my days.”

“You're good at combing too,” I said cynically.

“Kan told me that this is not a fight but my true heart.” It seems like he was honest with his words but I am still ashamed to acknowledge my heart as well.

“If you like me, why do you always make me annoyed and angry?” ketus.

“Hm... Probably because I'm looking for your attention. So you keep thinking about me.”

“Ish, seems to irritate people. You think I'm not tired of running into you annoying?”

“But it looks like my strategy worked.”

“You mean?”

“Because I often irritate you, you often think of me. Because you often think of me, you like me too. Yes, right?” statement surprised me.

“Who said I think of you often? Don't fantasize and make up freely!” I said pissed. He could have said that.

“Teh Iyah who said,” answered.

“Haaaa..Teh Yes?” I was surprised to hear his answer. How can Iyah Tea say that. “Where is Tea Iyah know what I think?”

Duh, Iyah Tea how can you say so with Atep? I never said my heart was the same as Tea Iyah. Fortunately, I did not confide in Teh Iyah if I also started to like Atep. If until I tell you can-can Tea Iyah make a scene. I didn't tell you, Iyah Tea can already read my heart.

“You're surprised why Teh Iyah said that?” He chuckled and continued his words. “Teh Iyah said that you often confide in your family about the annoying students you guide. That's me, right?”

“We're home. Maybe Aras and Aris are ready.” I switched the conversation about this sensitive matter and took her home.

Arriving at home, instead of seeing Aras and Aris who were ready I saw a family drama where Aris was crying and my brother was angry.

I saw Aris was sobbing while bowing his head.

“A...” I called my sister Sirih.

“No one persuades Aris!” my brother's firm was aimed at all of us in the room.

I saw Teh Iyah trying to hold back her crying. It seems like Teh Iyah did not dare to interrupt my brother who was angry at Aris.

“Aras, you just sit there!” my brother said sharply when Aras was about to approach Aris.

Aras sat back in silence.

Hearing his father's order that no one should approach and persuade him made Aris's cry even louder.

Then my sister went up the stairs and Aris ran over and hugged my brother's leg while crying but my brother did not heed it and just continued to step up the stairs followed by Aris pulling down the bottom kaos.

“A...” call me. I'm worried about Aris.

I had already stepped up the stairs following Aris and my brother but Teh Iyah pulled my arm.

“Leave it, Len. Aa is disciplining Aris. Aris has been hard to take a shower. You know for yourself how disciplined your brother is.” Teh Iyah said while wiping away the tears.

I can feel a mother's sadness in Teh Iyah. I salute Teh Iyah for being able to restrain her emotions from contradicting my brother in educating their children.

I still heard Aris's cries that kept sulking but I didn't hear a word from my brother.

“We so go or cancel?” whispered Atep to me.

“Ish, again the atmosphere like this is still asked so or enggak.” I looked at him sharply.

He shut his mouth after hearing my words.

After making her shut up, I went up to my room to change clothes and apply as natural make-up as possible. I didn't think I could do something like this. Dress up for her. I could have acted this stupid. Am I starting to like him? I like it because I see a happy smile from the mirror in front of me.

After a while, Aris's cry subsided. Half an hour later, Aris came down with her father in a shower.

“In case of discipline, the same father will not need any drama,” I said to Aris who was replied with his manyun mouth.

“You leaving now?” ask Atep.

“Aras, Aris we go now,” take me to the twins.

Aras puts down the book he is reading and Aris releases his father's handrails.

“You guys be careful on the road. Aras and Aris do not be naughty, according to Mang Atep and Aunt Lena,” Teh Iyah's decree on the twins.

“Iya, Mom!” answer Aras and Aris compact.

Aras and Aris kissed the hands of Teh Iyah and A Endra, followed by me and Atep. The four of us boarded my brother's car driven by Atep. I sat in the passenger seat beside him, and the krucil duo sat in the back seat.

Arriving at T Studio, we went straight to the place where the game rides. Aras and Aris directly ride the rides of mareka's favorite game. While we both wait for them to play while busy with our respective phones.

Actually I don't know what he's doing right now but for sure I'm pretending to be busy with my phone to avoid him. I don't want to have a chat with him here that might lead to a debate.

“Len, I go to the toilet first. You wait here,” the part to me that I answer with a nod.

“Don't focus too much on your phone. Watch Aras and Aris! They are our responsibility. Do not let anything happen to them because of our negligence.”

I raise my head.

“Iya,” I answered briefly and then returned to the screen of my phone.

“Don't do it, but it's the same focus eye of the phone again,”.

“Iya. Garrulous.” I moved from my seat away from him. Approaching the location of Aras and Aris who are busy riding a mini roller coaster for the umpteenth time.

**********

to be continued......