Behind The Lies
Give Distance

Ashilla knocked on Lily's nursery door, a second later she walked in. “Siang, Sus.”

“Siang, Mum.” Sister Rika is retreating.

“Where now?” ashilla asked as she approached the tube where the baby was lying.

“It's better and tomorrow Lily can go home.”

“Aalhamdulillah's. What'sthetime? I'm afraid I can't pick up.”

 “Again, Bu.”

“Oh, most afternoon after from my office stop by.”

“Iya, Mum.”

“Sus, what does Sister need, say? Caring for a baby should be happy no burden,” Ashilla said gently while holding Sister Rika's shoulder. “Iyash has a story, ‘kan if his mother Lily died?”

Sister Rika nodded.

“So we're here as the ones who helped him. Hopefully he will soon meet his other family.”

“Aamiin ..”

“I can't be long.” Ashilla then took out two hundred thousand bills. “This is for sisters, beyond Lily's needs and beyond Sister Rika's salary from Iyash.”

“No need, Mom,” reject Sister Rica refined.

“Nothing, take. To add-on needs Sister.”

“Thank you, Ma.”

“Iya, equally.” Ashilla then looked at her watch. “I say yes, because my son is waiting under.”

“Good, Mom. Thank you.”

Ashilla nodded with a smile. He then went to where Asa was. The little boy was sitting next to Iyash under a tree in front of the hospital. From a distance Ashilla smiled looking towards them.

“If you want, then invite you to a good place here. You must like it. We go for a ride on a motorbike,” take Iyash half persuaded. Somehow he wanted to know a lot about Ashilla through Asa.

“Asa don't want to go without Mama.”

“Om won't kidnap you. Later if Om kidnap you, Mama you hate dong same Om.”

Asa raised one eyebrow while looking at Iyash. “Indeed Om likes Mama?”

“Iya,” reply Iyash full of confidence. “Who doesn't like to see women as beautiful as your Mama.”

Asa cringing. “Mama already Existing Space Om. They'll soon be getting married.”

Iyash's heart is beating. He had to prove it all before it happened. “Who said?”

“Om Space.”

Iyash grunting. Of course the Space said it. “Om Space friend Om Iyash too, we've been friends since SMP.”

“Oh.”

Ashilla walked slowly and cleared her throat. “Yuk go home,” take him.

“Already, Ma?”

“Already.”

“But, Asa hungry, want to eat.”

Iyash quickly rose. “Tadi Om eat no.”

Asa turned to the man. “Asa, ‘kan have to wait Mama, later Mama worry find Asa.”

“Smart.” Ashilla stroked the top of her son's head. “Love you, my son.”

Asa smile.

Iyash is approaching. “Because Mama already exists, what if now Om invite you to eat.”

Hearing Iyash's invitation, Asa immediately looked at the mother. “Bby, Ma?”

“‘Kan equals Mama,” by Iyash.

Ashilla nodded.

“We eat near here only, it's in front there's a restaurant,” show Iyash. “Yuk.”

Ashilla nodded while guiding Asa. They walked to the restaurant across from the hospital. They look like a family with one child. Iyash would be happy if anyone said so. Sit down at a table and ask Ashilla to choose a menu.

“Asa want what?” ask Ashilla.

“Ayam soy sauce.”

“Just it?”

Asa nodded.

“Not bored?”

The boy shook his head.

“OK, drink it?”

“What's your drink?”

“Es oranges yes?”

“Iya.”

 “Ayam soy sauce same iced orange.”

“Good, Mom. Mas her?”

“Eating?”

“Ngak.”

“So chicken soy sauce same iced orange two huh?”

“Iya.”

“Please wait.”

Ashilla nodded. While Iyash was staring at Asa. “It's Asa native Indonesia huh?”

Instantly Ashilla raised her eyebrows and looked at Iyash. Iyash shouldn't have talked about that in front of Asa. Asa stared at her mother. The boy then snorted. “Say Mama later if it's big Asa will know.”

“Loh why?” ask Iyash curiously.

“What do you mean?” Ashilla frowned.

“Yes why can't you know now? Poor father, Asa also definitely want to meet, ‘kan?”

“There's time. If he wants to meet, he should find us. Find his son.” From that sentence Ashilla was a little emotional and Asa immediately clasped her hand.

“It’s okay, Ma. As long as Mama is near Asa, Asa does not need to know who Papa.” is

“Thank you, Darling.”

Asa smile.

“Sorry, Om did not mean, Asa,” regretted Iyash.

 Asa nodded.

Iyash took a breath. “So, he said Asa want to school here?”

“Iya,” replied Ashilla. “Who knows have a recommendation?”

“There, my cousin the principal at International school.”

Ashilla looked at Asa. “Bby, Asa get there aja.”

“Om also has a niece there, her name is Queensha. Later Om knows Asa to him.”

“Asa is a bit hard to get along with,” Ashilla said slowly.

Instantly Iyash remembered Aruna who once said, “I had a little trouble getting along”. Iyash immediately cleared his throat. “That's because maybe Asa is still small, still not confident, let alone Asa is new here.”

“Please, Mom, Sir.” The waiter placed a plate of rice and a plate of soy sauce chicken along with two glasses of orange ice.

Asa immediately enjoyed her own food without being fed. Ashilla and Iyash accompanied him.

“Asa homeschooling,” says Ashilla.

“Oh.”

“Yes, so for these two years she went to school at home accompanied by her caregiver, so the teacher who came to the house.”

“Why not go to public school?” ask Iyash curiously.

“Maybe Asa is not ready. That's why I wish him well here, hopefully he has a lot of friends.”

“Let me help.”

“Still yes, Yash.”

Iyash cleared his throat while nodding. “So yesterday I was amazed when you put Lily to bed, I think you are very good at taking care of children, it turns out to be experienced.”

Ashilla just smiled.

“You are very motherly. Asa lucky to have you.”

“That's all it looks from the outside, long before I've been a monster.”

Iyash. He was getting curious and wanted to know more about the woman in front of him. It seems like he has to spend a lot of time on that.

Suddenly Ashilla's phone rang. “Shortly,” he said as he got up and left the chair. Then walk towards the window. “Yes, Bund?”

“You are still a long time?”

“Yes, this is Asa again for food.” Ashilla looked back and looked at Asa who was sitting opposite Iyash. “Against the afternoon.”

 “Asa is not fussy?”

“Ngak.” Miranti might get upset if she finds out Asa is locked in the car. So, Ashilla chose not to tell it.

“Mother to talk,” says Miranti.

“Sebentar.” Ashilla quickly returned to the table. “Mother to talk.” Ashilla pressed the speaker button and brought it closer to Asa.

“Asa, are you happy?” ask Miranti.

“Yes, I am so happy,” Asa replied with a full mouth.

“Again, Bund,” says Ashilla.

Miranti laughing. A few seconds later he asked, “You're just two?”

Iyash immediately stared in the other direction as Ashilla stared at him. It seems that a mother's instincts are really honed.

“You heard Mother?”

“Tem–” Ashilla directly shut Asa's mouth, then shook her head. While Iyash was flabbergasted to see Ashilla's actions.

“Mother, already yes, let Asa quickly finish the food, we can go home soon.” Ashilla immediately pressed the dead button. “Quick spend, we should go home soon afraid of rain,” he told Asa.

Iyash. Ashilla is giving distance.