Duren Mateng's
Chapter 63. Just Five Steps

Alvaro tidied up the documents scattered on the table. The man was getting ready to go home. He grabbed a phone not far from his reach. Alvaro has completely replaced his phone with the latest phone. As a result of a typo, making himself buy a cell phone again while the old phone, he gave it for free to others.

The man rubbed his phone screen, checking there might be a short message from his lover that had been missed.

He moved from his seat. Grab an office coat hanging not far from his big chair. Stepping away with the briefcase in her hand.

The man walked to the parking lot. Get in his car, and drive the vehicle.

On the way, Alvaro's phone rang. When he saw the name on the screen, Alvaro immediately developed his smile.

"Hello, Honey." Alvaro greeted the girl across the phone with a sweet greeting.

"You haven't come home, .... Darling?" Rania sounded still shy to call Alvaro with the sweet title.

"I'm on my way to pick up Bima. Have you gone home yet? If not let me pick you up," said the man.

"I've been home since, besides I also brought my own vehicle. Yes, you have to, pick up Bima first. Later when I get home, I'll call you again" said Rania.

"Why call when you get home? Aren't our five steps face-to-face?" alvaro said while chuckling amusedly.

"Haha, I forgot. Our story is like a song title, five-step boyfriend."

"Hmmm ... Did you just notice?"

"Yes, you could say so. Already, later upon arrival at home, let's meet."

The phone connection was cut off unilaterally. Alvaro developed his smile, while driving the car.

"Five-step girlfriend? Yeah, we're like the title of that song" Alvaro muttered.

Shortly after, the car driven by Alvaro arrived at the main house. The man got off his vehicle. A day without seeing his son, made Alvaro very long.

Alvaro walked towards the middle room, he saw Bima who was watching television along with Fahri, Arumi, and Alvira.

Alvaro approached the three men. Fahri smiled when he realized the whereabouts of his son. "Have you come home?" ask Fahri.

"Yes, Pa." Alvaro chimed in on his father's remarks briefly.

Hearing Alvaro's voice, Bima immediately set his eyes on the father. "Father!" exclaim that boy. Seen a happy twinkle in his eyes.

"Yes, son."

Bima immediately slammed into his father's embrace. Alvaro was holding his big baby. "Weight, Bima must have eaten a lot huh at grandma's house?" alvaro asked while pinching slowly Bima's puffed cheek.

"Yes, Pa. Aunty Vira asked Bima to eat a lot of food," Bima explained accompanied by the movement of her hand.

The three people who were there immediately laughed at Bima who complained to his father. "Tante Vira eats a lot, there is fat in her stomach, Aunty" said Arumi.

"Yes, Grandma. Aunt's stomach is so fat. Bima want to see adek later," said Bima.

"Later, if the younger brother is born, Bima play equally adek, son?" Alvira.

"Yes, Aunt. Bima wants to play with the baby. Papa when do we have a grandpa?" knock the boy.

Alvaro rubbed his nape because of Bima's question. Moreover, his son asked in front of his family, especially his mother who would return to urge Alvaro to get married soon.

"Listen up, Varo. Your son has asked for a sister, do not long go into a relationship, immediately marry the girl," said Arumi while crossing the window.

"Girl?" fahri and Alvira asked at the same time.

Arumi nodded her head. "Yes, girl. Varo's lover is a girl who is none other than her own neighbor" Arumi explained.

"Well, a widower is not just a widower" Alvira said, applauding.

"Don't embarrass me, Vira." Alvaro scolds his twin brother.

"What your mother said is true, Varo. There is no harm if you are in a relationship with a commitment. If you're just playing around, you're not teenagers anymore" Fahri said.

"We've only been dating one day, Pa. I want to get to know him first, and he also wants to get to know me better" Alvaro said.

Fahri nodded his head, understanding the intent of his son's thought.

"We're home, Boy?" alvaro asked his son.

"Yes, Pa." Bima replied accompanied by a small nod.

Bima said goodbye to his grandmother, grandfather, and aunt. The boy shook the hands of the three men in turn.

"Later if your papa wants to date, Bima lives with grandma again, yes" said Arumi as she rolled her eyes to Bima.

"Ready, Grandma." Bima nodded her head, then walked back to her father, holding Alvaro's hand.

"We go home first, Ma, Pa." Alvaro is the one who says goodbye.

"Yes, Son. Be careful on the road," Arumi and Fahri chimpanzees simultaneously.

Both men walked away from that place. When he was about to get into the car, Bima looked up at his father's face.

"Dating is done by adults, young children should not know what dating is. Later if you still ask about dating .. papa will tickle Bima," said Alvaro who began to tickle Bima, making the boy cry for mercy because of amused taste.

"God, Pa. Bima will not ask about that anymore" cried Bima while accompanied by a small laugh.

Alvaro stopped his actions. He rubbed the top of his son's head with affection. "Later, after adulthood, Bima will know what dating is. Now, Bima's task must be diligent in learning," said Alvaro advising his son.

"Craftsmen learn to mature, huh, Pa?" bima asked by showing her plain face.

"So smart, not grown up." It was Alvaro who put his son in the car. Alvaro then occupies the steering wheel, driving the car to the apartment.

....

Elsewhere, Rania was walking to and fro waiting for her lover to come. Every now and then he taps on his phone screen, looking at the time that it has shown at 8 p.m.

"Is it still a long time? I'm afraid if it's time for him to arrive later, I'll fall asleep." Rania muttered while biting her finger.

Shortly thereafter, a bell was heard. Make Rania rushed to tidy up her appearance, comb her hair with her fingers for a moment, then then the girl opened the door.

The girl smiled when she saw the person pressing the bell was none other than her neighbor. "Have you arrived?" rania asked while slipping her hair into her ear.

"Yes. Were you waiting for me earlier?" ask Alvaro.

Rania nodded her head, making Alvaro anxious and ruffling her lover's hair. Rania's hair is ruffled, but her feelings also fall apart. For some reason, Alvaro's attitude like this, makes the girl want to return spoiled. However, given the advice from Hilda this afternoon, Rania paused her intention.

"What's taking me to meet? Is it because you miss me?" ask Alvaro.

"Not that, I just wanted to apologize to you, because this afternoon made you embarrass yourself in front of Hilda," Rania's great-grandson.

"Self-humiliated?" alvaro asked as he raised his eyebrows next door.

Rania nodded her head, "Yes. I feel that way," said Rania.

Alvaro rubbed his face violently while exhaling his breath. "I guess you want to see me because you miss me" said Alvaro, who tried to shift the subject.

"Don't change the subject. I want to apologize for my childish behavior" said Rania.

Alvaro chuckled amusedly, "Dear, there's no need to talk about that. After all, I had already realized that my mistake was also quite fatal. Therefore, I decided to change my phone so as not to typo again later," said Alvaro.

"Change phones? You bought a new phone just because you typed in one of the letters?" ask Rania to make sure. The girl was shocked by her lover's crazy behavior.

Alvaro nodded his head, confirming the words of the girl before him. Rania again showed her gloomy face, making Alvaro again wonder.

"What's wrong? Why did your face come back moody like that?" ask Alvaro.

"I guessed it. Because I sulked, you changed your phone just because of one letter typed. I don't want this relationship to burden you, you shouldn't have to buy a new phone just because it's trivial" said Rania.

"In that case, next time I won't be exchanging short messages with you too often, if we don't get a voice over the phone, we just meet," Rania continued grumbling.

Alvaro chuckled amusedly at the words of his lover. "Well, it would be better to meet in person. With just five steps, then we can look at each other like this" said Alvaro staring at his lover carefully.

"Stop looking at me like that! I'm ashamed!" said Rania hit Alvaro's arm slowly, then then covered his face that met red.

"I feel like I'm going to get diabetes soon" Alvaro said.

"Diabetes? You should reduce eating sweet or containing coconut milk. It's best to see a doctor immediately," said Rania who began to panic.

Alvaro shook his head slowly, "It is not because of eating sweet or eating too much coconut milk. However, I have a lover who is too sweet to make me a little overdose," explained Alvaro who again teased Rania.

A reddish tinge was again seen on Rania's beautiful face. "You're too good at seducing!" rania said, with a smile.

Shortly after, Bima appeared from behind the door. The little boy saw his father talking to his neighbor.

"Papa" call Bima.

"Yes, son."

"What are you doing with Doctor Ma'am?" ask Bima.

"Ah this, papa is consulting on how to take care of dental health. Papa does not want to be affected by toothache as well as Bima," said Alvaro who tried to make an excuse.

"Oh, Bima thought papa was where," said Bima who did not initially see the whereabouts of his father in the house.

"In that case, we continue tomorrow morning. It's already night anyway. Sleep well and don't forget to dream of me" whispered Alvaro.

Rania simply responded to her lover's words with a smile. Alvaro immediately approached his son, inviting Bima back into the house.

"Mother Doctor, good night." The boy waved his hand at Rania.

"Good sleep also for Bima," said Rania reply to a wave of Bima's hand.

Rania looks at Alvaro and Bima who are starting to enter the house. The girl again developed her smile, "Dad and child are equally sweet," muttered Rania who directly entered her dwelling.

Connect ....