Genius Children: Between Hate and Miss
A Short Message

"Father!"

The boy's screams become Xander's first greeting as he sets foot on the floor of Tania's apartment unit. The man reviews the smile then puts his knees on the floor and receives the body of the prince running towards him.

"Papa just came. I, 'wait for Papa from earlier." Chief Arsenio looked up to look at the face of the papa.

"Sorry papa, huh? Papa bangunya badamangan to not hear the sound of alarm that has papa setting before."

Arsenio broke down a hug, then folded her hands on her chest. Not to forget, her red lips curled forward. "Papa invited bobok here do not want to. Try it if you want, I can wake up Papa."

Xander gave a smile to his lips. He touched the boy's shoulder and said, "Wait until you and Mama get married. After that, we'll just live together."

"When did Mom and Dad get married? Don't dong for long, I've been impatient to play with all Papa." Arsenio blinked a few times, hoping that Xander and Tania could stay together like her other two friends' parents. It would be great if they lived under one roof.

Xander's sturdy hands carried Arsenio's body in a sling. He walked to the sofa and sat his only child there.

Xander circled his gaze around, ascertaining whether their position was safe enough to be able to gossip between fellow male men. After believing that Surti could not eavesdrop on their conversation, he said, "Papa does not know exactly when. However, if you want to stay here soon, you have to help papa."

"How?"

Xander waved to Arsenio, code for the little boy's body to approach. "You have to find a way to get Mama to marry me again."

"For example, ask your mother to accompany you to the playground, bookstore or tourist attractions on weekends. When you get to the destination, you pretend to go to the restroom or go play with Mommy Surti, so that papa has a lot of time to get your Mama. Yeah, who knows papa can get your Mama's heart back and we can live together soon. How, you can't help papa, Boy?" ask Xander seriously.

Arsenio flicked her index and thumb fingers almost simultaneously. "That's easy. Just calm down, I'll help you. Anyway when I left Papa and Mama, Papa had to persuade Mama so we could stay together. Understood?"

Sontak Xander spouted laughter. Arsenio's attitude was like an adult who was advising her son. Absolutely adorable.

Xander poked the tip of Arsenio's nose and replied, "Understand me, Boss! Thank you for helping me out." Then Xander raised his hand before Arsenio who was greeted with a similar thing. Then they both do tos ala father and son.

***

Meanwhile, Tania returned to work at the office after several days of leave for caring for Arsenio who was being treated at the hospital. Johan assigns Tania to handle all the work while she and Joana are in Kalimantan. The work there is still not done so it forces them to stay longer than the specified time.

"Nia, your phone just rang. Don't want to check first? Who knows the important phone from baby sitter Arsen." Khansha reprimanded Tania who seemed so focused with the monitor screen in front of her. So serious he ignored incoming calls and short messages sent to him.

Tania commented a smile while removing the device from the hand bag. "Yes, yeah, I'm checking now."

It is true, many incoming notifications include unheard phone calls and short messages from foreign numbers.

[Tania, it's me, Miranda. Can we meet this afternoon at Rainbow cafe at one in the afternoon? There's something important I want to talk to you about.]

Next to Tania's eyebrows raised next to the confused sign. Where did the former father-in-law get his number? Did Xander or maybe Jonathan give it to Miranda? Why did Miranda ask them to meet? A lot of questions ran through the young lady's mind.

Khansha, Tania's deskmate, noticed the change in her co-worker's attitude. He pulled up the chair right next to Tania. "Tania, what's wrong with you? Your expression is like a confused person. What was? Did Arsenio's disease recur?" that woman's scatter.

Tania shook her head. "Arsenio is fine, Sha. It's just .. I'm confused I don't know what to do."

"Why jungles? Same story with me, who knows I can help."

Tania's eye tails glanced right and left, then stared at her co-worker's brown iris. "Sha, suppose your former mother-in-law is confident of meeting, you will obey her request or just ignore it?"

Khasha was silent for a moment. It seemed that the woman was thinking about what kind of answer was right to convey to Tania.

Breathing long and heavy. Khansa replied, "Depending on the situation. If you just want to insult and berate your mother, it is better not to come. It's free to come if only to be insulted. However, if for important matters, it is better to come. Who knows, there really is an important thing that you want to talk about in four eyes."

The atmosphere of silence was again created. Tania was unmoved as if her mouth was tightly locked.

Khansa, who knows the dark history of the Tania household, though does not know if the woman next to her is the former young mistress Vincent Pramono touching the shoulder of Arsenio's biological mother and again said, "That's just my advice. All decisions are in your hands, I can't impose my own will on others."

"My advice, think carefully, do not let you be rash in making a decision."

After saying the phrase, Khansa again busied herself with her work. While Tania is still weighing whether she should comply with Miranda's request or not.

Duh, why am I so confused gini, huh? Confused about whether or not to reject Aunt Miranda's request. If you refuse, how do you refuse? inner Tania. Occasionally glance towards short messages sent via WhatsApps. Really, it's a dilemma.

When Tania was in confusion, the woman's mobile phone rang again. A message was sent again by the former mother-in-law.

[You're calm, our meeting this time is not for insulting let alone slapping your face. I just want to talk to you from heart to heart. I hope you can come on time.]

Swallowing saliva with difficulty, trying to wet the throat that feels dry. Tania took a deep breath, then exhaled it slowly.

The finger lentik was typing the screen on a 6.5-inch device. [Okay, I'll come.]

***