HATE Before LOVE
Elif's Fury and Mother's Speech!

After a short celebration, Mona, Yura, Ardan and Teddy finally went home as the day went on. Elif was worried, if his father came to see this furore would be furious again. He just doesn't know that his father is now languishing behind bars.

Elif got on his bed after applying night skincare and wearing his sleeping pajamas, he pulled a thin blanket up to his chin. But something was bothering him. I don't know why he was worried about something. Every time he tried to close his eyes, his heart instantly beat rapidly, like a person under the pressure of fear. Quickly Elif opened his eyes, turned on the lamp sitting on the small table beside his bed and immediately looked towards the door.

"Nothing" he said himself.

He turned off the sitting lights again. He pulled the blanket, and closed his eyes. And again his heart beat was timid, not only that, there was a recording spinning in his head, a pair of legs coming into his room, slowly approaching and then he heard a scream.

"Well!" Elif sat down, turned on the lamp and was about to throw it at the door. But again, only emptiness was seen. The door of his room was still tightly closed and there was only him alone in the room.

"I why the hell?" Elif stroked his chest. He saw that the clock had shown at half eleven o'clock the night past ten minutes. His eyes were already sleepy, but he did not understand his body and mind. Even now he was sweating coldly.

The elif set his breath, trying to calm his frightened self for no reason. After he felt himself calm enough, Elif turned off the lights again, stretched himself, pulled the blanket and closed his eyes.

One sec.

Two seconds.

Ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

Elif again pulled the blanket over, moving spontaneously to the corner of the mattress. Squeezing eyes at the dim light. His hands slowly stretched out to turn on the lights, and yes, the room was still in the same state. But this time his breath was even decapitated. And somehow, his heart felt pain. Not a pain due to illness, but rather a pain that has no physical injury.

Something's wrong with me.

Eventually Elif decided to get out of her room, maybe drinking a glass of warm milk would help her. As soon as he came out of the room, Adit was still in the living room, watching while enjoying the rest of the chocolate cake.

"Dad not come home yet?" ask Elif to Adit.

"Eng.nope. Better not to go home, more peaceful house without a father here."

"Hush! Watch what you say! Father is the head of this household, the protector of us all." Elif reprimanded and advised his sister while making a glass of warm milk.

Adit just smiled wryly. Unwilling to respond, he returned to the television screen.

"Mom's asleep?"

"Looks not yet. I'm tidying something up in the room."

Elif put her milk on the dining table because it was too hot to drink. He went to Zehra's room, knocking on the door, Zehra said.

"What are you doing these nights? Do I need to help?"

"Ah, uh, no need. This is also done. Mom just checked the documents for. So as not to bother later." replied Zehra with free fabrication.

"Oh so."

Zehra stuffed the divorce papers she had just signed into a plain brown envelope, then stuffed them in a bag with other personal documents to keep them from causing any suspicion.

"Why haven't you slept yet, son?"

"No idea, I can't sleep."

"Why? You hungry? Want to make something?"

Elif shaking. "I'm not hungry, but I don't know why, every time I close my eyes, I'm always scared, like someone's going into my room and mean something to me."

Zehra looked at Elif with a sad look, but she quickly turned her face away before Elif noticed.

"Hmmm, it might be best if you try to contact Nak Ardan."

"Huh?" Suddenly Zehra's statement made Elif jumped in wonder. "What does this have to do with Ardan?"

Zehra smiled warmly, looking at her beloved daughter, her daughter who was unwanted by her own father, hated by her adoptive father, who was, but much loved by a man whom Zehra believes is capable of giving her anything Elif has never been able to, a man who can calm her down and protect her.

"Let's know, I only have a hunch that Nak Ardan can get rid of all your anxiety."

"Mother, me and Ardan..."

"You love each other, I can see that. Don't cover up and deny your own feelings just because of your father. You deserve to be happy, baby. You deserve to be loved and loved as much as your heart."

"But Ardan..."

"He loves you very much. Hugely. He'll hunt down anyone who hurts you, make sure you never meet the person who hurt you. I can see it through his eyes. You know, words can sometimes be manipulated, attitudes can be contrived, but the eyes won't be able to lie."

"Are you sure?"

"of course. I've never seen someone as loving as Ardan did. You just need to see and feel it with your heart. Don't be glued to your father anymore. He will arrive whenever he will not..."

"Wouldn't what, Mom?"

"Mom only asked you for one thing, it's time you found your happiness, baby. Don't be glued to your father anymore."

"But why? I want to make you proud of me, I want you to love me too. I wanna..."

"Elif Enough!" Suddenly Zehra snapped. "Don't you call him dad anymore. He's not your father! She hates you! He doesn't even want you. Don't you wish on that guy anymore, he doesn't deserve your affection!"

"Mother! What did you just say?" Elif stepped back, his eyes looking at Zehra with a look of disbelief.

"What's up, brother? Ma?" Adit entered upon hearing Zehra's voice. "What's this?" Adit.

Zehra had already shed her tears, while Elif could not believe what her mother had just said. Without answering Adit's question, Elif immediately came out of Zehra's room, went into his own room, put on a hoodie, took his wallet and cell phone, and left the house.

"You go with Mom." Elif left the house just like that.

"Adit, quickly call Nak Ardan, tell me what happened."

***

The night is getting late, the night air is starting to feel cold. He sat on one of the swings in a small park, a park not far from his home lot, a park that is usually crowded by children in the afternoon. Elif doesn't know where to go. He did not want to bother Yura or Mona with her life story.

Elif sighed, her chest tightened. Elif no longer knew what he was feeling right now. She didn't understand why her mother said such a ridiculous thing? Whatdoes thatmean?

Suddenly his phone shook without a sound, Ardan's name was on his screen. Elif hesitated to answer, not knowing what to say to Ardan. So, Elif let it go until the call was cut off. Then again it shook, and Elif did not answer. He put his phone on the swing chair next to him. His head bowed, looking at his feet that only wore flip-flops, moving slowly in rhythm with the movement of his body swinging slowly on the swing until a pair of legs suddenly entered in the frame of his vision to make Elif almost fall from his swing because he was so shocked.

But of course, a pair of sturdy hands pulled him, saving Elif from falling. The man was already standing before the Elif. Her hair was not as neatly combed as usual. No suit and pantofel shoes. Just a short, plain shirt featuring a little more sturdy muscle on his arm, sweatpants and home sandals.

"What are you doing here?" The baritone voice that was already deeply attached to Elif's mind, which somehow worked in the most mysterious way gave off a calming sensation.

"Ardan? You're here..."

"Yes, I'm here." replied Ardan. There was no emphasis on the intonation of his voice. He crouched down, aligning their eyes. Ardan's sharp eyes stared intensely at Elif, not intimidating, but just the gentleness that radiated from the glare of those sharp eyes. Ah, how could it be, that eye looked sharp, intense and gentle at once?

Elif did not deny, seeing that pair of eyes made his heart full and suddenly cry. The crying she had been holding back had finally broken.

"Hey, what's wrong? Why crying?" Ardan wiped Elif's tears. But he did not answer, but continued to cry. "Cry, tell me after your tightness is gone." said Ardan while hugging the tiny body of Elif who quivered with his cry.

***

They were no longer in the deserted garden, after Elif let go of her crying that made Ardan's shirt wet, Ardan took her to the minimarket twenty-four hours. While Ardan buys a cold drink and some snacks, Elif waits for him in the car.

Shortly after, Ardan came with what he had bought. He opened a cold canned drink for Elif, then for himself.

"Thank you." said Elif.

"For what?"

"Fellowing me and..."

"And?"

"You're making me feel calm."

"What's? Try repeating..."

"No re-broadcast." Tukas Elif, ashamed, he bowed his head. And felt strange to himself for being embarrassed in front of Ardan.

Ardan chuckles. "I'm glad I can be a place for you to feel at ease."

Elif was still down, playing the rim of his can of drinks.

"So, what's up? Why are you in that park alone these nights?"

"Before I answer, how come you're in that park? How do you know I was there?" ask Elif.

"Let's just say I have a sixth sense that can tell you're sad alone in the garden."

Elif pelted Ardan with a lazy look.

"Hahaha, don't look at me like that, you look adorable!" ardan replied very spontaneously, for that was the truth.

Elif clucked, turning his face away when he was flattered.

"Adit called me, he said you and mom had a little fight. Then you go."

"Okay, but how did you know I was in the park? And how did you get there so fast?"

"Oh that. hmmmm, secret."

"God!"

"Alright, alright. Hmmm, do you know that three houses from your house were contracted?"

Elif nodded.

"I bought it."

"What's? You bought a contracted house?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"For what? Don't tell me you moved there?"

"Hm, yeah, I just moved last night, so I haven't been able to report to RT and RW, but it looks like Teddy will take care of it tomorrow."

"God! But for what?" Elif raised her voice.

"To be close to you, of course."

"But why?" elif's voice no longer raised his voice. That voice now sounds more sad.

"I can't be far from you anymore, Elif. Didn't you notice? Do you still doubt my heart?"