Tarnished Before Accident
Chapter 21. Wedding Gifts

I had to come out of my hiding place, step down and meet the two mothers and the child.

"Sorry, I don't intend eavesdropping, Auntie. I just ...." I'm confused what to say. My eyes glanced at Rey, hoping that the man would help me answer her mother's questions.

"Sit down! Don't stand there!" The middle-aged woman was not angry. He was even friendly to me.

Doubtful my steps swung there, towards the round table that contained a lot of raw materials of the cake that was still unopened. My nervousness seemed to disappear when I saw the complete cooking utensils in the kitchen. My eyes sparkled, staring at those things full of admiration. "Aunty likes to make cakes?" ask suddenly.

The woman smiled, then said, "Yes, small business."

Huh, small business?

Is that a rich man?

I'm sure that Sister Rey's mother won't be short of money to make cakes to sell again.

"Small little things?" ask me to make sure of his words.

He smiled again, "Yes, sometimes someone ordered a cake with Auntie." Then, he looked at Brother Rey who had been silent since the moment after my arrival. "Rey, please bring Rena here sometime. Mother does not have a daughter. Want to never invite your daughter-in-law to make a cake."

There was a heavy sigh coming from Rey's lips. "Yes, if Rena had. Mother knows for herself she is busy. Alea could. She's a daughter too." Rey said origin. I'm down. I don't know what it means to involve me in their conversation.

"Hey, how could Mother talk to Alea. Alea must have had her own rush. Right, Alea?"

I just smiled thinly. Been busy? In fact, I was confused to find a new job because his handsome son was willing to get me fired.

"No, Alea's not busy. I was fired this morning."

Right, guys? Rey just wants to talk. I looked at him with a little glare. But, the man simply shook his shoulders no matter what.

"You just got fired?" Sister Rey's mother asked me, making me immediately put on a friendly face.

"Yes, Tan. Does Aunt need employees? If so, I want to be a Aunt. I've always wanted to make a cake." I answered enthusiastically. Every time you see a beautiful cake at the cake shop, there is a sense of wanting to try it. I am a connoisseur of modern cakes as well as traditional snacks that are often displayed in storefronts.

My words have not been responded by Sister Rey's mother because at that moment also someone came to call her.

"God!"

A man about sixty years old, but still looking gallant and handsome suddenly cut off our chatter. He came with a navy tie, staring at just one person, Aunt Salwa. Sis Rey's mother's name is Salwa, so I caught it after the man I discovered was Rey-Tuan's father Sean Paderson-called her name.

Aunt Salwa throws a smile at Uncle Sean, walking to meet him. They stopped after facing each other exactly two steps ahead of me. I don't know why, I can't take my eyes off the two old men. It seems like Uncle Sean's romantic attitude to his wife has not changed even though they are not young anymore. Of course it caught my attention.

Aunt Salwa took over the tie from Uncle Sean's hand, then paired it. It was a rare sight and I almost never saw it again in real life.

"There's another order?" Uncle Sean asked with a frown upon seeing the table full of cake ingredients.

"Heem, yes. That's fine, Mas, make snacks." Aunt Salwa grimaced when she mentioned the word "jajan". It seems like it's just an excuse. How could a businessman's wife as rich as Uncle Sean have to sell cakes first in order to be "pan"? And then Uncle Sean's index finger poked his wife's nose.

"This is the last one. Tomorrow and the next few days do not take orders first. Keep me in Aussie."

"The next few days? How many days?"

"What, anyway?" I tried to open the hand of Rey's sister who closed my eyes, but the man pulled my hand and took me away. I only obeyed when she rolled me out of the kitchen because her hand slipped from my eyes after being in the living room.

"Come, I'll drive you home" he said with his hands still holding his grip on my arm.

"But I haven't finished talking to Aunt Salwa yet. I'm accepted not to be an employee?"

Rey doesn't care what I say. He kept asking me to get out of his house to the car that was parked by the driver in front of the yard.

"You must have been rejected." Brother Rey said. "Mother of the electorate. We're going back!" he said it broke my spirit and managed to piss me off.

***

A house located in a residential complex far enough from Kak Rey's parents' residence became our next destination. Rey was silent when I asked. The man only focused on his thin digital screen as he was preoccupied with checking work issues. Of course I know that this is working hours. Rey had to be with me because of an incident that happened to me at the hotel. So, I did not dare to disturb the time which turned out to be very busy.

It took us about an hour until we stopped at a big house. When we got out of the car, the housekeeper seemed to smile kindly at us.

I obviously feel weird. Why did Rey bring me here?

"Come, comein!" he said while pulling my hand.

The housekeeper I thought was about for forties opened the door for us. Rey and I went into that big house that doesn't belong to anyone.

"Sir Rey, why come here? Whose house is this?"

My eyes wandered, sweeping across the room. The house was quite large, but I did not see the owner of the house appear when we entered earlier. The furniture used is still new. There are some that have not been separated from the plastic, may be missed or intentionally.

"This is your house. Our wedding gift."

He said flatly without even looking at me.

"Gift for me?" Really, I still don't believe it completely. A house this big for me? In fact, even imagining it I did not dare.

"Too small, huh?" His face turned disappointed. "I was in a hurry to buy it. At least it's better than staying in a hotel. If he's born and you feel like this house is too small, I'll find a bigger one."

"What?" I'm confused by the way rich people think. A house this big is small. In fact, this second I also imagined how troublesome I would have to clean a building this big every day. "no need. It's already huge."

A faint smile rose on Rey's lips. That smile was the rare smile I had seen when he was with me. "I'm back in the office first. Your room is upstairs. It is up to you to choose which room. But, only the main room already has her wardrobe."

I nodded in understanding. Rey stepped away after telling me a few things about this house. However, when the man almost opened the door lever, he turned around.

"Hmm, Alea!" call Rey to me.

"Yes!"

"Maybe tonight .. I'll be here. Wait for me!"

My heartbeat seemed to stop after hearing Brother Rey's words.

She'll come see me later tonight? Indeed for what?