The Honorary Owner
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Ruby smiled, very wide even when she saw the man who was asking her news. Tears came out in the corner of the eye but soon he removed. He did not want to steal the attention of some people around him.

"Good, Mas." Finally Ruby answered Hiko's question, "What's up?"

"Alhamdullillah, fine."

Ruby looked at the little boy who was staring at her with twinkling admiration, maybe the little one had been staring at her since. Ruby approached Almeer and sat crouching in front of Almeer.

"Assalamu'alaikum, Almeer." Greetings Ruby.

Almeer remained silent, then hid behind Hiko's feet. Ruby frowned in wonder at once anxious.

"Kok Almeer is hiding?" ruby asked, "Here donk." persuaded Ruby, but Almeer insisted on hiding behind Hiko's feet.

Hiko lifted up her son's body and held him in front of her chest. "Why so embarrassed, Al?" ask Hiko.

"Mama Ruby is beautiful." Almeer said then buried her face on Hiko's shoulder.

Ruby was astonished when Almeer called her 'Mama'.

"Nara taught him to call you mama. Do you mind?" ask Hiko.

Ruby was silent for a moment then shook her head, "No, Mas."

"What grade is Almeer?" ruby asked, he rubbed Almeer's back.

Almeer lifted his head and looked at Ruby, "TK-A." The answer.

"Big old man, huh? Pinter's not at school?"

Almeer nodded, "But it's only four-star, it's never been 5-star." He pointed at his five fingers.

Ruby smiled.

"Mom, it's done."

"Yes, Mum." Ruby approached the store clerk and gave him some money, "Thank you, Mas." Ruby Said.

Ruby went back to Hiko and Almeer, "I'm first, Mas." Pamit Ruby on Hiko, "See you later, Al."

Ruby pinched Almeer's cheek and then left.

"By!"

His steps were restrained due to Hiko's call, he turned around and looked at Hiko.

"Where can I see you?" ask Hiko.

Ruby smiled, "No need to plan a meeting, Mas. Let God set it up, as it is today. Assalamu'aikum ..."

"Ma'alaikumsalam ..." Hiko was disappointed.

He looked at the woman out of the shop, the woman was seen waiting for someone from the other direction. A man carrying a little boy approached Ruby. Ruby smiled at the man and then took over the little boy who was asleep in the man's arms.

"Who is that, Pa?" ask Almeer.

"You can call him Oom Iqbal" Hiko replied flatly, but the look in his eyes was filled with disappointment.

"Mama Ruby has a little sister?" ask Almeer again.

"Maybe ..." Hiko looked at Almeer.

Hiko sat back in his chair, Almeer sitting on his lap hugged tightly by his papa's arm. Hiko repeatedly kissed the tip of his son's head, not to raise Almeer who actually knew nothing, but he was strengthening his heart.

He is too confident to get Ruby back, he is too brave Ruby will not marry again. Hiko was very disappointed, not in Ruby, but in herself. He shouldn't have expected too much, instead he was too cruel if he still wanted Ruby with him after the many wounds he had given.

Ruby deserves to be happy, even if she's not the one to be happy.

**********

That afternoon was too hot to do outdoor activities, After accompanying Almeer to take a nap Hiko did not move back to his studio because he did not have a shooting schedule with anyone this afternoon. From inside his living room, Hiko sat staring at his cafe customers who were relaxing enjoying the mainstay of his cafe menu.

It had been a week since his meeting with Ruby at that time, but he still could not be sincere and rose to accept the reality.

Hiko observed the table after table in the cafe until the table under the trees pangguli park. The yellow flowers on the pangguli tree are the most popular spot today in the cafe Hiko, visitors can scramble to be able to sit under the five trees.

But Hiko's eyes stopped at one of the tables under the tree. The oriental-faced man with dimples on his cheeks was laughing with two men and two women. Abriz, he didn't expect to see her again, even in his cafe.

"May, Lo?" ask Genta

Hiko raised her chin for a while, pointing at where Abriz was sitting. "Still sip him?" ask Hiko.

Genta was still looking around for the figure Hiko meant, and then he found it. "Oohs. Yuwen? I've seen him a lot at Almeer's school." Answer Genta.

"You never said that?" hiko Protest.

"Well, is he important to you?" ask Genta.

"Yes, if he's already in Indonesia, it means that Ruby is already in Indonesia, too, Ta."

"Halaaah, free we debate now. Ruby's already Iqbal's wife, has an-"

Genta immediately pursed his lips, so he continued speaking. He looked at Hiko who was still staring at where Abriz was sitting. Suddenly, Ruby, Azizah, and Iqbal approached Abriz and his friends.

"Dik Zizah!" Cetus Genta's. "I don't think my soul mate's here, Ko. He's my love, Ko!" Genta patted Hiko on the shoulder no matter if his friend was hurt.

Genta rushed out to where Ruby and Azizah were excitedly.

"Acasino'aikum ..." Genta Sapa.

"Ma'alaikumsalam ..." All lawful.

"Genta Mas!" Ruby was surprised to see Genta's presence there, he confirmed the position of the little boy in his hand.

"How are you all?" Genta Sapa.

"Alhamdullillah, fine."

"When are you back here, By?" ask Genta about Ruby.

"Eight months ago, Mom." Ruby replied, "Mas Genta is resting here?" ask Ruby.

He looked around looking for a man who would always be around Genta. And sure enough, the man he was looking for was walking leisurely towards him.

"Here, Hiko's cafe, By." Genta replied, he looked back, "That's the owner."

Hiko arrived with a smile on her lips, she shook hands with the men there. Including Iqbal and Abriz.

"How are you?" ask Hiko.

"Good .." replied Abriz and Iqbal compactly.

"How are you?" Iqbal asked Hiko.

"Alhamdullillah, Fine." Answer Hiko.

"Sorry for the past, yes." Iqbal.

"Your son is so funny, By! Ulu uluuu ..."

Genta tries to break the awkwardness there by teasing the little boy who is being held by Ruby.

"Like you, eh is the same father?" Genta stared at Iqbal and Ruby alternately.

"Mas Genta." Call Ruby.

"Yes?"

"This is Azizah's son and Mas Iqbal."

Genta and Hiko were surprised. Genta was surprised by his sadness, Hiko was surprised by his happiness.

The clapper removed his hand from the boy's cheek. "Dik Zizah married Iqbal?" ask Genta to Azizah and Iqbal.

Azizah and Iqbal nodded timidly.

"Ko, I'll go to the office first. There's work." Genta said to Hiko, He left without saying goodbye to the others.

Hiko just chuckled at the heartbroken Genta. And her laughter stopped in Ruby's eyes. He looked at Ruby meaningfully, making Ruby bow.

"Talking together there ..." Goda Abriz's.

"Would you meet Bi Inah?" hiko asked Ruby, that's just an excuse.

Azizah took her son from Ruby's hand, "Mbak can go there first" Azizah said.

Ruby nodded, then she and Hiko went to Hiko's house opposite the park.

"Your house is good, Mas." Ruby said before entering the house.

Hiko just smiled and opened the door. "Bi Inaaah ..." Shouted Hiko.

"Yes Den..." He walked over to Hiko.

"Yes, God. Not Ruby!!"

He quickly approached Ruby and grabbed Ruby's hands. "Oh Allah, Non. Auntie kangen." Speak with tears of longing.

Ruby immediately hugged Inah, "Sama, Bi." Ruby hugged Inah for a moment then let go of her embrace, "How's Bi Inah doing?" ask Ruby.

"Alhamdullillah, No. Good Non, Good." He looked at Ruby and rubbed the back of Ruby's hand. "Non Ruby is getting pretty."

Ruby smiled, "Thank you, Bi."

"I'll make you a drink first, Non."

"Thank You for this."

When she goes to the kitchen, Ruby and Hiko are silent in the living room, both feeling awkward. Too many sentences in Hiko's brain makes it difficult to start from where.

"Almeer hasn't been home from school, Mas?" Ruby finally broke the awkwardness in the room.

"She's in her room, wanna see?" ask Hiko.

"Can?" Ruby asked back.

"certain."

Hiko takes Ruby to the second floor, where Almeer's room is on the second floor. Hiko slowly opened the door of her son's room so as not to make Almeer wake up.

Ruby saw the little boy sleeping on the bed. He slowly approached the bed, squatting beside the bed watching Almeer who was sleeping.

"He looks like you when you sleep, Mom." Ruby said, she gently stroked Almeer's hair and then kissed him on the forehead.

Ruby stood up and looked around Almeer's room. He was surprised to see many photos of himself and Nara there.

"Nara did it." Hiko answered the question in Ruby's mind.

"Why is he doing this?" Ruby Muttered.

"Maybe he wants Almeer to love you, just as Almeer loves him." Hiko replied, "And it's true. Al loves you very much, even in every prayer there is always your name."

Ruby was touched by Almeer's innocence, she looked at Almeer who was still asleep then looked at Hiko. "We'll just go out, Mom. I'm afraid to disturb his sleep."

Hiko nodded, both of them exited Almer's room and returned to the living room. A glass of drink is available on the living room table.

"Sit, By."

Hiko and Ruby sat on separate couches.

"Have you been here a long time, Mom?" ask Ruby.

"A month after Almeer's birth I moved here." Hiko replied, "What is your business in Jogja, By?" ask Hiko.

"Me and Mas Abriz opened a production house here, Mas."

"Yes?" Hiko.

Ruby nodded. "Why did you suddenly move here, Mas? don't you have no relatives here?" ask Ruby.

"But I have good memories here."

Ruby was silent then lowered her head, both of them were silent for a moment.

"You married Nara after she gave birth, Mas?"

Hiko shook her head. "I can't do it."

Ruby was silent again.

"Why don't you come on Nara's funeral day, By? Do you hate him?" ask Hiko.

"Aren't you the one who told me not to disturb your life, Mom."

The deg!

Ruby completely disappeared from her life because of her anger that day.

- Connected

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