The Incomplete Love
Wearied

Liam took his father. His eyes were timid when Devan knocked on the door of an apartment.

Devan glanced at his son with a smile.

Before long the door opened. Devan Pias's face saw an unfamiliar handsome man open the door.

“Hi mate, we’re looking for Qiara ..”

“Aaah Qiara, she isn’ living here anymore. I heard lives in her old apartment. Next building.”

Devan's eyebrows are wrinkled. He knew exactly why Qiara had moved out of her old apartment. The man's face turned grim. Liam tightened his hand.

“Oh I see. Well, thanks and have a nice day.”

“No worries, mate.”

Devan and Liam walked into another apartment building, not far from there. Liam saw his father's face turn sad.

“Dad, what’s wrong?” If Daddy doesn't want to see Kala we go home aja.”

Devan rubs Liam's cheeks in anxiety, knowing that his son feels guilty for Kala and is afraid that Kala is angry with him, saying that his father is the one who refuses to meet Kala.

“Liam how, if Liam dare, Daddy also dare to meet Kala,” Devan reply in earnest. The man was holding his son's shoulder.

“I ... I dare, Dad,” said Liam despite doubts.

“Good …. Here we are.”

Devan knocked on the door a few times and no one opened. He was surprised that Qiara and Kala did not go anywhere on Sunday afternoon. Rest day before getting into a busy week, Qiara said.

“Dad, no people.”

Devan was disappointed, he was eager to meet Qiara. Sighing, he took Liam back to the car.

Outside the building he saw a cafe that was crowded by visitors that afternoon. The air was cold until the tables outside the cafe were full.

Devan frowned from a distance at the sight of a light blue hooded figure swiftly and cheerfully serving the guests.

“Qiara?” Mumbled wonder.

“Daddy ..” Liam shaking his father's hand.

“You want brownies? The cafe has delicious brownies.”

“Bby same milk shake?” Liam's eyes sparkled.

“Well! They also have a delicious strawberry milk shake, yuk.”

“Yay!”

Liam walked around cheerfully beside his father. Forgetting his fear of meeting Kala. Meanwhile, Devan continued to observe Qiara who was still serving the guests.

Qiara was very friendly, the guests not only ordered but also chatted and joked with Qiara. Qiara's laughter sounded crisp until finally the guests laughed along with her.

Devan's steps stopped seeing Jeremy come out of the cafe and join in the chat Qiara and his guests.

“Excuse me, may we have table for two?” Liam is already over until he greets Jeremy and Qiara. The little boy did not recognize them.

Jeremy and Qiara were stunned. Qiara looked up and saw Devan standing behind Liam.

Seeing Qiara not flinching and continuing to meet Devan, Jeremy hurriedly let them in because the tables outside were already filled. Liam walked over.

Devan stood outside. Waiting for Qiara to finish taking orders. Liam who had entered suddenly ran out, pulled Devan's hand and whispered in his ear.

“Dad, no Kala, I'm afraid.” With round eyes he looked at Devan for protection. Devan is amused to see his seven-year-old son afraid of Kala who just wants three years.

Qiara had finished finishing the order then walked over to them. He overheard Liam's last words.

“Hi, you're Liam, right? I'm Qiara. Come in, I'll make milk shake.”

Liam finally recognized Qiara as Kala's mother. At first he hides behind Devan's body but Qiara's soft eyes, friendly tone makes Liam brave.

“I want a strawberry milk shake ..” he said shyly.

“Got it! I did, didn't I. .. And you? Want to enter or stand here?” He said to Devan.

The man stuttered, then scratched his non-itchy head.

“Masuk ...” Reply while smiling widely making his face very similar to Liam.

“Kala, look who’s here,” call Qiara on Kala who sits while coloring on the high bench counter table.

Seeing Liam enter, Kala jumped down and hugged his mother.

“Buna ..” Kala timidly looked at Liam and Devan then buried his head in Qiara's arms.

“Kala, I'm Liam. I'm here to apologize.” Liam who had been practicing directly extended his hand to Kala.

Kala looked up, looking at Netra Bunanya with raised eyebrows. Qiara nodded and stroked Kala's head.

Still timid but Kala started to turn his head towards Liam. He saw the hand of the bigger boy stretched out toward him. Kala saw that Liam looked at her timidly.

Kala then received Liam's helping hand while nodding.

“You want to sit there? I'm coloring Thor.”

Liam sparkled to hear the action hero his idol called.

“You like Thor? Me either. I have figurine at home, we can play together.”

Kala pulled Liam and told him to sit on the bench next to her. The two boys were immediately engrossed in talking about their idol's mighty figure.

Devan and Qiara returned.

“You also want to color with them?” Qiara asked in a joking tone.

Devan smiles.

“No, I want to talk to his mother.”

“I work, can't chat. You sit here. Last tables. We are full today.”

“Oh, okay.”

From a distance Jeremy secretly notices Qiara and Devan. Qiara has been working in her cafe for a month while working on small projects. Two very happy weeks because every day he could meet Qiara.

Jeremy is jealous of seeing a twinkle in Qiara's eyes every time he sees Devan. So did Devan who was stealing glances towards Qiara.

Devan waited for Qiara to talk to him. As Liam's parents, he felt responsible for his son's abusive behavior at the time. However Devan felt Qiara dodging him.

Jeremy comes to Devan and takes the order.

“Hi, mate, how are ya’?” Greet Jeremy kindly.

“Good, you?”

“Oh happy, as always,” reply Jeremy while laughing ignorantly.

“Qiara working here now? Why?”

“Yups. The reason is because there are fools who do unfairly. Anyway, what do you want to order? We have the bitterest coffee here. Want one without sugar?” Jeremy asked as he looked at Devan with an innocent but insinuating look.

Devan snorted, then looked at the menu book. Deliberately flipping over and over again.

Jeremy knows Devan is working on it.

“Jer, I want one strawberry milk shake for my son. Wait a minute, Kala, you want a milk shake?”

Kala turned to Devan and glanced at Liam. He was still afraid to say hello to Devan because he was worried that Liam was angry again.

“It’s okay..want ya, you like chocolate milk shake right?”

“No, thank you, Uncle. I’m fine.”

Devan nodded, a little disappointed. He used to buy chocolate milk shakes.

Jeremy's beating. Devan took a quick glance then again flipped through the menu sheet.

“I'm happy with your cafe. The owner is patient,” Devan quipped. Jeremy almost strangled the man who was still diligently reading the menu.

“You know, if the letters are small, we have a special menu sheet for older people with larger writings,” said Jeremy who is eight years younger than Devan.

The insinuated man snorted in annoyance.

“Okay, I want a burger. The meat please the maturity level is medium well. Lettuce should not be more than three pieces, give tomatoes, please choose the middle piece. Thin mayonnaise, mustard lotin. I want ice tea, sugar separate. Then fries for Liam and Kala. Please fry it until it is completely golden brown, let it be beautiful if photographed.”

Understand Devan is working on it, Jeremy just laughed wryly and then passed. In front of the kitchen window he deliberately read Devan's order aloud to the chef. Making all the guests chuckle to hear it.

After that he deliberately looked at Devan triumphantly. Devan closes his eyes while shaking his head at Jeremy's behavior.

Devan quietly followed Qiara from the corner of his eye. The woman was still serving guests or carrying their orders. Devan was still wondering the reason Qiara worked in the cafe. This is Jeremy's cafe. Suddenly his heart was sad.

“Qi, when are you loose, I want to talk.” Devan stood holding back Qiara who passed his desk.

“Dev, my shift until nine o'clock at night, so we will not have time to chat,” Qiara replied firmly and then went walking towards the kitchen.

“Just a minute. I want to apologize Liam pushed Kala that time.”

“All good now, look at them. Dev, I have to work, sorry.”

Devan nodded then let Qiara go.

In the kitchen, Qiara took a glass of water. He sipped slowly. Taking a deep breath to relieve his heartbeat.

He is so out of touch with Devan because he does not want to be a bully. The man is now in his cafe. Handsome as always, with shady eyes. The face of the Australian-Indonesian blaster makes the lines of his face perfectly formed.

Qiara shook her head.

“Cut it Qiara! You will not be like Hanna.”

Qiara drained her water then braced herself before delivering the order that was ready. His behavior did not escape the observation of Jeremy who was taking something in the corner of the kitchen.

After a few hours, Devan invites Liam to come home. That night on a private plane, Devan will take Liam back to Stella in Wollonggong.

They say goodbye to Kala and Qiara.

“Kala, sometime play yes pas I nginep mansion Daddy. Invite your papa as well so the four of us can play ball.”

He just stared at the bigger boy. Qiara stroked the head of her son.

Liam was stunned because there was no response from Kala. He plainly looked at his father.

“Kala, sometime play to the mansion, yes,” said Devan broke the awkwardness.

“Thank you for coming, Devan, Liam. Next time it comes again,” reply Qiara while holding Kala.

Devan and Liam walk towards the car park.

“Dad, Kala is like me, huh? Don't have a father?”

Devan jerks.

“I'm sorry, Daddy. Yes, Kala like you, she has never met her daddy.”

Liam stopped and ran back to the cafe.

There Kala was trying not to cry in his mother's arms. The little boy did not want to cry and made his mother sad.

“Kala, I’m sorry, I didn’t know ..” Liam said while panting. Devan chased behind him.

“I know what it's like. You must be strong yes, pray one day meet your father.” Liam said sincerely. He knows how hard it feels to not be able to meet Dad.

Tears of Kala spilled. Liam came forward and held the little boy's shoulder.

“Come here,” he said while hugging Kala who was crying sobbing. His hand patted Kala's shoulder.

Some visitors were surprised to see two children hugging each other.

***

A few weeks passed. During that time Devan tried to contact Qiara by phone or message. Not getting a single reply.

Stella and her parents continue to harass her in order to get married. Especially after Stella knows Devan and Liam's visit to the cafe Qiara works.

Every day Stella clings to him. Although Devan still does not want to connect further than just meeting and eating together.

Stella had a modeling job that afternoon. Devan intends to use his lunch time to visit Qiara's office.

“Hi, I would like to meet Qiara,” he told the receptionist.

“Qiara? She doesn't work here anymore.”

Devan was surprised to hear the receptionist's reply.

“Since when? And where does he work now?”

“It's been a few months. Sorry we can't tell you where Qiara works now.”

“Good, thank you,” said Devan after thinking for a moment. He gets back in the car and leads him to Jeremy's cafe.

From the window, he saw Qiara cleaning the tables, then bringing dirty tableware to the kitchen.

Devan parked his car and went to the cafe.

“Qiara.”

“Oh, hi, Dev. Please come in, want a table near the window?”

Devan grabbed Qiara's hand.

“Just hold on for a minute, please.”

Qiara released her hand from Devan.

“Qiara, please. I want to talk, please. I'll ask for permission to Jeremy.”

Qiara bit her lips. Doubtful to fulfill Devan's request.

“Nothing to talk about, Dev.”

“You're still mad because I didn't return your message after we got back from Sidney?”

Qiara's brows furrowed. “I forgot instead.”

Devan looked at Qiara with a disappointed look, especially when the woman was just staring flatly.

“I was to MJ, why don't you work there again.”

Qiara's chest felt tight.

“Career change. Listen, Dev. I have to get back to work, greetings to Liam, yeah. You are the good one. Have a good day.”

Qiara hurriedly entered the kitchen. There her tears are spilled.

Suddenly he felt tired of inner birth.

***