The Love I Don't Miss
Part 58 (As ... )

"Bye, Daddy!" pamit Clarice kissed Kenzo on the cheek that drove her to school on a cheerful Monday.

Yes, maybe only kindergarten children who are used to living in apartments, who consider Monday is a cheerful day. Because they meet their friends again after only being able to play in the apartment, which only has 2 - 3 neighbors. It doesn't necessarily have a child in it.

"Bye, girl!" kenzo replies kissing Clarice's puffed cheek.

"Wait for Daddy to pick you up or Mommy?" ask Clarice before entering the International School building.

"Who do you want to pick up?" asked Kenzo gently and curiously, who would his little daughter ask for.

"I'd like to go get Daddy!" clarice replied enthusiastically.

Kenzo smiled happily, as his stepson wanted him more. Where he often feels afraid if the stepson will hate him someday.

Shadow - a shadow of worry if Clarice knew, he was not the real father of the girl, always haunting his mind. Afraid that the little girl he loved like his own child, whom he taught like his own child, would suddenly hate him because of a reality that until now was still a secret.

"Try to give Daddy a reason, why would you want to pick up Daddy?" asked Kenzo to look closely at the step-pitri that he had timed since the first day he was born.

"Because Clarice loves Daddy!" clarice laughed as she hugged Kenzo's neck.

The 5-year-old boy's laughter always filled anyone's heart. Moreover, Kenzo's heart deliberately linked his heart to Clarice.

"Daddy also loved Clarice very much." said Kenzo softly and deeply, right in the little girl's ear. While his arms hugged the small body of Clarice.

Kenzo always tries to give Clarice the best moment. He wanted to instill in Clarice's heart, if he was a good father. A father who loved him every moment.

Given that Zio has returned to the Capital, it is certainly not possible if Zio knows the existence of Clarice someday.

Clarice smiled happily, feeling very lucky to have a father as good and as great as Kenzo Adhitama.

"Daddy wants to know, what else makes Clarice like to be on Daddy's shuttle?" ask Clarice.

"What?"

"Look!" Clarice glanced around them through the tail of her eyes.

Kenzo looks around them. There were many of Clarice's friends among their parents. But he did not understand what his daughter meant.

"Why?" asked Kenzo frowning.

Clarice brought her little lips closer to Kenzo's left ear. Closing with her adorable little hands.

"They all saw Daddy as if he had seen the Prince from the fairyland Mommy told me about! Hihihi!" clarice whispered very softly. Then laugh by covering his mouth with both hands. "And that makes Clarice proud!" continued.

Sontak Kenzo also chuckled amusedly. Oh my God! Before it was not easy to make a cold Kenzo chuckle in a public place. But the little girl in his arms was like an angel who was able to transform herself with her jail and funny act.

Hearing Clarice's reasoning, does not necessarily make Kenzo big head. He is usually the center of attention. Since he first drove Clarice to school, he had understood that many pairs of guardians glanced at him. But he doesn't care at all.

Including when he was observing the surroundings earlier. He knew many pairs of eyes were stealing glances at him. But he didn't think at all, if that's what Clarice meant. Absolutely not expecting, if that little girl could have such thoughts.

"What did Mommy tell you about a prince?" ask Kenzo.

"Mommy said, The prince is very handsome and dashing! Like Daddy yesterday. It's Clarice's birthday!" answer Clarice. "Daddy is so handsome and dashing!"

"Wow!" exclaimed Kenzo softly, "means yesterday many who glanced at Daddy when you were birthday?"

"Of course!" clarice was proud.

Kenzo smile. Seeing Clarice's cherry had completely sealed his heart.

"Yes, let them see Daddy! Daddy has to go to work!" pamit Kenzo kissed Clarice's cheek again. "Later Daddy will pick up Clarice!"

"Okay, Daddy! I love you!" clarice.

"I love you too." Kenzo replied.

Kenzo's still standing in the lobby. Looking at the back of her little girl who walked into the hallway by dragging her tiny trolley bag. Waiting for her son to be invisible.

***

If at an international school there is a man and his little girl who are on leave to continue their activities. So in the company Adhitama there is Zio who has entered the lobby.

"Can you see?" zio's permission asked to be shown a photo that was trending on the topic that morning.

"Please, Mr. Zio." one of them handed Zio his phone.

Zio received and observed what photos were in their conversation.

A photo showing Kenzo among a crowd of children at a birthday party. Beside him was a little girl with a birthday, as if standing on a wooden board. Because it's higher than usual. Which is where the lady is, she knows as Kenzo's son. All employees know that too.

On his left arm was a boy about two years old. What can be expected if it's Kenzo's second child.

To the left of the little girl he knew named Clarice stood a woman in a Cinderella-style costume looking down. As if directing his son to blow the candle on a tart 5.

Make the photo look faint. Because only the top of the head and forehead are visible. His face was not at all visible.

But in terms of the costume he wore, he was as sure as the others. If it was Kenzo's wife who was never publicly shown.

Just like the others, he was curious about the wife of Kenzo Adhitama. He watches carefully. As if he did not get a clue, he turned to look fixed on the face of Clarice, Kenzo's first child. The other is his own son.

' The face of this child why like .. ' he murmured in his heart hanging a sentence.

He immediately looked back at the woman beside the child.

' Her hair... '

"Sorry, Mr. Zio. There's Mr Kenzo! Can I have my HP? I have to get on!" said the owner of the phone, disperse the daydream of Zio.

"Oh, yes!" replied Zio handed the flat object back to its owner.

Zio looked back, where Kenzo had entered the automatic glass door. He also waited for the company leader to get to his position.

"Good morning, Mr. Kenzo!" sapa Zio salutes the highest leadership in the company.

"Morning!" answer Kenzo coldly.

Yes, this kind of expression was naturally seen in the office. But on the other side of the heart, there was a difficult feeling to understand if he met Zio.

Selaim because the man ex-husband of his wife. Also because the man was Clarice's real father. Which are both the same - the same does not know.

"Today's a quick meeting!" kenzo said as the two entered the elevator.

"Okay, Mr. Kenzo." replied Zio.

The elevator moved up. Kenzo still feels the same way. Zio stared at Kenzo's back with question marks.

What a Kenzo wife looks like. Why did he feel there was something else in his heart. Especially when you see Kenzo's son.

Zio turned the clock. If Kenzo's son is now 5 years old. That means Kenzo got married about six years ago. Which he is still in the company with the same position.

But at that time, there was really no news about Kenzo's marriage. Before that, Kenzo went into the office with a single status.

Zio's complicated thinking, led him to the floor where he worked. He came out after saying goodbye to Kenzo.

Along the way to get to the workspace. He was still asked a few questions that he had reasoned himself.

' What is a child from abroad? I mean life abroad is a lot different than here, right? They are free to have children without marriage! '

Zio continued to reason what had already penetrated his mind.

' But his son's face strongly indicates that he is the descendant of this country. His wife's hair and posture are the same as Indonesian people in general! '

Before arriving at his room, Zio always took his eyes to glance at the table which became a magnet of its own.

Yes, the table that Zahra now occupies. Where the girl immediately smiled and greeted as she passed by.

A complicated world for a Zio Alvaro. A handsome man whose love story is not as handsome as his face.

...🪴 Happy Reading 🪴...