The Love I Don't Miss
Part 77 (Daddy! Oops! Papa! )

After Kenzo's apartment, Zio prefers to talk to Naura's photos. Introducing Clarice to Naura, even though she's gone.

A mobile phone screen showing a photo of himself with Clarice that he had taken before parting, is proof, that Clarice is real. He had a son, his own flesh and blood.

"She's beautiful like you and Calina, baby." - She said, speaking in a photo that showed how perfect the beauty of her wife was in her lifetime.

"Name's Clarice." she continued. "Brighta Clarice Alvaro! Yeah, it should be called that." he said smiling bitterly because the truth is that's not his real name.

Recalling the five-year-old moment she was doing when Calina gave their child a name. It was obvious that he had moved inland far away.

Although disappointed that there was no name in Clarice's name, at least she was grateful that there was no other male name in her son's name.

***

The next day, after work, Zio darted straight to Kenzo's apartment. After Kenzo told him that Clarice had understood everything. And willing to follow himself.

Although it was hard for Kenzo, but after if the stepdaughter would still love him, then he allowed Clarice to go with his biological father.

Zio himself had obtained permission from Kenzo and Calina for the first time to bring Cla to the streets that night. And also stay at his house.

As long as he drives forward, Zio just keeps smiling imagining tomorrow for the first time he will drive Clarice to school.

Be happy? Sure was!

The car is parked pretty in a special guest parking in Kenzo's apartment.quickly he darted towards the floor where Kenzo's apartment is located. My heart can't wait to embrace her baby again.

So when he got to the door, he quickly pressed the doorbell, as he did yesterday afternoon. And when the door opened, he was greeted by Mama Shinta who now looked back at him in the shade as before. There were no more flashes of emotion like yesterday.

Zio himself had forgotten the tragedy of the five-year union of Mama Shinta.

"Come in, kid!" mama Shinta said.

"Yes, Ma." replied Zio and immediately followed Mama Shinta to enter the living room. "Where's Clarice, Ma?" asked Zio directly at his destination coming to the boss' apartment.

"There," replied Mama Shinta. "Sit down first, Calina is preparing Clarice's school dress and uniform to carry. Isn't Cla coming with you tonight?"

Smiling happily, "Yes, Ma! tonight Zio will take Clarice home to Zio."

"Get my grandson well, Zi!" mama Shinta said firmly.

"Are there any fathers who don't look after their children?" reply Zio by insinuating no less sharp with the way Mama Shinta.

However, when Clarice calls him Papa, the spirit of leadership and the sense of responsibility as a father, just appears in Zio.

Mama Shinta flicked her lips. Because what Zio said is true.

Shortly thereafter, Clarice's voice came down the stairs. Eager to meet, Zio immediately jumped off the sofa and entered into the living room. Where Clarice had reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Hi, Pretty!" sapa Zio bent his knees while extending his hand to ask Clarice to enter his arms.

"Hi, Papa!" clarice answered into the arms of her father.

"Ready for a walk with Papa?"

"Yes, Pa!" clarice replied enthusiastically. "We're going to the Mall, huh, Pa? but not the Mall next door! The other mall!" pinta Clarice's.

"Okay, Honey! wherever you want, Papa will!" zio replied no less enthusiastic than the child.

"Yeah!!" clarice then kissed Zio's cheek. It was the little girl's custom to kiss her parents.

And that was when Zio's heart trembled. Saying in your heart, it's like being the Kenzo your daughter loved 5 years ago. He should be the one who felt the thump from the beginning.

But Zio no longer blamed Kenzo. Everything has happened, everything is at peace with the situation.

"Mas Zio?" call Calina after Cla is in Zio's left arm.

"Yes?"

"Tell him the story before bed! he likes any story. Just don't forget to give a story that has positive value."

"Alright, Cal! I know," Zio replied briefly. "I'll say goodbye first!"

"Yes, Mom!" answer Calina.

"Cla can't be fussy, can it?" mother's message to her child.

"Yes, Mommy! tell Daddy yes, Mommy! Cla wants to walk. And find a new mom for Cla!" exclaimed the boy innocently.

All told about what Clarice said, especially Zio who did not expect her son to have such thoughts.

If Zio is complaining because the child has such thoughts on the first day of meeting. So Calina stared in disbelief at Cla who went straight to the point with what her husband said last night.

Feeling sad for Zio? Sure was!

But what to say, a 5-year-old boy can be invited to compromise.

Mama Shinta heard Clarice's words. How could the girl understand that?

But such a sentence wouldn't have come out if it weren't for his parents talking about it.

Suddenly Mama Shinta stared intently at her only child, who immediately smiled awkwardly.

"New mom?" ask Zio to Clarice.

"Yes!" clarice replied innocently. "Daddy and Mommy said that Mama who was supposed to be Mama Clarice is dead. So Papa should be looking for a new mom for Cla!" cla said again - again with an adorable tone.

Zio smiled softly, "We'll see you later, honey?" zio said, then glanced at Calina with a strange look.

It would not be wrong if Calina told him all that, just did not expect it would be so soon Clarice knew everything.

Calina smiled awkwardly when she got a strange look from Zio. Fortunately Zio did not bother too much.

"We're leaving now?" ask Zio.

"Yes, Daddy!' cla exclaimed, raising his hands into the air, "Ups! Yes, Papa!" again because I felt wrong calling. "Sorry.." said Cla while covering his mouth using his two tiny palms.

Zio could only smile and bitterly hear Clarice's apology. In his little heart he regretted the situation. But it's all gone. Rice has become porridge. Inevitably he must be the last person to enter a circle. Where self must feel not too considered.

He just had to adapt to Clarice's habits. So that the girl doesn't call her a wrong call again.

Because if you think about it, which father would love in the two children. Bringing children to the guarantee only, sometimes they have to cry first.

"I'm sorry Clarice, Mas.." pinta Calina expectantly.

"I know.." replied Zio without looking at Calina.

Carrying Clarice on his left arm, and one small suitcase belonging to Clarice in his right hand, Zio left Kenzo's apartment.

Leaving behind Calina who instantly shed her tears as soon as Zio and Clarice disappeared behind the main door of the apartment.

"Already, Cal... Zio is also entitled to Clarice, and vice versa." comfort Mama Shinta.

"Calina tau, Ma.." Calina immediately turned her body, and chose to go up to the second floor, Entering her room where there was Galen Ray Adhitama who was sleeping. His second son from his second husband.

***

Zio sat Clarice in the front passenger seat. Then he put Clarice's little suitcase in the trunk of the car.

"Well, Princess..Where is our first destination?" ask Zio who is sitting behind his wheel.

"To the Mall, Pa! Cla wants to play on the playground!" exciting Clarice.

"Alright, come!" answer Zio who has promised will not refuse any request that the baby wants.

Then the white car drove between the other vehicles. As per the request, he will take Clarice to the Mall which is quite far from Kenzo's apartment.

***

"What time did Zio pick up Clarice?" ask Kenzo who just arrived at the apartment.

"About 15 minutes ago, Mas." replied Calina exclaimed.

"You sad?" kenzo asked the seemingly uninspired Calina.

"I'm just not used to not seeing Clarice not at home, Mas."

"I know, Honey! but anyway all this must happen," said Kenzo while taking off his work coat. "Zio's entitled to Clarice."

"You don't mind, Mum?"

"If you are asked to object or not, then the honest answer is YES! But again - again logic still has to work, right? things will get worse if we keep Cla away from his real father." replied Kenzo now sitting next to Calina clutching his wife's shoulder.

"You're right, Mum... Good thing at home there is still Galen.." he looked down at Galen on the bed.

***

Now Zio and Clarice are inside the Mall. And the first location they went to, of course, the playground. Where children can be satisfied to play safely in there even without parental care.

Even so, Zio still chose to enter the playground. She can play and laugh with the little girl. He must continue to build chemistry, considering they met at the age of the boy who was five years old.

"Father! Accept this!"

Clarice throws a small ball at Zio, but Clarice throws the ball instead of Zio. The ball just passed through Zio's body and landed right on the back of a woman who was accompanying her daughter playing in the playground as well.

"Let's!" she looked at the woman, but she did not bother. Because understanding who throws is definitely children.

"Sorry!" zio approached the woman. "My son accidentally threw too tight."

The woman who Zio was talking to looked back, "It's okay, sir." said the woman gently.

And when the woman looked, what happened was...

the two men froze and froze. It was like being in a giant freezer room.

I can't believe the two know each other. And be in a place that is not at all promised.

"Zahra.." cried Zio with a throat that was almost choked.

"Sir Zio!" peekit Zahra's.

Zahra remembers that Zio didn't have a pin when she looked around. Which one's the GM's kid?

And the look in his eyes only found a girl he knew very well standing facing Zio. And increasingly, when...

"Father! Let's get the ball!"

Shouted Clarice looking at Zio. Yes, only Zio - the man in front of the boy.

So confused, Zahra also turned to Zio...

...🪴 Connect ... 🪴...