THE NANNY
180. Am I Really Not a Mom's Child?

Andina was in the headmaster's room accompanied by Bu Puspa as Athaya's homeroom teacher. He waived an apology for the decision made by the child, resigning as a school representative at the National Speaking Competition.

"I personally as his mother also felt shocked at the change in attitude of my son since yesterday, Sir, Mom." Andina stared at each other, Mr. Bagja who was the principal also to Bu Puspa. "I had persuaded him to go forward, but Athaya remained determined by his stance."

"Frankly Mrs Andina, we were very surprised and saddened to hear this news." Mr. Bagja conveyed his objections with a disappointed look drawn in his eyes. "Athaya is very talented and we are optimistic he will qualify until the grand final. But if it is a decision, what can be done. We must immediately appoint a replacement for Athaya."

Andina nodded. He again apologized to the headmaster. And before long, he came out of the principal's room with his son's homeroom teacher.

"Bu Puspa, maybe yesterday I saw Athaya talking to an unknown person in the school?" Andina turned her face to look at Bu Puspa who was walking side by side towards the classroom. He was still guessing if someone was influencing Athaya's mind. But who?

"I don't see, Miss Andina. But in class I saw Athaya often daydreaming and being quiet."

Andina stopped as soon as she reached the doorstep of the classroom. He looked at Athaya, who was studying textbooks. "Nitip my son yes, ma'am! If there's anything please let me know."

Bu Puspa nodded. "Okay, Miss Andina."

But in the afternoon, Andina, who came home earlier from her office, was amazed to see Lala coming home from school alone.

"Where's his brother?" ask Andina when the cherry endures her.

"Sister to the house first. He said he told Mama." Report Lala who immediately joined Dedek Al play composing lego.

Why Athaya lied.

He took the initiative forward to meet Mr. Asep, the driver who was assigned to pick up the children. The one I was looking for looked like he was wiping the car.

"Sir Asep, why didn't Athaya come home?" Andina anxiously began to interrogate Mr. Asep who was now sitting on the terrace chair opposite him.

"Lho, said den Taya had said the same to Andin?!" Asep's surprise turn.

"Not said at all. And if I knew Athaya was going to his friend's house, I would have told Asep sir, just have to pick Lala up."

"Wow, sorry, Miss Andin." Mr. Asep looked panicked and felt guilty for forgetting the verbal rules his employer had made about the procedure of picking up the children.

"So Mr. Asep didn't see Athaya ride in what car?" Andina tried to say normal without scolding the negligent driver.

"I saw it first from the car while waiting in front of the school. There's an ash-coloured CRV stop and den Taya's in it."

"If magrib hasn't come home yet, we'll find him!" Andina immediately went into the house without waiting for Mr. Asep's answer. Now he seemed restless, walking back and forth erratically with an inner prayer hoping that the eldest was fine.

As magrib neared, there was no sign of Athaya returning home. Making the whole house anxious.

"Ma, why hasn't my sister come home yet?" Lala who had taken a bath approached mama Andin who was sitting with a look of restless face. The glass of tea that Bi Idah brought had not even been touched at all.

"Go home soon." He did not want Lala to know if her brother had lied if he had asked her permission. Don't get it later imitated by Lala.

"Assalamualaikum-"

Andina answered the greeting and immediately stood with a face as soft as hearing the voice of the person she was talking about.

"Alhamdulillah, brother home. Mama's worried about waiting, baby." He hugged the elder with a sigh of relief. While restraining himself first to interrogate because he saw Athaya's gloomy face.

"I'm gonna take a shower, Ma." Athaya breaks away from Andin's mother and runs up the stairs.

Patience.

Lala followed Andin's mother to Dedek Al who played under the supervision of Edoh. "Why is sister from yesterday so weird huh, Ma. Cancel the race, continue to be quiet. like again pe em ice."

"What does Lala know about PMS?" Andina frowning .

"Said Zia Lala's friend, if it's pouting and bete his name again pe em ice."

Andina smelled a smile. In the midst of being crushed by one child, there was one more child who was comforting.

****

The atmosphere of eating was bland because Athaya did not come down to join, remained in his room. 2 Times Lala followed him but always said not hungry. Andina finally let him first see Lala and Al was already impatient to eat.

"Lala, learn it yourself first. Mama wants to eat to sister's room." He invites Lala to move to the family room after eating.

"But adek likes to disturb. Likes book stitches." Lala pursed her lips, feeling objection.

"Ade main was cemented bi Edoh tuh-" Andina pointed with her chin towards Al who was playing roller skates.

"Okay, Ma."

Andina climbed up the stairs to Athaya's room with a tray filled with a plate of food and a glass of water. Slowly he opened the door of the room that was not locked after being knocked twice but there was no word from the inside.

The sight that made his heart wander. Athaya is seen sitting in the corner of the room hugging her knees with her face down. He put a tray on the study table and immediately approached his first child.

"Darling, sit with Mama!" He gently grabbed Athaya by the shoulder to stand up and led her to sit on the edge of the bed.

Athaya was still clenching her mouth but her eyes started to look glassy.

"Let's tell the story all the same Mama. Don't hold it in yourself if you have a problem." Andina rubbed the cheek of the owner of the handsome face of Aryan's duplicate.

"Are I not your son?!" The question that made Andina stop her swipe because she was shocked by the unexpected question. He stared into the two brown eyes that were inundated with water.

"Who said that, baby?"

"Let's tell me from the beginning, let me understand the meaning of the person who talks so much brother." Andina took a moment to drink water so that Athaya could more calmly start the story.

The Flashback

"Hey, here!"

Athaya, who was walking in the corridor to the classroom, stopped her from seeing the wave of a mother's hand pointing at her.

"Tante, call me?"

"Yes. I need to be with you for a minute."

The long bench near the play ground became the choice of seating in the middle and then the students who arrived.

"You're Athaya, right?"

Athaya nodded.

"Whose parents' names?"

"Bapi Arya and Mama Andina." Athaya answered proudly with a happy twinkle because her parents were indeed her idols.

"You're wrong. Your biological mother is not Andina."

"What auntie mean?" Athaya was shocked and frowned.

"Andina is your stepmom, Athaya. I know who your birth mother is."

"Who's aunt?"

"Auntie lied, right?!" Athaya shook her head in disbelief.

"Make no lie in it. I'll tell you. But there are conditions!"

"What's the signal, auntie?"

"You must withdraw from the Speaking Race. I'll tell you who your mother really is. I have a picture of him."

"You've been living with your stepmother. Know that stepmom likes evil."

Athaya shook her head, denying. "Mama Andin is so good, so dear to me. Mama ter the best." He replied with a fiery reply, not accepting his mother being demonized.

The woman sitting next to Athaya smiled. "Now good, long will open his cover. Look at the soap opera already filled."

"I never watch soap operas, mama says don't educate." Athaya continues to refute, defending mama Andin.

"If your stepmom is good, you will tell dong who your real mama really is. This is not. There must be some evil intent. Later will be loved only 2 of your sisters who are actually his real children." The woman kept on inciting.

Athaya was silent at the words of the adult woman beside him. Digesting all his words.

"So how do you know?!"

Athaya nodded weakly, hesitating.

"That condition was full first. Tomorrow school comes home with a car to pick you up. I'll love you at home."

"But--- but later tell me what the same driver picked up. Mama wouldn't have gone if it wasn't clear where to go."

"No permission from your stepmom. Tell me the driver wants to play to a friend's house, say it's my permission."

"But I lied. Lying is a sin, aunt." Athaya nodded in disagreement.

Making the woman beside him upset because it does not easily affect Athaya's thinking.

"This is just one lie. So how? Cepetan already bell."

"Okay, aunt. I'll resign."

Flashback Off