The Sweetest Harsh
Episode 48 - Meet Again

Jonah drives his car alone. He deliberately took the usual weekend time he used to meet clients outside the city, by freeing up time and will use it to go to Alfa's house. Some handbags he had prepared in the passenger seat, containing a variety of fruits and an exclusive dining menu that he had ordered earlier from a subscription restaurant, he said, not to forget he brought his company's latest camera output which he will submit to Alfa for testing.

Indeed, he felt guilty because there was never time to just talk casually with his son and daughter-in-law. It would not be possible with the current circumstances Alfa would invite Tiara to just come to visit her house, given Helmia's unpleasant treatment that shows dislike openly. Moreover, his wife had planned to separate the two children which of course would make the presence of his only son-in-law would not be welcomed.

The man breathed a long breath. A few more meters he will reach the house of his son who he has never visited after a long time Alfa married. Jonah smiled bitterly considering how bad he was as a parent and in-law who had never paid any good attention to how they were doing. Put aside all personal affairs and continue to struggle with work.

The black gate that began to appear on the right made Jonah slow down the speed of his vehicle. After pressing the right turn sign and slowly deflecting the vehicle until right in front of the gate, for a moment the man saw the main door of the house that opened with its windows that also lifted the curtain that danced because of the breeze of the hot wind that blew that day. His heart was filled with relief because it had come at the right time because his son was at home.

Alfa, who was busy fiddling with the image on the laptop screen that was lit in front of him, turned her head as soon as she heard the horn sound that sounded from the front gate.

Alisa who was in the kitchen also stopped her activities for a moment in order to make sure correctly the horn sound that she had heard twice. After that, he immediately walked quickly to the front, ahead of Alfa who was about to call and order him to know what and who was in front of his house.

The woman came out the front door and saw an old man standing in front of her car, waiting for anyone to open the gate. Immediately, he stepped closer and immediately got a warm smile from the unknown guest.

“Alfa .. is there?” Sweepings.

“There Sir. Please enter,” the answer then walk towards the gate lock, open the iron hook and spread the door wide.

While waiting for her guest to put her car into the front yard, Alisa reentered the house to let her know that a guest had arrived. Not yet had time to say, Alfa first asked the assistant of the household.

“Who? You know?” Alfa asked with both eyebrows raised.

“I have never met him before Sir,” he replied quickly.

“What do you need?” The man stopped all his activities at the desk and closed the laptop screen as if he was preparing to welcome guests who were visiting his house.

Alisa seemed to think for a moment. “Want to meet you, I forgot to ask what needs,” he replied with doubt.

Alfa nodded her head and stood up from her place. “Where is Tiara?” tanyanya after Alisa walked two steps from where she met Alfa earlier.

“There is in the back, reading a book on the terrace,” he replied again.

“Good. Make drinks for guests as usual,” the order. “It's lunch time. Don't forget to tell Tiara to eat soon,”.

“Good sir,” he said as he went to the kitchen to immediately carry out a series of tasks that had been waiting for him to be completed immediately.

Alfa walked leisurely towards the door of the living room. There is no questionable feeling in him, because usually, the guests who come to his residence are clients and colleagues who want to finish work together. However, as soon as the man arrived behind the door and was about to say a greeting as usual, his two eyes first widened along with a swift whir of his heart. His mouth was tightly clenched imprison his words until it stopped in the throat and could not be verbalized once he saw and immediately knew with certainty who the figure that came. The man with after casual clothes as well as neatly groomed hair with both hands full by the paper bag was standing his back to the door, as if enjoying the colorful view of the plant with its blooming flowers dominating the yard.

Immediately, after Jonah heard the sound of a step behind him, the man turned around and his eyes immediately met with the exact same light brown eyeballs as him. Silence was created for a while when they examined each other's minds and hearts once they finally met again.

******

Alfa gulped, clearly seeing the figure of her papa who was now several ranges in front of her. The man cleared his throat to break the awkward atmosphere that had emerged from the unexpected encounter.

“Papa ...,” said Alfa with still covered in distrust. What wind brings his super busy papa so he wants to casually visit his house? Is he willing to leave his job and make time for him?

Ah, if Jonah intended to give him a surprise, then he had actually managed to give the surprise an impeccable whole, so that Alpha was really shocked at his sudden arrival without telling first.

“It looks like Papa really gave a surprise to you huh?” she said with a friendly smile on her lips. Said appropriately, answering the expression of his son who was gasping.

Alfa smiled back, and then, as if she had just regained consciousness from her long daydream, the man finally relaxed his body by lowering his tense shoulders.

“I didn't expect Papa to come. Enter,” invite Alfa then walk first to the room where there is a letter-shaped sofa L filled half the room with a large black glass table spread in front of him.

“Where is Tiara?” Jonah stopped his steps in front of the table and put down the paper bag he was carrying.

“There is on the back porch,” replied Alfa by staying standing in place, as if letting Alisa who was standing not far from them, taking his papa to his wife who was busy pampering the eyes with reading books and was about to give him a surprise too.

Alfa looked at the back of her walking father full of water. There was happiness that suddenly filled his chest and he did not know what to do to express everything he felt. He really did not think that Jonah would visit his home. It did not occur in his imagination that his father still had concern for himself and his wife.

I don't know how long Tiara had immersed herself in the reading book that had caught her attention. The woman was really concerned about her current pregnancy, although she and Alfa had not had time to properly check her condition to doctor Jeni. The book about pregnancy that he bought some time ago is enough as a temporary advice and knowledge enhancer about how to maintain good health starting from the youngest gestational age, like he is today.

The sound of the footsteps coming towards him made Tiara close her book. Recalling the message he was told that he should immediately fill his stomach with lunch. Alfa must have come to drag him into the dining room immediately, because he had dissolved in the activity of reading it to forget, how many minutes he spent to buy time by continuing to read it.

Tiara stood up about to move quickly before she got a warning. However, Tiara shrieked in surprise when she found that the sound of the steps approaching her was not Alpha. His eyes widened instantly and his mouth gaped. Jonah had displayed his smile there as soon as he saw the standing Tiara and met her face, but, Tiara did not return her smile and instead showed the same surprise as Alfa for the arrival of the person who had never crossed her wish that it would come to her house.

Your father-in-law is coming? Did Helmia also visit?

“Papa ..” Tiara was finally able to control herself to return to the conscious realm from her daydreams and immediately greeted her papa.

“How are you doing Tiara? May you always be healthy,” he said with a warm shade of facial expression.

“Good Pa. I'm fine and ... healthy,” he replied firmly but still interspersed with his stamped sentence. Trying to get rid of all the bad premonitions that come just like that.

The pain began to twist the corner of his heart when he had visibly confronted his father-in-law. All the rest is slowly shrouding. Suddenly he remembered again the short conversation with Helmia that so hurt his heart, the conversation that felt only an instant and occurred a few minutes that he would feel the pain and continue to torture until later for many years.

Alpha who came closer and saw Tiara's pale face immediately approached and embraced her. The woman flinched, then in awe, averted her eyes and tucked away her own strung hair behind her ears, expelling the nervousness that was getting increasingly uncontrollable to control her.

What's gonna happen? What was the surprise for Tiara this time?

"Let's go in," Alfa asked still as she put her hand on his wife's shoulder, unraveling the stiff atmosphere that bound the two people who had just met.

Jonah smiled and nodded, then let the two lovebirds first enter the house, leading his way towards the large room with a yellow green color decoration that looked very fresh and reconciled the eyes, what Alfa often refers to as the family room.