Under The Rain's
Chapter 10—Invitation
“Dad, Reva invited, yes?” pinta Kaia to Rafael while flipping through her hologram birthday invitation card.
“Reva?” Rafael choked, though he tried to keep his cool writing down one by one a list of names into his daughter's birthday invitation. The writing is severe, but it is enough to just write the name. “Reva, who?”
“Home is close, Dad. There,” pointed the boy to one side of the wall directly adjacent to the walls of Reva's room.
Holy hooch! Where did Kaia know Reva?
“You, really, know Aunt Reva?”
“Name is Reva, Dad. Not Aunt Reva.”
“Iya, huh. Does Kaia know?”
“Well, she is my friend, Father.”
“Kok, can?”
“Kaia once painted at Reva's house. He's good, Dad. Kaia can chocolate cookies the same potato chip,” said Kaia excited. Then he rushed to grab his school bag and looked for something in it. “Dad, look, Kaia can also slime,” he added while brandishing the full glitter object. “But don't tell Mother, yes!”
“Why?”
“Mother said, Kaia can't play with Reva. You see Reva is an adult.”
“Well, ‘kan, Reva time should come to Kaia's birthday? It's all kids! He will not be happy, you know.”
“Please, Dad, Kaia just want to share the same cake hampers.”
“For-cake, ‘kan, can go directly to his house.”
“Please, Dad. The rest of the invitation cards are still many.”
“Ask Mommy first, deh.”
“Don't, Dad! Later Mommy angry.”
“Nah, meaning Kaia can't invite Reva. Not good with Mommy.”
“Dad, please, dong, write one for Reva. Please, Father.”
The boy was really parsing. Rafael feels wrong because since moving to the apartment, Kaia has no friends. Just that time he whined to ask a friend to come.
It seems like Kaia really likes Reva, and Rafael understands very well why. Reva is quiet, but if you know him, he is a very pleasant person to talk to. His insights are broad and he is ridiculous. No wonder Kaia who was both quiet felt at home talking to him.
“Ya already, deh!” Rafael. He took one invitation card, and slowly his fingers began to move writing the name ‘Reva’ in it.
It felt so uncertain at the time. Just up to the letter ‘R’ only Rafael's finger has vibrated. A single wound fell on his heart. He did not understand why a piece of someone's name could cause his breath to sting like that. But he soon ignored it. It was Kaia's request, and Rafael almost never refused her daughter's request.
“Already, nih,” said Rafael while thrusting the glittering-looking card.
“Daddy love, dong, Kaia time?”
“LHO? What are you, Ka? Father time interracial? Kaia, ‘kan, can walk alone?”
“Kaia shy, lah, Dad. Come on, I'll help Kaia.”
Oh my God, this kid!
“Please, Dad,” pinta Kaia with an adorable pouty face, who can always melt Rafael's heart.
Well, how else, thought Rafael. After all, they already live next door like that. They also interacted over time.
Raphael immediately got up from his seat and stared at himself in front of the mirror. His heart is beating fast. She felt like a stranger when they met. Never mind trying to talk, just looking at him feels very awkward. Unsettled, Rafael began brewing coffee to quell his anxiety. In fact, he only had to knock on the door next to him to drive Kaia. Kaia will speak. Kaia will give you the invitation card. But Rafael still feels nervous not overbearing.
“Dad, quick! Mommy will be coming!” peeked Kaia who was already at the door.
“Iya, yes. Patience, dong, Dear.”
In front of Reva's bedroom door, Rafael sculpts like he's nailed to the floor. He looked hesitant, and took many breaths before actually knocking on the door.
“Come, Father,” whispered Kaia slowly because she did not want to row in front of someone's house.
“Sabaaar ..” Rafael also sizzled as slow as possible.
“Sabar, Kaiaaa ..”
The two of them were whispering to each other. Rafael did not understand why he felt so excited, as if he was about to open a cage of dangerous monsters ready to devour him alive. While Kaia was annoyed to see her father suddenly become sluggish like that.
Geck! Geck!
Finally, the tall man also put his knuckles to the door.
Then, a moment of silence was felt in his limbs. There was no answer on the first beat.
“One more time, Father ...”
Geck! Geck!
And the door is open.
“ ... “
“Hey.”
With all his courage, Rafael greeted the slim, fair-skinned woman standing before him. Reva wore a black dress with minimal pieces that looked tight, and it suddenly made Rafael failed to focus. When he was with her, he never saw her wearing such clothes.
Reva would have slammed the door back as hard as she could, had she not seen Kaia there. But the little girl smiled very kindly at him, which she finally responded with just a clumsy little smile.
“Sorry to interrupt, Kaia would like to give you an invitation.”
Kaia handed the card, which was immediately greeted by a look of confusion on Reva's face.
“So, this Saturday Kaia's birthday,” bright Rafael. “Eeeh .. You obviously dong, Ka,” urges while pinching the little shoulder of his own son.
“Temanya Under The Sea, because I like mermaid,” obviously Kaia shy.
While continuing to turn his eyes away from Rafael, Reva only scratches his neck that does not even feel itchy, without knowing how to respond.
Three awkward creatures pulled each other glances and threw away their faces. Super awward's. Donning. None of them are good at talking and starting conversations. Reva really wanted to immediately escape from the situation that made him so uncomfortable. However, it seemed like Kaia was expecting a single presence. The boy did not stop giving his glance while smiling. Reva was confused.
“Sorry, Kaia. I can't,” reject Reva firmly who was immediately greeted by the sad face of Kaia. And Reva could capture that disappointment clearly. “But .. I want to give you a gift. Whatever you want,” continued Reva to ease her guilt.
Both of Kaia's eyes again sparkled at Reva's offer just now. He glanced at his father who was not clear what he was doing. The man kept pacing back and forth uncharacteristically while biting his nails. His old dirty habits have never disappeared. He then realized that Kaia was in need of his confirmation, so he gave a small nod.
“Kaia want what?” ask Reva. “I don't want to give you a surprise. I bought what you want.”
Kaia looked back joyfully at Rafael, but that time her father shook his head a little. “Don't be too expensive, yes, Kaia,” scolds.
“Kaia wants a bag with sequins can, no?” the door is plain.
“Bby, kok. Later I look for the best quality, yes,” replied Reva agreed.
“Still, Reva,” Kaia said as she patted her palms cheerfully.
“Yi, inget, yes, just don't buy one that is too expensive. Kaia is still small because, still do not need—”
“Site ...” Someone called out to Reva from the inside, which made the woman turn her head.
“Handlet, where?” Sound from the bathroom.
“In the cabinet there is one,” replied Reva half yelling.
Rafael was immediately flabbergasted. The voice of the man in the bathroom. He heard it very clearly. Reva's entrance was indeed wide open at that time, and Reva did not allow her two guests to enter at all. Be the three of them standing in the doorway.
Shortly thereafter, Kris came out of the bathroom bare-chested, with only a small towel around her waist with a body that had not been completely dry.
Reva panics because Kris does not realize that he is having guests, and they are forced to watch his indecent appearance after bathing. It just gets more awkward that situation.
“Sorry, I still have business. Anyway I immediately love the card to you, yes, Kaia,” said Reva in a hurry while closing the door quickly.
A second later the door opened again. “Oh, yes, happy birthday, Kaia. Thank you for the invitation,” said Reva briefly with a head that looked slightly from the door gap.
Kaia and Rafael are still there. Surprised also they with the inappropriate view of Kris earlier. Without hearing anything back from Kaia, Reva locked the door.
At that time Rafael believed that something felt wrong in the bottom of his heart. He really could not let what he saw just pass from his mind. Although, he kept telling himself that Reva and her lover's relationship was none of his business at all.