Bitter Tongue In-Law
57. Both Road

"Mother, Om Bian, you gave this to me. Toys same fairy tale book. Good for the book. I read half. Mother bacain me dong," asked Cashel at night while proffering a book.

"Well, what did you say?"

"Not saying anything, anyway. Just the days I was in school, had a lot of friends, the same talk of Om who said he loved Mom."

Nuna was a little surprised, she never thought Bian would talk about feelings for a child as small as Cashel. Honestly, Bian's speech is now a burden for him. He does not deny, that in fact he also needs someone to just lean or hear his complaints. He also needs hands just to hold, shoulders to lean, ears to hear, and speech from someone who can strengthen him.

Not that all this time his parents were not able to do that, no. It's just that telling complaints to parents seems to increase the burden alone.

"Indeed why, ma'am why can't I get close to Om Bian? Om Bian was close to Grandpa, they had a really long conversation. I love lots of toys and books. Yeah, even though I wish I had the same sprain as Om Bian because I was mad at Mom."

"Om the same Grandpa talkin' what?"

"don't know. I was busy with toys."

Cashel who previously wanted to be read a fairy tale is now even interested in talking about Bian. The boy never stopped saying Bian's name in his story. It seemed like half a day of that approach brought a slight change to Cashel. Right now only Nuna understood the twinkle of an eye that was shining in the eyes of the child.

°°°

It's not Bian's name if he just stops before getting what he wants. Moreover, he knows if actually what he wants also wants himself. He knew from the bottom of his heart that Nuna really wanted him. From the look of the eye that actually also implies it all makes Bian only need to give him the widest opportunity to see how serious he is about loving Nuna.

On the following Sunday after his first meeting, Bian returned. He brought a lot of food and fruit for the whole family which made him have a whole family back. I don't know, I don't just feel comfortable and warm when chatting with Nuna's parents. He feels he has a family again.

"Bian, if it's far away there's no need to bring anything like this. Just yesterday you gave Cashel a snack. Now bring it again." Nuna's mother said a condolence while offering a cup of warm tea for her guests.

"It's okay, Mom. Let Cashel not snack carelessly. If the child is given his own money continues, what is later what he consumes will continue to be wrong."

Nuna breathed a long, heavy breath when she came home from outside the house. I don't know what needs the woman until the morning she had gone out of the house and returned with a bag in her hand.

As usual, the woman did not respond to anything. Talk, say hello, or do whatever it takes to communicate with Bian. He hopes that in that way he can make Bian give up and no longer hope for him. Really, his heart was eager to have the man, but the logic that seemed to work hard and control him made him again think the man could and should get a better woman than him. Until now apparently Nuna still felt unworthy to be with the man.

Nuna continued her steps after a moment of stopping in the living room. Either step to how much he passed with Cashel who carried his backpack neatly dressed like he was going to travel.

"Where are you going?"

"Get Om Bian swim. It was Om Bian himself who gave the same permission to grandma and grandpa. They convinced me to go with Om Bian."

Nuna looked at her parents alternately as if asking for an explanation. And as if to understand what emanated in the eyes of the very child, Mr. Lukman opened his voice without being asked.

"Cashel has never swam, never mind Nuna. He left not with strangers, we know Cashel went from Cashel was born. There is no harm in them leaving. If you're worried that Bian can't take care of Cashel, then you're going along."

Nuna looked at Cashel's twinkle in the eye expecting permission from her. Why did the more he came here he felt the situation was increasingly supportive of Bian's desire to continue approaching him? If this continues instead of he can forget it will even increase in taste.

A smile that is difficult to interpret rises just like that on Mr. Lukman's lips. Bian and Nuna's father looked at each other for a moment before they both scored the same look.

Is this what Mr Lukman meant to help Bian in getting Nuna's heart? I don't know.

"What did Cashel bring, son? Try here Om see."

I don't know, there was a sense of happiness when Bian gave that attention to Nuna's son. It was like coming back five years ago where he talked to little Cashel almost every day, even if only by phone. Even he still remembered how Cashel called him with the typical tone and voice of a child.

"Complete term. Take this to the car first. Let's wait for Mom for a second, yeah."

Cashel just nodded.

As Bian walks towards his car, that's when Nuna appears. He was very nervous this time. Wasn't this the first time they had gone together?

"Dad, why are you doing this? You know, if I'm trying to stay away. Why would you let him come here?"

"He came here himself, you have to expel? Cashel's side was comfortable for Bian to come. Even if Cashel plays the same game he continues to know Bian came here directly home him. Ask your son. If Cashel likes to hang out with Bian in the past, should I ban him?"

Nuna could not speak anymore. He was silent not because he did not have a sentence of denial, but Bian had returned and invited them to leave immediately.

It felt like Nuna had not seen Bian dressed casually like this. Only with shorts and a t-shirt and watch on his left wrist apparently able to make Nuna's heart rumble more visible.

"Cashel wants to sit in front of what back?"

The boy had thought, little by little Bian knew the habits of Cashel. The child always thinks first if he answers something. And Bian likes that.

"Rearly me. I can throw away," Cashel replied innocently.

"Cashel can't be that, not polite. Sit with Mom in front."

"Nuna, don't be too hard on the child. He was a child, still seven years old. Don't force him to be what you want."

"I didn't make Cashel the way I wanted to. Manners must be taught from an early age."

"Yes, know. Slowly teach. Did you think he said like that, he'd be a real selonjoran? He was still innocent, what came out of his mouth, yes it was his shadow. But not necessarily he did what he said. However, if you want to nasehatin child not in front of others. Tell him at his own time. Cashel is in!" Bian opened the back door. The man nodded his head to reassure the seven-year-old who showed a doubtful and slightly fearful look.

"Next time don't do it, Nuna. Don't make me grumble in front of a kid. He was so scared" whispered Bian after closing the door.

Why act like he has a child? It sucks!