Nobi shook his head. "In the years I searched for answers, the trail of Ren's parents who never appeared made me give up more and more. So, let her live here as my niece. It is as if I am his uncle, " Nobi sighed afterward. "I kept this a secret from ren. So, please don't tell her yet. We can tell him when the time is right."
Ozi was surprised to hear the truth. But the more he listened, the more he marveled at the nobi who sincerely cared for an abandoned child. "I understand."
On the other hand, Alen saw his nervous expression flatten after hearing what two people had said in Nobi's house. Now he and ren are at the door since just moments ago. He doesn't know what to do at a time like this. Again he heard ren's personal affairs.
Ren sighed, then forced himself to smile. She looked at Alen and said, "you better get out of here now. We can talk about that deal some other time. Uncle nobi is at home right now. You'll be caught if my uncle sees you.
Alen nodded in agreement without protest. "Eumm, okay. See you at the cliff tomorrow, "he said rigidly. He saw ren smiling once more before the girl entered. He was about to leave. However, his body stops before a step.
"I'm home! "Hail ren in a cheery tone.
'ren! Where have you been? Uncle nobi came to my house to look for you."
Ren chuckled. "My goodness, uncle. Why are you looking for me where I wouldn't be?"
"You know what Ozi said when I got to his house? I wonder if you ran away! As a matter of fact, your uncle was very sure that you would not run away, "uncle nobi said proudly.
"Ouch, uncle. You're the most understanding, "he said with a small laugh.
Alen who had never left yet smiled. "Why does she sound so cheerful? "He mumbled before leaving at last.
Alen doesn't understand how humans can pretend to be okay when they're hurt? If it is difficult to do so, how can one be honest with others? What made the girl keep masking her pain by herself? For some reason, he was curious about it all. After all, they were just two strangers who happened to know each other.
***
"Kim, you should pay more attention to your work. Look we can only eat food like this in a city this big. Isn't this too much? "Elsa murmurs at Kim's mother.
Kim saw some side dishes on the table. For him, it was enough to eat three times a day. However, it is not for his mother to keep complaining about having only that food every day. "Mom, hold on a little longer. I'm working on it."
"You've always said that but what's the truth? "Elsa complained.
"Mother, don't scold my brother constantly. She had worked very hard at my academy," said Tim who had eaten rice and side dishes before me. Kim and Elsa immediately turned to him.
"Oh, my god, Tim. Mom doesn't scold your brother for no reason," Elsa said, rubbing her nose in the team's head. "You'll understand when you grow up," he continued as he put rice and side dishes on the plate.
Kim chewed his food slowly, without an appetite. Not only because her mother was always upset about the same thing but also because she was about to talk about her wishes. "Mom, I'm going to extend my contract at the academy where I work."
Elsa slammed the spoon onto the plate until the team snapped. Good thing the 7-year-old didn't choke. "What? The academy first grade? I told you, your salary is very small in that place! After all, what good is there in teaching difficult children at that place?"
"But I'm happy to do it, mom," Kim said. Not to argue, she only expressed what she had felt during her teaching.
Elsa widened her eyes. "Is that how you're gonna get rich?"
The sound of knocking on the door left them all speechless. Kim stood up and opened the door right away. Alen, apparently, was standing at the door carrying a bag of plastic full of food. "Mom and Tim are home?" Kim gave a slight smile and nodded. She opened the door wide so she could see her mother and sister. Afterward, Kim signaled with his head to let Alen in.
"Oh, Alen! Welcome! Welcome! We happened to be eating. So eat with us! "Elsa exclaimed kindly. She stood up and reached out to receive gifts from god.
"I brought you mom and Tim's favorite," she said, sitting at the table after Elsa let her. He saw tempe, tofu, Fried eggs, and a bottle of ketchup had already been served neatly on the table.
Elsa opened up a plastic bag full of two boxes of food. She opened it until she noticed the typical aroma of ketchup Fried chicken and one other box containing several cooked and seasoned pieces of beef. "Woahhh! You always bother to bring food here! Thank you, Alen. I'm just grateful to have treated you like a son! "Elsa said enthusiastically.
"It's okay, mom. I love to see Tim eat food so voraciously," says Alen with a small laugh at the team's mouth full of food and its seasoning is messy on the outside.
***
After lunch at Kim's house, Alen went straight to the cliff, where he met ren. He didn't see anyone while looking down the cliff. Today, he intentionally came early because they were about to make a deal like Ren said yesterday. Now, though, he even felt uneasy because she had not yet appeared.
Alen waited for ren for hours. He leaned against a boulder, pacing over the cliff with no wings, and hoped the girl would not break her promise. In his mind, he thought of her state after hearing the secret truth. For the fourth time, he sighed. "Ah, shit! I bet she broke it!"
Alen feels deeply betrayed. He soon gives credence to a person he has only briefly met. "I waited for him for nothing! "Vexed Alen as he revived his wings. However, a small stone was able to jack him in shock.
Alen looked down the cliff and found ren waving both hands. He who was upset now smiled with joy. Without hesitation, he darted downward. "Ren? I really thought that you betrayed me!"
Ren didn't respond to Alen's words, but she looked around nervously. After viewing her surroundings safely, she finally looked into Alen's face. "No time to talk about it!"
"Why can't I? Didn't you promise me?" Confused Alen.
To be continued...