On the terrace, Edoardo Callahan was making use of the place for teaching other children to read. He was trying to win over Shasha's heart, the girl who kept rejecting his love. Shasha had stopped playing theater even though she was very talented. Now he could only help Shasha publish her books of children's fairy tales.
Elsewhere, Regina was preparing for her birthday party at a popular Cafe. A very festive party. She also invited the capital's top artists. Maya Agustin, her step mother was sponsoring this high end party, as well as for socializing herself as a candidate for mayor.
Regina sent invitations to Edo's WhatsApp yesterday. But he didn't even opened the WA, let alone read those messages.
Tonight, Edo was planning to invite Shasha to watch a poetry musichology performance in the open field in front of the mayor's house.
Regina was worried that if Edo didn't make it to her party, then all her plans of showing off him as her close companion to her friends would fail. And, she would lose face! Thus Regina contocted a new plan, she invited a newcomer singer, he could be used for now. Rafli, the newcomer singer, didn't mind being close to Regina, the daughter of the famous singer Maya Agustin.
Elsewhere at the top. Maya Agustin's father was furious. Maya Agustin pampered her stepdaughter to no limits.
Meanwhile, her own daughter, Shasha was left to live a simple life as a pre school teacher and was struggling in a slum.
***
10 years ago Maya Agustin came and let him know that she was his daughter. Saying, she was able to find her father after so many years and she did not want to live in pain like her mother, Maimunah. Her father made amends for his big mistake by giving her a luxury apartment and amenities.
In the past, he sponsored everything related to the campaign for the legislative candidate, Maya Agustin aiming for and helped her a lot in becoming a legislative member. All in hopes that she would stop being an artist and bring her daughter Shasha to live with her.
But Maya Agustin had ignored his wishes. Meanwhile, he already knew where Maimunah, his wife had been hiding for years from him.
In front of him was a proposal for sponsorship for the mayoral campaign from Maya Agustin, he furiously threw the proposal out the window, which hit the janitor in the side yard. The clerk secured the proposal.
Meanwhile he accepted Rahmat's proposal, Maya's ex-husband. He would help his former son-in-law. And teach valuable lessons for his daughter, Maya Agustina.
****
A natural garden was demolished, and a metal fence was laid out around the park. Even though, it was a natural garden, it was mainly used by children who were reading enthusiasts and naturally their parents would follow them. But now, the demolition disappointed all of them. They went to the house of the head of the
The neighborhood association to ask about what projects were being built in the park.
The head of the them (the neighborhood association) didn't have any explanation for them.
They finally flocked to the house of the chairman of the neighboring association to protest against the government's decision, the chairman of the neighboring association also did not know.
Not satisfied with the answer, they finally went to the urban village office. The village head was in a meeting in the district. Those who were disappointed finally left the cardboard papers filled with disappointment protests, criticisms that they posted on the wall of the village office.
"Restore our garden"
"Don't take over our children's playground"
"Playground is the right of the people"
"What are you going to do to our garden! Give it back!!"
And many more protest sentences filled the walls of the village office.
In the afternoon, when the meeting ended, the village head was stunned by the large number of written messages on the office wall. He had never seen a citizen demonstration like this before.
Immediately he and the urban village staff came to the location. He did not know about the project in the natural garden. The park was tightly closed. The entrance to the project area was currently closed and had a large padlock. Due to heavy rain the project work was stopped. The workers went home.
In the evening the Mayor held a special meeting about the project that was being built by the private sector with special permission from the governor.
Rahmat already knew which party voluntarily rebuilt the park without government assistance. The garden was built for Shasha by her grandfather Isaac Ibrahim. Grandfather who she didn't know. Grandpa who made her his only heir.
Shasha diverted her literary cart towards the mosque, her students were waiting in an orderly manner, the heavy rain and the demolished park were not obstacles for them to learn to read or listen to Shasha's latest tales.
***
Despite being disappointed by Edo's absence at her birthday party, that couldn't make Regina to just give up. The word 'giving up' was not in her dictionary.
She already knew Edoardo Callahan's schedule of activities from morning to evening every day. Desy was indeed a smart assistant.
"Every Monday to Wednesday, Edo mostly works at home or in the library, or in the computer laboratory, his activities are writing. On Thursday he trains for theater at school every morning, in the afternoon he practices his banners. Friday activities at the smart park, now the park is closed, he doesn't know where to move. Saturday sports - jogging or fitness exercises. This Saturday the schedule is jogging at that natural garden. Sunday the schedule is empty, no one knew what he does, but last night he went to watch an art performance in front of the Mayor's office building, reportedly the Mayor also read poetry. This activity is routinely held every first week of every month." Desy read out Edo's agenda until she was out of breath. After hearing Desy's report, Regina made plans.
"Arrange the schedule for brother Edo's theater training to be in our school, make a request letter to his assistant. If necessary, I will make a theater group at school, we will announce a theater competition, let my mother look for sponsors for city level theater competitions between high schools, Let my papa manage the art studio, Edo or whatever will be the committee. Tomorrow we will have an audition to find members. Inform the student council president that he has to meet with us tomorrow about our theater group." Desy noted Regina's every instruction frantically.
Actually, Regina had a leadership talent that deserves a thumbs up. She had learned a lot from her father who was an artist manager, she had the ability to influence others, but because of her envious and arrogant character, she can be dangerous for her cunning and selfish ways, and she liked to look down on others, which made her a person with a bad character.
"And tomorrow afternoon we go jogging to the youth park!"
"But.... Tomorrow afternoon, your schedule is ...?"
"Cancel," said Regina irritably.
In the evening, Regina sold her mother a monthly art show and that she have to sponsor a high school theater competition.
***
Having to Appear on one stage with Maya Agustin at the poetry reading next month, finally Rahmat suspected something, if his ex-wife intended to become a rival in the upcoming mayoral election.
The performing arts committee reported Maya Agustin's insistence on getting into his routine agenda. Rahmat complained that Maya was trying to grab the stage. Wasn't Maya talented in music?
Back when they were still husband and wife, Maya never liked it when Rahmat was busy with his theater groups and poetry. Then why did she suddenly want to enter someone else's stage.