Lily sits trying to appear calm. There's an underlying anxiety, but she tries to push it away with the small smile she has. In front of her sits a man wearing a faded green Polo shirt, seen flipping through files she recognizes as her own data."Don't you care about your degree?" the man asks, chin resting slightly on his hand. The file is now back on the table.One of the many things that makes Lily unsure how to respond."What's your work experience?"This part, especially, makes Lily quite nervous."None.""No experience, but a bachelor's degree," James murmurs softly, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "What makes you want to work like this? I mean, as a babysitter? Oh, sorry. I mean... as a caregiver.""I need a job," Lily responds bluntly.She clearly hears her interlocutor sigh deeply. "Need, huh?"Even though she only sees it from the corner of her eye, Lily is sure with a very high level of certainty that the man's
"Miss Lily, where's my bag?" Cheryl asks.Lily takes a deep breath."Miss Lily, oh... don't take too long. I need my bag. I haven't even put on my shoes yet. I'll be late!!"Lily can do nothing but hasten her steps up the stairs to Cheryl's room. "Hold on, I'll get it."As soon as she finds the pink bag with the Unicorn motif, Lily grabs it. Today is Cheryl's first day back to school after the semester break. She checks her employer's child's readiness once more. Last night she reminded and helped Cheryl pack her notebooks and school supplies. Feeling it's enough, Lily quickly heads downstairs rather than having to listen to the child scream again."Which shoes?" Lily asks, holding the pink bag."The black ones are in the corner.""Hey, Cheryl... why didn't you take and put on your shoes yourself?" Anna sighs in frustration. Her granddaughter is already on the edge of being too spoiled."I want to have breakfast, Grandma. I won
Lily lets out a slow breath. Right now, she's stepping out of that rather large room. She glances at the silver clock that faithfully accompanies her; Cheryl will be out of class soon. She has to go back to the waiting room that she's been visiting every day. She walks a bit faster down the stairs to get there soon. When she arrives at the waiting room, many parents are already waiting for their sons and daughters to return. Most of them seem similar. Waiting for their employer's child to come home from school.A small part of Lily knows them. Lily has been escorting and waiting for Cheryl at school for two weeks now. Actually, the girl protested a lot to her grandmother. She said the girl was already grown up. She didn't need a caregiver to accompany her to school. However, Anna responded to the protest with a smile. She completely ignored her granddaughter's wish to just be escorted and picked up without being supervised like Lily is doing now."Miss Li
"Cheryl, don't rush your breakfast, honey," Anna gently strokes the top of her granddaughter's head.The little girl sits a bit tense, but tries to act normal. She knows there will be many questions from Grandma and Dad. That's why she hurriedly eats her sweet cereal soup. Occasionally, her eyes sneak a glance towards her caregiver with annoyance. But it seems like the caregiver is busy preparing food at the kitchen table."Yesterday, Miss Rina told Grandma about what happened at school.""Oh," Cheryl responds without daring to look at Grandma. Just as she feared. She's sure she'll get a lot of lectures later. Just as usual."What were you doing at school, Princess?""Anka snatched my pencil, Dad." Cheryl starts to slow down her chewing on her cereal."And then?" James asks without taking his eyes off his daughter. This morning, the little figure who is the source of his energy, looks very beautiful with her double braids in her hair.
The night breeze makes Lily button up her cardigan to the top. She hugs herself but doesn't want to move from where she's standing. Her eyes gaze up, reluctant to close, choosing instead to indulge in the spread of stars above. The moon is no longer shy to show itself.Here, where she is now, is the spot Sari usually uses to air out the clothes. Sari, one of the housemaids here, just like herself and Nina. While Nina is assigned to cleanliness duties in this big house, it's a different story for Sari. The woman, quieter than Nina, is entrusted with the responsibility of cooking, washing, and ironing all the residents' clothes in this house.All her tasks are done. From giving her employer verbal and written reports, ensuring Cheryl drinks her milk before bed, to leaving the already asleep child, checking Cheryl's textbooks and homework again, and providing her uniform so her young miss doesn't scramble to find it in the morning.There's a long wooden bench in th
Every time Lily enters the room, which is now becoming familiar in her life, there's always one large frame that catches her attention. The frame fills almost half of the right wall intentionally unobstructed by tall shelves. The painted smile is so charming, paired with those truly beautiful eyes. Lily admitted it the first time they locked eyes. This child was gifted with something that amazed and envied many people at the same time.She's already sitting in front of the man who's now wearing his bedtime pajamas. He's seriously reading the report she handed him a few minutes ago. Lily occasionally holds her breath, still trying to cover up her nervousness, afraid something might have been missed in her report."Is Cheryl giving you trouble, Miss?"Lily furrows her brow, puzzled by her employer's question. "Not at all, Sir." That's the safest way for Lily."Tell me about Cheryl at school for the past three days."Lily's eyebrows knit even tighter.
"I hate you," Cheryl whispers right by Lily's side as she steps out of her father's luxurious SUV. Hearing that, Lily's heart feels like it's being pelted with thousands of invisible pebbles, making her instinctively retract her body.The shoulder-length haired woman takes in as much air as she can. Trying to normalize all her senses that momentarily paralyzed because of the words spoken earlier. From the corner of her eye, Lily can see the girl walking gracefully, hand in hand with her father. As if what was just said was just a meaningless word, interpreted differently by Lily herself."Miss Lily, don't stay far from Cheryl, okay? I'm worried," says Anna, making Lily jump in surprise. When she turns around, the middle-aged woman, elegant in her maroon kebaya, is already not far from where she stands."Yeah, Mrs. Anna."Deep down, Lily believes this will be quite difficult to do. Fresh in her memory is how the girl stripped Lily bare with eyes full of wo
Lily tries her best to normalize her heart rate. Every time she expresses longing for her parents—especially Rianto, her father—her mother always manages to make her feel small again. Such deep longing should diminish because of various words from the woman who conceived and bore her.Whenever asked about her job, Lily knows she's guilty. But she's not ready to take the risk of being forced back to her hometown. Not because she's started to enjoy her job. Not at all. Lily chooses to stay here, rather than having to hear many things that still haunt her mind.One thing she feels for sure now. Pain without visible wounds on her skin. At the end of the phone call, her mother said, "Your father has a message for you, take care of yourself. You are now back under our watch, Lily."She really wants to respond to those words, but everything gets stuck in her throat. Does Lily have to accept all of this? Absolutely not. Lily understands her mother's good int
Days go by, months roll by, years also add up. But one thing is timeless. Togetherness in the two-story house that is now never quiet again. Sometimes Anna's voice fills the corners of the room where Nika is too active to move. The seven-year-old is like a deer in headlights. She can't keep still. I don't know where her energy comes from. Anna is not afraid that something will break or fall because of Nika. But she was worried that her granddaughter would get hurt because she was too agile. Running here and there, sometimes jumping up and down while laughing merrily. Fortunately, Levant could accompany Nika's activities, although the youngest daughter had to wait until her middle sister came home from school. Meanwhile, Cheryl was really busy with her studies. Levant also started to have a lot of activities at school. Even so, Cheryl never wasted time with her family. Even Levant. Whenever there is an opportunity to get together, they do it with great j
Lily gazed at Nika, who had fallen asleep, fondly. She still remembered how she gave birth to her youngest daughter. Although there was a lot of drama, her gratitude never subsided. "Sleep well, sweetheart. Sweet dreams." She gently kissed Nika's forehead as she prayed, "Oh God, always protect my children from nightmares. From people with evil intentions. From the hypocrites around them. Make them good and virtuous children." Fixing the edge of Nika's blanket properly, tidying up the books that Nika had messed up, and making sure the room temperature was comfortable, Lily left the room. Which turned out to be awaited by James. "Not sleeping yet?" asked Lily, who carefully closed the door to Nika's room. "I can't sleep if you're not around." James sulked exactly like Levant. That's why Lily often joked that her husband transformed into his son when he was five years old. All Lily could do was to mess up James' rather messy hair.
Even though it was loud and noisy in her father's luxury SUV, Cheryl still had a quiet spot. Even though her mouth occasionally asked Levant not to tease her youngest sister, who had no idea where Levant's nosy behavior had come from, it was still a niche that sometimes demanded attention. She deliberately created a void in her heart to imprison the figure of Keana there. The figure that should have been there when she was sad, worried, lonely, read her stories, prepared her breakfast, and all sorts of activities that little Lily used to do. Like the woman who sat beside her father; who was never late to accompany her to do anything, even when she arrived in her red and white uniform. Not in a kindergarten uniform or even a time when her memory was not too perfect. The trip to one of the malls in Central Jakarta didn't take too long. Once in the parking area, James asked Levant and Nika's nanny to enter the shopping center first.
In the past, it took a lot of effort for Lily to get Cheryl to talk. This time, Cheryl could easily tell Lily anything, especially what happened to her. From her activities at school to her friends who she finds annoying. Cheryl had something to tell Lily. For her, talking to her mom is fun. Unlike her father, who often teases her. Especially about relationships with the opposite sex. "What's wrong, mom?" Cheryl folded her arms across her chest. Her face was sullen. The look in her eyes held irritation. "What's wrong with Papa?" Lily folded her smile. She reached out her hand to tidy up her daughter's long hair which was a bit messy. "I was asked about Noah. Am I his friend? When did I become Noah Narendra's friend?" "Drink the milk first, okay?" "I'm not Levant, Mom." Cheryl still didn't accept being treated like a child.Even so, she accepted the glass Lily handed her. She sipped slowly,
The second pregnancy was a bit risky for Lily. Her age made her worry, although not as much as the happiness that surrounded her. The doctor said, "As long as you take care of your womb, condition, and food intake, God willing, it will be fine." For Lily, everything that poured into her life now was more than a gift. What she had hoped for all this time, the millions of prayers she made in every prostration happened so easily. As if without burden, God gave her that wish when Lily let go of everything. When she let go of being a childless woman. Cheryl was enough for her to show off. Risa's advice to Lily was exactly that. So when her first pregnancy happened, the happiness was not only hers. But her whole family. Nita and Rianto often traveled to Jakarta to see their first grandchild grow. As befits the name Lily gave her second child-for Cheryl was her first-Levant Akala Virza. She hopes that her life will be as bright as her name.
The man was still frozen in front of the steering wheel. There was a moment of hesitation before he decided to actually get out and walk towards the place where James Adam's fare wall party was being held. Today, his coworker resigned. He chose to continue the business he had started rather than struggle under the command of someone else. There was a mountain of curiosity in the man's heart. Especially the words that had been bothering him since this morning. "I'm definitely missing Mr. James at work."He said honestly. His coworker this time was very dedicated to work."Mr. Levi could have. I had intended to resign a long time ago but the timing always clashed. It just so happens that my wife is spoiled beyond belief, asking to be accompanied at home.""Pregnant women have different hormones, boss," said Denny, James Adam's assistant. "Ms. Lily is so independent when she's spoiled, it's really funny.""Don't imagine someone's wife. Date someone else!"
"Where's Lily, James?" It was James' turn to be puzzled by such a question. Since leaving the room he had chosen to tidy up the files in his study first and then head to the dining room. Usually his wife, Sari, was preparing breakfast. But this morning, she wasn't there. Plus his mother's question just now. "Probably in Cheryl's room." That was all James could answer. "Morning, Grandma. Morning, Papa." Cheryl, cheerfully approached her father as well as her grandmother. Giving a good morning kiss befor
Lily is tired? She must be.However, her heart was happy because in addition to the wedding party that she had once dreamed of, it was perfectly realized by her husband. Even her wishes regarding the bridal room. Although she had protested, Lily was able to get her husband to comply. There was no bridal suite in the place where she spent her first night after becoming husband and wife. Even though the hotel had offered the most luxurious package to Lily, she refused. James actually didn't understand Lily's way of thinking. Wouldn't she be amazed to see how beautifully the bridal suite was decorated?James was eager to ask, but a smile and a sad look appeared on Lily's beautiful face. He did not want to ask further. Maybe later, when she was in a better mood, he would ask her about it."Tired?" asked James when he entered the room.He glanced at his wife who w
BALI The man frowns. The wedding invitation the receptionist had just given him was enough to make him tingle, but he would still tell his employer. There was no way he could hide this invitation from her."Keana," Andri called out loudly as he entered the long-haired woman's apartment unit."What the hell, you're screaming incoherently!"Keana, who was putting on her eyelashes, felt suddenly distracted. She felt like throwing her assistant with the boots next to her. It took a lot of concentration to put on those lashes and Andri succeeded in distracting her."I have a surprise for you."Andri grinned innocently. Handing the invitation to the woman. Keana snorted in displeasure but she read it anyway. She read the wedding invitation that came to her for a long time."When will it arrive?" She was still flipping through the ivory-colored invitat