It was dark at night, Rosa looks at her smartphone nervously. She had been planning for almost half a year for this moment but when the moment had arrived, she can't stop her heart from throbbing painfully. Her white face was pale, her eyes were red, and her right forehead is blue and swell. She didn't care about her appearance anymore, she had been used by it. Her phone buzzing and immediately she answers the phone.
"Has he come back tonight?" A female voice comes from her phone.
"No. He hasn't. Laila, I already packed my bag. When will you arrive?"
"Are you sure about this?" Laila asked with worried.
Rosa snort. "You want me to have a mental breakdown? I promise my mother that I will live happily. This the only way will make me happy again." She has a smile on her face but her tears are about to well up. She grits her teeth to hold her tears from falling.
"I will arrive another fifteen minutes." Laila ends the call.
Rosa inhales deeply and slowly walks towards other rooms, there were a small bed and a baby crib in the room. She sits on the small bed and looks at the boy who was deeply asleep. The little boy is four years old, his face is very similar to Rosa's. Even her black wavy shining hair is the same as her. She looks at his peaceful face with a lot of complicated feelings, slowly she kisses his forehead gently.
"Raul... Raul, wake up." Rosa whispered to his ears.
Her little boy stretches his arms and pulls a pillow nearby to bury his face.
"Wake up Raul. Don't you want to meet and play with Lily today?" she said with a low voice.
The boy quickly sits up and he blinks many times to open his sleepy eyes. "Lily is coming today?"
Rosa pats his head with a smile. "Lily's mother will come and pick us out and you can play with Lily. Come here let's change your clothes."
Obediently, he let her mother changed his cloth. When her mother changes her little sister's clothes on the baby crib, he quickly packs his toys to his begs. After a few minutes, a red SUV car arrives in front of her villa.
"Raul!" A cute little girl's voice shouts from the car.
Raul hugs his mother's right legs, feeling shy. Rosa pats her son's head with a smile. The passenger door opens, Laila comes out from the car and looks at Rosa with tears in her eyes. She saw Rosa's swollen forehead and can't help to hug her pity friend, squashing a little baby in the middle. A man comes out from the driver's seat. He smiles a little at Rosa and comes forward.
"Let me help you." He takes her luggage and puts it into their car.
Laila wipes her tears and tries to smile. "Rosa, whatever you want to do, I will support you. Remember, I will always be there for you."
Rosa smile. "I know. That's why I ask you to help me. I trust you"
It was still dark, early in the morning, the car had parked at the entrance of the airport. Rosa had sent an email to Laila and told a lot of things that her son can eat and can't eat, she lists every detail of her son's routine ad favorite food. She also lists how to coax him and how to make him happy.
She looks at her son sleeping beside her. He has a robot in his arms, he hugs it tightly. She looks at his face, imprints it in her head. Slowly she leans to his son and kiss him on his head without wanting to let go. Tears fall heavily, her friend who is next to her pat her shoulder.
"I promise... I will take care of him." A choked voice comes from her friend.
Rosa lifts her head and hugs her friend tightly. She buckles up her baby carrier on her neck and quickly gets out of the car.
"Thank you, Juan. Thank you, Laila." Rosa takes out an envelope from her baby backpack, pulls her diamond ring from her finger without any feeling, and puts it inside the envelope. "Give this to David. I will contact you when I arrive at ABC country."
Before she left, she looks at her son for the last time. Afraid that she will change her mind, she closes her eyes and turns herself towards the airport. With a heavy step, she hugs her baby tightly in her arms while crying silently. Her baby who was sleeping before had woke up. As is she understand her mother feeling, the baby didn't cry but her little hand hold Rosa pinky finger tightly, where Rosa had put her hand on the baby head.
After twelve hours in the airplane, finally it landed safely. The little chubby baby in her arms is very obedient. It cries only when she wants to eat and change her diapers. It was hot in the evening at X country. Before she turns on her smartphone, a sound not far from her calling her name. Rosa can't hold her smile and laugh when she saw her half-sister was running towards her.
"Rosa!" A big warm arm hugs her tightly making her baby cry, annoyed being squeezed in the middle.
Rosa pats her little baby back. Rosa looks at a beautiful woman in front of her. She is her half-sister. When her half-sister found her, she was 15 years old, her sister wanted her to live with her in this country but because it was too sudden, she refused. She hated her sister at first because her father had abandoned her and her mother in the previous country, ZZZ country. Then she hates her father more when she learned that her father had married five women and has a lot of other children.
Since then, she swears to herself that she will not marry like her father who had abandon his wife and daughter. Unfortunately, she had swayed by heated love at a young age and married the wrong man. She can't help to blame her mother for giving a jinx to her own daughter. However, her mother dies last year, she can't hate her and blame her anymore.
"What is your plan?" Rosa's half-sister asks while slurping a cup of coffee. They had arrived at her half-sister's apartment and her baby was sleeping in the room that her sister had provided for her.
They both sit in the dining room. "I planned to live here, and I will apply for a job, so you should not worry about me." Rosa is an independent girl. Since she only lives with her mother before and they are poor, Rosa had been used to work since young. She had many part-time jobs before and she likes them. She likes to gain experience, meet new friends and learn many other things. The important is she loves making money with her own hard work.
"How about your daughter?"
Rosa bites her lower lips. "I will manage it."
"Rosa, I know you hate it if I say I will help you find a job." She sighs. "My husband has some headache with some business, when I heard it, I can only think of you."
"Olivia..." Rosa frowned.
"I know you hate it and you think I made it up or something. However, this is true, you can ask my husband about it. It is just a small business. It was own by my husband's friend. However, he is a lazy bum and the business never had a profit for these years. My husband doesn't know how to stop invest in it as the owner of that business is his friend. I believe you can help it. It really needs your help."
"It's sounds too complicated. I will be very busy managing it. How can I take care of my daughter then?"
"Your daughter is a very obedient baby. She can follow you to work and you no need to worry about it. I also know some aunts' there that will gladly take care of your baby."
Suddenly a crying sound comes from the guest room. Rosa quickly stands up, before she could go to the room, her sister stops her.
"Think about it, ok? You can start your new life in that place. I have a good feeling about it." She persuades Rosa.
Rosa left her sister and run towards the room. Her baby was crying on the bed, her chubby face searching for her mother in the empty bed. Quickly Rosa jumps on the bed and kisses the chubby face.
"Mommy here. Don't cry..."
The baby stops crying and rolls to her body. Rosa wipes her baby tears and plays with her chubby cheek. Her baby has white skin just like her, but her brown light eyes and brown hair are similar to her husband.
She hates it. She hates it more when she found out she had a two-month baby on her stomach and her husband claimed that the baby wasn't his. They had not been sleeping together for a long time and her husband rarely comes home so his husband suspects her to have an affair.
She asks for a divorce, but he never agrees to it. He left her in the dark for months, the baby comes out and confirms it was his daughter, he promises her that he will change and love her like before. However, he never changes, and they never stop quarrel.
She had been stayed with him because of her son. He was still a baby when she found out her husband cheating on her after a year of her first marriage anniversary, he always promises to change but never did. For not wanting her son to be abandon like she and her mother before, she stayed with him, praying that his husband will change and love her only.
Rosa hug her baby tightly. "Raul, I'm sorry for leaving you... I'm sorry." Tears fall from her eyes when she remembers her son.
The next day, early in the morning after breastfeeding her baby, she let her baby playing in the living room. Her six-month-old baby was laying on the mat, full of squishy toys, after squeeze and bite a silicon hello kitty toy in her hand, she flips her body, rolls to front and back, searching for her mother. When she saw her mother, she smiles showing her gums, and try to crawl towards her mother. She tries so hard to commando crawl style with her tummy but she only ended reversing with that style. Rosa who just sitting on the sofa a few steps away from her daughter laughs seeing her baby's frustrating face. "Come on, you can do it." She sits on the floor a few steps ahead of her baby and claps her hand to cheers her baby. Her baby cry asking for help but seeing her mother didn't move
In the BMW sedan car, Olivia's husband is driving while three girls were in the back seat, playing with the energetic baby. The chubby little cheek bouncing for every jump that she makes, her legs were strong, and happily bounce it on Rosa's lap. After an hour, they arrived at double story café. Rosa nods her head looking at the good design café and the well strategic place. William, Olivia's husband, ask her to look first inside the café. She wears a baby carrier in her front, letting the baby facing in front. The baby sways her legs excitedly looking at the new place. When she entered the cafe, she saw there is only one table was occupied by a couple. The interior design is deco with a modern style. The wall is painted white, and the chairs and table are black. Rosa walks towards the display cake, it has five different beautiful cakes, however, her eyes were looking sharp at the top of the display cake, it was very dust
Rosa had been working in the café for a week now. She had busy herself working for not wanting to remember her ex-husband and her son. She had to throw away her old sim card, making sure her husband can't contact her anymore. She was holding her tears as she was looking at her son's picture in the photo gallery. Her tears race down to the pillow, there a picture of a baby newborn was laying on her son's lap, her son had a gentle smile and loving look. His hand holds the baby's finger carefully afraid that it will hurt the little baby. "Mommy, will sister love me when she grows up?" Her son asks her when she snaps the picture. "Of course, she will love you. You are her big brother. You need to make sure you take care of your sister and protect her well. She will love you more." Rosa said. "Ok. I will protect my sister and mommy too!" Her son smiles brightly at her mother. "Aaaaa... mmm!" Damia makes a noise and
Rosa put down her baby on the bed and quickly change into proper clothes. Then, she searches her phone to call her half-sister. "Olivia! Explain to me why you had rent Big Boss house to me!?" Rosa asked after her sister answer the phone. However, it is not her sister who answers the phone, but the operator's voice comes out from it. She dials again and again but fails to reach her sister again. Damn that sister! She planned this!? Rosa looks at her daughter. Her daughter had been quietly lay down on the bed with a grimace and red on her face then a loud fart comes from her bottom. Rosa gives a big sigh, "Baby, I'm stress now and you reward me with your smelly treasure?" The baby giggled looking at her mother's funny stressed face. She thought her mother praising her for pooping well. After bathing her baby, she left the room and look at Louis who was sleeping deeply on the couch without a shirt on! Rosa shakes
I had a bad feeling when I read it for the first time, but I am blinded by this perfect house!!! Argh!! Rosa has you turn stupid after being a single mother!? She read again the rules. --- TEN RULES One. The tenant will make breakfast every day for the landlord. Two. The landlord will make dinner every day for the tenant. Three. The tenant is responsible to clean the house. Four. The landlord is responsible to throw out the garbage. Five. The tenant and landlord are not allowed to come back after 10.00 pm. Only emergency or approved by each other. Six. The tenant and landlord are not allowed to bring the opposite sex inside the house. Seven. The tenant and landlord are not allowed to smoke and drink alcohol inside the house. Eight. The tenant and landlord will accompany each other to shop at the grocery store and take turns to pay once a week. Nine. The tenant and landlord mus
The café that she had to manage right now is like a lost child that needs guidance and care from a mother. She didn’t feel any pressure from it but the challenge to satisfy the customer and make a profit from it bring her joy. In the office room, the table is a mess with stacks of files and documents. Rosa works on the floor with her laptops, busy listing everything that needs to be done before she could promote the café officially on the internet. While her baby also was sitting not far from her on the baby mat. Throughout Rosa working, her baby will be babbling and be playing with her toys earnestly like having a serious job. She knows her mother is working and understand that she can’t disturb her mother. Knock. Knock. A door open before Rosa could answer. "Madam, It's already 8 o'clock." Sophia reminds her new manager. Rosa looks at her watch and looks at her baby. The café closed at 7
The next morning, as usual, Damia will always wake up first. Waking her up as she wanted to have her mother's milk. After her baby is full and satisfied, lazily she changed her baby diapers. When she is hungry, she goes to the kitchen with her baby in her arms. However, before she goes to the kitchen, she stops in the living room and she was quite surprised to see how messy the place is. She blinks her eyes dumbfoundedly as she looks there are four snack packaging which is empty and was placed on the floor and the sofa. Then maybe one of the snacks had fallen and there was a mess with chips spreading on the floor. When she glanced at the corner of the sofa, there were a few clothes and a towel. On the coffee table, there are about ten empty carbonated tins. Even the television is not switched off. She looks around to see if her big boss is nearby, but she didn’t see him. Then she walks to the kit
Rosa then saw a beautiful lady with blonde hair was sitting at the corner of the cafe. It's still early and there is only one stranger here, which means the stranger is the florist. Rosa gives her baby to Sophia and happily, Sophia takes the baby and brings her to the office which had become Rosa and the baby's private office room. When Rosa comes near to the lady, the lady smile and they both greet each other. “Call me Rosa.” Rosa acts friendly with the florist. “My name is Jessica but you can call me Jess.” The lady is very beautiful and her voice is sweet. “Jess.” Rosa smile. “I have been told by Zack that your florist shop is not far from here. I am sorry for not be able to visit your place and had you come here instead.” “Don’t worry about that. The shop is handled by me and my brother. My brother can handle everything over there and our shops are not busy early in the morning.” “I
They play until sunset, the length of the beach and their rented chalet is not far but Damia seems to be very tired of playing with the sand. She falls asleep in Rosa's arms after a few steps. Louis holding a lot of things in his hands. He follows Rosa's small steps one by one. Usually, he doesn't like to walk with shorter people than him, it is because his neck sore from looking down. Sometimes it makes him feel dizzy. But, he never felt that kind of thing when he looks down to see Rosa. He even likes how small Rosa is. If he can he wanted her to be small as his palm so that he can put her in his pocket and bring her everywhere he wants. When they arrived at their chalet, Rosa give a quick shower for Damia and change into clean clothes. They ate before returning to the chalet, so, Rosa let her sleep again after her daughter wear the clothes. After making sure Damia slept deeply
After a few hours, the temperature drops a little, Louis walk along with Rosa and Damia towards the beach. The sand here is so fine, it didn't feel the heat like regular sand which makes people doesn't hesitate to walk barefoot along the beach in hot weather. The wide ocean is blue and clear. You can see many small fish swimming around and you could also see corals and plants over it. There are people swimming in the water, snorkeling along the reefs, and laying lazily on the sand while admiring the view of this beautiful nature. It's Damia's first time visiting such a place, when Damia put her down, she was so scared when her leg touch the soft sand. She screams and quickly curls her leg on Rosa. Its their first time seeing Damia refusing on doing something, usually, Damia love to explore things that she doesn't know. Rosa and Louis couldn't help but laugh at Damia's reaction. Louis and
The Guilty Pleasure Cafe had five branches and all of the cafe become famous as it is. Jessica's business also started to become popular after so many up and down that they had to face. Just at a glimpse, it is already a year of the day Rosa lives in this country. Damia also had turned one and a half years old girl. She can pronounce many words and understand more words when someone talks to her. Damia also seems to love learning so much. She will always pinpoint something that she was curious about and will only be satisfied when she understands it fully. The most patient to explain to her is Louis. Even sometimes Damia doesn't need to ask and Louis already shows her something and explains it to her patiently. He seems to be very happy doing it and very happy whenever Damia remembers all his teaching. Rosa and Louis also had become much closer. They are not awkward with each other now and
After two more days, the doctor finally discharge them after he had confirmed Damia didn't suffer any serious virus. When they return to their house, Damia was running around in the house and giggling all the way. She looks like a little duckling that was very happy finally to return to her comfort nest. Rosa has a smile on her face watching Damia running and Louis following behind her daughter. It was lunchtime, so, Rosa immediately enter the kitchen and started to cook for them. After half an hour, Rosa serve the table and call them to eat together. The awkwardness between Rosa and Louis had finally gone. The days they were in the hospital, taking turns to take care of Damia had made Rosa able to treat Louis like normal again. However, Louis notices something different from the way Rosa has treated him for these few days. She seems to be gentler when talking to him. He also notice that Rosa had a gentle
It didn't take a long time for Louis to return and bring food for Rosa. Damia is sleeping in Rosa's arms. She seems to be very clingy even though she was sleeping. Her face was still frowning feeling uncomfortable, her little hand was holding tightly to Rosa's dress. Rosa can't help but has to accept Louis's offer to feed her. She was quite hungry and her daughter will need to have her milk, so, she have to eat no matter what. She was frowning whenever she have to open her mouth and let Louis feed her but she can't hide her face that has turned red from embarrassment. She is a tough and independent woman, she never had someone else feeding her like this. This is humiliating to her, but for her baby, she tries her best to accept it. Louis knows Rosa is embarrassed but he can't help but feel happy to feed her. Rosa's face that was blushing makes him become bolder to lean closer and f
The registration and admission into the private's rooms are smooth and quick. When Damia was being inserted the needle into her hands, Rosa and Louis were being chased out of the room. Damia who was sick become stickier with her mommy. As soon her mommy left her with the nurses, Damia cry loudly. It’s making Rosa and Louis's hearts ache even more. Louis feels the worst and he even refused to get out of the room, making Rosa have no choice but to pull him out of the room. Rosa can’t help but laugh inside, Louis acts more like Damia's parents than she did. “Louis. Calm down. The nurses know what they need to do.” Rosa pushes Louis and forces him to sit on nearby sofas. “Waaaaaa!” Louis and Rosa turn their head toward the private room at the same time. The room is a very high-quality room, but they still could hear Damia crying from here. This time, Rosa couldn’t hold Louis anymor
The next morning, Rosa open her eyes feeling hot in her arms. She could feel heavy and a burning sensation from her arms. It makes her wake up in alert. When she opened her eyes, the person who is hot and heavy is her baby girl. “Mia?” Rosa was panic after she saw her baby's face was red and she was shivering too. Her baby was still asleep. Obviously, she was in discomfort because Damia was frowning discomfort. However, the baby didn’t cry at all. When Rosa checks her temperature with her hand, her heart immediately jumps in panic. She quickly wraps her baby with a blanket. Even though her baby's temperature was hot, her baby was shivering from the cold. Rosa didn’t waste her time. She quickly changes her baby's diapers, changes into thicker clothes, and sticks a fever cooling pad on her baby's forehead. She always makes sure to have backup medicine for her baby. She
Rosa always takes seriously when she was doing her work. As soon she starts to do her work, all her complicated thoughts and feelings gone. She didn’t even realize Louis and Damia had already hung out in the living room with her. Louis put his finger on his lips, making a gesture to keep silent because Rosa was working. Damia understands that gesture and nods without stopping. She just learned how to nod and shake her head to answer some questions from adults. Today Damia didn’t take naps like usual, so, she was quite sleepy right now. She had not been coming to the café for a week and she was very excited when she finally enter the café. He greets the workers and the customer without any sign of fatigue. She just has a nice bath with her mother and was fed a delicious meal by Louis. She is in a very comfortable state. Her body is clean and her tummy is full, now her eyes are heavy. She was leaning
Rosa pretends to not see Louis when she walks to the first floor. Damia seems to understand that it is not time to said any words that related to Louis, so she could only look at Louis from her mother's arms. It’s been three days since she didn’t get to play with Louis. So, she was missing Louis so much. However, her mother's mood is first. She must make sure her mommy is happy or she will not have her mommy milk anymore. There are a lot of works that need to be settle as she had been taking off and emergency leave for almost a week. She packs several documents to bring to her rent house. Since the boss of the café is Louis and he is also her housemate, she had been making the café like hers. She brings out the documents and invoice that needs to be checked and put it all on the box. Then she called Zack to help her to send the box to her rent house. Seeing that Louis was