05 : A Very Bumpy Ride

Because of the heavy traffic along the road, it was already ten in the evening when Zren arrived home. 

Using a small remote control, she pressed a few buttons, and slowly the large gate of the house automatically opened. 

Zren drove in and parked her car outside. She was too tired and lazy to park it in the garage because she would also use it tomorrow, so it was more convenient to leave it right there. 

Zren got out of her car, she took her bag from the passenger seat and walked toward the door. 

The door was not a manual one but a digital one, one would need to use their fingerprint for them to open it. It didn't need a key you only need to press your finger that was registered on the system and you could enter easily. 

Zren pressed her middle finger against the scanner and the door automatically opened. When she entered the house, all the lights were already switched off, it was dark and silent. Probably that her sons were already sleeping.  

Zren carefully went upstairs to change clothes in her room and went to the kitchen to find some snacks. Her movements were smooth and careful, she was afraid to wake the people up in the house. 

Zren found a cup of noodles in the cupboard and decided to pair it up with a bottle of grape wine. After the noodles were ready, just as she was about to take a bite when the lights in the kitchen lit up. 

Still, with an open mouth Zren looked at the entrance of the kitchen, she saw fifty years old or so woman leaning on the wall with crossed arms, staring at her. 

It was none other than, Yaya Shina or Yashi for short. She was the worker that Zren hired ten years ago to help her to take care of the twin. 

Yashi was already staying with them for already a decade, for Zren she was not just a worker or a maid anymore, but a real family. 

"Hi, Yashi!" Zren greeted awkwardly. 

Yashi looked at Zren, expression full of seriousness. "How many times do I have to tell you that stop eating cup noodles. It's bad for your health!" 

Zren looked down and avoided Yashi's gaze, like a child who had done something wrong and found guilty. 

"Didn't you buy it for us to eat? Now you're angry that I'm eating it," Zren whispered to herself. 

"What did you say?" 

Zren shooked her head and defended herself, "Nothing, I didn't say anything." 

Yashi didn't pursue the matter anymore, she walked towards the fridge and took out a tupperware. Then she put it in the microwave to reheat it. 

After a few minutes, Yashi placed a plate infront of Zren that contained a delicious and aromatic food. 

"Don't eat those noodles, eat this instead," Yashi said and took the instant noodles away from Zren. 

Zren let out a sweet smile at Yashi. "Thanks, Yashi, you're really the best!" 

"I intentionally left it for you, so don't thank me." Yashi pulled the chair opposite Zren and sat on it. 

Zren nodded and took a spoonful of the food, while chewing the food, she couldn't help but ask, "Anyway, are the twin already gone to bed?" 

"Yes, they did. The two originally wanted to wait for you until you arrive but when it was already past nine, they couldn't wait any longer so they just decided to go to sleep." 

"Didn't a send a text message to you that I have a dinner meeting? You should've told them about it." 

Yashi let out a deep sigh and replied, "I did, but the two said that they want to see you, so I let them. But, unluckily they fell asleep while waiting for you."

A moment of silence had passed, in the kitchen, the two people didn't dare to speak. 

After a few seconds, Yashi broke the silent atmosphere and spoke. 

"Zren, you're busy with work and always arrive late. Even though we are living in the same house, we rarely meet each other. You don't have time for your sons, they miss you already." 

"Yashi, I know, but I promise I will take them out when I have free time. It's just that... maybe I don't have a client right now but there are so many paper works that needed to be done." 

"Zren, why don't you take a leave? So that you will have time to take care of your sons, even just for a week or two," Yashi suggested.

Zren scratched the back of her head and smiled at Yashi, "Yashi, if I applied for leave then that means no pay, no money. If I did that, how am I gonna pay our bills?" 

"Zren don't lie to me! You are one of the highest-paid attorneys at the prestigious Lawless Law Firm. By working there for six years or so, I'm sure the just by the money you earned, even if you retire right now, it will be enough to cover your expenses for your whole lifetime." 

Zren swallowed the last bite of her food and sipped a few drinks of grape wine. She let out a light chuckle and said, "Of course Yashi that would be enough to cover MY expenses, but just mine, excluding the kids." 

Zren stared at Yashi and continued, "If I stopped working, no one will gonna provide for us. Yashi, you know, just by how much money the twin are spending, I will be going bankrupt in no time. It's so expensive to raise kids, super." 

Yashi couldn't help but roll her eyes and retorted, "It's because you're spoiling them too much! Look Zren! Even if a mother loves their children very much they will not give full access to their credit cards and let them buy whatever they want. No one will gonna do that, except for you." 

"Yashi, it's not called spoiling it's "providing" I'm just providing them their needs," Zren said in a joking manner. 

Yashi shooked her head in disappointment. "It looks like you don't know what are the differences between the two words. I advise you to take an English class again." 

Zren let out a light laugh and continued, "Seriously speaking Yashi, I just want to provide the things I wasn't able to give back then. Such as toys, foods, and clothing, is it wrong?" 

"No it's not, but Zren, you should also know the limit and when to stop. Remember, giving too much is not good," Yashi warned Zren. 

Hearing Yashi's words, Zren couldn't help but pout and defended herself. "I know! But Yashi, do you remember, back when I was just a student and didn't have enough money?" 

"Of course, I remember. In order to provide everything we need, you were always in infront of your laptop, writing different novels at the same time on different writing platforms so, at the end of the month, you will get paid by them and have enough money to buy necessities." 

Zren let out a bitter smile as she recalled the past when she was just a powerless teenager who suddenly entered in a world of single mothers. No knowledge neither experience and of course money. 

"Back then, I couldn't even give you a salary because I'm always short with money but, I'm so happy and lucky at the same time, Yashi you stayed with me when I had nothing until now you never left me." 

"You're an excellent person Zren, you deserve what you have today." 

Zren just smiled, she poured another batch of grape wine into her drinking glass and took a small sip. 

Remembering all the hardships she had gone through just to get where she was now, Zren couldn't help but feel proud of herself. She managed to get successful without anyone's help, just her, no one else. 

"Raising the twin, finishing my studies while being a part-time paid writer, and then I'm standing where I am now a successful Attorney," Zren paused and took a deep breath. 

"Summarizing everything I had gone through, I just realized that, it was a very bumpy ride."