Chapter 43
“Does it still hurt?” Steven asked his son worriedly while cleaning the bruise on his face.
“No papa. It doesn’t hurt anymore,” Hivo laughed because his father has been asking him if it hurt or not.
“Just tell me son if it hurts, we’ll go to the hospital,” the boy scratched his head because he realized just now that his father is more worried than his mother.
“Papa, you live here alone?” Hivo asked, while looking around the condo they stayed at before.
“Yes. Why?”
Hivo lay down on his father’s bed. They both finished showering so they are all fresh.
“You must be lonely here because you have no one with you,”
It is. He was very sad when Ria and Hivo were not in his life. But he has no choice but to endure that because their lives will be in danger if he’s with them.
“Papa, we will be happy if Stefanny is here with us,” Hivo said as Steven frowned.
Who is Stefany? He asked himself.
“Who is Stefanny you are talking about son?” Steven asked Hivo nervously.
“My little sister,” something struck in his heart when Hivo said that. He was shocked and couldn’t say a thing. He didn’t know how to absorb all that.
‘Who’s the father? Is it Vios? Are they really not in a relationship? Or did I make a mistake? But why didn’t Ria tell me? But why would she tell me if they are? Am I too late?’ questions playing in Steven’s mind.
He’s hurt. It’s unthinkable that the girl he likes has another child with another man.
“Can you tell me son, about Stefanny?” Hivo got up and sat down then faced his father.
“Wait. I’ll call mama first and Stefanny to say goodnight. Maybe Pane is already looking for me.” After Hivo and Steven reconcile, Hivo told his mom to stay with his dad that’s why, him and Steven are together now.
Hivo took his phone. He immediately called Ria who had just returned home.
“Wait darling.. your brother is calling,” they heard Ria’s voice and a little girl’s voice crying on the other line. Steven was silent as he listened to the person on the other line.
“Hello,” Stefanny’s sweet voice echoed while wiping her tears. Ria bit her lower lip because she knew that at this time, Steven already knew about Stefanny’s existence. She just wasn’t sure what exactly was on his mind.
“Hello princess?”
“Hivo? Where are you? Why haven’t you come home yet? Please come home… I missed you,” she started crying again so Hivo looked at his father worriedly. He’s bothered that his sister was crying.
“Honey, didn’t mom tell you that your brother can’t sleep here?” Steven suddenly stiffened in his seat when he heard Ri’s voice. ‘So it’s true that she has another child?’ he said in his mind.
“But mama, my brother promised me that he will give me a book this day. He must going home,”
“Papa,” Hivo called his father. He seemed wants to go home after he heard his sister crying and looking for him.
“I’m going home dad,” when Ria heard what Hivo said, she immediately spoke.
“Hivo, it’s okay baby. Go, stay with your dad tonight. I’ll take care of Stefanny,” Stefanny’s cries got louder. Even Steven, who didn’t know anything, was suddenly nervous about her crying.
“But mom, she’s crying,”
“What happened?” they heard Vios’ voice as if asking what happened.
“Papa, I want my brother to go home. Get him papa,” Stefanny
There’s a lump in Steven’s throat after he heard what the little girl has said to Vios.
“Princess, stop crying. Do you want papa to read you a book?”
“Papa, I want my brother,” Stefanny
“But your brother is not here”
“Where is he papa? Is he at school?”
“Come here. Papa has something important to say to you but first, can you stop crying?” Stefanny stopped crying immediately.
“Vios, thank you,” Ria came out of the room after Vios calmed Stefanny down.
“Hello?”
“Hello mom? I’m just going home mom. Pane won’t stop crying if she won’t see me,”
“Hivo, it’s okay. Stay there and spend your time with your father,”
Hivo really wants to stay with his dad. This is one of his dreams to sleep with his father again, but he can’t ignore his sister who is looking for him.
“I know you’re worried. But mama can assure you that Pane will be fine,” Ria added
“Can you give your phone to you father? Let me talk to him.”
Hivo immediately gave his phone to Steven.
Steven stood up. Ria didn’t know what to say to him and he didn’t know how Steven would talk to Ria.
“Ahm… I’ll just pick up Hivo tomorrow,” She didn’t know why but she’s really nervous.
“No need. I’ll bring him to you tomorrow. I’m planning to take my son with me to the resort I bought first,” Steven couldn’t hide the sadness in his voice.
He can’t pretend he’s fine because he’s not.
“Is that so? All right”
There was silence between them again.
“About Stefanny, ahm-”
“Can we talk about that tomorrow?” Ria was shocked. She knew that Steven had misinterpreted everything.
“Okay,” was the only answer he gave to her.
“Goodnight,” for some unknown reason, his heart rate suddenly accelerated.
“Goodnight too. Kiss my son for me and tell him I love him.” Ria.
“Yeah! I’ll tell him that. I love you,” Steven said.
“Huh?” Ria asked in shock.
“Exact words I will say to our son,”
“Ah okay. Alright. Bye,”
“Bye,” when Ria disappeared on the other line, Steven immediately turned back to his son who was looking at him.
“Mama said that she loves you and you don’t have to worry anymore,” Steven said while ruffling his son’s hair.
“Dad, is Pane okay? Can we take her with us tomorrow dad?” Hivo said.
It’s fine with him even though it’s hard for him to see Ria’s child with other man. The child is innocent, so there is no problem with that, but Vios might not agree.
“Vios might get angry,” he said to Hivo.
“Papa Vios will understand. He won’t be angry papa because he loves Pane so much though he’ll get sad when the princess is not at home.”
“Exactly. Let’s just buy her a gift. What does she want?” Steven asked.
“She likes fried chicken papa. She hates vegetables. We’re the same. That’s why papa Vios always forces her to eat vegetables because it’s healthy but she doesn’t want it.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.
Steven smiled inwardly because the child was just like him. He didn’t like vegetables either. He just liked it recently.
“What else does she want?”
“She also likes barbie dolls so maybe she will be happy if we give her that”
“Alright. Let’s buy her a doll tomorrow.” Steven said who was also entertained by his son’s story.
Steven woke up earlier than Hivo because he wanted to prepare for their breakfast. He knows how to fry some eggs and ham so that’s what he did.
After he prepared everything,
“Hey son, wake up,” but Hivo hardly open his eyes.
“Dad, I’m sleepy,” Hivo.
” You need to get up because we’re going to the resort today,” when Hivo heard what his father said, he immediately opened his eyes.
“Right. I almost forgot,” he said and jumped off the bed and hurried into the bathroom.
Steven just shook his head at what Hivo did. One of the happiest moments in his life after what happened for the past three years of being in hell.
He couldn’t think of anything but to have fun with his son.