Chapter 4. Returning After So Long

After six years had passed, the Singapore Airlines plane landed at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. I got off the plane exactly at 11:05 AM and walked towards the airport with an anxious feeling. While waiting for our luggage with my watch on my right hand, I looked around, searching for the figure I had missed for years.

I felt so tired, but I did not want to show my fatigue to my son. "Ken, are you tired?" I asked while looking down at the little boy, who was trudging.

He looked up at me with hopeful eyes and nodded slightly. "Yes, Mom. Ken is very tired," he replied.

I could only reach for his hair and gently ruffle it. "Hang in there! We're almost home," I said enthusiastically.

Finally, we received our bags and walked out of the airport with boundless hope. The sunlight and the gentle breeze blew freely. As we pushed through the crowd, I kept looking for the figure I had left for six years.

"Come on, Mom, please sit here. Maybe Sissi will come soon," I said to the middle-aged woman who looked tired.

"Okay, dear."

My mother nodded and followed my instructions. She sat on an empty chair that was available for her.

"Mom, Ken is thirsty." My son pulled on my shirt, indicating that he wanted something.

"Yes, wait a minute. Mommy will buy you a drink first," I said kindly to Ken.

However, my son suddenly stopped me. "Wait, Mom!" he said.

I turned around to see what he wanted. "What's wrong, Ken?" I asked gently.

"Ken just wants ice cream," he replied, showing his missing tooth.

I slapped my forehead. "Oh, Ken. You can't eat ice cream all the time. You'll hurt your teeth again, honey," I said, refusing his request gently.

But Ken showed a sad face and approached my mother, who was sitting. "Grandma, Ken wants to eat ice cream, but Mommy won't let me," Ken asked with a whining voice.

My mother could only shake her head, seeing Ken's tone of asking like that. However, because my mother did not want to disappoint him, she gave him a little attention.

"Ken, do you know? Mommy doesn't allow you to eat ice cream every day? You have to maintain your diet to stay healthy," my mother explained to Ken.

However, Ken still protested. "But Grandma Ken only wants a little. Please, Grandma," Ken begged with a whining voice.

After thinking for a while, my mother finally gave her approval. "Okay, ice cream is allowed, but you can only choose one topping, okay?"

Ken smiled happily and ran towards me. "Mom, Grandma has given permission, so it means you agree too, right?" Ken asked, tugging at my shirt.

I could only sigh heavily, knowing exactly what would happen next. "Okay, but don't have too much, okay?" I finally answered.

Ken quickly nodded. "Okay, Mom!" without waiting any longer, he ran to the front to buy his ice cream. I followed him from behind, making sure he only choose one topping. My son had never changed, so agile and cheerful.

Nevertheless, different feelings hit me behind all those things. Six years had passed since my mother called me and told me about my sickly father. I was afraid that something might happen to my father, especially after the doctor gave bad news that my father had to be treated by a better hospital. So, I took him to the Lion City for treatment because maybe there my father would get better care.

After a year of struggling against his illness, it turned out that God had an original plan. God loved him more. I could only let my father go from my life.

"Mom, Ken already got his ice cream," Ken said with shining eyes.

However, my thoughts stopped when I saw Ken's chocolate-colored ice cream. Since childhood, Ken always liked ice cream, especially the chocolate scented one. His presence always reminded me of Keenan, the man I left six years ago. I did not know how he was doing now, whether he was married or had children.

Thinking about Keenan made me feel very painful. I left him sleeping, even though I knew that if he woke up later, he would look for me. Sometimes, I felt guilty. Maybe I was too cruel to leave him like that. Or maybe he hated me now, maybe he had already forgotten me altogether.

I don't know, my head is so dizzy thinking about him. However, when I saw Ken's smiling face enjoying his ice cream, I felt like a joyful mother and grateful to have a child like him by my side. I hugged Ken in a warm embrace, while praying the best for of his life. I promised to always be there for him, to take care of him, and love him until the end of my life.

"Mom, what are you thinking?" Ken asked with a worried face. I woke up from my thoughts and immediately stroked Ken's tiny hair.

"It's nothing, Ken. Mommy just remembered someone," I said with a fake smile that seemed to stick to my face. Ken was not satisfied with my answer and kept pressing.

"Who is that someone, Mommy? Do I know him?" he asked again.

I was silent for a moment and bit my lip. It has been a long time since the last time I thought about Keenan, the man I once loved. Kenzie's face is so similar to Keenan's, from the nose, lips, hair, to their favorite food. Everything is so similar. The shadow of the past made my chest feel very painful.

"Someone from the past, dear. It's not important," I finally answered while hugging Ken, who snuggled up to me.

I felt his warm breath on my cheeks and felt calm. Sometimes I feel guilty for not being able to share everything with Ken, my beloved son. However, I try hard to be the best mother for Ken.

"Mommy wants to call Aunt Sissi first, okay? You accompany Grandma first," I said, while stroking Kenzie's tiny face.

Kenzie nodded. "Okay, Mom."

He then left while licking his ice cream, walking towards his grandmother, who was still sitting on the chair. I watched Kenzie leave with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I felt sad because I had to keep my son in the dark about his father, but on the other hand, I also felt relieved because I didn't have to show my sad face to Ken.

I then reached for my phone in my bag to immediately contact Sissi, my childhood friend, and now she has become my assistant to help me take care of the boutique in Tuban.

While trying to contact Sissi, my eyes widened when I saw the figure I had been missing all this time. I never thought I would meet him in this place.

"Keenan," I murmured softly, finding it hard to believe that I saw him here, in a place I never imagined before.