Chapter 5. The Debate of Keen and Ken

In an instant, I turned around, put on my sunglasses and mask to disguise my face. I also grabbed Kenzie's hat from my bag, which was small but enough to cover my identity.

My heart was pounding as I looked around before leaving the area, trying to stay away from Keenan's sight. I prayed that he didn't see me.

However, fate was not on my side. Suddenly, my steps halted when I heard the baritone voice that I had longed for.

"Wait!"

My heart raced, fear began to gnaw at my soul. Keenan was finally near me, stopping my stumbling steps. I built a mental wall to control my frozen and immovable body.

The atmosphere around me felt dark, as if time had stopped and everything was in favor of Keenan.

Now my heart was filled with a dilemma. Should I move forward or stay away from Keenan's side? I knew that this decision would change everything in my life path and also in Keenan's heart.

"Your wallet dropped."

For a moment, the anxiety faded away. Keenan handed me a brown wallet. I imagined that the wallet must have fallen when I took Kenzie's hat earlier. How careless of me.

With my head down and avoiding his gaze, I decided to just nod and accept the wallet.

"Thank you," I muttered softly, hoping Keenan didn't recognize my voice.

I immediately left Keenan and decided to find a hiding place.

Like ice rolling in my throat, the feeling of fear seemed to tell that in my mind, life was full of unexpected mysteries. The feelings of love and hidden pain were still so strong, haunting every step I took.

As I walked away, my mind continued to struggle with questions about what would happen if I stayed and faced these feelings. But what is the point of pursuing happiness that may never exist? Isn't it better to feel the bitterness of loneliness than to be trapped in the same circle of pain?

"Damn!"

Keenan's cry was clear, making me peek from behind the tall pillar.

My eyes widened as I saw Kenzie, my son, standing right in front of Keenan. I slapped my forehead, realizing how careless I was, allowing Kenzie to wander around alone.

"Such a careless child! You should walk properly. Look, my pants are dirty because of you!"

Keenan looked clearly upset because the ice cream Kenzie held spilled onto his pants and shoes.

Oh, God, what should I do? I couldn't possibly leave this hiding place.

"Hey, Uncle! Why are you scolding me? You should be the one walking properly!" Kenzie replied, expressing his opinion.

The resigned faces of both men were clearly visible in front of me. They both looked so annoyed with each other. I hope Keenan doesn't realize that Kenzie looks so much like him.

Meanwhile, the shadows of the past haunted me. Keenan, my former lover, who was always attached to my heart, and Kenzie, my son, who became the balm for my wounded heart. The whispers of old memories came back, questioning everything that had been fought for.

"You're already wrong, but instead of apologizing, he blames others," Keenan rebuked irritably.

"Uncle, I won't apologize because I'm not wrong," Kenzie interrupted, trying to defend his opinion.

"My pants are dirty because of your actions, and you still say you're not wrong, huh?" Keenan asked, getting angrier with every word Kenzie uttered.

"Uncle, don't blame me. You're the one who can't walk properly," Kenzie stubbornly defended himself.

Keenan frowned in anger. He couldn't hide the rage that was building up inside of him. "Stop calling me uncle all the time, since when did I marry your aunt?" he continued, getting louder.

Kenzie could only huddle his chest, observing the man in front of him. Suddenly, he asked a question that surprised me. "Uncle, why do our faces look so similar? Are you me from the future?" he asked, with a serious look.

Keenan, who was busy cleaning the ice cream off his pants, twisted to look at Kenzie. His surprised gaze and expression kept staring at Kenzie. The question also surprised me. Why did my son say something like that?

Keenan fell silent for a moment before looking at Kenzie, perplexedly. "Really? Of course, I'm not you from the future," he said, still looking confused.

Kenzie looked sharply at Kenan with an expression of confusion and disbelief. "But our faces are so similar. Why?" she asked slowly, increasing the intensity of her gaze on Keenan.

"Where are your parents? Why are you walking around alone?" Keenan asked Kenzie, sounding a little confused.

"I came here with Grandma and Mommy," Kenzie answered.

"So, where are they now?" Keenan asked again with the same tone.

Upon hearing this question, Kenzie pointed to the seat where her mother was sitting alone. I felt anxious and worried Keenan would see her mother sitting on her own.

However, that feeling disappeared altogether when Sissi came and ran straight to Kenzie. "Ken, are you here?" Sissi asked in a friendly voice.

"Who are you?" Kenzie and Keenan asked in unison, looking puzzled and curious about Sissi.

Sissi bowed her body towards Keenan. "Sorry, I'm Kenzie's aunt," Sissi explained.

Kenzie looked puzzled. "Aunt? Since when do I have an aunt?" she asked.

Sissi just smiled. "Ken, this is your aunt, Sissi. Have you forgotten?" she asked, pointing to herself.

"Aunt Sissi? Isn't Aunt Sissi supposed to have a sexy body? Why does she look like a sack of rice now?" Ken asked innocently.

I could only slap my forehead. Even Keenan laughed at Kenzie's words. These two men are really outrageous.

"Ken, you must have only seen it in a profile picture, right? That was my body three years ago," Sissi replied, trying to explain.

"Oh, I see," Ken said, looking understanding.

"Yeah, let's go now!" Sissi said, then took Kenzie's small hand and walked away from Keenan.

But Keenan followed them and called out to Sissi. "Wait!"

They stopped and turned to Keenan. "What's up?" Sissi asked.

"I can't let it go just like that. He has to apologize for spilling ice cream on my pants and shoes," Keenan said, showing his dirty pants.

Sissi glanced at Kenzie and said, "Ken, let's apologize!"

Ken refused and shook her head. "No, Mommy said I don't have to apologize if I didn't do anything wrong," Ken replied innocently.

"Hey you mischievous child, what's wrong with apologizing?" Keenan asked, annoyed.

"I don't want to, mean uncle, blew!" Apparently, Ken didn't want to apologize and ran away from Keenan while sticking out his tongue.

Sissi bowed her body. "Sorry, Ken is always like that. Please understand, because he is still a child."

"What? A child? He should have been taught manners since childhood, so he won't fight all the time when he grows up," Keenan said, annoyed.

"Okay, I apologize again." Sissi apologized again before leaving Keenan.

***

I stared for a moment, admiring the beautiful view from my apartment. The air was so cool, as if gently caressing my face. I chose this apartment because of its stunning view, especially the view directly overlooking the vast rice fields. However, my daydreams stopped when someone knocked on my bedroom door.

"Come in!" I shouted from my seat.

Sissi opened the door and walked towards me. "Tomorrow is Aunt Hana's birthday. Are you going to attend her birthday?"

Aunt Hana is Keenan's aunt, his late father's sister. Although I haven't seen Keenan for a long time, I will definitely come to congratulate Aunt Hana. I sighed before answering. "I have been invited. Definitely come."

"But you will definitely meet Keenan there."

I couldn't ignore the fact that I would meet Keenan there. My heart beats faster and my mind starts to feel confused. I haven't seen him in a long time, and there are many things bothering me.

"Eventually, I will meet him," I answered, still in confusion.

"Ara, Marissa and Keenan…."

Meanwhile, Sissi left her sentence hanging, making me even more curious.

"What about them?"

Finally, she continued her sentence, "Marissa and Keenan... are already in a relationship."

Suddenly, my heart beat faster. Feelings of jealousy and sadness overwhelmed me. How could I forget Keenan? I feel reluctant to lose the only person I ever loved.