Episode 5

...****************...

Araya arrived at Ghariel's school five minutes before the dismissal bell rang. Ghariel attended one of the well-known International Schools in the city.

Initially, Araya thought the child, not yet seven years old, was still in kindergarten, but it turned out he was already in the beginning of second grade. She had asked Bastian earlier, because Araya had no memory of her son, well, Araya wasn't that caring.

Bastian watched his employer from the front mirror, he only hoped Araya wouldn't cause a scene here.

When the bell rang and the gate opened, Araya chose to wait outside. She watched some of the children being picked up by their parents, some were dressed as babysitters or family drivers.

Until Araya's gaze fell on a little girl standing alone near her car. Her two braids looked so cute, Araya chose to approach her.

She crouched down to be at the same height as the child, "Are you waiting for a ride?" Araya asked gently.

The child turned and nodded twice, "Yes, aunty."

*Omg so cute\, her cheeks are chubby ihh*. Araya thought\, suppressing her excitement. She liked well-groomed\, beautiful little girls like this the most.

"What's your name, beautiful?"

"Lavina aunty."

"Lavina is waiting for her mom, right?" Araya asked again.

"Laviena aunty, not Lavina. Oh yeah, I'm waiting for my nanny." The little girl replied.

"Oh, Laviena?"

"Laviena not Laviena, auntyy." The little girl corrected, looking annoyed.

Araya chuckled, understanding what this child meant, "Oh, Raviena, right?"

Raviena nodded twice again, "that's right aunty beautiful."

*Eh\, Raviena*? Araya thought\, realizing the name was exactly like the female protagonist.

She looked at this child, her beauty was already radiating at such a young age. Her feminine aura was strong, making anyone want to protect her.

Araya had a strong feeling that this little girl was the one Ghariel and Ragas would fight over in the future.

A thought flashed through her mind, what if she brought her son closer to Viena from a young age? So that Viena would choose Ghariel when she grew up later.

"But that would mess up the plot. Is that okay?"

"Who is beautiful aunty waiting for?" Little Viena asked.

Araya was a little touched to hear that call, children never lie, right?

"Aunty is waiting for aunty's child, he also goes to school here."

Viena rounded her lips, saying 'oh', then kept staring at the beautiful woman in front of her.

"Aunty's face looks familiar, deh." She muttered softly, Araya faintly heard her.

"Did you say something?"

"Mom?"

The call from Ghariel diverted Araya. The little boy looked surprised to see her here.

"My nanny has arrived, I'm going home first, Aunty, bye bye .." Viena approached the car that had just arrived.

"Yes, be careful." Araya said, watching the little girl run.

Now Araya was focused on the little boy who had called her 'mom'.

The first thing that came to Araya's mind when she saw him was, handsome and cute. There was no scary look like in the novel's description of young Ghariel.

But, Araya realized, his gaze looked scared looking at her.

"Hello, Ghariel. Mom came here to pick you up, let's go home dear." Araya said friendly.

She immediately held Ghariel's small hand, who was still frozen hearing the soft words from his mother.

"Why is Mom here?" Ghariel asked softly as Bastian started driving the car towards their mansion.

"Didn't Mom say she wanted to pick you up?" Araya said gently with a sweet smile.

In contrast to Ghariel who immediately averted his gaze, he didn't know what the meaning behind his mother's smile was.

"Why does Mom want to pick me up?" He asked again.

"Because mom wants to pick up mom's child." Araya answered casually.

She understood Ghariel's confusion, very understood. She would explain slowly to this little boy that she was no longer his cruel Mama.

***

Not enough Ghariel felt surprised by Araya's presence in front of his school, now he kept staring at how those slender fingers held his hand entering the mansion, even to his room.

Ghariel didn't know what was causing his mother's anger right now, she would definitely scold him again, right?

Araya closed Ghariel's room door. Afterwards smiled sweetly at the little boy who was now sitting on his bed.

"Usually after school, what does Ghariel do?" Araya asked.

Ghariel looked hesitant to answer, he fidgeted with his feet that didn't touch the floor.

"Emm, eat." He answered.

"Does Ghariel want to have lunch with Mom, gak?"

The child who wasn't even seven years old nodded slowly in response.

"Okay, Mom will ask the maids in the kitchen to cook for us first, ya." Araya said, about to turn around and go out.

But, a small grip held her back, Araya looked at the small fingers holding her arm.

Ghariel who realized immediately released his hand, "Sorry, mom. I-I didn't mean to." He said scared. His mom didn't like it if Ghariel tried to touch her.

"Hey, it's okay dear." Araya now moved to sit next to her son, "Mom is, Ghariel's mom. So Ghariel can touch Mom."

Araya slowly stroked the drooping hair. She really felt sorry for this child, even touching his mother was so scared, it showed how traumatized Ghariel was to his own mother.

"Mom, not angry?" Ghariel asked.

Araya tried to hold back her laughter seeing how cute the bent little lips were, "No, dear."

"Ghariel, listen to Mom, ya."

Araya held both sides of the small hands, "Mom, Mom wants to apologize to Ghariel."

"All this time, Mom has been a bad parent for you. Mom realizes, Mom is a failed mother,"

Araya neutralized her breath for a moment, "Mom is also mean to Ghariel. Mom often scolds you, blames you for things you didn't do. Sorry Ghariel, mom regrets it, nak."

Araya's voice was a little hoarse, in her memory it was clear how bad Araya's behavior was, as if she was really doing it herself.

"Mom wants to change, mom wants to be a good parent for you."

Ghariel looked at his mother's teary eyes, undeniably he was happy to hear it. Didn't that mean his mother would love him?

But unfortunately, he couldn't believe it that easily, especially for what he had experienced so far.

The little boy slowly pulled his hand from Araya's grip, "Why does Mom want to change?" He asked.

"Because, Mom wants to be a good mother for you. Mom will make up for all of Mom's mistakes, dear." Araya said sincerely.

"Mom won't yell at me? Mom won't hit me again, right?"

Araya's heart was as if slashed hearing that question, "No, Mom won't do that."

Ghariel was silent for a moment, until one word came out of his little lips.

"Liar,"

"Not even one week ago Mom slapped me for accidentally breaking Mom's vase," Ghariel said.

Everyone did forbid him from going to the second floor which was his Mama's residence, but at that time Ghariel was quite curious because he hadn't seen his mother for several days.

Even though his mother kept scolding him, Ghariel still missed seeing that beautiful face in this house. Because of that he stubbornly went to the second floor, his intention was only to peek to make sure his mother was in her room, but he instead broke one of his mother's vases.

"Mom won't do that again, Ghariel. Mom promises." Araya said convincingly.

But the child still shook his head, "I, hate mom."

Oh my god, what's worse than hearing expressions of hate from the child you gave birth to? Araya really cursed the behavior of the owner of this body.

Ghariel averted his gaze to the other side, "It's better if Mom leaves. Thank you for not scolding me today." He said.

Araya nodded understanding, "It's okay, if Ghariel doesn't want to forgive mom yet. Mom will keep trying to get forgiveness from mom's child." Araya said smiling, but hurt. She then chose to leave Ghariel's room at this time.

Araya realized that she had to be patient in approaching Ghariel. It's okay, she was determined to give happiness to that cute child, she just needed to try harder.

...****************...

tbc.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***