Chapter 43: Once Said

“OMO!”

Layla run to Kier when she saw her cousin.

“Cousin, why are you here?” Layla asked when she came near to him. She was about to kiss him when he move backward. She pouted.

“What are you doing here?” He asked. His voice is deep baritone and there’s something on his voice, it's gloomy and his eyes are lifeless. He looks at her boredly.

“This is the orphanage that I am doing! And I really like this orphanage. There’s something on this.

There’s a part of me that wants this orphanage.” Layla explained lively.

They started to walk around the garden, walking slowly and savoring the moments.

“How about you? What are you doing in this kind of place brother? It’s rare and new to see you here.” Layla ask curiously.

“I just checked something.” Kier said lifeless.

Layla is wondering why he is so calm and he is answering her questions. He should be turn back his back on her and left, but this time is a odd.

He changed a lot but he's still short tempered.

“Are you going to adopt a child?” she asked, “you and sister in-law, until now don't have a kid. I want to see my niece before I fly.” She pouted.

“Why would you think of that way?” Kier asked. His expression is still the same, void of emotions.

“You are here and I thought you decided to adopt one because, you know.” Layla said.

“I am not impotent, Lay. my wife is not yet ready to have kids and I respect her.” Kier said firmly.

Layla rolled her eyes. “You are so kind towards her but to me, it’s like you are going to kill me, and you always make her your top priority.” Layla said bitterly.

“I hope Jase will be like you.” Layla murmured.

Maybe this is the most serious talk they had.

“You should find a man who loves you more than you him.” Kier’s said out of the blue, “I don’t like you for Jase but since you don’t want to listen to me. You must endure the result of your actions.” He said deeply and looked at the sky.

“Duh, Jase loves me. You are just hindering our love story. That's why he’s not saying his feelings for me.” Layla said confidently.

“I hope you are my real brother. I don’t want you to be my cousin, I want you to be my real brother.” Layla said out of the blue. Even though they are cousin but he Kier acted a real brother to her. He protected her and took care of her when she was a kid. Their childhood memories are still with her, she will surely bring it in the afterlife. Her brother is so precious to her, he is the one and only person she can lean on.

--

“Mom.” Kier called his mom.

“Son, I miss you. Where is your wife?” His mom kissed his cheeks.

“Can we talk? I just need to ask you a question.” He said seriously.

“Sure, wait me on the veranda, I'll just get food for us.” Before his Mom, she taps his shoulder and smiles at him genuinely.

“What’s the sudden visit and why are you so serious? Do you have any problems?” His mom put the food on the table.

“Is Layla the real daughter of auntie? I mean, is she the biological daughter?” Kier asked straightforwardly. He doesn’t want to waste time.

Mom kier frowned, “why did you ask that question out of sudden?” She asked.

“I’m just hoping that she’s my biological sister.” He let out of sight.

“Son, I know you, I am not your real mother. I treated you like my real son and I know how much you want to see and find you sister. I also see and justify much that Layla became important in your life. Layla is not your real sister. She is the biological daughter of your auntie.” She touched his hand.

He rarely opens up to her and she knows that he’s struggling and can’t take all of the hardship.

A long silence between them.

“Ma, I don’t want to l-lose my wife.” He complained like a kid, who’s going to cry.

His mother stood up and came to his back, she hugged her from her back, “did you two fight again? son, it's normal to have a quarrel and misunderstanding in a relationship. I raise you as a responsible man. You are the husband and I told you to fix it before it gets difficult, right? Lower your pride, son.” She caresses his head.

Kier’s showing weakness on his mother right now. He couldn’t take what he found out a while ago.

“Is this something related to your biological sister and wife?” She asked and peeked to his face.

He shakes his head and hugs his mom's arm, “nothing, I just realized that I love my wife so much, more than my life.” He said weakly and bitterly.

“How about your sister? Did you find her?”

Kier’s eyes have different emotions.

“I d-don’t know, m-mom. I don’t want to find her a-anymore.” He said with heavy breathing. His heart is aching. He hopes everything that he finds out is just a lie and this is just a nightmare.

“I thought, you want to meet and see her? What’s the sudden change of mind?’ She asks, wondering. He had been looking for his sister for a very long time.

“I changed my mind.” A tear fell in his eyes.

“If you don’t want to tell me everything yet, I am just here waiting for your revelations. Okay?” She said gently.

“Mom, c-can I h-hug you?” He asked.

His mother smiled and spread his arms.

He is teary eyed and he’s eager to hug his mom and he didn’t suppress his tears. His mom is just gently patting and caressing his back.

“Let it go, Kier.” She murmured.

He weeps in tears.

Kier’s mom looked up to suppress his tears. She rarely sees her son in this kind of situation, hurting and in deep pain. Much worse is, she doesn’t know the real reason for it. She is not a perfect mother but she loves and raised her son. She is hurting for her one and only son, she feels the mother’s love.

“Ma....” He called her and in between his sobs. He must really hurt. His voice is in deep pain.

She can’t help but feel her tears. She rarely saw him in pain and her heart is flowing in happiness because she is the one who he approached. She may not be a perfect mother, but the thing she is sure of is, she raised him well. Her mind is in peace, knowing she raised a responsible, loving and strong man.

“It’s okay. It’s okay hmm.” She comforted him.