Widow Next Door

Chapter 3

"Mom, when will I go to school again?" Reyhan asked while playing with his favorite robot. Fiona smiled then stroked her son's hair. "Be patient, dear. Mommy was trying to get the money for your school. School fees in Jakarta are more expensive than in your former school. Be patient, okay. I promise, when my business runs smoothly, you will get back to school again, okay."

“Cool…. But don't take it too long, Mom. I’m always bored at home. I want to play with my friends at school."

"Yes dear, hopefully, it will run smoothly soon. Just pray for it, okay, so you will go to school again." Reyhan nodded. He hugged his mother tightly.

To be honest, Fiona was sad when she heard her son's wish to go back to school. But what could she do? She had to temporarily delay his son's desire to go back to school. The money for Reyhan's school would be used to invest in her business, she planned to run a homemade cake business, it was certainly for Reyhan's future too.

Fiona might easily contacted Reyhan's father to ask for their son's tuition, but Fiona remembered her promise before, she would not to ask for anything including for Reyhan's needs. While the money she got from her divorce was not that much.

She already used some of the money when they moved to Jakarta and the rest was used to build his small homemade cake business. "Be patient, dear. I also do this for you. Please forgive me, son." Fiona muttered to herself. Without realizing it, her tears dripped. She immediately wiped it. Reyhan didn't like it when he saw his mother shed tears again. It was enough for his father and grandma to make his mother cry.

Bela and Vika were sad to hear that Reyhan had to postpone his schooling. Because of that, they asked Fiona to talk in the backyard. "What do you want to talk to, Bel?" Fiona asked Bela and Vika. Her eyes widened as Bela and Vika handed her a package. "Take it." Bela and Vika said sincerely to her.

Fiona fell silent. "W ... what is it, Bel?" Fiona asked. “This is my savings, Fiona. Just take it, you need it for Reyhan's school fees." Bela and Vika said.

“I know it's money, Bel, Vik, but why are you giving this much money to me? No Bel, Vik, I can't take this money. Reyhan's school fees are enough for me to bear the headache." Fiona refused the money.

"You are stubborn, huh. Who wants to give you for free? You just overreact." Bela and Vika teased her. "I'll borrow you this money, and then you can pay me back after your cake shop business runs smoothly." Bela and Vika said.

"But this is too much, Bel, Vik. I can't take this much. It may take a long time to pay you back."

"I can wait for it, Fiona. So just take it. I know you want Reyhan to go to school as soon as you can. You can use it first, don't mind me." Fiona now was really crying. She couldn't hold back her tears anymore. Fiona hugged Bela and Vika as she crying, so did Bela and Vika too.

"Thank you, Bel. Thank you. For the sake of my son, you take your savings to give it to me. May God repay all your kindness."

“You're welcome, Fiona. I'm glad to see you two happy. Just pay me with your happy smiles."

"Please pray for me, Bel, Vik. When you visit Jakarta, don't forget to visit Reyhan and me often." Bela nodded. The three of them hugging each other once more.

***

One day in the morning, Fiona was busy as usual. Fiona would scream to wake Reyhan up, who was always hard to get ready to go to school. It had been almost a month since Reyhan had joined a kindergarten school not far from his house. "Reyhan, come on, it's noon already. You will be late for school." Fiona shouted from the kitchen.

She was making breakfast for her son. Fiona didn't hear any sound from inside her son's room. “Reyhan, what time do you want to wake up? It's half past eight. You get to school at eight." Fiona said with annoyance while pulling her son forcibly to get up, but his son actually looked pale and looked shivering.

"Oh dear, dear. What's wrong, son?"  Fiona asked while shaking her son's body. "Eugh ... it's cold, Mom." Reyhan groaned. He pulled the blanket back to cover his small body. Fiona touched her son's forehead which was very hot.

"Are you sick? Since when, dear? Last night you seem fine."

Reyhan muttered vaguely. Before Fiona had time to say anything, Reyhan suddenly had a convulsive seizure. Fiona started to panic. She picked her son up and ran out of the house. Her mind immediately went to the house next door where Susi's husband was a doctor.

Fiona knocked on the front door of Susi's house with tears in her eyes. Not long after, a household assistant opened the door for her. "Excuse me, is the doctor home?" Fiona asked, confused. "The doctor is resting, mam. You can meet him later." She said without mercy seeing Reyhan who was convulsing.

Fiona begged to be able to meet Ardian so that her son could be given first aid. The household assistant insisted on refusing and in the end a quarrel broke out between Fiona and her which made Ardian curious about what had happened. "What's all of this fuss," Ardian said while glaring at Fiona and his assistant. Fiona immediately approached Ardian. "Sorry for it, doc. But please help my son. He had a convulsive seizure, I beg you." Fiona asked in tears.

"How come you do this? There are those who need help, but instead of being told to come in and call me, you sent them home!” Ardian scolded his assistant as he led Reyhan to a room he used to examine patients. Ardian checked Reyhan's condition. Fiona could only hold her son's hand and kept praying while Ardian was doing the treatment. Ardian gave medicine to Reyhan and slowly that handsome boy calmed down and fell asleep. Fiona was grateful that with Ardian's help her son was able to normal again.

                                                                                                ***

"Thank you so much, doc. I don't know what will happen to my son if you are not there." Fiona said. She was still at Ardian's house because Reyhan was still under the doctor’s supervision.

"You are welcome, Mrs. Fiona," Ardian replied. Somehow he always wanted to be close to this handsome boy. His heart warmed up whenever he was near the children. The effect of wanting to have a baby made Ardian feel at home with children.

"Just call me Fiona, doc. Oh yes, the assistant said you just got home from work. You can leave us doc. You must be tired. I am waiting for Reyhan to wake up and after that, we can go home."

"I…."

Reyhan suddenly woke up. "Mom…"

Fiona immediately picked up her son and kissed him. Ardian felt something thrilling in his chest to see the closeness of the mother and child in front of him. He always wished that one day his children would call him Papa.

"Doc, we will leave first. Thank you for the help for my son. By the way, how much do I have to pay for Reyhan's treatment?" Fiona asked as she took the small wallet in her pocket. "No need Fiona. I sincerely help Reyhan and I do not want to be paid. The hospital has paid for me anyways.” Ardian refused.

"But..."

“It's okay Fiona. Just take care of Reyhan, so he doesn't get sick again. That's enough for me."

"Thank you so much, doc. Then, excuse us. Reyhan, say thanks to the doctor." Fiona said.

Ardi held out his hand to Reyhan. The little boy took Ardi's hand and said thanks. Ardi stroked Reyhan's hair, “Get well soon, buddy. Don't be sick anymore. Or your mother will be sad." Ardian said before Fiona and Reyhan left.

Meanwhile, Ardian was furious because his assistant was carelessly kicking out people in his house, especially if that person needed help. The household assistant brought by his wife and Ardian had wanted to get rid of her for a long time but always failed. But this time he had to be able to get rid of that assistant who had long conspired with his wife. And then, with that, the assistant finally got fired after Ardian managed to threaten her.

***