ESL Blogs

Chapter 1 : Please read here

Chapter 2 : Please read here

Chapter 3 : Please read here

~~~~~~ Chapter 4 ~~~~~~

"Hakim had came back." Lina nearly spurted her ice tea when Mom said that out of the blue. Both of them were enjoying an afternoon tea and just talking about general matters and trying to catch up on news. 

With an extra care she put the glass back on the table. "Hmm... when?" Lina tried to sound nonchalant. 

"A few months back, with his two kids. Apparently his wife had died. So he decided to come back to Malaysia and work in his Dad's Company." Mom loved to gossip. Due to her work, Lina seldom came back home to see Mom. She regretted that, so when she came back she was always trying her best to listen to all the gossips that Mom had been dieing to tell her. Mom had a penchant for telling what had been happening in the village for the whole year in just a few hours.

What could she say to that news? She did not even know how she felt anymore. She knew that her love for Hakim was not a puppy love, but it had been years. She did not know how Hakim felt anymore. He was married to someone else, for goodness sake. She had carved a good life for herself.

Looking out from the kitchen window, Lina was hit by a nostalgic feelings. Suddenly the urge to see her secret hiding place was too much for her."Mom, I think I want to take a walk to the river. It had been years since I have been there" Lina told Mom after their afternoon tea.

With her heart beating faster, Lina walked to the river bank. There was nothing much changed at the river bank. She still could hear children's shout and laughter. She was glad that some of them seemed still enjoying the nature and not just playing with their computers. With much trepidation and unerringly, she walked to her secret place. She was surprised when she saw a blonde child about eight years old sitting quietly while reading a book. She seemed to be very engrossed, but suddenly looked up as if she knew she was not alone anymore. She had the most piercing blue eyes, but they were too solemn for a kid of her age. Without being told who she was, Lina knew that this kid was Hakim's child.  

"I am sorry for disturbing you. I thought there would be no one in here. I'll go." Lina said while retreating.

"Don't go. You must be Aunt Lina." Lina was surprised. She had spoken with good Malay though with some lilting English accent. 

"Hmmm...  Yes, I am Lina. How do you know my name?" Lina could not help but felt intrigued with this child.

"Dad told me about this place the first time he brought me to this river. He said this place was belonged to his good friend, Lina. I am Sarah by the way." She brushed her palms against her jeans and extended her hand to shake Lina's.

"I asked Dad whether you would mind of me having this place as my own. Dad was sure that you do not mind. In fact he said he was sure that you would be happy that someone else would look after it. He said you spent many hours in here, reading books."

Lina was speechless. "Emmm ... Nice to meet you, Sarah. But I need to go now. Please say my regard to your Dad." Lina did not wait for Sarah's reply. 

"Aunt Lina, I hope to see you again soon." Lina knew that she was fleeing. So she forced herself to turn and face Sarah.

"Me too, Sarah. See you" Her voice was brittle but she forced herself to sound cheerful.

Back in Mom's house, Lina did not say anything. Her last day with Mom was spent with mundane tasks.

"When are you coming back?" Mom asked Lina the same questions every time she was going back to the City.

"When I am free, Mom." And Lina would gave Mom the same answer. It was their routine.

"Hmmm .. .you work too hard." Lina had to smile when hearing that from Mom. A few weeks back, Saufiq said the same thing to her. "Is it high time you get married and settle down? Have a kid of your own. You are not getting any younger, you know. What about that young man Saufiq? You are always mentioning him. Your brother Rizal already had two kids. Your sisters Anna and Ida had a family of their own already" Normally she just smiled when hearing Mom nagged about her being single and childless, but today, she felt a bit annoyed especially when Mom started to drag Saufiq's name in the conversation. Deep down she thought she knew Saufiq loves her, but she doubted she felt the same way about Saufiq. In addition Saufiq never say anything to her, a player like Saufiq would not want to be tied down. .

"I'll call you when I reached home Mom." She kissed Mom cheeks. She noticed Mom's worried look, but Mom always worried about her.

------------------To be continued in Chapter 5 -----------------