The man walked in with a small bag and closed the front door. He looked at Lisa who was standing still with her mouth slightly open.

"No! Where have you been?! No one was there to take care of your child!

" Lisa exclaimed loudly. Her finger pointed to Rangga's confused face.

Both of them then stared at each other.

"I'm confused, what are you doing at my house? Where's Mrs. Sumiyati?

" Rangga asked, frowning.

"Oh, no. I texted you, I sent a chat to you yesterday evening, I missed you but you didn't respond at all! Is your cell phone dead?

" Lisa asked.

"I left my cellphone at the office! So I told my secretary to turn it off and put it in my safe. Why have you come to my house now?

" Rangga explained, followed by a question.

"Mrs. Sumiyati suddenly called me. No, she said you couldn't be contacted! She returned to her hometown and said her son had an accident in the village. In short, I rushed here looking out for your child,

" Lisa said, shrugging her shoulders.

Hearing Rangga's voice from the living room, Julian immediately rushed to his father. The toddler was very happy when he saw the tall, thin figure come home.

"Papa!

"

"Hello, Julian dear. Ughh, sorry I hope Mrs. Sumiyati will take better care of you.

" The man picked Julian up and kissed him.

"By the way,

" added Rangga.

"Mrs. Sumiyati also suddenly returned to her hometown.

"

"You still miss everything on your cell phone!

" Lisa mocked in a joking tone. She pushed Rangga's shoulder and chuckled.

"Yes, I'm a human too. Julian wasn't fussy while I was away, right?

" Rangga asked while lowering Julian.

"Fortunately, your child is obedient, very obedient! And not fussy. I don't have any trouble taking care of him,

" Lisa replied casually.

"Where did you really go?

"

"Oh, I have an impromptu meeting with the company I collaborated with in Depok. I never thought it would be so late that I didn't have to go home.

"

"Julian,

" Lisa pointed at the toddler with her chin,

"...is he your real child?

"

Hearing that question, Rangga was speechless. His face that had looked cheerful suddenly turned flat without expression.

He lowered his head as if he was caught doing something he shouldn't have done.

"Please answer, I'm your good friend. Why are you hiding Julian from me?

"

Rangga immediately felt nervous. Lisa's question seemed to chase him into a corner.

The man took a deep breath as he lifted his bag and invited Lisa to sit on the living room sofa.

"Let me explain,

" he said softly.

Lisa strained her ears. The woman clasped her palms together and leaned forward in front of Rangga.

"Julian is my adopted son,

" Rangga briefly explained.

Lisa was surprised to hear that. No wonder Julian didn't look like Rangga!

"Julian is actually the son of my cousin whose husband left her divorce. Her husband was a jerk Lis! When my cousin was pregnant with Julian, her husband had an affair with the secretary in his office. In the end, they both divorced before Julian was born,

" he explained again.

"Gosh… sorry I didn't mean to upset you,

" Lisa softly said, feeling guilty about questioning Julian's origin.

"It's okay, Lis, it's time you know. Sorry if I didn't tell you. My heart really hurt when I found out that my cousin was the only one hurt by her ex-husband. That guy is irresponsible and really has no shame!

" Rangga raised his voice and pounded the back of the chair.

"I'm the only one in my family who has more income and can support Julian. That's why I took him in. Julian doesn't know that I'm actually his uncle up until now….

" tears began to stream in Rangga's eyes.

Lisa walked over to Rangga and stroked his shoulder sympathetically. Her memory returned to her past with Oscar. The story of Julian's parents was almost the same as the story of her life. A married man was willing to leave his pregnant wife for the sake of another woman. Lisa was heartbroken for the same reason once. She started to shed tears.

"Are you patient? No, I'm sure you can be a good father figure!

" Lisa said, trying to cheer him up.

"Thanks Lis, someday, when Julian grows up, I promise to tell him the truth. I'll tell him that I'm his uncle.

"

The man was sobbing. He embraced Lisa tightly and cried on her shoulder.

Lisa gently stroked Rangga's curls. She understood what it felt like to be hurt by an irresponsible man. Just like the case with her ex-husband.

"I don't want to tell anyone because I think it's not important and it will burden other people. I'm sorry if I hid this from you, Lis,

" Rangga added, wiping his tears that started flooding his handsome face.

"No, it's fine. I guess you haven't eaten yet, right? Let's have breakfast, bro. I've made Julian the same for myself. I'll make one for you. Just gimme a second,

"

Lisa asked the man to get up from his chair and lead him to the dining table.

There, Lisa, Rangga, and Julian sat around the dining table facing Lisa's simple home cooking.

"Sorry if my cooking tastes a little strange,

" Lisa said, handing the empty plate to Rangga.

Rangga chuckled.

"Don't underestimate yourself! Your mother's cooking is delicious, surely your cooking is delicious too!

"

Next to Lisa, Julian was seen sitting so cutely while looking at the food on the table. He occasionally pointed and asked what food it was.

"Julian, do you want to eat rice or noodles?

" Lisa asked, her tone was friendly and cheerful.

"Rice! Rice!

" Julian exclaimed enthusiastically. The boy was really cheerful this morning.

Lisa scooped out the mashed rice and fed Julian. The toddler ate it and smiled.

That sweet smile made Lisa's heart melt!

"Smart kid... Let's eat again, say aaaa,

" said Lisa while feeding Julian.

Rangga stared at the two with a beaming face. He was sure that Lisa would be a good mother if only her former child was still alive. Rangga thought it's a shame that the incident robbed her of motherhood.

***

At night, Lisa took Julian to sleep and then sat in the family room with Rangga. The two friends chatted about life and exchanged news late into the night.

"If you allow it, I want to keep visiting your house and take care of Julian. Why am I so happy to be with small children, I don't understand it myself,

" Lisa said.

"The door to my house is always open for you, Lis!

"

The man smiled then chuckled, showing a row of tiny white teeth.

"Are you serious?

" Lisa asked, her eyes sparkling.

Rangga nodded.

"I believe you are good at taking care of small children!

"

Hearing that, Lisa immediately hugged Rangga to show her gratitude.. She still needed therapy for her soul which was still not healed from the past wound when she had a miscarriage.