-How is it going? Mac asked as Nan opened the curtains and looked into Martha's house.
"Nothing must happen tonight," answered Nan, which he thought.
"Um, come lie down," Mac said, returning to the bed and laying down next to Nan.
Do you think Arthur is cute? Mac asked, since he was still sleepy.
- He's charming. "Looks like an easy child to raise," Nan said thoughtfully.
- But don't teach him to be like you..... It's not good, Mac teased him and Nan giggled.
-Have you... have you ever thought about having...
Mac was about to ask if Nan does she want children or not. Because he seems to be a person who gets along well with children.
"No," Nan answered before Mac could finish speaking.
- What the? Mac asked.
- Don't get distracted.
Nan turned and hit Mac on the forehead.
"It hurts," Mac said loudly, rubbing his forehead with his hand.
- Do you know what I want to ask you? Mac asked.
You're going to ask me if I want to have a baby. You like Arthur, don't you? Nan said it as if she knew what Mac was thinking.
- Are you psycho? Mac asked jokingly and laughed softly.
-Why, don't you want one? Can you tell me? Mac leaned over to his lover and asked.
- I just want to take care of you and of me before I think about raising a child, Nan said.
"Well, I know you're serious, but you have the ability to take care of a child," Mac said with a smile.
- It's not that I can't afford to have children. But people like me are not ready to have children. "It's enough to take care of them for a short time," Nan replied bluntly.
-I'm just asking, what about you? Do you want to have children? Nan asks.
-I do not know. I, at this time, am not ready to take care of a child. Probably like you said, I need to take care of myself first, Mac said heartily.
-And in the future? Nan asked.
- See. We'll do our best for now, Mac said again with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.
- If you want to have children in the future. So, do you want to have a child of your own or do you want to adopt? continued Nan asks.
- If I say something like I'm going to have my own children, are you okay with that? Mac said as he laughed.
- Why wouldn't I agree? The sperm is mixed with the donor's eggs. So who are you going to hire? A person can be a surrogate mother. No need to run and shoot him, Nan said in a normal tone.
Stop talking about it. Leave it for the future, Mac interrupted.
- Maybe you abandoned me before, Mac teased him and turned to look at Nan's face and saw that she was looking at him steadily.
You talk like I busted your mouth, Nan said and Mac smiled.
Did you punch me in the mouth? Mac jokingly asked not to annoy Nan with his jokes.
- Very tempting. Seriously, why don't you be like that in front of other people? I've never seen this kind of banter with Brick. Why are you so calm in front of Day? Nan asked.
- I do not know. When we meet, I'm still a little tense. But we're patching things up, Mac replied, because sometimes he's deeply embarrassed himself, because Day wanted Nan to teach Mac a lesson, but it turns out they just fell in love.
- What the hell are you going to do? Brick wants to talk to you. He will invite you to do this and that when we meet. You'll have to adjust, Nan told him casually.
- Well, I'll try. I'm going to sleep because I have to go to university tomorrow morning, Mac said with a yawn.
Nan reached out and turned off the light and they closed their eyes.
-So what are you doing today? Mac asked as Nan drove him to college in the morning.
- I will probably continue to work in the garden. So if you want something to eat, call me and I'll get it for you, Nan said and Mac nodded.
- What about car sales? Mac asked, remembering.
-Yes, answered Martha.
Nan looked at Arthur and saw that the boy was looking at him curiously.
- What the? Nan asked Arthur who was standing there smiling shyly.
- What are you doing? Arthur asked softly.
- Cut branches, do you want to help me?
Nan asked why, at least for the child, it is better to play with him than to be alone.
-Can I go, mom?
Arthur turned to ask his mother.
- Will you bother Nan? Martha asked thoughtfully.
- No, I don't mind. Better yet, I need workers who can help, Nan said with a smile.
-Then I'll leave it to you. When the time comes, I think I'll clean the house, Martha said before taking Arthur to change his clothes.
And the boy came running back and stood there holding his little hands and turning around, because he didn't know what to do.
-Put the leaves in a garbage bag, Nan said, and Arthur hurried over to help.
Nan looked at the boy and smiled.
- Wow, someone is here to help, thought Nan amused.
He then proceeded to cut the branches with Arthur running over to help collect the leaves and twigs. Until the boy's cheeks turned red. He never thought that Arthur could help him for half an hour.
Arthur could help him for half an hour, he thought the boy would get bored much sooner and go play with something else. But Arthur helped him all the time.
- You are thirsty? There is fruit juice in the house, would you like it? Nan asked, feeling sorry for him.
- Okay, he answered quickly.
So Nan took him home and served him some fruit juice. Arthur sat down and drank.
- You are so young, is any boy making fun of you? Nan asked jokingly.
- Yes, Roger likes to make fun of me. He likes to pull on my shirt collar and I don't like that, Arthur told Nan, who nodded in agreement.
Nan knows that the kids are at that age where they can make fun of each other sometimes, but if they cross the line, the caretaker will get a handle on it, and then she laughs when she thinks of something she finds funny.
Nan compares to Day, what if he and Day had kids, what if their friends at school made fun of their own kids so much they had to call their parents? If the other parent does not admit that the child was the one who made fun of their child, if it were Day, they would probably use words and insults to attack the other party and pressure them to admit their guilt. But then again, if it was his son, he probably would part, if it were his son, he'd probably slap and hit that father in the head.
"We really shouldn't have children," Nan said, joking to herself as she imagined stories.
- Why are you laughing? Arthur asked, intrigued, as Nan suddenly burst into laughter.
- With pleasure, have you rested yet? Should we cut more branches? Nan asked and Arthur nodded.
Saying this, he placed the empty glass on the table and diligently went out to help.
- Why is the house so quiet? Mac left at three in the afternoon, and since he was back so early, he decided not to call Nan to pick him up.
When he got home, he didn't hear the sound of the television or any other sound indicating that someone was doing something. He opened the door and entered the house and raised his eyebrows when he saw Nan sleeping on the sofa with Arthur also sleeping on a sheet on the floor in front of the TV.
- Arthur, how did he sleep here? said Poppy smiling. She couldn't resist and took out her phone to take a picture of Arthur sleeping.
You came back early. Why didn't you call me to pick you up? Nan's voice sounded husky because she had just woken up to see her lover sitting at his feet.
- The teacher said we can leave early, but why is Arthur sleeping here? Mac asked as he sat down on the couch in the space left by Nan's feet.
· He helped me in the garden, I think he's tired, - he's been sleeping for a bit in the afternoon, answered Nan.
- And where is Martha? Mac asks.
- When he saw that Arthur could stay with me, he asked me if he could take the opportunity to go to the hairdresser. At first Martha was worried about him, but she understood that she always takes care of the little one, so she doesn't have much time to deal with her image. I offered to look after him for a while, Nan said
- You are good at raising children, Mac joked as he was forced to lie down on the same sofa as Nan hugged him.
- Arthur is not a naughty boy. If I found a spoiled boy I'd probably kick him home, Nan replied making Mac laugh.
"You're a kid," Mac said with a smile.
Then the two looked into each other's eyes. Mac reached out and gently stroked Nan's hair.
"Now that you're Arthur's friend, you won't be alone when I go to college," Mac teased.
Nan hugged Mac to her chest then leaned down and kissed his head.
But I'd rather stay with you, Nan said, making Mac's face warm. His heart was beating faster, even though they had been dating for a long time. But sometimes Nan's words make Mac's heart skip a beat.
- And what did you do today? Mac asked curiously.
- Gardening, since Arthur,,he was here to help, was Nan's terse reply as she hugged Mac tighter.
- Why don't we go to the restaurant where I work tonight for dinner? Mac offered, because he thought Nan would be tired from gardening, so he didn't want to tire him out any more by making him dinner.
As you wish, Nan replied before looking at Arthur.
- Let's wait for Martha to come and get Arthur. Then we'll go out to dinner, Nan offered and Mac nodded.
The two sat down on the sofa and continued to talk until Arthur woke up. The boy stood up and looked around in silence.
I don't think he remembers where he slept, Nan said, watching Arthur turn and Mac smile.
- I'm thirsty, said the boy loudly. His eyes flashed energetically.
I'll get you some water, Mac said,before getting off the couch as soon as Nan relented and let him pass.
Then Mac went to fetch water for the sitting boy and looked at Nan in silence.
- You are so good that you woke up without crying, praised Nan.
- Mother says I'm very clever, said the boy, but his eyes were still misty, making Nan not smile.
"You can compliment yourself," Nan said jokingly, just as Mac arrived with Arthur's water.
Trim...Trim...Trim...
Mac's cell phone rang. He picked up the phone and saw that it was Martha, Arthur's mother.
I'm Martha.
- Yes Martha... I'm already home... Oh, and how are you? Do you want us to find you? Don't worry, Mac told the girl, turning to look at Nan's face the whole time.
He raised his eyebrows wondering what was going on.
- Martha's car broke down, now it's in the garage and she has a mechanic to look at it. So Martha asks if she can leave Arthur with us, Mac asked.
"Yeah, I'm not bad enough to let a kid go home alone," he said casually.
Mac smiled and answered as Martha thanked her several times for her attention before hanging up.
- Arthur, your mother is probably coming a little late. Will you stay with us until he returns? Mac asks the kid.
-Yes, the boy answers easily.
Then let's take him to dinner with us, Nan said, and Mac nodded.
-First you have to take a shower. Let's go out to dinner, Nan said, so Mac left Nan to bathe and change the boy's clothes.
After a while, Mac and Nan showered, changed, and took him out Arthur from the house to have dinner together at the restaurant where Mac worked part-time.
While walking through a park, where most people go to sit and relax. Arthur took Mac's hand as he walked, looking around curiously.
The boy who accompanied them looked at a family where the father carries his young son on his shoulders. Arthur was keeping an eye on them and turned to continue looking at them. It was more than enough to understand him and something could be done.
"Arthur," Nan called to the boy.
Yes, answered the boy.
- Do you want to ride on my shoulders? Nan asked making Arthur glare at him and Mac looked at Nan in confusion.
can i go up Arthur asked again.
- Yes, answered Nan, who understood the boy's feelings well, although Nan's father had died when he was small. But sometimes he secretly thinks of his father and he remembers the things he and his father used to do together, including his mother. He used to think that if his father was still alive, he would have invited him to run with him, but that was just a fantasy.
Mac, please take Arthur and put him on my shoulders, Nan said as she curled up.
Mac immediately grabbed Arthur and put him on Nan's shoulders. Artru was smiling wide and excited.
- Oh, I'm so tall, Arthur shouted excitedly as Nan stood up and the boy found himself taller than everyone else, giving him a view like never before.
He's got a big smile, Mac said to Nan, and Nan smiled back, carrying Arthur on her shoulders, Mac walking beside him.
- How did you know Arthur wanted to ride on the shoulders? Mac asked curiously.
- Just now, a family passed by us. The father carried his son on his shoulders
and Arthur probably wanted to do the same. I saw him look at them and turn around, still looking at them, Nan told Mac in Thai.
Mac looked sweetly at the boy.
- I understand. I would love to do something like that. But I don't know who to put on my shoulders. I probably don't have the strength to carry a baby on them, Mac replied.
-Um, Nan replied with a smile and Mac glanced slightly in front of his lover.
- Do you miss your father? Mac asked softly. Nan paused.
- I miss mom and dad. You know, I can't see them, Nan said
"My parents are already gone," Nan said in a normal tone this time. However, it is not sad because it happened a long time ago.
- I'm sure your parents are very proud of you for fighting and taking care of yourself, Mac praised with all his heart.
- And you. If you want him to be proud, behave. He misses you very much. If you want to tell him something, if you want to find something, tell him because you still have a chance to talk to him, seriously. Nan said
"I know," Mac replied, looking at Arthur to make sure he hadn't fallen, until they reached the restaurant.
He grabbed Arthur and took him off Nan's shoulders and walked into the restaurant.
- Hello Mac, please take a seat, greets the manager.
Then Mac led Nan and Arthur to a table.
-Where did you get that cute little boy? the owner came over to take the order.
It's the neighbor's son, Mac answered, and I talked to the owner for a few minutes.
Then they ordered food for both of them.
When the food was served Nan and Mac let Arthur sit and eat on his own, seeing as the boy was well behaved and just needed a little help.
-So when are you leaving? he asked the owner. Nan
- Probably in two weeks, why? Do you want me to come back quickly? Nan asked jokingly and the other party laughed.
- No, I'd rather you come and stay in the restaurant every day. Because you are going to help call customers, the owner said with a smile.
Because many customers came back to watch it with interest. Besides, more were coming.
- Please ask permission from Mac first. Can you give me permission to attract customers? Nan said, turning to look at Mac.
The owner also turned to look at Mac's face.
- If you ask Mac, he probably won't want you to come. He will fear that boys and girls will come and flirt with you.
"I'm not afraid," Mac replied, and Nan raised an eyebrow.
-Seriously? Nan asked again.
"Because I know it doesn't matter if people court you, you don't want anyone but me anyway," Mac replied.
Nan smiled. He knew Mac was making fun of him, but he liked it anyway.
- I better go. Stay here, Nan will surely burn with his jealousy. They are so sweet, the restaurant owner joked before leaving so he could continue eating. Mac laughed.
You're such a good tease, Nan said, and Mac raised his eyebrows.
- What have I done? I don't know how to tease, Mac replied with a smile.
When it's just the two of them, Mac is like that, he talks and smiles easily, but when he's with Brick and Day he's quiet and not very active.. Nan tried to get him used to them, visiting him frequently.
- Poppy water, Poppy. Arthur's voice came from beside him because he was sitting next to him. Mac immediately turned to look at him.
- Yes, answered Mac.
I got dirty, said the boy.
"You must be very hungry, just like Nan, and that's why you ate so quickly and got dirty," Mac said with a smile.
- Keep eating. I'm going to take Arthur to wash his hands and mouth, Nan said before taking the boy to the bathroom.
- Don't you have a father? Arthur asked as Nan helped him wash his hands.
- Yes, but he thought of going to work with God in heaven, he answered.
- He's like my father. My mother told me that she would stay with God. That's how my father will know yours, Nan smiled a little.
Nan didn't know if Arthur's father had
separated from Martha or died.
- When I grow up I want to be a pilot, the boy spoke again.
- Why? Nan asked again.
"I'm going to fly to heaven," Arthur said softly and Nan smiled at the boy's dream before leaving the bathroom.
Then they sat down and continued to eat, when they finished eating they left the restaurant and the boy asked to go for a walk in the park. There are a lot of kids running around and the parents were around so they don't have to worry too much. Nan and Mac sat and talked, relaxing, the weather was good. When the sky grew dark, they called the boy home.
- Martha hasn't come back yet. Arthur is going home with us, Mac said when he saw that the neighbor's house was still dark.
But he frowned when he saw that Martha's car was parked.
"Martha's back," said Nan and him grabbed Mac's arm to stop him walking.
Mac froze and gripped the boy's hand so tightly that the boy looked at him in a daze.
- Why didn't he turn on the lights? Mac asked.
- Mac, take Arthur to our house. But don't turn on the lights yet. Relax. I'll see, Nan said gravely, and signaled to Mac that something was going to happen.
Something had definitely happened. Mac didn't ask anymore. He quickly took Arthur in his arms and walked slowly towards his house. He opened the door and after entering he immediately closed it.
- There is no light. Arthur, please stay here and don't make any noise, Mac said softly to the boy, trying not to show any emotion.
He hurried to open the curtains on the window that faced Martha's house, the light from the street lights allowed him to see Nan slowly approaching from the edge of Martha's house.
Mac could only look at him with concern.