Chapter 7 [6]

"I'm really sorry, Ta," Levi says, not sure how many times he's repeated the same thing. His face also looks guilty. Yet Tata doesn't make a big deal out of what happened.

It's normal for children with Asperger's syndrome to act spontaneously, including biting their hands. He's quite surprised, but he realizes that the girl who bit him might be defending herself.

Tata, a sudden stranger nearby. Maybe the girl feels threatened. Tata is half scared and shocked by the unexpected response of the child. Her wound is just a scratch. Echa immediately lets go once her father hugs her tightly. Whispering softly to calm her daughter down, that's what Levi does.

"I'm okay, Sir," Tata maintains her smile. "You've apologized many times already. I'm sure Echa didn't mean it that way. Her name is Echa, right?"

"Her name is Aleisya Kirei."

"Wow, such a beautiful name, Sir," Tata compliments.

"Do you think so?" Levi asks. They're on their way back to his office, but it feels very late already. "I'll drop you off as an apology, Ta. I hope you don't refuse."

Tata grimaces. "No, Sir. Just drop me off at the office. I'll take a taxi home later."

"Or call your husband to pick you up," Levi suggests.

There's nothing wrong with Levi's statement just now. It's expected. But for Tata, it feels like a burden on her shoulders. She only responds with a thin smile. She reaches for her phone in her bag; pretending to send a message, even though she knows Ottis won't pick her up.

There was a time when Tata chose to wait for Ottis to pick her up when her husband said he had to work overtime.

"You should've just gone home, Ta. Why wait for me? Now I have to turn around!" he snapped as soon as he got into the car. Ottis's face also looked displeased. "I'm already tired from overtime, and now I have to pick you up. Didn't they give you a taxi voucher from the office? If they didn't, why did you agree to overtime?"

Once, she could endure it. Two or three times, Tata seemed like a very troublesome wife to Ottis, which made him choose to give in.

Until Levi's car arrives at their office lobby, no one speaks again. Besides, Tata feels like she doesn't have any other questions. Even if there were any, she's afraid of upsetting her boss's feelings.

"Did your husband contact you?" Levi asks to make sure. He doesn't want his assistant to have trouble because of him. They should have been back hours ago, but because of his personal matter, he inconvenienced Tata. He even hurt her because of his child.

"He did, Sir," Tata unbuckles her seat belt. "I'll wait in the lobby. He's already on his way."

Levi breathes a sigh of relief. "I'll go first, Ta. Once again, I'm sorry. Maybe Echa is just sensitive right now."

"Women are sensitive, aren't they, Sir?" Tata jokes to lighten the mood. She doesn't want this incident to make them awkward. She doesn't mind this wound. Really.

"It could be you," Levi smiles. Letting Tata get out of his car. He also presses the button to lower his car window. "Thank you, Ta."

That remark makes Tata turn. "For what?"

"For understanding Echa's situation and accepting my apology."

"Oh, my," Tata laughs. "I thought what."

"I'll... go first, Ta. Good night."

Tata nods. "Good night, Mr. Levi. Take care."

The car drives off again, which Tata watches until it's no longer visible. She fiddles with her phone again to order an online taxi. Fortunately, it doesn't take long for the taxi to arrive at the office lobby.

Inside the taxi, her mind drifts back to Echa. After being calmed down by her father, the child didn't want to look at Tata. She doesn't force it. Some parents are blessed with physically and mentally healthy children. Some are 'fortunate' to have special needs children. Why called fortunate? Because patience and a big heart are required. They surely have their own 'world' that is difficult to understand. Tata hasn't forgotten Levi's gaze at his daughter. A gaze full of sincere love and immense affection.

This also reminds her of past events.

"How many years have you been married, Ta?" Rieka asks with her sarcastic tone. Tata, who has just finished tidying up the dining table, stops in her tracks.

"Nine years, Ma'am."

Rieka scoffs. "Nine years, but still no children. What's wrong with you? Don't you want children? Ottis also wants children, Ta. You're supposed to be a competent wife. Look at your sister, Nilam. She's pregnant again, right? You? Not even one!"

In the past, Tata used to cry every time her mother-in-law said something like that. As if having children was solely the responsibility of a wife. No special cooperation with her husband. Only she was blamed here, in Ottis's extended family. Rieka didn't hesitate to expose her with many faults. For Rieka, the shame of not having children immediately fell on her daughter-in-law.

In the past, Tata's tears were soothed by Ottis's embrace and words that made her calm. Her heart began to settle down and she could accept her mother-in-law's sometimes hurtful remarks. But as time went on, she felt more and more alone. Ottis was no longer her support.

Instead, her husband contributed to pushing Tata. Questioning, "I'm also puzzled, Mom. I've done what you suggested. I don't know about Tata. Sometimes she acts as she pleases. As if she doesn't intend to get pregnant and have children. But I need an heir. Can you believe I don't have children?"

Samanta never stopped praying. If God hasn't allowed it, what else can she do but prolong her prostration? Tata also wants to have children. She wants to experience being pregnant, breastfeeding, staying up in the middle of the night because her baby is fussy, witnessing all their growth and development. Tata really hopes for that.

But... can she force her will?

If God were to grant a child, but one like Echa? What would Tata do? While she cannot choose what kind of child to bear, just as the child cannot choose what kind of womb they are born from. Would Ottis's family accept it? There's always a possibility, right? God gives something for His people to learn.

After ten years of living with Ottis and getting to know his family, Tata isn't sure if, in the event she gives birth to a child like Echa, the child would be accepted well. What's more... she'd be blamed again.

Tata squeezes her eyes shut, then takes a deep, rough breath. She pushes away those thoughts and chooses to enjoy the now sparse streets of Jakarta. She thinks to suggest dinner to Ottis, but it seems her earlier reverie made her unaware that her husband had sent a message beforehand.

Ottis:

I'm going to my mom's house. Don't wait up for me.