It was still early in the morning when Kala's car entered the city of Bandung. Until recently, returning to Bandung had been the very last thing on my mind, because I was always worried I'd run into Axel. Even though it had never actually happened in the five years since the divorce, I still dreaded the possibility. Not seeing Axel for almost five years had felt like my lucky streak. But apparently, that's over now that I know he works in Jakarta.
"We left on time, so we arrived in Bandung before it got too late," Kala said.
"First, we definitely need to eat—looks like you're starving," I teased, earning a laugh from him.
"You mean after I finished off all the food you brought," he added with a chuckle.
"I packed it on purpose for the road," I replied.
"Especially since Arkan's been asleep the whole time, you're the only one I could count on to help finish it all," I added.
"Let's just get a light snack. I don't think I can handle a full meal right now," Kala said. I laughed—of course he was full after devouring all my food.
"I thought you were still hungry. In that case, let's wait until lunch," I said.
"So let's head straight there," Kala suggested, making me frown and glance at him.
"Where to?" I asked, confused. During the trip, he hadn't mentioned anything about our plans once we arrived in Bandung.
"How about Farm House Lembang? I've never been, but my coworkers said it's a great place to bring kids," he replied.
"You asked your coworkers?" I asked.
"Of course. Who else would I ask?" he answered with a smile. I was surprised that Kala had actually planned our trip to Bandung. I'd thought we were winging it and would figure things out once we got there.
"Farm House sounds good," I said eventually. I had taken Arkan there before, but he was so little back then that he probably didn't remember it at all now.
From the corner of my eye, I glanced at Kala, who was focused on driving. Why did he put Arkan's happiness first—especially when he had no obligation to him at all? He didn't need to go this far.
Outside, Bandung was slowly coming to life. Rows of flower sellers had just started to set up their stalls, and the morning air was still cool, carrying the faint scent of wet soil and mountain breeze. The soft light of the sun slanted through the windshield, bathing Kala's face in golden hues. It made his sharp profile look even gentler, calmer—too calm for the turmoil in my chest.
"Mom...." Arkan's whiny voice reached my ears. I turned to find him rubbing his eyes—he must've just woken up.
"We're already in Bandung," Kala said, glancing back at Arkan.
"That was fast," Arkan mumbled.
"Of course it was fast, you slept the whole way," I said, trying not to laugh.
"Do you want something to eat?" Kala asked. Maybe he felt guilty for finishing off Arkan's share of the food. Arkan shook his head groggily.
"Don't ask him now—he's not fully awake yet," I told Kala. Arkan leaned back in his seat without saying another word. Just from his expression, I could tell he didn't want to be bothered.
"Let's stop at a convenience store first. Arkan needs a cold drink to freshen up," I said. Just as I finished my sentence, Kala pulled the car over in front of a mini market.
"That was fast," I commented, making Kala laugh.
"Kala, can you stay with Arkan for a minute?" I asked as I stepped out of the car.
Inside the store, I bought some of Arkan's favorite drinks. For Kala, I picked up a bottle of mineral water and a can of coffee. Just in case Arkan got cranky from hunger, I also bought a chocolate bread roll.
"This is your favorite yogurt," I said, handing Arkan a bottle of strawberry yogurt.
"Thanks, Mom," he said, sounding much more awake now, proven by how quickly he drank it down.
"Kala, do you drink this kind of coffee?" I asked, showing him the can.
"Sure do," he said, and I opened it for him.
"Drink first before we go. The weather's nice too, so no need to rush," I said, handing him the opened can. Kala smiled and reached for the coffee, his fingers brushing against mine. Trying to act normal, I quickly pulled my hand back once he took it. This is ridiculous—why was my heart racing just because his hand accidentally touched mine?
You're being ridiculous, Bee!
"Let's get going," Kala said excitedly. Now he was just as eager as Arkan. The two of them started singing cheerfully until the car finally arrived at our destination.
"Where are we, Mom?" Arkan asked, full of curiosity. Maybe he felt like he was in a fantasy land—the atmosphere at Farm House really did resemble a scene straight out of a fairytale movie.
"At Farm House Lembang, sweetie. Do you like this place?" I asked, and he nodded. Arkan's excitement grew when he received a bottle of fresh milk after exchanging the entrance ticket. His eyes widened at the sight of everything in front of him.
"It's like in a movie," he commented, and he hadn't let go of Kala's hand since earlier. I didn't even realize when the two of them started holding hands, but it looked incredibly heartwarming to me. Kala led Arkan around the tiny houses that resembled something out of a fantasy film, and they took several photos in the more scenic spots.
I stood back for a while, watching them from a distance. The way Kala knelt beside Arkan to match his eye level while reading the signs, how he patiently waited every time Arkan pointed at something and started talking endlessly. It was like watching a scene I never thought I'd see again—a man who treated my son not as an obligation, but as a genuine joy. It stirred something inside me, something I tried hard to ignore.
Because Arkan was so enthusiastic, lunch was postponed until late afternoon. Usually, he'd be the first to complain about being hungry, but not this time. His forehead was damp with sweat, and yet there was no trace of fatigue on his face.
"Let's grab some food," Kala said once we left the Farm House area.
"Let's find something close by. Arkan must be starving," he added.
"I think you're even hungrier than Arkan," I teased. He chuckled, as if agreeing with me.
"I've only had bread since this morning. Of course I'm starving," he replied, not wanting to lose.
"Are we heading home after this?" I asked.
"Let's stay the night. We'll go back tomorrow afternoon," he answered. I nodded in agreement, understanding that Kala must be exhausted after the trip from Jakarta and spending all day with Arkan.
"You brought a change of clothes, right?" he asked.
"Yeah, I did," I replied.
There were plenty of food options around the Farm House area. Kala chose a Sundanese restaurant that looked crowded.
"Did you have fun, Arkan?" I asked as I hugged him while getting out of the car.
"Yeah!" he replied with a wide smile.
"Let's plan where to go next weekend," Kala added.
"Not every weekend, okay?" I said.
"Why not? Do you have work next weekend?" he asked.
"Not me. You're the one who's probably busier than I am," I replied.
"Not as busy as you think. Don't worry—starting now, my weekends are free," he said. I could only look at him, confused.
Maybe because he was tired from playing, Arkan ate heartily. It was a tiring weekend for me. Usually, I'd be filming a new video or checking stock at the store. But even though I was tired, seeing Arkan's smile was enough to wipe away all the fatigue.
"You need to eat more too. I haven't seen you eat much since this morning." Kala then grabbed a few pieces of fried fish and placed them on my plate. Again, that kind of attention from Kala made my heart beat faster. It was annoying. I'm not the kind of woman who falls easily for sweet gestures. But somehow, whenever I'm around Kala, I feel like I am. I felt embarrassed—what I was feeling reminded me of a teenager in love.
"Most hotels are full. Maybe because it's the weekend. Let's just go and check directly at one," Kala said while looking at his phone. It looked like he was trying to book a room through an app. But there was no way I could invite him to stay at my parents' house, right?
On the way to the hotel, Arkan fell asleep again. The mix of exhaustion from playing and a full belly must've been the perfect recipe for a deep sleep.
Kala asked me to check with the hotel receptionist while he stayed in the car with the sleeping Arkan. Several of the hotels we visited had no rooms available. By the fifth hotel, I decided to call ahead instead of running in and out. Fortunately, they said they had a room available.
"They said they have a room," I told Kala after the call.
"Alright, I'll carry Arkan in so he can lie down first. We'll take care of the rest of the stuff later," Kala replied, getting out of the car and gently lifting Arkan in his arms.
"You're in luck, Ma'am. We have one family room available," the receptionist said. I immediately turned to Kala.
"Just one room," I whispered, barely audible. It was my fault for getting excited when I heard they had a room—I didn't even ask how many.
"It's fine," Kala replied casually. My eyes widened as I stared at him in disbelief.
He wasn't joking, was he? I mean, two adults sharing one room—that's dangerous, isn't it?(*)