**On the way**
"Sir, are you just getting home at this hour?" Liana asked.
"Yes, why...?" David said.
"It's quite late, Rey must rarely see you every day," Liana remarked.
"Yes, that's true, but it doesn't mean we never meet. He sometimes comes to the hospital to see me or he'll even talk on the phone and tell me about his problems that day," David explained.
"Really? I thought with your current busy schedule, Rey might be a little neglected by his parents. It turns out I was wrong to assume that," Liana said, smiling at David.
"It seems like you're quite worried about Rey. Do you care about him that much?" David asked.
"Yes... Maybe it sounds a bit strange because he calls me 'mother'. But I would never forbid it, because I know what Rey needs right now is a mother figure," Liana explained.
(David's inner thoughts)
"I don't know why, every time I see her talking like this. She is so much like my sister who never thinks about herself but always thinks about the people around her."
"Sir, I'll get off here, please stop the car," Liana said.
"Here... Alright," David said, trying to shake off his thoughts.
David immediately pulled his car over right in front of Liana's apartment.
"Go inside first, then I'll leave," David requested of Liana.
"Alright, please be careful too, Sir," Liana advised.
David nodded and made sure Liana had safely entered her apartment first.
"That naughty girl," David murmured as he drove away.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through David's bedroom window, causing him to wake up from his sleep. Not long after,
"Dad... good morning," Rey said, immediately climbing onto David's bed.
"Good morning to you too, my boy," David said, smiling sweetly.
"Dad is very handsome this morning, Rey is jealous because Rey doesn't have this on his cheek," Rey said, poking his finger into David's dimple.
"Really, why be jealous? Even without this, Rey is still a handsome boy. I should be the one who's jealous of this cute face," David said, gently kissing Rey's cheek.
"Dad, can Rey ask for something...?" Rey asked.
"Of course... Whatever Rey wants, your dad will grant it," David answered.
"After school later, Rey wants to meet Mother Liana. Can I, Dad...?" Rey said.
"Of course... But your Mother Liana seems to be busy today," David explained.
"Dad, please make an appointment to meet her today, Rey misses Mother Liana," Rey said with teary eyes.
"Alright... Alright, I'll try. But if she is really busy today, we shouldn't force her, Rey understands, right?" David explained, trying to make Rey understand.
"Okay Dad, Rey understands. But Dad, why don't we ask Mother Liana to live here with us? Rey's friend said that they sleep with their dad and mom. Why don't we do the same?" Rey asked innocently.
Hearing Rey's words just now startled David. He didn't know how he could explain the truth about Liana to Rey.
"Rey, listen to Dad, someone can live and sleep together under the same roof only if they have a relationship. Meanwhile, Liana, the person you suddenly call 'mother', has absolutely no relationship with us. So we can't just ask her to live together in this house. Let alone ask her to sleep together in one room. That can't be done," David explained.
"Why can't it, Dad? Don't you love Mother Liana? My friend's mom said her husband loves her very much. Is that why they can live together? Dad, we will have a relationship if you can love Mother Liana," Rey said innocently.
"What..." David was slightly shocked and started to wonder how he could even think about loving Liana, a girl who suddenly appeared in his life.
"Dad, why are you quiet?" Rey asked again.
David tried to shake off his thoughts
"It's nothing, Rey, what time is it...? You'll be late for school, come on, hurry up and tell Aunt Mirna to get you ready immediately. Uncle Will will come soon to take you to school. Come on... Hurry up," since he was confused about how to answer Rey, David finally decided to change the subject.
"Yes Dad, Rey will get ready fast. But we have to meet Mother Liana today, okay?" he still insisted on meeting Liana that day.
"Yes... I will call your Mother Liana. Go quickly now," David requested.
Finally, Rey left David's room. For now, David could breathe a sigh of relief because he was free from his little son's question, but he couldn't be sure if Rey would ask again next time.
"It would be better if I call Liana now, that boy will definitely ask me again at the hospital later," David said.
He picked up his phone and started calling Liana
Meanwhile, Liana was still asleep in her bed. She heard her phone vibrate and reached for it with her hand.
"Hello... Mom, please don't call me this early in the morning. That's such a habit, Lili is still sleepy, you know," Liana said spontaneously, thinking it was her mother calling her.
"I'm not your mother, Liana," David said on the phone.
Hearing David's voice, Liana woke up with a shock.
"Sir... Doctor Sir. Sorry... I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you calling me. I apologize," Liana said nervously.
"Why apologize, you didn't do anything wrong, Liana. Relax... Besides, the name 'Lili' suits you too," David joked, starting to tease Liana.
"What... That's what my mother calls me, Sir. I had absolutely no intention of changing my name," Liana explained, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Alright... Alright, from now on I'll call you Lili," David added.
"What... Don't, Sir," he was interrupted by David.
"Enough, I'm calling because Rey said he really wants to meet you today. Do you have time today...?" David asked.
"Today, you say? It seems like lunchtime might work. I'm free at that time. Besides, I actually miss Rey very much too," Liana answered.
"Is that so... I will pick you up myself later, just wait, Rey and I will come," David explained.
"Alright, Sir, in that case, I'll hang up now. I need to get ready for the office right away," Liana said, wanting to end the call.
"Yes, see you later," David said.
"See you too, Sir," Liana replied, immediately hanging up the phone.