Chapter 28 c
"Do you want me to accompany you to meet Olive?" Tasya offers, feeling like she really wants to move to the back. Sit next to Naina while explaining that, uh... what was it earlier? Mami Tasya? Oh, God! Isn't there anything crazier than that? "Dad, can I jump to the back? Is that okay?"
Nathan's eyes widen at Tasya's request. Can it be stopped? How can it! At the same time as that sentence slips out, Tasya effortlessly kicks off her shoes, moves her bag, lifts the cuffs of her pants so they don't drag too much, and moves to the back.
"Tasya! Be careful!" Nathan really didn't expect Tasya to go this far. Tasya responds with an innocent grin! Oh my God!
"Can you move the drinks?" Tasya asks, breaking the awkwardness between them, ignoring Nathan's still unbelieving gaze.
If her guess is correct, Naina is now quiet because Tasya mentioned the 'Mami' address for her. Seriously, it's a heavy matter. It's not easy if Naina were to say it in public. She might get a lot of questions from all sides. No, she can't. She hasn't even been able to muster the courage to address Nathan's statement at that time. It seemed serious, but Tasya couldn't easily believe it. Not to mention, Leon, who's been by Nathan's side for the past few years, has made her familiar with the man's speaking habits.
But that's for later. She can still think about it. Her focus now needs to be on Naina.
"Can you do it yourself, right? Besides, why are you even here?" Naina replied somewhat sarcastically, immediately shifting her body closer to the door.
"Don't you want me to keep you company?" Tasya smirked slightly. "I was going to tell you about the smoothie recipe from Mommy Seira." Naina just glanced without interest.
"Mom said you need dragon fruit, bananas, and mangoes. Blend them into a smoothie. Do you want honey or sugar, but not too much, just a little?" "Sugar," Naina replied shortly. "I don't like honey."
"Do you want to help me prepare it?"
"Ask Merry. I'm tired." Naina pouted.
"Why are you tired?" Tasya smiled faintly. She positioned herself to face Naina slightly. "Aunt Mirah said you were having fun with Mommy Seira. You ignored Aunt Mirah."
"Well, why did she pick me up? She's so diligent. I usually go by myself. And for your information, she's very annoying. She made me choose clothes I didn't want to wear. I was hungry, you know. I skipped lunch earlier. Luckily, I met Mom." "So, did Mommy Seira pay for your meal earlier?"
"Yeah."
"Daddy already said, Naina, when you eat-"
Nathan's sentence didn't finish because he felt a gentle nudge on his arm. When Nathan looked, Tasya's hand was there, complete with her thinly smiling face, as if silently saying, "Let me talk to Naina."
Nathan closed his mouth again. Focusing on the steering wheel was best for him right now. As usual, Tasya was the one who could make Naina feel better. Although Nathan was slightly surprised when Naina mentioned 'Mami Tasya'. A sudden, sly grin appeared, along with many agendas in his head.
Nathan was actually a planner. Despite appearing chaotic and carefree, believe it or not, Faldom was running according to the plan he had in his mind. Just like him, who often planned trips abroad for festivals happening there, or just diving into the blue sea. Playing with sharks or whales there.
So, this time, Nathan suddenly had a special planner: 'How to Win Over Mommy Tasya.'
It seems like something he should do now. Who's responsible for all of this? Naina, of course! That kid really makes his ideas develop quickly. Should he have bought boba earlier as a special gift?
"Well, I didn't know that Mom paid for it," Naina's words sounded quite curt.
"Yeah, no problem. Later, I'll convey thanks and apologize for possibly disturbing Mom Seira while she was eating. When you met Mom Seira, was she with someone?"
"She was alone. In fact, when I arrived, there was already a steak ready for me to devour. Since I was hungry, I ordered extra potatoes."
Tasya sighed softly. She counted Naina's return time and her journey to the mall where they met earlier. Then the time when the girl was with Seira. Oh my. There was quite a long gap where Naina should have eaten already. "Is your stomach hurting?"
"It was earlier, but not now."
The bespectacled girl let out a long sigh. She hurriedly reached for her bag, rummaging quickly to find something. She took out an antacid and broke it in half, handing it to Naina. "I know this won't have any effect, but at least it will help ease the pain when we have dinner later."
"Is it bitter?" Naina asked, crinkling her nose in fear of the green-colored pill.
"No, it has a mild minty taste."
"No water? Do I have to swallow it like that?" Basically, Naina hated medicine. The bitterness always lingered in her throat. "No antidote, huh?" Naina immediately set aside the medicine. "I'm fine, really."
Tasya smiled faintly. "You're fine for now. I'm just worried that your stomach might hurt during dinner, Naina."
"No bananas," Naina reasoned.
"Yes, there are," Tasya said, lifting a shopping bag filled with various fruits from inside. This made Naina pout unhappily. "Chew them slowly, Naina. They're not bitter at all." "What if they are?"
"Well... then we'll stop by and get some chocolate."
Naina smirked. "That's your favorite. I want boba again if this is bitter."
***
"Did you just arrive?" Sunny asked, looking cheerful as she saw her granddaughter, Tasya, and Nathan entering the living room.
"Yes, Grandma." Even though her grandmother was chatty and sometimes annoying in Naina's eyes, she still loved the middle-aged woman who stretched out her arms toward her, asking her to come into her embrace. Naina couldn't refuse that, could she?
"How was your time at the mall? Fun?"
"Yes," Naina let go of the hug. "It's always fun when I'm with Mommy Seira."
"Yeah, Aunt Mirah told me that you met Mommy Seira," Sunny smiled with meaning. "Aunt Mirah just finished cooking soup. You should try it. Grandma tried it earlier, and it tasted good."
Naina looked at the red-haired woman who was smiling at her. Among the women she had met, Mirah was the nicest. She didn't have many antics, and she didn't look at her with cynicism or hostility. But because Naina was already annoyed, thinking that Mirah hadn't paid enough attention to her, she said, "I want a smoothie, Grandma. Avocado sounds good, Tasya. So my stomach can feel full. I need something soft to eat. My stomach is starting to hurt." Tasya quickly approached. "Seriously?"
"Yeah. Tasya said that if you eat late, it doesn't immediately feel painful, right?"
Sunny was puzzled. "Late eating?"
"Could you make it, Grandma? I'll be in my room."
"Why, can Tasya do it?" Sunny asked with concern after Naina left.
"I'll make porridge first, Ma."
"Don't ask Tasya, Mom. How would she know? We picked her up when Naina was already with Seira. Mom, didn't you ask Mirah?" This time it was Nathan who spoke. He wasn't deaf; he heard Naina's outpouring of questions in the car earlier. Tasya really could get Naina talking non-stop and without hiding anything.
He wanted to be angry with Mirah, but Nathan realized he couldn't get angry like that in front of his mother. So... changing the situation was the right thing to do.
"Mirah?"