Episode 4

Heaving a sigh of relief, Ajeng felt a sense of calm when Reza had finally left the room.

Indeed, for a moment Ajeng was spellbound by his handsomeness, but his eyes bore a chill that instilled fear in her.

Shivers ran down Ajeng’s spine, deterring her from even admiring him.

Meanwhile, Sean was still chuckling, poking fun at his own father.

"Sean, that’s enough laughing. It’s not polite to laugh at your elders," Ajeng said softly, settling back onto the carpet as Sean sat on the edge of the bed, clutching his black Batman robot.

"I'll laugh if I want to, why does it bother you, Ajeng?" Sean retorted, his gaze suddenly as icy as Reza's just moments before.

Ajeng was taken aback; moments earlier, they'd been getting along quite well, with Sean behaving politely towards her.

But now, things had shifted; Sean looked at her with derision.

"It’s not that, Sean. It’s just disrespectful to make fun of Papa Reza like that."

"You’re the one who’s wrong, Ajeng. Why do you call my dad 'mister'? Hasn’t grandma told you not to call my dad that?"

"I apologize, Sean, I was wrong. Forgive me?"

"When you call Reza 'mister', it’s like he’s not my dad, like he’s a stranger!" Sean exclaimed, his voice rising.

"I understand, Sean. I’m sorry. Let's play frogs again."

"I don’t want to! I’m going outside!" Sean snapped indifferently.

*Oh God*. Ajeng silently invoked the Lord’s name\, seeking solace from the abrupt change.

After setting down his toy robot, Sean grabbed his frog and strode out. The frog, Sean had said, was named Malvin.

Ajeng followed the little boy’s steps, determined to accompany Sean wherever he went.

"Ajeng, shall we play in the backyard?" Sean invited her, now offering a warm smile as if the previous quarrel had been all but forgotten.

Again, Ajeng found herself perplexed, trying to grasp the true nature of Sean’s character.

"Why the backyard? The front yard looks so lovely," she responded.

"But the back is nicer, Ajeng."

"Where are you going, Sean?" Grandma Putri asked as she entered the living room, finding Sean and Ajeng already there.

Ignoring his grandmother's question, Sean just turned away. So it was Ajeng who replied...

"We’re going to play in the backyard, Grandma."

"Throw that frog away, Jeng. It’s dirty, and we’ll be eating lunch soon. Don’t play for too long," Grandma Putri spoke softly, afraid that Sean would hear and get upset.

Ajeng just nodded, her steps keeping pace with her young charge.

When they reached the backyard, a spacious swimming pool lay beside them.

Ajeng gaped in amazement, her mouth agape, a small smile creeping in – the mere sight filled her with joy.

But surely, Ajeng couldn’t swim in it, could she?

Just as she was admiring the pool, she was jolted by Sean plunging into a muddy pit.

"Sean!" Ajeng shrieked, caught off guard.

How could such a beautiful place contain a duck pond resembling one from her village?

"Oh Allah, Sean, what are you doing?" Ajeng panicked, her face painted with fear and confusion.

*This is so dirty*\, she thought.

"This is Malvin’s play area, Ajeng. I’m just accompanying him," the little boy explained. Though Sean was undoubtedly handsome, why must he be so mischievous?

"But you shouldn’t be splashing around like this, Sean." Ajeng sighed heavily.

"It's Sean, Ajeng, not just Sean." He refused to be called by the shortened name. Instead of addressing Ajeng's remark, Sean chose to argue about the nickname.

"It's easier to just say Sean."

"Sean, Ajeng!"

"Sean!"

"SEAN!"

"SEAN!" Ajeng shouted back just as loudly.

"Ugh!" Frustrated, Sean yanked at Ajeng, causing her to tumble into the pit.

Both of them ended up laughing together in the filth: a small, red-soiled pit filled with murky water that added to the mess.

Their laughter echoed up to the second floor, where Reza, Ryan, and Rilly observed the scene from their respective rooms.

Rilly chuckled.

Ryan smiled quietly to himself.

While Reza still watched with an unflinching, frosty gaze.

Downstairs, Grandma Putri massaged her throbbing temples, contemplating that now she seemed to have two mischievous grandchildren.