CARDIGAN

08 Ordinary Day

Marisha and Mateen ran to the door when they heard Marwan's and Elyna's voice. Marisha immediately went into Elyna's hand and Mateen into Marwan's arm. Haziq who was being left out smiled amusingly. The twins who were just bickering with each other to conquer Haziq's arm for themselves would instantly forget him when they arrived.

Marwan: Hero uncle Wan lagi sorang mana?

Haziq: Mika tengah tolong mama buat cupcake tu..

All of them head to the kitchen, the smell of the chocolate cupcake would make everyone hungry. Mika was decorating the cupcake by putting his favourite topping which is the chocolate glazed and sprinkle some chocolate chip on top. Mika had been Yasmin's helper since Mia was no longer around. He volunteered to do so especially in the kitchen as Mika had watched the late Mia always in the kitchen with his mother for the past 4 years.

Elyna: Sedapnya bau.. Do you bake them Mika?

Mika nod while licking the leftover chocolate on his fingers. Elyna caressed his cheeks and eventually wiped his messy mouth. It's been a habit of Elyna to caress children's cheeks rather than pinching as it won't hurt them. But she still wants to touch them as she is obsessed with their chubby cheeks.

Marwan: Mesti sedap ni.. can I taste it?

Yasmin: Mika, bagi uncle dengan aunty cupcake tu. Letak dalam piring that's by your side.

Mika followed her instructions. Elyna out of norm instantly bites the cupcake without waiting for Marwan to taste it first. Marwan watched her curiously.

Marwan: Aik.. terus makan?

Elyna: I trust Mika.. sedapnya Mika sayang. Nanti kakak nak datang sini everyday boleh tak? Nak makan cupcake Mika.

Mika: Kakak ke aunty mama?

Mika was confused on how to address her.

Marwan: Aunty Mika.. panggil aunty. Jangan panggil dia kakak..

Elyna side-eyed him.

Elyna: Kakak je Mika jangan ikut uncle tu

Marwan: Aunty, Mika!

Mika sighed.

Mika: Mika panggil aunty la sebab Mika dah ada kakak.

Everyone in the house was silenced. Elyna no longer wishes to argue, Mika was right. He had a kakak that will always be in his heart. Yasmin patted Mika's back.

Yasmin: Kakak kan ajar Mika to bake these cupcakes.

Mika nodded, his eyes were in a brink of tears. But he quickly washed his hand and face.

Yasmin: It's okay Mika to tell us you missed her cause we all do. But we're not sad that she's not here physically cause she will always..

Mika: Always be in our heart..

Mika smiled painfully. Elyna could not look at Mika's eyes, she's gonna cry if she did. Marwan turned his back, acting as if he was teaching Mateen the name of the plants at the garden. He was trying so hard not to show his sadness in front of the family especially Mika. Haziq approached Marwan by patting his shoulder.

Haziq: Macam mana Wan?

Marwan: Apa yang macam mana? Kau ni selalu tanya separuh-separuh.

Haziq: Macam mana kau dengan Elyna, ok?

Marwan: Ok je.. biasala take time juga.

Yasmin: Abang! Marwan! Mai minum dulu makan cupcake ni.

Yasmin served hot tea and cupcakes for them.

Haziq: Thank you sayang.. nak abang tolong apa-apa ke kat dapur.

Yasmin: Takpe ada Elyna.. you guys sembangla. Wan tunggu jap dah nak siap nasi tomato.

Marwan: Daging merah ke?

Yasmin nod and smiled amusingly.

Marwan: Yes! Rugi si Rykarl takde..

Haziq: Kejap lagi sampai.. aku call sebut daging merah terus dia cakap japgi sampai. Kalau tak mesti ada je alasan padahal dating. Ngekngok kawan kita sorang ni.

Marwan laughed.

Marwan's pov: Habisla Elyna mesti usya dia lagi ni.. sabar jela

Marwan: Yang lain?

Haziq: Busy.. Darwish ngan Syahmi tu lagi keje main je. Tiap minggu main basketball. Abang Fahmi dengan Nono hilang dari radar, call tak angkat.

Marwan: Aku pun cakap last minit nak singgah. Kau ni sedia macam-macam padahal aku nak main dengan anak-anak je.

Haziq: Biarla kiteorang happy korang ada, meriah la sikit. Kau bukan tak kenal Yasmin tu, pregnant pun nak buat macam-macam.

Rykarl arrived, he took a sit next to Marwan.

Haziq: Mika! Uncle Ry dah sampai ni!

Mika from he was a baby, he had been the closest to Rykarl. Tak berenggang kalau jumpa Rykarl.
Mika immediately sat on his lap.

Rykarl: Ziq! Macam mana Yasmin boleh pregnant lagi? Bukan the twins baru setahun lebih ke? Haritu Yas cakap semua nak tunggu cukup 2 tahun?

Marwan and Haziq laughed from his unexpected question.

Marwan: Kau ni hal rumah tangga orang sibuk je!

Rykarl: I'm just curious..

Haziq: Dah terbabas.. nak buat camna?

Rykarl closed Mika's ears and they laughed hardly.

Rykarl: Kau Wan, Elyna ok ke? Dia boleh get along dengan kau? Yela sebelum ni pakcik sekarang jadi husband, lain kan..

Marwan: Awkward sikit.. tapi dia slowly accepting the fate. Just layan je la perangai dia jangan ambil hati sangat.

Haziq: Slowly but there's something in it. Aku tahu.. kiteorang pun slowly try to talk about Mia among ourselves so that we get used to it. Making the time with her is our happiest time so that we won't be crying kalau teringat dia lagi. Yasmin dengan aku dah ok cuma Mika, kecil lagi kan so it takes time.

Getting used to the pain was the only thing they could work on as all of the things happening was due to the Almighty doings. There is no point in blaming, hurting, and continuously crying for the ones who had gone. The only thing that made them living their every day life with a forced smile on their faces was their children Mika, Marisha, Mateen and their upcoming baby. They should not be burden with  their parents grief. The children should be able to live a normal life like everyone else did.

Having another life in Yasmin's womb was one of the way to forget the pain. Welcoming a new life made Yasmin and Haziq more grateful and living their life cherishing what they have now. Mia's wish for her family to be happy had made the family of Haziq and Yasmin's ordinary day worth of living with love and smile.