The Second Choice (English Version)

Chapter 08

The mother, who was sitting on the spacious bed belonging to her and her husband, was pensive for a long time. Remembering her promise to her husband. Rubbing his face which felt numb and tired, tried to stay calm. Then she remembered the moment when she promised her husband to be fair to her two daughters, staring blankly at the reflection in the mirror which showed her figure which looked messy and empty. He remembered again why he hated Aluna so much, his innocent eldest daughter. Even though she had promised her husband to be fair to her two daughters, without any comparisons.

Flashback on...

"Sera, I entrust you to look after our two daughters fairly, okay? I hope you don't compare or treat Alana and Aluna differently like other people in general, understand?" dad gently touched his wife's shoulder, saying. Mother nodded, "Don't worry, dear. I will take good care of our two daughters and treat them fairly," said mother confidently, promising.

"You'd better keep your word, Sera. Don't disappoint me, my wife." Dad ordered again, then patted his wife's shoulder lightly. Mother nodded firmly, feeling confident that she could be fair to her two daughters who were entrusted to her by her husband.

"By the way, are the kids asleep yet?" dad asked again, making sure whether Aluna and Alana were asleep or not. Mother smiled, "Then, try checking it yourself." Tell the mother not to answer her husband's question.

"Okay, then, before I leave, I want to see how my two daughters are doing first." Dad nodded, then enthusiastically walked up the stairs to two adjoining rooms which were none other than his children's rooms.

Click! Krieett...

Dad pushed gently into Alana's room, opening the door. The bedroom door creaked softly, then when the father felt that his daughter's bedroom door was open enough for him to enter, he walked in carefully and quietly. The lights in Alana's room were off, and there was only dim light from the nightlight next to Alana's bed, which was a sign that Alana was fast asleep.

"You slept very soundly, my daughter. Even when you're asleep, you look beautiful like a painting." Father gently stroked Alana's brownish black hair, smiling at his second daughter who was fast asleep hugging the panda doll. He then gently kissed the top of Alana's head, who was still eight years old at that time, and said goodbye.

When the father was satisfied looking at the beautiful face of his second daughter who was sleeping soundly, he immediately walked out of his second daughter's room. Then he walked towards his eldest daughter's room which was next to his second daughter's room, slowly opened the door to Aluna's room.

Looks like Aluna is also asleep. The father's mind smiled when he saw that the light in his eldest daughter's room was also off, just like his second daughter. Walked slowly and carefully towards his eldest daughter's bed, afraid of waking her beloved daughter.

"Which side should you compare yourself to, with Alana? As beautiful as you are when you sleep, but there are still people who compare you without knowing it." Dad muttered, staring at little Aluna's face for a long time, smiling. He then walked slowly towards where his eldest daughter was sleeping, hugging the bolster pillow, approaching Aluna's small body.

"Um..." the father, who gently touched Aluna's cheek, gasped in surprise.

"Father?" Aluna, who woke up and was only half conscious, rubbed her eyes slowly. He blinked his eyes, trying to see more clearly who the person beside him was with the help of the dim nightlight. The father, who was shocked because he accidentally woke up his eldest daughter, said. "Go back to sleep, Aluna. Sorry for waking you up and disturbing your sleep." Father said softly, stroking Aluna's head. Told Aluna to go back to sleep.

"It's okay, Dad. By the way, Aluna was waiting for Dad to come to Aluna's room as usual. And Aluna thought Dad was bored and didn't want to come to Aluna's place anymore, that's why Aluna went to bed early. Because Aluna didn't want to expect much "Because Aluna knows Dad must be busy and tired." Aluna replied, shaking her head. He woke up from his sleep and sat against the head of the bed with his face still sleepy. Father smiled, gently stroking Aluna's soft blackish brown hair. "I'm sorry, son. Because Dad couldn't meet you earlier," said the father apologetically.

"It's okay, Dad. The important thing is that Dad has met Aluna, Aluna is very happy." Aluna shook her head, then smiled broadly, replying to her father's words.

"But, son. Maybe this is the last time we meet, because Dad is on assignment in Lebanon for three years. So, I hope you can stay with your mother well while Dad is away, okay?" Father said weakly, looking sadly at Aluna's two clear black eyes which were the same as his own. Aluna raised an eyebrow, "What does Dad mean?" Aluna asked confused, not understanding what her father was saying.

What did the father mean when he said that this was his last meeting with Aluna, his daughter?

"I'm going to Lebanon for three years, my daughter. There's urgent and very urgent work that I have to do there, and during that time, you have to be kind to your mother. And I hope you can be happy and healthy when I see you again, Aluna." The father answered quietly, looking sadly at his eldest daughter. Aluna was stunned for a moment, then she immediately rushed forward into her father's arms, crying. "Aluna doesn't want Dad to go, sob! Dad, don't go! No one will love Aluna like Dad! Don't leave Aluna alone, Dad!" Aluna burst into tears, hugging her father's large body tightly, not wanting her father to leave her. The father, who couldn't bear to see his beloved eldest daughter crying, gently stroked the child's head.

"Daddy will try to send a letter or send a message to you through your mother, son. So, wait for Daddy to come home, okay?" dad smiled, promised. Then he stretched out his little finger, wanting to make a little promise to his daughter. Aluna was silent for a moment, looked into her father's black eyes, nodded, linked her pinky to her father's.

"Then go back to sleep, Aluna." Tell the father to put his daughter back to sleep and cover Aluna again. Aluna nodded, then she lay down on her soft mattress.

"Good night, and have a sweet dream, my daughter..." said the father, gently kissing the top of Aluna's head. Aluna smiled faintly when her little child's body was sleepy, blinking so that her consciousness was still working, even if for a moment.

"Good night too, Dad..."

"And I hope Dad's business trip goes smoothly, and Aluna prays that Dad will be healthy while he's there." Aluna replied, pulling her father's face closer to hers, gently kissing her father's right cheek. Then after he kissed his father's cheek, he fell asleep again. The father, who was surprised because his eldest daughter, who was usually rather gloomy, took the initiative to kiss her cheek first.

"Hopefully you will always be someone who always smiles like this, Aluna..." muttered the father before he walked out of his eldest daughter's room, stared for a long time at Aluna's peaceful sleeping face, feeling unwilling to leave her.

"Then, Dad will go first, Aluna. See you in three years, my daughter..." dad said goodbye for the last time, then walked out of Aluna's room towards the terrace of her house where there was a black car that was already running. About to leave.

"You be careful there, take care of your health. And don't forget to send me a message or letter, so that I don't worry too much about you being far from my sight." Mother ordered, straightening father's black jacket, looking at father sharply. Father nodded, "Don't worry, my wife. I will definitely send a message to you and our two children," promised father, calming his wife's worries.

"And don't forget our promise, Sera." Father's message was firm, reminding mother again not to be careless. Mother nodded firmly, feeling very confident in her promise.

"Then, I'll go first. See you in three years, my wife..." said his father, kissed his wife's lips briefly, smiling meaningfully. Mother smiled back, nodded. "Be careful on the road, husband!" Mother exclaimed, waving her hand when the black car was already moving. Father smiled, waved back at mother.

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