Forced to Be Stepmom
Tekad Ardhan

Lathan rushes to pick Ardhan up to his school as soon as he gets home from school. He waited not far from the school gate because Ardhan did not want to be the center of attention.

Lathan waited for her sister while listening to music. He squinted with a frown as he looked at Ardhan who was getting closer towards him.

"Hi, Brother. Lathan has been waiting for me for a long time?".

Ardhan smiled sweetly as he greeted Lathan while getting into his car.

"What's with your face?".

Instead of answering Ardhan's question, Lathan grabbed his little sister's chin to see more clearly about her slightly bruised cheek.

"It's nothing. Just a small accident" said Ardhan who responded with a calm attitude.

"Little accident? Falling down the stairs? Hit the wall? Or just hit people? I told you not to keep anything a secret and you said yourself that you could solve it. Does this mean you failed?".

Lathan asked in a cold manner to Ardhan.

"For now I have finished it. Let's see how far this game will go".

Ardhan smiled in an indifferent manner in response to Lathan's question.

"Are you sure this is over? Remember that school bullying can't be solved easily. This will continue until the bullies feel the deterrent effect".

Lathan reminded her sister that this was a serious matter.

"Sister need not worry. Papi often said that we should not be easily oppressed. After all, we have been provided with all kinds of training in order to protect ourselves. And as for my cheeks, I've already given them a reply. I also found a way to protect myself at school. Yes ...although actually it is also not a safe way, but for a while this way can be my shield. If this continues, then I just need to get rid of them all from school. Howsoever".

Ardhan kept smiling while talking to Lathan. Although behind his smile was a sharp glare of eyes that could not be interpreted easily.

"Are you sure you can solve this problem? I'll come to your school if you can't finish it".

"I'm very sure. Brother don't have to worry, okay? What's now the problem is, how to hide this from mom? If you see my cheeks bruised like this, you're gonna freak out, right?".

Rather than discussing Bobi, Ardhan was more panicked as he imagined how panicked Andra was to see the wound on his cheek.

"It can't be covered. We can't hide it from Mom. You just tell me the truth and mom will understand"

"What does understand? It's certain that mommy will come to school and mess things up. I don't want to be treated differently from my friends. Brother has to help me hide this matter".

Ardhan pleaded with Lathan with a hopeful look in his eyes.

"How do I hide it from my mom? We will go home and you will also meet your mother at home" said Lathan with a calm attitude.

Suddenly Ardhan smiled cheerfully at Lathan's words. He's like he just got a lightening on how to solve his problems.

"Well, home. I have an idea"

"What idea? I'm starting to feel bad about the idea you're saying" Lathan said as she asked Ardhan.

"What if we don't have to go home? That way, my mom won't know about this bruise on my cheek".

Ardhan spoke lightly with a smile. It was like an easy thing to do. Lathan looked at him with sharp eyes, while moving her chin in annoyance.

Tak.

"Of course your idea doesn't make sense. How can you have that thought? Where are we going if we don't go home? Mommy's gonna be more worried if we don't get home".

Lathan grumbled angrily while gently hitting Ardhan's forehead after listening to the idea that the younger brother meant.

"Yeah, that's the only way we got. Lathan said she'd help me? Come on, brother, this time. We could stay at a hotel or maybe a friend's house".

Ardhan again seduced the brother with his innocent and sad face.

Lathan continued to stare at Ardhan while considering his sister's words.

"All right, this time. And you also have to tell me what really happened. Understood?"

"Yess. yes I understand. Thank you, Brother Lathan".

The happy expression was instantly shown by Ardhan. He spoke while clenching his hands into the air.

Lathan spoke while taking out her cell phone and contacted Andra.

Tut tuut tuut

Lathan waited for her phone to be picked up by Andra while leaning her head against the seat of the steering wheel.

"Hello, Lathan"

After a long while finally heard Andra's voice from the other end of the phone.

"Hello, Mih"

Lathan looked nervous as she occasionally turned to look at Ardhan.

"What's up, baby? Where have you been? Why are you guys ready to come home yet?" asked Andra who was curious because Lathan and Ardhan had not arrived home.

"Anu, Mihm. Looks like we're not coming home tonight".

Lathan hesitated a little and gerogi as she spoke to Andra.

"Not come home? Wh why? Did something happen? You two are okay, right?".

Andra asked frantically as Lathan said that they would not go home.

"That .. we have a stay at the hotel. Just a day and tomorrow we'll be home after school".

Lathan was very nervous as she asked permission from Andra.

"Stay at the hotel? In what order? Which hotel? You guys don't mean to fuck around, do you?".

Andra interrogated Lathan with a stern tone.

"We have no intention of messing around. How could I have brought Ardhan if I was going to do something no-no".

Lathan is still trying hard to persuade Andra to give her permission, as it is the first time they have stayed outside on their own.

"You sure?"

Andra squinted suspicious eyes as she made sure to Lathan.

"Yes Mami"

Although with a hand that kept shaking from nervousness, but Lathan kept trying to be calm.

"alright. This time, Mami will let you stay outside. But if something happens or Mami hears a no-no about you two, then Mami won't let you guys out on your own. Mami's gonna ask the bodyguards to follow you 24 hours"

Andra threatened with a firm attitude.

"Good, Mommy. I-i understand. Thank you very much Mih. I love Mami"

"I love Mami too"

"Alright, Mih. Bye then. Muezzo"

Ardhan yells as Lathan says she loves Andra.

"Done right, brother? Thank you very much" said Ardhan as soon as Lathan hung up.

"Yes for now it's done. Hopefully tomorrow the bruise on your cheeks has disappeared. That way our lies today will not be in vain".

Lathan spoke in a cold and indifferent manner

"Yes I hope so too"

"We'll get out of here first. We need to find a hotel around here for tonight. And you owe me an explanation. If you don't explain everything in detail, then you'll know the consequences"

"good. I'll tell you later".

Ardhan responded to the threat from Lathan with his head bowed. They rushed out of Ardhan's school to find the hotel they were going to tonight.