In the Name of a Mate
Chapter 53: Zara and Rio?

Layla wipes away her tears when she sees her best friend finally getting married. Akad carried out in prison, there Yusuf shook the hand of Mr. Rangga to express his intentions. Other inmates and some police officers witnessed the holy event. Nessi refrained from crying, but her tears spilled as well. Mr. Rangga hugged his daughter and apologized many times. He also looked at his ex-wife and could only lament regrets

Afterwards the reception was held at one of the five-star hotels. Event decoration is dominated by white gold to look luxurious. Guests who come are also quite a lot, especially from business circles and college friends

"Sir Zara when?" Layla glanced at Zara who was sitting next to her

"Maybe another two months" the answer that made Layla surprised was not play

"Who's the guy?" Curiosity is high hearing that

"Kepo" Zara replied lightly, Layla thought Zara had not forgotten Rio. A moment later he saw Zara receiving the phone and coming out with a smile of her own, Layla was already like a person who had just come out of the cave and lost information. Not to interfere, but all this time Zara never mentioned anything about marriage

"Anything, you don't want a photo of your best friend?" Layla jumped in shock because suddenly someone was sitting in an empty seat next to her

"Ammar?" He thought the man didn't come here

"A long time ago we didn't see Ila, how are you?"

"I'm good" Layla answered so badly, but it's impolite not to ask her back, so she asked the same question

"What about you?"

"I'm not good" Layla furrowed her eyebrows in surprise and scrutinized the man's appearance, looking fine

"This is sick" the man pointed to his chest

"Do you have a history of asthma?" Layla asked confused, because as she remembered from the small they were together, the man had no history of such a disease

"No, but my heart hurts because you keep pushing" Layla realized that Ammar insinuated

"How many times have I told Ammar, waiting for me is an uncertainty that is not necessarily also answered" Layla replied

"I can wait again"

"Don't, waiting can only hurt you. Better consider another woman"

"Why? Are you still expecting that guy?"

Layla was silent and Ammar knew the answer. He nodded then took a long breath

"I don't want to say this, but isn't that stupid? Waiting for someone who has hurt you?"

"Therefore don't wait for this foolish woman. All you have to know is that he never hurt me either" Ammar stared inexplicably at the thought of the woman sitting next to him

"You deserve better Ammar, don't just stick to me. Look around you too, sorry but the heart can't be forced. From the beginning I said, don't wait for me. I'm sorry if my words sound cruel, but please understand" Ammar bowed down, making Layla feel guilty too. But he would feel even more guilty if he gave the man false hope. Because he knew it would never happen

.

The sun was shining quite brightly that morning, unlike yesterday's days which were filled with cloudy skies and gray clouds

"Dad, I want to take Athala to safety" Layla approached her father who was carrying the toddler to see various types of fish in the pond behind their house

"That's why he got enough sunlight. It's good for her body, from yesterday the rain kept so it can't come out"

Two-year-old Athala exclaimed happily to hear the word park, which was read by the boy was a toy there

"Yes, tell your sister first"

"So, she agreed too"

Naufal finally nodded, and let the toddler be taken away. Athala unceasingly clapped her hands in pleasure

"Bring the father's car, don't use the motorbike" Naufal yelled as he saw his daughter was already away, Layla turned around and just gave her thumbs up in response

.

Layla brought her niece to safety, next to the park there is a playground or children's playground that is not too crowded.

"Athala want to ride a slide?"

"You" the toddler boy excitedly climbed up the stairs and slid then laughed

Layla admitted that her niece was very fast to interact, she even played with other children there, running around here and there. Seeing that, he actually re-remembered his childhood memories first, immediately he wiped his tears for fear of being thought of by others

They eagerly run and laugh loosely because of play, they laugh when they see funny scenes or get the food they want. They cry when they fall and get hurt. This is a very different world for children than adults. Most people say they want to go back to childhood

"Athala, auntie wants a drink first. Stay here yeah, don't go anywhere" the boy nodded and went back to playing with his other friend. Layla looked around, there were a lot of old people there too, so she shouldn't be worried

Not far from there, there are mineral water traders and various other snacks. Layla turned her eyes to someone next to her who had just come and bought mineral water, from her posture, the man looked familiar. But because he was wearing a hodie that covered his head and a mask that covered part of his face, he could not see clearly

"Rio, have you?" Layla opened her mouth in disbelief when she saw Zara there too, and did she not hear wrong?

"Sister Zara"

"Your?" They were both equally surprised. The man called Rio earlier also turned his head and made Layla's heart seem to stop beating

"Are you?" He asked nervously, shouldn't the man still be in prison for two more years? Wasn't that the last judgment he heard. Why is he free here to roam? Seeing Rio's all-covered appearance Layla was another thought

"He didn't escape from prison" Zara seemed to know the direction her cousin thought because she interrupted him before Layla thought negatively

"When is Brother Rio free?"

"One week ago"

"that means..."

"Hey, your son came out" Layla wavered when someone's mother suddenly patted him on the shoulder made her realize leaving her niece long enough. Without caring for Zara and Rio, he ran back to the playground, but Athala was not there. Panicked, he drowned and saw the boy on the side of the road chasing the ball

In a panic he ran especially when he saw a four-wheeled vehicle driving there

"ATHALA" he shouted as the child was almost hit by a car, fortunately there was someone who was sprightly carrying him