Six

After finishing a bowl of instant noodles together, Angel went to the kitchen to wash the bowl and clean the dining table. Mark patted Baby's cheek gently and then kissed the baby girl's cheek.

Angel was already in the kitchen, reaching for the plates and bowls where the dishes he had thrown away earlier. He smiled faintly remembering eating a bowl of instant noodles together with Mark. The food they eat is simple, not luxurious. But what makes Angel smile is the way Mark feeds her. Impressed so sweet and soft.

"Angel!" Mark shouted as he descended the stairs.

Angel turned his head to look at Mark who seemed to have a hard time calming Baby who was crying. He shook his head and put his hands on his waist.

Angel dried his wet hands and walked over to Mark, who looked like he was having a hard time calming Baby down.

"Baby woke up, and suddenly cried!" Mark complained as he shifted his sling to Angel.

"You must have disturbed your sleep because of your papa's behavior, right?" He glanced at Mark who was scratching his temple. "What are you baby? You must have disturbed his sleep, right?" Angel glared, Mark was silent. "Then you make milk for Baby, let me put him to sleep in the room."

Mark gawked, then protested at Angel. "How can I make milk for the baby? You'd be better off!"

Angel rolled her eyes. "Look Baby, look at your papa's behavior! Selfish!" Angel pouted while glancing at Baby who was still crying.

"Don't start! It's getting late, if you want to get into a fight, just tomorrow morning."

Angel glared even more, this time even sharper than before. "Okay, I'll make some milk for Baby, and stop staring at me like that," Mark muttered.

Finally he gave in to Angel, willing to make milk for Baby. Angel nodded, he went upstairs, if Baby was fussy like this, it would be difficult to sleep again. Who is there until morning Baby will open his eyes.

He gently rocked Baby, slowly the baby's cries began to subside and were replaced with laughter. Angel pressed his nose with the baby's nose, playing with Baby's chubby cheeks which often made him nervous. Angel's thumb rested on Baby's forehead, stroking it gently. Usually babies will fall asleep quickly when rubbed his forehead.

In another place, Mark is confused about making baby milk. He scratched his head, fiddling with the milk bottle in front of him. "How to make?" he asked himself.

Mark reached for a small milk bottle, poured a few spoonfuls of milk into the bottle. And Mark stupidly didn't measure his milk. After that, Mark confidently poured hot water in the bottle, closed it tightly and shook the bottle to mix the water and milk evenly. Ah, surely the way to make milk is correct. Mark thought with a satisfied smile. He hastily followed Angel into the room with a bottle of milk for Baby.

Arriving in the room, Mark saw Angel sleeping beside Baby who had apparently fallen asleep. Mark sighed, in fact his efforts to make milk were in vain. He walked wearily to Angel, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Angel glanced at him, then looked away in disgust. "You're late. Baby is sleeping!"

"Yes I know." Mark looked at the milk bottle he was holding. "Even though I have gone to the trouble of making milk for him." Mark sighed, Angel corrected his position. Angel pulled the bottle that Mark had been holding, Angel hissed when he felt the bottle was hot.

"Mark!" shouted Angel really excited. Is it true that Mark will give his homemade milk to Baby? It's very hot.

"Especially?" Mark asked lazily.

"You can make milk can't you?! It's so hot, Mark. Baby's tongue might scald!" Angel scolded.

"Isn't making baby milk really using hot water?" Mark asked innocently.

"Yes. But you should mix it with cold water too so it doesn't get too hot!"

Oh, wrong again!

Earlier when we ate together, Angel looked so sweet and obedient. Why is it turning violent now?

Mark put the milk bottle on the nightstand and left the room. Angel's forehead furrowed sharply as he watched Mark leave their room. Where is he going? He curled up in his soft bed again. Trying to ignore the guy.

Mark sat on the sofa in the living room. He unbuttoned some of the shirt buttons that were still attached to his body. Today he was so tired from a lot of work in the office that he made him come home late at night. Mark leaned back on the sofa, sighed, actually he was so sleepy and wanted to rest. But after seeing Angel angry like that made him lazy to enter the room. What Angel said was true. The milk she made almost harmed Baby.

Mark patted his forehead softly while cursing his stupidity.

***

The next day Angel took Baby for a walk to the park. While pushing the baby carriage, Angel continued to emit such a happy face. The weather today is so nice. Not too hot and not cloudy. Moderate. Angel pushed the stroller up to the park bench. Angel sat there, grabbing Baby from his place.

"How? You like this place Baby?" asked Angel who was playing with Baby's tiny hands.

Baby played with his feet, then chuckled softly. Angel hugged him lovingly. Since the arrival of the baby girl, her life has become more colorful. What was once so flat and boring, now turned out to be more fun. Especially Mark's recent change in attitude. What he saw now was Mark full of tenderness and affection, no more spicy and cynical words that came out of the man's lips.

Honestly he liked Mark's change in attitude at this time. She felt like a wife in general. Having a gentle husband and added presence of Baby. This is really very happy for Angel.

"Ell?" Angel looked back after hearing someone shouting his name. Before turning around, he could already guess who was behind him.

Adrian Nicholas!

"What are you doing here? Oh, hi beautiful!" Nico circled the bench Angel was sitting on. He bent down, then kissed Baby's cheek affectionately.

"You don't see what I'm doing here?!" Angel snapped at Nico.

The man chuckled, then sat down next to Angel. Rubbing the top of the girl's head. "Nico!" Angel growled as he removed Nico's hand from his head.

Nico laughed at Angel's annoyed expression. That girl never changes. Still the same as before when they were still in school. Nico thought about what they had been through a few years ago. He missed those times. The times where there was only him and Angel.

"Hey! Why are you daydreaming!" Angel tapped Nico on the shoulder making the man gasp in surprise.

"That's okay. I was only thinking about what would happen to Baby if you took care of her!" Nico teased.

Angel glared, one hand flew to pinch Nico's waist. The man winced in pain. Angel continued to pinch him so that the people in the garden saw the two of them.

Some are whispering, looking at them with amused laughter.

"Ella, stop it! People look at us weirdly!" Nico removed Angel's hand from his waist. Angel glanced back at Baby who had fallen asleep. "I'm just kidding." The man raised his eyebrows making Angel shudder.

Angel ignored Nico, they were silent for a while without looking at each other. Busy with their own thoughts.

"Ela, can I ask you something?" Nico asked.

Angel corrected her hair in the wind, because one hand was supporting Baby's tiny body, obviously making it a bit of a hassle. Finally Nico helped Angel tuck her hair back.

"What do you want to ask?" Angel looked at Nico curiously.

Nico tapped his index finger on his forehead. He hesitated to ask this question. "Nicooo!" Angel screamed right in Nico's ear.

"Ah, sorry." Nico was starting to come to his senses.

"Say it quickly! What do you want to ask me?" Angel asked impatiently.

"Hmm, this is..." Nico hung his words. He glanced at Angel doubtfully. "Are you happy with Mark? Ah, I mean are you starting to love him?"

Angel froze. He was at a loss as to what to answer. When asked if he was happy living with Mark, he hesitated. Because Mark was always cold and fierce to him. But... Angel doesn't deny Mark's current change. And if he is asked if Angel started to love Mark, of course the answer is still floating. He couldn't find the right answer.

Nico looked worried. Did the question offend Angel? The girl was still silent. It wasn't until a few seconds later that Angel called out, "I don't know Nico. I can't answer that yet." Angel's head was lowered, not daring to look at Nico. "It's getting very late, and I have to go home. Mark must be waiting at home."

Angel put Baby back in the stroller. Without saying goodbye to Nico, Angel had already left the park. A long time with Nico will make him return to playing with his past. Shouldn't the past be closed and no longer need to be remembered?

Nico looked at Angel's back which was getting further and further away from his sight. The girl is really gone.