Chapter 18: Morning Encounters

Satria began to stand and perform a simple Kata. Katon smiled; his father's movements were still sharp and powerful. Katon was sure his father could still take him down if he were serious. 

"Looks like Katon needs to train harder if he wants to beat Papa," Katon said, walking across the grassy yard toward Satria. 

The elderly man froze in his Kata, then turned slowly toward Katon's voice. A smile instantly lit up Satria's face. His wrinkled face only added to his dignity and strong aura in the golden morning sunlight. 

"Katon," he said deeply, extending his arms. Katon walked a little faster and hugged Satria. Their heights were exactly the same. Satria stopped Katon from hugging him by pressing on his chest. "What's this?" he asked, looking curiously at his eldest son's face. 

For a moment, Katon was confused by his father's question. Then he realized. His face bore the scars and bruises from yesterday's fight. Satria's eyebrows furrowed, his face starting to show annoyance. Katon reminded him of his youth, when he liked to get into brawls. However, Satria had stopped fighting when he was in high school. Why was Katon, at 30, still fond of brawling? 

"It's a long story, Papa. Nothing serious. Can I tell you the whole story later? When Mama and Morgan are here to support my story," Katon said, laughing to reassure his father. Satria sighed. 

"Morgan? You came here with Morgan?" Satria asked. 

"Yes. He's on the second floor..." Katon couldn't finish his sentence because Satria had pulled him into a hug. 

"Wow, Papa hugs like a rock," Satria praised as he released the hug. 

"Come on, what about Katon, like hitting a cliff." They both laughed and hugged again. 

"Join Papa?" Satria offered, inviting Katon to warm up and practice karate. 

"Always a pleasure to join Papa." 

Father and son warmed up together, then practiced Kata and Kumite. Katon acted politely by yielding to his father, making Satria narrow his eyes suspiciously and increase his attacks, forcing Katon to fight seriously. 

"Katon?" A woman's voice sounded from the house. Katon turned, which made him careless. Satria's punch landed on his chin. 

"Tria!" Arini shouted in panic, running toward Katon. 

"Be alert, Boy. No matter what," Satria chuckled, still in his final attack stance. Katon, pushed back, rubbed his chin. 

Arini reached Katon's side, reaching for her eldest son's head and forcing Katon to bend down to her 148cm height. Arini stroked her son's jaw and was immediately shocked to see the bruises on his face. "Tria, what's this? Did you hit Katon?" Arini asked, annoyed. Misinterpreting the bruises on Katon's face as Satria's doing. Katon laughed at his father's face. After decades together, Satria was still helpless when Arini nagged. 

"No, Ma. Papa didn't do this," Katon said, amused. He turned Arini to face him, no longer glaring at her husband. 

"Then who?" Arini pressed. Her maternal instinct to protect her son was evident. 

"I'll tell you later, Ma. Wait for Morgan to wake up, okay?" 

"Morgan's here? What time did you arrive, son? Why didn't you let us know? We could have picked you up at the airport," Arini grumbled. 

"Arini, Katon punched me right in the chest on the second move. I'm also hurt, Arini," Satria complained, trying to interrupt his wife's grumbling. Arini glared at her husband. However, she released Katon and grabbed Satria's waist. The old man smiled happily and hugged Arini, one of Arini's hands stroking Satria's chest. However, her gaze was full of love for Katon. 

"Katon arrived last night, Ma. What time was it? One? I don't know. Only Pak Samsul and his son opened the door. What's his name?" Katon asked casually. 

"His name is Abi. Oh, let me go, Tria! I want to hug my son. Your chest is fine!" Arini finally realized Satria's trick and tried to break free from his embrace. She immediately moved to hug her son again. 

"Come on, take a shower, and we'll have breakfast." 

"We haven't finished exercising, Rin," Satria protested in vain. 

"Enough, I miss Katon," Arini said, walking with her son, who was laughing happily and bending down to kiss Arini's gray hair. 

"Why are you still beautiful, Mama?" Katon praised as they walked back to the house. Arini opened her mouth but was interrupted by Satria's words. 

"Because Papa takes care of her." Satria answered from behind Katon. 

"I'd like to protest, but this time your Papa is right," Arini said with an annoyed tone. Katon was amused, and Satria laughed happily. 

"Take a shower, my son," Arini asked when they entered the kitchen. Katon smiled and released his hug from Arini. 

"Do I smell, Ma?" he asked, sniffing himself. 

"Your smell is the best smell in the world. Since you were born, it's been Mama's favorite smell. But you still have to shower! Go!" Arini patted Katon's butt hard, telling him to hurry out of the kitchen. Satria stayed behind Arini, smiling at his wife and son's interaction. Katon chuckled and left. 

"What about my smell, Rin?" Katon, who had just passed the kitchen door, heard Satria ask his wife. 

"Ssshh!!" Katon heard Arini hiss, and he shook his head, laughing silently. His parents were still affectionate in their old age, which sometimes made him envious. He had reached this age, and he still hadn't found a woman who could captivate his heart. Katon deliberately stopped behind the kitchen wall and eavesdropped on his beloved parents' jokes. 

"Katon's gone. What about my smell? Do you like it, Rin?" Satria pressed. Katon could imagine his father forcing Arini to answer by hugging her. Satria, tall and big, liked to hug the petite Arini. 

"I do..." Arini's answer made Katon unable to suppress a smile. 

"I love you, Rin..." Satria's response made Katon laugh silently and shake his head again. Satria, at 65, was still an expert at flirting. 

"A role model indeed," Katon whispered softly. 

"Your old man's smell, it's fresh. A mix of balm and plaster." Arini's next sentence hit Satria and Katon hard. 

"Damn it, Rin!" 

Katon couldn't hold back anymore and burst out laughing at Arini's last answer and Satria's annoyed response, even if it meant letting his parents know he was still around. 

Morgan joined for breakfast when Katon, Arini, and Satria were already at the dining table. Katon's parents didn't seem surprised by Morgan's presence. They just looked at his face longer to find traces of bruises, just like Katon's. Morgan wore Katon's clothes and chose bright colors to compete with Katon's youthful face. Morgan was still annoyed at being Katon's "dad" on the plane yesterday.