Revan left for the office to handle some matters. Before he went, Leana gave him a few things to pick up on his way home.
Once Revan drove off in his car, Leana took the opportunity to freshen up while Sean remained quietly in his baby crib. The baby was so calm that it warmed her heart.
After showering and changing into her loungewear, Leana went back to Sean. The baby started crying.
"Oh no, you're uncomfortable, huh?" Leana guessed he didn't like the wetness in his bed. "Don't worry, Mama will change your diaper first. Let me wipe you with warm water since you're not allowed full baths yet," she continued with a happy smile, not realizing she had just called herself 'Mama.'
With care, Leana tended to Sean until the baby smelled clean and looked so handsome. But again, the baby's face reminded Leana of someone not Maria, but a man. The nose and eyes resembled someone who might be Sean's biological father. Knowing how stubborn Revan could be, Leana began to form a plan.
***
Leana was capable of many things, including cooking. So when Revan returned home, several dinner dishes were already laid out on the table. The man was stunned.
"You can cook?" Revan asked, surprised.
Leana nodded. "Wash your hands, let's eat together. I cooked because there were plenty of ingredients in the fridge. It'd be a shame to waste them," she explained.
Revan nodded and rushed to wash up. He couldn't wait to taste Leana's cooking his friend had always been a great cook since they were young. He often missed her dishes.
"Mm. This is delicious." Revan grinned after taking a bite, his smile spreading wide. "You've always been great at cooking. I missed this. And now, it's finally satisfied."
"I'm glad. Eat up, Revan," Leana replied. He nodded gratefully.
Leana also began eating, but she had prepared a separate meal for herself, which made Revan curious.
"Why is your food different?" he asked, eyeing her plate.
"Oh, this, I'm still recovering postpartum. And since I'm breastfeeding, I have to eat more cautiously. I've studied nutrition to keep myself and the baby healthy," Leana explained.
Revan nodded, impressed. He realized she hadn't changed much always planning ahead, always passionate about learning new things. Leana's optimism was something he had always admired about her.
"Well, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'll get it for you."
Leana simply nodded, and they continued their meal.
Sean was asleep in the baby stroller, which Leana had wheeled closer to the kitchen earlier so she could keep an eye on him while cooking.
"I'll wash the dishes. You should sit on the sofa Sean seems to be waking up," Revan offered after they finished eating.
"Thank you," Leana said.
Revan didn't mind and cleared the plates so Leana could feed the baby.
Leana smiled as she saw Sean begin to stir, a clear sign he was hungry. She gently lifted him and brought him to her chest, sitting on the living room sofa. The faint sound of dishes being washed in the kitchen made the home feel alive and comforting.
"Time for another meal, huh?" Leana murmured softly while nursing Sean.
From time to time, she glanced toward the kitchen. Revan seemed peaceful, like an ordinary househusband. He was even humming quietly something Leana had never seen him do since they were adults. He put the clean dishes in the drying rack, wiped his hands, and looked her way.
"He's got quite the appetite, huh?" Revan asked as he walked over to the sofa and sat on the other end.
Leana smiled faintly. "You were like that as a baby too. My mom told me you'd cry non-stop until you were full."
Revan chuckled. "No wonder I was such a chubby kid."
Their light laughter filled the living room, easing the atmosphere. But deep down, Leana's heart was still restless.
After Sean fell asleep again, Leana gently carried him and placed him back in the stroller. She returned to the sofa, this time leaning back, gazing at the ceiling for a moment before turning to Revan, who was still looking at her.
"Revan," she said softly.
"Hm?" Revan responded without turning away.
"If, someone keeps a big secret, and that secret is eventually revealed, who do you think gets hurt the most?"
Revan paused, his brows furrowed. "The one keeping the secret, or the one who trusted them. Maybe both. Depends on the secret."
Leana stared at him. "What if it's about a child?"
The room fell silent. Revan looked away, his gaze falling on the stroller. "A child is always innocent," he replied quietly. "Anyone hiding something about them will eventually face the consequences."
Leana bit her lip. She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes any longer. Inside her, doubts continued to grow. Who was Sean, really? And what was Revan hiding?
"I think I'll turn in early tonight," Leana said abruptly. She stood and began pushing the stroller toward the bedroom.
Revan only nodded. "Alright. If anything happens, wake me up."
Leana didn't respond.
Inside the room, after putting Sean to bed, she sat at the edge of the bed and stared at her phone screen. She looked at Sean once more, ensuring he was asleep in his crib. Then, she turned on her phone. Her mind wasn't wandering it was still stuck on something Revan had said that morning: "Never go looking for answers, or you'll be disappointed."
Why had Revan said that?
And why did Sean's face especially his nose and eyes seem so familiar?
She tried to push the thought away, but one name surfaced in her mind: Dion. Her ex-boyfriend. The man she once knew, who disappeared without a trace just as she had done ten years ago. A man who had also once been Revan's friend.
"No way." Leana whispered, biting her lower lip.
She scrolled through her phone. She rarely opened social media, but today was different. She went to Dion's profile—still in her friends list. There was a recent photo. His face, hadn't changed much.
Then, her eyes caught a comment on one of his posts: "My condolences for your wife and child, Dion ...."
Leana froze.
Wife and child? Yet there were no wedding photos on Dion's account no sign of who his wife might have been. But why did the comment say that?
Her hands trembled as she scrolled further. She found out that Dion's wife had passed away during childbirth. But there was no mention of whether the baby survived.
Her heart pounded. It was all too strange. Too much of a coincidence.
One question echoed in her mind: "Is Sean really Revan and Maria's child? Or is something being hidden?"
She reopened Dion's profile. There was an old photo taken back when they were still together. Dion's smile, looked too much like Sean's to be just a coincidence.
"If it's true," Leana whispered, "then Revan has been hiding something huge."
Her hands shook. But Leana knew if she wanted the truth, she couldn't just sit back. Maybe tomorrow, when Revan left again, she would start searching. Maybe through documents in the house, or someone who knew Maria.
For tonight, she could only lie down. Her heart wasn't at ease, but for now, she wanted to give space for her feelings to grow.
Because amidst all the questions, one t
hing was certain: Sean had become part of her life. And whatever happens next, Leana knew she would protect him.