As Hanah had said before, Lina came right on time to Hana's shop at 2:30 in the afternoon.
"Ah Hana, I heard from Hanah that you're keeping the shop open longer than usual today?" said Lina with a slightly smiling face.
Lina sat on the comfortable wooden long chair available in front of the shop's payment counter. Inside there were several young families enjoying warm drinks while watching their children play through the large window facing the play area.
"Ah, yes. Today I deliberately extended the opening hours because there were several things that had to be completed," Hana answered, her hands cleaning glasses that had just been washed.
Hanah and Nova looked very absorbed playing tag with full enthusiasm in the open area outside the shop.
"Wow, look at those two, they've become very close to each other now," said Lina while looking with a warm smile toward the two children from the window.
"Yes, you're absolutely right. I'm happy to see they can be good friends," Hana answered with a slight smile.
Hana approached Lina with calm steps while carrying a cup of warm chocolate drink.
"So, what did you want to talk about? This seems very important."
"Actually..." Lina looked slightly hesitant before continuing, "my husband and I will go out of town for quite urgent work matters. I want to ask, can you take care of Hanah while we're gone? I know this is a sudden request."
Hana smiled slightly.
"Fufu~ Just be honest, Aunt. You actually want to go on a honeymoon, right?" "Don't worry, I can definitely take good care of Hanah. Besides, this isn't the first time I've taken care of her."
As Hana said, she had indeed taken care of Hanah before on several occasions, although usually only for a few hours, never for a full day.
Lina's cheeks reddened slightly because of Hana's accurate guess that hit the mark and made her feel a little embarrassed.
"So how long will you be gone?" asked Hana while sitting in the chair facing Lina.
"Maybe around five to seven days. And we're not just having fun there, Hana! Rio also has to finish some of his delayed work. You know yourself, his job as a construction consultant requires him to often move from city to city to supervise various projects."
Rio was Lina's husband who worked as a construction consultant—a job that indeed required him to often travel to various cities to supervise ongoing construction projects.
Hana nodded.
"I understand the situation. Has Aunt told Hanah about this plan?"
"Not yet..." Lina scratched her cheek with her index finger, looking slightly awkward and unsure how to convey it. "Tonight I'll tell her. We plan to leave tonight too because the plane tickets have been bought. So... please, Hana."
"Of course! Leave everything to me. I'll take care of Hanah like my own little sister," Hana answered.
◇◇◇
8 PM...
"Hanah, remember Mom's message well, dear. Don't be naughty while staying at Sister Hana's house, okay? Be a good child and listen to everything she says," Lina crouched in front of her daughter, her hands gently fixing the bangs covering Hanah's eyes.
Hanah apparently didn't look sad at all when her mother told her they had to go out of town for several days. She even looked happy to stay with Hana.
"Hanah knows, Mom. Besides, Hanah has stayed at Sister Hana's house before, so there won't be any problems," Hanah answered.
In the black sedan with the engine already running, Rio sat patiently in the driver's seat while occasionally looking at the digital watch on his wrist, waiting for his wife to finish saying goodbye.
"Alright then, Mom is leaving first, dear. Take good care of yourself and don't forget to eat regularly~" said Lina.
Lina kissed Hanah's forehead with full love before walking with slightly heavy steps toward the car. She waved enthusiastically from behind the car window that began moving slowly, leaving the house yard.
"Yes, be careful on the road, Mom! Don't forget to buy souvenirs for Hanah!" Hanah returned her mother's wave enthusiastically until the car disappeared from view at the end of the road.
Hana, who stood calmly outside the house entrance, felt the night air getting colder and fresher.
"Alright, let's go inside the house. The air outside is starting to get cold now and you could catch a cold if you stay outside too long."
Inside the house, Nova was already sitting relaxedly on the living room sofa while focusing on watching cartoons on television with the volume not too loud.
"Okay, Sister!" Hanah answered while running enthusiastically toward the entrance, her cheeks slightly red from the cold night air.