"Hello... Vino, why haven't you arrived yet? Dad is already at the hotel restaurant."
"Yes, daddy, I seem a little late. There's a small problem."
Vino hung up the phone call from his father, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at Vira, who was grimacing in pain from her leg joints.
"There's something wrong. How did you get hurt like this?" Vino grumbled irritably.
"Ish, don't blame me! I told you, I'm not used to wearing shoes like this. Even wearing high heels, I'm still an amateur. How could I wear shoes with heels like these? The heel looks like a needle!" Vira replied, equally furious.
"This shoe is called a stiletto, a beautiful, expensive shoe that makes a woman look elegant," Vino pointed to the shoebox his wife had never worn.
"I don't care, now what about it? My leg hurts..." Vira groaned while massaging her red ankle.
Vino sighed, irritated. He grabbed the gel that had been heated in the oven and began to compress his wife's ankle slowly and carefully.
"Ouch..." Vira cringed slightly, pulling her leg back. Vino stared at his wife's pained face for a moment, then continued to compress her leg, even more gently.
"Is the compress too hot?" Vino asked attentively.
Vira shook her head. She was touched by her husband's behavior. Even though he was well-dressed, he still knelt by her feet, gently and carefully compressing her joints.
Aah... He's nice too, even though his mouth is annoying! Vira thought, smiling. She quickly erased her smile when Vino raised his head to look at her face.
Vino's expression turned suspicious. What?!
Vira looked away immediately, hiding her smile. Hehe...
Vino returned to focus on Vira's leg joint, lifting the gel off her ankle.
"Move your foot. Is it better than before?" Vino's voice was flat and soft, but full of attention.
Vira tried to move her leg slowly. It was better; the pain was gone.
"Eh, it looks like my leg doesn't hurt anymore. Hehe..." Vira grinned, happy that the pain was gone.
"Can you walk? Come on, hold my hand," Vino said anxiously.
Vira tried to stand up carefully, holding onto Vino's strong arms. She began to take a step, trying to walk.
"Auch, ouch!" Vino quickly caught Vira's body as she almost lost her balance. His face was shocked, filled with worry.
The look on his face was priceless.
"Oh no! I'm just kidding! Kidding...!!" Vira exclaimed with a mischievous smile, barely containing her laughter at Vino's reaction. But she held it in. That was for her prestige. She restrained herself as she pulled away from Vino.
"Damn it!" Vino grumbled irritably, but his face softened as he saw his wife walking properly.
Thank God she's fine, Vino thought.
Vira grabbed her flat sandals and put them on. Vino finally gave up on his wife's choice.
"Come on, let's go. Daddy's waiting for us."
Vino walked quickly, leaving Vira, who was still tying the straps of her sandals.
---
Vino opened the door to his wife's car. Vira stepped out, dressed in her most comfortable casual style—a loose blouse, jeans, and flat shoes. Even though she looked beautiful, Vino was stunned for a moment when he saw her face.
"Why are we coming back to this hotel again?" Vira was surprised to see they returned to the hotel where they had married.
"Ah, don't tell me, you want to trick me!" Her face turned suspicious.
"Don't be too much. What trick? You're none of the candidates to make me want to cheat or manipulate you!" Vino shouted while pulling Vira's hand.
He hooked their arms together, arm in arm.
"What's this holding hands?" Vira scolded reluctantly, pulling her hand from Vino's arm.
"Shh, we're married now, I guess... so we must look intimate and harmonious," Vino whispered in her ear, sounding a little like a push and a threat.
"Listen, beautiful, you have to cooperate. Don't let my father suspect our marriage and ruin my plan!" Vino threatened.
"What the heck?" Vira didn't understand.
"Just follow my game tonight. And remember, you can only answer 'yes' or 'no'—that's it, okay?" Vino insisted.
"Tsk, why do I have to follow all your games? What's in it for me?" Vira replied, her face exasperated.
"If you succeed in playing the role tonight, there's a good reward for you!"
"Rewards?" Vira was surprised, but she just nodded.
Vira looked at her husband's smiling face as he patted the back of her hand, which was wrapped around his sturdy arm.
Vino pressed their bodies closer, boldly wrapping his arm around her slender waist. Vira felt awkward and tried to pull away, but once again, Vino's whisper made her obey.
"If you play well tonight, I'll give you what you want!" Vino whispered with a big smile.
Vira began to obey. Her mind started thinking about the reward she wanted.
The new couple occasionally replied to the maid's greetings along the hallway they encountered, until they arrived at a glass wall where a man raised his hand, signaling for them to approach.
"That man is my father. I'm telling you, don't talk carelessly in front of him. Listen to me carefully; you can only say 'yes' or 'no.' Okay?" Vino warned again.
"You're such a loud man. Don't intimidate me, or I'll ruin all your plans," Vira retorted, threatening him back.
"Come on, you have to help me this time. I'll pay you back later." Vino's face looked a little desperate.
"Watch out if you lie!"
"Yeah, yeah..." Vira smiled slyly, cheerfully taking Vino's hand tenderly, making the young man's eyes widen. You woman!
"C'mon dear, my handsome husband!" Vira held her husband's arm tightly, and they approached the table where Vino's father was waiting with a super complete meal.
For whatever reason, for her college plans, Vira hoped Vino would grant her request. Her smile was sly.
"Good evening, daddy."
The middle-aged man immediately stood up from his chair and hugged Vino. He stared at Elvira for a moment, then smiled.
"Elvira, huh?" the middle-aged man said, pointing at her with a confused face. Vira nodded slightly, and then he turned to his son.
"Wasn't your wife named Lisa?" Vino's father asked, surprised when he realized that when he signed the marriage certificate, his daughter-in-law's name had changed.
WHAT! Elvira's eyes nearly popped out, shocked and annoyed to hear Lisa's name mentioned here. It reminded her of how she was here tonight.
Damn Lisa! Because of her, I'm here. She should be the one here tonight!! Vira grumbled irritably.
"Ah, her real name is Elvira, dad. Lisa is her nickname," Vino answered.
WHAT!! Vira glanced at Vino, annoyed, hearing her name changed.
Carelessly, my name was shared with that con artist! Vira rebuked internally.
Never mind, just obey. Don't nag! Vino answered in his heart.
You're so annoying! Vira's heart replied.
Nag, you! Vino retorted.
They both stopped, gazing at Vino's father, who looked astonished to see the newlywed couple communicating telepathically.
"Come on, sit down. Order the food you want while we wait for the other two," Vino's father said, glancing at his watch.
"Daddy, why is it taking so long? If you can solve the problems between us..." Vino said greedily, handing over a document.
Since when did you carry that document? Vira asked in surprise.
Vino shook his head in response.
Never mind, shut up. Or I won't keep my promise to you. Vino replied, twitching his eyebrows.
Damn you! Vira's heart complained, and she could only roll her eyes, annoyed.
"Come on, papa," Vino teased, pushing his father to look at the documents. "You'll give up all your assets when I get married, right, dad?"
"You greedy man!" Vira whispered irritably to herself.