Drrtt!!!
The sound of Vino's cellphone vibrating interrupted their kiss. Vira felt the chewy lips that had been pressed against hers pull away. She peeked with one eye squinting. Was it over? She felt ashamed of herself, hiding her face in embarrassment.
Thinking about how soft and sweet Vino's kiss had been made Vira's chest tremble violently. She held her chest, hoping her heart was fine. She felt something stirring in her heart, but once again, she rejected the strange feeling. "It's just a deal! The deal between me and him. I became his wife, and he became my sponsor!" she hissed to herself.
"We just arrived at the apartment!" Vino's voice broke Vira's wandering thoughts. She could hear Broto's crisp voice on her husband's cellphone.
"My dear Vino, Daddy has sent a special gift for your wedding. Papa knows it's late, but old age says it's better than doing nothing at all!"
Vino's face remained flat when he heard about his wedding gift from his father. He never wanted anything other than Broto's inheritance.
"Yes..." Vino replied shortly, his voice uninterested.
"Vino, the sooner you have children, the faster the transfer of power and assets will go through. So you've got to keep pumping! We're supporting you!" Broto continued.
Vino's face turned red as he glanced at his wife standing beside him.
Vira felt cold under his gaze. "Why?" she asked suspiciously.
Vino's blushing face made Vira's eyes widen with confusion. "What your dad said... it made me shiver!" Vira hissed, rubbing her arms with a worried look.
"Is your wife there?" Broto asked.
Vino nodded, even though his father couldn't see him.
"Give her the phone, I need to talk to her. The meeting was very short, so I didn't have the chance to speak with her directly."
Vino looked at Vira, considering his father's request. Vira raised an eyebrow, her suspicion growing. Vino didn't seem eager to talk much. He handed the phone to Vira.
---
"Is your father insane? Has everyone in your family gone crazy? How could he say he wants grandchildren as soon as possible? He thinks I'm a breeding machine!" Vira slammed the door to their apartment, her face red with anger and frustration.
"Who's going to get pregnant? I'm still very young! I want to finish my education, work at a prestigious office, build a bright career, and..." Vira stopped herself, rubbing her face roughly, overwhelmed with despair.
"My dreams, my education, my first love—everything will be destroyed! This marriage is just a setup. We don't love each other! How can we bring a cute, innocent baby into this? What about the child's mental development? Wait, before thinking about the child's mental state, I need to think about my own!"
Vira continued to rant, but Vino remained focused, reading a document in his hand. His face showed disappointment.
"Hey, Vino, I'm talking to you, not the wall!" Vira shouted, her anger rising.
Vino glanced briefly at her, but his face stayed serious.
"Vino! Did you hear what I said? You know what your father told me. He wants grandchildren! Grandchildren! You have to think seriously about this! How can we... us... make this happen?" Vira folded her arms across her chest. Her words suddenly faltered, and she looked nervous. "I don't want to make love with you. I..." Her voice softened, and she blushed at how awkwardly she had phrased it.
"Vira..." Vino called in a calm voice, and her anger suddenly cooled.
"Yes?" She thought Vino would offer a solution to her worries.
"Do you think Broto will give all of his assets and inheritance to me if we have a baby?" Vino's flat voice and confused expression shattered Vira's calm, leaving her speechless.
She blinked at him, incredulous. After all her complaints, he was only thinking about the inheritance?
"Damn you, mercenary man! Obsessed with treasure!" Vira scolded him angrily.
Realizing his question couldn't be answered by Vira, Vino went back to reading the document.
"VINO!!" Vira shouted, wanting his attention. He gave her a brief glance.
"Ah, what are you talking about?" Vino asked, clearly not understanding.
"You're so annoying!" Vira grumbled, her anger flaring again.
"Do you want to go to college? Do you want to travel? Work or start a business?"
Vira's anger subsided as she registered his words. "Wait, you listened to my dream?" she thought.
"Yeah! I want to be successful first, and then get married. But not like this! This is bad luck!" Vira complained, her face falling as she thought her dream in the capital would be destroyed.
"Alright, I'll cover all your study fees. And if you want to travel anywhere, I'll make it happen," Vino smiled at her.
"If you want to work in a prestigious office, just tell me which one, and I'll get you in the best company in the country!" he continued. "If you want to be a successful entrepreneur or professional, I'll support you anywhere!"
Vira's lips parted in surprise, but after a second, her excitement faded, and suspicion returned. "Wow!" she said, amazed. But then her face turned wary. "Do you think I'll just believe all this? Are you setting a trap for me?"
Vino shook his head. "Not at all. I'm rich, powerful, and great! You can count on me."
Vira knew well about Vino's condition, but...
"Are you serious about your offer?" she asked, her face lighting up when she saw him nod.
"Yes, I can fulfill all your dreams."
"Do you promise?"
"Yes."
"You swear?"
"I swear!!" Vino exclaimed.
Vira screamed with joy, making noise in the luxury apartment building.
Vino covered her ears and mouth. "Wait, don't be too happy just yet. For all your wishes, I only ask one thing!"
"One! Only one!" Vira grinned with excitement.
"Yes, I'll grant you all that. But you just need to do one thing. Can you do it?" Vino asked uncertainly.
"If it's only one request, then it's easy for me! Whatever the condition, as long as I can study for free, travel wherever I want, and get a great job, why not!" Vira shouted with joy.
"Okay, then. We have a deal!" They shook hands in agreement.
"But what's the condition?" Vira asked, her excitement waning.
"The condition is simple: you just have to be pregnant with my child!" Vino said with a sly smile, victorious.
"CRAZY!!" Vira shouted as loud as she could, making the building workers scatter and nearly fall off the roof.
The luxury apartment nearly collapsed from the force of her scream.
---