POV YASMIN
My name is Yasmin, only Yasmin there is no prefix or suffix to my name. Yasmin which means a jasmine flower. My mother hopes that I will one day grow up to be a kind-hearted girl who can make my parents proud who are no longer there.
My father died when I was still in my mother's womb. Father died in a single accident. While my mother died while giving birth to me in this world.
Only uncle Soleh is the only parent I have, he is the younger brother of my mother. A man who is willing not to marry for the sake of raising me alone. Once upon a time, the uncle was about to propose to a girl from the village next door. But knowing that uncle had me, the girl flatly rejected uncle Soleh's proposal. Since then, my uncle has never once proposed to any woman. He just focused on raising me.
After graduating from school, I was busy helping my uncle sell clothes in the market until I turned 23 years old. Uncle never allowed me to wander out of the city like my friends in general, looking for luck in the capital. The uncle said I am the only pearl he has to guard for the rest of his life. Because it was the uncle's promise to my late mother.
Until one day the uncle told me if there is someone who intends to propose to me to be his wife. There was a twinkle in both eyes of Uncle Sholeh at that time.
"Yas, don't you want to get married?" asked Uncle to me, while I was busy tidying up our trade in the market.
I turned to the middle-aged man who was smiling at me. Then I shifted my gaze again to the messy merchandise of the former buyers who sorted it out earlier.
'If Yasmin gets married', then Uncle with whom?" I said as I tidied up the messy pile of clothes after a glance at Uncle.
"Heheh..." Uncle laughed crisply, " Uncle yes myself, Yas, are you married," he added, laughing crisply and helping me arrange the clothes.
I shut up, 'Yes never mind, Yasmin doesn't have to get married," I said weakly. How could I leave Uncle alone, the person who has already raised me is like his own biological son.
"Never mind, don't be. If women don't marry it shouldn't be, if it's a man, it's okay. There's still an angel of heaven," Uncle replied in a joking tone.
The proposal day we had been waiting for finally came too. A young man the son of a simple widow from the village next door came to our house. Uncle has told me a lot about the background and workers of the young man named Bagas. From the first time I saw it, my heart immediately fell in love. But the young man looked silent and indifferent to me. It doesn't matter, gradually he will also get used to me, I thought at the time.
The wedding day was set, just like the girl in general my heart soared into the air looking forward to my wedding day. How am I going to get through my life with a new person? How I got through my first night, which my married friends of the same age said, was painful but fun. Is that person as good as the one uncle often tells me? I don't know, those questions keep filling my head. If I think of that sweet guy, it always makes me smile to myself every time I imagine the days we'll go through together are so beautiful.
Marini's mother came to me a few days before the appointed wedding day. The woman sitting in the guest seat before me looked uneasy. Since her arrival home, not a single word has been thrown out of her mouth. She continued to drink little by little the warm tea that was on the table until there was only half left.
"What's the matter, Mrs. Marini coming here again? Is there still something unclear?" said my uncle, breaking the silence that had frozen the atmosphere.
I, who had been sitting next to my uncle, was curious about the arrival of Marini's mother, who was so suddenly.
I wiped the sweat that soaked my temples, my eyes kept falling on Marini's still faithful mother's lips locked. The pounding of my heart jumped faster catching the bad premonition that seemed to be coming my way.
"Sir, I apologize profusely," Marini's mother said with an unsettled face breaking the silence created.
"What's the matter, Mrs. Marini, just say it. Don't make me panic like this," my uncle said even more curiously.
"So this is how Mr. Soleh seems that my son has not been able to officially marry Yasmin!" Marini's mother's remarks stopped, like my heartbeat that seemed to be at a sudden stop. My body shook waiting for Marini's mother to continue her sentence. Ah, why does it all feel so claustrophobic.
Uncle Soleh's jaw solidified, and his face flushed. The man looked resentful looking at Marini's mother. "What does Marini's mother mean?" Uncle tried to suppress the turbulent anger.
I bit my lower lip, my body instantly felt numb, what was the point of all this? I pulled my body back on the chair, it felt like my spine was no longer able to support my chest I felt crushed.
Marini's mother was seen taking a deep breath before answering uncle Soleh's question. "My son is still chasing his girlfriend, even though I used to propose to that arrogant girl. But it was flatly rejected. Anyway, I'm so hurt," the middle-aged woman explained assuring uncle Sholeh and me who were starting to doubt.
"And then!" The uncle pulled his body back on the chair, his face looked resentful. Surely the man didn't accept that I would forever only be made a wife who was ready to be thrown away at any time without a trace.
"So I beg Yasmin to be patient for just one year with my son, if my son Bagas does not change, Yasmin can leave him."
Hearing Mrs. Marini's narration, my head throbbed even more. How could it not, all the wedding invitations have been spread out and nearly ninety percent of preparations have been made. Then suddenly the news of this wound came to me. What if this marriage fails, then what will people say to me?
'What a pity Yasmin, failed to marry.'
You old virgin,.'
I blew a little out of my lips, those bad thoughts kept filling my brain making my head seem to be overwritten by a heavy burden.
Uncle sew was attached to me, as was Marini's mother. The two people seemed to be waiting for the answer that came out of my mouth.
"Yes, it's been Ma'am, it's all happened. But if in one year Bagas has not officially married me, please apologize if I resign from this marriage," I explained steadily.
I saw a happy twinkle on the face of my future in-laws. But uncle Soleh's face was even more cloudy looking at my steadfastness in conveying my decision.
'I'm sorry Yasmin, uncle!'
After my decision, I must be prepared for any consequences that will occur later. in addition to the heartbreak. I must be ready to share my love.
My lavish wedding was finally held. The man with a sweet face but high charisma always made me want to see him. Although Bagas had always been cold to me and never once had the man ever looked at me. It's okay, I'll make him love me later.
There was no hope of a first night for me anymore. Because I knew that Bagas would never do that with me. Because his heart is still filled by the girl he loves.
Continued...