Robi looked up at the beautiful night sky full of stars, wishing that Amelia was now by his side. Now and then, he sighed, trying to silence the longing for his lover.
His cell phone signal does not support making video calls, even short messages are sometimes sent slowly.
"What are you doing, Bi?" Mayang asked.
"Get some wind, Mam. What are you doing outside too? Come in, Mam ... it's cold in here."
"You too, come in. Mommy and Grandma want to talk about something with Aunt Lastri's family."
"Yes, Mom."
Robi put his cellphone in his pocket, hoping that Amelia would immediately reply to his message, which had been ticking two ashes.
Inside the house, Lastri, her family, and Yustina were having small conversations while enjoying sweet snacks.
"Well, it's Robi coming!" Yustina exclaimed.
Robi sat right next to his mother. There was a moment of silence until finally Jamal–Lastri's husband, opened the conversation.
"So, regarding the proposal, you talked about earlier, Lastri and I agree."
Robby gasped. What kind of jokes are his mom and grandma making—he thought.
"Mam! Don't go too far, Robi has no intention of polygamous," he explained as he rose from his seat.
Suddenly, all eyes were on him. Ayu gaped in disbelief.
"Robi, sit down first. What are you doing!" Yustina hissed.
"But, Grandma ...."
"Sit down!"
Lastri and Mayang couldn't hold back their laughter, as a result Robi became more and more curious.
"Your child is still the same as before, May ... very frontal."
"Sorry, Las. Bi, Mommy and Grandma proposed to Ayu, not for you, but Alan."
"W-what? Robi doesn't know, Mam ... besides sometimes Mommy and Grandma also often go on blind dates before."
Robi blushed, he felt guilty for hurting Lastri and her family's feelings, especially Ayu.
"Sorry Aunt Lastri, Ayu, Uncle Jamal."
"It's okay, Robi. We are so jealous. Robi is still the same as before, so loving and loyal," said Lastri.
Robi turned his gaze to Ayu who was still holding back laughter, instantly he could see how cute Ayu was when she smiled. For a moment, he realized the standard of beauty was relative. Ayu is not as beautiful as Amelia, but just a little smile can change her judgment.
Good grief! Be aware, Ms. Crocodile! Sometimes you are captivated by other flowers—he cursed in his heart.
"Well, what do you think, Bi? Will Ayu be compatible with Alan? You know Alan much better than Grandma and Mommy."
Ayu isn't bad either, it's just that Robi isn't sure if Robi will like her very outdated style of dress.
"That's fine. But did Alan know about this, Mam?"
"We'll discuss it at home," whispered Mayang.
Robby was surprised. Why did his mother suddenly act friendly, even to the point of finding a mate for Alan, who she usually hates? Robi was not unhappy with him moreover he knew Alan's cold and rigid nature towards women, so it must be difficult for him to find a partner. But this was too sudden, too strange in fact.
If indeed his mother and grandmother intended to match Alan, why did they even ask him to go? Ah, those two women are always unpredictable—he thought.
Ayu doesn't overdo it, she stays calm like flowing water. Since they came, Ayu has been quiet and only talks as needed.
Robi cursed herself for not being able to stop watching his future sister-in-law, even though she wasn't the type of woman who was attractive—he thought.
"Bi, why are you awake?"
"U-uh, it's nothing, Mam."
Robi tried to focus on the subject, but his eyes couldn't stop glancing at Ayu until they finally met, leaving a sense of shame in him.
What a fool—he cursed.
***
Amelia worked her eyes. Her body aches, not to mention the tiredness and drowsiness so felt. She glanced at the man battling her all night, fast asleep without clothes.
Amelia smiled wryly. She was lamenting for himself who has been dirty because she is complacent with a deceitful lust.
She grabbed her clothes, then put them on to cover her touchable beauty. The cold morning air was piercing, but it refreshed her tired body.
She took a deep breath of the fresh air filling her chest, which felt tight. She didn't think things would get to this complicated point. Starting from the seeds of forbidden love that suddenly grew, then spread to lies that continued to grow, until finally, they were at the end of a tangled and complicated to unravel the thread.
Her status does belong to Robi, but her heart and body belong to someone else. She also has to be stuck with another love to cover all the carcasses that are growing.
She rubbed her stomach, which still looks flat, but tomorrow or the day after, it will stand out too. After Robi came home, she planned to start a new drama with her as the main character.
Her cell phone vibrates. Amelia grabbed it and swiped her phone screen to answer the call.
"Hello, honey," she whispered.
"Is he still asleep?"
"Yeah, looks pretty exhausted. I'm sick of pretending to love him, let alone having to serve him like this."
"Do you think I would? Of course not. But we have no other choice, honey. Please, do this for our brighter future."
"I've suffered enough pretending in front of Robi, now I also have to play another role in front of that crazy man," she protested.
"Patience, dear. Soon he will have the same position and rights as Robi, when it comes, you can take advantage of it."
"But, honey-"
"If we can get more, why not? Don't think you're the only one having a hard time. I'm also jealous here at the thought of you wrestling with other men."
"Forgive me."
"Okay, I have to go to work. Don't forget to persuade him to compete with Robi."
"Yeah, I'll do it later."
Amelia caught the movement of the man who had been lying on the bed. She immediately ended the call so as not to arouse suspicion.
"Honey ... why on the balcony so early?"
"Get some fresh air. You're cold, aren't you?"
"Yes, please close the window."
Amelia immediately closed the window and the door to her room connected to the balcony, then immediately approached the man on the bed to cling intimately.
Now and then, her hands played on his broad chest, causing a soft swish that spread throughout his body.
"Dear ...."
"Yes, why?"
"You've thought through my proposal, haven't you?"
The man frowned, trying to digest Amelia's sudden question. "About the jewelry, you want to buy?"
"That's obvious, you must have bought it for me. Not that one, but the other."
"Company?"
"Yes. How will it happen? I say this because I feel sorry, especially since you are entitled to the treasure, right?"
"I've thought about it and am trying to persuade that damn woman."
"Good luck, honey."
"Of course, it has to work because I did it to make you happy and take you away from Robi."
Amelia hugged him tightly, even though she wanted to push herself far away deep down.