"Can you imagine if you live with him later and he is more concerned with himself and his career? You should know, he loves his career more than you." Achille continued his words with full emphasis on me.
"Aren't you the same?"
"Same! What do you mean?" His eyes narrowed at me.
"You are both selfish."
"Tch ... you just got to know me and that's how quickly you judged me!"
"Yeah, that's what I've seen the past few days. I don't know after this. But what I do know is that you are both selfish." I continued to explain to him.
However, what this sharp-eyed man said was also true. He said it very sincerely. On a very sacred day, Basten, the cowardly man dared to leave me, especially at another moment.
"You want to know where he is now?" He asked and turned to me as he was about to go to the bathroom.
I really wonder where his brother was. Until now, I didn't know where the man who ran away during the wedding was.
"Shall I tell you?"
"Huh ...."
"Haha ...." He smiled as if laughing at my silent, but I wanted to ask how his brother was doing. "I know you really want to know where he is. Just ask me. you don't have to hide it."
"Yeah, I really want to know where he is. Besides, you overheard our conversation at the restaurant earlier."
"It's good that you're awake. Fine, I'll tell you." I put a serious face at him. "Now, he is continuing his master's degree in Australia. Recent years, he was very obsessed with wanting to study there. Previously, several times he applied for registration, the results failed. And this was the last one and was declared accepted. So he did not want to waste the opportunity to get study there. Can you imagine that he dared to leave you? Are you sure you're still thinking about him?"
My gaze became sluggish for a moment. I snorted heavily. This frustration seemed to have peaked. Basten deserved to be called a coward or a loser. He was a man who could not keep his promises and words.
"I just can't think, how important is his obsession to let me bear my own embarrassment at marriage and become the gossip of the crowd?"
"Not only you but our family too. And now I'm the victim of his selfishness."
"If you feel burdened by marrying me, why not divorce me. I don't mind your decision."
"Right now I don't want to argue about that. Let me think about it later. I want to take a rest!"
He sat on the sofa to calm himself. I got up and went to the bathroom to wash my face. Every now and then I look deeper into my face.
Why did Basten easily come and leave me like that? Have I ever been wrong? If he wasn't serious, why would he propose to me? These questions hovered in my mind.
Again, I snorted in annoyance. I wiped my face with a towel then put it back down and got out of the bathroom. I opened the door and closed it again.
I saw Achille was already lying on the sofa near the nightstand–his usual place to continue unfinished work at the office. Maybe he was really tired today.
Since I went with him and was in his room, he decided to sleep on the sofa. We had already agreed not to sleep together in this bed.
Even though he was cold, he was quite responsible with his words. He has never touched me as a wife, according to his words. Now I didn't have to worry anymore if I want to sleep.
My feet did not feel to go far and almost near where he lay.
"Why are you still standing there? Are you looking at me?"
"No ... I didn't mean to ...." I gasped and thought he had fallen asleep.
Unfortunately, why would I dare to approach the tiger's place?
"Your bed is over there, isn't it? Why are you here?"
"Y-es, o-ver there. But, I ...."
"Hmm ...." His eyes narrowed at me.
"I want to borrow a book to read. I have trouble sleeping when I'm not sleepy!" suddenly the idea popped up and out my lips.
"Hmm ... Did I smell something?" His lips curved to the left.
"Smell? What do you mean?"
"Something's not right." He woke up from his sleep and approached me. His eyes stared at me intently. The distance between us was a cubit.
Geez, I'm short on oxygen! How many seconds have I held my chest roar so that my breath can't be heard. I might pass out here. When did his eyes turn to other places?
I stepped back to two cubits supported with my hands. "A-chi--lle, what do you want?"
"What do you think I should do?"
"Hah?" My eyes rounded. He just smiled mischievously at me.
"Calm down! I don't want to have sex without love. I'm worried about bullying you."
"Huff, thanks." While heaving a sigh of relief. My mind has been traveling all over the place. I thought he was going to force me.
"But, just for now. I don't know the next day. Maybe I want to do it with you any time I want ...."
"What?" My forehead wrinkled.
"When a love already exists." He clarified his words again.
Huff, he's really good at giving me a heart attack!
"You really want to borrow a book? What kind of book?"
"This book!" I grabbed hold of the book near me and then walked away from him in a hurry.
Huff, luckily, I grabbed the book quickly that was already in my hand. I was still cursing my negligence while walking toward the bed.
"That's a book of International Trade Law, not a storybook. Are you sure you want to read that book?"
I turned around when he was behind me. "Oh ... Yes. It's okay. I just want to read it."
"Ok. I don't have any storybooks you like. All the books on the shelf there are only about business," he said casually, licking his lips to the side.
"I just want to read to make me easier to sleep." It's just my excuse though.
"It's okay. You may take it. Have a nice dream with the book!"
I changed my clothes and went back to bed to sleep, after which Achille returned to the sofa–where he usually sleeps.
I still remember what he said. Secretly, I was quite amazed by his stance. Turns out, he was a man of high integrity. He was very responsible for his words. He looked more mature compared to Basten.
The night was getting late and quiet. My eyes were still awake while Achill was asleep. I couldn't predict whether he was fast asleep or not. Maybe something like this would happen again if I take a closer look. It seemed, he was very quick to respond to something moving nearby even though he was asleep.
***
"Claire, don't you want to wake up yet? It's already morning." I got up quickly and sat straight up hearing the sound of someone waking me up.
"What time is it?"
"See for yourself! What time is it?"
"Gosh! Why am I so late?"
Last night I slept too late, around 4:00 am in the morning. Finally, I overslept. Achilles just walked away.
I jumped out of bed in a hurry and headed for the bedroom door–wanting to see if Achille was still there or not. I snorted, apparently, he was gone. A car had just pulled out of the yard.
"Oh my God! Why don't I accompany him to breakfast? He's gone." I cursed myself for getting up late.
"Lassie! Miss Lassie ...!"
"Miss Claire. Did you call me? Please have a seat. Wait a minute, I'll get you breakfast," said Miss Lassie as she tidied up some of the plates used to eat on the table.
"Yes, Lassie. Thank you."
While waiting, I checked some messages in the WhatsApp group.
"Good morning, Claire!" Mother reprimanded me. She looks very neat and beautiful this morning.
"Good morning, madam. You are so beautiful this morning!"
"Mom is old. Are you really, I look still beautiful?"
"Mom is still beautiful. So beautiful!"
"You are praising me too much."
"Trust me! I'm not lying. Mom still looks so energetic and beautiful."
"Thank you. Where's Achille? He didn't come with you for breakfast?" Mother sat with me.
"He's gone, ma'am. I was the one who got up late."
"Oh, I see. I think you two are fighting. Achille –he is good. Gradually you will accept each other. Believe what mother said!"
"Yes, ma'am. He is indeed good, even very good at treating me."
"Wow, Mom is happy to hear that. Eh, it's Mr. Damien. He has come. We have to go! I'm going to talk with you, later. Okay!"
"Okay, Madam."
"Are you well, Claire?" Mr. Damien asked me.
"I'm fine, Sir."
"See you!
"See you too!"
They flashed me a smile and left. They were a very good match. At their age that was not young anymore, they were always together. I envy their intimacy.
Not long after, Mrs. Lassie came over to me.
"Here is your meal, Miss Claire. The breakfast for you is ready!"
"Thank you. Mmm, Lassie. Wait!"
"Yes, when can I do for you? Any help?"
"Where are they going this morning? They look so neat!"
"Apparently to the airport. They said they were going to pick up Mr. Basten."
"Basten?"
"Yes, Miss Claire."