"What?!!!"
"What?!!!"
Eshika and Tama in unison exclaim using the same word and both rise from their seats. And when they realized that, the two looked at each other for a moment. Then they chose to sit back in their seats. The first to speak then was Eshika.
"Mom, the agreement yesterday wasn't like this, you know."
Tama was forced to help Eshika. "Mom didn't say anything about this yesterday either."
"Yesterday you just said that if Tama and I were married, Tama would check on me often. If anything happens, I have to be with Tama. Only that."
Tama nodded. "Yes, Mom, Dad. I've managed to take care of Eshika. Will pick her up, will also take her everywhere. Anyway unless she sleeps, I'll really check on her day and night."
Eshika and Tama in unison gulped together.
"But, there's no discussion about living together."
The three old men, while still enjoying their breakfast, smiled lightly as if they were innocent.
Popi said. "Which makes sense. After marriage live together or live separately?"
Eshika and Tama both gulped back their saliva.
"Mom," Tama whispered. "But, Mom and Dad said yesterday that I was still living in my apartment. Meanwhile Eshika stayed here. In this house."
Beside him, Eshika nodded her head.
It was hard to accept, but right now Eshika couldn't help but have to help Tama. This rare occurrence of course would not happen twice. Either way, ending up living under the same roof with Tama is doomsday. Eshika clearly didn't want that. With a heavy heart, this time he had to support Tama so that she survived.
"Yes, Mom. You didn't say anything about…" Eshika gulped. "... living together."
"That's true," said Irawan later. "At first we didn't think you should live together. But, after we negotiated and saw your closeness last night…"
Eshika and Tama suddenly looked at each other. The look in their eyes conveyed the same confusion.
Last night's friendship?
Which part of last night was seen as a form of intimacy?
"...it seems like you two really have to live together."
"After all, it's good for you, Tam. Let you have friends to study with. Who knows your grades could go up in your last year of school. Eshika will always be a model student at school."
Tama feels like she wants to bury herself alive because of Mawar's words. Although not as good as Eshika's grades, Tama can still be said to have good grades.
"And I didn't even think about leaving you alone in this big house, Esh," said Popi. "Just the two of us alone, it's kind of scary living here. What if you try alone? Then if suddenly the electricity goes out in the middle of the night, then how do you go to the bathroom? Then you will call Tama to come just to accompany you to the bathroom."
Eshika's face immediately turned red when she heard Popi's long words. Shame he said his own mother like that.
Popi sighed, smiling amusedly. "That's why yesterday Mami ordered someone to advertise this house."
"What?!"
Popi smiled lightly. "The plan is, this afternoon there are people who want to see. It's not bad that the rent money can be used for additional income."
Eshika felt that her lungs were no longer able to draw in oxygen. He was almost like a fish deprived of water.
"Because of that, I thinks it's better for you two to live together at Tama's apartment. There are two rooms there. You don't have to feel awkward or anything."
Irawan nodded. "Well, at least you don't have to worry about the demands of giving us grandchildren in the near future. And Tama, watch your attitude. Okay?"
Tama was coughing, while Eshika was gasping for air.
"After all, you're still in school."
Popi confirmed his besan's words. "You guys have already taken care of that with the apartment manager. Right, Rose? Irawan?"
Mawar and Irawan nodded in unison.
"You don't have to worry about that, Popi. We've taken care of everything."
Popi breathed a sigh of relief. "You don't have to worry. Look, it's all taken care of. So the apartment people won't bother you and won't divulge this to anyone."
"Mom, marrying Tama is already a big risk. Especially if I have to live with him. Oh, Mom."
Poppy shook her head. "You are 18 years old. Legally it's legal."
"But, we are still in school, Mi," objected Eshika.
"The school doesn't ask any students whether they are married or not. That means it's not our fault if we don't tell they."
The defense made Eshika's stomach even more queasy.
"But still. Live with Tama? Why don't you just ask me to stay in the tiger cage?"
Where she sat, Tama gasped. The boy caught Eshika's glance who looked at him condescendingly.
And what did she say? Why don't you just ask her to stay in the tiger cage?
Wow!
Suddenly Tama's ego was jolted by Eshika's words.
What does this girl mean? Does he think I'm more dangerous than a tiger? Do you think it's safer to live with a tiger?
Tom shook his head. "So what if you live with me?" snapped Tama asked then. Feeling Eshika looking down on him annoyed Tama. "You think I'm going to hurt you? Yes?"
Eshika snorted. "Of course. Any normal person would have felt the same way I felt. Only abnormal people would want to live with you under the same roof."
Popi held out her hand. Trying to break up the debate. "Eshika…, Tama will take good care of you."
Eshika's lips curled up at Popi's words. "Take care of me? That's right, Mi. I'm even safer without her guard."
"Wow!" Tama slams the napkin on the dining table. Suddenly he felt hot. This time his ego was really flicked by Eshika's words. Obviously he felt Eshika's words had brought him down in front of their parents. Tama does not accept. "When will Eshika move into my apartment?"
Eshika blinked. "Eh?"
The three old men smiled broadly at Tama's question.
"This evening, Tam!" answered Rose happily.
"Evening?" repeated Tama. Then, looking at her parents and in-laws with a fake smile that made Eshika's stomach churn instantly. "How about this afternoon? I'm afraid my wife will need some time to clean up in her new home."
Eshika looked at Tama in horror. While the boy with his chin on the table, looks grinning while asking.
"What do you think, my wife?"
Instantly Eshika wanted to knead Tama like laundry.
*
tbc ....