Sophia had no idea what Shaka's special day meant last night. He looked so angry when he got home and saw their parents sitting and talking. If reminded, Sophia told Petra that Shaka was working overtime that day, there was a lot of work that Shaka had to do so he couldn't join the dinner or meet Sophia's family. Sophia also didn't know that Petra was desperate to call Shaka and ask him to come home to meet Sophia's family. Even without Shaka, things would have been better, especially since Sophia also knew that after the marriage, Shaka was tormented by not being able to meet his girlfriend.
"Don't make things difficult for me!" said Shaka firmly.
Sophia turned to look at Shaka with a confused face. What complication? Sophia didn't even do anything to Shaka's life. She hadn't asked or bothered Shaka all this time, so where was Sophia making things difficult?
"What? What did I do?" asked Sophia finally.
"Still don't realize? You've been the only one making my life difficult. Can't you handle it all by yourself? Don't you need to involve me?"
Did Sophia ever involve Shaka in this? After all, it was Petra who called Shaka, not Sophia, so Shaka should be angry at Petra, not Sophia. It's not enough for Sophia to interfere with Shaka's life. True, if they were husband and wife but it was Shaka herself who created the boundaries between Shaka and Sophia. Shaka should have understood that especially since neither of them wanted to be together.
"Who involved you? It was your father who called, not me, why am I being blamed?" Sophia tried to defend herself. If she kept quiet, her pride would always be trampled by Shaka's family.
"Papi, if you didn't tell him to, he wouldn't have called me. Do you think I don't know what your goal is? No need to be hypocritical!!! You just want to live a good life and complicate everything!" Shaka insulted.
Sophia, who didn't accept it, dragged her feet to approach Shaka. Her eyes filled with tears after hearing his heart-wrenching words. She thought living with Shaka would make Sophia happy.
"Good life?" Sophia repeated while looking at Shaka with disgust. "I don't come from a rich family, I don't come from a family where everything is in order. But I'm grateful to have a family that taught me to seek not beg. You are rich from birth, you don't have to struggle to earn money so you can eat tomorrow. But remember Shaka, I'm not here for free. You also didn't give me any money after we got married, so I don't think this is a good life. Because I'm still earning my own money to fulfill my needs!" Sophia explained and walked away.
An annoyed Shaka clenched his fists. He even threw a review in the air to vent his emotions. In front of her family, Sophia is a quiet and soft-spoken woman. But in front of Shaka, she is a snake woman, a rebel, and also likes to be arbitrary. No wonder no man wanted to marry her.
Coming out of her room, Sophia was surprised by Petra who was already standing in front of her room. Her mother-in-law was smiling sweetly with a hand that almost touched her forehead. Maybe the hand was used to knock on the door of the room, it's just that because Sophia wanted to leave this hell immediately she didn't know if her in-laws were waiting for her.
"Papi...," Sophia called out unpleasantly. She hoped that Petra didn't hear what Sophia and Shaka were discussing just now.
Petra scowled, causing Sophia to immediately close the door to her room. "Papi is disturbing you? I want to say goodbye."
"Papi wants to go home today?"
Petra nodded, "Yes. It's not good if you stay here for a long time, there's no one to take care of you at home. Papi also has a lot of work helping Shaka at the office. So, Papi has to go home."
Sophia was quite sad to hear that. She even respects Petra who loves her sincerely. But there was also a sense of relief that if her in-laws came home soon, at least she wouldn't have to pretend to sleep in the same room with Shaka anymore. She didn't have to argue with Shaka every night which gave Sophia a headache. She wanted to live a quiet life without Shaka.
Taking a deep breath, Sophia nodded slowly. "I want to call Shaka first, Pi, to take Papi and Mami home."
Petra held Sophia's hand who wanted to go back into the room. "No need, Papi has a driver. Shaka is busy, he'll go straight to the office after this. Don't bother him."
Of course, Shaka was busy, he was busy calming his woman who was angry at Shaka for not being able to spend the night with her yesterday. Maybe if it wasn't for Sophia's parents, Shaka would have ended up with Valery that night.
"Alright, Papi be careful. I'm sorry Pia can't take you home."
"It's okay, you take care of yourself. Whatever Shaka says, don't take it to heart, you are husband and wife, and arguing is normal but don't cross the line. Papi believes and trusts that your marriage will always be happy."
In her heart, Sophia dismissed Petra's words. No one will be happy if no one loves each other.
***
"Good morning ma'am."
The greeting brought a small smile to Sophia's face as she looked at Lala, who had just arrived on her electric bike.
"Good morning, La. I'm really surprised you're here at this hour, sometimes I'm late." Sophia chuckled.
Lala scratched the nape of her neck, which wasn't itchy at all. She also showed her row of teeth that had made Sophia jealous.
"Well, yesterday I received an order for flower arrangements. Today I deliberately came early to help you arrange the flowers," Lala explained fearfully.
"How many did you order, La? Is it a lot?"
Lala nodded, "The man ordered ten red roses. Plus a wedding car decoration, and then there was an order for the opening of the cosmetics store across the street, which just opened asking for flowers too."
"Geez La, why don't you say anything! What time did they pick up La?"
Lala recalled that it was not nine in the morning but ten in the morning. Lala herself also forgot a little, she only showed proof of transferring the dp money into Sophia's account directly. The problem of why Lala didn't tell Sophia, to be honest, Lala had tried to contact Sophia that night. She had told Sophia about the flower order, but neither a call nor a message was sent. Even Sophia's cell phone was very difficult to reach, so Lala came this morning to tell Sophia and also helped the woman make a lot of flower orders today.
"Does your cell phone seem to be dead, or is it out of data? Why can't I call you?" asked Lala in surprise.
"Really?"
Lala asked Sophia to check her cell phone, there was no way she was lying and Sophia's cell phone had been
Sophia's cell phone was very difficult to contact after marriage. Maybe Lala wasn't on time when contacting Sophia so she decided to check her cell phone.
Sophia hurriedly checked her cell phone, which turned out to be dead for some time. This cell phone rarely came out of her bag, when it wasn't ringing.
"Oh my... my cell phone is dead, La." Sophia squealed.
"What did I tell you, that cell phone has no value to you."
Sophia laughed at that, and she asked Lala to park her electric bike immediately, and then they made the flowers according to the order Lala had received.
***
Shaka, feeling free, decided to leave the office after lunch. He wanted to see Valery, who had refused to accept Shaka's calls and messages since last night. She was really angry when Shaka decided to go home after receiving his father's call.
Arriving in front of Valery's house, Shaka immediately got down and entered Valery's house which was not locked at all. Shaka screamed Valery's name over and over again.
"Honey, where are you?" Shaka shouted once again.
He looked around the house and couldn't find Valery at all. From the kitchen to the bedroom, Shaka did not see Valery. All Shaka could see was her cell phone on the dressing table lying helplessly.
"Shit! Where is she!!!" Shaka cursed in annoyance.
Ruffling her hair in frustration, Shaka decided to return to the living room. She knew Valery was angry, but the woman couldn't have left the house without her cell phone. It was certain she was still around the house but where was she?
Pacing in front of the television, Shaka heard the loud sound of something falling. The man immediately turned his head towards the side door of the house with squinting eyes. He forgot about the garden door, could it have been Valery?
Shaka hurriedly ran towards the door and saw Valery who was picking up broken shards near the swimming pool. Of course, Shaka immediately pulled Valery away from touching the sharp objects.
"Argh!" Valery squealed in shock and screamed. But after knowing who was pulling her, Valery immediately brushed off the hand and moved away. "Why are you here? Aren't your in-laws at home?" she said in a snappy tone.
"They went home last night. I didn't stay overnight, I wanted to go back but Papa said no."
Valery remained silent, grabbing a bathrobe to cover her body. "Then hurry home, before Papa calls you and asks you to come back."
"Honey..., listen to me first." Shaka came closer, cupping Valery's cheeks gently. "Don't get angry again, OK? Tonight I'll be here with you."
"Don't I have a right to be jealous? I don't like this marriage!"
Not only Valery, but Shaka didn't like this marriage either. But what else could it be, Shaka couldn't do much, nor could he promise anything to Valery. For now, Shaka wanted this relationship to go as smoothly as possible.
To be continued