...
Indah felt a great heaviness when she tried to open her eyes, but the tightness seemed to force her to break through the darkness that surrounded her. She vaguely felt the voice of someone talking near her. Whether it was a man or a woman, she didn't know.
Indah slowly tried to lift her eyelids. As soon as everything was open, she felt an overwhelming glare due to the sudden light that came to her.
"Are you awake?"
Indah couldn't help but turn her head to the side. She saw Adrian's face who was now beside her. The man smiled, showing off his neat rows of teeth and his sweet dimples. Adrian's deep but gentle voice made her feel a little bit wrong.
"What are you doing here, Adrian?" Indah asked weakly. She didn't know what medicine Doctor Marcus gave her last night. She now felt her whole body aching.
Adrian propped his face on his chin. "I was waiting for my sick wife, of course. What can this poor man do without a wife in his bed."
Indah couldn't help but blush hearing the unreasonable explanation. Shouldn't the man feel guilty for teasing her last night. If only Adrian hadn't denied it, maybe he would be enjoying his breakfast at home right now.
Indah turned her body so that her back was to Adrian. For some reason, remembering last night made her feel hurt. She wouldn't be angry if Adrian had mocked her, but for this one, she found it hard to understand. The man was an adult, he should have been able to think about what if something had happened to him last night. With wounds all over his body, this already indicated that something had indeed happened to him last night. Or maybe last night he had been kidnapped or... raped by a group of people. Just thinking about it made her skin's hair stand on end.
Adrian's hazel eyes watched Indah's narrow back as she turned her back on him. He knew that the woman was angry with him. He also knew that all of this was purely his fault. If he couldn't keep it, he shouldn't have promised Indah anything. His mind began to branch out thinking about how his wife could have been hit by a car. What was he doing? Shouldn't he just go home if he was tired of waiting for her almost midnight.
"Do you love your wife, Rian?"
The question Ana threw at him had indeed become a boomerang for him. He kept asking himself, could it be that he had started to fall in love with Indah who was Rama's future wife. But could he really accept Indah's presence so quickly that he didn't realize he had admitted that he felt comfortable to everyone who asked him.
"You better go. I don't want to disturb your activities anymore." Indah's hoarse voice made him feel even more guilty. He knew that the woman was so sad about his actions last night. Indah did look strong on the outside, but she was actually fragile, much more fragile than the Ana he knew. For the second time he had to feel heartache, the first because of Rama and the second because of him.
Indah bit her lower lip tightly. She almost sobbed when she said that sentence. It would be a lie if she said that she wanted Adrian to leave. Honestly, she wanted him to be there for her. This strange, torturous feeling made her feel pain imagining Adrian's back walking away from her. The husband she had barely known had stabbed her heart so deeply.
Soon Indah felt the empty side of her bed lower. She felt that her space to move was now narrow. Wanting to turn back, it felt very difficult. Who knows what was behind her now, until she saw a hand wrapped tightly around her body.
"I don't want to leave here, even if you force me." Adrian's deep voice sounded hoarse in Indah's ears. The warm breath coming from the man's nose gave a thrilling sensation to her heart. Unconsciously Indah squeezed the hospital gown on her chest. She was afraid, she was afraid that Adrian would be able to hear the strange heartbeat.
"A-Adrian.."
"Shhh.." The man hugged her even tighter, wrapping his long arms around the tiny body in his embrace. "Leave me like this. I'm really tired, Indah."
During her time knowing Adrian, Indah had never heard a desperate voice from him. Adrian always stood tall in front of her and never showed his weak side. Now, Indah knew that all of that was just a meaningless camouflage shown by Adrian to make her not underestimated by others. She understood, even understood very well because she also had the same nature as Adrian.
Indah tried to loosen Adrian's embrace on her body. Although it was difficult, Adrian finally let his wife's tiny body squirm and turn towards him. Their eyes met closely. This was the first time they could see each other at such a close distance. Even both of them were able to feel the warm breath coming out of their noses.
"Are you tired?" Indah asked in a hoarse voice, which Adrian immediately answered with a slow nod. In her eyes, Adrian was now like a small child who was releasing his tiredness towards her. Those hazel eyes no longer looked charming but very enchanting. From there Indah could see two figures of Adrian residing in her husband's large body. Adrian as a strong adult man, and Adrian as a spoiled and fragile teenage boy.
Adrian brought Indah's body closer to him. His hand that he had always placed on the woman's waist seemed to be his weapon to move Indah's body closer to him. "I know this doesn't make sense. We haven't been in this relationship for a month. But can we make this real, Indah?"
Indah was stunned to hear it. During her marriage with Adrian, it had never crossed her mind what she would make this marriage like. The thought of the pain when Rama left her refused to look back once more. She had marked her heart to go through everything and start to consider what was in front of her as real, including Adrian who was now her legal husband.
"I never thought about what our marriage would be like. So far I have taught myself to consider everything in front of me as real, Ian."
Adrian couldn't help but pull the corners of his lips up. The words that had just come out of the tiny lips in front of him were like an answer to his doubts all this time. From the beginning he had doubted Indah would be able to accept him. He was afraid that the woman would only consider him as a replacement, and Adrian didn't want that. He wanted Indah to be able to accept him as he was, not as a replacement for Rama. He was tired of being second in his life. Of course Adrian could not force his will on Indah. He had to take it slow, it was just how long everything had to run monotonously in place.
Since childhood, the people who were present in his life always saw him as second and Rama was the first. No one had ever seriously responded to what he said. But now the words of the woman in front of him were like a promise, he would not be second. Adrian would be the only one in her life. Even though he did not know Indah well, Adrian would try to be a husband like any other husband. He would promise to put all of Indah's interests above his head, that was his promise.
"Indah.. will you do one thing for me?"
Indah was silent for a long time after the question escaped Adrian's lips. What would the man ask of her? As far as she knew, there was nothing interesting about her that could be given to Adrian. However, her head still nodded unconsciously.
"Can.. you teach me how to love you.. properly?"
DEG
Indah felt her blood flow suddenly stop. She forgot one thing she didn't teach herself, which was to love. She never imagined anything about love for Adrian. Indah had never imagined it before. Loving Adrian? Until now, she didn't know whether she still had feelings for Rama or not. Ever since the man left her, Indah's heart had become numb. She could no longer feel the pounding caused by love. She didn't understand how to love, even since she was in a relationship with Rama. At that time, she was only fascinated, only liked the way Rama loved her. But not by loving her. That feeling, which she said had a thrilling sensation, she had never felt with Rama.
"I-I... I" Indah was confused about what to say. She couldn't possibly admit that bad thing to Adrian. The man might be shocked and distance himself from her. Just imagining it made Indah afraid, afraid that she would feel lonely again.
"You don't need to answer it now, honey. I'm sure that slowly all of that will come by itself."
Without permission, Adrian planted a light kiss on those tiny lips. At first he was just messing around, but somehow the sweet taste he got from the tiny lips in front of him made him addicted. For the second time Adrian landed his lips on Indah's lips again. He devoured her for quite a while and enjoyed it so much.
Indah, who was still in shock from the repeated attacks, could only remain silent. For the second time, she felt the warmth of Adrian's lips brushing her lips. Until Adrian started to move his face away, Indah was still stunned with a completely unfocused gaze.
"Are you surprised?" Adrian chuckled softly. The man brought his face closer to Indah's. He pressed their foreheads together and closed his eyes, enjoying this comfortable feeling. "After this... I will show you what it feels like to be my wife, honey. I will make you the happiest on earth."
Indah felt her face heat up hearing the string of words from those lips. This was even sweeter than the expression 'I love you'. She herself was confused, if Adrian didn't love her then why did the string of sweet words keep coming out of him? Isn't it only people who love each other who can do that.
Adrian opened his eyes, and the hazel color looked back at Indah warmly. "It's up to you to believe it or not, right now... you have succeeded in stealing a place in my heart, Indah."
Indah felt a headache. She didn't understand all the ambiguous words that Adrian had just said. Whatever was in the man's mind, he didn't understand.
"I like you calling me Ian, honey. Keep doing that.. I like it.."
Then Adrian kissed Indah's lips again. This time he didn't let Indah be surprised again by his actions. He liked it. From his eyes, he saw Indah had closed her eyes. Her lips moved in rhythm with Adrian's lips. And he liked that.
The two people kissed on the bed without realizing that several pairs of eyes had witnessed the adult scene.
"I don't think this is the time to beat the child." Remi looked with emotion at his son and daughter-in-law who were still seen kissing each other. His arrival this morning was to visit his daughter-in-law and also to teach his son a lesson.
Hani, who also witnessed the scene, also expressed a look of emotion. She was grateful to see Adrian who seemed to be getting used to this marriage. Now, her guilt for what Rama had done was reduced a little.
"My husband, let's go home." Hani invited her husband, Remi. The two middle-aged couples chose to step out of the room where Adrian and Indah were now. They hoped that their relationship would get better in the future and also.. they hoped for the laughter of the tiny figure who was a combination of the best genes between Adrian and Indah.
..
"Indah... Indah..."
Indah had to wake up again by force. Hearing her name being called, she had no choice but to open her eyes. One of her arms felt very heavy as if there was a burden that was now pressing on her. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Selly who was crossing her arms in front of her. The woman's sour face showed her dislike for her.
"Selly.."
The woman frowned. Her eyes turned towards the figure who was sleeping comfortably beside her best friend. "Can you get rid of that big bear? I want to check your blood pressure, Indah."
Indah turned her head to the side. Adrian's closed eyes looked very comfortable in her embrace. The man slept like a big baby resting his head on her chest. And also.. the man's hand never moved, still hugging her waist. Indah who saw it began to forget the pain that was lodged in her other arm.
"Come on Indah.. you're just making my job difficult." She grumbled in annoyance.
Indah smiled weakly in response. The other hand that was not being pressed down began to stroke Adrian's soft brown hair. "Leave it for a while, Selly. Adrian is probably tired from waiting for me all night."
Selly rolled her eyes lazily. She began to doubt whether Indah really was the bride who was abandoned by her husband at the Altar. Seeing the loving gaze she threw at Adrian made her sure that her friend who didn't believe in love must have started to fall in love with Adrian.
"It's up to you, Indah. After lunch you have to get rid of that big bear from there." Selly walked with her feet stomping on the floor hard, making a loud sound.
Indah winced at her best friend who was raging. She doubted that Selly would easily get another lover, because of her slightly temperamental attitude.
She looked back at Adrian who was still closed beside her. The strands of the man's short hair were still touching her skin. So soft, like baby hair. The man must have fallen asleep after... doing their hot action earlier. If only Indah hadn't winced in pain, maybe their kiss would have reached a deeper stage. Remembering it made Indah blush. The man was so gentle in treating her. His lips that also guided her seemed patient in guiding her who was still an amateur. She was sure that Adrian was the right man to be her husband, even by all women. His soft heart was very suitable to perfect his handsome face. She was sure that out there Adrian must have a bunch of fans who admired him. And surely the most were pregnant women who had been his patients.
Indah didn't want to waste her life on meaningless things anymore. Now she had Adrian, the man who would be her husband would accompany her through everything. "You don't have to wait any longer.. I will teach you how to love me, Ian." She whispered before Indah finally kissed the top of the man's head gently.