LOVE YOU, UNCLE

Laughter spilled loudly from Darwin’s lips after hearing Randy’s recent grievances. Ever since his cousin decided to get married soon, the three of them had been gathering almost every night to chat over coffee or play billiards.

“So, after marriage, you’re asked to fast first?” Darwin said, holding back his laughter. “Are you sure you can resist temptation? Especially when you’re sharing a bed and sleeping side by side?”

For God’s sake, he was genuinely concerned about the fate that the narrow-eyed man in front of him would face. But, on the other hand, Darwin felt somewhat pleased to see his ‘cursed’ cousin suffering like this. At least, Randy could experience the kind of suffering he had once endured.

“Just imagine, Randy, who is usually the center of attention for women, with many offering themselves for free to sleep with him. Now, after getting married, he’s told to fast by his own wife. Quite pitiful.”

“I also don’t understand what Ghea’s brain is made of. How can she make such unreasonable demands? After all, what’s the point of getting married if the first night is just spent staring into space? When will you have children if that’s the case?”

“Oh, come on, let him melt, then he’ll be willing to play horsey.”

“Give me a break!” Randy retorted angrily at Darwin. “If I break the agreement, I have to pay a fine, Win. I have to pay just to touch my own wife.”

Randy fell silent for a moment. Leaning back on the sofa and gazing straight ahead, he thought of something.

“You should understand, Ran. You two were arranged to be married. You just met, you don’t love each other. It’s reasonable that Ghea doesn’t want to be touched by a man who has just entered her life. It takes some adjustment between the two of you,” Kennedy explained wisely. As a husband who didn’t immediately touch his wife after marriage, he knew what it would be like for Randy. “For your information, Luna and I even needed several months to convince ourselves before finally becoming husband and wife. It wasn’t easy to convince Luna to allow herself to be touched.”

“Kennedy…” Randy called out, staring intently at his cousin. “Our cases are different. Even though the essence is the same, being forced, you and Luna had a contract marriage from the beginning. So, it makes sense that Luna didn’t want to be touched. It’s a different story with me, I got married for real like Darwin. It’s just that Darwin is a scoundrel. He had no problem not touching Verona at the beginning, he just enjoyed sleeping with Vicky.”

Darwin looked furious. He grabbed a tissue from the table, crumpled it, and then threw it towards Randy. Why did his cousin have to bring up his past about frequently sleeping with Vicky?

“What’s wrong with you, Win!” protested Randy while cleaning the tissue that hit him.

“Does your mouth need to be sewn shut or something?”

“Why are you so angry? We’re just stating facts here.”

“But, you have to admit, Ran, the three of us got married for the same main purpose, which is to have children as soon as possible. The process doesn’t matter. What’s important is that the end result is achieved, and the ending is happy,” Darwin argued, not wanting to be constantly cornered since a while ago.

Randy nodded, not denying what Darwin said. He, too, had to get married quickly because of the deadline to marry and have children, to be considered competent and worthy of becoming the successor and leader of the company.

“Yeah, the goal is the same, but the execution is clearly different for each of us. Kennedy started the relationship with a contract marriage. Then you started with a forced arranged marriage, complete with a cheating drama. And me? Well, I was arranged too. Even though I didn’t like it, and Ghea herself is far from the ideal criteria for my future wife, I still have the intention to learn to build a serious relationship. Because honestly, I don’t want to play around with the concept of marriage. That could backfire.”

“Fine, do whatever you want, experiment or be serious later on. The problem is, don’t bring up my past, Ran,” protested Darwin irritably.

“I can’t help it, Win. Your early married life is truly worth being an example. A bad example, that is.”

Kennedy burst into laughter. Darwin’s attempt to bully Randy ended up with Darwin being cornered, as usual.

“Enough, let’s get back to the initial topic,” Kennedy intervened to prevent a potential family war between the two cousins. “Now, I seriously ask, do you think you’ll be able to resist sleeping in the same bed, even share a bed, without physical contact for quite a long time?”

“Well, I’ll try, Ken,” Randy replied with a facial expression that was hard to interpret. Between hesitation and confusion. Perhaps he was also feeling overwhelmed thinking about what his married life would be like in the future. “What can I do? Besides, Ghea has strong reasons. Apart from needing time for introduction, she also doesn’t want to get pregnant before finishing her studies.”

“When will Ghea finish her studies?”

“This year, probably. But it’s still quite far, around the end of the year.”

“Meaning, six to eight months from now?” Kennedy confirmed.

Randy nodded wearily. Once again, how could he have children soon if he was asked to fast for an extended period?

“It’s okay if that’s the case. Consider the next few months as your dating or getting-to-know-each-other period. So you can understand each other’s personalities. Later, when it’s time for unboxing, you’ll already have your own chemistry,” Kennedy consoled Randy. Yes, so his cousin wouldn’t be too sad and miserable about his fate.

“Damn, Randy’s life is really complicated and full of trials,” Darwin remarked, half sympathetic and half mocking. He didn’t want to laugh too much. Otherwise, his past might become a subject of bullying by his cousin again.

“That’s life, Win. It always has its challenges. Because only Padang restaurants are simple.”

“Damn!” Darwin cursed at Randy. “Besides, Ran…” Darwin continued. “What was agreed upon and notarized is only about the husband-wife relationship, or more precisely, the relationship on the bed, right? So if there’s a little poking or kissing, it’s not a problem, right? Right?”

Darwin’s recent words were indeed correct. As if getting a glimmer of hope and fresh air, if he couldn’t resist temptation in the future, he could use this as an excuse to defend himself. No matter how strong a person is, there comes a time when they can be tempted, right? And Randy couldn’t guarantee that he would resist until the end, or he might still make a mistake.

Yes, it had its advantages to have a clever and scoundrel cousin like Darwin. Although he was a playboy, Randy was far behind when it came to intimate relationships, while Darwin himself was very experienced in this matter.

***

“Mom, are you sure that Ghea, that nerd, wants to marry RRandy Walters? He’s famous, you know, Mom. Handsome, the only child, and rich. Why not arrange him to marry me?” Giselle asked her mother Clara.

The two of them looked relaxed on the balcony, chatting. Since a while ago, they had been discussing Ghea’s engagement and imminent marriage plans.

As the second child in the Denovan family, Giselle was clearly jealous. She, who considered herself superior to Ghea, found it unfair that her stepsister got this golden opportunity. According to Giselle’s perspective, Randy was more suitable for her. They were a match. Both respectable, well-educated, and with excellent prospects.

“But you’re prettier, Grisell. You could get someone better and more everything than Ghea’s fiancé. Besides, Ghea has to marry Verona’s son to get out of this house soon. I’m fed up with her being with us for so long.”

Giselle looked like she made a small grimace. In her opinion, it wasn’t fair that Ghea, who got this golden chance, was chosen over her. Moreover, according to Giselle’s standards, Randy was more suitable for her. They were equal. Both respectable, educated, and with excellent prospects.

“But, Mom, Randy is famous. He’s even sought after outside. Isn’t it too much to match him with the ordinary Ghea? It feels so unbalanced. She should be married to an ordinary guy or, if necessary, a poor guy so that her life becomes more miserable.”

“Does it have to be like that?” Clara clarified with her daughter.

“Yes, Mom,” Giselle nodded. “Imagine, Ghea’s mother even ruined our family in the past. Deliberately seducing Dad until he cheated. Why should we care about Ghea’s fate in the future, whom she marries? Did Mom forget? What about Dad neglecting us? Dad rarely came home because he spent time with his secretary?”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Clara squeezed the end of the chair cushion she had been holding since earlier. Her heart felt painful recalling the betrayal her husband had once committed in the past.

Whose heart wouldn’t shatter upon finding out that a beloved husband was cheating, even going so far as to marry someone else secretly? Worse still, he even had a child from that illicit relationship.

“Moreover, Mom, you’re so kind to pick her up from the orphanage and take care of her like your own child. No matter how long it takes, she’s still the child of the woman who ruined our family, Ma! Ghea is a home-wrecker. The daughter who seduced Dad!”

Clara appeared stunned and pained. What her daughter conveyed was indeed true. Amelia Irawan, or more precisely, Ghea’s late biological mother, intentionally ruined her marriage. Clara knew Amelia well. But why did that woman deliberately seduce her husband until he cheated and married her secretly?

Clara should have just kept Ghea far away so she couldn’t enter her family’s life anymore. But because she didn’t want conflicts and was concerned about the fate of her two children, Clara agreed to Maxwell’s request to bring Ghea into the Denovan extended family.

However, Clara swore that someday she would make Amelia’s descendants suffer and pay for the pain she had once experienced. That’s why Clara urged her husband to marry Ghea soon. That way, her illegitimate daughter could leave the house, ensuring that Maxwell’s position and inheritance would not fall into Ghea’s hands.

“Enough, Giselle. Let Ghea marry whoever. If she’s married to a poor man and lives in poverty, your father would never agree. Even if that marriage happens, your father will surely give them material support that is countless. So, let Ghea marry Verona’s son. That way, she can leave this house, and I’m sure she won’t get anything from your father.”

“But, Ghea still has to suffer, Mom. It’s not fair that she might be happy with her husband out there. Just wait and see, Giselle will make calculations.”

“What are you planning, Giselle?”

“Mom, just wait and see, Giselle will act accordingly. If necessary, Ghea should also feel what it’s like to be betrayed. Anyway, she has to suffer like what Mom once felt.”