Maureen was still gasping from Darren's brutal tongue play. While the culprit causing the woman to weaken at the edge of the bed is still leaning on the edge of the bed, looking up at the ceiling of the room filled with paintings of the night sky.Darren wasn't demanding what a man would normally want, he was just trying something different and it turned out that Maureen's satisfaction could make him a little proud of surviving."I'm not an escape from your problems, Uncle." Maureen fixed her bathrobe and sat down on the floor, right next to Darren without getting closer. There was a distance she had deliberately built up out of suspicion."Sorry." Darren's response reinforced Maureen's suspicions. A grown man with an active sexual life had a habit of running every morning?If Maureen had someone like Darren, she would keep him in her arms all day long. To hell with the world if money could still flow into their coffers.But to take that harsh treatment as punishment? Does Maureen enj
"Coming early?" Maureen immediately faced the question from her newly arrived intern as she struggled with the photocopier. "Work is waiting." Maureen showed her the sheet that made it out of the printer, then took the time to hand her a paper cup filled with coffee labeled with the famous shop located across the office. "Consider it a replacement for the coffee you gave me the other day." "Anything funny?" Ben turned reality back on Maureen. His coworker had to look at the wall that bordered the room because he felt Maureen was looking at him strangely. "Nope. Nothing." Maureen shook her head, then covered her mouth with the palm of her hand because it was difficult to hide her laughter. "Just remembering yesterday's business. It wasn't you." "Still long?" Ben asked again. Maureen was surprised, realizing that he was asking her right behind her ear. "Engh-still." Her stammered reply elicited a crisp laugh from Ben. His voice was attractive, like the handsome announcers on the
"The kids are looking for you." Iqlima stopped in Darren's office before she going work and immediately questioned, "Where were you yesterday?" Their fight in the suite hadn't ended that night. There was no fair talk let alone hot romance. They just kept silent until they got home. Iqlima's accusations provoked him to make it happen. It was no use Darren denying or trying to stay away from any woman if he always ended up being the one blamed. "Jogging," Darren replied. There was no mistake or lie in what he said. Darren does have a daily routine of running to some place everyday, steadily increasing the distance and Maureen's house is the furthest from his target that day. He doesn't regret in the slightest that he can get his release through various means, Maureen has a knack for satisfying him. "All day long?" she probed, standing directly between Darren's stool and the desk. Her hand gripped her husband's shoulder. "I was embarrassed to come to the school family gathering alo
"You live in a place like this?" Maureen was still amazed when she entered the apartment corridor, following Ben who preceded her with a box containing copies of the meeting results and some additional plans. "Still rare, huh?" Ben turned to face Maureen and walked backwards, bragging about his rare home. Compared to the big city, their nearest neighbor, the available apartment buildings were still under ten stories. The effect of most of the soil structure on which the foundations rested was still swampy. "Yeah, I see." Laughing awkwardly, Maureen looked at the surrounding details after exiting the elevator that took them to the fifth floor. "My friend lives in another building." Since they arrived at the limit of daylight into night, the glass wall showed the beauty of the garden lights shining onto the apartment building. From a distance, it looked beautiful even though it was not accompanied by colorful flowers. The garden in front only had grass and shade trees. "You have f
No penetration, just a short-cut leather whip that is repeatedly applied to Maureen's backside. Ben is initially hesitant to follow the wishes of a woman he has found strange since he met her. Ben is not bothered because he is used to meeting all kinds of characters in his work as a freelancer for many publishers. There are writers who do experience a life full of nuances of eroticism, there are also those who make writing bed activities as an escape from real life that does not allow them to realize their imagination.From requests for companionship in the wee hours of the morning, to requests for video calls that lead to the kind of sex that happens all the time. But trying out his tools for research purposes?Ben hasn't done that at all. Most of the objects he owns are limited to matching the images described by the author with the experience of seeing and holding them in person. "That was fun," Maureen admitted as she accepted Ben's thick blanket to cover the front of her body
"Coffee?" Maureen held up two paper cups of coffee from the nearest convenience store to the apartment building Ben lived in as soon as the door to the unit opened from the inside. The owner turned first and left the door open, a sign that Maureen was allowed to visit. Memorizing the location of the objects inside, Maureen took off her shoes on the shelf behind the entrance, next to the bathroom. "How's your wound?" asked Ben as he picked up a plastic bag containing ointment for the wound on Maureen's back. It seemed that the young man hadn't had time to change since returning from work. The open shirt revealed a plain T-shirt underneath and a laptop screen was open on the table where Maureen had placed her handbag and glasses. "It still stings, though. Especially when I hit the water." Maureen said while frowning between the meeting of her neatly made-up eyebrows. She sat cross-legged, leaning against the edge of the table and supporting her face with both hands, watching Ben wal
"Where?" asked Maureen, who had arrived home first and grabbed her juice box from the refrigerator.Seeing his gender-disparate twin approach her by sitting on the pull out chair in the kitchen attached to the dining room, Maureen knew for sure that Matthew would only do two things, either show off or be sarcastic. They were not that different."A date." Didn't sound like a very pleasant thing to say from a young man who was used to having a good time at night.Especially if Maureen had observed her mom's daily talk about Matthew's dates in the last two weeks."Dating every day?" Maureen was suspicious because it was unusual for Matthew to stick with one partner until her mind stopped at one eye-opening conjecture. "Don't you feel sorry for your girl? I can't go out anymore. The other day I just knocked you out.""I didn't say I left the game." Matthew took off the suit coat that lined his fitted shirt on the table, walked over to Maureen only to take the juice box in hand and was dis
"You can return the necklace after the contract is over." "What if I lose it?" "Consider it an investment that you can replace in installments. Didn't you read the clause on the last page? I listed some borrowed items that you can take with you." The reason Ben had laughed at Maureen after realizing her choice of necklace had left her grumpy all night. Ben's gift was by no means a cheap imitation. In Maureen's mind, it was highly unlikely that an intern and freelancer like Ben who lived in a studio apartment could afford something as expensive as his car. "Shit! Shit! Shit! I've got something expensive as more than two years of credit card debt!" Maureen continued to grumble as she drove to the building where she made her living. She couldn't imagine suddenly falling into poverty because of a necklace. The man who Maureen had hoped would give her solace, both of them in fact, gave her problems beyond her expectations. The problem was that she was the only one who looked helpless
"Did you choose to settle here?" This was Maureen's question. I've gotten to know her better since moving to this country. Maybe a few blocks apart, but close enough to do our weekly shopping together."Ben said he had some business, so I guess his offer for me to stay here until graduation wasn't a bad choice," I explained as I pushed our shopping trolley into the trunk of the car, while Maureen looked tired from pushing the babies' stroller."Yeah..., I think your choice isn't bad. I can have someone to talk to too while you guys aren't back yet." Her intonation was clearly hopeful.For me who barely had any friends, moving around more than expressing what I felt, being friends with Maureen was a luxury. She was quite chatty, and I barely had anything to talk about other than responding to her."The twins really enjoy sleeping ...." I glance at the presence of Maureen's babies. Boys.I thought Maureen had a special relationship with Ben, but she ended up marrying Angga. I guess I wa
"Are we really moving there together?" Rena questioned after seeing the e-ticket I had on my phone screen. Well, that was a bit of a surprise. "It depends on how long you want to stay there." Since the visa Rena applied for was also for non-immigrants, it was valid only during the student exchange. If she wanted to extend it as a tourist or even stay, I wouldn't mind. In fact, for the time being, it might be better for Rena to take a vacation or find something that isn't tiring. The previous incident that took away our future child sometimes made Rena shed tears. "How are you doing?" Rena asked again. She continued to fix the toga I was wearing. Even though there was no departmental photo session and it was okay to take off all the graduation gear attached to my body. The weather lately has been in favor of taking off my clothes. "Which job is it?" I moved closer to Rena's side, looking at the photos of the camera she had just taken from the tripod, used earlier to capture moments
"Any hurt?" I asked after finding Rena pinched between the passenger bench and the protective airbag. At least I could still breathe a sigh of relief knowing Rena could still walk out after the collision just now.I saw Satya still on the driver's seat, pressed against the door next to him that was wrenched in. He was unconscious.Maybe someone could say that I was really reckless in crashing the motorcycle into the car carrying Rena, and the four-wheeled vehicle swerved to avoid me. It was partially destroyed by the road divider.Me? Well, I'm fine with a little friction on the skin of my arm from being dragged on the asphalt when I let go of the motorcycle I was riding earlier. After all, the injuries I got before were much more. All of this... is nothing."Ben? How could you...," Rena was holding my waist, more like she was pulling my arm to rest on her shoulder, "you still have to need rest?""Think of yourself, Rena!" I refused, feeling that she was much more in need of help."Me?
A few months in a second-floor room in a Somerville neighborhood, about an hour away from campus by public transportation, was not so foreign to me. It was like sharing a house with strangers without interfering in each other's private affairs.Shared common spaces, with private rooms. Don't forget the private bathroom for me. It's a bit more expensive than the rent for other residents' rooms, but it's better than having to wait in line at a crucial time.This morning I was surprised by the arrival of a thousand white roses, the delivery courier said. It's a good thing they weren't real roses, or I would have acted like I had a cold all day.Who knows about my allergy other than close friends? Uncle Darren has 'almost killed me' many times for giving me real flowers.By the way about Uncle Darren, I offered him to redo our relationship completely from scratch. As a good cousin, not based on desire that I know is hard to resist.Who could resist a Maureen?Okay, call me narcissistic. A
"We need to talk, Uncle." Maureen almost pushed the blanket off her legs when Darren nodded. In his opinion, they needed to settle their dangling relationship outside of the decisions of the people around them. They had the freedom to decide their future regardless of the stigma attached to Maureen snatching Darren. "Yeah, we have to," Darren smiled instantly even though the airline's departure announcement seemed to delay them, "but later. See ya." The man signaled his departure by pointing outside. Of course Maureen clearly knew she had to wait for Darren to meet her. However, the flight--which she had read on the internet--lasting for over eight hours until arriving at the transit airport further strengthened her curiosity. "Shit!" There wasn't the slightest hint of enjoyment in any of the amenities that could divert his curiosity. The airline's signature main course reminded her of eating with Angga even though it was served in small portions. The expensive wine offered by th
"Yes, Grandpa gave me a first class ticket. It's really cool, isn't it?" After going through the check-in section, Maureen dragged her suitcase through the corridor directed by the attendant to be placed on the flight baggage entry rail while continuing her phone call to a friend on the other side. "Not really. I've only ever been on private jets."It wasn't just a different island, but also a different continent. Serena's friend had already left for another country."I and Angga just let it flow. We don't have to get married quickly." Maureen's steps quickened as she looked at the white gold band-like watch around her left wrist. Her departure time was just around the corner. She needed time to relax her waist for a moment."Are you sure he can stay with you so far away?" Serena's question had been a long consideration for Maureen to maintain a relationship with Angga until it needed to be discussed.Angga's time-consuming profession sometimes made Maureen doubt if the man was only o
"What, huh?" Angga tapped each of Maureen's fingers that hung in the air as they grasped each other, comparing the same shape that differed in size. "My family is not very close." Every time they met face to face, they would smile at each other, considering the accident as part of fate. "Is that how you get along?" Maureen recalled how Erlan, who was also a doctor under her father's position, could talk as light as a feather when they met. There was indeed a conversation that was avoided, and Maureen's curiosity led to questions until Angga, who was usually to the point, pulled out the trump card he wanted. "Well, just to say hello. Not more." Angga straightened his back, placing it against the glass wall of the room as he looked at the dark sky outside. Clear without clouds. "So, there's not much we can invite from your family?" asked Maureen, looking for ways to pry information using the alibi of their wedding needs. Angga's narrow eyes widened in amazement. "You said you haven
"M.J. Abraham...," said the man who made Angga turn to the clapping hands nearby, "it's Angga's surprise, ihuh?" A couple of people Angga knew greeted him in turn, then Resti joined their small circle. Maureen reflexively followed Angga even though she felt she had never seen that two people before, she was a bit surprised by the title the man had given them as if they had known each other before. "Wow, Uncle Erlan and Aunt Iren came too!" Resti offered two glasses of drinks on trays carried by the waiters and was immediately greeted with a look of friendliness. Perhaps confused, or rather observing, Maureen had to take a quick look at each face near her in turn. There was no falseness that came to her from Angga's life, including the family that came. They were even newly reunited. "Can't word on your candidate, here." The woman called Aunt Iren chimed in. Although the knee-length dress she wore was formal with long sleeves and no special accents, she had her own charisma behind
A dark SUV pulled up in front of a spacious ironwood house, dropping off a pair of people who seemed perfectly matched in both appearance and body language. The sturdy old building in front of them was surrounded by a heavy guard, reinforcing the notion that an important event was taking place inside."Do we have to come like this?" asked the woman, adjusting the skirt of her evening blue satin dress to cover her ankles. A headpiece of similar material was pinned with a simple silver hoop, adding to the expensive nature of the overall look.She regretted the impression of a family that had to look perfect at all events despite the fact that they were going through a long war of contention that had yet to be resolved. From legal settlements regarding the division of joint property during marriage, to custody matters and the accompanying financing.Iqlima could use the alibi of Darren's infidelity if he still insisted on taking their three children from her side. It wasn't just snippets