"What else is there to explain, Ima?" Darren grabbed his wife's grip that had slipped. "Seriously, she was my cousin." Legally, Maureen was indeed registered as the child of Darren's biological aunt Natasha. The reason is none other than because Natasha and Abra's marriage is legally official and benefits both parties. Meanwhile, Maureen's biological mother, Aya, only got legally married a year after Darren's aunt passed away. Complicated. The majority of the local community still considers biracial relationships to be a close family that cannot marry. So, Darren felt safe referring to the twins as his cousins even though they were not at the same blood. "Suite room only, ma'am, the regular one." Darren immediately confirmed the room reservation, along with handing over his ID card and cashless payment to the receptionist on duty. "Is there really no secret around you and her?" Iqlima's peaceful impression had already turned spoiled when she found Darren's gaze continuing to avoid
"How is it, Sir?" Serena tried to reach the other contacts in her chat room in cell phone. Her feet kept stomping on the floor as she walked towards the terrace divider, searching amongst the crowds of the pool, then quiet again as Maureen's cell phone screen changed. "Oh my, Auntie Aya keeps calling again. What do you think, Sir?" Serena's thin, boisterous voice disrupted Darren's concentration on checking the suitability of the hotel facilities he had passed through with the typing of the report. Why does he has to connect with Maureen again?. Ririn--her nickname had never changed since Darren held the baby version of Maureen. Not hard to remember. Disappointed, yes. Maureen seemed to be taking an increasingly distant path from him, to hear his grandfather complain every time they met. Parties and parties, not to mention unfortunate expenses. Though for Darren himself, Maureen's consumptive level was still reasonable compared to his wife. They all had the same basic, attracting
Maureen's nimble fingers sassily explore the lines of Darren's face, savoring the rough sensation of the fine hairs that form sideburns along the mature man's jawline. Her elbows rest on Darren's sturdy shoulders as her white nails dig into each strand of hair that emits a seductive, masculine scent. With one tug, Darren looks up, face to face without distance. The corners of his sense of smell met as if sharing a breath. In an instant, he tastes the sweetness of Maureen's lips. It's not a patch like the first time, but the little sucks Maureen makes, luring Darren to explore further into the sweet wine-laced mouth. True, Darren loves the taste Maureen gives him. However, his mistake goes too far. Darren's big hand has already landed on Maureen's nub without a barrier, squeezing her softness so hard that consciousness gives way. The wide eyes of the woman in front of Darren seemed to beg for more, but there was no continuation. "It can't be like this, Rin." Darren shook his head.
"Are you crazy, Maureen?" Serena's yelling really disturbed Maureen's sleep. Even though the bright sunlight had already penetrated through the curtains, Maureen pulled the blanket up even more to cover her head, especially plugging her ears even though she knew it would have no effect. "Anyway, you have to tell me! I'm not calm and I'm crazy waiting for an explanation from you all night!" Serena continued to demand, tugging at Maureen's blanket until it came off entirely. "Do you know what time it is?" "You don't have to yell anything." Maureen opened her eyes lazily. Her hand reached for the cell phone on the wireless charger on the nightstand and found the screen showing ten past. "Ah..., I still want to sleep." She grabbed a pillow just to cover the face that still felt numb in some parts. Her head was so heavy to shift. However, her stomach was apparently beating the war drums, struggling and collecting taxes early in the day. "Starving?" Serena's laughter boomed in her room.
Maureen had just finished stacking five volumes of copies of her two-hundred-page thesis that had passed the post-trial revision at the faculty decanate's office. The temporary graduation certificate was already in hand. The problem was, Maureen's unemployment period would end soon if she chose to look for work. The complaints of her friends who were busy with the waiting period for job applications during their college days were enough to cause headaches, let alone her who had never been in the field with high demands. The title of being the granddaughter of a big businessman alone made her respected enough to hang out her legs at a local company during fieldwork. "Hi, Maureen!" Aletta's reprimand, who had just placed a box of copies on the decanate's academic desk, forced Maureen to put up a familiar greeting. "I'm so sorry about the party. You must have been really shocked." Fake? That's how the environment taught Maureen. At least Maureen was thankful that her parents didn't pu
"Hi! Breakfast?" Maureen greeted as the door opened. She was visiting Ben's apartment unit with two servings of savory porridge and mixed vegetables bought on the street."What are you doing here so early?" Ben took the package Maureen had given him and let her close the door where she had left it. He took the bowl and cutlery from the cabinet."You're awake too." Maureen could see that Ben looked very fresh and wet in his alang-short-sleeved shirt and baggy trousers, "I can escape here, right?""Whatever." Ben placed the bowl on the main table in the center of the room. He did remember allowing Maureen to stay as long as she did not interfere with the young man's various affairs."How was work yesterday?" asked Maureen after placing her large suitcase on the back of the door, right next to the shoe rack, and sitting with Ben, preparing to enjoy the dishes that were poured.Ben took a bite first before responding, "Manageable. Did you get sick yesterday? Feeling better?"As always, Be
"Don't wanna tell me? Who's Resti?" Even during the lunch break, Maureen was still questioning the name of the woman Ben's friend had mentioned earlier. "Be honest with me, Ben! It won't be made fun of anymore."Still in the cubicle, Ben's gaze sometimes stung every time Maureen asked the same question. Just one name, but he was bullied all day."Ben has a girlfriend?" Anne, the deputy division head, had stopped walking in front of their cubicle and waited for an answer by leaning against the divider.One of Ben's fans was actually beautiful and fashionable, and Maureen could even calculate the price of the branded items on her body. Not worth their monthly income.Maureen turned her stool to be in the same direction as Anne, facing Ben who was busy with his fingers on the keyboard. "I think so, ma'am. He just doesn't want to talk everytime.""Isn't she pretty, Maureen?" Anne seems curious."I don't know, but I think they still communicate often. Just this morning, I borrowed a book f
"Do we need to renew the contract?" Ben asked after getting off the motorcycle he was riding and removing the helmet from Maureen's head.She had agreed to watch Ben compete at the rink because of the invitation after the failed kiss in the pantry.Yes, Maureen thought she could get a quick heat session between the adrenaline rush of being in a public place. Turns out Ben kept his distance and laughed at her smugly.Though Maureen had already surrendered when the young man she was with gathered her hair in one tug, giving free access to the curve of her slender neck.Ben had succeeded in tormenting her, torturing her desire for more. Just imagining the pressure in the apartment's pantry made Maureen twitch violently.Her body had very well recorded every previous struggle with Darren and was able to react afterwards. Maureen thought that being with Ben would be just like the events with her exes that ended due to rejection down there."What needs to change?" asked Maureen, curious. Sh
"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