I've always had this dilemma whenever I travel, ESPECIALLY when I travel with my family. We are foodie people, we travel mostly because of food, and travelling overseas means we don't really get halal food all the time. It's easy for my family because they don't mind eating anything as long as it's not pork. But for me, who's a bit particular about food, since I've gotta maintain my hijabis image and all, I'd always opt for vegan or kosher meals. Until it reaches the seventh or eighth day of our vacation that I'd get sick of eating the same old limited-option vegan and kosher meals while watching my family gobble anything in the world except pork. That's how my faith fades a bit and I start to taste just a bite of what they're having that suddenly, out of nowhere, I'm already ordering a full meal for myself. And now, after three months of living in New York with those limited food option, I am now being served a plate of meat that looked fucking delicious with such beautiful deco
My wardrobe is stocked with different types of clothes, already being categorised accordingly by Drey to ease me in choosing one without getting confused. Casual wear-home, casual wear-dates, casual wear-family, casual wear-friends, oh God how many categories are there for casual wear alone? Then there are nightgowns, workwear, brunch dresses, lunch dresses, tea dresses, dinner dresses, Goddd there are so many categories I'm beginning to wonder how committed Drey is with his job for being thisss particular, on top of the extensive training he put me on for two months straight. Today is my first weekend with Honey, and if my memory serves, we're going to have a picnic later. I'm not sure when will it be but for now, I need to worry on what to wear between his coffee at 7 and brunch at 11- assuming we're really having a picnic brunch later- so what should I wear when I'm home with him? Yeah yeah, I have this entire section dedicated for ‘casual wear-home’ but which one should I choo
I've gotta say I'm proud of myself. I wasn't always overweight. I've been in the normal BMI range the entire school years until I broke up with my boyfriend after graduation. From there on, I went into this steep line of climbing towards overweight in just three months that from a normal size 6, I went to size 12, sometimes 10 if I wear clothes fit to my body but mostly 12, because I like baggy clothes to hide my figure. So yeah, it's all because of that motherfucker. He didn't just broke my heart, he inspired me to eat crappy food -as crappy as him- that I swell everywhere with fat, making me gain kilos that I hadn't been able to lose until ten years later. That ten-years-later was two months ago when Drey put me on this strict diet with workout-regime-from-hell that I managed to lose weight to size 8, though Drey insists I look better in size 6. From what I saw in the wardrobe, Drey clearly ignores my preference as most of the clothes are in size 6. So here I am, sitting on the
First weekend was a success. Though all we did was build that ridiculously huge Lego set and eat take-out. We stayed up until 5am and the next morning when I prepared him coffee at 7, he didn't even come down. He could've told me he'll be sleeping in, hmph. I took my revenge by cooking myself a big breakfast. Not those lame fruits but eggs in three ways; scrambled, omelette, and deviled. As if I hadn't rebelled enough, I drank a cup of coffee and went back to sleep until late afternoon. When I came down around 3, he was sitting at the same spot where we built the lego yesterday, dealing with some that we couldn't managed to finish. It's compelling, really, to watch him so immersed in building those. We ordered another take out for what seemed to be late-lunch-cum-early-dinner, and continued building that thing until around 10 when we finally go to bed feeling accomplished seeing that majestic Lego set sitting proudly next to the couch. The next five days was pretty boring as I go
I've officially cashed in three hundred thousand dollar for my six weeks employment. I don't know how I did it but I'm so glad I've done half of the total duration, with five more weeks to go. I'm obligated to fulfil the entire duration or I'll be subjected to penalty- instead of earning money, I'd have to pay him twice the amount.But I have this strong feeling in me that as time goes, I'm getting more uncomfortable to expose my skin. All I wanted to do was to cover them and swear I won't do this ever again, that I wanna go back to wearing modest clothes and hijab to cover my hair. What happened yesterday morning with the whole breakfast incident emphasized my desire to go back to being Alya. I guess I've gotten the answer of what I've been wondering about. Ten years ago, in the beginning, transitioning from shorts to abaya seems drastic to everyone so yeah, maybe I covered myself because of him; to please him. But as time goes, I've became accustomed to this style of clothing.
[ Where's my I love you 😡🤬 ]He calls me immediately once I shot that petty message. A rumble of deep laughter fills the speaker, "I love you B." I grin, "Okay now you can go." Also, were you mad when I said no to your proposal? I'm sure if I'm not as religious as I am -and I really ain't that religious- I would've said yes to that. He's sexy, he's nice, and I'm truly comfortable being with him. I would've said yes. But yeah, I'm not willing to sacrifice my belief. God forbids sex before marriage so no, I choose to please Him than him. The call ends with another I-love-you, and a promise he'd knock on my door once he's home to claim his goodnight kiss. "Hey." I answer Drey's videocall after ordering Uber Eat for dinner."Collins told me about your little meeting today." He looks at me smugly, perhaps for being able to get that info as fast as this. "And...?" I ask as I release my hair from the bun. "Why won't you?" I totally get what he meant but I'm just gonna drag him fur
As usual, he didn't ask, or inform me beforehand, all he did was drive me to the airport, escort me to his private jet, and ask me to put on the seatbelt for take off. As simple as that. But he's done this multiple times before, in fact I'm expecting him to bring me somewhere every weekend so I'm not mad at all for being taken away like this. Afterall Drey did warn me about his madness on taking Scarletts to impromptu trips.And honestly, after the meeting on Tuesday and Thursday with Miss Collins, I need this getaway just to ensure our relationship remains intact after I rejected his proposal twice in a row. "Why Paris?" I ask after he finally revealed where we're going on this surprise trip. "Because Paris is the most romantic city in the world." He answers after he puts his glass of Macallan on the side table. "Oh? That's the reason we'll be spending our Saturday at Paris?" "Weekend, B. We'll be spending the entire weekend at Paris." "Hmmmm..." I slurp on my non-alcoholic Sex
"I think you don't get it." I can't believe she's even willing to come to my office building just to discuss about the same old thing. We're sitting at a nearby cafe during my lunch break after I told her I can't go to her office this week, made up an excuse about work and deadlines. There's no way in my sane mind I'm going there to discuss about having sex out of marriage. "I do," she looks at me in pity, "I really do. And I think he does too. That's why he did what he did." "What do you mean? What did he do?""You told me the price was a real marriage." Nooo she did not tell him that. Is that why he was all weird at Paris yesterday? "No no no, I don't think you guys really get it. I didn't say real marriage, YOU concluded that. For God sake, even if what you concluded was right, there is no way we can have real marriage. I'm a Muslim. I need Islamic marriage more than real marriage. Doesn't matter if he's willing to register the marriage at the court house, I don't care about i
"You're... still pregnant?" I can't believe that came out of his mouth. What did he mean by that? I was only five months pregnant when he left, of course I'm still pregnant six weeks later! Does husbands have pregnancy brain too? But he looked so fuckable since I laid my eyes on him at the dining hall so I'm gonna let it pass. You're lucky you're gorgeous, Honey. Tapping my tummy, I reply him with the sweetest smile, "Nope, just had a big Thanksgiving dinner." "But... but the kicks-"I rub my tummy in a big circle, the way we always do when we're full from eating too much, "Must be the turkey." "Alya." He warns dangerously that I bat my eyelashes as adorable as I can, "Yes, Honey?" "It's not funny." He puts his palm back on the same spot, which I can't help but to grin. Have I told you how fuckable he looks right now? Or since my eyes laid on him earlier in the evening? Sooo fucking hot with the whole beard thing, I swear it feels like I'm back to the time when I was his sugar b
"You did a good job today, Princess." Dad has marched to his eldest grandchild who would always hold a special place in his heart, the same way she does to me. Genevieve immediately turns to him with a wide smile, "Wait till the dinner is served, you're gonna be even more grateful I'm the planner this year!" "I'm already grateful you managed to bring Alya here this year." The twinkle in his eyes can't be missed, as if he's really glad my ex-wife is joining. I knew it, I should've told everybody about the divorce. I should've known my grandparents would account every Gunn for this yearly family event, her included. Somebody is hitting the glass again, signalling everyone to be seated- the event is about to begin. I can see my grandparents are already at the head of this long table, thankfully they're at least ten seats away from us. The perks of not being a favorite family member. "Calvin." Dad suddenly calls my name, grabbing the attention of everyone to turn around and look at m
I hate how my grandparents still have control over me despite being in my forties. The fact that I too have four grandchildren makes it hilarious of how silly this has become. But that's what everyone in Gunn family gotta do- listen to the one who holds the mighty power. I'm not sure if all of us are in the will but it would be stupid to risk your name being excluded just because you're not feeling Thanksgiving this year. I've been working in Berlin for more than a month now. I made a deal with my cousin to switch our role that instead of handling the headquarter at New York, I asked if I can take the European branch. She wasn't too excited about it; nobody knows about my divorce except for my lawyers so she didn't understand why I asked for this all of a sudden.Our grandfather is the founder of Gunn Chocolate so everything has to be signed off by him. Emily suggested to hold it off and present the proposal to Grandpa in three months for me to think it through, only then we'll go a
Genevieve might be persistent but I'm a certified hard-head with stubborn as my middle name to listen to her when it comes to accommodation. She insisted I stayed with her because of how dangerous it is to be on my own in my late second trimester, at a three star hotel that's an hour away from everyone. She even whined on how unfortunate her little sibling is to live in a dumpster when the sister and brother are spoiled with luxury. Her endless chatter in manipulating my mind about what my baby deserves versus what he's getting because of my stubbornness, won. I finally moved to a brownstone near theirs on the next day; she accepted the condition that I would go anywhere but hers and Nate's place because the last thing I wanna do is to disturb them or interrupt their daily life. A week later I'm still here, with frequent visit from Gen which on the day she isn't coming, she'd call me to get updates, asking if I'm okay or if there's anything I need. There couldn't be possibly anyth
This is stupid. Everything is stupid ever since I left New York. Every single thing is fucking stupid since I figured out her game. "Another, Honey?" She doesn't wait for my response and waves for the bartender to get me my third fill of Macallan. Third or tenth, I don't bother counting anymore. It's just a stupid drink anyway. I've been heartbroken for more than a month now but it doesn't get easier. Heck, I feel like it's worse than when Scarlett left me. Perhaps because she did drop hints here and there that she's getting bored of our marriage, it's just that I chose to ignore them and that's how she just took off to find what she called, her long-lost happiness, in that stupid note she left on the nightstand. It was a classic rich women move, to get rid of boring toys and get themselves a new one simply because they have their own billions. But Alya, well, she's definitely the best player in the arena when she checkmated me at this game. I was so fucking stupid I hadn't rea
"Daddy didn't tell us anything about the divorce!" She gasps in disbelief the moment I told her what was going on, "I thought you followed him to Europe! I thought you guys are on your second baby-moon!" I smile bitterly while shaking my head, "I haven't seen him for a month now." Thirty nine days to be exact. "Oh my God!" She takes my hands in hers, gripping them tight as to give me the courage I've been needing since he left, "What happened? Why did he divorce you? So you're alone at the penthouse now? You should move in here, Al! It's too dangerous to stay alone when you're already in your third trimester!" I pull another smile, "Not yet, another two weeks till the next trimester." "So it's agreed? You'll stay here? Hmm?" "It's okay, I'm good where I am. I'll be here for another week then I'll fly to Jakarta." Because international travel is only permitted until the 28th week of pregnancy. I'm gonna need all sorts of documents and letters from my gynae if I were to travel beyo
It feels like only yesterday we had sex on this kitchen island when today, merely hours later I'm suddenly being served divorce papers by his squad of lawyers. "You just need to sign here." The grey haired man whom I believe is the leader of the squad, since he was the one who's been talking since the beginning, puts his index finger on a dotted line at the end of the page he's showing. Half an hour ago, I was busy prepping for dinner since tonight's theme is Indonesian Food so I always get excited and cook at least three different dishes as to introduce him to my culture when my helper who comes twice a week to clean this place told me a few men in suit wanted to see me.I rushed upstairs to grab a shawl before welcoming them only to be told they were sent by Mr Gunn to finalise the divorce. I stood there like an idiot neither mad or angry because I was too stunned for the fact he left this morning all cheery and happy with his promise to come home earlier than usual to help me co
Being told you're the centre of his universe, the bane of his existence, and all other sentences we only read in romance novels, well, I've gotta say I'm head over heels for him. As if this dreamy baby-moon at Bali is not enough, he had to top it up with the ultimate surprise when he planned a perfect beach wedding with the attendance of both my family and his (he actually flew every one of our family members from all over the world!) to witness the event where he made it official that I'm his forever, and he to me.We've been back in New York for a month now and have lived like a true couple who's madly in love with each other that it gags everybody out (by everybody I mean Genevieve) to see how cheesy he is all the time. I'm already halfway through my pregnancy though it makes me worried that I'm not showing at all, I actually avoid talking about the baby with Honey because I'm afraid I'm gonna freak out and ruin our relationship that's beginning to blossom.So Gen is the only per
I know this will never be easy. I know anything with regards to Alya will always be challenging but I welcome them all, with open heart and even bigger mind; I've always loved a feisty one anyway. Scarlett was feisty too, that's why I never got bored with her. She's the exact balance of yin and yang; sometimes she's calm and supportive but most of the time she's that feisty woman who always excite me. When I had women posed as Scarletts, they tend to follow the script too much that after a few months, I got bored easily with the realisation that this is not the Scarlett I was married to. When I met Alya, she gave me the same vibe I had when I was with Scarlett. At times she's submissive and followed the script Drey and Ms Collins had drafted for all my Scarletts but most of the time she just went rogue with her own lines that I became addicted as to know what else was she going to do that is the opposite of what she's told. "I married you because I needed to sleep with you." I wa