5. The new status

"We're not going to do battle in bed," Keenan muttered with a lopsided smile. Lily's face, which had been looking tense, now looked flushed. "Why, are you not getting enough petting, hmm?"

"Watch your language!" snapped Lily then. What he just said offended her pride. Ah. She had almost forgotten that she had lost it since she decided to marry Adrian.

"So how was it?" Keenan did not care about the change in his interlocutor who looked depressed. "Since you're silent, then I assume you agree. I'll take care of this with my lawyer. So tell your son that I'll be back." Without wanting to hear Lily's reply, the arrogant man just walked away.

            Now Lily sat on the sofa in her son's luxurious treatment room. On the other side was her aunt who was already fast asleep on the bed beside the patient. While she had still awake since two hours ago. Lamenting the seemingly endless misfortunes of life.

            She had married Adrian for love. Soon she would do the same, but this time for the sake of her beloved son. Was her decision the right one? I don't know. Lily could only surrender to the situation. Again, she sacrificed herself for the happiness of others even though it was her biological son.

***

"Happy birthday, my baby!" Lily smiled with the mini cake in her hand.

"Daddy! Where's him?"

Lily only smiled bitterly when she heard Farel's first cry. "Yes, sweetheart. Don't worry. He'll be back."

            The reassuring words made the boy smile broadly. There was no longer the anxious look on his face that Lily had seen so often over the past year.

"Hey, what's with the cake from me?" scolded the aunt who could catch Lily's sad face.

"Sorry, mom. Thanks." Farel briefly kissed the cheeks of the two women in turn. Not forgetting to chant a prayer that only he and God knew the content of. It was long enough for the hopes of a child who was now four years old. One minute more duration. Until the sound of knocking from outside ended the pleading action.

"Excuse me. It's time for breakfast," greeted a patient food delivery person who was already standing in the doorway of the room. "Get well soon, handsome boy."

"Thank you," Farel muttered, showing his row of white teeth. He immediately took over the tray containing the food. "I can eat by myself, Mom. So when Daddy comes, I'll be ready. We're going home today, right?"

"Yes, dear. Let's wait for the doctor to come first."

            True to his word. Keenan came right after Farel finished his breakfast. The man was not alone. He was with a lawyer.

"Why don't you go home now?" protested Farel with a surprised look on his face.

"Isn't today your birthday?" Keenan said later. "You wait here. We'll get ready. Be a good boy."

"We'll leave first, dear. You stay here with grandma," Lily murmured as she gently stroked her son's mane.

            Their departure from the hospital was interpreted by Farel as preparation for his birthday party, which would probably be held later that afternoon or evening. However, little did the boy know that the adults were doing something else.

            Lily said nothing when she was ordered by Keenan to get into the car. She complied when the door to the back cabin of the luxury vehicle was opened by the driver. Sitting alongside the master was a lawyer who was also standing by the driver.

"Read it. Sign if you understand!" said Keenan as he handed her a blue folder with sheets of paper inside. Lily grabbed the flat object immediately. She began to scrutinize it point by point. "This agreement is valid for three months. A week before it ends, you have an important assignment. Attend my extended family event in Bali as a wife."

"Hmmm," muttered Lily as she nodded slowly. "I-this is what?" she pointed at point number seven.

"Think of it as a reward for your work. You'll get a house worth 500 million, insurance for your child's education until college, and a savings account of 1 billion. I think that's enough. After the divorce, you can improve your life, right?"

"Yes." Lily again moved her head downward. Deeming it worthy of her sacrifice. Then she unscrewed the pen cap and signed the final sheet.

"That's good. Now we go to the married office," Keenan said later. "Where's your uncle?"

"Already there," Lily replied briefly.

            It didn't take long until they finally arrived at their destination. Lily took her uncle's arm first as Keenan and his lawyer walked into the two-story building.

"Lily, what exactly happened?" her uncle asked. "Your aunt just told me that Farel was busy telling me about his father's arrival, but... it wasn't Adrian, right? Is that the person she was referring to? That's why you asked uncle to come here to be your marriage guardian?" Lily just nodded in response. "Don't take any rash actions. Think it over."

"I don't have a choice, Uncle," mumbled Lily who then pulled the corners of her lips into a forced smile. "Farel needs a father figure." The middle-aged man was about to speak again but decided against it when his niece shook her head weakly. "I just need prayers. So please don't make it difficult."

            Half an hour later. Lily had already appeared in a long ivory white dress with light makeup on her beautiful face. So did Keenan as the groom. His suit now looked matching with the clothes worn by the woman.

"Don't show your sad face. I need documentation to show as evidence," Keenan whispered in a flat voice.

"Can we start?" asked the marriage officer.

            In less than five minutes the sound of the word 'yes' was now heard by all in that simple room. Keenan pinned a pure gold ring with a rattan split model weighing ten grams as their wedding dowry.

"From now on you are legally husband and wife," said the penghulu who was immediately nodded by the witnesses who were there. "May your marriage be happy forever."

"Amen." Lily's uncle said in his loudest voice. "Congratulations! I can only wish you all the best. And you?" he turned to Keenan. "Please take care of Lily and Farel. They are my most precious treasures."

            Keenan didn't have time to respond to these words because he heard the sound from the man near him.

"Now please let the wife bow to her husband. Don't forget. Mr. Husband can also kiss his wife on the forehead. Let the marriage be blessed."          Words that sound commonplace. However, for Lily and Keenan it was very disturbing. "Why are you silent?"