7. MAD

              There was no point in dwelling in sadness. Feby had to realize that this was the life path she had chosen. Her marriage to Ares will soon bring forth the fruit of their love. So it's better to focus on the goal ahead. That's what she was thinking about now.

“Still thinking about our conversation earlier?” asked Ares who was right beside her.

Feby shook her head with a sweet smile. “No, baby. I just miss you. Oh yes. What time do you have to leave here tomorrow?”

“After feeding you breakfast of course.”

              Ares briefly kissed Feby's open shoulder then rested his head there. A gentle treatment that was certainly able to reduce the sadness in his wife's heart.

“There are still about nine hours left until breakfast. Can you accompany me to watch?” asked Feby then.     

              The handsome man's quick nod made Feby excited again. He also rushed to grab the TV remote and then chose a channel that was considered interesting.

              It was not what they saw on the screen that was the main focus. However, togetherness like now is a very valuable time. Moreover, I don't know when the two of them can meet again.

***

              Feby has repeatedly covered her mouth with the palm of her hand. It's natural because the clock shows the early hours of the morning. However, the woman with two bodies was still reluctant to move from the single sofa she was occupying with her husband.

“Honey, let's go to bed!” Ares was also invited in the end.

“Are you sleepy already?” asked Feby in a voice that sounded heavy.

Ares smiled. “Not me, Feb. You and our child need to rest. Take a look. It's already one in the morning.”

“Ares, I haven't-”

              Feby paused her whining as her husband moved quickly. He carried her bridal style to the bed.

              One peck managed to land perfectly on the tip of Ares' chin. Making her husband do the same. This time it had even spread to other parts of the body.

“Shall we continue tomorrow?” murmured Ares with his breath already out of breath from holding back the turmoil in his chest.

“What I want is...now?” Feby held her husband's arms tightly. She did not want to let go of their current bond. “Mas?”

“As you wish, Baby.”

              Time seemed to pass very quickly. Feby, who was still not satisfied with driving away her longing for Ares, did not want to open her eyes. Especially when she smelled the aroma of chicken porridge that was already in the room. A sign that soon they will be separated.

              Ares was poking at his gadget with one hand busy stroking Feby's hair. Feeling that his wife had not moved from the bed at all, he also landed his fingers in the waist area. The master eventually gave in.

“Baby, already!” said Feby, who was already nervous because of her husband's behavior.

Get up or I'll tickle you somewhere else.

              Those were the words that Ares threw out even though it was silent. Even so, Feby immediately understood it.

[“Okay, Angga, I'll be at the lobby in an hour, just wait there.”]

              The call ended. Meanwhile, Feby who had just sat down quickly pursed her lips.

“It's still eight o'clock,” whined Feby spoiled.

“Come on, Feb. Don't keep buying time.”

              The cold voice just now made Feby know enough. She exhaled roughly and followed her husband's footsteps. Not forgetting a quick stop at the toilet to wash her face and brush her teeth.

              Now the married couple ate in silence. Ares painstakingly fed Feby with the same spoon. Again, a sweet way that certainly made his wife drift into the charm of the Flower Regent.

              There is still half an hour to be together. Feby took advantage of the time available to hold her husband's burly body tightly. As if they hadn't seen each other for a long time. While Ares? He just enjoyed the moment with his hands endlessly stroking his young wife's back.

“Mas,” Feby said with her head slightly up. Ares muttered softly then turned his gaze to the woman. “I want to ask you something.”

“What?”

“Why do you want to marry me?” she asked suddenly.

              Ares' eyebrows knitted together after hearing the question. He even broke their embrace that very second.

“Why do you ask that?” Ares asked back. “After everything I've done, you're still asking questions?”

              Realizing that their atmosphere began to change, Feby's heart immediately thumped violently. She shook her head and then put on a pleading face.

“Not really,” she argued later. “I-I just feel lucky to be your wife, Mas. Because yesterday at the salon, many socialite mothers talked about bad men. It got me thinking.”

              Ares did not respond to the explanation because his cell phone rang. He got up from his seat and quickly grabbed the suit that was on the arm of the sofa.

“I'll go first.”

“Where's the kiss?” whined Feby spoiled.

              Feby didn't want their breakup this time to leave a bad impression. So she tried hard to distract Ares.

              Her efforts were successful. Ares changed his expression back to his usual sweet face. The man landed a peck on Feby's forehead, both cheeks and lips. He even did the same to his wife's bulging belly.

“Take care of yourself,” Ares murmured later.

“Me too. I love you.”

Ares replied with a warm hug as well as a few gentle squeezes on both of Feby's buttocks. “You're still the best, darling.”

              Her husband's mischievous glance made Feby's cheeks instantly blush. She immediately knew where the conversation was going. Instantly she felt victorious when compared to the first wife.

***

“If you can have a normal birth, why do you have to choose surgery, Feb?”

Feby, who had just made a room reservation for her labor schedule, exhaled roughly. “I don't want to feel the pain of childbirth, Mom. Not to mention the stitches. Iuhh! It will be painful and sore. No way.”

“You also want to be a mother. You have to make sacrifices like that.”

“I have money, Mom. So I'm free to choose. Ares doesn't have a problem,” said Feby, who was still stubborn.

              Her mother was speechless. She just shook her head at Feby's behavior, who felt like she had the upper hand.

“What about your husband? Have you told him when the date is?”

Feby nodded quickly. “He already knows, but he still can't come.”

“You have to accept reality. You will never be able to unite with Ares.”

“MOM!!!”

The middle-aged woman who was Feby's interlocutor was shocked after hearing the loud voice. “Why are you angry?”

“Mom, why are you saying that?”

The mother laughed. “Hey! You should open your eyes wider. He would never leave his family for a mistress!”

***