“The kids are looking for you.” Iqlima stopped by Darren's office before 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."Ran,” Darren replied. There was no mistake or lie in what he said.Darren does have a daily routine of running, 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.“Along day?” 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 alone. I'll be the center of attention again. The
"You live in a place like this?"Maureen was still in awe as she entered the apartment corridor following Ben who preceded her with a box containing copies paper of the meeting results and some additional plans."Still rare, huh?" Ben turned to face Maureen and walked backwards, bragging about his rare home.When compared to the big city, their nearest neighbor, the available apartment buildings are still under ten stories. The effect of most of the soil structure on which the foundations rest is still swampy."Yeah, I see." Laughing awkwardly, Maureen looked at the details around her after exiting the elevator that took them to the fifth floor. "My friend lives in another building."Similar to the three-star hotels she had stayed in several times, the glass walls on one side provided natural light during the day and the plywood vinyl-covered walls were decorated with lights along the baseline. Serena's apartment building was much more modest than Ben's.As they arrived at the boundar
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 the woman he has found strange since he met her.Ben was not bothered because he was used to meeting all kinds of characters in his work as a freelancer for many publishers.There are writers who have experienced a life full of eroticism, and there are also those who use writing about 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 casual encounters. But trying out his tools for research purposes? Ben hasn't done that at all.Most of the objects he owned were limited to matching the images described by the author with the experience of seeing and holding them directly."That was fun," Maureen admitted as she accepted Ben's thick blanket to cover the front of her body and sat down on the t
"Coffee?" Maureen held up two paper cups filled with convenience store coffee closest to the apartment building Ben lived in as soon as the unit door opened from the inside.The owner turned in 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. It could be seen from the open shirt revealing a plain t-shirt underneath and the open laptop screen on the table where Maureen placed her handbag and glasses."It still stings, though. Especially when it comes in contact with water." Maureen said as she frowned between neatly made-up eyebrows. She sat cross-legged, leaning against the edge of the table and supporting her face with both hands, watching Be
"Where?" asked Maureen, who had arrived home first and had taken her juice box from the refrigerator.Seeing the sextuplet coming towards her sitting on the pull out chair in the kitchen that was 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 much fun from a young man who was used to having a good time at night.Especially if Maureen observes her mom's daily conversation about Matthew's date in the last two weeks."Are you dating every day?" Maureen was suspicious because it was unusual for Matthew to stick with one partner until her mind stopped at one eye-rolling conjecture. "Don't you feel sorry for your girl? You can't go out anymore. The other day I knocked you out.""I didn't say I was playing." 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 disappointed. "
"You can return the necklace after the contract is over.""What if I lose it?""Consider it an investment that you can replace with 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 laughed at Maureen after realizing his choice of necklace had made 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! My credit card balance is over two years old!" 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 men who Maureen expected to give her solace, both of them even, gave her problems beyond her expectation. The problem is that she is the only one who seems helpless and loses the pride of being no richer than t
"Abi! Abi!" Darren immediately faced the jumping and babbling of his eldest as soon as he got out of the newly parked car. "Are we going to Nini's house?"The four-year-old replica of Darren's four-year-old self was very playful when distracted by talking about his various miniature airplanes. The toddler insisted on being carried along the foyer that connects the terrace and reception room."Who said that?" Darren asked back when the invitation to his parent's house came back."Ummi told me to get ready, going to the Aki's house." Althaf, little children are always adorable when they talk. Darren couldn't resist pinching his son's chubby, rosy cheeks.In front of the open door of the predominantly pink room, Darren stopped walking and set Althaf down. He looked at the bustle of the little girl's comb that had not moved from the top of her head."Does Abi's girl need help?" asked Darren as he moved the doorframe closer to the wall."Abi!" exclaimed the little girl, turning around and
"Are you sure, you know?" asked Serena when Maureen spontaneously pointed at the young man sipping a drink in front of the bartender. "Your myopic isn't acting up, is it?""You know me, right?" Maureen pointed at herself. Even the back of the sofa on which they sat was like a mattress supporting her heavy head. "It's really hard to memorize people's faces if you haven't met them many times or made an impression."Serena vividly remembers the initial move and seeing Maureen frequently changing lens colors to cover her visual deficiencies.The weekend at the club still seemed a long way to go for them. It was not yet midnight, but Maureen had already finished the full bottle of wine she could get with a black card in hand.The special reservation and drinks she had chosen did not include paying for Aletta and a few friends who were not close to Maureen to join her for the evening.Maureen felt the need to deter Darren.Maureen initially thought that the meeting with Grandpa Wiratama wou
An impromptu visit that I didn't expect, it turns out Angga told me our wedding date so Matthew and Ben came, of course with their spouses. Maybe they're on vacation?Then the arrival of Darren who followed alone with a line of food service workers was enough to confirm that they intended to hold a small party without the host's permission.I only saw him after changing into a looser floral overalls that allowed me to breathe. The dress was too tight although it still didn't cover my pregnancy at all."You weren't invited, but you came." The satire I said wasn't funny at all, but they still laughed when I returned to the center of the conversation with a bottle of champagne ready to open."Ow! How cruel, Sister." Matthew snatched the fun out of my hands and quipped back, "Alcohol is not for pregnant women.""Damn it!" I cursed in annoyance, only to be met with an instantly infectious laugh.Angga had just followed me to where I was standing. He handed me a glass of avocado juice and a
"Maureen!" I faintly heard Angga calling my name, then it was replaced by the echo of air bubbles in my ears.I thought I could die here or wake up somewhere else. In fact, when I gave up, a stream of water replaced the blast of air on my face.I was still very much conscious, just afraid to open my eyes and face reality. The chill of the early spring air washed over my already wet skin along with the pressure behind my shoulders and behind my knees. It was warm on the right side, but instinct demanded that I find a grip.Angga, who I first saw, was also wet. His slender neck becomes the target of my trembling grip. This time, I'm afraid of being dropped.From this vantage point, his parted lips along with the angular movement of his firm jaw create a charisma of their own. Could Angga possibly hide the cruelest side of a warrior like him?Fool. I should have remembered that everyone has a dark side, a poison from their own life experiences. They only need to choose; oppress or be opp
Maureen demanded an explanation, before we had even had a chance to change?She and I had just arrived in our room, barely stripped to the surface of the fabric that covered the entire bed. Dusty, full of sawdust and mustiness. We should have taken down all the protective covering before attempting to use the room.Yes, almost.Just being alone with her could heat up the temperature around us. It felt like breaking free from all the coverings and letting instinct take over.Then, Maureen's question threw everything off. "So..., did you make a deal with Grandpa?"I was still in front of her, on top of her body while supporting myself using the elbows perched on either side of Maureen, avoiding the pressure on her stomach. Our lower waists were already attached as our legs slipped over each other.Argh! She messed up the appetizer.The look of rejection forced me to roll over to Maureen's left side, following her to gaze at the room's ceiling covered with sheets of bright albasia wood. T
Deciding to get married was not on my life list at all, especially under the age of thirty. What's happening now?Just a few months ago I turned twenty-five and within minutes had signed the marriage certificate. Everything I've been through has been beyond expectations, pregnant and married?Still in my simple wedding dress-just a white lace-covered overalls that didn't hide the size of my belly at all, I noticed Angga's figure when dressed officially like now. A clean-cut face and freshly cut hair refresh Angga's look with a black suit overlaying the white suit inside.Even though it was only a few days ago that I saw his face full of bruises, the main reason I made the choice and said yes, so that he wouldn't have to do such menial work anymore.What was I thinking at the time?"Not like this again!" I shifted the conversation from Angga's request to the cause of the bruises on his face, again he said about marriage.Des he really want to tie me up in a commitment? So what, I can't
I was almost desperate as I repeatedly checked my phone screen, waiting to hear from Maureen's friends about her whereabouts in the last two days. Maureen was unreachable, her phone dead.I don't know how many cans of beer I've consumed since returning home from last night's brutal game. I could have killed someone out of disappointment with myself. I felt like a failure.The phone screen lit up, but it wasn't someone I wanted to call. Maureen's sugardaddy was listed there. I deliberately gave him a name like that, so he'd think twice when he needed help. I still couldn't make peace with the past between them.Just glancing at the message display outside, without opening the messaging app, it was clear that each word indicated the address. No pleasantries or greetings.That's funny. He asked me to come there?A few minutes after putting the empty cans into the trash bag, an incoming call echoing the voice of a prominent rapper distracted me. Darren seemed genuinely intent on asking me
"Aren't you in college or doing something?" Uncle Darren was already babbling this early. Even the sky outside the window when he drew the curtains wasn't fully lit yet even though the alarm clock on the nightstand read seven o'clock. "Really, Rin, I'm confused to see you just lying in your room these days."A few days? I've only had a mattress this soft for two days. The sheets were soft and didn't rub against my skin. This time I can somewhat agree with Angga's previous insinuation about our ... well, lifestyle.The only choice is for me to give in and try to lower my standards, or for him to raise his income. Fix, yeah, I don't want to get married yet.In the last month of living together, I can't keep giving in to the future that Angga offers even though everything can be distracted with sex or Netflix and ignore everything.But, how to talk about it? Our fights would only continue to end with unification. I hated that."Why did you wake me up, Uncle?" I squirmed and kicked off th
"Uncle ...." I moan, feeling the ludicrous touch that traverses the skin. It descends from the arrangement of bones that make up my shoulders, collarbone, and then cupping the wedge of the neck divider of the body-wrapping overalls.From where he stood, Uncle Darren must have clearly seen the puffs that were getting denser as a result of his actions. I reflexively tilted my head to the right side, letting his warm breath caress the recesses of my neck without being covered by hair."You're always delicious, Rin." Uncle Darren's whisper sounds lulling behind my earlobe. The mint-scented exhale and woody-herb traces were replaced by the wetness of a taste bud that was beginning to venture out.Some seconds were fun to savor, but the next, what I was doing was more like an escape to get recognized. It felt like being a traitor.The corners of my lips twitched, realizing Uncle Darren wasn't doing anything more than that. Even though I liked the way he treated me, I still couldn't deny tha
"Move on, Is." Angga was seen patting the woman's cheek. What is her name? Isma? I could hear Angga talking casually through the barrier like that. "Anyway, stop following me."I was close enough to hear their conversation. It was just a stack of boxes at the turn of the foyer facing the exit of the supermarket.At first I thought Angga was still asleep because all my voice messages and calls had gone unanswered. Well, I should have sent a short message about going shopping before going home and asked Angga to ignore my request.Turns out he was in this place and met a 'flower snake' like that Isma. She really used to be a campus slut, right?Angga just told me about his habit of fighting in the arena just to buy time with Isma in the past. No wonder Angga didn't complain about getting a woman like her to support him.Well, I guess any man in Indonesia would always think of ways to get a virgin, but he chose the hardest way by capitalizing on feelings. Including me.Are there still peo
"Raka!" Isma waved from where she was pushing the shopping trolley towards me.Even though this monthly shopping business is usually the part of Maureen who understands best, but this morning when I woke up, there was already a note stuck to the refrigerator door. Correction, noon. I even got home early in the morning after last night's battle."Please, you do the shopping," accompanied by a heartfelt emot, a very long shopping list with special notes, and her black card. Including an incoming message on my phone explaining why Maureen was in such a hurry. Company research."Shopping too?" asked Isma after aligning the trolley she was pushing with mine. She even took the note I was holding and nodded, as if she understood.Why did we have to meet here, anyway? I'm even more uncomfortable with Isma around."Feeling better?" She still asked after returning the shopping list along with a few things taken from the shelves in the left row to my cart."When was the fight?" I arranged each i