"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
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
"Is it really that hard to get in?"Maureen, the local light-skinned girl seems to be struggling to aim the solid missile of the grown man beneath her at her untouched cleavage while squatting down.Maureen's wide eyes closed once she got the right spot.The density both thrilled and hurt her. Maureen had to bite her lower lip to keep the sound from escaping so that the owner of the missile would not wake up."It hurts ...."Maureen fell silent, letting hers swallow the rough flesh inside entirely. Her long, lustrous eyelashes even looked damp though no tears had fallen.Both of Maureen's calves were already clinging to the surface of the mattress, flanking the firm thighs underneath, when the throbbing came.Slowly the sting on Maureen's innermost walls created an instinct that forced her to move. Maureen... was still unfamiliar with the vibrations that ran through the entire surface of her skin.Her joints relaxed every time she lifted her hips high, then sank back down again with t
Darren couldn't get over Maureen taking advantage of him when he was completely exhausted.He wanted to blame the motion sickness that took over his consciousness as soon as he reached the pillow.Maureen sat on the edge of the bed hugging the folds of her legs, facing Darren who chose to lean against the opposite wall.A few minutes passed in silence as the owner of tantalizingly curly eyelashes that fluttered shut faced the fierce scrutiny of her idol."Your period?" asks Darren, remembering how much his seed fills the space inside Maureen's hole.If he had to take responsibility, Darren would consider it. The vast gulf between them was not only a personal matter, but it might also break up the closeness of two families.He waited for the answer and stuffed both hands in his pants pockets. His shoulders rose, overwhelmed with all the possibilities of the future.Though Maureen continued to be mesmerized by the open view of the beautifully displayed athletic figure. Faint silky hair
Randy was surprised to find two humans of the opposite sex making out on the floor of the room.Maureen still had her legs wrapped around Darren's waist as she draped her arms around the shirtless man's neck.Their kiss was only broken when they heard a call. Both turned around, Randy was already girded at the waist, glaring and demanding a wordless explanation.Maureen and Darren were finally forced to sit in the living room, awaiting judgment when Maureen's twin sister and her father arrived."What did the kids do wrong?" asked Abra, Maureen's father, after taking a seat on the sofa across from them as he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. "How come they're all so quiet?"The two youngsters in front of him looked down.Darren placed a sofa cushion on Maureen's lap, covering his exposed groin when cross-legged. He wore a T-shirt pulled from the closet, rumpled and rushed.Without offering anything, Randy sat firmly on the single sofa between them. "We have something to talk about. I
"How about me, Sir?" Darren looked down again. Even if he raised his face, he tended to avoid the gaze of everyone in the room.His principle of restraint had been defeated by the person closest to him.His fists in his lap unraveled, moving to grip his knees and speak up."Look, I already have someone else to introduce to Mom and Dad. I have also talked to Mother about my future.""Uncle never told me!" protested the occupant of the seat next to Darren.The shrill voice hurts the ears. If I had to choose, Maureen's breath is much more melodious when it comes to her.Darren felt even more guilty for remembering it again.Maureen threw a sofa cushion at Darren's face. Her face was already bright red as she stomped away from the men.The plan in the big map that Darren had designed since long ago had to be put forward."Well, it turns out Darren himself already has a choice." Abra, Maureen's father chose to lean back, much more relaxed than before.It wasn't that he didn't appreciate hi
“I want to break up with Reval and celebrate that as well.” Maureen couldn't accept being the one left out. She had to make an impression worth fighting over that night.“Again?” Serena turned the car into the parking lot, obeying Maureen's request.The momentary stop gave Serena a chance to argue, “You don't count how many exes you have?”The advice was just an afterthought. Maureen covered her ears with her forefingers until her best friend could be seen taking a deep breath.Maureen picked up her handbag from one of the piles at the back, “Talk to my hand, Beb!” and thrust out a black card with a limit issued by a local bank.Serena immediately cheered in agreement. There was no refusal. Pool parties call for sexy, seductive bikinis, Maureen thought.The hotel location was their immediate destination after shopping for clothes for the next two days.Maureen felt the need for a vacation after the trial and the party. She would not ask her mother for permission for a second reason.“
“Coming too, Say?” Aletta welcomed Maureen under the pergola designed to provide shade for the party hosts.The outdoor space usually filled with sets of picnic chairs was replaced by various colorful waterproof beanbags and beach chairs.“I told you earlier to look atfor a second.” Maureen scanned the faces that passed by her. “Crowded too.”Maureen nodded, following the beat of the music played by the female dj under another pergola.As the night wore on, it seemed like the party atmosphere was getting wilder. Alcoholic drinks circulated easily, picked up from the scent that was very familiar to the nose of the woman who had just turned two-three. The girls were getting bolder and bolder clinging to their men disgustingly.It was no mistake that Maureen and Serena waited for bedtime to pass by by reporting to the parents who still thought they were babies and needed to be watched closely.“Hi, B*tch!” greeted Aletta after seeing the presence of Serena who followed standing next to M
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