Money Or Honey
Episode 58: Not in India

The air swept through Hiyola's ears. He was not sure what he had just heard. Although they often spend time together, he never imagined that being the lover of Jeremy, his lecturer, is the right choice. 

"What are you talking about, Jeremy? I don't understand!" Hiyola took a step back. His eyes stared intently, amidst the dim light of the shop lights. 

Jeremy was unmoved, his lips moving to say something, but his heart was worried. "I may surprise you, Hiyola, but trust me, it takes a lot of courage to reveal this." Jeremy took a short breath, Hiyola waited anxiously. 

"I've liked you since the first time I saw you. And, I can't help but reveal it any sooner."

Hiyola is not a stupid girl who does not understand the attitude of every man who approaches her. But, he never imagined if Jeremy would express his feelings this quickly, let alone with his current status still the legitimate wife of a roberth Kohler, making it impossible to accept the man's sincere feelings. He once made a mess because of his closeness to Daniel, and did not want to make the same mistake that would have harmed Robert, even though the man never put his trust in him. 

"So, will you be my girlfriend, Hiyola?" Jeremy repeated his question again when he saw Hiyola standing with her forehead puckered. 

"Sorry, Jeremy. I can't!" Hiyola. He took a step back, taking a distance from the good guy, who he admitted lately had given him more comfort than he had ever felt. 

Jeremy grabbed Hiyola's hand, on the finger 

 the girl, a wedding ring is encircled even if not on the ring finger. 

"Is it because of this? Is it because of a man who never even saw you?" 

Hiyola could barely breathe when Jeremy said that. He jerks his hand strong, to rid himself of Jeremy. His eyes looked at the man full of probing and suspicion.

"You're investigating my background, Jeremy?" 

Jeremy's not budging, which means, uh, 

Yep! 

Hiyola closed her eyes for a moment. "So you know that I'm married?" 

Jeremy did not answer. The silent man explained everything.

"Since when? Since when do you know this?" Hiyola's voice was rising. Fortunately the silence at the location saved their conversation. 

"Since the first time I saw you, I've been figuring out everything about you. I may not know the man, but I know what he did to you!" answer Jeremy. Hiyola could see the honesty in her eyes, but the shame was now more shackled. Hiyola thought that she might be able to use Jeremy a little to help her survive while not with Robert, but it turned out that the man knew everything. 

Hiyola pressed both of her eyelids, shutting her tightly, hoping that the shame she was pending at this moment could be channeled. Really, he felt like a fool.

"I'm sorry, Hiyola. I've been presumptuous," said Jeremy. 

Hiyola. "You're not wrong, Jeremy! I'm the one who's wrong. I shouldn't have acted like I was someone you could have. I'm ashamed, Jeremy. That means you know that I've been-" all along"

"Benefiting me?" cut Jeremy fast. Hiyola nodded resignedly, and Jeremy smiled warmly. "If you feel a little guilty, then be my lover" he continued, but Hiyola quickly shook her head. 

"I can't, you know the reason. I'm married, Jeremy, and it's not a game" Hiyola said. 

Jeremy took one step closer, cutting the distance between them. "Maybe for you this isn't a game, but for that guy? You're just a tool to protect something else that means more to him, nothing more! And I know you're aware of that!" 

Hiyola nodded again. He doesn't deny anything Jeremy says. "Yes, you're right! That's what he did, but not with me." Take a few breaths, "I know what it's like to be betrayed, abandoned, and I won't be one of those who do that. I'll run this marriage without betraying anyone." 

Hiyola closed her eyes, remembering how she was left behind by her mother. At that time the sky was dark, lightning struck, the water of God soaked the body of the young girl who even saw tomorrow was still very frightened. 

"Sorry, Jeremy. You're a good man, but I have a responsibility. I'm tied up, and can't just let go of it, "sorry Hiyola, looking at Jeremy with watery eyes.

So gently, Jeremy carried Hiyola into his arms. "Alright, if that's what you want," he gently rubbed the top of Hiyola's head, making the master feel so comfortable. 

If Jeremy was the first person he knew, and the first person to get into his heart before Robert, he would probably fall in love without asking. Unfortunately, he was just an ordinary human being who could not even manage his own feelings. To like Robert and get hurt because of him is enough to make Hiyola realize that there is no pure love in this world. Everything always has its own consequences.

Indwelling each other, Hiyola who still had one question on her mind earlier, decided to ask. 

"Why did your eyes turn red when you arrived? Did something happen, Jeremy?" He could see Jeremy's gloomy face again. 

"What's going on, Jer?" ask Hiyola. 

Jeremy stared at Hiyola's two black irises, hesitating. "My dad, he's dying" Jeremy said.

Hiyola covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes perfectly rounded. 

Jeremy was still staring at Hiyola's pretty face very intensely. "She's dying, and she's dying to see me with the woman who's going to be my wife."

 "Oh, I'm sorry, Jeremy. I wasn't..." Guilt began to envelop him. Hiyola felt she would probably be the biggest disappointment for Jeremy, the one who cared about her. 

"I'm sorry, for not being able to be that woman, Jeremy," Hiyola said. However, Jeremy smiled at him instead.

"In that case, let me be one of the customers of the application who will hire you as a wife-to-be to introduce to both of my parents Hiyola..." Jeremy now takes over Hiyola's hands, and holds them hopefully. 

"But I'm no longer an employee there, Jeremy. You're forgot? I've been fired." Hiyola explained, reminding.

Jeremy nodded, he couldn't possibly forget the day he almost lost this girl. 

"Yes, I know. I asked you in exchange for a failed introduction when I first became your customer" he said.

Now that Hiyola had scared both of her eyebrows, she smiled in embarrassment at the thought of their first encounter so embarrassing, even spending time telling stories inside a black Jeep. 

"You mean, instead? Just a pretend status? But why should it be with me? Shouldn't you choose another girl who doesn't have marriage ties?" hiyola asked confusedly. Although some of his last customers did use him to deceive a handful of people, it happened because they did not know his current status. Jeremy just dabbed his shoulder. 

"Maybe it's because you're more experienced" Jeremy replied, with both eyebrows together, giving Hiyola a chuckle. He remembers how he spent his time, acting with his customers just to help them escape the entanglement of parents who always impose wills on their children.

"So when will the meeting start?" hiyola asked after finishing with her laughter, and the decision to pay for her guilt. 

"Tomorrow! And it's not in Indonesia, baby."

***

A few hours before that. Kimberly's on her way home. All the preparations are in order for tonight. 

[I can't wait for you to come home, Honey.]

The message was sent 20 minutes ago. The two gray ticks had already turned blue, but there was no reply at all. Trying not to think of any bad possibilities, Kimberly kept doing her car to the house she had been in for almost three weeks.

Arriving home, Kimberly was surprised by the atmosphere of the house that seemed more quiet than usual. He immediately dropped off all the groceries, then started walking in. 

"Where is everyone, Ami?" ask Kimberly. The expression tensed so sharply as he found no sign of Violeta and Clodio. 

"Sorry miss, because of an incident earlier, Mr. Clodio, Ms. Violeta and Mr. Roberth had to return to Germany. Mr. Robert asked me to express his regret at not being able to drive you back to your residence tonight" Ami said. 

Kimberly could not even believe it when Ami showed her a row of suitcases that had been stacked right in front of the main door. His eyes turned red with clenched hands, when he realized that Robert did not want to be involved with him anymore. 

"Fuck you, Robert!" 

***