The Contract Husband I Love
5. GO TO THE MALL

Although only a short introduction, but Niken immediately felt comfortable when with Ardi. The two have introduced themselves, especially Ardi who until thirty minutes ago has not introduced his name to Niken. It's outrageous this one young man, fortunately Niken is the patient type of woman. At least that's what Ardi thought.

"Where are we going?" asked Ardi, while sitting next to Niken.

"First we'll go to the mall, then to the salon to change your appearance. Anyway today you should look handsome and cool because later tonight we will meet Dad," Niken reply casually.

Hearing the word 'Meet Dad' immediately Ardi's guts shrunk like a balloon that lacked oxygen. "What, meet your father? Today?" Even to swallow Ardi was quite difficult.

Niken immediately said, "Right. I told Dad that I found my future husband and I wanted to quickly meet his future daughter-in-law, you."

Niken swallowed the word 'You' so Ardi found it harder to swallow his saliva. He who was originally sitting facing Niken, now changed his sitting position, facing the street while chattering.

"What the hell is this about just meeting your father-in-law? What if they asked me about my education and my job, which I was immediately expelled at that time. God, why is he in such a hurry to introduce me to his father? Not even 24 hours we know, this has been playing meet the father-in-law alone ..."

"What will I do when I stand before my father? I could have fainted right then and there because I was nervous. Jesus, Ardi."

Not yet met, Ardi had already imagined how his father Niken would react when he met him.

***

"Security! Quickly drive him out! He's just a midfielder who dreams of becoming the daughter-in-law of the Atmaja family!" his demeanor was without hesitation in front of many pairs of eyes.

"You! An uneducated man, eager to marry my beautiful daughter! You should have reflected first. What's in your house there's no mirror, so you have no shame!"

Not only berating and insulting, Bambang really humiliated Ardi in the meeting. The sixties man knew it was more wrathful when Ardi did not leave.

***

"Ardi," call Niken, while stroking Ardi's shoulder.

"Ary." He said his name again, but there was not the slightest response. Even Niken had shaken Ardi's shoulder, still the twenty-seven-year-old did not wiggle.

"Kick it, Miss. Surely he'll come to his senses" jake chanted.

"What si? Can't be quiet. Just interfere in people's business." Niken snorted in annoyance and Jake did not continue his opinion. He just grumbled in his heart.

Ardi was too late in the shadows, until finally Niken could not hold it anymore.

"Arm!!"

He took a deep breath, then shouted as loud as possible until Jake was shocked.

Ardi finally woke up from his daydream. Really, he was too late in his mind to forget that he was currently with a beautiful woman. Ah, more precisely the angry woman.

Niken knitted her eyebrows together, her face turned jutek with her arms folded over her chest, "What are you thinking about so much that my call is ignored?" tanyanya was upset.

Ardi could immediately understand his frustration in one look, "Ah, my goodness. You made my ears buzz with your screams," he protested, quickly wiping his right ear. Niken raised his eyebrows without commenting.

This is Ardi's way so that the atmosphere is not too awkward or tense. Maybe it'll offend Niken. But how else? The words of Niken who asked her to meet her father today, made Ardi unable to sit quietly.

"Why is his style suddenly so songg? Indeed, he thought, who is he to be able to judge me like that and rule arbitrarily?" inner Niken, immediately raised his eyebrows and smiled cynically.

He was quite annoyed with Ardi's remarks, even very upset that Ardi bravely equated himself with the village woman, who was clearly at a far different level to him.

Finally, the two people who just knew each other could only look at each other. "What?" asked Ardi who only signaled by raising down next to his eyebrows.

Niken shook her head, she took a front-facing position, folding both hands on her chest and looking out the window. His head he rested on the side of the corner of the chair, looking at the crowded street.

Ardi did the same. Instead of her thinking about meeting Father Niken, she should go back to repeating the memory with Melati, her lover who had the heart to leave her right on the wedding day.

Still very warm in her memory as she read a letter that Melati left before she died.

"Why are you saying it now? Am I that bad that you want to embarrass myself in front of people?" batin Ardi, while looking at the highway. A soft scratch was clearly visible from his face. However, Ardi tries to hide it, not wanting to be seen by Niken or Jake.

Just like Ardi who was thinking about how the current condition of Melati, Niken is also repeating the same memory as a man, who knows where the balance is now?

"When I'm honest, maybe you won't leave. I regret never telling you, letting yourself keep hoping and waiting for me. Truly I am a foolish woman who has wasted you" he said, exasperating with a heavy breath.

He blinked his eyes slowly, as if time had stopped again, bringing him into a past that he could not forget until this second.

Fall in love. His love is beautiful, but the fall is painful and ends with a deep trauma.

In the end, during the trip there was no more chatter between them. Both people who have both experienced the failure of lovemaking are drifting in their respective feelings.

Jake, who had been watching the two, could only take a deep breath, "They are suitable, both have been left by a boyfriend," he murmured without hearing anyone.

"I hope I don't have the same fate as them. Fall in love. Love is beautiful, but the fall is painful. May I never experience it in the future" he hoped, shaking his head and looking back on the road.

***

After traveling for three hours, they finally arrived in Jakarta. Instantly Ardi's view was immediately enthusiastic when he saw the City of Jakarta. All this time he only saw it on television and now he is in Jakarta. It was like a dream.

"Are you happy?"

Just now Ardi wanted to express his happiness, Niken had already asked and Ardi immediately nodded in excitement.

"Of course I'm very happy. All this time I only saw the city of Jakarta from television and have never come here. Apparently, the city of Jakarta is more crowded than it looks on tv," Ardi said with a big smile.

Niken could see how happy Ardi was when he arrived in Jakarta. Ardi was a very different man from most men Niken knew.

They are good at playing the role by wearing masks to cover up their rot. But it is different with Ardi. He's really sincere. From the look of his eyes radiated honesty, not innocence that is just made up.

Long enough Niken watched Ardi who was enthusiastic about seeing the streets of the Capital, until Jake braked suddenly. Instead of stumbling forward, Niken's body even fell in Ardi's arms that made the two of their neutrals meet each other.