90 Days Pursuing My Husband's Love

4. Campus

Claudia was lying on the grass of her home garden with her eyes closed. Enjoy the silence in the afternoon.

When Naomi arrived and sat down beside Claudia wiping the bangs covering Claudia's face slowly and carefully.

Claudia opened her eyes without glancing at Naomi. A bored expression on his face.

"Well, I'm waiting for your arrival. I wonder what you think of all the drama that happened." Said Claudia without getting up from the grass where she lay and let out a long sigh.

Naomi also sounded her sigh.

"The woman is not her lover." Naomi.

"What cares about me." Reply Claudia who seemed not interested in hearing Naomi's words.

"At least listen to me, listen to his opinion as well. Stop being cold to that stupid guy." Naomi.

Claudia shifted her body and placed her head on Naomi's lap. Naomi smiled then rubbed Claudia's head gently.

"When are you gonna stop like this? Why won't you listen to me?" Ask Naomi again.

"Because this is how I am."

"No, you're not like this. This isn't you. All this bad, delinquent, rude, cursing, all this just to prove that you're hard and strong so that no one can hurt you."

"What's wrong with all that? It's like that everyone should behave. I don't want to be weak and stupid like most people. I don't like being a melancholy person."

"Then why did you start all this drama a month ago? I just found out yesterday. The man named Endra is not really your lover. He likes you but you refuse him. Not like you reject another man, just because he's your best friend. You gave her the freedom that made people see your closeness as if you were really lovers."

"Aaiissshhh, who told you all this? Sometimes I think you're not a lawyer, but a detective." Claudia.

"My answer..."

"With this in mind, I feel free, and can also get divorced soon. She'll hear rumors that I have a boyfriend, cheating on her and...."

"And he would sign the divorce papers easily. That's why all this time you've been making trouble that further increases misunderstandings between the two of you. Everything you do is just to make sure that when he finds out your true identity, he won't think long enough to divorce you. And that's why you've been hiding your identity and making him continue to misunderstand you. Ckckck..... Such an evil brain." Naomi.

Claudia.

"Thats me...." Claudia kept laughing.

The laughter suddenly turned into tears. Claudia started crying and hid her face in Naomi's lap.

Naomi cried and wiped the water from the corner of her eye.

"He cares about you, trust me. You have to open your eyes and look at everything rationally. He's that husband...."

"I will never accept him as my husband."

Naomi took a breath.

"You know, she looks so happy today because she got a notice that you finally wanted to use her credit card. He thinks that you've been willing to give your marriage a chance. But, she became so worried when she realized that you were also in that mall and saw her with that woman. She's afraid you'll think she's cheating on you."

"He was cheating." Claudia twirled her eyes lazily.

"No. He's not cheating. Give him a chance, give yourself a chance, and give your life a chance. I've known you since childhood, so I know you're afraid of...."

"Stop Brother. I'm not afraid of anything. Claudia Wijaya, not afraid of anything. You understand that..." Claudia said annoyedly.

"Claudia Wijaya huh....!!!"

Claudia regained her senses and closed her eyes, trying to justify her own words.

"Claudia Setyawan." Her speech.

"Di, accept everything. Try to build your relationship."

"No. I don't want to."

"Care In. Why are you being so childish like this. You're married, don't make all marriages equal. You said you didn't want to remember the past about your parents' relationship. But, you yourself like this don't want to give your husband a chance. You think that he's cheating. Something you've been afraid of all this time. But you always deny and say that you're not afraid of anything. Reality's different. You did something to her that you yourself were afraid it would happen to you. Miss who's not afraid of anything."

Naomi was about to leave, but she turned back and looked at Claudia.

"Stop all the drama you're making with Endra right now, before Adam knows it all. I'll tell your friends about your true identity and be prepared to explain to them why you're hiding everything. Okay?" Naomi then left without waiting for Claudia's answer.

Naomi arrives at Adam's house...

"Hows it? Did you talk to him? What'd he say? Did she look at me with Hana and think that she was my lover or my affair?" Adam panicked.

"No, no. Relax Dam. Yes, he did see you with that woman, but he didn't think anything strange about you. He was with his friends. That's why he didn't meet you there. I told her that Hana was your secretary and why you could be in that mall, so don't worry." Naomi.

**************

A week has passed....

Claudia is seen standing inside the Dean's room with three other students. The other three female students lowered their heads, while Claudia showed a bored expression.

The Dean scolded the other three students. Actually, Claudia and the three female students were fighting this morning at the college. Claudia beat up the three women, she had a reason. But he didn't want to explain everything, he preferred to be quiet.

The three women kept glancing at Claudia, as only they scolded the Dean. While Claudia, the Dean did not look at her at all.

The three students were then asked to leave the Dean's room after an hour. They were further shocked when the Dean did not ask Claudia to come out. This made them even more hurt and angry. Everyone on campus knew very well that Claudia had insiders protecting her despite frequent troublemaking. They cursed Claudia inwardly before coming out from inside the Dean's room.

The Dean looked at the woman standing before him with that guiltless face. The dean sighed and shook his head.

"Can you explain what happened? They always thought that I was always defending you, because you had an insider. I don't give a shit. I know the real you. Anyway, I'm your Papa's best friend and I also know that Adam Wijaya is your husband, but that's not why I treat you special. I know there's always a good reason for every fight you do. I know you're grumpy and that anger is controlling you. But you're not the one who just smacks others for no reasonable reason. So, can you explain what happened?" Speak Dean at length.

Claudia then sat on the sofa without being invited by the Dean and began to tell him what had really happened, why he had beaten the three students.

***********

"Have you finished having fun with Mr Dean?" Said a woman whose voice was well known to Claudia.

The voice of someone who doesn't like to be heard. Claudia's face flushed red, Endra clutching her hand tightly. He didn't want Claudia to get back into a fight today.

"Lisa, what do you want? I told you Claudia was in a bad mood. Stay away." Said Rose trying to evict the woman named Lisa to stay away.

But like Claudia, Lisa is a stubborn woman. He sat in front of Claudia.

"By the way, I didn't come here to fight with you. I have some important news for you." Lisa's Saying. "There will be an inter-campus match, which is a marathon run. Every campus is competing and our campus is too. So I came here to check, what happened to this sprinter at our college." Continue Lisa.

Claudia is known as the fastest runner on campus. He himself already knew about the match, but he did not want to follow it because there was something else in his mind.

But Lisa didn't want to give up. And Endra knows it. He didn't want the woman he liked to be burdened.

"In, let's get out of here. We still have class." Endra said as he pulled Claudia's hand away.

"Huh, that's predictable. Fucking loser. Being a loser always flows in your blood." Lisa's Eject.

Claudia became angry. He turned and looked at Lisa. Endra tried to hold his hand but was unable to. Claudia was standing right in front of Lisa and pointing at her.

"There's nothing Claudia can't do. I never lose." Claudia.

Claudia finally agrees to Lisa's challenge. Where he had to run a marathon for 13.1 miles against more than 6000 other participants who had already registered. There were three names that had silver medals, and that was not what worried him. But the punishment he will get if he loses a bet from Lisa who makes his sleep is not good. Claudia had to pick one of three penalties she would have to face if she lost the match.

First, he had to be locked in one room with the Dean for two hours.

Wh why? Because Lisa wanted to humiliate Claudia to everyone and enjoy the time when the entire campus would be talking about Claudia and the Dean. Rumors about Claudia and the Dean's relationship are heating up.

Second, Claudia had to be Lisa's servant for one week.

"It couldn't have happened, even if only in his dreams." Claudia.

Third, Claudia had to shout 'I love you Adam Wijaya' in the middle of the basketball court for ten times.

"Can you believe that? The woman was aware of the incident that happened at the mall. He saw everything." Claudia.

Claudia is at Endra's house. He lay with his head on the belly of Endra. Endra was also lying down while smoking.

"But Di, I think the third option sounds better than the first. Didn't they? Only the students will be there to hear you scream. No one else will know. They'll probably think that you do have a relationship with him, that's all. Compared to you humiliating yourself and the Dean. You and the Dean will be humiliated." Endra gave Claudia a suggestion.

Claudia looked even more worried about something.

"You never asked me if there was a connection between him and me. Why?" Claudia asked with a curious face.

"You'll say everything yourself when you're ready. Our friendship has nothing to do with it. I won't die curious even if I don't know the reason behind your quarrel and the man who is more handsome than me. It's possible that she was your ex-boyfriend in the past, but now you've made me your closest friend and made her jealous. But, I will make you my lover and make the man who overcame my popularity from among the women cry like a child who asked to buy candy because of heartache." Endra then took a pillow and covered his face.

The two fell silent, but the next second Endra's room was filled with laughter.

That was why Claudia always felt at home by Endra's side, because the man could always make her laugh.

The second meeting began when Claudia first entered the campus. Claudia who does not know many people and looks grumpy make others stay away from him. Not with Endra. The tall man always tried to approach Claudia and give her attention until finally making friends.

After getting to know Endra, Claudia began to get to know her other friends, Rose, Diana and the others.

"Thank you for always being there for me. No matter what my situation is, you're always there." Claudia.

"That's what friends are for. Although your best friend is actually disappointed because his love was rejected."

Claudia looked at Endra for a moment then punched him in the stomach.

"Aaauu...." Endra grimacing. "How can a woman with such a thin body like you have that much power."

Claudia laughs.

"You ever see ants?" Ask Claudia.

"What kind of question is that?" Reply Endra. "There are humans who never see ants."

Claudia was back in tears as Endra pushed her head.

"You know, ants are small but have enormous power. Ants can even lift weights that are much heavier than their body weights. Well, that's how I am." Claudia.

"A very fitting parable. You are a very fierce red ant. Good thing you didn't bite."

"Who said I can't bite?"

Claudia immediately pulled Endra's hand and bit him hard.

"Because...." Endra flicked his hand.

He stared at his arm where there was a reddened bite mark of Claudia.

"You are a cruel ant."

Claudia laughs.

After that day, Claudia invited Endra to dinner outside, not to forget she also invited Rose and Diana.

They all met at a restaurant and each held a glass of colorful drinks.

"Return to the one and only Claudia. The ant is beautiful." Endra.

"Hopefully Claudia can win that race." Keep Rose.

"Cheers...." Say it all at the same time.

Seriate....