Because of the compulsion

I love him, Sir.

"Really, Mister?" Viona was very sparkling looking at the Marshal who nodded and smiled affirmatively.

"I'm weird about you, why should I be someone else?"

"It's not so, sir. But I'm reluctant to get close to you, sir," Viona explained honestly.

Marshal just smiled. Stretched out a hand to stroke Viona's head. "From now on, be yourself! Don't be awkward around me anymore! I'm not gonna bite you." Marshal chuckled to himself with his words.

Viona nodded. He will be back to himself. Viona has changed a lot since she got married. And it turns out that Marshal was also aware of the change.

Because Marshal is happy today, Viona is allowed to ask him anything. Not a valuable item or anything, Viona asks to be allowed to be herself.

Strange indeed, but Marshal also understood his wife's intentions and asked Viona to be ordinary in front of Marshal so that the interaction between the two was not too awkward.

"Then what do you want to ask me?"

Viona frowned, looking at the Marshal in confusion. "Ask what?" He asked, "didn't I say my wish?"

Marshal laughed, touching his wife's cheek in a fit of anxiety. "Well, is that all you want? It's not asking for his name, it's just saying. You said you wanted to go back to being yourself, it wasn't a request, my wife." Viona just kept watching Marshal. "What do you want? What are you buying?"

Viona turned her head. Clenching his hands in the air was about to hit the Marshal. But his intention was to undo it because he did not have enough courage. "Master thinks I'm matre?"

"Huh?" Marshal was surprised to hear it. Why does Viona think that? He just wanted to follow all his wife's will. Marshal asked like that because maybe Viona wanted something or anything valuable, but Viona instead meant something else. "I'm just asking, not asking you. You want me to buy you something? Want bags? A shirt? The jewels? Or shoes? Say it! Whatever I'm gonna buy."

"Sir, I don't want to buy anything," said Viona turned her gaze towards the pool that she had been staring at earlier this afternoon while sitting with Joints.

"Why not? I'll buy you all your wishes." Marshal was astonished at his wife who turned down the offer. Even if Amanda were offered like that, would have been very enthusiastic and even bought everything. But Viona seems different.

He shook his head again. "No need, sir. I don't want anything" he said as he looked at the pool water reflecting the twilight. The fish swim peacefully under the artificial waterfall at the end of the pond.

Joints came home a few hours ago followed by Arga. And Viona, who had wanted to go to the kitchen, was pulled over by the Marshal to sit in the front room of the pool, where she and Joints had been talking this afternoon.

"I'm letting you be yourself. So you have to behave naturally to me too. There can be no more awkwardness. We have to be open and if there's anything, say it! But remember," Marshal looked intently at Viona, even though his wife didn't look at him. "I allow you to be free, open, that doesn't mean you can argue with me. You must obey me if it's your duty."

Viona just shifted her eyes. Look at the Marshal sitting next to him.

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Although somewhat annoyed that the Marshal remained indisputable, Viona still nodded. At least he can be himself. To be the real Viona. Not pretending like this when dealing with Marshal.

"O yes, you were the same Joints ...?"

"Why, Tu－why did you eavesdrop on my conversation with Joints?" asked Viona sharply. Shameful if Marshal hears their talk. He also talked about Marshal. The fear of Marshal even big heads hear Viona's words on Joints.

Marshal smiled instead. "Little bit. Just passing by, really!"

Despite her disbelief, Viona still breathed a sigh of relief. Looks like Marshal won't be so big head because his words aren't too strange.

Marshal paused for a moment, hesitating to say. Afraid that Viona didn't like what she was going to ask. "Have you cut ties with him?"

Viona looked at the Marshal. A second later he turned his eyes back to the pool. "What relationship, sir? I'm the same Joints don't have any relationship."

"But you guys ..," Marshal got confused himself thinking about it. "You're not dating?"

Viona shook her head without taking her eyes off. He started explaining everything to the marshal.

Joints often invite Viona to be made, formalizing their relationship so that it is clearer and can be recognized. However, Viona always refused. He does not want to be lazy if he already has a relationship. She was always called never dating because she never had a boyfriend.

Viona only suggested committing and Joints agreed to that as well. They are committed to caring for and loving each other, but there is no relationship or bond. No status can be described or recognized by either.

"The joint seems to love you very much. After this, will you guys still meet?" marshal asked after Viona finished explaining calmly.

Viona. "I don't know, Sir. But I want her not to meet him again and try to forget Joints. But it's hard."

Marshal. What is difficult? Didn't Viona just say it to Jendi if she didn't want to see her again?

When you think of this incident, Marshal is very happy. Because from the words of Viona, it means that she prefers Marshal rather than Joints. But, why now does Viona even say it's difficult? Is he sad to have let go of Joints? Or still hoping to be with Joints again?

"Why is that?" asked Marshal curiously. She actually did not want to pry Viona's story forward with Joints, but because she was very curious, was forced to say that and it might not hurt if she found out. He's Viona's husband and he deserves to know about everything in his wife's life.

"You don't have a relationship, you said you didn't want to see him again and forgot about him. What makes it so hard?"

"I love him, Sir."

Deg.

Marshal was silent. So Viona loves Joints? Though Marshal thought that Viona did not love Joints because she was invited to date him. But in fact, Viona loves Joints?

There was a pain he felt. Anxiety also comes to the surface.

The marshal clenched both hands in silence. As much as possible he should be able to withstand his emotions that would overflow right now. He was angry because he felt played. Viona had already soared her high towards the hope of the seventh heaven but with two sentences 'I love her' Marshal hope instantly nyuksruk up to the deepest layer of the earth. Reaching his crust, it came into contact with the inner core of heat which made him feel a fire.

Why does it feel so sorry to know that Viona loves Joints? Why does he always feel like putting Viona in jail just for her? Selfish indeed. But Marshal can't lie if he doesn't like it when Viona is with another man.

Marshal thinks Viona already loves him or at least has tried to love him, given Viona's remarks on Joints earlier this afternoon. But, in fact ...

It's not once that Marshal gets caught up with his wife's words during a show. As a result, always the pain mixed with excruciating disappointment. Why does Viona always seem to give hope in every word if lying to people? And Marshal was always his victim.

In front of her husband.

In front of Marshal who is happy after knowing that Viona prefers him over Joints and hopes that Viona has started to love him.

Pupus was already the happiness of Marshal who could now only sigh deeply. Viona was too shrewd in stirring up her feelings. Why must Marshal be trapped in Viona's boast that is not yet clear?

And why does Viona always say hopeful words to others who involve her when her heart is longing?

Disappointment is there. The pain was clearly felt. He can only duck. Loving alone is more painful when the hope of being loved again has been broken.

Why would Viona be honest with her? If Viona knew the answer would be very painful, Marshal would undo his intention to ask. But it's too late. His heart ached first and what could he do?

But, if you think back? How cruel Viona is is not comparable to what Marshal has done. She even had to do a big lie to marry Viona and now, after she married her, Marshal is even still dating Amanda.

But Marshal did love her. From the pain he felt, of course, there was no need to explain if from a long time ago he still loved Viona, even now. And that love was never lost even though Marshal could divert it to others.

****

"Master?"

"Hm?"

Rio frowned while driving. Marshal was silent. Even when discussing the construction of the project he did not look too enthusiastic. What's wrong with her? Unlike usual Marshal not focus on work.

"Master why?"

"Sleepy," replied the Marshal with a chuckle. He leaned his back against the back of the passenger seat while closing his eyes.

Rio only glanced at Marshal from the rearview, at a glance. He refocused on driving and struggled with his own thoughts.

"Master, wake! It's over." Rio patted Marshal's shoulder slowly as the car was parked in the house.

Slowly his eyes opened. Graze twice. He scratched his forehead. "Fastly, it's home" said Marshal who then got off the car whose door was opened by Rio.

Stepping with a lunglai, Marshal climbed the stairs. This is how lazy it is if there is a dinner hour meeting. Always go home late and get home the body feels very tired.

After cleaning up and changing clothes, Marshal came out of the room to Viona's room. He has to fix things. Forget what happened and try to stay calm.

Marshal did not want his emotions ignited again just because he thought about it. Forget for a moment about Viona and Joints because Marshal also still has Amanda to take care of.

Viona's bedroom door was easily opened because the girl did not lock it. Marshal was surprised when he saw Viona sitting on the bed playing with her hands.

Viona turned towards the open door. He was astonished to see Marshal coming to his room. "What's up, Mister?" ask Viona calmly.

Marshal approached and smiled at Viona. Sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at his wife. "Why aren't you asleep?"

"Not sleepy, sir."

"Not sleepy, hm? But it's late." Marshal went up to the bed. Sitting and holding the blanket over her legs, just like Viona did.

Viona wanted to shift her position but could not and could only quietly stare at the Marshal in wonder. "So I took a nap until the Maghrib, right, sir knows too. So it's not sleepy anymore" Viona explained.

The marshal laying down his body beside Viona made his wife even more astonished. "I sleep here, yes" said Marshal, who pulled the blanket up to his chest.

Viona was silent. Letting Marshal act as he pleases.

"Here, sleep!" Marshal touched Viona's arm to lie down. Viona sneered in her heart. He did not want to but as usual, Marshal could not possibly be denied if it had given his sharp gaze.

Viona had to lie down. He doesn't want to talk much at the moment.

"Want to be hugged?"

Viona glanced at the Marshal strangely. Tumben asked? Usually just put on. It's obvious Viona's answer is "no". Where would he want to be hugged by Marshal.

But Marshal doesn't need an answer. He immediately carried Viona's head propped up on the chest to make it as a battalion and the Marshal hugged her with the right hand that he circled under his wife's shoulders.

Viona remained silent until the Marshal began to speak, "I'll ask you a question. I hope you can answer it with words not gestures. Answer honestly and quickly because I'm impatient."

Viona was silent. Listen to what Marshal will ask.

"Do you love me?"

"No," Viona replied quickly.

Marshal was silent for a moment. Good. Pain indeed. But forget it first. "Are you going to try to love me?"

"No."

Marshal was silent again. The more pain it feels. Can't she embrace Viona's heart at all? Marshal knew that Viona married him because she had to. But this is not the story either. He still wants Viona to love him who already loves Viona first.

But Viona loves Joints right now, can Marshal win Viona's heart to the point of Marshal?

Smiling faintly. Viona is already his wife, Marshal will not let Viona go so easily until Viona can love him.