Forced Mate

Tamara Hates Me

"Alex!"

A call stopped Alex's steps. He turned around and found his mother standing next to the stairs.

The five-headed lady still looked young ten years from her age. A smile rose on his face, looking very happy to welcome his eldest son who had not visited him for a long time.

"You yourself? Which wife?"

In his heart Alex cursed himself for thinking to immediately run on Tamara. Tamara is just a monkey love that she should have forgotten by now. They were just friends, and always were.

Alex followed his mother to the back porch, right in front of a swimming pool.

His mother was sitting on a rattan chair with a padded padded toska pad. Alex took his place in the next chair.

Alex's eyes stared at the vast pool. He used to love swimming, when he had time often under by his parents to swim in the pool or on the beach.

He still remembers that day when he was about four years old, his mother was on the phone while his father was sitting down enjoying coffee and magazines - suddenly he fell from the pool to the pool of adults who were right next door. Little Alex, who was not wearing a float, drowned a few minutes before being rescued by a poolguard, even now he still remembers the tightness of each time he saw the pool.

"You don't want to know your wife with Mami?"

"He works, Mi. Later in the day I'll meet Mami."

"Daddy you know?"

Alex shakes. "No, just a few close ones."

***

Marissa Helena, Alex's mother-is a famous singer of the '90s. Before starting a career in the world of singing, she was a cover model and married a model with Australian citizenship. After giving birth to Alex, she began to explore the world of singing which eventually raised her name.

Marissa's skyrocketing career left her with less time for her family. Her husband Samuel Jones started a modeling agency in Australia.  They rarely spend time together, but occasionally still make time for Alex.

Marissa decided to quit the world of martyrdom after marrying her second husband, Father of Reihan and Reina who is a businessman who inherited a large group. That's why Alex always envies his stepbrother, his mother quits and chooses to make time for his new family, but not for him and his father.

Alex stared briefly at his mother, then turned on the floor. After almost twenty years, he has not been able to forget all the destruction that took place in his family.

When his parents divorced when Alex was only 7 years old, Alex blamed himself - assuming he was the cause of their divorce. After growing up to be a teenager, he hated them, started being naughty and acting irresponsible. The growing age made her learn to accept, although she would never forget all the bruises and scratches in her heart because of their separation.

Alex still remembers those lonely nights he went through. No singing or bedtime stories. Alex's friend at home is just a new toy that almost every time bought for him.

After his mother stopped working and focused on taking care of Reihan, Alex sometimes made his sister cry. He even once made Reihan fall from the bed to the floor so that his sister had to be treated intensively. Because of Alex's mischief, he was taken by his father and raised by his grandmother in Melbourne.

Alex was only 13 years old, the age at which he began to climb towards rebellious teenagers. Sometimes he regretted his actions, but regret meant nothing. Maybe that's why Alex was impressed to always obey Reihan's wishes. For example, when his sister asked for one of his favorite collections; once also Alex lied that Reihan was with him, even though Reihan was on vacation with his friend.

Alex smiled bitterly remembering his past. How stupid and crazy his behavior was just to get his mother's attention.

"Why did you get married this way?" Marissa looked at Alex who was still staring at the floor.

"Just want a little unique, anti-mainstream!"

Marissa kneaded her forehead slowly. "You, it's as big as it is now it hasn't changed. Call Daddy! That's not how you marry someone's daughter. There should be a ceremony and family approval, not just like that."

Sometimes Alex wants to treat her mother like Reihan and Reina. Alex also wanted to come home, she could run hugging and kissing her mother's cheek. The last time he touched his mother's fingers he forgot. Sometimes she asks what it's like to have a mother, because she doesn't.

"Marriage isn't about ceremony and celebration, Mom. But how to survive and keep the marriage itself!" alex said as he looked at his mother with a smile. An expression of sarcasm that he had long wanted to speak to his mother.

Alex could catch the change in expression on his mother's face. He didn't mean to hurt his mother's feelings, but it was a series of words he wanted to say long ago. He wanted his mother and father to know that marriage was not just about making a wedding vow, but carrying out the promise itself; that marriage is not just saying that it will be together in joy and sorrow, but proving by caring and caring.

"Later in the afternoon, I brought Ayu here if Mami wasn't busy," Alex said then continued, "i'm leaving first, Mi. There's business."

Alex smiled briefly then left his mother sitting by herself.

***

Marissa could only watch Alex leave. Hearing Alex's words made him believe that his son had not been able to forgive his decision to divorce.

She never said it, but she loved Alex as much as she loved her other children. However, because she was busy with her career when Alex was a child, they did not have a good emotional relationship as a mother and child.  There is a sense of awkwardness to convey and show affection to Alex, in contrast to Reihan and Reina who he took care of himself since infancy.

Sometimes Marissa feels sorry and guilty for abandoning Alex. He used to be so young and blinded by fame, that he missed Alex's developmental years that he only realized were precious.

As Alex is nurtured by her father, while she is raising her other two children, Marissa sometimes wonders about how cute Alex was as a baby because there are not many memories she goes through with Alex. He often went early in the morning and came home late at night. She never wakes up in the middle of the night to play and breastfeed Alex for being too tired. All done by Alex's nanny. He often leaves Alex for days when he has to perform outside the city.

While Marissa is not divorced from Alex's father, Alex is a cheerful child. He still remembers how happy Alex was when he came home. Alex's happy face and embrace can be a cure for his tiredness, although he often pushes his son away because he wants to rest. That time will not be repeated, and he has broken Alex's heart since childhood.

After a divorce that broke her heart, Marissa busied herself with work. By staying busy, Marissa can forget her heartbreak. However, he forgot that Alex needed him too. He was selfish; he thought that only he was hurt. Alex was more hurt, and he hurt her more.

Marissa wiped her tears. Somehow Alex can forget the past and forgive him. Marissa wanted Alex to understand that getting a divorce was also very difficult for her, but it was the best option. He hopes there's a time when Alex understands that promises sometimes have to be broken.

***

Alex drives away from his mother's house. He will prove his point, he will have a marriage that is not bound by promise but awake, because promise is meaningless without action. He does not care at all about the empty promise of the wedding ceremony, because what makes the marriage last is not the covenant but the commitment and responsibility.

Alex's hands were grayed in the steering wheel of the car because the grip was tight. He was angry, but no matter who, maybe to himself for not being able to stop living in the past, because he could not stop hoping for time to restore his happy time.

Alex's car stopped because of the red light. A red mini sports car passing next to Alex breaks through the red light, making the vehicle in the other direction craze with its horns. Abusive words could also faintly be heard from the outside.  He had lived in several countries, but had never encountered such a miraculous occurrence. Ah, that's what makes him always miss Jakarta traffic.

Alex raised one eyebrow recalling the vehicle that broke through earlier. He likes the mini body of the car. It seems like that type of car is perfect for Ayu, small but cute and luxurious.

The smile on Alex's lips expands. His mind wanders to imagine how the look on Ayu's face if he sees the new car. Alex slammed the steering wheel, he knew the car dealer who sold the car.

***

Still short, because the connection was yesterday.

I'm up special because it was an ACC proposal. Thanks for the support 🤩

Don't be tired of waiting, yeah.

Tomorrow I want to go home because of leave, maybe I UP again if I go back to the city. My GSM signal is ugly there, can't be online 😁