Forced Mate

midnight talking (part 1)

Ayu gets out of the elevator and goes straight to the cafe where Alex is. Ayu stopped right outside the glass-walled cafe, her gaze fixed on the man who was sitting while playing HP. Alex waited for him for two hours there, not knowing how many cups of coffee money had flowed his throat.

Once again Ayu was thinking about the continuation of her married life in the future. Starting to worry about the decision she will make on her own, continuing the marriage or divorce after Ayu feels enough to start being able to raise her own child. Alex's dream is to form a happy family, and Ayu believes there can be no happy marriage without love.

Ayu's tears started to drip. He's self-pitying, and Alex has to bury his dreams. Ayu is unlikely to be able to realize Alex's dream of having a happy family as she dreamed. Ayu doesn't love Alex, and vice versa.

Not daring to enter, Ayu chose to stand while carrying a bag with both hands in front of her thighs. He simply stared blankly at the man, letting his mind drift with regret again and again. He lowered his head for a moment while closing his eyes, trying to calm down so that his tears would not drip.

As Ayu lifted her face and looked back at Alex through the glass cafe, the man seemed to wave with a curvy smile. The smile was beautiful, Ayu admitted it. Unfortunately, the smile was not his. He could never claim Alex as his own.

Although there was disappointment in Ayu's heart, but when he saw the smile his lips seemed to have their own instinct to curl. His feet took quick strides, as if running small to quickly get to Alex's desk.

"Want a drink?" haggar Alex.

Ayu shakes.

"When?"

Ayu nodded.

"Stay in the super market next door, shall you?"

Ayu nodded in agreement.

Alex stands followed by Ayu. They walked together to the supermarket in the shopping center area in the same building as Karin's apartment.

In the super market, Ayu only looks at Alex pushing a trolley. The man occasionally observes some items and shows them to Ayu, as if asking Ayu for consideration or approval to buy them.

Alex stops at a shelf containing various types of milk for pregnant women.

"This is the milk you drink, right?"

Ayu replied briefly. "Yes." Yeah."

Alex's forehead shriveled. He read one by one the nutritional content in the milk then compared it with several boxes of milk with different brands.

"This is a higher calcium content, mending drink this one alone," Alex said while thrusting a milk box with a different brand.

Ayu just smiled. He was already quite dizzy with his current thoughts, so chose to comply with Alex's wishes. After all, according to Ayu all milk is the same.

Alex put two boxes of milk on the trolley. Before proceeding, Alex tried to look at another brand of milk.

"Vitamin D milk is higher, calcium is the same, this is it." Alex took back the box that was in the trolley and replaced it with a new one.

Unable to stand Alex's plan, Ayu takes over the trolley and pushes him. He doesn't care about Alex protesting and asks him to stop first. On the shelf was a lot of types of milk for pregnant women, in one brand alone there are two to three types. If Alex wants to skin one by one the nutritional content of milk, until tomorrow Alex's shopping activity will not be over.

"Wait a minute, honey. I'm not done picking it." Alex persuades Ayu.

"That's what's on the trolley, Lex. You're too picky." Ayu Protest.

Alex defends himself, "not the voters, but I just want what's best for you and our child-to-be."

Ayu started not to lose. "No, you're too picky. Everywhere all milk is equally useful. The doctor also prescribed some multivitamins."

Alex took a deep breath, then smiled. "Well, well, the important thing is that you're happy, dear."

They continued their shopping. Ayu did not reach for a single item at all, he was only tasked to give an opinion on the product that Alex wanted to buy.

Ayu stared at the trolley that was now dominated by vegetables and fruit. Alex had reasoned that pregnant women need a lot of vitamins and nutrients. In addition, Alex also emphasized that Ayu's refrigerator does not deserve to be said to be a refrigerator because it is almost empty and only dominated by eggs, water and ice cream.

"Where do you like yogurt? This one's that one?" alex asked while pointing at the two litre yogurts.

Ayu folded her hands in front of her chest. "Whatever, same yogurt."

Alex nodded slowly. "It's different, the producers are different. One factory can taste different, which one do you usually use?"

He looked at the two yogurts. "I don't like yogurt very much."

"Oh, this one, I'm using this one." Alex decides on his own after seeing Ayu not helping at all.

Ayu rolled her eyeballs. "why not take that one from earlier, pretentious to ask everything."

"That will eat you, Yang. That's called communication. Good communication will lead to good cooperation, Right?"  Alex explains.

Ayu just nodded, although actually did not agree with Alex's statement.

"Is there something you're lacking, or are you willing to buy?"

Again, Ayu just shook her head. He didn't want to linger there. All Ayu wanted at this moment was to go home and rest. He is very tired of all the problems in the office, as well as Alex, the source of the biggest problem Ayu has ever faced.

Alex pushes the trolley towards the cashier, not much queue so they just have to wait for a man to finish the transaction. He took things out one by one from the trolley assisted by Ayu who happened to be in front of the trolley.

"Mbak, one red Marlboro cigarette is okay?" pinta man with blue shirt in front of Ayu.

Ayu's eyes are rounded. A familiar baritone voice in Ayu's ears, as well as a brand of cigarettes that she often broke. Ayu looked forward - towards the wide shoulders. In fact, being stared at from behind only Ayu knew who the man was.

Ayu's gaze continued to be fixed on the Penggung man, so that when suddenly the man turned spontaneously Ayu was shocked and raised his face. His big eyes were getting bigger, staring at the owner of the hand face he was looking at.

Two years without seeing each other, does not change Ayu's memory of the man, Arya.

"D-Dark?"

Ayu gulped when she heard her name on the call. Ayu painstakingly curled her lips.

"H-hi!" sapa Ayu kaku's.

Ayu looked into those eyes, the eyes she always missed. The eyes that once looked at him were full of love and fear of loss. Staring into those eyes almost brought Ayu back to the sweetness and bitterness of the old memory, but a call awakened Ayu.

"Darling!" call Alex softly.

Ayu turned to look at Alex blankly, then turned again towards Arya like a daze.

"Ah, so it's right in the photo that's you," said Arya.

Ayu had frowned because she did not understand Arya's words, but again remembered with her picture and Alex attached to one of the Instagram gossip accounts.

"Ah, yes." Ayu agrees and turns to Alex behind her.

Ayu wiggled her hands in the air as a sign calling Alex closer.

Alex who knew nothing just complied and pushed the trolley backwards to get closer to Ayu who had interacted with a man.

"It's Alex" Ayu told Arya.

Alex gave a smile to the man in front of her, then turned to Ayu who suddenly held her hand. Alex feels Ayu is a little different, usually the woman keeps a few centimeters away from him.

"Darling, this is Arya." Ayu introduces Arya to Alex.

The name of the man standing in front of Alex, clarifies Ayu's strange changing attitude.

"Aryans? Office buddy?" alex asked as if he knew nothing.

Ayu shook her head and smiled. "No, old friend."

"Ah, we have a reception on Friday. We didn't spread out the invitations, but if there was a time we'd be happy for you to come." Alex invites Arya kindly as if the man in front of her is his friend.

From earlier Alex continued to pay attention to the look on Arya's face. There was a sense of displeasure on the man's face, even though his face was made as amiable as possible.

"Well, congratulations." Arya replied briefly, neither refusing nor agreeing to Alex's invitation.

Alex doesn't care much about Arya's answer. He was not serious when he asked the man to come at his wedding reception. He was just enjoying Aryan's mimicry change. Seeing Arya smile with hardened jaws, was quite comforting to Alex.

While the two men chatted, Ayu started arranging the goods in front of the cashier. Ayu can only hope that Alex does not mispronounce in front of Arya.

"Ah, then I'll go first." Pamit Arya slightly bowed to Alex.

Arya turns to Ayu. "happy to see you again, Yu."

Ayu turned to Arya and replied stiffly. "Yes, so am I."

There was something different with Arya's gaze, Alex knew very well the meaning of that gaze. As Ayu's husband, Alex doesn't like that look. Of jealousy? Not really, Alex just doesn't like it when hers is bullied, even with just a look.

"Which, this!" Alex thrusts his wallet at Ayu. "i'll be there for a while."

Without waiting for me to reply Ayu, Alex ran small after his wallet was held by Ayu. He approached Arya who was walking slowly.

"Hey, Bro!" Alex pats Arya's shoulder.

Arya turned around, her expression unreadable. However, Alex knew there was no friendly impression there, a little different in front of the cashier.

In his heart Alex began to think about what he should do to Arya. A little bit of play will definitely be more fun.

"It just so happens that we meet here" Alex said.

Arya just fell silent and gave a smile.

"I just want to know, were you guys ever close? You and my wife?" ask Alex who deliberately uses the word wife as a form of a pronoun belonging.

Instead of answering, Arya asked back. "Did he never tell you about me?"

"Father is very secretive about her past, that's why I'm happy to see you." Reveal Alex.

"I don't have a right to that. He didn't tell me maybe because it wasn't important." Reply Arya.

Alex nodded in understanding. "Right, I thought you guys used to be pretty close."

Arya was silent and her jaw hardened.

"Excuse me," said Alex.

Alex turned around with a satisfied smile. She has no grudge against Arya, but remembering what the man did to Ayu irritated her a little.

"Are you talking about Arya?" Todong Ayu after Alex arrived beside him.

"It's nothing, it's just a question of news."

"How are you? Don't lie!"

"It's not important, just want to know what your favorite food is?"

"Whatever! Bring your own groceries!" ketus Ayu while walking while folding hands.

***

After arranging the groceries, Ayu sat on the sofa while turning on the television. Start choosing one of the Korean channels that features a variety show about a celebrity father with his son. Ayu only watched for a while, as her attention was again distracted by her HP screen. Like the previous nights, he always read one by one the sales reports.

While seriously typing the message, Ayu's HP was suddenly pulled by Alex. Ayu tries to grab her HP, but Alex holds it tightly and hides it in the back pocket of her jeans.

"Alex, balikin!_

"stop playing HP, drink milk first!" Alex thrusts a glass of warm milk at Ayu.

Ayu grabbed the glass and drank it straight away. The empty glass is then handed back to Alex.

"Reverse my HP!"

Alex turns around, pretending not to hear Ayu's request. He went inside and washed Ayu's drinking glass.

"Alex! HP!" ayu shouted from outside with a shrill voice.

From the kitchen direction, Alex just smiled looking at Ayu's murderous gaze.

Ayu's hand was raised. "My hp!"

"It's busy with HP, there's me."

"It's a work problem, read the report again."

Alex clucking. "At home at home." He then continued, "doesn't want quality time with your handsome husband, dear ?"

Ayu sneered. "Kok being the eneg of her horror."

Alex shook his head. "This is the trait that I like the most from you darling, jaim and sell expensive, make curious."

"Duh, I swear, you're so sweet. I'm just asking my HP back, don't go anywhere!"

With a small laugh Alex returned Ayu's HP. He took his place beside Ayu. While Ayu continues her work, Alex chooses to lean on Ayu's shoulder while watching Television. Ayu repeatedly shifts Alex's head away, but the man Tidka gives up so Ayu chooses to leave Alex's head on his shoulders.

"Well, eat it so good!" Alex praises toddlers on shows he watches.

Ayu who was finished with the report via WhatsApp switched on the television screen.

"It's a fun show, let alone fit the Hammington family part, funny. His name was William, the youngest Bentley. They're funny, right?" Ayu explained.

"Yes." Yeah." Alex agreed, "cool yes, the father can work as well as play with his son. See, how they are so close and can express their feelings so well. Loving children are usually raised lovingly as well."

Ayu glanced at Alex who raised his head from Ayu's shoulders. Ayu could not read Alex's expression, but there was envy there when Alex saw the closeness of the small family on the show.

"What about you, are you loving or not?" ask Ayu suddenly.

Alex turned his gaze to Ayu who was also looking at him. They look at each other briefly. Alex pulled the corner of his lips slowly.

"Either? How do you think?"

Hazel's eyes and soft voice seemed to numb Ayu's entire nerves. He was clenched, and could barely think anything. Despite not knowing the answer for sure, Ayu knew one thing that if Alex entered into his life in the right way and time then without being asked the door of his heart was easily opened for him.

Ayu knew Alex very briefly, and in that short time she was very sure that Alex was a sincere man.

***

.

I divide the two parts yes, the next part is attempted faster. 💜