Forced Mate

Days without you

Ayu bellowed on the bed after her slumber was interrupted by the HP ringing. His eyes opened for a while, then closed again because he was not used to the glare from the window. He was fumbling towards the source of the ringing as well as the vibration. That's Alex's phone.

"Hello," said Ayu slowly with a distinctive hoarse voice just woke up.

"Away awake?" ask Alex.

Ayu got up and leaned back on the head of the bed. He distanced his HP and stared at the screen with a slap.

"Can a sleeping person answer a phone call?"

"Who knows you're nervous, right."

"Raporation phone?" Ayu did not want to make small talk.

"I just want to remember, do not forget to drink milk with vitamins so as not to nausea! Continue, the food must remain four times, also nutritious, do not just eat! If you have anything, call me."

Ayu decided to stand up and put up the earphones. He tied his hair and walked towards the westafle while hearing Alex's advice. He thinks Alex is too chatty, the guy doesn't trust Ayu.

"Ah, one more thing, I also keep the card on your dressing table, the PIN is there too!"

Ayu who was washing her face did not immediately reply. He wondered what cards Alex was keeping.

"Eating a lot of fruits and vegetables, let us the same our children healthy," added Alex again.

"Yes, yeah. Shitty!"

"Not a fuss, but care!"

Ayu just cleared her throat slowly, then came out to look at the cards on her dresser. It was an American silver credit card, although not a black card, but he knew the card also had no limit. Credit cards, he thought the card contained a lot of savings, which there is a savings card. However, it's good, he can shop as much.

Ah, no, it's Alex's! Ayu muttered in heart.

"I want to take a shower first" Alex says, "or do you want to see me take a shower?" goda.

Not wanting to hear any bad talk from Alex, Ayu immediately disconnected their phone. He also had to get ready to go to work, after a few days of inactivity there must have been a lot of work that he had to do. Although, he had appointed Bu Dania to be the PIC in his place, still he had to review the report made by Bu Dania.

He had lived alone in the house for two years, and never had he felt this lonely. In fact, just a week of living with Alex and suddenly the atmosphere of his home became very different. Usually he does not need to be busy in the morning, every waking up milk and breakfast is ready. Now he had to heat the water and make his own milk like before.

In the refrigerator there was a lot of food to process, but he was too lazy to touch the kitchen. Since childhood, he rarely touched the kitchen. All the housework was done by her mother and the housekeeper. When deciding to live alone, then he began to learn to cook, even the cuisine he made must be instant cuisine, whether canned or packaged.

Now times have changed, want to eat anything stay a message because almost all restaurants have delivery services. Besides being easier, it is also faster. After all, since getting the promotion Ayu is so busy that sometimes only go home when you want to sleep.

Ayu opened the refrigerator, she had no intention of cooking, just wanted to check out some ingredients that might not be durable. His eyes were fixed on the box with a pink post-it paper. Ayu picked up the box and read the writing.

'Grab me for your brekky'.

As Ayu smiled, she lowered her head and grabbed the yogurt that was on the bottom shelf. Then move to the dining table. He opened the box containing bananas, apples, and avocados, then doused it with plain yogurt. With a smile, he enjoyed the mouthfuls after the mouthful. He did not expect Alex to have time to prepare the fruit before leaving for the airport. He felt guilty about having raped Alex last night.

After eating, he exercised lightly, arguably just stretching the body. He woke up early thanks to Adri Alex's phone, so he had plenty of time to muddle up before leaving for work. She had already taken out some vegetables, meat and shrimp to give to Bu Ina

***

At first Ayu thought her life would return to the way it was when Alex returned to Singapore. She's mistaken. The first right that changed was, suddenly the people in his office became more friendly to him, even Mr. Ilham who had clashed because of internal problems when he was still a store manager suddenly greeted him. The worst of all those changes is that the smartphone doesn't stop ringing. Almost every thirty minutes, Alex calls him.

Ayu feels crazy because she is disturbed by Alex's call which in fact only discusses things that are not important; asking for news, circumstances, food, feelings, and many other unimportant things. It had only been two days and Ayu's head had almost broken. He didn't forbid Alex from contacting him, in fact he was happy because when talking to the man - he felt cared for and loved. It's just, the man was too excessive, seemed overprotective and made Ayu uncomfortable.

On the third day, Ayu could not stand it and decided not to disable her HP ringing. He doesn't want to be distracted at work. That's where the start of a bigger mess happened. There were about twenty missed calls from Alex. Ayu smiled smugly looking at the call notes.

"Excuse me!" A woman entered Ayu's room.

"Lia," said Ayu with enlarged eyes, because she did not feel any business with the secretary of Mr. Herdi, the director of administration, "please sit down!"

Lia smiled politely at Ayu. "Ah, no need. I'm just here to make sure you're okay, and it looks like you're okay."

Ayu frowned not understanding. "Udah, sit here first!"

He always talks casually with Lia when it's just the two of you, even if it's in the office. Not only with Lia, some employees with positions of the same level and age are not far adrift like that. They only speak formally when it is necessary.

"That Mr. Herdi got a call directly from Mr. Yusuf to check on you. He said from the phone, you did not lift," explained Lia who immediately made Ayu angry.

Alex!! Pekik Ayu in heart. He won't hold back his anger anymore, Alex has gone too far.

"Ah, again silent mode," said Ayu, "don't say anything, yes!"

Lia smiled a little. "Oh, I was a little panicked and had a chance to talk to some people in the elevator."

Ayu died, this news must have spread everywhere.

"Sorry, it's a hassle!" Ayu felt uneasy.

It's all because of Alex. The distance of the room of the head of directors and other company officials is quite far from Ayu's place, even though it is still one building. He became uneasy at Lia who had to walk a long way for such a unimportant thing.

Not long ago Lia left Ayu's room, there was another knock at the door. From the door Salim appeared with a canticle in his hand.

"That's what, Lim?" Ayu looked at the canteen that seemed to contain a food box.

"Mom's food delivery" Salim replied as he placed a bag on Ayu's desk.

"I didn't order," I'm confused.

"Says from Bu Ayu's husband," Salim replied with a smile.

Ayu stood up and began to open the canteen to check. "My husband is not in Jakarta, this time is from him" Ayu murmured.

"The age is modern, Mom. Stay on the phone, take it with you," said Salim.

Ayu also began to unpack the provisions that contain; capcay, rice, white tofu, chicken milk, and oranges. The smell is good, not too spicy. Since she was pregnant she did not like the aroma of various spices.

"Have you eaten, Lim?"

"So I've been eating, Mom. Uh, there's a deposit" Salim replied.

"Bring provisions?"

Salim nodded in agreement.

"Yes, this side dish takes some, yes. Mostly if I finish myself," said Ayu began to set aside a portion of each meal, "want an orange too, Lim?"

"You're sorry I ate, Mom."

Ayu just smiled.

"Suami Bu Ayu certainly does not want if Mom is fat," said Salim.

Ayu turned to look at Salim with a frown. "What's that?"

"It's the food, the diet food all," Salim responded to flashlighting all of the lunch boxes.

"Ah, healthier this," Ayu replied, "this, don't throw it away!"

Salim whines, then replies, "this good food, time wasted."

"Thank you, yes" said Ayu.

"Thank you too, Mom. Excuse me!"

Salim came out with a cantongan. Meanwhile, Ayu immediately sat down to enjoy the food. Not yet had time to bribe, Ayu's HP rang. He rolled his eyeballs after seeing the name 'Fuck Man' imprinted on the screen.

"The food's here, honey?" 

"It." Ayu answered ogah-ogahan.

"Nake?"

"Where can you eat if you call constantly" said Ayu.

"Yes, good meal! I'll have lunch too" Alex said, "later to call again."

"I'm again Alex's job, can't keep answering the phone."

"Loh, I'm calling just for a second" Alex argued.

"Udah, I want to eat." Ayu immediately disconnected the phone.

If Alex calls again, Ayu won't take the call. He's hungry and is going to eat the food Alex sent him. It tastes good, this fits the taste of pregnant women. Maybe Alex has been specifically ordered, I don't know.

Come to think of it, wasn't Alex very considerate, even the man had ordered food for her. Ayu pulled both corners of her lips while scooping a mouthful of rice and capcay.

Ayu is upset because Alex keeps bothering her, but she is very happy to feel so cared for. He has always been pampered and cared for since childhood, and the attention given by Alex is different. Alex is like a fusion of father and his two brothers; a caring figure who is affectionate like his father, full of responsibility and assertive like Pandu, ignorant but willing to sacrifice like Bima.

It's a complete package. Thought Ayu.

***