Forced Mate

This Is Us

Richard stirred his espresso. He leaned against the table, occasionally exhaling a rough breath. This morning he attended a meeting with an investor. She didn't want Tamara to come, especially since they were in Singapore. Somehow Tamara's words yesterday still imprint in her memory.

For two years with the woman, she knew him well. Tamara was never kidding, not unwilling, but she could not. She was too stiff to joke.

"Babe, if it turns out I love someone else how?" So Tamara said yesterday. Suddenly, Richard felt his soul instantly leave his body. "I'm joking" Tamara continued with a laugh, while Richard was still dumbfounded.

I don't know where his fiancee learned to joke, but Richard thought it wasn't just a joke. There was doubt that had infiltrated his heart. Old questions that often disturb his sleep strike back. The question had dimmed since Alex got married, but after Tamara's words, it was light again.

He stood up and smiled welcoming Alex. He is not familiar with Alex, all this time the man is Tamara's only friend that he avoids. She doesn't like it when her fiance meets Alex. He still remembers how he was so angry that he knew that the woman he loved so much was staying with Alex.

"Tumben you meet," said Alex who is now sitting in front of Richard.

"Tamara is still accompanying Ayu. I'm bored, I need a friend" Richard replied.

They were silent for a long time, busy with their own thoughts. Richard struggled at the confusion to start asking. Alex himself was a little confused because a Richard asked him to meet both. There is always tension between them.

All that tension comes from Alex of course. He always deliberately harassed Richard, trying to provoke the man's emotions was just testing. However, the man's defense was extremely strong. Unlike Tamara's other lovers, Richard was able to allow her to entrust the woman she loved.

However, although not so close, Alex knew that there was something stuck in Richard's mind. All this time, the man always seemed confident. Alex did not see a twinkle on that oriental face.

"I know you asked me to meet up to say something" Alex said. "Do you want to ask me to stay away from Tamara again?" ask Alex and laugh.

Richard shakes. "No, I did want to say something, but that's not it. Besides, you're married now."

Alex nodded slowly.

"You and Tamara have known each other since childhood, haven't you?"

Alex nodded again. "We're very close." He put his two index fingers together. For some reason, he still liked to ignite Richard's emotions, even though it was enough already because the man was very calm. If only their position had been reversed, he would have hit the man long ago. Alex doesn't like violence, but when it comes to hers, she might be able to kill-maybe.

Richard was still smiling, just like Alex had guessed. "You mean to know that Tamara's not a joke person."

"Yes, he's stiff. But, we used to joke around, I mean I used to joke around and make up in laughs."

Alex recalls his childhood with Tamara. The woman was educated hard, so her thoughts quickly matured.

Richard was silent for a moment. "I don't know why you can be so close friends, when you're so different."

"Who said? Tamara and I have a lot in common, we like a lot of the same things" Alex said. "Music, theater, food, lifestyle, sports. I don't think I can mention them one by one. We're so similar."

"I mean, Tamara is quiet and serious. Meanwhile, you ... Everyone knows what you look like."

Alex and Richard stared at each other.

"I don't believe in the friendship of women and men are pure friends" Richard said.

Alex cleared his throat and said, "i don't understand the direction of our conversation."

"What if Tamara thinks of you as more than a friend?" rut Richard with a sharp look. He never gets angry every time Alex says he's going to take Tamara. He was always calm as the man continued to lure him. However, he could not help himself if it turned out that the feeling was sourced from Tamara.

Alex laughs. He was sure Richard was joking. "You're not a joke, Richie. You think you can get into Tamara's life if she likes me?" alex continued laughing. She knows Tamara and she is convinced that the woman only loves one man - Richard.

"Instantly you admit it now" said Richard who immediately grinned. He never misjudged. Looking at all Alex's behavior, it was clear that the man had a heart for Tamara.

"What kind of man doesn't like Tamara" Alex replies. "I've got Ayu, Richie. I'm happy with what I have now." He continued with a smile.

Richard could see the honesty in Alex's eyes. The man looked happy.

"If that's all you want to talk about, don't worry. I'll never take Tamara. I'll be happier if you get married soon. Being a wife and mother was Tamara's dream from childhood" Alex said.

Richard just smiled. He knows Tamara's dream. However, his name may not be in that dream.

After parting ways with Alex at the cafe, Richard comes to pick Tamara up at Alex's apartment. He had a brief conversation with Ayu, asking the condition of the pregnant woman. Ayu looks happy waiting for the birth of her baby.

Now, he and Tamara are on a plane to return to Jakarta. Tamara was more silent. When invited to talk the woman more often answered as necessary, even sometimes just answer with a nod and smile. That was the reason Richard fell silent.

His hand was suddenly grasped by Tamara, making her turn towards the woman. Tamara's pretty face looks sad.

"You know, I've always been jealous of Ayu," Tamara said, making Richard's eyes grow bigger. "He has everything. A family that always indulges and abides by his wishes."

Richard. His lips kept on curling and chose to be a listener.

"I've always wanted to be in his position. Every time you want something, everyone just wants it. Everyone always makes him a darling, even you love him like a little sister, too" Tamara added.

Richard saw a puddle of tears in Tamara's temple. She was holding her lover's fingers. The woman once said how she grew up with many rules, even getting punished. Tamara's fear of the darkroom was the result of trauma when the woman was locked in a dark warehouse for failing to win the Olympic champion one.

"Well, I've been getting it on her lately. I want to be in her position" Tamara continued.

Richard wanted to ask about the position Tamara was referring to; being a wife and mother or being a woman by Alex's side? However, he did, as he did not care who in Tamara's heart, as long as the woman still wanted to be by her side.

Richard's hand raised Tanara's hand and placed it on his lips, then said, "i'm here for us, Babe, forever."

***

Ayu stood in front of the mirror. The number of times he stared at his reflection, every time his confidence decreased. Without getting pregnant, she doesn't like her chubby cheeks. Plus pregnant, she's getting rounder. He turned around after hearing the footsteps. Alex had just finished bathing, the man was just wearing a towel wrapped around his lower body.

Ayu's gaze refocused on the two reflections in the mirror, her and Alex. He admired how Alex's body was so perfectly formed. He did not feel worthy to be next to the man. Her husband was handsome with a beautiful, loving, and versatile body.

According to Ayu, Alex is willing to get someone better than him, such as Tamara. Instantly he squinted semyu so Alex's soft lips landed on his cheek.

"What do you think, honey?" Alex's hand was coiled around Ayu's waist. Again, he rubbed the woman's distended stomach.

Ayu shakes. They stared at each other through the mirror, showing each other a smile. Alex kisses Ayu's cheek long. He closed his eyes, feeling his wife's soft skin on his lips.

"I love you" Alex whispered before taking off his arms and walking towards the walk in closet to get dressed.

When compared to Tamara, Ayu feels dwarfed. There was not a single kindness he could be proud of when faced with his friend. Perhaps it was fate that had been too kind to her for sending a man like Alex as her husband.

"They're pretty, huh?" ayu asked while in and Alex was in front of the teve. Alex turned his gaze from his book to a teve showing models of one of the famous underwear brands darting on the runway stage.

"Of course they're beautiful, they're girls" Alex replied, not too interested in watching the fashion channel.

"What do they eat until their bodies are like that?" Ayu asked herself, as well as Alex.

Alex's eyebrows shot up. He looked at Ayu who looked glum. He swiftly changed the broadcast and stopped on one of the broadcasts showing some animals in the jungle. He thought that it was better to watch the fauna show than the women who only wore underwear walked in style.

"Why moved?" Ayu hits Alex's arm.

"Your question doesn't make sense" Alex said.

"I just want to know. Look at them, pretty like Tamara, right?" Ayu moved the broadcast again.

Alex opened the book again. "Well, you ask Tamara what she ate."

"Of course I can't be like Tamara or them, I don't have the Caucasus race" Ayu said.

Alex decided to put the book on the table. Both of his hands were now attached to Ayu's cheeks. "I don't know why you are, but you are beautiful, my dear. You are more beautiful than anyone."

"lik! Kids also know they're much prettier." Ayu glanced sharply to the side to avoid Alex's gaze.

"I don't care about a kid's mind, honey! To me, you're the most beautiful, already, period."

Ayu looked at Alex. "But ...." Not yet had time to give an excuse, Ayu's speech was cut by Alex, "he said the happy key was grateful. Who used to say that the neighboring grass always looks green. My wife was wise when she preached to me, where?"

Ayu.

"So, you just watch this one." Alex's hand that had moved away from Ayu's cheek moved the teve broadcast on the animal show. The teve shows monkeys climbing on top of trees, as well as some jumping from twig to twig.

"Well, you're feeling pretty, aren't you, sweetheart?" Alex reviews the smile with one eye blinking at Ayu. The woman hit Alex's arm. "Yes, the time I compared myself to a monkey. Wicked!"

"It's not so," Alex denied. "But, try it, which one do you think is handsome, me or the male monkey?"

Ayu pretended to think. "By a monkey."

"I'm serious, honey!"

"You too, the comparison makes no sense" said Ayu. "Everywhere is also obviously your fist."

"Well, just ask the female monkey, definitely ....." Alex's words cut can screech Ayu. "That I know monkey language! I gotta uu-aa with them, is that it?"

Alex laughed and said, "listen first!" Alex patted Ayu's arm to calm the woman down while laughing at Ayu's voice while imitating the monkey's voice. "If only monkeys could talk, they would say that male monkeys are prettier than me. What is the point, beautiful or handsome depends on the eyes that see. Try to see, where there are monkeys who are interested in humans, as beautiful or as handsome as humans are, right?" said Alex.

"Papa you are evil, son," Ayu said to her stomach. "Mama's time is the same as monkey!"

Alex shifts his ass closer to Ayu. Her hand was holding a distended stomach beside her. "Papa is always in Mama's eyes, son. Fate of being a man" Alex.

"Don't talk to my son!" forbid Ayu to hold back the laughter. His laughter had been suppressed since he was talking about the monkey.

"Our son, dear," Alex said.

"Who did you want me to be a monkey?"

"I'm just analogizing, honey. Besides, I was comparing myself, really."

Ayu is laughing. "You're a monkey, huh?"

"Stop talking about monkeys, you're pregnant, baby!"

Ayu laughed again. "Review yes! If my son Miro is a monkey, you're a monkey!"

"Yes, honey. Look dong, my face is already handsome, my wife's face is beautiful, my son's time looks like a monkey. Except, it turns out you had a monkey relationship," Alex said and continued, "whose name is .. ah, the Aryan."

Ayu pinched Alex's arm. "Your mouth! The handsome is so monkey, so good!" ayu protest did not accept.

"Your mom is bad, son. I still remember my ex." Alex rubbed Ayu's stomach.

"You remember Om Arya when we were on the street, right, son?" Ayu talked to her fetus.

Alex frowned and switched to styling the owner of the stomach he rubbed. "Please what?"

Ayu rounded her eyes. He's flippant. "Smoke!"

"A pregnant mother can't lie!"

Ayu's gaze stretched out in all directions to avoid Alex's sharp tattoo.

"I'm thirsty, ask for a drink!" Ayu continued to look for reasons to avoid.

"News first!" force Alex.

"Water first!"

Alex snorted in annoyance. Inevitably, he stepped towards the pantry taking a glass of water for Ayu. However, he would not stop pressing before Ayu replied.

***

Up early in the morning, Yesss. Let fans Bang Alex get more excited 💪 I can also rest longer because I have fulfilled the task, 🤭💜💜

Oh, yeah, want to know what you think about this story, what the hell works and what message the reader can, can, right? Let me get more excited. 😁😁