Forced Mate

One Last Time

Alex opens the car door for Ayu. He took her to Dwiki's house at his wife's request. Alex had to go back to Singapore because of work. Meanwhile, Ayu chose to stay divorced and wanted to settle down while at her parents' house. At least, until Aleeya was completely healed.

Aleeya was in Alex's arms. The baby knew his father was leaving. He was so fussy, whining and crying. Only Alex could calm him down. Like now. Ayu had tried to take the baby, but was constantly rejected, always crying.

Alex's gaze was only on the calm baby in his arms. Aleeya did not sleep, but fell silent. Only his hands and feet occasionally moved, punched or kicked. He does not want to let go of Ayu which means separate from the baby. He was willing to do anything to keep her next to him.

Alex's one hand touched his daughter's cheek. He wanted to be with Aeleya, watching her every beautiful baby grow. Imagine how Aleeya when he started to stand, walk, and call him Daddy. He wanted to see his son's brown hair pigtailed with a ribbon or clasp. No, he did not want to let go of his happy source.

Alex turned to look at Ayu who was sitting quietly on the lip of the bed. The rest of the tears were still on the woman's cheeks. All the days he had gone through with Ayu were the happiest times for him. Taking Ayu off means letting go of happiness itself. However, he was confused as to how to restrain the woman. If only by kneeling, he would even prostrate. The woman was hard, harder than her determination to endure.

In addition, Alex is also aware that their marriage is not a sincere bond, but a bond above compulsion. From the beginning they had been standing on a thin layer of ice, only waiting for time until they fell and froze in pain.

Alex's soft kiss landed on Aeleya's cheek many times. There was a smile on the baby's face that made a smile reflected on Alex's face, although there were still tears on his cheeks. Aleeya's clenched hand flailed Alex's cheek.

Alex has never been so sad at this point. Every time he was hurt, he would rather hold on and smile. However, imagining that two lights in his life would go away made him powerless to hold back the tears.

"Daddy loves Aleeya" whispered Alex as he kissed the baby's cheek. There was an indistinct murmur from Aeleya, making Alex's tears even more dripping. Laughter began to escape the lips of the baby, I don't know what makes him cheerful after a moment of silence.

Mumbles continued to be uttered by Aeleya. He began to move agilely, kicking hard.

"Daddy loves Aleeya" Alex said. Aleeya's laughter echoed again and again. Alex initially frowned, laughing. If indeed he would part with Ayu, he wanted a day to forget that fact. Let the day pass with laughter.

"Well," call Alex who is immediately greeted. Alex sits next to Ayu with one hand holding a cell phone. It opens the camera app. "Come with the photo!"

Ayu just nodded in agreement. Start putting a stiff smile on the camera. Alex raised Aeleya a bit high. Before capturing the picture, he kissed Ayu's cheek.

"Beautiful" praised Alex. "Look, we look perfect, honey. Why divorce?"

Ayu stared at the picture for a long time. If only he could choose, he wanted to stay in Alex's life forever. But the man's love for another woman. No couple can live together without love.

"This is what it looks like, Lex," said Ayu. He smiled a little, even though his eyes were soft. "Nobody's heart knows, right."

Alex fell silent. He was engrossed in looking at Aleeya who had closed his eyes. Slowly he put his son on the bed. He slowly elus his head which began to be overgrown with hair rather thick.

Ayu gasped as Alex sat on the floor right in front of her. The man knelt down grabbing Ayu's fingers. Their gazes met, deep and teary.

"Say, Yu, what do I have to do so that you can stay beside me? Tell me what's lacking and I'll try to fulfill."

Ayu threw away her face. He shook his head, "You're not lacking anything, Lex. It's not your fault. I'm .. I'm wrong." Yes, the breakup was Ayu's fault, for not being able to change Tamara's place in Alex's heart.

"I can ask you for one today. Just one more day, pretend that you love me" Alex asked.

***

Ayu stood beside the large glass window. He stared into the distance, at the flickering lights of the city. Alex was in the bathroom, changing Aeleya's diaper.

"Mommy, mommy, mommy." The voice turned Ayu's gaze. From the direction of the bathroom the man ran a little while fondling Aleeya who was laughing happily.

Ayu's chest was hit by a heavy object. He turned around at the window, unable to bear the tightness and warmth in his eyes. How can he take Alex off when a smile can make Ayu's heart warm.

Ayu turned. His hands stretched out to grab Aleeya. The baby thrashed, his hands swaying towards Alex. Not wanting to be away from her father.

"Daddy is here" said Alex, he kissed Aleeya's two cheeks making the baby chuckle again.

Aleeya suddenly slept while still breastfed. It was placed on the bed, right next to the glass and the wine bottle. One eye stared at the thing.

"I really want to come alone with you" said Alex, "but Kasian Aeleya if left."

The sound of the bottle opening turned Ayu's gaze away. The bottle of wine that Gio had given him as a gift had been opened, and Alex had it in one of the glasses.

"You?" alex's bargain Ayu replied, "I don't drink alcohol."

Alex nodded, wiggling the glass softly and inhaling the scent of the glass. A sip of the decades-old drink passed through his throat.

"A year ago, we were in this room" Alex said bitterly. He exhaled a rough breath, unable to continue his words. He sipped another drink, poured and drank several times. Unfortunately, no matter how much he drinks, he will not get drunk.

"Are you still sorry about that night?" alex asked looking at Ayu who was looking down.

Angan Ayu soared away. If Alex's question was addressed to Ayu before they started the household, of course he was sorry, very sorry. However, with all the attention given by the man, how could Ayu regret. The presence of Alex and Aleeya is a magical thing that has ever been present in Ayu's life.

Ayu is used to love and care since childhood, but Alex comes to bring love in Ayu's heart in a different form. Bigger and fun, to the disappointment caused even deeper. If only she wasn't Tamara, Ayu would have put up a wall face, pretended not to know and held Alex by her side forever.

"Yes, I'm sorry. If it wasn't for that night, I would still be with my free life" Ayu told a lie. It held back the rush of tears that urged it to come out. The more he lies, the more he crushes.

"I have no regrets, Yu. It never will. Even if it had to be repeated, I would repeat it over and over again, if it would hold you back," Alex replied, then gulped down the wine in his glass. His hand holding an empty glass hung in the air. The plan before leaving Singapore was perfect. Spending the day with Ayu recalls a sinful but grateful night.

"Something that starts with mistakes doesn't end well, Lex. Like us. That night was a mistake. I'm happy to have Aeleya, but if I can choose I want to have Aeleya from the right relationship," Ayu said, still trying to hold back her tears.

"The mistakes should be corrected, dear. Not to end with another mistake" said Alex. He grabbed Ayu's hand, grasped it tightly. "You have no pity for Aeleya. You can separate me and Aeleya."

Ayu shook her head in denial, "I feel more sorry for Aeleya if she has to grow up in a middle of parents who have no love."

"I love you" Alex said in his heart. In the past, rich love was easy to get out of his lips. However, tonight something was holding him back, fearing rejection from Ayu.

"Divorce anyway, we're still Aleeya's father. We can still play and meet Aleeya whenever you want."

Alex knows that, his relationship with Aleeya remains father and son at all times. However, their situation would no longer be the same. There will be a barrier separating them. The shadow of her in the past comes back to haunt her. As she cried in silence and alone.

"After we get divorced, you may start a new life. What about Aeleya, abandoned and you forget?" Alex's tears are coming again. He will not be able to let his son who is very dear to him have a difficult time like that.

Ayu moved closer to Alex. His lips began to line the man's jawline, retreated beside the ear and whispered, "It's not like we're here to forget about divorce."

The glass in Alex's hand just fell on the carpet. The man placed both his hands on Ayu's cheeks. He put his old forehead on the woman's forehead while closing his eyes.

Right, they went to that place to hide the created wounds. Pretend that nothing will happen. That meal would be a long night that didn't end. However, the more their skin fused, the more pain the needle stabbed into each other's hearts. Two bleeding hearts hide the same love.

***