Friend Bed

Already Engaged

Darren and Shakila rush out of the car and approach Aini who looks to be caring for flowers in her garden.

"Mama!" call Darren.

"What's up, kid? Why do you seem to be in such a hurry?"

"Mama, there's actually something we want to talk to Mama about."

"What's? Accelerating marriage?" ledek Aini's.

"May ma, now I can. But this is not what we want to talk about," Darren came back.

"Then what do you want to talk about?"

"It's about Dea."

"Sachi mean?"

"Mama, are you sure Sachi is Dea?"

"Why are you talking like that, Darren?"

"Mom, isn't all that possible?"

"Whatchu mean? Mama really doesn't understand."

"Begi Ma, Brother Darren concluded that Mama Delia and Papa Dimas were too quick to conclude that Dea was Sachi" Shakila said.

"So, you guys doubt that Dea is Sachi?"

"Doubt not, Ma. But we just want a certainty, a certainty that comes from data that can be trusted. Not just a sequence of events the same thing. Mama, Om Dimas and Aunt Delia have been in too much of a hurry to draw conclusions if Dea is Sachi, without the use of reliable validity, for example by doing a DNA test."

"Jeez, you're right Darren too. Indeed they were too rushed to draw conclusions if Dea was Sachi. And for now, DNA testing is the most appropriate way to confirm the truth of a family relationship."

"Yes, Ma. If Dea is really Shakila's younger brother, it's not a big deal because they've found the right person. Then, what if it turns out that Dea isn't Sachi?"

"God! It's so scary!" aini said while closing her mouth.

"Yes, Ma. That's why we went to see Mama to help us."

"Help you? What can mom do? Didn't you know that you're not a doctor?"

"Gosh, mama of course we know that. We just want you to help us meet your doctor's friend."

"Vallen?"

"Yes, Doctor Vallen because we wanted to do a DNA test secretly without the knowledge of Om Dimas and Aunt Delia."

"Yes Ma, we want to do all this clandestinely because we don't want Mama and Papa to be offended if we have doubted his decision" Shakila added.

"Well, mama will accompany you to Vallen's house. Hows it? Are we going there now?"

"Yes Ma!"

"Come, mama, get the bag first."

"Yes ma, we wait in the car" said Darren.

Almost half an hour later, they went through the journey, finally arriving at Vallen's house.

TETTTT TETTTT

"Can we meet Vallen?" ask Aini when the door of the house is open.

"Oh yes, please come in. I call Mrs Vallen first" replied a housekeeper who opened the door.

They entered the house, and sat on the living room couch until a voice greeted them.

"Here!" call a voice from inside the house.

"Vallen, sorry to interrupt. Are you busy?"

"No, I'm off today. You're Darren and Shakila, right?"

"Yes Aunty" replied Darren and Shakila at the same time. Vallen then smiled, and stroked their faces. "You guys are big. I didn't expect that when you were grown up, you fell in love with each other. The relationship you know all along if you were brothers, would be very torturous right?"

Darren and Shakila then smiled. "Yes, and finally it's all over, Auntie. We are happy because we can finally get married."

"Yes, aunt is happy too. Then, did you come here to invite your aunt to your wedding?"

"Isn't that what you want to talk about? Then?"

"Emh like this Aini. It's about Dea."

"About Dea?"

"Yes, we felt that if Dimas and Delia's actions concluded that Dea was their child it was too hasty."

"Too rushed? Gosh, it seems like we have the same thought" replied Vallen.

"So, you think the same thing about us?"

"Of course, drawing conclusions instantly without clear data is a form of carelessness, Aini."

"You mean, by DNA testing, right?"

"Yes, of course. Delia and Dimas immediately assume that Dea is their daughter without a clear data is a big faux pas. I've even told Kenzo and Cleo that on the way home from home."

"Yes right Aunt, this is a big faux pas done by Papa and Mama. Then, does Auntie want to help us?" ask Shakila.

"Of course, I'm gonna help you guys do a DNA test in secret, right?"

"Yes we do want to do DNA tests secretly without being known by Papa and Mama," Shakila replied.

"Well, Shakila. Tomorrow come to the hospital with samples of body parts from Dimas and Dea. Can you?"

"Of course, Auntie. I'm gonna try to get a sample of their body parts so they can get a DNA test done as soon as possible."

"Yes, Shakila."

'It turns out, what is in my mind is the same as what is in their mind. Dea, let's see, you are indeed the real Sachi, or not, Vallen's inner self.

****

TOK TOK TOK

A knock on the door of the room broke the daydream Dea was currently lying on the bed staring at Kenzo's face she saw on her social media accounts.

"Sachi, it's mama. Is your mom bothering you?"

"No, ma. Just enter!" answer Dea.

Delia then opened the door of the room, then approached Dea who was lying on the bed.

"What's the matter Ma?" dea asked as Delia was already sitting on her bed.

"Sachi, is mom bothering you?"

"Oh no, Ma. What was? I'm also relaxing."

"Sachi, you better get out of Kenzo's company as soon as you can, son."

"But why, Ma? Honestly, I'm comfortable working as a secretary."

"Dear Sachi, please forgive Mama. I'm sorry if you're talking about this too soon with you."

"What's wrong, Ma?"

"Sachi, once again sorry. Actually you've been betrothed to a man, son."

DEG

Dea's heart stopped hearing Delia's words. His heart now feels so broken.

"God! I-I'm su, engaged?" dea replied that was so shocked to hear Delia's explanation.

"Yes Sachi, forgive us. Long ago, your Papa's parents promised their old friend that they'd marry one of our families."

"Ta, but why not just Shakila, Ma? Isn't Brother Shakila also the eldest daughter of our family?"

"Sachi, Shakila and Darren love each other. And we also have a lot of debt to Aini and Roy's family, which has helped a lot. We certainly didn't want to disappoint Aini and Roy by getting Darren hurt, so we agreed to match you up with the family of Aunt Viona, son. But, you take it easy, your husband is a good man, he's an established man in charge. He's also very handsome, mama's sure you'll like him, son."

"The man is well established and responsible? Wh-who?"

"Devano, his name is Devano, son."

"Devano?" dea lirih.