Home For My Soul

106|Away

~Altheo~

For almost a year in this country, I didn't feel homesick at all. I was busy with the business on campus with the stacking of tasks, as well as overseeing the opening of Papa's new restaurant in this city.

Since opening in February, customers are coming more and more days. Not a few also order food to be delivered to the office or residence. It turns out that Americans like to try new things, including food.

As soon as my parents returned to Indonesia, I rushed to find a new place to live and paid for the next two years. Amarylis is not a fussy woman, so I'm sure she'll love living with us.

I don't want to lie to my heart anymore, so I don't care if he remembers the last sentence he said or not, he can't walk out of my life. Rather than me worrying that she's living with someone else, whether male or female, it's better for her to be with me. In this country, both men and women are my rivals in winning the heart of Amaryllis.

The first thing he did when we met was hug me. Of course I'm happy, but I don't want to show it clearly. Which makes me sure she still feels the same for me, when she's about to kiss my lips.

We couldn't do that for the first time after a long time apart in front of the crowd. So, I waited until we arrived at the apartment to do so. After all, I would rather kiss her while being surprised, as her lips were slightly open.

The second I felt his lips, my mind wandered far away. Especially with the bed near us, I began to imagine to undress. The urge to feel her skin meet my skin grew stronger so I had to end our kiss.

Almost two years since I said break up and one more year since I said goodbye, my body's reaction to her is still the same. I am close to many young and beautiful women in this city who are not able to make me feel anything.

I can't be quiet anymore. I had to find a way so we could get married even without the presence of parents or other families. I wasn't sure I would be able to keep my promise not to sleep with her if she kept walking near me more often than before.

“Passed with summa cum laude, this time only you don't understand?” my reply heard him ask about my actions during our distance.

“Where are they?” ask again while looking around us.

“Declaration,” I replied. They are also here with us, but I will not tell him where they are.

“Why are you still watching me? Didn't we break up?” He crossed both hands in front of his chest so that the two beautiful objects there looked even bigger.

I gulped heavily, then cleared my throat so that my mind would not wander far. “You forgot you whine not to break up?”

He laughed in surprise. “What did you say? When do I whine about not breaking up?”

“‘No, Theo. Don'tgo. There must be a way for us together.’” I imitated the words he had said. Her face flushed. “Then which woman has broken up even hugged her ex in public? Whining for another kiss.”

“I don't whine!” his protest.

“Luckily I still have a high defense fortress. Otherwise, it could be dangerous,” I said, not stopping his increasingly panicked teasing.

“Ya, already. You have one note, then there is an additional note from me.” He held the pen and began to write. “Can't kiss in the apartment or when you're alone.”

“Seriously? Do you regret writing that?” my challenge.

“I will never regret,” he said so sure. He squinted his eyes. “What's up? You whine for this note to be deleted, I won't delete.”

“Not a problem,” I replied casually. I wrote that note in my book.

He added some trivia about the cleanliness of the apartment, who cooked, and various other details. I just smiled and followed him. It seemed that he was nervous and used this way so that I wouldn't offend his whining.

Our food and drinks were also served. He rounded his eyes to see the size of the pizza and burger placed in front of us. I was serious about what I said. I was so hungry, I could spend a big pizza pan all by myself. After all, the dough is thin and crunchy, so it is not too filling to eat just one piece. My favorite pizza type.

“Lo eat cheap burgers, so do not know there is a burger as good as this in Indonesia,” reply me.

He sneered in annoyance. “Do you think I've never eaten an expensive burger? I did not live only as Amaryllis. I was once a rich man's son.”

“Oh, I see,” my god.

“By the way, why are you here? Where did you go to college?” tanyanya. I answered him in detail and he rounded his eyes. “You're my senior? You never said you wanted to study here too?”

“Also? I have been planning a lecture here for a long time. Papa I, ‘kan, alumni from this campus. Lo who followed me to college here,” reply me.

“How can I follow you? I've never heard of you going to college here,” she quickly denied.

“Lo has been wanting to continue college for a long time, but you do not know which campus you want to go to, ‘kan? Then you've heard Papa stories about his studies abroad. Unknowingly, you chose that campus.”

Although Papa rarely had dinner with us, but every time he joined, he liked to share his experience of preparing to become Grandpa's successor. One way to advise me to follow in his and Grandpa's footsteps.

Accustomed to hearing it since I was a child, I did not feel burdened to continue my studies abroad. If this path can help me become a leader as good as Papa and Grandpa, then I will be traced. After all, I am still young, it is best that this time is used for a lot of learning.

“Where did you know I was going to college here?” he said he did not want to fully acknowledge Papa who inspired him to study in this city.

“Gue often meets Richo attending certain events representing his papa. His favorite subject, yes, lo. Riris wants this, Riris plans so. So, what did I say. Don't come near him. Brother lo it can not keep a secret.”

“I've been honest with Daddy and Mommy. They already knew I was Amarylis,” he said, without warning. I coughed, choking on my own food. He brought my glass closer. “We agreed to be honest, because Mother's health declined steadily.”

How fortuitous. I'm planning our wedding, he's been talking to his parents. It would be easier for me to find a solution if he had not kept a secret from his biological parents. Because I'm gonna need the support of both families.

“Why do you call mother?” many wonder.

“So that they are not confused I call mama, so one must change the greeting,” he replied.

I nodded in understanding. “Thank God, then. Lo must be calm now.”

“How about us? What is our relationship now?”

I didn't answer that question. This is not the right place to talk about it. So, I switched the conversation by mentioning some basic rules on campus. He was immediately interested to hear it.

After eating, I paid our bills and took her back to the apartment. He's still jet lag and needs rest. I also have business, can't linger outside the room. I held her hand as we walked and she didn't mind.

“About our relationship,” I said a few meters from the building entrance.

“Ya?” She turned her head towards me, so I took advantage of the opportunity to kiss her lips. He didn't disappoint me by returning my kiss.

“You are still my future wife,” I said seriously.

He smiled happily, then swung spoiled in my arms. Yeah, God. He put his chest to my arm. How long can I resist this great temptation?