Home For My Soul

158|A Memory

“You perfectly match that suit.”

My hands that were buttoning the suit came to a halt for a moment. Why didn't my bodyguard say anything about the person intending to see me? Are they not on guard outside? I continued to button the suit and turn around.

The show will start. I don't have time for a woman I don't know very well. I know she used to come to our restaurant in America, right at the hour I usually finished work. That'sallthatis. I also just found out she's Papa's business partner's daughter.

“Theo,” he held my hand as we approached, “what is there to him that is not there to me? I can give you far more power than your father would. Are you not interested in having my family company? If you become my husband—”

“I already answered no. Can't you understand human language? How many times do we talk about the same thing? My answer will always be no.” I took my hand from him.

The last few days he came to our restaurant in America, and several times he said he wanted to marry me. We never had a long chat and I never gave him any hope, so his invitation was beyond my reasoning.

“Don't be hypocritical. You're engaged to that woman, but you show off your picture with another girl on your social media. If you need a deposit, please. I don't mind. As long as I am your legal wife.” He's following me. “Come, we got married in Las Vegas, then—”

“You've gone mad.” I walked to the door and hurried to open it. One of my guards came closer. He was not the one standing at the door. “Where's your partner?” He looked to his right and left. “Fire him and have your boss send instead tonight too.”

His partner clearly knows my orders. Except for my family or the event management team, no one gets into the dressing room. How could Hillary come in without anyone standing in her way? What else if he wasn't willing to take a bribe from that woman? I don't need a traitor by my side.

“Good, Sir,” he said obediently.

“Theo! You will regret rejecting me. You won't be happy with her!” exclaim Hillary.

The engagement went smoothly followed by a celebration as grand as the wedding reception. Venny and I were sitting at the table with our parents on the right and left sides. I don't understand why Mom did this.

Matt, who should have been a major star this week, should have relented. She had just graduated, but the most prepared event was precisely my engagement. The five people near me smiled happily throughout the event, only I was not happy at all.

All I have in mind is Amaryllis and our last meeting at the airport. I couldn't contact him, because Papa threatened I'd make his studies fail if I got caught still in touch with him. I was away from him, so I couldn't protect him. Then the only way is to obey my father's orders.

Venny whines for us to drive home when the show ends. His parents' car still holds him. Matt relented by going home with Mom and Dad. My bodyguard wasn't in the car, just a driver. This woman doesn't know I have a personal guard.

Arriving in front of her house, I let the driver who helped her get out of the car. I had enough to face his efficacious attitude during the event. To save time, I stayed both in the car with my driver, while the bodyguards followed us.

Things are going well and I'm ready to go back to Amarylis. Neither Papa nor Mama can hold me any longer in this city. Kat, I'm coming. The sound of glass breaking from the front right caught my attention, then the car was lost control.

“Pak, be careful! Hit the brakes!” shakuku, give instructions.

But the man did not move anymore. Oh, dearGod. Who has taken us? I didn't have time to move seats, only to be resigned when we hit a fence wall on the side of the road. Kat, I want to see you again.

I took a surprised breath and opened my eyes. I looked around and realized I was lying on the bathroom floor. Oh, geez. How long have I been here? I sat down and was thankful my head didn't hurt anymore.

Recalling something more important, I rushed out and saw Amarylis still on the bed. His eyes looked at me sharply and his face flushed red. Did he scream for a long time when I was unconscious? Matt must not have heard because of the silencers in this room.

I held back a smile so that he wouldn't get angry. She looked so cute wrapped in a thick blanket that only her face and toe were visible. I took off the scarf knot that tied the blanket so that it could not open without the help of someone else.

“You are really outrageous!” She immediately choked my neck when I released her. The chuck was not painful because he did not exert all his strength.

“Let me go! You don't try to do it. I don't want you to touch me! Quick, let go of me!” He rebelled with all his might, though I was clearly stronger than him.

For a moment he was already slumbering with his hands and feet tightly hugging my body. Who said subjugating a woman is hard? If you know what makes him happy, then he will fall as fast as flicking a finger.

I took her to the bathroom to clean our bodies, and then laid her back on the bed. After enveloping his body and regulating the room temperature, I came out. Matt was busy with his laptop, so I made two cups of coffee. One for him, one for me.

“Thank you,” he said before sipping his part coffee.

“Work?” my many.

He's nodding. “Papa asks us to meet them for lunch at the restaurant. Just us, no one else.” He immediately added before I responded.

I was eager to ask her about the woman named Kat, but I locked up my intentions. I usually don't hesitate to ask him everything. For this one thing, strangely enough, my conscience forbids. Who is Kat I call in my sleep?

One of my memories came back, but why did it happen before the accident? Could it be that since it was the last thing I experienced, then it was the first event to appear? It turns out Hillary is not one, but has repeatedly asked me to elope in Las Vegas. This memory will help when I testify in court.

We went to the restaurant, fulfilling the request of our parents. The place was full of customers who also intended to fill their stomachs. A waiter led us to a room. The South American woman smiled strangely. Does he know me?

“They all miss you,” whispered Amaryllis. “You've been here since the restaurant opened. Matt takes care of this place from Indonesia, because you are recovering.”

Ah, this is our restaurant they talk about a lot. How could I forget his name? The employees know me. This is the restaurant that I said I was leading during college in this city. We deserved a special room. We are the owners.

Mom and Dad were waiting and they invited us to sit down. Food was also delivered. The aroma published our saliva. I was surprised to see beef rendang also become our food menu. It must be expensive to bring in spices that are not available in this country.

“VISA Amarylis is already taken care of, so you two can stay here for the next year,” Papa said. After eating the main meal, various cakes were served in front of us. “VISA Theo is still valid for two more years, so we do not need to extend it.”

“What does Papa mean?” my question does not understand. “Isn't for the next year, I'm still focused on recuperating in Indonesia? Matt took over all my duties.”

“It was before I knew Matt helped Amarylis take care of our restaurant this.” The man smiled with satisfaction to my wife. “He can help you. Employees are also comfortable working under their leadership. I will ask for a recommendation for the name of a specialist from your doctor in Indonesia in order to continue your treatment here.”

“But, Pa, Theo has not fully recovered. It's dangerous to leave such a big responsibility to him now,” Matt said. “Moreover this city is not safe for him or Kak amaryilis. Even though Hillary has been arrested, Clara is still on the loose.

“We also do not know if there are any other new problems they will face. If they're around us, at least we can help them. When they are far away, then they have to face all those challenges without family help.” Matt looked at us worriedly.

“I didn't leave my son alone, Matt. The problem between me and my business partner was solved last night when we all met. They promise to keep Theo and Amarilis as strong as they can,” Papa said casually.

Mama looks very calm and enjoys the cake on her plate. After these few days he did not hide his dislike for Amarilis, his attitude was very strange. Papa suddenly allowed me to cooperate with Amaryllis even more unnaturally.

“Pa, I amnesia, not auto.” I looked at him seriously. “Gue knows why Papa did this to me and Amarilis.”