Home For My Soul

190|Lost for Togetherness

~Altheo~

I don't like to be friends, so I'm not comfortable seeing this guy diligently communicating with me. But for the sake of my wife's personal mission, I try to set aside my ego as one who is accustomed to doing everything on my own.

He asked more about the stages of opening a business abroad. The real thing is Papa's more powerful than I am. So, what I shared with him was just what I observed Papa doing while with me.

Therefore, I'm not surprised he's getting out of town more and more to serve his new business partner. He is still exploring who is suitable to work with. Just like Papa and I did before opening our culinary business in America.

When he took the foursome to dinner, I didn't refuse. It was an opportunity to get closer to him to believe in me. The information I'm about to give him is very sensitive. Moreover, this had something to do with Nisa who turned out to be very much in love with her.

“Theo, Papa calls,” scolds Matt, disperse my daydreams.

I nodded, then glanced at the clock on my laptop. Ah, it's lunch time. We tidied up the potluck table, then walked out of the room together. Papa's workspace was at the other end of the building, so we walked far enough to get there.

My mom came to bring us food. I could see Matt glancing at me, but I ignored him. We filled the empty seats and started filling each plate. I did not see any servants accompanying Mama to come. Maybe he was told to wait outside or the cafeteria.

“My son has been home from abroad for almost three months, but even once he did not want to come to dinner to his own parents' house. So, I came here so we could eat together,” complained Mama. “True people said. Marriage makes a child change.”

“For what did Theo come if Mama every night invited the Batari Family to eat at our house? Mama admit it or not, Theo is married.” Matt put a spoonful of rice in his mouth.

“The woman was not and will never be my daughter-in-law,” Mama said firmly. I don't need to look to know he's looking at me seriously.

“You said you wanted lunch together. Be eating. Don't be angry at our child. You can talk later after she fills her stomach.” Papa gave Mama's plate to her.

Although we are not one word, I miss our togetherness. Mama's right. Since I got home, this was the first time we had a meal together. But it wasn't my fault. They do not want to acknowledge Amaryllis' status as my wife, so I prefer her over them.

Especially at that time I didn't remember anything. So, I'm looking at the accident at the hospital. To be sure, they invited the person I witnessed myself to have dumped me and hurt our family to have dinner at home. Amaryllis who had done so well to them was wasted. That's so unfair.

After remembering everything, my eyes opened even more. I didn't think it out. How could my parents have changed so badly? Just because we agreed Venny was the last candidate, they licked their spit again and forgave the Batari Family's sadistic deeds that easily.

“You are soon to have a birthday,” Mama said while tidying up our empty tableware. “We prepare a small celebration in the office hall, all grateful for your recovery. Only briefly after working hours is over.”

Just a little after work. That means Amaryllis wasn't invited. But they certainly invite important people their acquaintances or our relatives. Doesn't matter. I waited for this time to carry out my mission. Amaryllis need not be present so that she does not hinder my intentions.

“Only celebration and thanksgiving?” satirical Matt. “No impromptu announcement, Theo is engaged to Venny, for example?”

“Your turn will also arrive. Don't you think we don't know you're playing crazy,” scold Mama. “The woman already has a fiance and they will get married later this year. Don't follow in your sister's footsteps by doing something family humiliating.”

“Are we done eating?” ask, interrupt. “If so, I still have a lot of work to do. I need to go back to the room.”

“You just—” protest Mama, but Papa touched her hand so she doesn't continue talking.

“You can go back to your workspace,” Papa said. She ignored Mama's protest through her eye movements. “He's right. He's on a lot of errands and I don't want the work to be messy because of personal issues.”

“Then, I am also back now,” said Matt who escaped from Mama's nagging.

I have a dinner appointment. That's the main reason I can't overtime tonight. This office business I need to finish so I can check the reports from restaurants in America before I go to bed. I don't pile up work so that today's part doesn't add to tomorrow's work.

Amaryllis looked nervous as we walked towards the restaurant. Being too familiar with the target can indeed make us doubt our original intentions. Edrick is too good to be hurt. He has changed drastically. The old Katelia never cared about the feelings of others.

We ordered each meal, but I added a few snacks hearing the portion my wife called less. He nodded, expressing his protest. Ignored him. He would definitely finish off all the food that was in front of him.

“Edrick understands me far more than you,” Amarylis said.

“Lo treat us to eat, then I will not waste the opportunity to save money shopping.” I grabbed Amarylis' shoulder. “He works out every morning. So, the one he's eating tonight will be burned tomorrow. After all, I prefer my woman a little unbiased rather than skinny.”

“You're not insulting me, ‘kan, Theo?” nisa said, offended.

Edrick laughing. “You won't be skinny forever, so take it easy, baby. But Theo was right. We men love it when our women are a little full. You'll understand after we get married later.”

The Amaryllis hand on my thigh squeezed the fabric of my pants, signaling. He must have refrained from telling the truth to the man. I held her hand and rubbed her back.

We talk more about work and the women don't mind. Amaryllis and Nisa don't try to talk, keeping their agreement on campus first. Since Edrick wasn't bothered with that, then I responded whenever he asked for my opinion.

The food ran out, the man invited us to meet again another day. Amaryllis and I both agree. Nisa who from earlier was restless because her phone vibrated, finally saying goodbye. He also went to the toilet. My wife and I looked at each other, and saw an opportunity coming.

“I intend to invite him to get married later this year. We have been engaged since the beginning of the year and I think one year is enough time to get to know more deeply,” said Edrick seriously, suddenly talking about privacy.

He looked towards my wife. “Is there anything about him I need to know again? Theo certainly doesn't know as much as his fellow women know about his old friend. Ah, I'm sorry. You and Nisa aren't friends. What am I thinking?” The man scratched his head, feeling guilty.

“It's okay, Edrick. I understand.” Amarylis smiled. “We weren't friends at SMU. She is a member of a group that likes to bully me.”

“So, have you not spoken because you have not forgiven each other?” ask Edrick to know.

“Nisa never apologized to me. We just agreed not to know each other again for the sake of mutual calm,” I am Amarylis.

“Oh.” Edrick looked surprised. “He said, you guys have spoken and forgiven each other the past.”

Forgive the past? This guy doesn't know what's really going on. If he knew Amarylis wasn't Amaryllis, he'd have a heart attack. Therefore, what my wife is demanding is not an apology that has to do with their bullying, but their fall to the lake. Had he known, his fiancee had already killed a girl.

“That's just one of the many things he's hiding from you,” added Amarylis.

“There again?” edrick didn't believe it. “Say, what else is he hiding from me?”

Amaryllis smiled wryly. “No, Edrick. You won't believe this information.”

The man looked at me and my wife in turn. “Let me decide the information is worth it for me to believe it or not. What is Nisa doing that I don't know?”

 ~Author's Note~

Huuwwaa!! Chapter 190! Thank you very much, friends, for your support of Amarilis and Altheo until this chapter. The novel's popularity is 55K when the reader is not much. Every day there are not up to 100, let alone 50 people who read. But the pop can be that high.

Thank you for the comments, thumbs up, votes, gifts (this is the most), advertisements, even tips that friends give to both of our characters. All of this has made the book so popular. Terharuu .... Hopefully we can continue to give our best so as not to disappoint the readers.

Not to forget, I wish Happy Eid 1444 H Eid to those who celebrate. Have a good holiday and be careful on the way out of town.

Greetings dear, dear,

Meina H's.