Home For My Soul

64|Themselves

I immediately checked around me. Looks like he came alone, because I didn't see his parents and Brother Jericho. They came four years ago. Brother must be studying or have business with his work. Most importantly, there was no Mom here.

What I'm confused about now, do Amarylis and Kak Nolan know each other? I don't know how to behave, because as far as I know, they never met, let alone chatted. But from the way Big Brother rebuked, it seemed like they knew each other.

“You are very different from you when SMU.” He looked around us. “Why are you here? Why are you sitting at Husada Family table?”

“Ng, that ...,” I said, not knowing what to answer.

“Aren't you friends with Theo or Chika? Ah, naw. Om Husada can't possibly let you sit here because you're friends with Chika. You're Theo's best friend?” ask her again, repeatedly.

“Kakak really hasn't changed, yes.” I decided to be honest. “That means one by one, Brother. Don't wholesale. I just forgot what Sister's question was.”

He was stunned for a moment. “You never talk informally like this to me.”

“Because only my body is Amaryllis,” I am. I smiled seeing him dumb. “Not only Brother Jericho, Big Brother has also been courting secretly with girls who are not equal. Only I know, because Brother Jericho won't be able to keep secrets. If Papa and Mama know ..” I deliberately didn't finish my sentence, because that information was enough.

Eyes rounded. He stared at me for so long, without saying anything. “Kat-katelia ..?”

“Kakak see, ‘kan? Brother Jericho can also be trusted,” I said, signaling that our brother already knew about me first.

“Ti-impossible,” murmured. “But who knows about the girl is just you ...” He's dumb.

“Come, drink, Sister.” I put a glass of water in front of me.

He accepted and gulped half of it. “Katelia is dead,” she said slowly.

“Call my number from Brother Jericho. We meet and talk. Theo is back. He wouldn't like to see me and Big Brother whisper like this.” I saw Theo and his family coming down the stage.

Poor Nolan's brother is still dumb, but he's obeying my words. Theo and Matt return to their seats and the meal begins. The waiters lined up neatly delivering food after food to the table.

Even though the eyes of everyone who was at the table with us were looking cynically at me, I could eat voraciously. I knew they were intentionally intimidating, but I didn't show anyone that I was nervous.

Not wanting to have another incident, I refrained from going to the bathroom. I do it at home. There is no Aunt Wibowo in this place, but it could be Mama Chika or be ready to attack me again. I dare to hit people like me, not my whole mama.

After the guests congratulated at once home, Theo waited until the situation was not crowded anymore. The elevator to the roof is indeed four, but the number of guests is also many. With a smile as sweet as possible, I congratulated and shook the hands of Theo's parents. Only Azarya would accept my hand.

“You see that? He already had a fiancee, but came with another girl. Children today cannot be regulated. They want to be alone,” said the person in the same elevator as us.

“Badah Azarya and Ruth were also betrothed. They're happy. It must be the woman who made Theo fight his parents,” said another woman.

“Let's just. Later also he was bored, then saw Jessica is much better than the ugly girl,” said the first woman to talk earlier.

Me and Theo went out first, because we were standing by the door. He took me to the building lobby. We don't have to queue like other guests, because the car is already in the queue. A man opened the door for me, while Theo turned his car around through the front hood.

Just a few minutes into driving, he pulled over the car at a fast food restaurant that was open twenty-four hours. I looked at him confused. Since he came out, then I also opened the car door. He took my hand back to the eating place.

“Lo definitely needs a toilet. I'll order a drink for us. What do you want?” tanyakanya.

“Wow. If you behave like this, you are handsome too,” my god.

“Can be quick little?” he said impatiently.

“Ng, lemon tea only,” I replied.

He approached the counter, then I headed for the toilet inside the restaurant. I'm so glad that place is quiet, no one uses the room. After finishing my business, I returned to the dining room. Theo was already sitting with two drinks on the table.

Tea for me is not given ice cubes, he already knows my habits. Surprisingly, he ordered coffee. Does he intend to stay up tonight? Not wanting to know his business, I quietly did not respond to his preferred drink.

“He's my brother, what's wrong with me telling the truth?” I asked back. Sooner or later, he'll find out. So I decided not to wait anymore.

“Gue doesn't like the Katelia family. After all, I've often said, I don't want to be close to other men.”

It seems like our engagement that Katelia's parents are hiding is deeply imprinted in her heart. I'm sure that's why he doesn't like the Wibowo Family. Their rash actions were indeed difficult to understand. I don't know why Mom and Dad did that.

Though the natural reaction of the person who will be part of the Husada Family is as shown by Chika and her parents. They were so proud and impatient to marry their daughter to Theo. Just got engaged, they were happy for mercy.

“Don't forget, you lost a bet,” I said, reminding.

“What bet?”

“You said love first.” I smiled triumphantly.

“Love? When do I say love?” He grunted softly. “Gue just said baby. Just check in the dictionary. Those are two different words meaning.”

How could I forget? He's a smart guy. So obnoxious. He said the truth, so I can't argue. Love and love are two different words. I'm the one who didn't learn, too, if he's going to do anything as long as he wins.

After pulling his car over in front of my house, he didn't do his habit of stealing kisses from me. Although her attitude was confusing, I rushed out of the vehicle before she changed her mind.

I did not wash the clothes myself, but took them to the tattooist. I only dared to clean it after knowing how from the staff at that place. Even though I already have a lot of clothes with similar materials, I do not dare to decide which way is right.

My hand really isn't the hand of a Katelia anymore. The tip of my fingers also hardened because I played the violin too often. I often think to myself, what makes Theo choose me to be his future wife? Is he serious or playful?

But feeling the locket on my necklace, he was serious about his talk. He hasn't said love, but it's a very foreign word to him. Just like it was for me. We both never dated, because our parents determined our potential partner.

“Why do I feel bad about our destination tonight?” I said to Theo. He invited me back to a secret event. Matt also asked permission not to study. “What event did your family have today?”

“Lo absolutely forgetful.” He shook his head.

He took me to his family's restaurant. My heart was pounding erratically every time our steps got closer to the room directed by the maid. The young woman opened the door for us. I was not surprised to see the Chika family inside.

Matt immediately stood up from his mother's side and moved to sit next to Chika. So, Theo can sit next to Aunt Ruth and I at the end. Matt was in front of me so I didn't have to look at Chika or her parents. A safe position for me.

“This is my birthday, Theo. How dare you bring people I didn't invite,” protest Aunt Ruth sharply.

Oh, aye. Last year after performing at their wedding anniversary celebration, I was invited to have dinner together. It was only a few days after the event to celebrate Aunt Ruth's birthday. The date is my weakness.

“If Amarylis cannot come, I also do not want to attend, Ma.” Theo stood up again.

“Nak, sit down,” says Om Azarya, divorce.

The show went very rigid, much worse than when Theo introduced me to his family. The parents chatted casually though I could see the tension between them. Only Chika they occasionally spoke to. The three of us completely ignored it.

Neither Theo nor Matt seemed to care about their attitude. This makes them able to eat freely. I kick their legs every time they scramble to add food on my plate. I wouldn't be able to sleep if I got a stomachache.

After Chika's family left, Theo also excused her parents to take me home. I wish Aunt Ruth a happy birthday outside the restaurant, but she won't shake my hand. I let Theo take my hand to the parking lot.

“You will hate me even more, Theo,” I said worriedly.

“Let me take care of that.” He opened the car door, so I entered it.

We just stayed quiet on the way home. But when he arrived in front of my residence, he was still trying to kiss my lips. His little actions made me laugh. He smiled, so I understood. He did it to comfort me.

Waking up in the morning, I prepared to exercise as usual. Hearing my phone shake, I approached the table. There was a new message, so I checked it. I gulped heavily reading the name of the sender.