Hot Couple: Inara's Love Story

Defeating the Ego

Reza asked me to prove a promise. He called my dad and made an appointment to meet. I had to agree to meet my father. "I'm so proud of you" Reza said after hanging up the phone.

"Ah, monkey."

"What?"

"Monkey...!" my screams were immediately wriggled by the severe tickling of Reza that made us both dissolve in laughter.

"Mas really loves you" he said after his laughter subsided. He said that while caressing my face and with loving eyes, making my heart beat and my soul soar into space. Because Reza is not a man who likes to indulge in words of love and unfortunately without cause and reason, more precisely he says it only in certain moments, especially in certain moments, at a meaningful moment in our relationship.

We also went straight to the Demang Lebar Leaf restaurant area to meet my father, while to fill the stomach that was a little rumbling to be filled. Once there, apparently my father has arrived first, with the style of a famous lawyer, complete with glasses, suits, and long ties. We were sitting at the same table - yes, yes, I admit Reza actually pulled me down hard to get to that table. Then he immediately crucified my father's hand. I pretended to be stupid. I didn't pretend to see that scene. Reza sighed, and said with slightly clenched lips, "Darling, remember what I said to you?"

That's what he said to me, right before we got out of the car.

My father offered each of us the young coconuts he had ordered. He was agitated near me, like he wanted to hug me, but didn't know if I would allow it. After hesitating for a moment, he finally just blocked my shoulder steadily. "Dad was very happy to meet you," he said, then, he praised me, asked about my life, and his hospitality did not look fake either: in short, he said, he acts as a person who knows that I am the one who holds the power here. He just wanted me to like him and accept him.

"So, how many wives are you now? Yanti?  Rheas? The tia? Three guys? Or more?"

I don't know why I asked like that. Meanwhile, beside me, my father seemed confused, and then he shook his head. "It's just them" he said - speaking slowly.

"just anyone?" I said in a much more intense tone than I intended. Around the table in silence.

My father looked down at the floor under his foot, trying to hide the shame from his face.

Reza tilted her head and raised one eyebrow at me, as if I had broken a promise. Damn it, I said inwardly, with a hot chest burning past grudges. Why am I the only one whose past wounds cannot be healed by time? Am I the only one who thinks the past is so bad?

"Did they all know you had three wives?" ask me again, my father nodded silently. "How come they want to?"

I snorted, while in front of me, Reza seemed unable to wince, she could only glare - a plot that I did not bother with at all.

My father cleared his throat, confused as to what to answer. "Emm. They're all widows, they've got kids. They. they need a companion for-"

"By kicking me and my mom? Also my sister, a four-month-old baby? That so?"

Again. She shook her head. "Son," he said, "Dad has a reason why-"

"I know," cut me again.

This time, it seems that Reza will let me vent my already unstoppable anger. He just watched and didn't stop me from talking.

"I know everything. I know all the possibilities why you left us. But that's not the problem. Not." Then I pointed to his face with the middle finger. "You know what? Hm? Your fault - You cheated. You're a rancid bastard, an asshole, and a loser who's just manly in bed. Not more!"

Kontan Reza glared. "Nara!" he's a soldier, but I don't care.

"You should talk well. Tell me that you don't love us anymore. Return my mother well to her family as you asked her well. Not even cheating, Dear Lawyer."

My father looked down, several times he apologized on the sidelines, but I didn't care at all. I'm a beaver not a bitch.

"Even though you and your Mother cannot be together, you should still come and take responsibility for your children. Against me. You should still support me and give me affection. Your accent, that-that's what I hate so much. That's what I can't tolerate at all. Oh my gosh. If only you understood what I'm saying."

"Father that time was not capable-"

"That time you could afford a motorbike!"

"Dad needs it, son...."

"You even have the intention of buying a car."

"Yes, but--"

"Oom...," Reza blocked. "Can we have a little chat outside?"

My father nodded, agreeing to Reza's request, and they came out, leaving me alone at the table. I wish my ears could lengthen elastic in order to hear their serious-looking talk. Unfortunately, I'm not a cartoon character who can just extend my ears. So, I can only guess what they are talking about.

The most plausible possibility: Reza asked my father not to insist on defending himself in front of me. Because it will make me angry, hotter, and hate him even more. But yeah, that's it. Whatever! I'm hungry and I want to eat.

I've got my order, fried rice with beef eggs - - when Reza and my dad sit back at our table. Then, I purposely stuffed my ears to hear the earphones and immediately played the song from the phone.

"I want to enjoy my food. You guys please just have a chat," I said - choosing to avoid chatting with them.

To dilute the -- I guess - atmosphere - Reza asked my father various things related to the lawyer world, and this developed into a conversation about other things, for example about Human Rights and about corruption cases that occur in this country.

Whatever...! Whatever again. I didn't speak again until it was time for us to go to the airport.

"Dad was really happy to see you," my father said again before we said goodbye, I mean -- before Reza said goodbye, and not me. And this time, the man spoke while hugging me -- so tightly - even though I didn't hug him back. In fact, I honestly wanted to tell him that I didn't like him holding me, but I didn't have the courage to say it. To my horror, Reza kept watching me with her threatening eyes.

It's spooky!

"Son," said my father again, he tried to give us an envelope with some money. "Buy a gift to celebrate your wedding" he said.

I shook my head, I don't need the money. "No need" I said, refusing. "I've grown up, I've grown up enough and I've been able to make my own money. Thank you." Thank you." I walked away, leaving Reza and my father still chattering back there.

Yeah, I don't want to take money from my dad, I'm not a little Inara who needs money made from his sweat and his hard work. And for sure: IT'S TOO LATE. VERY LATE.

"Son, can you come to your wedding?" asked my father, his trembling voice stopped my footsteps that had walked a few steps towards the parking lot without saying goodbye.

I'm nodding. Then, without turning over I said, "Come as a family, not as a marriage guardian. And, please, please come alone, don't invite anyone."

"Alright," he said. For some reason, even though my response was so indifferent, I felt that she must be smiling happily back there.

But honestly, it's been really hard for me. On the way home I had to tell Reza not to comment, the important thing was that I had let my father meet me - - without - I dodged and stayed away.

Really, this love is able to defeat my ego.

And I'm doing all this just for you.