ILLUSIANA (CONTRACT MARRIAGE)

CHAPTER 47

Their gazes clashed in front of the dining room. Lusi and Cantika. Lusi smiled, but Cantika only snorted and threw away her face as if she did not want to meet face to face with Lusi.

Wearing jeans and a pink sweater, Cantika swagged before Lusi. Snatched the car keys on the table, then stepped out towards his red sedan.

Lusi just shook his head to see the attitude of his sister-in-law who began to look clearly hostile to him.

He sat in front of the pool and enjoyed his warm chocolate milk tonight.

Suddenly he remembered Dio. He saw on the phone screen, already a dozen times there is the name Dio in his list of missed calls today.

Lately, Dio has been very intense. Especially since Dio knew that the marriage of Lusi and Ferdian is only limited to 'black on white'. That's why Dio still desperately wished for Lusi to be his.

Flashback was a few days ago.

Dio came to Lusi who was sitting on his own, seriously reading his college papers. The girl was completely unaware of Dio's sudden arrival already sitting before her.

“Hey, Susie. Seriously very,” scolded Dio while smiling broadly at him.

“Ohh, Dio. I think Nikita or Ashanti,“ reply Lusi while closing the paper.

“I saw they were home. Why aren't you home yet? Isn't it picked up?” dio asked, but in his heart Dio hoped that Lusi would not be picked up so that he could take Lusi home.

“Numbered, Dio. My husband still has meetings. I was told to wait here first,” replied Lusi with a characteristic soft voice.

“May I ask you something, Lusi?” permit Dio while watching Lusi's face. He was afraid that what he would ask would offend Lusi.

“Ask what, Dio?”

“Hmmm, what's it like to have that contract marriage, Lusi?” ask Dio slowly and carefully.

Lusi looked up at Dio. Then smile briefly. Dio was calm, as it seemed that Lusi was not offended by the question.

“I have trouble answering, Dio. For sure during his life my husband always treated me well. And I have great respect for him" replied Lusi lirih.

“Can your husband fall in love with you?” There was an anxious and troubled streak on Dio's face as he questioned it. She was very scared if Lusi replied 'yes'.

But Lusi shook his head weakly. “I don't know Dio, with the trauma of my husband's failed marriage past, I find it hard for him to fall in love again. Moreover, her former fiance is a woman who is very perfect in terms of physical.

Beautiful, educated and rich. Compared to me, Dio is far away. So it's impossible for my husband to fall in love with me.”

“You don't go down so low. Is that the ex we saw at the restaurant the other day with your husband?” ask Dio curiously. And Lusi just nodded with a small smile.

“Hmm. Oo him. If I was your husband I would have preferred you over that woman,” Dio said with a big smile.

Lucia laughed lightly. Dio loved to see Lusi laugh. The girl was very sweet while displaying her neat and white rows of teeth.

“You know, Lusi? I never stopped loving you. I will continue to wait for you to have the same feeling," said Dio quietly as he looked gently at Lusi's face with a hopeful look.

Lusi looked down not daring to look at Dio's face. Lusi was afraid that Dio would be disappointed waiting for him all this time.

I'm a woman with a lot of problems, Dio. I don't want you to be disappointed. You're too good for me. Said Lusi in his bath.

Flashback.

Erick Clapton's song Tears in Heaven is performed by a cafe singer on a mini stage.

In the accompaniment of very slick acoustics music makes the atmosphere of a cafe that is famous among the upper class is more and more syahdu felt. 

Cantika placed his seat in the high chair exactly opposite a bartender. Two glasses of Cocktail Margarita has escaped into his throat. This time he waited for the third glass.

The bartender put the glass of low-grade alcoholic beverages in front of him.

Cantika hung her head down while twirling her glass. His thoughts continued to be on his older brother, Ferdian. His heart was still very irritated considering the incident this morning.

The only brother he had been so proud of all this time had already turned one hundred and eighty degrees.

Since the death of his parents only Ferdian has been the seat of his life.

Ferdian, who always spoiled him, always granted whatever he wanted and always protected him, now feels far away from him. He was sad, upset and disappointed.

Moreover, against Lusi who he considered to be a person who had a big hand made Ferdian's personal change completely.

“Mama...Papa...” Cantika lirih. Her tears rolled a grain of cheek. A crazed longing for his late parents suddenly ambushed his heart.

Shown in her mind, the graceful face of her mother and the shady face of her papa. Moreover, the smile of his mother who always decorate the lips. Also his very wise father, never once spoke loudly to him.

Now both of his loved ones had rested quietly in the heavenly realm. Only the photos on the walls and the sweet memories were a little treat for her longing.

“Mama... Papa's.... I miss.. hiks... hiks.... hiks....” Cantika whined with a stifled voice. But not able to stem the tears that are now increasingly rushing to wet both cheeks.

The handsome young man sitting beside Cantika turned to her because he heard her crying voice that suddenly broke.

The man noticed Cantika's downcast face with shaken shoulders holding back his sobbing.

Suddenly a handkerchief came before him. Cantika turned towards the owner who was sitting right next to her.

Dio stared flatly at Cantika with his hands still outstretched holding a blue handkerchief.

Cantika shyly receives a handkerchief from Dio. Then he used it to wipe away his tears that were in his eyes.

“Thank you,” Cantika said while returning her handkerchief to Dio.

“Hold it with you, maybe you want to cry again for the second round,”, Dio said. Cantika gave a small laugh on the side of her remaining sobs.

“Anged boxing match?” reply Cantika with a hoarse voice finished crying.

“Women are not good crying alone in a place like this. Danger,” said Dio again while downing his cola drink.

“Tenangin mind is here. Should be in the house of worship there.”

“What's wrong with being here, I love the atmosphere.” Cantika protest.

“Coin here?” dio asked as he turned his seat to Cantika.

“No too, just a few times. If you? Often here?” Cantika asked back.

“Gak too, just a few times as well. Just to calm the mind aja.” Dio's reply made Cantika laugh wide. Dio laughed, but he was small.

“You copier huh? The answer is copy paste I have tuh,” exclaimed Cantika in his laughter.

“I'm not a copier. I'm Dio. You...?” Dio extended his palm before Cantika.

“Cantika,” Cantika replied shaking Dio's hand.

“Good acquaintance with you,“ said Dio politely.

“Sama, me too. Thanks for making me laugh. And thanks also his handkerchief,” said Cantika pointed to the handkerchief he still held.

Triigg.....Triinghng....Triigg....

Suddenly the sound of Cantika's cell phone lying on the bar table made a sound. The screen is written ‘Kakak’.

Waduh, bad if brother Ferdian knows I'm going to this cafe, I can run out in omelin. Bathin Cantika.

“Sorry Dio, I received the phone first outside.” Cantika's permission and answered with Dio's nod.

Then rushed Cantika carrying her phone out to avoid the sound of music that is still heard from inside the cafe.

“Iya, Brother?” reply Cantika.

“Where are you?” Ferdian's voice rang out.

“Di... in .. oooh at the bookstore, Brother,” replied Cantika lying.

“There is a bookstore that opens until eleven in the evening. You go home now!” snapped Ferdian later.

“Ii .. Yes, Brother. It's me home now.” Cantika was nervous because she had clearly lied. Then he turned off his phone. And rushed back inside the cafe to say goodbye to his new acquaintance, named Dio.

“Loh, where are the guys?“ Cantika wobbly looking for the whereabouts of Dio. That guy is no longer in his chair.

“Mas, the guy who was sitting here where?” ask Cantika to the Bartender in front of her.

“Already out, Brother.“

“Ooo, okay. I'm asking Bill to pay.“

“Have been diclosing the same mas earlier,“ replied the Bartender again.

“Hah? Already paid? Duuuh, tuh a good guy really,” said Cantika, then ngeloyor went immediately out of the cafe to the parking lot.

He opened the car door immediately. And immediately turn on the engine, but it does not want to turn on.

Time and time again he's a fixed starter and there's no sign of the engine turning on. Of course he started to panic. Moreover, looking at the parking area, not a single person passed by.

A cold sweat suddenly poured down his forehead.

“Why his car? Strike?” Suddenly Dio's handsome face appeared beside the car door.

“Aaaakk...!” Cantika screamed aghast.

“Yeah, Dio... Sorry I panicked,” Cantika said then got out of his car.

“Try me check.” Dio got into the car and tried to start it several times but still did not want to turn on.

Dio got out of the car and opened the hood in front of him. He examined the poor cable parts running through the machine. I don't know what he was tinkering with.

Cantika noticed Dio's serious-looking face beside her.

This guy is a guy too, he thought to himself.

“Try in the starter," tell Dio later.

Cantika according to then got into the car and start it back. The car engine suddenly starts. Cantika smiled with relief. Dio closed the hood of the car and approached Cantika.

“Waahh, thank you very much, you have helped me three times tonight," said Cantika girang.

“Three times?” ask Dio astonished.

“Iya. First, you made me laugh. Second, you pay me a bill. Third, you really are my car.”

Dio just smiled sweetly in response.

“Ya. You go home there. It's night. Drive safe, okay,” said Dio politely.

“Okay, you too. Thanx yes.” Cantika smiled as she waved at Dio and then drove her car fast because she knew Ferdian must be waiting for her on the front porch, with a very horror face and ready to reach his ears.

visual score: Dio

visual cast: Cantika