Love of a Substitute

Devano Son of Sanjaya

"Oh, name is also a paid wife. Oh my.... Whatisthis? Am I expecting the first night?" I muttered to myself while biting my finger and giggled amusedly imagining that if it happened last night, I further immersed my face in a thick blanket that even in my lifetime I had never slept on a mattress this comfortable.

"Behold you Nika, if we meet later I will kill you, look at me being a lowly woman who has been selling herself to the rich for money, whereas in this case I was forced and threatened, poor people like me really have no price, with just one threat I was immediately afraid, it was easy not to buy a wife like buying snacks alone."

I continued to grieve this poor fate of mine, I breathed a few rough breaths of annoyance, yet I knew all was useless now.

I felt like urinating, then I decided to get out of the blanket that protected me from the cold AC, understandably I was not used to sleeping in a luxurious room and cold AC, so I did not know, fortunately I didn't have a fever last night so I'm very grateful for this thick blanket.

But only then did I sit down and get out of the blanket, I quickly went back to hiding behind the blanket again because of how surprised that my eyes saw the appearance of a bare-chested man standing behind me.

"Ah.... Who're you?" Scream me under the blanket.

"Who else do you think I'm here because my clothes are all here" replied the man I believe to be the voice of Bang Dev.

I breathed a sigh of relief, I thought he was a stranger who would rape me. Immediately I patted my own forehead for what I just thought.

"Oh, it turns out Bang Dev. Excuse me.... I thought you were a stranger" I replied from the blanket but I slowly opened like I was peeking.

"Hm."

That was all that sounded from his lips this time, I looked at his back who had been wearing a black t-shirt and was looking for something from inside his bag.

"Bang Dev, I'm sorry.... I know this is hard for you. I don't know why Nikayla did this to you either."

"Don't say that name again."

I was silent, hearing that cold voice. No, I've never heard the cold tones of Bang Dev's lips all this time, how doesn't that guy even look always friendly with our best friend Nikayla. We met quite often and greeted when Bang Dev came to pick up Nika at the campus.

"Sorry." Only that word was also what I was able to say after seeing her cold face looking at me sharply.

"Get ready, we'll go home. I'm not comfortable being here long."

"Well," I nodded in fear, immediately I stood up and continued my intention to the bathroom.

My steps came back to a standstill when Bang Dev's voice echoed again.

"One thing, about your mother has been taken care of by my mother about this marriage. After coming home later meet him," said Bang Dev in a normal voice.

I nodded again.

"Thank you, Bang Dev."

******

Devano Putra Sanjaya, another week of age 30. The man who is now my husband, the lover of my best friend Nikayla who ran away on the day of their wedding so forced me to be purchased to replace him because our name is the same to trick the invited guests who have been present at the event of the meeting in fact are the his father's co-officials and colleagues were our regional governors.

Until now I still feel like a dream to bear the sudden status of a wife, where I used to meet Bang Dev when he picked Nika up at college or we were going to go to a movie where I was the only one who didn't have a partner, I'm used to being a mosquito repellent when my three best friends come together.

Seeing them make out was no longer awkward in my eyes, including seeing Bang Dev and Nika who had been dating for five years.

We were four best friends, me, Nikayla, Rania and Susan. We have been friends for two years, quite open to each other but yesterday it would be a surprise to me that Nika turned out to have had another man besides Bang Dev until she became pregnant and ran away from the shame of the marriage that has trapped me now.

"Oh it's just fitting that Nika looked pale a few days ago, she looked unwell. Is it because she's pregnant young, you evil bastard I really don't think you're like that Nika."

I grumbled, which I could only say in my heart. Remembering Nika's face and attitude a few days before marriage did make my brain travel everywhere.

Long enough to mutter and think to myself, I glanced at Bang Dev who was driving my car to take me home from the hotel where the reception was yesterday.

The man was silent, silent and silent. Very little talk is important, very different from the Bang Dev I know so far who is good at speech and humor, but I can understand being in his position now is not easy.

"Bang Dev."

"Hmmm," Bang Dev replied without turning his head towards me.

"Are we going home to Bang Dev's parents?"

The man just nodded, it irritated me a little, we got married because we were forced to keep his parents from being embarrassed. Can't she appreciate me a little asking this nicely.

What's wrong with answering, I put my lips forward because I was upset myself. It was like I was talking to the wind.

"What about my mother?"

"You'll be escorted by the driver later" replied Bang Dev briefly and flatly.

"Well," I said slowly, I was quite disappointed even though I only married a contract at least I needed a friend to explain to my mother, but of course because we were poor it was possible that Bang Dev was lazy to meet my mother.

Without feeling the car we have arrived at a big house of Bang Dev's parents. I was here for the first time, I knew that Bang Dev lived in his apartment alone because he was there closer to the campus where he taught.

This house is so big, my guts are really shrunk when getting out of the car.

"What are you thinking, come on down!" Bang Dev's voice blew my daydream.

"Am I going to stay here too Bang Dev?" The stupid question just came out.

"Just a few days, we'll stay in my apartment of course if you want you can stay here." The man answered long enough and I saw a faint smile on the corner of his lips, O Lord I felt my blood rustling at him.

Is it because he is my husband now? The question popped up in my brain still not ready for this.

"No, no, I'll just go with you." I quickly replied as I recalled how Bang Dev's mother's face had threatened me yesterday, how could I have stayed with such a fierce in-law.

"Let's get off!"

Bang Dev's order again, I immediately nodded.

Sure enough, we entered the mansion that had been waiting for the beautiful yet terrifying Mother Bang Dev.