Paper Dove

I PROMISE

Jeni's apartment is not too big, the environment is quite good and well maintained. I followed him, while Doni waited in the basement of the car park. Upon entering her apartment it was like entering another area, this apartment was decorated in a feminine way.

Most are dominated by light green and white. A not-so-large bookcase is in the corner of the room near the sofa. Comic books are neatly organized there.  The dining table for two is on the other side. This room is arranged in such a way that it looks sweet and makes people feel at home in it. I feel the flowers of this room. 

Jeni came in and told me to sit down, while she was busy opening the window for the air to change. “ Wait here I will shower for a while and change into a” outfit, he said again. 

“ Don't be too long, I have an appointment tonight”, I said remembering my promise with CEO Y group.

Jeni nodded then disappeared from behind a door. I waited for her while leaning myself on the sofa to be more comfortable and I started to get sleepy. 

In my sleep I saw Dew wearing a white shirt holding a small knife in his hand. I tried to scream and forbid him to do that, but none of my voice came out. The red color appeared on his shirt the longer it widened. I cried all my might trying to reach him, I saw him moving his lips like he was saying something. I tried to listen to “ Juan”, Dew called my name, but this is not the sound of Dew. I'm like getting to know this voice “ Juan wake”. 

I flinched from my sleep, one hand clutching tightly onto Jeni's arm. I don't know when he was next to me. I quickly removed my grip, I could see a red mark there. 

“ Since when are you here?”, I ask.

“ Since you screamed for help. I just finished changing clothes when I heard you yelling" she explained.

I watched her, her hair still looked half dry and she had already changed into a house shirt. I fixed my sitting position. 

“ I'm sorry I made you panic”, I said no good. 

“ Did you have a bad dream?”, Jeni asked.

“ Yes. I seem to be exhausted. Can we start?”, I asked avoiding his curiosity. 

“ Yes of course. Sit down at the dinner table. I will make tea for you”, he said again.

“ Where is your bathroom?. I want to wash the face”, I ask.

Jeni pointed to one of the doors she had entered. I stood up and walked into the room until there I washed my trembling hands. I just realized, long enough I never dreamed about it again since I was busy turning my attention to Jeni. Somehow I dreamt about him again. Is this a warning to me not to be with another woman? What if I loved someone it would be a curse? 

I washed my face many times. After that look at myself in the mirror of that sink. “ Sadize yourself Juan. This is for business interests”, I commemorate myself. After that I took a clean towel folded on one of the shelves and dried my face. I threw the towel into the dirty basket there. 

By the time I got out Jeni was already sitting on the dining table chair while writing something on paper. “ Sitlah”, said. 

I sat facing him waiting. 

“ Juan because we're getting married real but actually fake. I have rules that we must both obey. You can add to that rule if you want”, he said while thrusting a paper that already contains some points. I read it carefully. 

The rules of Jeni's first party and must be adhered to by Juan as the second party:

●This marriage will last until the agreement that the goals of each of the two parties are achieved.

●This marriage is a secret known only by both parties and Doni as a witness. 

●In front of grandfather, both parties must look friendly, harmonious and loving to each other.

●The second side is prohibited from touching the first party while together inside the house

●For some reason, the first party wants the second party to always invite ‘DATING’ on weekends.

●There must be no third person in the marriage of this contract whatever the reason until the separation status is confirmed. 

I sighed, “ Just this?”, I asked. Jeni nodded confidently. 

“ Then I will ask you about this writing before I add my rules”, I look at it. 

“ Yes please. What do you want to ask?”, he asked. 

“ Because I've never had a girlfriend before. I was too busy making money. I don't know until when this wedding will take place so I don't want to waste my time. I want to have the experience of having a girlfriend even if it's just a lie”, he said innocently. 

I smiled hearing his innocence. “ Alright. I only have two rules”, I said. Then I wrote down the rule under Jeni's point.

Juan as the second party has rules that must be obeyed by Jeni as the first party :

●The first party must obey everything that the second party says as the rule bearer. If you dispute and or refuse to comply, it will be counted as a breach of contract. 

●Previous contracts already signed by the first party are still valid until each of the two sides' goals is reached. 

I handed the paper to him. Jeni read the writing carefully.

“ Just this? I still have to follow the contract at that time as well?”, he asked in disbelief. 

“ Of course. You don't want to? yes already I will cancel it”, I said a little threatening.

“ All right I will do. Let's sign this letter”, he said then quickly signed the letter.

I smiled a little happily, then signed my share. With this officially he is mine. We will have a wedding in a few days without a reception and so on. It was Jeni's wish, because she didn't like the excitement. And I obey him. 

***

Who was most shocked by this decision? Of course my mom. He was so unacceptable that I married Jeni, I had not even had time to meet her choice.

My sister Bella is very happy because of this decision.

“ I will also follow in the footsteps of big brother, I will marry the man of my choice”, he said as I said will marry Jeni in the near future.

“ Correct school can just marry”, I shake his head which is greeted with a sullen face from him.

The wedding day came, of course my mother did not come. The wedding was held at Jeni's grandfather's place, there were no guests present other than a few people closest to grandfather. How bright was the face of my grandfather. He looked very healthy because his wish was achieved. 

When I was alone with him, he spoke like a father to me.

“ Son Juan, because you married my beautiful grandson I want to tell you something. My granddaughter is a strong girl like her mother. Jeni went through a very difficult life since her mother died”, grandfather stared sadly at Jeni who was busy chatting with Bella.

“ Since you are already a part of my family, I will tell you something. I feel like my age is getting shorter. Juan.Jeni is actually the son of my other niece. Both of his parents died in a plane crash. At that time Jeni was taken care of by her father's sister, Hartono. Jeni lived a good life because Hartono's wife loved him as much as her own child. But when Yanti dies and Hartono remarries. Jeni's life has changed. He had to go through a difficult time that should not be experienced by a child his age”, grandfather breathed. 

“ Juan.. I'm asking you. Keep Jeni away from Hartono and his wife, as they currently want to take over the family-owned company. They've taken Jeni off the family list and want Jeni to hand over all that inheritance to them”.

I stared at grandfather “ I mean his father's grandfather will kill him just for a treasure?”, I asked in disbelief. 

“ May. That's what they talked about on the phone yesterday, they asked me to take Jeni home. I think Hartanto has been blinded by his wife's nature, because the woman gave birth to a child for him”.

I immediately understood why Grandpa Darmawan had a heart attack a few days ago.

“ I'm old Juan, I can't take care of him as well as you take care of him. I'm picking up my grandson Juan. I really believe in you. That land, I'll give it as a wedding gift. Since that's all I have right now”, Grandpa Darmawan looks at me expectantly.

I returned his sad look. A little guilt ran through my heart for lying to her. 

“ I promise”, I said firmly in front of Grandpa Darmawan. 

“ Thank you Juan”, he replied with a happy smile.

***