Paper Dove

FATHER-IN-LAW CAME

I remember one night when we were going to sleep, Jeni told me her wish list. We talked from each other's beds. 

“ One thing I want most is to go to Swiss”, he said looking at a photo in his hand. 

“ Switzerland? You like Switzerland?”, I ask while lying staring at the ceiling of the room that looks dim.

“ Yes, I like. My mom and dad went on a honeymoon there. My mother really liked one of the cities there" she said again. 

I kept listening to him talk. 

“ City st. Moritz in winter looks really amazing”, he said smiling. “ If I go there, I will take you”, he said cheerfully while looking at me from his bed. 

I smiled as I kept staring at the ceiling. “Thank you. But I hate cold weather”, I said. 

He turned his lips to hear my answer. “ Though your attitude is cold like an iceberg”, his scorn. 

I laughed at hearing those words. “ Jeni... “, I called her want to ask something. 

“ Yes?”, he replied from his bed. 

“ What did you think of me after we got married?”, I asked. 

He was silent in the dark of our room night, there was only one light illuminating this bedroom. The lamp at the end of the table next to his bed.

“ Can I be honest with you?”, Jeni asked back.

“ Yes, say ”, I replied.

He sighed. “ At first I thought, you were a very scary figure. I thought you were a cold man I couldn't get close to. But you're so good. Honestly I always reassured myself that you weren't that good, but after the months we've been through I found that you're the best. I love being able to know you Juan”, he said in the dark.

I listened to him as I continued to stare at the ceiling of the room. “ Jeni what if I'm not that good? What if I'm the most dangerous person among the millions you've ever met? Are you going to run away from me?”, I asked. 

He was silent for a moment before answering my question. “ Juan do you intend to hurt me? “, ask. 

“ No. I never intended to hurt you”, I answered honestly. 

“ Then I won't run from you. Because I believe you won't hurt me”, he said calmly and deeply. 

I was silent for quite a while. “ I should have calmed down to hear your answer. But right now I'm getting more agitated because of the answer you gave Jeni, why don't you just choose to run?”, I let out a long sigh. No response from him. 

“ Jeni... “, I called but there was no answer. “ have you slept?”, I woke up from my sleep and approached her bed. He fell asleep with his hands clutching a photograph. 

I smiled “ Basic girl's”. I took the photo from his hand. Two young couples posing for the camera looked happy. Wearing thick winter clothes, they smiled towards the camera. The woman's face was very similar to Jeni's. This is a picture of her mother and father in St. Moritz. 

I put the photo next to Jeni's pillow. Rubbing her head slowly, I looked at her deeply. “ If possible. I don't want you running from me little thief. I love your presence next to me”. 

After saying so I turned off the sleeping lights and went back up on my bed, closing my eyes trying not to dream.

***

Jeni's adoptive father came to see me at the office. He was really persistent in trying to meet me. Maria came into my room with Hartanto Jeni's foster father who was supposed to be her uncle. 

“ This sir is Mr. Hartanto from the company H”, explained Maria. 

“ Good Maria. Thank you”, I replied as I looked at the guest. “ Please sit”, my order.

 I went up to him and sat on the guest sofa where I used to sit. Doni watches from his desk working. 

“ Good afternoon, what need do you come here director Hartanto”, ask me directly without stale bases. There was no smile on my face. 

She was surprised to look at me, maybe she expected her reaction to be different when I saw her. A good reaction when a daughter-in-law meets her in-laws. 

“ Looks like you don't know yet, introduce me Hartanto Wijaya. I am the father of Jeni Wijaya. The woman you married a few months ago “, she answered haughtily with a smile full of falsehood on her face.

“ Father? All I know is that my two in-laws have died in a plane” accident, I answered coldly without receiving a helping hand.

The smile on his face disappeared. He immediately understood that there was no need to be sweet when he met me. 

“ Alright son. Looks like you already know everything. I am his uncle, but I am the one who took care of him since my brother left”, he replied in a calm voice without a stale smile. Here's the real character. 

“ Oh. thanks for taking care of him all this time. She grew into a beautiful and jolly girl”, I replied again. 

“ No problem. This is indeed the duty of parents”, he replied again. 

I smiled hearing his words. Jeni had been growing up in the midst of the demons waiting for her to be slaughtered. After throwing it away how could it be shameless she came to me and claimed to be Jeni's family. 

“ Is Jeni okay?”, she asked again. Questions I had expected before.

“ Good. He was happy with me father-in-law”, I called him by a name that made myself feel goosebumps and he seemed happy to hear it. Seen from the change in the look of his face.

“ Thank goodness he was happy. I'm glad to hear that. My purpose for coming here was to invite my son and my son-in-law to dinner at our home”, he conveyed his purpose. “ He has long since not come home because of something that happened at home. Maybe he was so angry that he didn't tell us he was married. But if Juan's son is busy I won't force”.

Not home? you guys who kicked him out, asshole, I cursed in my heart. 

“ Father-in-law bothered to come here just to invite us to dinner?”, I smiled. “ You should be able to deliver the news through my secretary”, I pretended not to feel good. 

“ No son. Of course I have to come and meet my son-in-law with my own feet”, he smiled widely.

I laughed blandly. Of course you have to make sure of it yourself, because it is impossible for you an ordinary woman like Jeni to marry the number one businessman in Asia right?. Fucking demons. 

“ Father-in-law, because Jeni never mentioned your name then I will ask her first”, I gave a pretty cold answer.

“ Oh he is still angry apparently”, he said pretending to be surprised. 

These bastards are still trying to trick me after they almost sold and harmed him. Goddamn it, I'd love to throw him out the door. I smiled, then gave the code with eyes to Doni who was sitting behind the back of my father-in-law. Doni stood up and approached us.

“ Your master has dinner plans in Singapore this afternoon”, Doni speaks to me in a little loud voice so that this guest can hear.

“ Alright. Is my wife ready ?”, I asked Doni.

“ Yes sir. Madam is on her way to airport”, replied Doni again. 

I'm nodding. “ Father-in-law sorry but it looks like I have to go. My wife is waiting. Later my personal assistant will inform my father-in-law. Excuse me”, I say goodbye to him reluctantly.

“ Yes son, fine. I'm sorry I took your time. Please “, he said then stood up.

I walked out, a smile missing on my face. Maria came near.

“ Take him out of my room”, my orders. 

“ Good pak”, replied Maria obediently. Then walk back to my room.

***