Paper Dove

SHE IS MY LEGITIMATE WIFE

I sat in front of a small fire . In my hand were sheets of paper that I squeezed one by one and threw them into the fire. The paper was a contract letter signed with Jeni. I don't need this anymore, Jeni is my legal wife now. I've registered our marriage to the state. 

Who receives the least? of course my mom. I said something that made my mother very angry and made a drama to go to the hospital because her vertigo disease relapsed.

" Jeni is my choice mom. I love her, I didn't ask mom to accept her as a daughter-in-law but please respect my choice".

This weekend I invited Jeni to meet Flits and his little family. Upon entering the grounds of their small house, Jeni looks very happy.

“ Honey, I love a house like this. In a child-friendly environment, there is a garden in the middle of the housing. The grounds were spacious and one more thing, the small house was warmer. You know why?”, Jeni spoke to me as we stood in the yard of Flits' house. 

“ Why?”, I give curious mimic. I love it when my wife starts babbling.

“ Because when you have a very large house the warmth will be less felt because all choose to be in their respective regions, for example rooms and only meet at dinner. But a simple house like this makes us more often meet and much more familiar”, he explained with a very serious face.

“ Whose theory is it?”, I asked with a smile at the sight of his face.

“ My theory. That's why I explained to you”, he said it was still very serious. His face like that makes me nervous. 

“ Alright then tomorrow we will buy a simple house”, I replied caressing his face.

He smiled happily. We joined hands walking towards the door of the house and Flits greeted us warmly. 

After lunch together, Flits and I sat together enjoying the fresh air on the terrace. While Jeni was holding Flits' child and chatting with his wife inside the house.

“ So this is your choice?”, Flits asked. 

“ Yes.. I put my heart on him. I depend on him at this time”, I reply then gulp my drink in the bottle. 

“ Have you confirmed your heart?”, Flits asked while looking at me. 

I was speechless staring at the spacious courtyard in front of me which was filled with green grass and looked beautifully calming. “ Yes brother. I chose to walk out of my regrets and step out with him. I.. love him”, I admit.

“ Thank goodness..I join happy bro”, Flits smile. 

I took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. My love story will start from now on, my new life I'm living right now. I will do it right without looking back. I burned a picture of Dew with the contract letter.

" Sister, what do you think of when you get out of the house?", I asked.

Flits stared at the bright afternoon sky with a smile. "Freedom and the future I have designed in my head" he replied lightly.

" Is that accomplished?", I asked again.

" Yes.. You see how happy I am now. Maybe then if I hadn't stepped out of the house I wouldn't have been this happy Juan. Know it? This was the right choice in my life and I will never regret it", Flits looked at me with the warm gaze of an older brother.

I smile. True what he said, now he looks younger and happier than at home. Treasure and wealth are not everything, We were born with a life that was designed by my father.

When Flits left, I hated him so much. I guess my hatred happened because it bore a burden that shouldn't have been for me. Heeding responsibility from my father. But after the time passed I finally knew, that I hated him because he dared to take the step that I also wanted, because Flits had courage whereas I did not. And I hated him because he left not to take me with him, because I used to admire him so much.

After all these years I realized Flits was my friend, best friend and role model. It's just that I never admitted it. I patted my brother's shoulder.

" It seems that after me, your youngest brother will rebel" I said and made us laugh together.

" Juan, you know, mom actually loves us. It's just that the pressure from his father and family made him that way. Be kinder to him because one day he will understand" Flits said smilingly.

" But he hasn't received you guys at home yet, has he?", I said again.

"Yes that's because he kept me away from Juan's father's family. He doesn't really hate us. She came and met my wife Dian, only to see her granddaughter Mika. But when I'm not around, it's mom and Dian's secret. But I have a cctv", Flits smiled.

And I smiled happily because of the news.

***

I took Jeni to the main house to see my mother. My mom didn't hide her face from Jeni. And Jeni blatantly became a rebellious potential ghost in my mother's eyes. 

As dinner went on, my mother began to interrogate Jeni with all sorts of questions.

I just kept quiet to hear my mom's question.  

" H group company, but I'm out of the house and living independently" Jeni replied politely. 

My mother squinted "which university graduate?", asked my mother again.

"SMA Negri 2 Jakarta's. I didn't go to college because I didn't have a cost" Jeni replied boldly. 

"What's? Juan.... You.. have gone mad, have you? My mother's head hurts to hear this", my mother massaged her forehead. 

" You dare to seduce my son" my mother began to get angry at the dinner table. 

" Mom.", I calmed her down. 

Jeni calmly put down her spoon and fork and spoke to my mother. "Mom, it's not me who seduced your son. But it was your son who seduced me. And we love each other" Jeni replied steadily. 

I smiled hearing the fight. 

" Mom just calm down, even though I graduated from High School I can take care of my husband well and become a painstaking housewife" he continued. 

My mom was shocked to hear Jeni say. " Juan, Mama can't take this. You guys should split up soon. You guys don't fit in, I don't approve", my mom's upset. 

I know this dinner is over without having to spend the food on each plate. 

" Mom, Jeni's right. I was the one chasing him first. I forced her to like me. Jeni is my choice mom, I won't leave her. I hope mom can be wiser", I stood up from my chair followed by Jeni. 

Some of my family members who attended dinner just fell silent and did not dare to comment. After all they knew, the highest caste in this house was me. I am the control of this family. 

" I hope all the families agree to my marriage without a refusal. And honor my wife as you honor me" I said coldly. 

After that I grabbed Jeni's hand and walked out of the dining room. Not caring about the small commotion because my mother suddenly fainted. I know it's just a drama you're playing. Only Bella drove us out of the house. 

" Sister-in-law, after all I'm on your side" Bella said spoiledly to Jeni. 

" Thank you Bella" Jeni hugged Bella warmly. 

When I see Bella staring ketus "Don't forget the promise of brother, beware if you lie", he threatened. 

I smiled at Bella's words. Upon arriving at the car Jeni breathed a long breath. 

" Juan I was so scared" Jeni said hysterically in the car. It seems he's been holding it since. 

" You scared? But you looked like a wonder woman" I said with a smile. 

" Iiih ..it's because I don't want to be intimidated but my big toe is shaking tau" she said with a funny look. 

Doni smiled at Jeni's babbling. 

" You need to be strong to not be intimidated. It's okay, my mother didn't mean anything bad. She was just too stiff", I said stroking Jeni's face. 

" yes.  I see", Jeni replied with a smile. 

"Sir where are we going now?", asked Doni to me.

" Home. I have business with my wife", I knit my eyebrows while looking at Jeni. 

" What business?", asked Jeni puzzled. 

I lowered my head and whispered "adding offspring".

Jeni's face was red. She hit my chest softly. " Don't be so loud when Doni hears" he whispered, making me smile. 

***