RUMI: The Love of a Paralyzed Man

I CAN'T

"Mom!" Archie's voice broke the silence between Vivian and Rumi who were still staring at each other. It seems like they haven't seen each other in a long time. It's only been a matter of weeks, but somehow it feels like years.

Vivian helps Rumi to settle down and equalize her position with Archie.

"Hi, Archie," Sapa Rumi cupped the face of the boy who had once made Rumi jealous blindly and poked around incoherently. Archie said Vivian was her boyfriend, but in fact this six-year-old boy is Rumi's son.

How ridiculous!

"Mom, who is this?" Asked Archie who had been inching back away from Rumi. But the two neutrals of the six-year-old boy were still staring fixedly at Rumi's face.

"This is Archi's Dad," Vivian replied slightly whispering in Archie's ear. A sense of heat again reached Vivian's eyes, making her tears more urgent to come out.

"Dad?" Archie murmured who still looked confused.

"Archie," called Rumi softly as she spread her hands towards Archie.

Archie still looks doubtful and does not immediately throw into Rumi's arms.

"It's okay, honey! Hasn't Archie ever wanted to see Dad?" Vivian embraces both of Archie's shoulders.

"Come on, hug Dad!" Said Vivian again to Archie who finally stepped doubtful le direction Rumi. The closer the boy gets to Rumi, until the end...

"I'm sorry Dad, honey!" Rumi's cry instantly broke out as the man finally managed to hug and embrace his son.

His son is now very big.

Six years is not a short time, and Rumi has lost all of her precious moments during her six years with Archie.

But Rumi promised, that after this Rumi will give everything to Archie. All the happiness for Archie. It's all just for Archie.

Vivian joined a bit of fun to see Archie who could finally hug her biological Dad. Ruby had suddenly approached Vivian and clutched the woman tightly.

"Sister-in-law," called Ruby to Vivian who momentarily sliced Vivian's heart.

How could Vivian be the sister-in-law to Ruby, if Vivian had just received another man's proposal?

It wasn't Rumi who was going to marry another woman, but it was Vivian who was going to marry another man.

"Pak Indra is interested in you, Vivian. He has good intentions to edit you and is ready to be a link dad to Archie."

"But all decisions are in your hands. Brother really does not want to force, because in the future you will undergo."

"Later tonight Mr. Indra will come home to propose to you. You can refuse or accept it. Just listen to your little heart and do not think about our return to all the goodness of Mr. Indra."

"If your little heart isn't ready, you can turn it down. This is really not an arranged marriage or a forced marriage. All your decisions leave it to you, Vivian."

Vivian was still listening to Brother Sandy. Vivian's older brother could always think wisely and understand Vivian. But Vivian still wants to move on from Rumi and wants to forget the man as soon as possible. So maybe this is the way.

"Vivian will accept Mr. Indra's proposal, Bang!" Vivian replied, convincing herself.

"Vivian will accept it" Vivian repeated.

"You sure?" Sandy's brother looks shocked.

"Vivian is sure," Vivian replied solemnly. Sandy's brother immediately hugged his sister.

"What is this event? Why everything" Mami Lily did not continue her sentence when the middle-aged woman saw Rumi who had been left in a wheelchair and was hugging a boy.

"Rumi!"

"Can you walk?" Ask Mami Lily who went straight to Rumi.

"Battle!" Shouted Mami Lily calling out to the husband who followed from behind. Papi Juna was stunned when he saw Rumi who was already standing on both feet.

Both of her legs, and not sitting in a wheelchair anymore.

"Rummy! You really can walk?" Papi Juna hurriedly approached Rumi and hebdak hugged his only son, when then Archie's face in Rumi's arms made Papi Juna and Mami Lily sculpt.

It was like seeing a combination of Rumi and Vivian's face. But maybe?

"Somebody can explain to Papi who that little boy i-"

"It's Archie, Pi!" Sela Rumi cuts off Papi Juna's question.

Papi and Ruby's siblings immediately looked at Rumi's face as if asking for an explanation.

"He's Rumi's son."

"And Vian," continued Rumi who had changed to look at Vivian's face which was still as excited and held by Ruby.

"Don't joke, Rumi! You and Vian have only met for a few months. So, how can..." Papi Juna asked in confusion.

While Mami Lily has hugged Archie repeatedly and the eyes of Rumi's biological mother look teary-eyed.

"His face looks like Rumi, Pi! So this must be Rumi's biological child" Mami Lily told the husband.

"But how's the story?" Ask Papi Juna once again.

"Rumi and Vian were dating when they were in high school, Pi!" Ruby finally answered Papi Juna's confusion. The two middle-aged man's eyes instantly widened.

"Already, Pi! Don't talk about it!" Mami Lily cut off the husband's sentence.

"Look, we've got a very handsome grandson, too," continued Mami Lily again while pointing at Archie who still seemed confused by the many new people he met today who took turns to embrace him affectionately.

"Don't tell me it happened on farewell night too!" Papi Juna growled while bringing Archie into his car.

"We're soul mates, Pi!" Ethan chirps that immediately makes everyone in the room laugh. Except for Papi Juna who just clucked in disbelief.

"You don't have to copy your Dad and Uncle, Archie! You're a hotshot Opi now!" Papi Juna did not stop kissing Archie's face and took his grandson to the backyard. Mami Lily follows Papi Juna and Archie.

"Ehem! By, I haven't taken a shower yet" Ethan tells Ruby while giving the code.

"You better take a shower, Eth! So that Archie will not faint when you want to carry him," Ruby slightly scratched and the woman had already let go of her embrace to Vivian. Ruby caught up with Ethan who had passed up the stairs leading to their room on the second floor.

Now only Rumi and Vivian lived in the living room, and the atmosphere suddenly turned awkward. A moment of silence surrounded the room, before Vivian opened her voice.

"You'd better sit down, Rumi! You can just stand up and walk," Vivian spoke awkwardly.

"You didn't help me sit down? Aren't you still my nurse?" It was Cecar Rumi who only made Vivian sigh. Vivian took Rumi's wheelchair and was about to bring her closer to Rumi.

"I just want to sit on the sofa" said Rumi who immediately made Vivian leave Rumi's wheelchair. Vivian instead guided Rumi to sit on the sofa.

"Sit here!" Rumi patted the empty space beside her and slightly pulled Vivian's hand to sit down.

Vivian was silent.

"You still mad at me?" Rumi asked as she brought her face closer to Vivian.

"Anged about what?" Vivian asked Rumi.

"On everything," replied Rumi sniffing both of his shoulders.

"My sins to you are too much" continued Rumi with a face full of regret.

"Sorry!" Said Rumi who had grasped Vivian's hand tightly.

"I'm sorry Vian! Forgive me for all my stupidity-"

"There's nothing to forgive" Vivian sidestepped quickly as she removed her hand from Rumi's grasp.

"No! You still mad at me?" Guess Rumi who again grabbed Vivian's hand but Vivian rejected it quickly.

"Vian, I'm sorry!" Rumi pleaded.

"I've forgiven you!" Vivian replied quickly as she got up from her seat.

"You've also met Archie and I've acknowledged everything" Vivian continued.

"Then why are you avoiding me?" Rumi asked not to understand.

"I'm still here and not away from you" said Vivian, who sat back on the sofa but kept a little distance from Rumi.

"Let's get married then! Then we can be complete parents to Archie."

"I will fulfill my promise in the past that I have denied. I'm gonna fix everything. I'll make you and Archie happy, Vian" Rumi said as if she was making a promise to Vivian.

Vivian's heart immediately seemed to be sliced open to hear Rumi say that sentence again.

Why just now?

Why now, Rumi?

"Vian," Rumi was back on her feet even though she was still a little unsteady.

Vivian shook her head.

"I can't, Rumi!" Said Vivian who kept shaking.

"Why?" Rumi asked not to understand.

"Because I'm getting engaged to another guy tonight!" Vivian replied that it was like a lightning strike in broad daylight for Rumi.

"No way!"

"No way, Vian!"

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Clothes for tonight.

Thank you for stopping by.

Don't forget to let the author be happy.