The Blooming Lotus

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Sunlight barged in from between the curtains that dangled to the floor. Wenie slowly regained her senses, she blinked her eyes while scanning the familiar surroundings of the room. He got up and sat down with the blanket still covering part of his body.

His clothes were still intact and attached to his body and he was grateful for it. Then the bathroom door opened and closed again, a handsome man came out of it with a perfect smile.

"Have you woken up, Wen?"

Wenie was stunned for a moment to see Frans who had been dressed neatly . "Eh, yes Mas. Very new ..."

"It's seven o'clock less, breakfast is coming soon. You take a shower first, after breakfast we get ready to go home," Frans said, standing at the end of the bed.

Wenie nodded obediently. "Oh yeah, have my clothes come?"

"It has. It's in the drawer, let me get it ..."

"Thank you, Mas" he said as he got out of bed.

"Don't hesitate .." replied Frans, he handed me a paperbag bearing the name of the hotel they were in.

Wenie approached to accept it, but Frans grabbed her body fast so her chest hit the man's stomach as he was shorter. "Mas!"

Frans smiled wryly, he was happy to tease the girl. "Wake up even though you are still beautiful .." she said as she stroked the darling of Wenie's head, pasting her hair behind her ears.

Wenie lowered her head to avoid Frans' gaze. "Already, Mas. I'm gonna take a shower, peelin ..."

"Hmm, take a shower and don't forget to put on your underwear. It feels so chewy," he whispered mischievously.

"Iish, what the hell, Mas .." - Shamed, he rebelled so strongly that Frans could not hold him back.

He held back his laughter when he saw Wenie escape quickly into the bathroom and locked him up. Behind the door Wenie was smiling to herself considering the man just now. His heart was pounding fast, yet it felt like he had been like a thirty-minute squat.

Fifteen minutes later Wenie came out with fresh body and damp hair after shampooing, she was wearing a dress that was clean from laundry last night. Frans looked at her with a sweet smile.

"Sit down, the breakfast is here" Frans said.

"Yes, Mas" he sat his butt carefully because the dress was just a little below the knee.

Frans poured warm tea in a porcelain cup for himself and Wenie. "You like warm tea, don't you .." That's not a question.

Wenie simply nodded, she started to get busy enjoying a cup of tuna sandwich bread. "Thank you, Mom" he said as he sliced his food.

"Hm .." murmured Frans faintly, his gaze not a second apart from her.

Wenie was starting to get a little misbehaved now, she was eating with a slightly bowed face.

"Sit up, Wen. Your neck will hurt later," Frans told him.

"Oh .. uh, yes Mas," he tried to straighten his shoulder and steal a glance.

"What's wrong?" frans asked while sipping his warm tea.

Wenie shook her head in doubt, yet her eyes could not lie. There was obviously something stuck in his mind.

"Say ..."

"Nothing," trying indifferently.

"Related?"

Wenie just nodded small.

"Your eyes say another ..."

"What?"

"Either. Try to explain ..."

Wenie rolled her eyes, she swallowed her last bite and immediately finished eating it.

Frans glanced at the watch in his hand. "We'll be home in an hour."

"Do we need to go back to that precinct, Mas?"

"No, if no request is present."

"Oh, so ..." Wenie nodded in understanding.

After wiping her lips with a tissue and sipping her warm tea, Wenie got up from her seat and headed to the window to reveal her curtain. The light of the sun filled the room with its warmth. He stood looking out the window that showed the bustle of activity in the morning rainy city community.

"Do you like it here?" Frans came closer.

"Not bad ..."

Frans smiled. "You're hard to be honest."

Wenie looked up at the man by her side. "Mommy mean?"

"Nothing" replaced him who behaved mysteriously.

"Revenge?"

"Not my style, sweet ..."

Wenie took a breath, she bit her lips. "Can we go home sooner?"

"What's wrong? I thought you were comfortable ..."

The girl shook her head. "I just feel bad ..."

"What about?"

"Either. It felt like Pras' anger was haunting me," he lamented.

"But you don't have nightmares, you even slept well last night" Frans said.

"Maybe it's because my body is too tired. But actually my heart was always worried, it was just ..."

"What?"

Wenie bowed and replied in a soft voice, "You distracted me ..."

Frans turned Wenie's body to face her. "Don't worry about anything unnecessary. I'm with you, remember?"

Wenie looked for honesty in the shade of the man before her and that was where she found it. He tried to get rid of the burden in his heart with a smile.

"Thank you ..."

"Don't hesitate, okay .." Frans asked seriously, again Wenie just gave a small nod.

Frans stepped back at him without a sound. "This is your stuff, Wen."

The girl almost jumped on the spot. "Jeez .. Just be surprised, Mas."

"You're so happy to daydream apparently ..."

"No, no.." - Wenie quickly. "Eh, what is this, Mas?" he accepted it curiously, peering into the package.

"Someone sent it for you ..."

Wenie received a paper bag containing a small bag that she used to carry work, took out the contents and found all intact did not decrease. In fact, there is also a phone that has been broken in a plastic clip there.

Wenie stared at the distance connector, then quickly put it back in the bag before her tears fell. Frans' eyes did not blink looking at the sentimental seconds of the young girl before him, though the one being stared at was not aware of it.

"We're going home now?" ask Frans carefully.

"Yes, Mas .." she replied rather hoarsely as if there was a lump of cotton in her throat.

Frans stroked his shoulder. "Please yourself first" he said as he led Wenie to sit on the edge of the bed.

Frans left him to prepare himself and took his car keys, he briefly glanced at the bruises on his face that looked faint. The next minute he brought a newly opened parka jacket made of plastic laundry to wear to Wenie. The girl accepted it with a smile despite not being able to cover her gloomy face.

"Come ... Are you ready?"

Wenie nodded while getting up. "Here, Mas ..."

"I'll take you straight home to the boarding house" Frans said, Wenie looked up for an explanation. "I need to talk to Rahma's mom later ..."

"Ehm .. Thank you very much, Mom. Sorry to bother you," she replied softly, Frans just squeezed her shoulders slowly.

Wenie looked around the room before they came out. "What's wrong?" ask Frans.

"Just make sure .." Wenie replied.

"Nobody is left behind, if that's what you mean," Frans said.

"Good then, I can't wait to go home soon" Wenie chanted, trying to forget the annoyance and sadness she felt when she saw her phone earlier.

"certain. Be patient any minute .." added the man calming.

They walked together without touching each other, even though Frans' heart wanted it. He loved to see the girl blush when teased by him. But now they are in the hotel lobby, so Frans tries to refrain from being ignorant to the girl by his side.

"Mas Frans!"

A call stopped their steps. "Beiby ..." murmured Frans.

"What are you doing here, Mom?" asked her sister while hugging Frans. "And who is this ..." his views judged Wenie.

Wenie smiled clumsyly, only greeting through the gaze of her eyes as she was not sure the girl in front of her was willing to regret it.

Frans pulled Wenie close by his side. "Your sister-in-law, baby. Hurry up and say hello ..."

The two girls in front of him were stunned, but the younger brother quickly gained control. "Hallo, meet me Beiby, Mas Frans' youngest brother," he said.

Wenie momentarily stared doubtfully then shook back at the girl. "I'm Wenie. But sorry, don't listen to what he said. Mas Frans was not serious," said Wenie shirih, she felt ashamed.

Beiby just smiled knot. "Look easy, brother. I do like being ignorant, but actually he is more often serious, anyway .." whispered but clearly heard by Frans.

"Hey, Mas listen yes, By .." protested her brother, Wenie held a shy smile.

"It's true, right?" refute his sister's being teased. "Aaa... Wait a minute, Mas. Rafael called me," he held up his index finger to stop Frans.

"You!" the man rolled his eyes irritated. "It has. Come on, Wen .. We have to check-out first and get my ID," Frans asked.

Wenie tried to release Frans' grip on her waist. "Mas, don't do this. I'm ashamed ..."

"Why should I be ashamed? I'm afraid you're left behind if you're not held up .." Frans tightened his hold.

"Yes, but not really, Mas .." Wenie protested, but was ignored.

Frans takes her to the reception desk to check out and retrieve her identity card. After they finished they immediately walked out of the hotel lobby to the parking lot.

"Wait here for a minute, I'll get the car" Frans said.

So Wenie stood waiting on the front porch of the hotel without realizing someone was approaching her. "Hey, Brother. Why just leave? Where is Frans ..."

Wenie was surprised but quickly acted normal. "Eh, yes sorry. Frans again took the car, Ma'am."

"Well, why call me mbak, anyway? Call me Beiby. You're right, my sister-in-law's candidate .." said the girl so late with a sullen face.

"Duh, please don't take heart. She must have been just kidding," Wenie said embarrassedly.

"He's serious, brother. I've never messed around with women carelessly" Beiby was a bit offended.

"Yes, sorry. I mean buk—"

"So how was last night .. was he wild enough? I'm sure you're overwhelmed with my sister .." whispered naughty.

Wenie frowned inexplicably.

"Stop your filthy thoughts, By!" Frans grabbed his sister's ear.

"Aaww, it hurts Mas!"

"Hurry back to your husband, don't bother him .." said Frans.

"Douh, yes yes. It's so bad, Mas .." complained Beiby while rubbing his ear. "Where are you guys going?"

"Return to Jakarta ..."

"I'm going home, By. Pamit first, yes .." said Wenie.

Beiby was being O-Ria when a handsome man called out to her. "Darling ... How are you outside? Uh, Mas. When's coming?" rafael asked, holding out his hand.

"I'm going home .." replied Frans, he returned to greet his sister-in-law.

"Ehm, did I think it had just come? Then be careful on the road ..."

"certain. Take good care of your wife, don't let her roam alone ..."

"What the hell, Mas!" pekik Beiby's upset. Frans ignored it.

"Well, Mas ..." Rafael nodded in reverence.

Then Frans and Wenie passed away, and Beiby and Rafael returned to the hotel to continue their vacation.