The Father's Choice Husband

Chapter 6

"Not Mas Aak working in a welding workshop huh, Mom?" I ventured to ask, I only remembered a glimpse of the CV that Mas Aak sent back then.

"Yes, he does work in a welding workshop. But not every day there is a job. If there is a job, yes work, if there is no job, it is unemployed. That's it, Mel."

I went back to silence. If so, will I be able to meet the needs of both of you? The salary of the honorary teacher is not much. For my own needs sometimes less, how about for both? My mind wandered far away.

"Oh, I see, Mom. Hopefully, tomorrow there will be a job. He said getting married would open the door to fortune, ma'am. I hope it's like that." I try to calm myself.

"Rubber, Mel. The important thing is to be sure, patient and pray. Hopefully Aak can be a better person after becoming your husband. Better at everything." Ma'am Yusuf smiled at me, making my heart completely melt. She seems to be a loving Mother figure, hopefully with me later too like that.

"Aamiin, Mom." I returned his smile.

"Hopefully you can make Aak a better person, more responsible and so on. And please, you who are patient, face all the qualities and characters of Aak that you might know if you marry later." Yusuf's mother went back to waiting for me, to be honest, it made me feel even more afraid. Afraid that there are so many bad habits of Mas Aak that he has not written on his CV yesterday.

***

The following days, Mas and I met more often. Good to take care of our wedding. Starting from taking care of the wedding administration, ordering souvenirs, MUA, and so forth. Gradually, I began to like Mas Aak which turned out to be humorous, although sometimes it also sucks because of its ridiculousness that I could not accept.

Until finally, the appointed day has come. Tomorrow morning, Mas Aak and I will do the marriage contract at my house. We did invite the penghulu, to marry us at home, so that we could be more comfortable. Tonight, Mas Aak has been staying at my house, accompanied by one of his friends whom I do not know. Luckily, his friendly attitude made it easy to get along with my family, as well as my neighbors who helped in the wedding celebration of both of us.

Honestly, I was pounding, confused about what to do and what to do with Mas Aak. I'm ashamed, but who else would take care of Mas Aak, if not me? Be the one who prepares food for her, prepares the bed and so on. Until nightfall, I could not sleep. I looked up at the ceiling of my room. I'm really pounding, imagining how it is tomorrow morning. Tomorrow I'm gonna be somebody's wife. Ready is not ready, I have to be ready.

"Oh yes, Mas Aak definitely did not bring a blanket. He's so reckless, he likes to be alone." I got out of my bed. Then look into the living room, which used to sleep Mas Aak and some other people who stayed at my house. Including my first father and brother, Sigit.

It turns out to be true my guess, Mas Aak looks curled up in the cold. Because it only sleeps on a mat, without wearing a blanket or pillow. I immediately approached the gifts in the living room, trying to guess which one contained a blanket. Then I unpacked one of the four-sided wrapped gifts also felt soft.

Thankfully, my guess is right. The gift I opened contained a blanket. I breathed a sigh of relief. So no need to unpack other gifts first. After that, I approached Mas Aak and enveloped him. He must not catch a cold, because tomorrow is a very important day and it will certainly be tiring. So it takes a fit body condition, so that everything can run smoothly.

I hurried to leave Mas Aak, after making sure his body was well covered. I immediately went back to the room and rested. For some reason, it is hard to sleep.

***

"Why, Mel?" Sister Santi, the next door neighbor of my house immediately reprimanded as I crouched down, approaching the soaked peeled potatoes.

"You got this potato motongi, Ma'am. Cooked today, right?" I don't think there's anything wrong with my actions.

"Don't, Mel! The bride-to-be cannot cook. Later cooking stale cepet. Mending you a shower! Get ready or how. Or breakfast first! I'll get the food, okay?" Santi spoke at length. I scrunched my forehead.

"What a hell is that, Ma'am? How can the cooking of prospective mantens be stale spit? What basics? What reason?" I asked, because I thought it was strange.

"Died followed, Mel. There's no harm, right? Later the kitchen business to be done with the other." Mbah Ning, as the kitchen requirements regulator also commented.

"Yes, Mel. Follow it! That's what old people said, then. Instead of real events later, it makes a hassle. Mending you just! I used to be a bride and groom also can not cook in the kitchen. It is a hereditary belief. You had breakfast, huh? I'm taking it." Santi's mother immediately headed to the buffet room, leaving me still dumb, trying to find a reason for the beliefs of the ancients.

"This, Mel. You eat first, yeah! You will definitely not have time to eat. Don't let you pass out on the show, yeah!" Sister Santi gave me a plate of food complete with vegetables and side dishes that were cold, only the rice was warm, because it was stored in the rice heater.

"Thank you, Ma'am. I actually don't have an appetite. It doesn't feel good." I still receive dishes from Madam Santi, even though my stomach feels rejected.

"Hehe, that's ordinary, Mel. His name is also the bride. Millions of tastes, make the appetite disappear." Santi's mom smiled.

"Yes, this, Ma'am. Deg-degan, Fear of something unwanted. Also curious, if you are already the wife of someone, how does it feel. Duh!" I stirred up the food that was on my side. Really have no taste to feed it.

"Come on, Mel. It's not just you who feel that way. But you still have to eat, Mel. Two mouthfuls of papa, Mel. The important thing is that his stomach should be filled. You see again you also, usually if you have not been able to eat a drink, fear that the makeup is damaged right. So, chances are you can just eat again later tonight, if the event is over. I'll get you a hot drink? Let her stomach eat." Santi's mom passed again, got me a drink, she really paid attention to me.

There are so many things I worry about actually, today is just the beginning. The next day is long. Am I really ready to be a wife?