The Love That Is Taken

Curse to Friends

Bastian patted Jonathan on the shoulder with great pity. She felt lucky that her own marriage was blessed with two cute daughters.

Although sometimes there are still discordant voices as to why he and his wife are not trying to have a son, it does not matter. For him, boys and girls are the same. Even being blessed with a child without any difficulties is already an extraordinary gift from God, his inner being in heart while comparing his fate with Jonathan.

“Bro, do you mind adopting a child? Perhaps the inability of your wife to conceive is a sign from God that you take care of abandoned children. Financially, you two are perfectly capable of babysitting multiple children at once!”

Jonathan took a long breath. His pair of eagle eyes glared at the ceiling of the restaurant where they both had lunch. Moments later a soft voice was heard saying, “I never demanded Theresa give me offspring, Bas. For me the presence of a child is important, but not the main one. Our marriage can last until the end of life I am very grateful.”

“Bro, I want something but you don't take it personally, yes.”

Jonathan nodded.

“Is it implied in your mind to..ehm...divorce?”

Bastian's best friend was fixated for a moment. Then he looked at the man sitting before him with a meaningful look. “Honestly, such thoughts had appeared several times every time Theresia treated me arbitrarily. But I always put it away because..”.

Jonathan hung up his words. He drank his drink and calmed his heart for a while. Then continued his words with bitter feelings, “First, me and Theresa married Catholic, Bro. We are bound to marriage in the eyes of God until death do us part. We are bound by the sacred promise of marriage which states that we will always be together in a state of difficulty or pleasure, lack or abundance, and so on. Doesn't every bridal couple say the same thing when they get married, Bro ?”

“Betul...,” replied Bastian confirming. “But if at that time you knew that your fate would be like this, would you still want to say that sacred promise?”

 “I don't want to dream, Bas. Free. After all, the past cannot be repeated.”

 “Then until when can you survive being treated without dignity by your own wife, Jon?”

“I don't know,” said Jonathan while shrugging both shoulders resigned. Bastian looked at him with concerned eyes.

“What I know...” Jonathan said next, “Theresa has sacrificed tremendously to give me offspring. After the Malaysian doctor sentenced him to barrenness, he still tried to consult with obstetricians in Singapore. Even he went through various massage therapies and herbs in China that I don't know what the name is I forgot. I always accompanied him, seeing him suffer so much and tired of living it all. That's why when he was frustrated by the failure of all his efforts. I learned to understand his attitude that slowly changed..”.

“Hurt you...”.

“Betul! I can't afford to leave him, Bas. He could die miserable.”

“On the contrary you will die if you continue to be with him.”

“I'll take that risk.”

Bastian shook his head inexhaustibly. If the victim is not willing to fight to free himself from the oppression that befell him, then I am also powerless to help him, his mind is sad.

He continued to eat his lunch and did not bring up any more about the condition of his best friend's marriage.

***

“Pak Jonathan,” greeted his personal secretary when he saw his boss was back from his lunch break.

“Yes. What's up, Miss Rosa?”

“oya? Where's the guy?”

“Still indoors HRD, Sir. I dare not ask him to come here without Mr.”'s consent

“Ya, already. Ask him to come to my room right now. I don't have a schedule, do I?”

 “Nothing, Sir. Tomorrow at ten in the morning there is a property meeting schedule in the other office, Mr.”

Jonathan mustard a sign of understanding. Today she and Rosa work in the paint factory she leads. Tomorrow morning they will attend a meeting at the property company located some distance from this factory.

His personal secretary was forty-seven years old, twelve years older than him. Jonathan has always used to call her Bu Rosa, because the short-haired woman was a former secretary to her father-in-law while still actively working in the company. This woman is very effective and efficient at work.

Theresia's father trusted her so much that Jonathan was then handed the baton to continue running the companies owned by his father-in-law.

After years of feeling comfortable working with the young-looking middle-aged woman, Rosa one day told her she was resigning.

“Wah! What's the problem, Miss Rosa, to that decision?” tanyanya surprised. All this time never cemented in his mind his adept secretary was going out of the company. Where else would you like to find a job? He was four heads.

“No problem whatsoever, sir. Really.”

“Then why did you want to resign? Was there anything uncomfortable while working with me? Or maybe there is something unsatisfactory in terms of..ehm...income?”

“Oh, no, Mr. Jon. Precisely Father was very generous to me during this.”

“Then what's the problem?” the young boss did not understand. He feels willing to give anything as long as the person who is his right hand is not out of the company.

“I...ehm..I am ashamed to say it, Sir,” Rosa said as she lowered her face deeply. His cheeks are red. His boss was surprised to see him. How does she behave like a girl in love? jonathan murmured in his heart. Don't-don't.ah, time, anyway? jonathan thought amusedly. Is Miss Rosa getting married? With who?

“I applied people, Sir.”

It's diieeenggg! That's right, Jonathan lamented in his heart. What else can melt the heart of a middle-aged woman to be willing to leave her brilliant career in addition to two cliches, getting married or running her own business.

The latter is almost impossible to choose by Rosa. Women are professional workers, not entrepreneurs. Unless he helps his life partner who already works as an entrepreneur, it only makes sense.

“Congratulations, Miss Rosa,” said the man sincerely as he reached out his hand to greet the secretary who is very respected.

“Thank you, sir,” said the woman while shaking hands with her boss.

“Who is the lucky one, Mom? If I could know...”.

“Ah, what a shame it feels to tell a story, sir.”

“Come, Mom. Its alright. I already consider Mom as my senior, the one who is being reared in this office.”