The Marriage Order

H-3

Cring-kring-kring!

The sound of a cell phone alarm rattled me from sleep last night. Still with my eyes closed, I tried to find out where the sound came from. I also blinked trying to open my eyes, there was a heavy object on the stomach that suddenly made me open the blanket looking at him. A burly hand coiled tightly there.

"Whose hand is this? My outfit? Why am I ...."

I immediately turned my face to look at the person who was sleeping with me. Mr. Reynand's face was right in front of me. He was still asleep despite the sound of the alarm so deafening.

Holy hooch! What have I done? Why is he beside me?

I'm trying to remember what happened last night. Little by little a hazy shadow about our romance swirled in my mind. I was drunk and I attacked Mr. Reynand first.

"Aarrgghh!" I shouted, suddenly pulling my body covered in bedcover and leaning on the bed cot.

The scream woke him who was sleeping. He gasped in shock sitting his body beside me for a moment. His hand then grabbed the phone on the nightstand and turned off the alarm that sounded earlier.

"Sir Rey, what happened? What have we done?" I asked with a stifled voice to sob.

Mr. Reynand looked at me confused. His face looked confused as well as surprised. My tears just fell staring at the man. He looked back at me with a face full of regret.

"Sheryl, I'm sorry! I've made a mistake." His hand held both my shoulders. I pulled my body.

"Don't touch me!"

He then lowered his head, biting his own confused lips. My tears broke unbearably, tears flowing unhindered. His voice sounded loud, expressing all the sadness, anger, and regret I felt. He pulled my body, into his field deck.

"Maland ...." That's the only name in my brain right now.

"Sheryl, I'll take responsibility."

"Enough! I don't want to hear everything. It's just my nightmare, isn't it, sir? Say Sir!" I pulled my body, saw her face.

Mr. Reynand shook his head and said, "But this is your first time ...."

I cut off his words, "Why did you do that? Didn't you know I was drunk? I hate you so much!"

Mr. Reynand could only look at my face with his guilt. He kept flinching not responding to my words.

Oh my God, what am I supposed to do now?

I held my head which hurt. Either because of drinking alcohol or because of our love last night. I've ruined a future that my family has designed for so long.

What about my family's debt? What about Baruna?

"Sheryl, didn't you say you loved me?" suddenly tanyanya.

I gulped for a moment and replied, "What is the meaning of love now? You have taken away the most precious thing from me!"

"Don't lie about your feelings anymore. I will be responsible for everything. Let's get married!"

"No, no! How can you get me married in a situation like this? I doubted his sincerity yesterday. I still love him. The baruna I chose!" I again sobbed regretfully, "but what if something like this happened? He won't forgive my mistakes."

"Sheryl ..." she said.

I got up from my seat with the blanket still attached, stepped into the bathroom.

The air shower that fell at the same time fluttered my trembling body not accepting what had happened. The crying broke back

along with the sound of a falling air shower. Mixed feelings burst into me. How am I supposed to deal with him?

Sheryl, you're so stupid! You're destroying yourself. So who are you playing now? Remember what you said that would not betray him. And what did you do last night? You gave yourself to his half-brother. You said you loved Baruna, but why is it Mr Reynand that you allow to enjoy your body?

I hit my head against the bathroom wall. What I did last night will never be forgiven. I don't like to say it, but without Kak Baruna by my side, I wouldn't be able to live my days. She's breath.

I'm just a fool who's blind to it. Busy thinking about the agreement and busy myself with doubts in my heart. The air shower kept raining down on my body along with a flushed forehead.

"Sher, Sheryl! What the hell are you doing? You're in the bathroom for almost an hour."

Mr. Reynand's voice was clearly in my ear. However, I did not reply and was too busy with my actions. I want to erase my memory today.

A warm embrace suddenly enveloped me. Mr. Reynand came in, put on his towel, and stopped what I was doing. He hugged me who was still crying.

"Already! Don't torture yourself. It's also my fault" he said.

Again he buried my face into his arms. He lifted my body out of the bathroom.

"Down me right now! I don't want to!" I yelled in his arms.

"Dress. We have to hurry to the hospital," he said, lowering my body on the edge of the bed.

The infirmary?

"For what?"

"Tante Meri just called. Strengthen your heart, Sher. Baruna was in an accident last night and hasn't been conscious until now. He's still in intensive care in the ICU."

I gasped at her words. My eyes stare at him. My heart beats fast. So tight and sick I felt. The bad news hit my heart all of a sudden.

"Mother must be lying! Baruna is still in Malaysia. He can't be here."

"Why am I lying? You think I don't feel guilty and sorry for all this? This happened because I couldn't help myself. Let no one else know. Unless you agree to marry me. I will fight to repay your family's debt."

"Sir Rey .... You're selfish. Not thinking about my feelings."

"Agoist? Now who is selfish? We are both selfish!" his yell.

I returned to tears, crying again even though I knew that all was useless, what had happened would not be able to change as usual.

Mr. Reynand folded his legs crouching down at my face, "I'm sorry, Sher."

Akh did not answer his words.

He hugged me for a moment, then said, "I'll be ready for a moment. You wait for me."

Mr. Reynand then went into the bathroom. I could just keep crying, not thinking anymore. Get dressed and get ready.

I looked for my phone in a small bag on the table. My smartphone notifications are pretty much. Everybody's looking for me. Even Mama and Sister Baruna.

Twenty missed calls from Kak Baruna and Mama last night. There was also a message from him that brought me back to tears.

My God, why am I so mean to her? Just because of the agreement, I forgot his sincerity. It's too late to realize this. I should how?

I've been blaming myself for a long time. Didn't realize Mr. Reynand had come out of the bathroom and dressed up.

"What are you thinking?"

I'm shaking. Don't want to talk much. He stepped closer to me.

"If your burden is too much, you can share it with me now. I'll take responsibility for my actions, Sher." Mr. Reynand looked at me gently.

I bit my lips and couldn't answer a word. This situation is so shocking. Even my common sense cannot work properly.