The Marrying Bet

Love Me

"Sir, how are you?" ask Vara when she calls her father.

"Well, Vara, what about you and your own husband?" ask the man across there.

"We're fine, sir," replied Vara.

"Sir, Vara kangen is absolutely the same father and mother," continued Vara.

"Yes, I miss you too" said the father.

"Sir, how's Mom doing? Is mom okay?" ask Vara.

I heard you breathing heavily.

"Yes, your mother is fine" replied the father.

"Sir, can Vara talk to Mom?" ask Vara.

Vara really misses to hear his mother's voice, for months he did not hear his mother's voice after his parents returned home. Mom always refused to talk to Vara.

"Sir, tell your stupid son, immediately take care of his divorce from her husband, Riko is ready to marry him," she heard from a distance.

"Geez, Mom, why the hell is that being discussed?!" I heard the grunt of father.

"Sir, you've heard Riko's own words, how Vara lived his life of concern!" sergeant Mother.

"Mother! Vara is fine, Vara's husband is completely responsible to Vara, Vara is not living in concern, Mom! Vara really lives well here! Vara has a husband who is very affectionate and takes care of Vara very well, Father and Mother really do not need to worry!" said Vara.

"Vara, that regret always comes too late! Don't you come and cry to your parents because your husband dumped you! Men who are not clear of their origins certainly cannot be equated with Riko!" Mother still replied with a tinge.

"Mom's done, Mum!" said Father mediate.

"Vara, yes, later the phone, wait for your mother to calm down" said the father.

"Yes sir" said Vara before hanging up.

Vara breathed a heavy sigh. His mother really can't talk very well. Vara is very happy to be married to Viceroy. The man really gave Vara the freedom that made Vara feel more enjoying his life without feeling restrained at all.

Vara put her phone back on the nightstand as soon as she heard the door of her apartment unit open and her husband's figure appeared while carrying a package of food for their dinner.

"Fried rice is special" said Viceroy who seemed to be able to guess Vara's mind.

"Go home with fried rice!" Vara acted spoiled as she welcomed Viceroy's arrival.

"Did you?" Viceroy furrowed his brows. "Vara, you're even ten days older than me," Viceroy chuckled.

"Viceroy, do you remember my birthday?" ask Vara astonishment.

"Vara, how could I possibly forget, because you're having a birthday in the same month as me! After all, in three years you always celebrate your birthday at school" Viceroy said.

Vara smiled, he immediately prepared a plate and spoon to put the fried rice that would become their dinner menu. During her stay in the apartment, Vara never cooked again due to incomplete cooking utensils. The small kitchen also inhibits Vara's space to cook in the kitchen.

*****

After bathing and changing clothes, Viceroy immediately sat on the balcony to eat their dinner while enjoying the beauty of the night. The night looks so bright with a moon that looks big side by side with a sprinkling of stars spoiled accompanied by the roar of waves that sound faint. The apartment unit occupied by Vara faces towards the sea so that when Vara comes home before evening, he can enjoy the view of the sunset.

"The fried rice is delicious, buy where?" ask Vara.

"Hmm, tell me no, will you?" Viceroy's acting pretty.

Vara laughed, she was really anxious to see her husband who lately often acted pretentious.

...*****...

Vara immediately climbed onto the bed following Viceroy who was already sitting on the edge of the mattress. Vara immediately hugged the spoiled Viceroy.

"Viceroy, are you staying here tonight?" ask Vara.

Viceroy stared gently at Vara and directly stroked Vara's soft hair. Vara really misses spending the night with her husband.

"Yes, tonight I will stay here" replied Viceroy.

"Later for your mother to find you" grumbled Vara.

"Look down, I turned off my phone" Viceroy again grabbed Vara's lips.

"Do you know, lately I've been feeling like a second wife" Vara grumbled.

"Vara, where do you choose, to be first but second wife, or to be second wife?" viceroy asked with a mischievous smile.

"Aliceroy!" vara grumbled while pinching the man's stomach.

"It hurts, Vara," Viceroy complained.

"Viceroy, if you're thinking of yelling at me, don't blame me for suspending you!" cycad Vara.

"Or just seven people so you can be a member of the boygroup!" continued Vara.

"Duh, my wife is fierce," Viceroy pinched Vara's nostrils furiously.

...*****...

Viceroy was suddenly silent. He doesn't know how to talk to Vara. Right now he was actually carrying a weight as heavy as the elephant on his shoulders. It felt like his tongue was too faint to say something stuck in his throat.

"Viceroy, what's wrong? Why are you just quiet?" ask Vara.

"Vara, you must know that I love you so much" Viceroy said, peeping over Vara's head.

"Yes, I love you a lot too" said Vara.

Viceroy took his bag which he put on the nightstand. He took an envelope and thrust it at Vara.

"Viceroy, what is this?" ask Vara astonishment.

Vara was stunned when she saw the tears welling up in Viceroy's eye patch.

...*****...

Vara headed to the balcony of her apartment unit room. He took a cigarette from a box of cigarettes he had just bought in the basement minimarket of the apartment building. He lit the end of a cigarette with a gas lighter. Smoke immediately blew out of his mouth.

It's worse than the nightmare itself. Suddenly her husband came with a document that she really did not want.

Viceroy immediately hugged Vara from behind. Vara still enjoys a cigarette in her hand.

"Vara, this is not what I want" Viceroy said with tears in his eyes.

"The book wants our divorce" Viceroy said.

Vara still exhaled her cigarette smoke quietly. He really did not expect that he should be divorced from Viceroy. Vara even just enjoyed the beauty of loving each other with the man she loved so much. The first man in her life that actually made her fall in love half alive.

"I love you Vara, you're the one I love the most, but I can't refuse my mother's request" Viceroy said.

He really loved Vara. But her mother wanted their divorce. Viceroy is devastated that his mother urges him to divorce Vara.

Vara turned off her cigarette butts and immediately drowned her body to embrace her husband who she loved so much with all her heart, soul and body.

The sweetness of married life he had just tasted, but suddenly he had to separate like this. Vara has never even dated any man in her life because of parents who have prepared an arranged marriage, making Vara only get empty hopes for twenty years.

The presence of Viceroy was truly so special in Vara's heart. A simple man who was so kind and treated him very well too. The man who's been guarding and protecting Vara. Giving freedom that is always coveted by Vara because he feels his parents are too restrictive.

"Vara, I really love you so much, trust me only you are always in my heart" said Viceroy who wiped Vara's tears with his fingers.

"Viceroy, is there no other way? Shouldn't we just elope? I don't care if I have to live from scratch, as long as I stay with you" Vara pleaded.

"Do I need to kneel down and beg your mother to accept me? Asking us not to divorce, I love you so much, I don't want to be separated from you, Viceroy!" said Vara who began to shed tears that he thought the stock was thinning.

Tears completely flooded Vara's face like a broken dike. Vara's world seemed to collapse instantly and crumble.

Viceroy kissed Vara's clenched hands and trembled because she was crying so much. Viceroy's dilemma, he couldn't choose between a mother he respected or a wife he loved so much. Both are very valuable women in their lives. As a filial child, he must choose his mother. Mother who has conceived, cared for, and raised him. It was his mother's prayers and support that made Viceroy what he is today.

"Vara, I only have one parent left, which is my mother," Viceroy said.

"I can't refuse his wish."

"But I don't want to part from you, Viceroy!" Vara was crying hysterically in Viceroy's arms.

"Vara, I don't want to be separated from you either! We are divorced, but we can still love each other" Viceroy assured Vara.

"We're divorced and you're married to the woman your mother chose, and then I'll just be your mistress, is that what you mean?!" cecar Vara's.

Viceroy looked at Vara.

"Vara, I just love you, really! Trust me! I know, it's hard for both of us. But I believe there will be wisdom behind all this" Viceroy said.

"Vara, please be wise in addressing my mother" Viceroy pleaded with Vara.

"Trust me, our love won't end just because of this divorce."

Vara could understand how Viceroy was a very devoted child to his parents. Not like Vara who defies parental orders. He rejected the arranged marriage arranged by his parents and chose to marry a man of his own choice in order to maintain a job.

I don't know why Vara remembered the words uttered by Riko the last time they met.

"Marriage without the blessing of the parents will only end in court! Parents' blessing is God's blessing! Without the blessing of parents, there will be no blessing in your marriage."

It seems like what Riko said was true. Vara could only take it with a chest. Maybe this has indeed become a sign of destiny that must be accepted with birth and inner sincerity.

Vara must not regret her decision when she agrees to marry Viceroy. After all, they both enjoy the beauty of love itself even if only in a relatively short time. Although short, they are very happy. Not necessarily people whose marriages will long feel the true happiness.

"Viceroy, love me tonight with all the love you have" Vara said as they wiped away the tears that soaked their faces.

"I really love you so much, Vara, bring all the love I have without remaining" Viceroy said staring fixedly at Vara.

Viceroy immediately buried his lips on Vara's lips. The smell of tobacco leaves a sweet and bitter taste that mixes into one. Like their love story that according to Vara is so sweet and bitter.

Tonight is the last night they become a married couple who are still tied up in marriage. Tonight is a long night for the two of them who can still have each other, completely, and completely without ever being divided.

...*****...

The morning had arrived, Vara was completely awake because for him every second felt too precious. He still hugged Viceroy who whispered a word of love to him all night. He still could not imagine how he lived his life without Viceroy by his side.

"Vara, let's have breakfast together" Viceroy invited Vara to bring him a breakfast menu from one of the fast food restaurants near the apartment.

Vara was still silent as if her soul had been separated from her body.

"Vara," said Viceroy with a hearty expression.

...*****...

Vara braced herself when she had to sign the divorce papers.

Viceroy hugs and kisses Vara to strengthen her. It feels like Vara really can't accept all this.

Vara trembled as she began to put her signature on every document she had to sign.

"Vara, this apartment you can have, a car, and I'll still give you financial support" Viceroy said.

"Viceroy, thank you, but I don't need any of that" Vara said.

I just want you, Vara's inner rebel.

"Vara," said Viceroy.

Vara took her bag, opened her wallet and took out the debit card Viceroy had given her. She was no longer Viceroy's wife, she felt she had no right to anything more from him.

"Vara, just take it, I feel I still have an obligation to give you financial support, I don't consider this as compensation, but purely as a form of my full responsibility towards you" Viceroy said.

"Viceroy," Vara shook her head.

"Vara, please don't reject it, my message is only one, use it wisely," Viceroy said returning the debit card to Vara's hand.

"Viceroy, I'm so sorry, I can't be a good wife to you! I don't know what's wrong and my cage so I don't deserve to be your companion! Live well, and be happy even if not with me," said Vara looking at Viceroy with a misty look from tears.

"Vara, my happiness is being with you" said Viceroy wiping away Vara's falling tears.

"I love you, Vara," said Viceroy.

"I love you, Viceroy," said Vara.

After signing all the documents, Viceroy put everything back in an envelope.

"Vara, I'll go first" Viceroy said goodbye.

Viceroy again grabbed her lips and kissed her for the last time before they actually returned to being people who had only known each other in the past.

Vara's cry broke again as the Viceroy had already disappeared behind the closed door.

Now Vara is completely alone and can only be friends with loneliness. His marriage to Viceroy was over, but he would still love him forever.

Because the man has gone with all Vara's love. So did Viceroy who gave up all his love just for Vara.