The Ours In Another Story

14. Dating Jovan and Monika

The next day, Rere and Lia ngide for a privacy love to Monika and Jovan. Ever since Jevan and Jovan chat last night, Rere has finally learned that Monik has not completely forgiven Jovan for what happened on his birthday last month. Monik also had time to confide in his two in-laws about what happened to him and Jovan. Although Monik tried to accept and understand but somehow he felt very sick yesterday. Unlike usual, she cannot accept seeing herself being seduced by a woman who is not who she is.

Hearing Jevan's words made Rere take the initiative. He was often helped by Monika. In fact, you could say if it was not for Monika and Jovan who asked her to come home and attend their wedding at that time maybe Rere is not currently married to Jevan her lover. After consulting with Lia, Rere decides that this afternoon Rere and Lia will take the kids to play in Lantern Park while Jevan and Junius are in charge of pumping Jovan so he wants to ask Monik out. Calculate let both of them reminisce about the age of dating first.

After being persuaded several times, Jovan finally succeeds. He managed to take his wife away both. Said Jovan wanted to take the Monik to Lempuyangan. The place they both like to talk spend time after going home from college first. The moniker is yes, after all, he will not win the debate if Rere and Lia work together. Mama Tiwi's backings are directly related. Yes Never mind, make a replacement date that failed at that time there is no harm either.

Monik and Jovan left an hour after the other's departure. Honestly, Monik has been deliberately keeping his distance between him and Jovan ever since. She always avoids having to be alone with her husband. That's why during his journey the Monik was silent. Though Jovan had with his intention to borrow Junius' old motorbike so that the two could romantically hug on the road. But let alone a hug, Monik just held on to the end of Jovan's jacket and not a word came out of his mouth.

Once there, Monik got off the bike and looked for the nearest empty seat. After parking his motorbike, Jovan saw the siomay seller he used to buy often still selling make him order a serving and two glasses of iced tea sweet new following Monik to sit down. At first they were just silent, until a mother carrying her child came begging. The monik and Jovan compact thrust some money at the mother making the mother smile at the two.

“Thank you, you guys are a good couple. May it last,” said the mother.

“Still mom,” said Monika with a smile.

Jovan sipped his iced tea and then went back to silence making the atmosphere of the two become more awkward. Monik was about to reach for a fork to bribe boiled potatoes that have been waving for food since, but the hands of both met. Monik pulled his hand. Jovan again grabbed the fork and vented a piece of potato into Monik's mouth. At first Monik hesitates to open his mouth, but his ego is defeated by his hunger. He regretted why he had not eaten at home before leaving.

“Mother, why diem?” ask Jovan.

“Yes father also diem kok,” replied Monik. After that, the two were both silent again. Monika is just busy playing with her sling bag strap while Jovan is already in the fog looking for a way to open the conversation.

“Mother, I'm sorry,” said Jovan who failed to find a topic of pleasantries.

“Udah Mommy sorry,” says Monik.

Jovan sighed. He remembered how he messed up Monik's birthday last month. Though for a lifetime, Monik has never been angry just because of trivial items like this. If anyone tried to rape Jovan alone Monik could understand, as long as the mistake was not Jovan who did.

The right hand is busy playing the pen on paper, the eyes are staring straight at the computer screen with the left hand holding the office phone, the mouth also does not stop talking and continues to throw sentences full of assertiveness. Seeing her secretary step in, Jovan ended her talk on the phone in order to focus on what her secretary was going to say. Jovan's secretary handed him a blue map with the words “recruitment” to make Jovan massage his forehead.

“Pak Jov, here are some candidates who will fill the vacant seat left by Mr. Ahmad from the finance department. Can you please check?” secretary Jovan said.

“Ok, I check later. Oiya mumpung remember, please cancel the dinner appointment with Mr. Jamal. Unpleasant feeling if I leave tomorrow.”

“What's wrong, sir? Is something wrong?”

“Clearly. You think Mr Jamal who is famous as a corrupt handyman suddenly wants to meet with me just for dinner? Obviously not. I heard her youngest just got back from S2 education in Sydney. He must have asked to be recruited here,” said Jovan.

“Something is wrong sir? Isn't it great if we have expert staff? Indonesian native anyway.”

“What is not good is that he is targeting a financial bag seat that is currently empty. If there is anything about my office being held accountable the first time, I do not want to take the risk,” said Jovan. Just Jovan being Jovan with all her meticulousness and prudence while working.

“Good sir then. The coordination meeting this afternoon has been canceled. The meeting will be held the day after and I have done the reschedule. So after the work is done, you can go home. Don't forget sir, tomorrow's Mother's birthday,” her secretary said as she whispered in her last sentence.

Jovando was silent for a moment then immediately checked the desk calendar located in the corner of his desk. November 18th. Right tomorrow is the Monik's birthday and he could forget that important date. Yes, even though they have stopped celebrating Monik's birthday for years, but he will always want to make his wife happy too. He felt he had gone too far with Monik and the kids for being too busy working.

“Thank you for being reminded,” said Jovan while smiling at his secretary.

“You want me to help you buy the card, sir?” tanyakanya.

“No need, let me be alone. You just send me the schedule tomorrow and the day after tomorrow let me set it myself,” said Jovan.