The Secret Marriage of the Teacher

Travelling Papi

Gabriela's premonition was immediately uneasy as Jonathan stood in front of the class and Mr. Anjas called her name and asked Gabriela to come out and carry her school bag.

“What else is it ?” whispered Mimi who was sitting right behind Gabriela.

“Papi may,” shrewd Gabriela while rushing to tidy up her bag.

After saying goodbye to Mr. Anjas, Gabriela immediately followed Jonathan who had gone first.

“Bapi why, Sir ?”

“So passed out during a morning meeting at the office and now it has been taken to the hospital.”

Jonathan immediately took Gabriela who walked towards the parking lot of the motorbike.

“One has already picked up.” Jonathan pointed towards the school gate with a movement of his head.

Gabriela sighed and glanced at the hand of Jonathan holding her but it was not the time to argue.

Jonathan gestured for Gabriela to come in first when she opened the car door.

“Is there any news from Om Dharma, Sir ?”

“But.”

Gabriela sighed and leaned her head against the door while looking out. Jonathan sighed, his heart feeling sorry for the young girl beside him. Jonathan shouldn't have lied to him if he had received word from Om Sofian. Papi was declared in a coma by a doctor.

Gabriela rushed down and headed straight for the elevator while Jonathan followed behind her. Gabriella's eyes frowned when the man pressed the number 2 even though he had already pressed the number 5.

“Come down,” Jonathan holding the hand of Gabriela who saw doubt. “Papi is in ICU.” room

Gabriela's steps stopped and her body felt stiff making Jonathan stop his steps.

“What is Papi not aware of?” Jonathan nodded.

“Do not be afraid, I will always be with you.”

For the first time Jonathan smiled sincerely without being asked let alone forced. Gabriela complied and let the man lead her.

Up in front of the ICU room there is already Mama Gina and her two daughters. Lisa immediately approached Gabriela and hugged her.

“Papi, Brother,”’next.

“Best wishes for Papi, Lis.” Gabriela rubbed Lisa's back when her own heart was anxious and afraid of uncertainty.

“Gaby !” dharma doctor who just came out of the ICU room called him to come closer. Jonathsn puj accompanied.

“Papi would like to meet you, but please don't talk too heavy.” Gabriela nodded and without asking Jonathan accompanied his wife.

Gabriela bristles in tension. The sound of various tools makes his heart pounding until his forehead was wet by sweat.

“Don't be afraid, there I will always accompany you. I won't leave you alone.”

Jonathan removes the sweat with a tissue that is in the ICU room special dressing room. Gabriela took a deep breath then looked up at Jonathan with a smile then her head nodded.

Jonathan extends his hand, holding Gabriela to Papi.

“Papi,” whispered Gabriela.

The middle-aged man opened his eyes slowly and smiled behind his oxygen mask. His fingers moved weakly and his eyes blinked a few times. Gabriela grabbed the increasingly thin hand and clasped it.

A nurse approached after being called Jonathan, stood on the other side and helped open the oxygen mask for a moment.

Gabriela leaned over and brought her ears closer to Papi's lips.

“Sorry.”

Only one word was said and the nurse put on an oxygen mask again.

“Nothing to forgive, Pi. Gaby even thanked Papi for raising Gaby and even preparing for Gaby's future with Mr. Nathan.”

Papi blinked his eyes again and took a deep breath before the monitor rang.

Jonathan immediately invited Gabriela to pull over when 2 nurses tried to give first aid and another nurse called the Dharma Doctor who was still standing in front of the ICU room, talking to Om Sofyan.

“Sorry,” he said with a sad face.

Mama Gina immediately cried hysterically, cuddling with Jihan and Lisa who joined in crying.

“That stoic, Gab,” Dharma Doctor patted Gabriela's shoulder who started crying.

Jonathan immediately hugged the tiny body and rubbed Gabriela's back. Although there was no love in his heart yet but his conscience would not allow the girl with the status of his wife to bear the sorrow alone.

***

Papi's body was already lying fused with the earth. All mourners have left the funeral including Mama Gina, Jihan and Lisa.

Only Gabriela remained at home beside Papi's grave, as if she did not want to leave Papi alone.

“We go home,” invite Jonathan who is still loyal to accompany.

Gabriela looked up, smiling as she nodded. His body was limp from taking too long to rest and swiftly, Jonathan immediately held him back.

“Thank you,” Gabriela said with a smile.

His gaze returned to Papi's tomb which was filled with flowers.

“Cry if you want to cry, it's just me here. Don't be held back, today I won't laugh at you even if you will cry out,” Jonathan said in a relaxed tone, intending to make Gabriela's heart better.

“I ?” Gabriela looked up with a frown. “It looks like our relationship is not that close.”

“You do not realize that 2 days I have tried to put myself into a good husband ?” Jonathan just glanced at Gabriela and laughed softly.

“Suami contract if that's what Mr. Nathan means. Thank you for playing a good husband in these 2 days, but I will never forget that for the Father of marriage we are just on paper and will expired when I was 21 years old.”

Gabriela turned her head again towards Papi Hendri's tomb, sighed and smiled.

“Gaby go home first, Pi. Gaby promised it would be okay . Hopefully papi will be happier when he meets mami again.”

Gabriela passes Jonathan but the man's hand holds her back.

“It is impolite to leave a husband alone.”

Without asking for approval, Jonathan takes Gabriela to the car park.

“Don't force yourself, Mr. Nathan. I thank you that you have survived to this day, but do not have to force yourself to accept me as a real wife. Papi has left quietly and I can take it, so stop pretending to be a good husband.”

Gabriela put on her seatbelt and leaned her head against the door while looking out the window.

“Don't pretend to be tough, it doesn't matter if you're a whiny girl for a while. I can lend you a shoulder for where you lean.”

Gabriela immediately turned her head, her eyes glancing upwards where Jonathan's hand was rubbing his head.

“Bapak forgets to say to himself that girls my age are easy to baper if treated special ?”

“I give you a special dispensation because of this extraordinary event. So there is no debate during the time of dispensation.”

“I do not need any dispensation because with you let me stay at home and help me run the company, for me it is more than enough.”

“Everything will not change.”

“But the hand of the Father should be lifted from my head. Like you said that maybe I started to like Mr. Nathan. Being treated like this will make me feel special and can make a baper, so please stop being a good husband actor in front of me.”

Gabriela raised Jonathan's hand from above her head.

“Bapak will be upset if I like Mr. Nathan more and more and I will finally only be hurt because of your love only for Mother Maya.”

Gabriela again leaned her head against the door and stared out the window while Jonathan was still looking at her with a faint smile.

Honestly, Jonathan himself did not understand his own feelings since he first returned to class. It felt something different in her heart and her feelings began to blend with those felt by Gabriela.”

I don't know, Jonathan hasn't dared to confirm it. He started the car and slowly left the cemetery.

Goodbye Papi, Gaby will come here often. Pray that Gaby will be able to run all the wills of papi and mami well.