The Secret Marriage of the Teacher

Elfin

5 Days after the departure of Papi Hendri, the entire family including Jonathan was asked to come to see the family lawyer.

Mr. Bonar, the lawyer appointed by Papi Hendri, had prepared a stack of files and began reading Papi Hendri's will.

”During this time Papi worked hard to raise the company, but why did everything become his !” jihan protested while breaking the table and then pointed at Gabriela with a hateful look.

Mr. Bonar frowned while Gabriela just put on a flat face.

“Because since the beginning of the company it belongs to the family of Lady Anna. What Mr. Hendri did was reasonable because of his position as President Director, not a shareholder. If only Mr. Hendri could have kept his marriage for 10 years without any problems or scandals, 5% of the shares would have been his. Unfortunately the marriage of Mr. Hendri and Mrs Anna only lasted 5 years and voluntarily Mr. Hendri accepted all the terms given by Mrs Anna.”

“How is Mr Bonar convinced that Papi accepted the decision willingly ? We all know how money is often more powerful than self-esteem,” Jihan protests with a cynical smile.

“Miss Jihan, please be careful when you speak because what I say has legal proof. If you doubt what I have to say, please ask questions in writing but they cannot change this will because as requested by Mr. Hendri, this decision is absolute and inviolable.”

“Jihan,” Mama Gina tried to hold her daughter who was ready to speak again.

“So the house we currently occupy belongs to Gabriela as well?” mama Gina asked, looking at Mr. Binar.

“It will be yours and your two daughters when Gabriela waives her rights. The house was loaned by Mrs Anna so that Mr. Hendri could provide you with a proper place to live with your two daughters and would belong to Mr. Hendri if Gabriela was properly cared for until he was 21 years old. Had it been premature, proved or happened to Miss Gabriela caused by sorry, you and or one or both of your daughters, then the right to the house was void by itself.”

Mama Gina's face immediately tensed, worried Gabriela would try to take back the house they had occupied for a long time with evidence of physical violence she had done when Gabriela was a child.

Gabriela was just about to talk but Jonathan held her back and shook his head.

“We discussed together the good of the bad first,” whispered Jonathan as if he knew what Gabriela was going to say.

The girl complied, not wanting to be rash just out of pity. He was sure that Jonathan understood exactly what he was trying to say.

The meeting in the lawyer's office ended in dissatisfaction especially from Jihan. Mama Gina is more silent because she is aware that her position has been wrong since then until now. Jihan was born at a time when Hendri was already legally tied to Anna.

Gabriela just hugged Lisa who came back crying on the shoulder of her stepbrother.

“Does that mean we have nothing to do anymore ?” lisa asked with a tear-streaked face.

“We've always been Lisa's sisters, papi we're the same, Papi Hendri. How can our relationship end just because papi is no more.”

Lisa nodded and wiped her tears.

“Learning diligently and staying upbeat. Don't hesitate to contact your sister if you need a friend.”

Gabriela wiped Lisa's tears with a tissue and fondly stroked her half-sister's head.

“Kakak go home first.”

”Wait !”

Gabriela and Jonathan stop their steps and turn around.

“So your wedding is just pretending ? In order to preserve your mother's legacy you created this charade ?” sneak Jihan with a peeking look.

“No pretending, everything is real and our marriage is legitimate. It is not easy to accept marriage with unknown people, but that does not mean we cannot love each other,” said Jonathan while raising his hand with Gabriela.

“Munafic !”

“Please you want to curse and think badly of us, that's your right. But one thing Jihan needs to remember, I will never let anyone touch my wife let alone hurt her.”

Jonathan's words make Gabriela surprised but he tries to look ordinary, not wanting Jihan to see Jonatham's actions as a play.

“Excuse.”

**

“Bapak is indeed a cool showman !” Gabriela gave her thumbs up as soon as they were already in the car.

“The way you talk is really convincing, making Jihan very trusting and speechless. Cool !”

Jonathan sighed while turning on the car engine and slowly propelling it.

“So you think my speech is just a charade ?”

“Isn't our relationship indeed a charade ?” Gabriela laughed softly.

“Because you are sorry to see me as an orphan ? I have been used to living my own life even when papi is still alive, so Mr. Nathan does not have to worry much less change his attitude just because papi put a lot of messages this and that.”

“Not you had time to say that you have started to love me ? After making me a single man, it seems like your request can be considered.”

“My request ? What request ?” gabriela's forehead is still wrinkled.

“Usually people who declare love need answers, right ? And I haven't given you any answers yet. I'm sure you're still expecting an answer from me. So...”

“Expecting answer ?” Gabriela laughs. “Even you haven't spoken yet I already know the answer, so honestly I don't wait for anything.”

“‘Mana can be so !” jonathan protested with an annoyed expression.

“I was shot with you, when you answered yourself when I have not said anything. There are no rules ! Nanya herself answered herself,” grumbled Jonathan.

“Terus I have to wait for father to answer how ? Kan Mr. Nathan has said that until any time will never consider our marriage really let alone to love me. Everything has to wait for the sun to rise from the west?”

Jonathan just sighed, thinking of finding the right word but not making Gabriela misunderstand.

Misunderstand it ? More precisely Gabriela could not read Jonathan's strange feelings because of the guy named Doni.

About 20 minutes later, Jonathan stopped his car in front of Mami Anna's office lobby.

“How do we get here ? What do you want to do ? It's Saturday, there won't be anyone but security.”

“Down first, I want to show you something.”

Gabriela follows Jonathan behind her and brow turns as a security guard greets Jonathan by name, inviting Jonahthan to enter respectfully.

“Don't be dumb,” led Jonathan staring at Gabriela from the reflection of the elevator door.

Both were in the elevator to the 5th floor. Gabriela again knitted her eyebrows back to Jonathan's smiling gaze.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Jonathan gestured for Gabriela to go down first. He also took the lenga of the girl who was still a little confused.

Jonathan opened the door to a room Gabriela had never been before. Papi's room is on the 7th floor and this is the 5th floor.

“Taa..daa..”.

Gabriela looked inside and the smell of the new furniture immediately smelled.

“This will be my room while undergoing this company until you can take over. A few weeks ago, it was here that I spent time after teaching, learning about many things as Papi and Om Sofyan.

I purposely kept it a secret from you because I am still not confident to run a company like papi.

But when I saw how Mama Gina and Jihan treated you, I was determined and would not forget papi's advice if I could and should avoid worrying, because worry makes us unable to see good things that we can actually do.”

Jonathan held onto Gabriela's shoulders with a smile.

“In fact papi has arranged for me to occupy his room, but I say, the room is more suitable occupied by the actual dirut, the true owner of this company is you.”

Gabriela remained silent and broke away from Jonathan, going around the wooden room. His steps stopped at Jonathan's desk, reaching for the picture frame on the table.

Gabriela's 17th birthday with Papi, Mama, Jenny and Jonathan. Jonathan's face was really unfriendly.

“This photo will make me always remember the reason and purpose I am sitting at this table. Not because of the forced but the responsibility as a child, daughter-in-law and husband.”

Gabriela smiled faintly and put the photo back in its place. He turned around to face Jonathan, looking at the man with a smile.

“Thank you,” Gabriela reached out her hand making Jonathan dumbfounded.

This is not what Jonathan expected. He thought Gabriela was like a teenage girl who was easily moved and then poured into his arms.

Jonathan was already getting ready to hug Gabriela back and thought he would pat the girl with a happy smile.

“Thank you Mr. Nathan for sincerely helping papi and willing to accompany me running this company.”

Gabriela still stretched out her hand making Jonathan sigh and shake Gabriela's hand with a disappointed looking face.

“Sama-sama,” said in a slightly irritated tone that could not be hidden.