The Shackles of Second Love

24

“We will get married, but not really married.” Haru revealed the intent of his invitation earlier to Mia.

“Means?” Mia still doesn't understand.

“We will marry pretend.” said Haru where this time the words of the man can be understood by Mia.

“I have someone I like,”

“Then why not marry him?” tanya Mia cut off Haru's conversation.

The man was silent for a while, he was a little hesitant to tell Mia the problem.however Haru did not know the woman more deeply, fearing that telling Mia would actually be a boomerang for him.

“I have a reason I can't tell you.” reply Haru answered Mia's question.

Mia nodded briefly, she indeed did not need to find out something that was not her business.

“So what should I do when I become your pretend wife?” however, Mia must know what her job is while undergoing a pretend marriage with Haru.

Hearing that Haru suddenly smiled. He was happy with Mia's attitude which was easy to work with.

“You only need to play my wife when we meet my mother, in Japan.”

Haru still has a mother who settled in Japan because it is where her mother came from. And the often sickly middle-aged woman always told her to get married quickly.

Mia was silent listening to him. He may have concluded that Haru only wanted to make himself like the man's wife when in public. Mia has no problem with that, she thinks that the job is not too difficult.

“While you are only pretending to be my wife, I will still meet all your needs as long as you carry out the task. Even I will give extra money every month for you.” said Haru.

Mia shook her head slowly, “No need to pay me. You want to meet every need of my daily life is enough.” reply Mia.

Haru looked at Mia in silence, he now really felt that the woman was very appropriate to be his pretend wife.

“And one more request from me,”

“What Is It?” ask Mia curious.

“I don't want you to involve your feelings when you're my wife. And in exchange you are free to establish a relationship with anyone.” Haru said making Mia speechless.

The woman turned her face to the side, “You just calm down. I can't love anyone anymore.” replied Mia.

Because all his feelings of love had been exhausted given to Hartono, the man who had broken his heart.

..

Mia enters the apartment giving Hartono an unbecoming feeling. Every time he went further inward, every sweet memory between him and the man came back into view.

He only realized that he was too deeply in love with Hartono until it felt when he fell because of broken expectations, he could not stand up again.

Tomorrow he will go with Haru to Japan. Visiting the man's mother at once introduces himself as Haru's wife to the woman.

So before she actually left the country, Mia decided to visit her memorable apartment with Hartono.

He needs to remember and record every incident that has been passed by the two in the apartment for him to remember later in life.

“It feels hard not to miss him.” Mia said as she stared at the long black sofa that was loosened in the living room.

He can still clearly remember the flashback of himself when doing romance on the sofa.

After being satisfied to look at the sofa, Mia again swung her steps to enter the room. He intended to take one of Hartono's clothes left in his bedroom closet.

But when he managed to open the door of his room, he was surprised to find the whereabouts of the man who was asleep on his bed.

The man fell asleep with his left hand covering his forehead, not the man's sleeping position that made his focus stolen, but what the man held in his hand that made Mia hit hard when she saw it.

Hartono clutched his pendant which was left in the apartment.

“Did you miss me too?” Mia whispered softly while shedding tears.

“Are you also tormented by our farewell?”

Mia really could not pull back her tears that had fallen down. Though he had promised not to cry because he thought about Hartono or the breakdown of their relationship.

But his defense collapsed instantly when he saw the man who was as fragile as he was.

The woman moved closer and closer to Hartono, then she looked at the man's stern face. There was an impulse from the heart for Mia to kiss Hartono, but her common sense was clearly against it. Mia doesn't want Hartono to wake up and realize his whereabouts here.

“This is our last meeting. I hope we will never be reunited again in the future.” said Mia sounding soft.

“Goodbye, and thank you for everything.” he said then left the room before Hartono really woke up.

Then right after Mia's departure, Hartono awoke from his deep sleep.

The man looked around the room looking for the whereabouts of the woman he loved. He had just dreamed that Mia would come to visit him.

“Mia, are you here?” he screamed for the woman's whereabouts while clutching Mia's locket necklace.

“I know you came to see me. The scent of your body is still left in this room.”

Hartono began looking for the whereabouts of the woman ranging from checking the bathroom, to the other room. But he did not find the whereabouts of the woman.

“At least let me see you, and apologize to you.”

“Mia, I'm really sorry.” looks down.

His heart was broken and his guilt and regret always appeared at the end. If time can repeat itself, maybe he better harbour the feelings of his forbidden love for Mia. So that no one gets hurt, neither Sharon nor Mia.

And now he just broke the hearts of the two women consciously.

**

Haru doesn't know what really happened to Mia. The woman had just come home after saying goodbye to him to pick up something.

But Mia came home in a state of eyes that had been swollen like crying. He wanted to ask but the awkwardness and reluctance he felt made him lose his courage.

“You don't need to think about anything to prepare for our departure tomorrow.” Haru said breaking the silence between herself and Mia.

“I've taken care of it.” continued Haru.

“How long will I stay there?” suddenly Mia asked Haru a question.

The woman looked at him sharply but her gaze felt empty.

“Maybe it will be long enough.” Haru himself was unsure about the answer.

He has not been able to determine how long they will stay in Japan.

Mia closed her eyes holding back the tightness that had come back to attack her chest.

“I hope we are there long enough.” said the woman made Haru confused.

“Because I really want to leave here and don't want to come back here again.”.