Trapped by Pandora
Chapter 13: You
A bright morning cheerful. The sun was shining warmly on the skin of Alin who was lying under the shade of the tabebuya tree. The raised right hand covers the sunlight. He saw a ring on his ring finger. Smile on the lips. Cengar-cengir remembers his short holiday in Bali yesterday.
The holiday ends with a romantic dinner designed by Beryl. Candlelit dinner at La View Restaurant located in Butterfly Barong Villas and Tree Spa, the villa where they stayed. A beautiful place complete with stunning night beauty.
Enjoy special dishes and even dance under the moonlight. Beryl was so dashing with her tuxedo. Seeing Beryl in a suit is nothing new to Alin, but somehow the tuxedo makes Beryl's charisma more outward, more masculine, more macho.
“Would you marry me?” the magic words that Beryl threw made Alin's blood rustle. Moreover, Beryl knelt with one leg while sticking out a fresh red rose.
Alin's body stiffened in surprise, his knees shaking. It's like a dream. Every woman's dream. Moreover, the moment Beryl kissed the back of her hand, streams of waves that were not clearly named flowed in every vein. His heart beat sounds so strong.
Alin's like hypnotized Beryl's charm. Between being conscious or not, Alin nodded his head in agreement and received the rose Beryl gave him. The heart grew more and more flowery as Beryl stood up and kissed her forehead. A warm, comfortable feeling crept in as Beryl hugged her tightly. Alin paid no attention to anyone else out there, only himself and the man who had managed to tear apart his long-locked pandora's box.
“Ehem-ehem!” a voice stopped his daydream.
Hands down. The bright face of Madame Naima was swept away by the sun.
“Senyam-smile yourself, beware later kesambet loh!” insinuations of Madam Naima.
“Ih, Auntie that's so great!” Alin rose from the fall and sat leaning against the tabebuya tree in the backyard of the Cinta Kasih orphanage.
“Finally from earlier Aunty noticed you just slept here while mantengin ring on the finger, ring-tongued when nothing funny.”
Madame Naima was sitting next to Alin, the girl she had already considered to be her own biological child. Alin was the only will entrusted to Zivaa, his friend. His life, which had been empty after the divorce, gradually became more colorful after he was involved in Alin's life that was almost destroyed.
“Again happy huh? Hmm, you know what was just proposed,” Goda Madam Naima who made the hue of Alin's face reddened.
“Tante is also happy to see you happy. You desire it! Had your mama been alive, she would have been happier than Auntie. May your happiness be eternal, son!” Madam Naima stroked Alin's head.
“Please yes, Auntie! Aunty is like my mom to me. Aunty is always there when I'm sad and happy. Aunty always supported me and strengthened me,” Alin hugged Madam Naima.
“By the way, who's the lucky guy?”
“Ehmmm, his name is Beryl. Beryliano Monza.”
“Eh, Beryl? Monza?” Madam Naima was stunned to hear the name Alin mentioned.
“Iya Aunty, her name is Beryl Monza. Does Aunt know?”
Madam Naima shook her head, although the name sounded familiar to her. Madam Naima's thoughts were wandering everywhere. Is the Beryl Monza that Alin mentioned is the Beryl Monza that he knew decades ago? How many Beryl Monza names are there on earth?
“What's he like?” ask Madam Naima curiously.
“Oh yes, Auntie doesn't know yet? Some time ago he had brought me here when his eldest son ran away, but then Auntie again left. Momentary Aunt,” Alin reached into the pocket of a shirt to pick up her phone.
Alin opened the phone and searched through the photo gallery. There are some candid photos of Beryl that he took while on vacation in Bali.
“This Aunty,” Alin shows photos of Beryl saved on mobile.
Madam Naima stared at the photos intently. How surprised he saw the figure of Beryl Monza in the photo. That man was the man he had known before. Madam Naima still could not believe what she saw.
“Tante why? How shocked are you?” Alin was somewhat astonished by the response shown by Madam Naima.
“Ah, ti-no! Auntie, just don't expect your taste buds to turn a hundred and eighty degrees!” Madam Naima tried to hide her surprise by putting on a half-forced smile.
“Means Aunt?” Alin raised his eyebrows, guessing where Madame Naima was talking.
“You used to taste young men, your age. Now gini gentlemen!” moda Madam Naima.
“Ya canuun, Aunt can do it! Than the same young men who run away is not clear and painful mengingan right the same serious fathers and do not play games!” alin replied spontaneously, glancing his eyes.
“Hahahaha,” both of them laughed out loud.
Behind the laughter that seemed loose, there was honestly doubt lingering in Madam Naima's small heart. On the other hand he hopes Alin will find his happiness, but it is undeniable that he is not completely sure when looking at the photo of the man. Does Beryl Monza really love Alin? Or is there another reason?
A thousand questions still hang. Does Beryl know who Alin really is? Does Vishaka know who the real son-in-law is? What makes Vishaka respect their relationship? Madam Naima was eager to put aside her fear. Seeing the happy aura that emanated in the look of Alin's face, it felt like he could not bear to reveal all.
^^o^
Along the way, Beryl did not stop thinking about the attitude of Madam Naima, Alin's adoptive mother. His attitude looks so cold, even impressed indifferent. Yesterday, on the day of her engagement, Madame Naima who Alin thought was a warm, gentle and supple woman looked very different. It was clear that the woman deliberately stayed away, keeping her distance from her family.
Today, Beryl decided to meet the woman at the Orphanage of Charity. He wanted to straighten out the wedge that was in his heart. An hour later he was sitting in Mrs Naima's study. The contents of his brain were still wandering around guessing what reaction the woman would show. Although not much to say, but Beryl is sure that Alin can feel the change in attitude of Mrs Naima. Beryl didn't want Alin to be overwhelmed by it.
“Good day, Mr Beryl! Is there anything I can help you with?” madam Naima's voice rang out loud from behind the door, quite surprisingly Beryl.
“Siang, Mistress!” Beryl restrained herself, she let the one-generation woman with herself sit on the oversized chair.
“Ehm, actually there is something I want to talk to you about. What is my arrival interfering?” ask Beryl.
“No. Sorry, my time is not much. I have another appointment.”
“I won't be long.”
“Alright, say!”
Beryl took a deep breath, prepared herself and tried to compose a sentence that would roughly not be offensive. The woman's feelings are very delicate and sensitive, Beryl does not want to add a sprinkling of salt between them.
“I know that you love Alin very much. In fact, Alin already considers you like a real mother. Alin said that you approved of our wedding plans. But, I feel something is awkward,” Beryl tried as calmly as possible.
“Anglish?” Madam Naima frowned.
“Well, maybe it's just my feeling. But, it seems like you haven't fully approved of us yet. Maybe I misinterpreted your attitude, but that's how I feel.”
“I just want to make sure, because I don't want any misunderstandings. I apologize in advance,” continued Beryl.
Madam Naima looked at Beryl fixedly. Everything Beryl said was one hundred percent true. It turned out that his attitude was cuey yesterday, on the day of Alin and Beryl's engagement was easily read. It could not be revealed that he actually approved of anything that made his adopted daughter happy. However, the figure of Beryl and the past stories that make him gamang.
“I became a witness of how Alin grew and developed. In fact, when he was at the lowest point of his life. Do you know about her depression?”
Beryl was speechless at Madam Naima's question. He recalled what Mr. Vishaka had told him when he first met him for permission to take Alin to dinner.
“Yes, Mr. Vishaka has already told her,” Beryl nodded slowly.
“It is not easy for Alin to struggle with a fairly severe depression. Especially with the passing of his mother. I will support anything that makes her happy, including your wedding plans, if it does bring her happiness.”
The intonation of Madam Naima's voice sounded so firm but gentle. Beryl can understand the maternal soul of Lady Naima who is trying to protect her daughter from pain, disappointment and injury. The look in Madam Naima's eyes was like an arrow ready to pierce both her eyeballs.
“As do you who feel an awkwardness in my attitude. I also feel awkwardness in your relationship.”
“You mean?”
“You guys haven't known for a long time, how could you possibly fall in love with Alin? As far as I know, your wedding plans were not originally for love. Because of your children's requests. Do you really love Alin because of his personality? Or is it because she might remind you of someone in your past?”
Beryl gasped at Madam Naima's question about the seriousness of her love. A past? Why is Madam Naima bringing up her past? Beryl held a sitting position. His back was pulled slightly away from the back of the chair.
Beryl did not dismiss, at the beginning of the meeting with Alin, the girl's smile was reminiscent of her first love. But the longer he knew him, Alin had a slightly different personality. His mischievous nature, courage against oppressors, cheerfulness and free-losing laughter are what sets him apart from his first love. The first love that left her and chose to marry another man.
“Are you thinking about the past?” lady Naima's subtle insinuations make Beryl flabby. How could the woman sitting in front of him guess correctly.
“Tell me honestly. Do you really love Alin? Or just because of your past? It is still not too late to decide everything,” Madam Naima leaned back on the back of the chair, both arms crossed then let out a long sigh but still did not release Beryl from the snare of her eyes.
“I love Alin so much because of everything he has, and nothing to do with my past!” beryl's lies.
“Does he remind you of someone?” Madam Naima continued to corner him.
“Why are you so interested in my past?” replace Beryl who looked at Madame Naima with full investigation.
“Hmm, so that no misunderstandings occur in the future!” Madam Naima smiled wryly, but her eyes were as sharp as razor blades.
“I don't know how that love grows. When and where, does the word love know no logic? For me love does not need a reason, because everything comes from the heart. But, I assure you that I love Alin.” very much
Beryl put on a serious face, she did not mess with what she had just said. He should, however, be able to convince Lady Naima. All for Alin.
“Alright, let's just say I believe. Can you promise to love, love, love and care for Alin forever? Can you promise not to leave it even in the worst of conditions?”
Beryl was silent for a moment. Behind her calmness and gentleness, Beryl felt an increasingly terrifying aura from Madam Naima. Like a mother tiger who is ready to prey on anyone who intends to take her child. The look in Madam Naima's eyes felt very intimidating.
Armed with confidence in his own feelings, Beryl gave a thin smile, trying as calmly as possible to face the middle-aged woman before him.
“I promise with my earnestness. I will always love and will never leave it!” beryl said steadily.
“I hope you don't forget the promise you've made,” Madam Naima's facial expression hasn't changed in the slightest. Flat and unpredictable what he was thinking.
“Of course! A true man held in his hands were his words. And I won't deny it.”
“Hmmm, okay. I will give my blessing for your wedding.”
The attitude of the shoulder-length curly haired woman began to soften, her eyes were no longer as sharp as in the beginning. In Beryl's grateful heart, the wedge in her heart began to fade. As two people who have both felt the wounds of the past because of the pain of love, Beryl really hopes that in the future there will be no more storms that hit her relationship with Alin.
“Beryl?” the two stopped their conversation when Alin suddenly walked into the room.
“Alin? You here?” Beryl's nervous.
“I have an appointment with Aunt Naima for a pilgrimage to Mama's grave. Then what are you doing here yourself?” Alin squinted his eyes suspiciously.
“A-I ...,” Beryl is confused by the answer.
“Mr Beryl is here to ask about the procedure to become a permanent donor of the orphanage. Is that right, Mr Beryl?” cut off Madame Naima to save Beryl.
“I-iya,” Beryl praised the cleverness of Madam Naima diverted the answer.
“Alin darling, it seems like Aunt can't accompany you on pilgrimage. Forgive Aunt, yes!” Madam Naima stood up and stepped closer to Alin.
“You'd better just go with your future husband, introduce him to your Mama. Auntie Mr. Beryl wouldn't mind, would she?” once again Madam Naima cornered Beryl with her words, as if Bery had no other choice.
“Ehm, of course!” Beryl finally stood up straight.
“Thank you for your arrival and goodwill Sir, may you find the answer to the awkwardness you feel!” Madam Naima kept on smiling.
“Congratulations? What's the clumsiness of Auntie?” Alin felt that something was strange with the two people.
“Oh that, previously your future husband still does not understand the procedure here. Auntie tried to explain it in detail. Auntie hope she's starting to understand.”
“Already, you should leave now before too late afternoon!” Madam Naima banished them subtly.
Alin and Beryl left, leaving Lady Naima alone in her agitation. He accidentally makes Beryl accompany Alin to the tomb to know what he is hiding. But now he was beginning to fear. Afraid Beryl will leave Alin when she finds out the truth.
“Yes God, Zivaa forgive me! I can't tell the truth. I can't bear to ruin Alin's happiness. What if Vishaka knew his daughter was going to marry the man who broke your heart?”
Madam Naima sat helplessly in her chair. Hands folded on the table, head bowed lethargic resting on the folds of both hands. His anxiety is getting higher. Allowing Beryl to go to the tomb with Alin was akin to unraveling the secrets she kept. However, it should all be revealed now rather than later will hurt both.
“Yes God, protect Alin! Save her from the pain of love for the umpteenth time. I wouldn't be as strong as Zivaa if I saw Alin back down, drowning in his long depression as he was left behind.”
Madam Naima tried to hold back the crying, even though her chest felt tight. His eyes back up. Given how Zivaa's heart was slashed when he learned of Beryl's betrayal, the flames of anger that had been blocked for decades again possessed his senses.
“Zivaa, I promise, I won't let that man hurt your daughter!”
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