
Dinner time is the most intimate time for Regina and Gian. Only then did they meet, sitting together for quite a long time. Sometimes because of work, Gian always leaves in the morning. Leaving Regina to breakfast. Therefore Regina always maximizes her dinner time to get to know Gian further. He also became more diligent browsing the cuisine menus on the internet. Until now Gian always received the food he cooked. Without protest. Gian just said it was delicious, then drained the dish, and washed it after it was done.
Something's been bothering Regina's mind. Gian always does his own housework. Wash her clothes, wash her dishes, tidy up her room. Even on the day of the holiday he cleaned his own house. Whole house. Regina was confused when Gian turned on the vacuum cleaner early on Saturday, and mopped the floor and even Regina's room and mini studio. They do not have ART, but it is rare to see men doing homework without being told to. Gian now has Regina as his wife.
“What are you doing again?” Regina asked when she saw Gian standing up while playing a mobile phone in the laundry room during the weekend.
“Nyuci.” He said briefly as he pointed at the drying machine that was on.
“Self?” Regina's confused. She could have told him to do homework, Regina wouldn't mind because Gian is her husband.
“Emang should tell you?”
“Yes is okay.”
“What?” Gian asked confusedly while laughing. “I will not tell you Kok” Continue while removing clothes from a dead dryer.
“I ga contract you make to tell you to do nyuci or work at home. We are not real husband and wife either. It's not your duty to take care of these rich things for me.” Gian picked up his laundry basket and left the laundry room. “But, thank you for the meal. Except for that one maybe. I rely on you. It is always splendid to taste your foods.” Gian continued with a smile and then disappeared.
Regina had to keep reminding herself that Gian was not her husband. They are just two people under contract. It was free for Regina to feel that she had an obligation and responsibility to take care of Gian. He can and even willingly do it himself. She refused to get help and treatment like her husband in general.
It was only dinner that made Regina feel needed. Because Regina took control. Although Gian says he can cook too, Regina doesn't let him touch the kitchen utensils to make dinner.
If Gian is not on a business trip or stuck in traffic, he always comes home at exactly 7 p.m. When Regina's cooking is ripe and served on the table. Regina also heard from Pak Ayus, after marrying Gian so go home sooner than usual. He used to have to standby even until 12 pm, because Gian has not come home from the office and is still working. Gian doesn't really like to drive too late at night when he's out overtime. Hence Pak Ayus had to wait for him even late into the night to drive Gian home. Now Gian rarely comes home late and goes home alone. Ayus was happy to be home early.
Hearing the story of Pak Ayus, Regina blushed. Is Gian waiting for dinner just like him? He came home early every day, not like he used to when he wasn't married.
...****************...
“Mbak Tini, I want it?” Regina said to the co-worker sitting next to her. Regina has held a position in R&D since Dimas became the CEO of Edmode chosen by Gian. The 35-year-old woman leaned towards Regina, but her eyes were still on the computer screen in front of her.
“Why, Re?”
“If for example the husband of Mbak Tini ngerjain own home work, rich clean clothes, ironing, clean it. How do you think about Mba Tini?”
“Ya nice dong. That's what I always wanted.”
“Mbak Tini ga ngerasa so ga useful it for husband?”
“Ya ngga. It's good even. Our burden is lighter. Nih I tell ya, Re. if the spoiled husband really can not take care of himself let alone anti-cooperation home, would be bothered if already have children. Yeah gotta take care of the kid, take care of the husband. If he can wash, cook, clean our own house we will be very helpful. Do not also we rent ART expensive-expensive.” Obviously Tini's fiery.
“What's really okay?”
“Yes is okay. The origin of misuh-misuh aja pas ngerjainnya. Why anyway? Gian kaya is that?”
Regina nodded.
“Big cool dong. The dream husband is so. See us as partners, not helpers.”
“I'm weird dong huh if you feel useless?”
“Ga is also. Maybe because you're still a newlywed. Must fulfill and serve the husband. It should be useful to him. But because Gian is too independent, so you feel he does not need you. That, right?”
Regina nodded again approvingly. The feeling feels validated.
“Seat. You better focus on beautifying yourself, stretching, to the spa, skincare, buy hot clothes. You can serve your husband in other ways. Yes, right?” Said Tini smiling with a mischievous look.
Only an awkward laugh came out of Regina's mouth. Want to be as beautiful and sexy as it looks, Gian will not touch it. He also did not want to have a husband and wife relationship with Gian. Such things have never been discussed in their presentation as a necessity. People also never knew until now Regina was a virgin.
...****************...
Gian's activities during the weekend are cleaning, washing clothes, breakfast, then going upstairs to his study and cleaning up all his office work. Sometimes he also prepared materials if he had to seminar out of town. His life was not much different then and now. It's just that there's Regina around him now. Every time he went out of his room and his study, he always found the girl everywhere. In the kitchen, in the laundry room, in the living room, in the garden. Its existence is not too disturbing, it is very strange for him to feel that Regina is now part of his daily activities.
The girl is quite cherry-picked although sometimes glutinous. He is also sometimes noisy and causes a commotion by karaoke in the living room, or turning on the TV volume aloud. Gian was now more and more diligent in shouting from the 2nd floor to scold Regina.
“Regina noisy!”
“Candles her TV volume!!”
“Do not karaokean! Noisy!”
“Matiin his TV!!”
Then will be daalas with angry jolts by Rergina and her pouting face when passing by Gian. But all that did not make Gian disturbed and want to deprive Regina of existence around him. In fact, sometimes Gian just let Regina sing from downstairs and laugh at him if the sound issued is too discordant.
The TV is still on, showing scenes of the Korean drama Regina is very fond of. Gian almost always found Regina in the living room, looking at the screen seriously or while crying as much as he was carried away by the drama. He also not infrequently sleep there until the morning because staying up late to finish the spectacle.
That afternoon Regina also fell asleep on the sofa in the living room. Roll behind a bright yellow blanket, and a light blue pillow. TV, cell phone, and snack remoters were lying in a mess around him. Gian just clucked at the sight. Then sit on the side of the sofa where Regina fell asleep. Staring at the girl for a long time.
Seeing him fall asleep like a child made Gian smile. She's really sweet. He watched her face, then touched Regina's delicate, white cheeks. Suddenly Gian slapped the cheek slowly, waking Regina who was sleeping. Surprised by Gian's slap, Regina's eyes opened and looked around cautiously.
“Gian why?!” He said he was angry when he saw Gian sitting next to him.
“Build! It's noon!”
“Apaan ah, interrupt aja!” His reply was upset while pulling the blanket over his head.
“I laper.”
“Ya continue?”
“Pick masakin lunch.”
“Ih malesin. There are pesen online only!”
“Make. Cepetan wake up!” Gian pulled the blanket open and pulled Regina's arm until she sat down. Regina looked at Gian fiercely. Eventually, he lost and got off the couch.
“Ih nyebeliiiiiin!”
...****************...
The clock is 8 when Gian arrives home. Regina was in the middle of the room watching the drama after she finished cooking. He was waiting for Gian who had not yet returned home. When he saw Gian enter, his expression was tangled like a lot of trouble and very tired.
“Kok you late return?”
“Fraud flood.” Answer's short. Gian is in a bad mood. Regina was afraid to ask again things that were not her business. Gian also seemed to not want to discuss anything with him.
“I already masakin shrimp gor—”
“I ain't having dinner today. Pingin directly istirahat. Sorry.” Cut Gian fast. Then go upstairs to her room. Regina had to have dinner alone that day.
This morning Gian was not seen coming down from his room. His car is still in the garage, he hasn't left for work and isn't out of town. Usually since dawn Gian has been heard on the move. Turn on the dust cleaner in her room. But now it is completely silent. Regina knocked on the door of Gian's room to check it out. But there is no answer. Because there was no sound whatsoever Regina shouted to call Gian while banging on the door of her room for almost 1 minute. He was worried that something would happen to him. The clicking sound from the keyhole softly sounded. Then the door opened, showing Gian's grim face and his tangled hair. Gian turned around and then lay down again on his bed.
Regina hesitantly walked into Gian's room. The room was dark, only a sleeping lamp was lit near the bed. The curtains are still closed. Just this time Regina walked into Gian's room after a month of marriage with the man. He saw again Gian who had laid himself and pulled the blanket.
“Why are you, Gi?”
“Ga is feeling good.” Answer weakly.
Regina approached Gian, sitting on the edge of the bed. He touched Gian's forehead and felt his body warm. Gian is really sick. This workaholic man could get sick?
“Gi, you have a fever.”
“Hmm.. same headache.”
“You want me to make porridge? You should eat before taking the medicine.”
“Hmm” Mumbled while nodding slowly.
Regina makes porridge for Gian. He cooked it using chicken broth, adding corn and carrots that had been cut into small pieces so that Gian could eat vegetables as well. Porridge is served with chicken suiran and crackers topping.
Gian ate it voraciously. It seemed that his appetite had not decreased due to his fever and headache. Regina measured Gian's body temperature with a thermometer and looked at the small object's screen showing the number 38.7°C. The fever was quite high.
“You from last night hurt?”
Gian simply nodded and continued eating.
“Why didn't you say you were sick from the night? Can be directly diobatinized. Where last night you didn't eat again.” Regina said annoyed.
“Do not get angry. My head is on.”
“So you don't need help. Turn sick rich gini aja, new deh.” Regina said gruntingly. “Nih cepetan take his medicine!”
After taking the medicine, Gian fell asleep again. Regina went back and forth to Gian's room to change the compress, fill the drinking water and observe Gian's body temperature. Until noon Gian's body temperature does not go down.
“Gi, check with your doctor?” Regina said she was worried when Gian ate his lunch. His body temperature is still at 38°C. Gian refused. After eating and taking the medicine, Gian fell asleep again.
Regina ended up accompanying Gian the whole day. He sat leaning on Gian's bed reading magazines and playing with his cell phone. He sees Gian asleep, then lies down next to him, facing each other. His face looked peaceful when asleep, the sound of his breathing softened.
People are right, Regina is lucky to marry a handsome guy like Gian. If they were in any other condition, perhaps he would completely agree. Imagine being able to look at Gian's face every morning. Himself in another parallel world must have fallen in love with Gian's kind. But whether with himself here, his feelings are mixed. He wants to be close to Gian, but also does not want to be in touch with him. There were things he thought he didn't like about this man. Gian like always put a boundary fence so he is not too close. He always kept his distance from Regina. No matter how trying to be his friend, be useful, and help him, Gian always drops his hopes in the end. Distanced him.
Regina's hand reached for Gian's head, stroking his hair gently. Then he fell asleep there shortly.
Gian went down to the kitchen in the afternoon. His body feels better. His headache also disappeared. Before going down he checked his body temperature, and now his temperature was back to normal. Regina stood in the kitchen cleaning used cooking utensils.
“You're better?” Regina asked as she saw Gian enter the kitchen.
“Hmm.. ” done. Answer's relaxed. Then sit at the dining table.
“I've made egg drop soup with chicken soy sauce.”
Gian has scooped up his food. Regina was busy washing her equipment. For ten minutes there was only the sound of water and the impact of the cooking utensils being washed, as well as the occasional clinking sound of the spoon that Gian used to eat.
“You didn't work today?” Ask Gian suddenly.
“I take a leave.”
“Create me?”
“Hmm.” Regina's murmuring is relaxing.
“Thank you for taking care of me today.”
“Hmmm.” Murmured Regina again. This time a smile came from his lips. There are a lot of things he doesn't like about Gian. But there are things that he also likes from Gian, which is that he never hesitates to say thank you and sorry. Rarely can others appreciate a good deed and also apologize sincerely. His heart is happy, it feels like he can be useful for Gian.
“But I want to say this again to you, who knows you forgot. We're just a contract couple, not a real husband and wife. So don't use your feelings in this connection. I won't give you any feelings for your bales.”
Gian stood up from his chair and began to step out of the kitchen. Regina kept the last spoonful of soup washed into place. Then he was silent at Gian's words. Always was. Always like that with him. A stinging feeling invaded his heart. For some reason every time Gian said that they were not the original couple always disappointed him. But it is clear that is the truth.
Regina throws a wet dishwasher sponge at Gian. The object landed on Gian's nape, which made him turn around. Staring at Regina in confusion.
“So you think I took care of you because I have the same feelings as you? That?” Shouted Regina furiously. “You look pathetic in pain so I want to take care of you. I won't have any feelings for you either!” Furthermore, his breathing was stifled with anger.
“Good if that is so. I don't expect you to fall in love with me. It will be complicated for us.”
Regina walked towards Gian. Then stop right in front of him.
“Wash your used meal!” His shouting. Then walk out of the kitchen. Gian just stood there and smiled.