Bittersweet Arrangements : A Sugar Dady Affair

The noise made by Jeremy shocked the whole house. They all ran towards the source of the sound. Including Ivand and Viero who were in their respective rooms.

When they arrived at the bottom of the stairs, Ivand and Viero’s bodies froze for a moment. Witnessing the chaos resulting from Jeremy’s actions that occurred a few seconds ago. Even the rising atmosphere still shows that this chaos is not over yet. Broken glass scattered everywhere. The cries of the two women who witnessed Jeremy’s wrath became the only rhythm to complete the tense atmosphere.

“Now get out of my sight!” Jeremy said with great emphasis. The man’s gaze thrust sharply into Devan’s eyes as if challenging him. Didn’t want to obey his orders. And Jeremy doesn’t like being beaten. The more Devan challenged, the more Jeremy’s emotions overflowed.

Dorr… Once again Jeremy fired a bullet at the remaining giant glass of the living room then threw the gun in any direction. Elena and Vanessa, who were hugging, screamed hysterically again in shock. Devan didn’t move. Her eyes didn’t stop nailing the eyes of the man in front of her. Devan deliberately tested Jeremy’s patience to express all his emotions. Here he is the one who is wrong. So he must also be the target of his friend’s wrath. Don’t let your emotions explode on others.

“I’m sorry, Jeremy,” replied Devan, his body melting. Kneel right at Jeremy’s feet.

This time Devan gave in. Ruining his pride for the sake of the two women who had been crying. Stopping all this to avoid feeling traumatized to Ivand and Viero who are now also watching.

Devan felt very sorry. The friendship they had maintained for so long had to be destroyed because of the selfishness of the two of them. The family they had so lovingly held together in Club Cogan is now falling apart.

“I’ll go. I won’t see Elena again,” added Devan and then left. He looked at Vanessa and Elena for a moment one last time then immediately walked away. Ignore all the chaos. Ignoring the red cVanessan dripping from the soles of her feet. Even with wounds on his face. All that pain was nothing compared to the destruction of their friendship.

Ivand immediately approached Vanessa and Elena and hugged the two women while Viero was still frozen in place. Don’t understand what happened. What is certain is that everything is not fine now.

***

Erick, who had just come out of his room, immediately screamed when he saw his father who had just come home battered.

“Daddy, Daddy, why?” Erick hugged Devan’s body tightly. Fear suddenly seized his heart. Erick was really frightened by his father’s condition. Then immediately broke the hug between the two of them.

“Daddy, it’s okay, Erick. Daddy just fell off the motorbike,” Devan answered lying as he forced himself to create a smile on his lips.

“Impossible. This wasn’t a fall from a motorbike. Daddy just had a fight. Tell me who did this to Daddy?” Erick started sobbing. Nanar, Erick looked at Devan who was clearly forcing himself to smile.

“That guy shouldn’t be a crybaby. This is just a small wound, Erick. Daddy is used to being like this,” chuckled Devan and then ruffled Erick’s hair.

If Jeremy had actually put the bullet in his head, of course he would no longer be able to meet his son. But Devan is sure that won’t be possible. No matter how cruel and evil Jeremy is. That man could never hurt his own family, including himself.

“I’m scared Dad. I’m scared.” Erick continued to sob. It doesn’t matter, even though in his father’s eyes he is a whiny boy. Erick doesn’t care about any of that. He wants to continue being with his papa.

The accident that happened to his father several months ago made Erick always feel afraid. Erick was afraid that his father would suddenly leave. Following his mother who was long gone. Erick wouldn’t be ready if that happened. Just imagine Erick’s chest rumbling violently.

“Daddy, go to your room first, okay?” Devan said goodbye then headed for the stairs, enduring the pain all over his body.

Earlier, Jeremy beat him mercilessly. If he had fought, the wounds on his body would not have been as serious as this. They are comparable opponents in the battle area. There’s only one difference. Jeremy has never hesitated to end his opponent’s life. This is different from Devan, who has always avoided violence. It’s not surprising that in the past Devan always went into the field as a spy rather than as an executioner.

“Daddy can do it himself, Erick,” chuckled Devan when Erick intended to help him up to his room.

When he arrived at the room, Devan immediately fell on the bed. Hoping that by closing his eyes for a moment Devan could wake up in the past. A time when everything was still fine. The time when Gita was still with him. And Devan wants to stop at that time forever. If that is impossible then Devan hopes to be able to erase all love for Elena.

***

Yogyakarta, 23. 00 WIB

I love someone to the point where I don’t know how to stop.

It doesn’t feel like almost a year has passed since the chaos occurred. Devan sank back into work. It is not uncommon for Devan to come home in the middle of the night or even stay overnight at the workshop just to find the peace he never found. It turns out that forgetting a spoiled girl is not easy. The girl’s smile had been imprinted in his mind very firmly.

For almost a year, Devan really kept his promise to Jeremy not to see Elena. But that doesn’t mean Devan avoids his friends. They still often get together when they have free time. So Devan will only come when Jeremy doesn’t come or vice versa. Devan wasn’t afraid to meet Jeremy. Devan just doesn’t want the atmosphere to become uncomfortable if the two of them are in the same place.

Elena did the same thing. Busy yourself with all activities to forget Devan. Even though up to this moment time has not been able to support it. Love is still the same or even increases many times over. For almost a year, his faithful longing disturbed his loneliness. Longing also sometimes invites tears to fall. But Elena persisted in her determination. All this will surely pass soon.

But… I don’t know how long it will last.

They are actually very close. Standing on the same ground. Breathe the same Yogyakarta air. Taking shelter in the same earth too. The distance was no match for the promise they had made a year ago in front of Jeremy.

Broken.

One word that to this day still often echoes in his ears. He said one word to reduce the anger of the man who was his first love. One word he said without caring about the screams of his heartbroken heart.

The life he lives now is very different. Elena herself never thought that falling in love could be this painful. Luckily, Citra and Melodi were always there for him. They were both always ready to be loyal listeners to his complaints. Elena could imagine what it would be like without the two of them.

“Uncle, I miss you,” Elena muttered as she reread all the chats with Devan that she never deleted. Chats that he always rereads every time he feels homesick.

Elsewhere, Devan feels the same thing. The man was opening a photo gallery on his cellphone. Looking at Elena’s photos one by one when they were still together.

“I missed you too, Bee.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

***

Yogyakarta, 09. 30 WIB

Devan is enjoying his holiday in the family room. While enjoying a cup of coffee, Devan watched the news on TV.

“Let’s go Dad!” asked Erick who had just landed his body next to Devan. “Don’t stay at home and work all the time. Get healing once in a while so that you don’t get more gray hair,” added Erick with a chuckle.

“You have the courage to talk to Daddy now, okay?” Devan replied then ruffled Erick’s hair, who immediately protested. “But that’s fine too. Daddy hasn’t been to a bookstore for a long time. Let’s look for an automotive magazine,” continued Devan then turned off the TV.

Erick smiled then went to the room to change clothes. Even Devan immediately went up to the room to get his wallet and hat. It didn’t take long for father and son to be in the car. As usual, Erick was the one who drove the car when they went out together.

“By the way, what’s the relationship between Daddy and Aunt Dinda? Lucky said he often comes to the workshop,” Erick asked casually, as if talking to his own friend.

“It’s normal, Erick. We’re just friends. You don’t need to think about it,” replied Devan, who understood the meaning of his son’s question.

Erick and Devan’s relationship has long since improved. Precisely after Devan and Elena broke off their relationship. Erick became closer to his father. they often spend time together like friends. Even Erick doesn’t hesitate to tell him that he likes female friends in his class. Devan didn’t stop Erick from dating. It’s just that Devan reminded Erick to stay focused on his education. Apart from that, Devan also often shares with Erick about the negative impacts of free sex among teenagers. The grave sin borne by the perpetrator of sex outside of marriage in the teachings of the Islamic religion.

“How is your relationship with Sandra?” said Devan, deliberately changing the conversation. But Devan had already intended to ask about the girl his son was targeting.

“It’s normal. It turns out that Ben also likes Sandra. So… Erick stopped approaching. There are still lots of beautiful girls, why do they have to fight over their friends,” explained Erick carefree. Ben is his bandmate. So instead of competing with his friends, Erick would be better off withdrawing regularly.

Devan was stunned. Staring at his son in disbelief. I didn’t think Erick could think so maturely. Devan never realized that Erick had learned many things from him all this time. So it’s not surprising that Erick behaves like that. Erick reflects on his father’s sad love story. So Erick chose to guard his heart so as not to like a girl too much like his father.

“Does Daddy want to stay here all the time?” Erick asked as he turned off the engine of the car he was driving.

Devan then looked at the two-story bookstore in front of them. Erick quickly got out of the car and was followed by Devan. They walked together into the bookstore.

Because they have different goals, they split up. Looking for a bookshelf according to what they are looking for. And the shelf where automotive magazines are located is quite far from the shelf of various available textbooks.

Devan started choosing several of the latest editions of magazines for his personal collection. After getting what he was looking for, Devan immediately looked for Erick’s whereabouts. While carrying the magazine, Devan explored dozens of shelves of various types of books. Suddenly Devan’s steps stopped. His eyes captured the figure of a beautiful girl he had not seen for almost a year. The girl looked serious reading the back of the book she was holding. However, Devan immediately realized that he should not show himself in front of the girl. Then slowly Devan took a step back. He intended to find another way so that the girl wouldn’t see him.

Elena closed her eyes when her heart beat suddenly fast. Elena didn’t know why. But her heart gave Elena the order to raise her face. Look the other way.

“Uncle Devan,” Elena hissed like the wind. Instantly, Elena’s body froze, her heart became increasingly uncontrolled, staring at the man who was still standing somewhere. They are now only 4 meters away. Staring at each other in silence.

The world seemed to stop spinning. Witnessing a pair of lovers who have long been separated by the blessing of their parents. Just looking at each other, they expressed the longing that had been brewing for so long. Elena’s eyes started to look teary. Elena tried her best to hold back the tears that were starting to well up. Elena didn’t want to waste even a little time treating her longing. Elena doesn’t want to miss even a moment of this time.

Devan finally gave up. His legs started to move. Closing the distance between the two of them. Distance that should never be created for two people who love each other.

“My heart stops with you, Bee!” said Devan quietly.