LOVE YOU, UNCLE

At precisely 6:30 in the morning, after finishing her shower and getting dressed, Ghea intentionally walked towards the door and opened it slowly. The first thing she noticed was the presence of her husband. The man was clearly curled up on the long sofa right in front of their bedroom.

Approaching, Ghea intended to wake him up. She remembered that today was her husband’s work schedule after a break due to a wedding ceremony.

“Calling others a paddy snake, when he himself acts like a python,” Ghea scoffed. She momentarily advanced her face to peek if Randy was still sound asleep or showing signs of being awake.

Believing her husband was still immersed in the sea of dreams, Ghea reached out, then carefully shook Randy’s body while calling him repeatedly.

“Hey… wake up.”

Seemingly aware of the surroundings, the man made a slow but sure effort to open his eyes. Blinking a few times, he then turned towards the girl standing on his left side.

“They said you’re working today, right? It’s already half past six. You’ll be late.”

Randy, who was initially lying down, slowly raised his body. Stretching both arms to loosen his stiff muscles.

Anyone accustomed to sleeping on a soft bed would inevitably feel sore, cramped, and numb because they had to sleep in an unconventional place all night. Randy wanted to complain last night. Still, being self-aware that he initiated the conflict, he reluctantly accepted the punishment.

“Are you crazy? How could you kick me out of my own room?” he protested with a disheveled face. But even in that disheveled state, he still looked handsome. “You know, right? My whole body is in pain from sleeping on the sofa. It was cold last night. I’m sure I’ll catch a cold, Ghe.”

Ghea was indifferent. Judging by her face, the girl didn’t care, let alone be touched by Randy’s complaints.

It was his fault from the beginning for often treating her carelessly. So, she considered last night’s events as payback for the mischief Randy often subjected her to. Besides, this was nothing compared to what she could do.

“Are you crazy? And besides, just apologize, please, Om,” Ghea responded to Randy’s earlier complaints. “After all, you own the house. Besides, there are many empty rooms in this house, just choose one. Why sleep on the sofa and catch a cold?”

“But my room is here. I really don’t want to move to another room.”

“So what? When Om doesn’t want to move rooms and chooses to sleep on the sofa until he’s cold, whose fault is that?”

“It’s your fault.”

“Sure!” Ghea protested, not accepting it.

“Enough, I’m going to take a shower. I’ll be late if I keep dealing with you.”

“Oh, go ahead. Nobody’s stopping you.”

“But, don’t you want to join?”

Randy, who had already stepped away, turned back once he was right in front of the bedroom door. Intentionally, he faced Ghea, who was now sitting on the sofa.

“Join? Where are you going?” Ghea asked, confused. Her face genuinely serious in response to Randy’s statement.

“To join in the shower.”

Hearing Randy’s answer, Ghea immediately scowled. Although she was serious, her husband still found time to tease.

“Strawberry, mango, doughnut. Sorry, sorry, I’m not interested,” Ghea joked, making Randy burst into laughter.

While Randy showered and prepared for work, Ghea went downstairs to the dining room. There, two domestic helpers were busy preparing breakfast for Ghea and Randy before starting their day.

“Good morning, Ms. Ghea.”

Sandra, who was stationed in the dining room, greeted and promptly invited Ghea to sit. Without needing any orders, the domestic helper who also served as Ghea’s assistant in the house poured milk. She even handed a plate so that her employer could enjoy the breakfast that was already prepared.

“Is this the breakfast menu here every morning?”

Ghea was momentarily stunned. Not for any particular reason. She was just amazed at the breakfast menu that the assistants had laid out on the dining table.

Ghea thought she would be having filled bread, American breakfast, or other Western foods typically enjoyed by the bourgeois for breakfast. Honestly, Ghea didn’t fancy such light meals. As a rice person, she didn’t consider it a proper meal unless she had rice.

However, her assumption was wrong. Instead of serving whole wheat bread and the like, Randy’s two assistants prepared Indonesian specialties like nasi uduk (coconut rice) and nasi kuning (yellow rice). So, which divine flavor was Ghea supposed to deny? She was sure her stomach would be pampered this morning.

“Usually, it’s filled bread, Ms. Ghea,” Sandra replied.

“Well, then why are you serving nasi uduk and nasi kuning today?”

“Mr. Randy requested it.”

“Mr. Randy?”

Ghea frowned. Seriously, did her husband delegate menu choices to the assistants based on his taste? Then, how did he know that she loved Indonesian cuisine?Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

“He said, Ms. Ghea prefers to eat rice and anything that is distinctly Indonesian. So, we decided to cook these two dishes. If it doesn’t suit your taste, Lala and I apologize. In the future, Ms. Ghea can give us a list of foods you want us to cook.”

Ghea smiled. She felt a bit guilty. Even though she was now the employer, she didn’t like causing trouble for others. Besides, she wasn’t really bothered about the food. Whatever was served, she would eat. It’s just that when it comes to preferences, she would undoubtedly enjoy home-cooked meals, especially rice dishes.

“This is more than enough. Thank you for preparing all this. If I need anything or if something is missing, I’ll let you know.”

Sandra nodded in relief and then let her employer enjoy her meal. Shortly afterward, Randy finally arrived and joined them, pulling a chair right in front of Ghea.

“How’s the breakfast? Delicious?”

Ghea nodded. Honestly, she liked what Randy’s two assistants had cooked for her.

“Delicious. Thank you,” she sincerely said.

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.”

“But, by the way, how did you know that I like Indonesian food?”

Ghea stopped her hand from bringing food to her mouth. She put the spoon down for a moment and looked at Randy with a serious expression. Of course, she was curious about how her husband knew about her preferences.

“Why? Am I amazing to know your preferences?”

Right at that moment, Ghea sighed. Couldn’t her husband be a bit less annoying?

“I’m serious, Om.”

“I knew it from your dad. He told me anything related to you.”

Ghea thought Randy was genuinely using his instincts to guess. Turns out, he relied on information from her father.

Once finished, Ghea got ready to leave for her classes. But before she could go, Randy quickly stopped her.

“Wait,” Randy requested. A moment later, he took out his wallet from his pants pocket. He pulled out three red-colored banknotes and handed them to Ghea.

“Here, for snacks at campus.”

Ghea rolled her eyes. Seriously, was she being given pocket money like an elementary school kid?

“Three hundred thousand? So stingy, Om. I thought I’d get an ATM or a Credit Card like in those drama movies. Especially since I have a rich husband. Turns out, it’s like getting an allowance from Daddy to go to school.”

“Don’t watch too many dramas. Besides, that’s more than enough. Why would you need so much pocket money? Are you going to treat your friends at campus?”

“Come on, stingy Chinese guy,” Ghea muttered while accepting the money Randy handed her.

“Hey, fellow Chinese, no insults allowed. Besides, if I’m not stingy, how could I become rich?”

Randy, whose ears were apparently sensitive, heard clearly what Ghea said. He immediately retorted, making Ghea pout again.

“Alright. Off to your classes. The driver who will take you is already waiting.”

“I thought-”

“I’ll be the one taking you? As if. I’m busy, Ghe. Also, because of you, I’m late this morning. So, there’s no way I’m dropping you off.”

Ghea rotated her eyes in annoyance. Truly, even before anything happened, she felt that her marriage was so annoying. Who knows, what else she’ll feel in the future.