Bittersweet Arrangements : A Sugar Dady Affair

Like the previous night, tonight Elena is studying in the family room. However, tonight, not only is Vanessa, her Mommy, accompanying her, but Jeremy, her Daddy, is also there. The two parents chat while enjoying warm drinks and snacks. Occasionally, Elena glances at her two parents, who behave like teenagers on a date. It’s a very ordinary sight for Elena. In fact, if her parents were indifferent and silent towards each other, the atmosphere at home would be as quiet as a graveyard.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

They always appear affectionate, but that doesn’t mean they never argue. Occasionally, problems also accompany their marriage, providing new colors and feelings to their love bond. Strengthening the trust they have for each other. Elena acknowledges that, at almost 40 years old, her Mommy looks even more beautiful. Especially considering her Mommy’s slim and sexy figure that is hidden beneath the daily abaya she wears. Elena is sure that men out there would be enchanted by her Mommy’s charm. Until now, her Mommy still frequently models for Vanessa’s boutique’s modest fashion collection. Vanessa has her own brand and has recruited two talented designers who design clothes according to Vanessa’s requests, following the fashion trends each year. Sometimes, Elena also models for the teenage fashion line. Vanessa’s talent has indeed been passed down to Elena. However, Elena is not particularly interested in the fashion world. She prefers the world of vocal and instrumental music. In fact, Elena has mastered several musical instruments such as the piano, guitar, and drums. Elena’s melodious voice also inherited from Vanessa. Even now, Vanessa often enjoys karaoke with Elena when they are at home.

“Focus on your serious study, don’t peek at people who are in love!” Vanessa says when she catches Elena repeatedly glancing at her and her husband, who are joking around.

“How can I focus on studying? There’s a lovey-dovey couple in front of me!” Elena grumbles.

“Who’s being lovey-dovey, Honey? Mommy and Daddy are just having a conversation,” Vanessa replies, leaning on Jeremy’s shoulder.

“Come on, El, just focus on your study. Pretend we’re in an advertisement,” Jeremy adds casually while caressing Vanessa’s beautifully spread hair.

Elena’s lips twitch in frustration, then she changes her seating position to face away from her parents. Not forgetting to bring a jar of her favorite snacks. Elena tries to focus on the English problems with varying difficulty levels. Elena’s effort pays off as she completes her study. Instead of immediately returning to her room, Elena first wants to join the conversation with her two parents.

The doorbell rang loudly. Vanessa had just gotten up when Endah came in a hurry from behind.

“Let me open the door, ma’am,” Endah said respectfully.

“Thanks,” replied Vanessa, then she sat back down.

Simultaneously with the opening of the door, a familiar voice greeted them-a moment of silence as the three of them exchanged glances. Endah and the person engaged in a friendly conversation. Their steps drew closer, followed by another round of greetings.

“Eki!” Elena exclaimed, surprised by her brother’s sudden arrival. They had just exchanged messages yesterday, and he had mentioned planning to visit on the weekend. But today was only Monday, and he was already here.

Elena got up and hugged her brother tightly. “I missed you so much, Bang,” she said playfully.

“Here we go again!” Vanessa teased, observing her daughter’s playful behavior.

“Let me say hi to Daddy and Mommy first,” Rizky whispered, affectionately patting Elena’s head.

After saying that, Rizky released his embrace from Elena and approached Vanessa and Jeremy, who were still in their seats. They rose to warmly welcome their adopted son. Since Rizky was 2 years old, Jeremy had treated him as his own son. Although Jeremy and Bagas, Rizky’s biological father, had initially been enemies due to their competition for Nidya’s love, Rizky’s biological mother, they had become friends like brothers.

Rizky hugged Jeremy for quite a while, like a child who had longed for his father.

“Don’t you miss Mommy? Why is it only Daddy getting hugged? Mommy misses you too,” Vanessa protested, successfully separating Rizky from Jeremy.

“Of course, I miss the sexiest woman in the world,” Rizky chuckled, then hugged Vanessa tightly. Compared to his mother, Vanessa, he was noticeably taller and larger than Nidya, who was engulfed in his embrace.

“What did you say earlier? Sexy?” Jeremy protested Rizky’s compliment to his wife.

“Come on, Dad, Mommy’s beauty isn’t just for Daddy to enjoy. Eki, Ivand, and Viero too,” Rizky replied with a laugh. Rizky found it amusing that, at his age, Daddy’s possessive nature hadn’t faded.

“While waiting for Endah to prepare your room, let’s sit and chat first,” Vanessa intervened before a heated debate between the two men could erupt.

They chatted for about 30 minutes until the sleepy Elena excused herself to go to bed. Since it was already late, Jeremy ordered Rizky to rest in the room on the third floor, next to the rooms of Jeremy and Vanessa’s biological children. After the long journey from Surabaya to Yogyakarta, Rizky certainly needed some rest. Especially since he chose to travel by land, taking a train, which would take a considerable amount of time compared to flying. Rizky agreed and went to get the backpack he had left in an arbitrary place.

***

The next morning, Rizky woke up early. After the dawn prayer, he didn’t immediately go downstairs. He wanted to relax in his room first and greet the love of his life through WhatsApp chat. Someone who was one of the reasons he always missed Yogyakarta. A city full of memories with family and his parents’ second best friends. In Yogyakarta, he first met and fell in love with her. Although their encounters were always filled with arguments, Rizky had liked her since childhood. Somehow, Rizky never understood why it wasn’t the beautiful and sexy girls around him who made him fall in love, but the cold, sassy, and tomboyish girl named Nafla. She had captured his heart, monopolizing all his attention. The girl who always rejected him with harsh words. The girl who never gave him a sweet smile.

Nafla is the only unique girl Rizky has ever met. And one of the goals of Rizky’s arrival now is to conquer the girl to become his girlfriend. Like it or not, Rizky has to get that girl. It doesn’t matter whether Nafla loves him or not. What is certain is that Rizky must have it. Nafla has been his obsession since he was a teenager. And now the teenage years have passed. Nafla will only be his. Not another man.