Bittersweet Arrangements : A Sugar Dady Affair

Slowly but surely Devan stepped forward while holding a bouquet of fresh red roses in his hand. Follow dozens of mounds of land neatly lined up. Not a few of them are covered with green grass which grows abundantly there. As a sign that their families no longer care. Already considered them just a memory. Forgetting their presence, which of course has contributed greatly to today’s life.

The closer he got to his destination, the faster Devan’s heart beat. Even though he has set foot there countless times. But the beat is still the same. It never changes one bit even though time continues to erode the remaining memories. That beautiful face never faded in his memory. Even with a smile that continues to trap him in eternal sadness. The feeling of loss has dashed all his hopes and dreams.

Devan’s footsteps stopped right next to a mound of red clay that looked wet, the cry of the sky yesterday afternoon had made the final resting place of his beloved wife look new. It was as if just yesterday the funeral had ended. Devan slowly squatted down and stroked the tombstone that said GITA LESTARI in front of him.

“Hi darling,” said Devan with a smile as he put down the bouquet of red roses he was carrying. Imagine Gita receiving the flowers with a look full of love. Like before when they were still together.

“How are you over there? Do you miss me too?” Devan continued, his eyes starting to well up. His jaw tightened to hold back the rumble that began to dominate his chest cavity. The tightness felt pressed, making it difficult for him to even breathe.

Devan took a long breath, holding it momentarily in his chest to calm his heart that was starting to revolt. His noble eyes seemed to fog up, and not long after, crystal droplets freely rolled down his cheeks.

This morning was so bright. The sunlight openly peeked through the leaves of the frangipani flowers that grew lush there. The pungent aroma served as evidence that this place was the final dwelling for all creatures on the face of the earth. The various birds chirped in harmony above the branches of large trees surrounding the cemetery, creating a melodious tune that accompanied.

At this moment, nature witnessed the vulnerability of a man who had lost one of his wings. Besides the mound of red clay, Devan sobbed, freeing all the burdens in his heart through soft, painful cries. Heart-wrenching for anyone who heard it.

“Look at me! I’m fragile without you. I’ve lost my way because of you, Gita,” Devan expressed amidst the sobs.

Devan bowed his head, hiding his face between his hands. His body trembled violently to release all the burdens in his heart. Unbeknownst to Devan, someone from a distance was watching him with a compassionate gaze. A middle-aged man who had always been the silent witness to Devan’s presence in the public cemetery he had guarded for more than 5 years.

Devan’s presence in the public cemetery was something interesting for him. For 5 years, being the cemetery caretaker, Devan was the most frequent visitor. Devan regularly came every Thursday or Friday. A bouquet of roses was always brought along. Before Devan recited the prayer, the middle-aged man also saw how Devan spoke to himself with tears. Then, with his own hands, he picked up the leaves on the cemetery that he always visited. Also, withering or dried roses as evidence of his presence.

After feeling relieved, Devan raised his face, wiping his wet cheeks. Again, Devan held the gravestone in front of him and spoke, “Darling, forgive me for being unfaithful. I never intended to betray your love even a bit. But do you know? I’m starting to develop feelings for Elena, your beautiful niece.”

“I know this is a big mistake. You must also know about Bang Dev’s attitude toward Elena. You must also know that I’m facing a big problem. But for some reason, there’s not a single trace of fear in my heart,” Devan monologued, ignoring the gaze of the cemetery visitor who had just arrived.

A faint smile appeared on Devan’s lips when he realized how absurd he was for falling in love with an unstable girl like Elena. The girl was already like his own niece, both for him and Gita.

“Gita, please forgive me. Believe that you will remain a queen in my heart. Believe that my love for you will never change until this moment. Allow me to share a little of it with Elena,” Devan pleaded with all his heart.

His feelings for Elena were still uncertain, but the desire to have that girl was very strong. Devan didn’t know what the future held. No matter how difficult the obstacles that would come, Devan was determined to fight for his love, just as he did when fighting for Gita in the past.

“If you were still here with me, surely I wouldn’t be as crazy as this, Gita.”

***

“El, tell me how your Daddy and Mommy reacted when they found out you were coming home with that cool widower Uncle?” Todong Melodi was breathing heavily after running towards where Elena and Citra were currently located.

Grade 12 students and students entered school today to find out about the graduation announcement. The day they had been waiting for for three years of school. This graduation will be the spearhead of their future. As a determinant of continuing higher education according to their interests and talents. Leaving behind a white and gray colored mass. Good or bad experiences during adolescence will become memories that will never be forgotten for all of them. This is where it all just started. They will live a new life as students with greater responsibilities of course.

“Can you stop your mouth!” Elena protested while covering Melodi’s lips which successfully made the three of them the center of attention of the class.

Currently, they are waiting for the arrival of the homeroom teacher whose job is to announce graduation to their students. They all couldn’t wait to hear the good news with an uneasy feeling. Nervous. But that doesn’t apply to Melodi, the girl is actually more curious about Elena’s unique love story.

“Sorry, I was curious anyway. You cheated too, El. Only Citra knows. I don’t,” Melodi defended after managing to get rid of Elena’s hand that was covering her lips.

“It’s hard to talk to an intelligent person like Albert Einstein like you, Mel,” said Citra mockingly. Last night, Citra had told Melodi all about the relationship between Elena and the handsome widower named Devan over the telephone.

“Come on, Citra, no need to make fun of me. I want to hear the story directly from Elena,” Melodi annoyed, then immediately sat down next to Elena with such force that Citra had to shift her body.

“Wait a minute, what do you actually want to hear from me?” By showing an innocent facial expression, Elena asked her two friends a question.

“Uncle is a widower, Elena!” Melodi said, getting annoyed. His two friends always played with his feelings. Melodi admits that she often misinterprets or is even less sensitive to what her two friends often talk about. Often he is too engrossed in reading online novels that he really likes. There are lots of online reading applications that provide interesting reading from various genres. If Citra likes romance genre stories that tell the story of teenage love, in general Melodi tends to like fantasy stories, action and trailers which of course still have a 20-30% romance presentation. Elena is different again. The girl loves the world of music and singing. Elena also chooses to read more interested in the world of art and culture.

“You want to know which one?” Elena asked with an amused smile.

“When the widower uncle picked me up at Citra’s house?” continued Elena, deliberately teasing Melodi, who looked impatient.

“No, I already knew that. I wanted to know what you were doing in Uncle Duda’s office at that time?” Melody’s question hits the mark. Even though Elena herself wanted to get rid of the memory of this thrilling event. Elena wanted to keep the secret to herself. An act that he thought was very embarrassing to tell other people.

The orange color suddenly appeared on Elena’s beautiful face. And this change did not escape the attention of his two friends.

“Honestly? Did Uncle Duda try…” said Citra, deliberately hanging up her sentence so that other people wouldn’t hear it.

Now it’s not Melodi who is attacked by curiosity but Citra too. Last night Elena only said that Uncle Devan wanted to propose to her after graduating from high school.

Elena immediately became embarrassed when she received the searching gazes and attacks of questions from her two friends. If she was cornered like this, how could Elena dodge it again? Moreover, Elena is not good at lying in front of anyone.

“Mmmm…” Elena could only mumble while scratching her head which didn’t itch. In her mind, Elena was looking for the right excuse so that her two friends wouldn’t find out what she and Devan did yesterday. Don’t ask what the look on Elena’s face is, which is hiding embarrassment and confusion right now.

“What….?” Citra muttered again while placing her index finger on the corner of her lips.

Elena was increasingly confused by Citra’s question which sounded ambiguous. A question that Elena actually understands where the answer leads to.

“Good morning all children!” Greet Mr. Usman, Elena’s homeroom teacher.

“Good morning!” answered all the boys and girls while returning to their respective seats immediately.

“Thank God,” echoed Elena’s heart, feeling relieved because she was able to escape the barrage of questions from her two friends. Mr. Usman’s arrival was his salvation this time.

***

Elsewhere, Devan, who had just arrived at the workshop, was surprised by the presence of someone he had not seen for a long time. The man was seen joking with Lucky.

“When did you come? Why didn’t you tell me?” said Devan while giving a warm hug to the only sibling he had.

“About 2 hours ago. You must have come from Mbak Gita’s grave, right?” answered the 30 year old man who until now was still single.

“Let’s go into my room first!” said Devan breaking his hug. Then they walked hand in hand towards Devan’s office.

“You came alone?” Devan asked again as he took two bottles of cold drinks from the refrigerator.

Devan placed one bottle in front of Dion who was scanning all corners of Devan’s new room then opened the lid of the other bottle for himself.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“No, I’m coming with Papa Mama, if they don’t make a fuss just ask me to come here, how can I be here now!” Dion replied and opened his drink.

“Then Mama and Papa are at home now? Why didn’t you tell me the news first!” Devan said, feeling surprised by the presence of his family.

Devan suddenly felt uncomfortable. His heart gave a bad signal with the sudden arrival of his family. Without notification as usual.

“At your house. I told them to rest first,” Dion replied after sipping his drink until there was nothing left.

“Well, let’s just go home. I miss them.” Devan quickly stood up and was followed by Dion.

Devan asked Dion to leave his car at the repair shop. Then ordered Lufti to deliver it to his house later after the workshop closed. Finally they went home using Devan’s car. Along the way they discussed many things. Starting from Dion’s job, who has now been promoted to manager at one of the well-known hotels in Jakarta, to Dion’s personal affairs.

“You came to say that you want to get married, right?” Devan guessed which unfortunately was wrong.

“No! In fact, I came here to look for a partner. I’m bored with the model girls there. Nothing’s right,” explained Dion casually. “But that’s not the real goal. I just obeyed Mama and Papa when they came here. I just wanted to swim while drinking milk hahaha, maybe when I was here I met my soul mate,” continued Dion with a loud laugh and then said again, “but I’m sure they’ll come up with a plan you won’t like.”

“Come on, you don’t need to be stupid. Instead of taking care of my already perfect life, why don’t you just take care of a rotten bachelor like you,” said Devan sarcastically.

Instead of being offended by his brother’s insulting words, Dion laughed loudly again. Dion doesn’t care about his parents’ pressure to immediately build a family life. Their nagging only became a passing wind. Dion has no intention of getting married in the near future. According to him, a 30 year old man like himself is still young. There are still lots of fun things he’s never tried. For women’s matters, Dion has had countless short relationships. None of the women have yet succeeded in melting his frozen heart.

When Dion looked to the side, Dion accidentally saw a beautiful girl sitting in the driver’s seat with her friend. The girl in the white uniform was seen joking with her friend beside her. Dion’s thick pair of eyebrows arched sharply, trying to remember the girl’s familiar face. Dion had just opened the car window intending to confirm who the girl was when the red light turned on. But the car his brother was driving had already taken off first.

“What are you looking at? Don’t tell me your wandering eyes found a new target?” Devan teased without diverting his attention from the asphalt road ahead.

“Why do I have to have a sarcastic brother like you?” Dion retorted with annoyance. “Oh, but if I meet that girl again, I might bring her back to Jakarta,” Dion continued, hoping to encounter the girl he had just seen.