Love Redux: Fated to the Handsome Doctor

Lara’s head felt dizzy. It seemed like she needed to rest.

“Ma’am, do you want to take a nap?” Melati asked while hanging clothes.

“Yes, Melati. My head hurts,” Lara replied, frowning.

“Ma’am, do you want some warm tea? Shall I make it for you?”

“No need. I just want to sleep.”

Melati nodded and then returned to her work. Lara headed towards the bedroom, wanting to rest immediately. However, suddenly the front door opened.

“Seno?” she said.

“Hm.”

Seno only took off his shoes and then walked in as usual. Lara didn’t want to cause a scene, especially with Melati behind her.

“Welcome home, Sir,” Melati said, hurriedly putting down her laundry basket. She then quickly walked towards Seno and took his work bag.

“Usually, it’s the wife who welcomes her husband like this, not the maid,” he quipped, then glanced sarcastically at Lara.

“What?” Lara was even surprised by his unusually brusque attitude. What was wrong with him?

“Never mind, tired.”

Seno then messed up his hair and walked away to the second floor. “I’ll sleep upstairs,” he said. Lara got even more annoyed. What was he thinking? Why did it seem like she was the one at fault? This couldn’t be allowed.

***

“Seno. I need to talk.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

After letting him shower and clean up, Lara went upstairs and wanted to address all her concerns. Her headache suddenly disappeared, replaced by a pain in her heart. She had to find out why Seno was behaving like this.

“Close the door!” he snapped, pointing towards her.

She complied, not because she was afraid, but because she didn’t want Melati to hear their argument. She felt embarrassed.

“Why are you like this, Seno? Where have you been these past five days? Why does it seem like I’m the one at fault? Have you no self-awareness?” she snapped without backing down.

Seno only smirked sarcastically and glanced at her briefly. “What’s it to you?”

The same response as when she called him, repeated. She wouldn’t give domestic excuses because she was his wife. “At least, a civilized person has manners.”

“Manners? Look at yourself!”

“Is this still about Andre? We were just sorting out Bi Yani’s problem. Why do you think I’m having an affair?”

“Then what do you call a married woman spending the night with another man if not cheating? You embarrass and anger me, Lara!”

“Seno! Are you not… with Olivia? Acting so sanctimonious!” She tried to hold back her almost emerging tears. She must not appear weak.

“Olivia? Hah! No! I’m working, Lara! Do you think… I’ve been having an affair for these five days?” Seno stared at her sharply. She fell silent.

“Then, what are these photos?” Lara threw the naked photos of them both. Seno picked up the two large-sized photos from the floor, his face turning red. For a moment, he didn’t say anything, just sighed heavily.

Seconds later, Seno sat at the edge of the bed, massaging his temples.

“T-this… these are old photos.”

Lara turned away, wiping the tears that couldn’t be held back. Seno started to lower his voice and began speaking normally. “Sorry,” he said.

Lara fell silent. But, she finally started to look at him properly. “So, what have you been doing out there? Sleeping with Olivia?” she asked sarcastically. She knew Seno was trying to hide something from her.

“I was on a business trip out of town. There’s a new research project. So… I had to be in the lab all the time,” he said, starting to approach her. This time, she could feel his hand around her waist, and his head leaning against her neck.

“Don’t be mad, okay? I didn’t sleep with Olivia,” he continued, turning her body to face him.

His heavy breath blew in front of her. It grew warmer, and then, his slightly moist lips began to explore hers. She wanted to resist, but he kept pulling her closer.

“Mmhh ….”

Seno kissed her lips quickly. It was hard for her to breathe. Seconds later, he started pulling her towards the bed and laid her down slowly. One by one, her clothes were taken off, and… the man began to assert his rights as a husband who had just returned from a business trip.

“My wife is so beautiful.”

After that, she was swept away by Seno’s advances that she couldn’t resist. She enjoyed every touch of his masculinity inside her, although… she felt something strange with the level of aggression that usually occurred within her.

“Are you… tired?” she asked when Seno continued to try to penetrate her.

“Hm… yeah, seems so,” he said softly, holding back embarrassment.

“Why isn’t it getting hard?” she asked again, but Seno just shook his head in response.

“Sorry, maybe we can continue tomorrow.”

She nodded then put her clothes back on. She felt uncomfortable and embarrassed. Why wasn’t Seno reacting to her?

“I want to sleep. Please turn off the lights.”

She moved away from Seno’s bed and did as asked. When she turned off the lights, she heard a familiar sobbing. His voice was very soft.

“Seno is crying?”

***

After the failed struggle with Seno just now, the pain in Lara’s head suddenly disappeared, and the pain in her heart was the same. It seemed that married people were indeed blessed with the ability to alleviate pain and fatigue by being with their partners.

That evening, Lara chose to take care of her garden and flowers as usual, while asking Melati to make her some warm tea.

“Ma’am likes flowers, huh?”

“Yes. Flowers are very beautiful. I admire them. As a distraction, Melati,” she replied with a smile.

“It seems Ma’am’s mood is getting better. Thank goodness,” Melati said, looking meaningfully at her. Lara understood, she might be worried about Seno’s treatment towards her earlier.

“Yes. Seno and I just had a slight argument. Just… husband and wife,” Lara said, not wanting Melati to know more about her marital problems. She didn’t like others interfering in her affairs.

“Is that so, husband and wife….”

Lara turned to Melati. Was she asking or confirming? “Does Melati already have a husband?” she asked, curious. From her behavior, it seemed like Melati wanted to confirm something. Could it be… a repeat of what happened with Bi Yani?

“E-eh? No, Ma’am. I’m not married yet,” she replied nervously, waving her hands as if rejecting a sudden idea.

Lara laughed. She was so cute.

“Is Melati in love?” Lara guessed, pretending to know everything. She just wanted to tease her.

Melati bowed her head, not answering. It seemed like Lara’s guess hit the mark. “Who?”

“E-eh? No, Ma’am. There’s no one,” she insisted on keeping it a secret. Lara became more convinced that there was someone she liked.

“Is he handsome?” Lara teased again with successive attacks. Melati sighed. This time, it seemed she couldn’t deny it anymore.

“He’s slightly handsome, Ma’am. But ….”

“But?”

“He’s still in college. It seems like marriage isn’t on his mind yet,” she said hesitantly.

Lara fell silent. It turned out, Melati did have a strong desire to get married. “How do you feel about him? Are you strong enough to wait?”

“Well, that’s it, Ma’am. It seems like I’m the only one confused about my fate. My parents forbid me to marry early, my boyfriend doesn’t like the idea either. But… I feel like I want to start a family soon and have cute children.”

Her previously bright face suddenly turned gloomy. Lara could understand the young woman’s instincts within Melati. But what could be done? The woman in front of her might become one of the backbones of the family. Marriage would only hinder her pursuit of livelihood.

“Follow your heart, Mela. You surely know… what’s best for you.”

Melati looked at Lara with a tearful gaze. A few drops of tears began to fall from her cheeks. Lara had never seen her cry like this before.

“Thank you, Ma’am. Hopefully… you can advise yourself like that too,” she said without intending to criticize. Melati’s words, tone, and manner of speaking were very innocent, as if there were no hidden intentions.

Lara wasn’t offended at all by her words. Instead of being offended, she began to reconsider… if the path she chose was indeed the right one?