LOVE YOU, UNCLE

“Ran, please, if you want to share, don’t take too long. Veronica has asked not to come home late today.”

Just arriving at the coffee shop, Darwin wasted no time in issuing an ultimatum. Rather than facing Veronica ‘s anger, he preferred to inform Randy right from the start not to waste time in this evening meeting.

It wasn’t clear what Randy wanted to discuss. What was certain was that he invited his two cousins to gather briefly at a coffee shop to talk about something.

“What do you want to talk about, anyway?”

This time Kennedy spoke up. After ordering drinks, Darwin looked serious as he stared at Randy, waiting intently for what his cousin wanted to discuss.

“Can you two please stop with the protests? In the past, whenever you asked me to gather, I never complained like this,” Randy exclaimed in frustration. Even if his two cousins needed someone to confide in and asked him to come, without much thought, he would immediately approach. Why now, when it’s his turn to need them, Darwin and Kennedy were both protesting?

“Do you two really not understand the concept of mutual symbiosis? Always wanting to win alone.”

Kennedy laughed. Instead of feeling guilty, she felt amused by the scolding Randy just delivered to her and Darwin.

“It’s clearly different. Back then, you didn’t protest, and no one got angry because you were still single. Now we both have wives waiting at home. Plus, you’re already married to Ghea. It’s not good to come home late.”

“Enough… enough… just get to the point. What is this about?” Darwin interrupted impatiently. He didn’t care whether Randy would get angry or annoyed.

Meanwhile, Randy sighed. His mood was almost ruined because his two cousins couldn’t cooperate. But, because he needed someone to talk to, he suppressed his frustration for now.

“It’s about Ghea and my marriage. Her brother even came to meet me in person earlier.”

“Who?” Darwin asked curiously.

“Mario Antolin Denovan. Ghea’s brother. He came specifically to emphasize that I shouldn’t do anything untoward to his sister.”

“And then?” Kennedy asked, also curious.

“Then, we’ll see, Ken.”

“Seriously, Ran. Hurry up and tell. Don’t be so long-winded.”

Randy wanted to protest, but Kennedy quickly extended her hand, then handed an orange juice to Randy so that he would drink it before continuing the story.

“Well, he asked me to be a responsible man. Reliable, caring, and also to protect her well. He also emphasized that because this marriage is based on an arrangement, if in the future there’s no love growing and you start to get bored, it’s best to return Ghea to her parents’ home amicably.”

Darwin and Kennedy both nodded, understanding what Randy had just conveyed.

“And how about you and Ghea and your marriage?” Darwin inquired. As a graduate of arranged marriage, he simply wanted to hear about his cousin’s vision and mission for the future.

“I’ve said it before, even though it’s an arranged marriage, I am serious about this marriage. I even hope there won’t be any divorce in the future. But, the problem is, Ghea is really annoying. From the beginning, she seemed completely uninterested in me. How can we learn to love each other if she’s like that?”

“If Ghea doesn’t reciprocate your love, try sending it again, Ran. Maybe the first one was pending.”

Randy and Darwin both stared at Kennedy, then simultaneously sighed. Just when someone was serious, she joked.

“It’s still early, Ran. Take it slow with your efforts. It took Verona and me months to finally open our hearts to each other. Nothing is instant anywhere.”

“True,” added Kennedy. “Even instant noodles take a process. Let alone matters of the heart.”

Randy nodded in agreement. Besides, what Darwin said surprisingly made sense this time. Their marriage and Ghea’s had only been going on for a few days. There was still plenty of time for them to get to know each other.

“But, before something unwanted happens, I think I should buy some anti-scratch first.”

Darwin’s brow furrowed.

“Anti-scratch? What’s that for?”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“For my heart, so it won’t easily get hurt.”

“Damn!” Darwin intentionally cursed. Already serious, his cousin responded with a joke.

“But, really, Win. Ghea’s words are sharp. Every day there’s some magical words from her mouth that I can’t respond to. Not to mention, this morning when I gave her the monthly allowance, she thought I was doing witchcraft.”

“Huh?” Kennedy and Darwin both stared in disbelief.

“Yes. She said I made her a sacrifice for witchcraft because I deliberately gave her a lot of money. Imagine that, how can her mind be so random. Kids these days, really.”

“But you chose her, right?”

Randy nodded. Even when choosing Ghea, he was 100% aware and had thought about what the future would be like. However, what he had thought turned out to be different from the reality.

“I was sure when I chose her as my future wife. But, I just didn’t expect her behavior to be so strange.”

Kennedy nodded. Taking out her phone from her pocket to open the front camera feature, she then handed it to Randy while saying, “Isn’t a match a reflection of oneself? Take a look.”

This time Randy wanted to curse. He knew he would be bullied, yet for some reason, he enjoyed telling stories to his two cousins.

“Take it slow, Ran, conquer Ghea. Also, try to slowly get her attention. It’s too early to complain. Too cowardly. Besides, once you click with each other, it will be nice in the future,” Darwin suggested seriously. It was unusual for him to give advice that wasn’t casual as usual. “Remember, every rain will eventually bring a rainbow. It must be bitter at first, but believe me, the ending will be sweet.”

“Better if a rainbow appears, Win. What if lightning appears at the end?”

Darwin looked annoyed and immediately gave a small punch to Kennedy’s arm. He had given serious advice, and his cousin was so happy to respond with irrelevant words.

“Enough, I consider this meeting finished and found a solution. Less or more, let’s go,” Darwin said, then rose from his seat. It was clear that he was in a hurry to go home.

Since there was nothing more to discuss, Randy ended the meeting between the cousins and chose to go home as well.

Arriving home, Ghea, who had just returned from college, was seen. Walking ahead, she quickly headed to the room, followed shortly by Randy.

After putting down bags and other belongings, Ghea quickly grabbed a bathrobe. Apparently, she felt hot and intended to clean herself immediately.

Randy felt the same way. Because the weather today was very hot and exhausting, he thought of taking a shower and soaking for a while to relax his muscles.

“Ghea, I’ll take a shower first. My body is sticky,” Randy politely requested when he saw Ghea about to step into the bathroom.

Ghea stopped in her tracks. She turned and responded to Randy’s words.

“I’m hot too, Om. Besides, you take a very long time to shower. So, it’s better if I go first. After that, it’s up to you whether you want to sleep in the bathroom; it’s not a problem.”

“No, I want to go first.”

“I’ll go first. If you forget, I’ll be in this room first,” Ghea debated, not wanting to lose.

“Okay, then let’s shower together. I don’t mind at all. I’m even happy.”

“Just kidding! It’s a benefit for you, a loss for me,” Ghea grumbled, annoyed.

“We’re not selling anything. Why talk about profit and loss? Besides, you don’t need to worry. I’ll make sure both of us will enjoy it.”

Randy smiled meaningfully. He enjoyed teasing Ghea, who was now embarrassed herself.

“No, anyway, I’ll go first, period!”

“Okay, let’s play ‘pingsut.’ Whoever wins goes first in the shower.”

“Okay!”

Ghea approached Randy, preparing to play rock-paper-scissors with her husband. In the count of three when their hands were dropped, unexpectedly Randy won the game.

“Yes! You lost,” Randy exclaimed in joy when he managed to defeat Ghea.

“Sly. Repeat it.”

“I don’t want to. I already won for real. Okay, I’ll go first. Seriously, I won’t take long,” Randy reassured.

However, instead of responding, Ghea did something unexpected. The girl, with her cunning, ran towards the bathroom, then immediately locked the door.

“Ghea. You’re really sly!” Randy protested, knocking on the door. But the girl inside seemed not to care and continued to ignore his complaints.

Irritated by Ghea’s behavior, Randy thought of something. Mischievously, he deliberately turned off the bathroom light until shortly after, a scream was heard from inside.

“Om! The light is off.”

“Let it be. You’re so sly.”

“Om, please turn it on.”

“I don’t feel like it. Just let you shower in the dark in there.”

Ghea’s faint pleas could be heard. Irritated, Randy deliberately ignored her and chose to sit and wait on the bed.

Five minutes passed, and there was no sign that Ghea had finished her bathing ritual. Randy glanced briefly, then soon got up and knocked on the bathroom door while calling his wife.

“Ghe… are you done yet?”

Silence, with no response at all. Initially, Randy thought Ghea was intentionally silent because she was angry with him.

For a moment, he let it go. Until one minute passed, there was still no sound from inside. Even the sound of water splashing was not heard at all.

Believing that something was wrong, Randy immediately turned on the light. Trying to open it, and finally, he had no choice but to break down the bathroom door.

As soon as the door was opened, Randy was shocked. There was a limp figure of Ghea in a state of undress.