Bittersweet Arrangements : A Sugar Dady Affair

A smile continued to appear on Elena’s lips all the way home. It felt like Elena was almost going crazy with her own feelings. Even though she was aware that Devan couldn’t possibly realize her feelings, Elena felt very happy because today she could spend time alone with this man.

Fortunately, Elena was still sane enough not to convey what was in her heart when she hugged Devan.

“Why can I be like this huh!” Elena hissed as she touched her chest which was pounding again just thinking about Devan’s handsome face.

Elena immediately shook her head to get rid of the image of Devan’s face. Even though this sounds impossible. How could Elena be able to forget Devan when her heart so longed for the man to accept her love.

“El is aware that Uncle Devan is the same age as Mommy! Uncle Devan only thinks of you like his own daughter. So don’t fantasize anymore!” Elena’s careful warning succeeded in making her realize that the feelings she had for Devan were too excessive and wrong.

“El has chased Uncle Devan until he surrendered to you. Love knows no time or age,” said Elena’s other heart. Provides full support for Elena’s actions.

“Don’t cause trouble El!” The other heart was still trying to warn Elena not to create big problems in her family. Especially the friendly relationship between Devan and his parents.

“Falling in love is not a mistake, everyone has the right to fall in love with anyone,” Elena’s ego remained pure and tried to shake her stance.

“Stopped!” Annoyed, Elena broke up the fight that was happening within her. Sometimes they fight just because of Devan, making the owner of their heart feel uncertain.

Without realizing it, Elena’s car had stopped in front of her magnificent house. After the gate opened, Elena immediately started her car again. Elena subconsciously ignored the greeting of the security guard who had opened the gate for her. Elena was busy herself trying to calm her heart which was still arguing. Elena was confused because what both sides of her heart said were both true.

Elena remained silent for a moment in her car when she realized that her parents’ car was parked neatly in the garage. Elena’s wrist rose, indicating that time had clearly passed. Her pair of hazel irises suddenly rounded when the clock on her wrist showed half past 5 even though Elena usually came home late at half past 4 in the afternoon. Elena’s brain suddenly worked normally again, thoughts about Devan disappeared instantly as if swept away by a strong wind. In her mind, Elena is now starting to look for the right reason if her Daddy asks. Don’t let Elena say the wrong thing and end up in big trouble.

In her heart, Elena read the prophet’s blessings and then got out of the car which she had deliberately parked in front of the garage. Elena hurriedly walked up the steps to the terrace of the house. He pushed open the big door in front of him slowly while saying hello. There was no response from inside, suddenly making Elena feel relieved. That means he’s safe. Elena increased the speed of her footsteps towards the third floor where her room was. However, his steps spontaneously slowed when he heard laughter coming from the living room.

“Just home darling?” Her father’s voice from behind succeeded in making Elena’s heart beat fast. Even his body froze instantly.

Swallowing saliva with difficulty was all Elena could do now. Then he closed his eyes for a moment before turning around to give an answer.

“Yes, Dad, El was playing at Citra’s house first,” Elena lied with a big smile.

“Yes, Daddy knows,” said Jeremy, making his heart jump even more. Even a pale color began to appear on Elena’s white face at this time. “Earlier, Daddy called El but his cell phone wasn’t active, then Daddy called Melodi and said El was at Citra’s house,” continued Jeremy, successfully relieving the tightness in Elena’s chest. Elena exhaled roughly then smiled broadly. Luck was on his side this time. Luckily his two friends understood and were smart.

Earlier, Elena said she would go to meet the boy she was targeting. As friends, they of course gave him full support. However, Elena never thought that the two of them would be able to agree on the answer she had given to Jeremy, her father.

“Dad slowed down El’s cell phone earlier.” Elena lied again. It’s true what the adults say. Don’t ever dare to lie because if you do it once you will continue lying to cover up the previous lie. Like what Elena has done now. Elena didn’t realize that what she had done would make her regret it one day.

“Go take a shower first, Kia and Nafla have been waiting for a long time,” said Jeremy, which Elena immediately obeyed.

Before going up to her room, Elena took the time to greet her two cousins first.

***

Three days later….

Erick was playing a game on his cellphone when the doorbell rang. Sunday is his favorite day because he gets the freedom to play games as much as he wants. Even though Erick has the freedom to hold his cellphone, he always obeys every prohibition given by Devan. For him Devan is everything. Erick never once wanted to anger the only parent he had. Sometimes Erick thinks, why is his father so comfortable being a widower even though there are many beautiful and kind women who are still single or widows who want to marry his father. But his father remained loyal to his mother, who had long died.

To be honest, Erick wanted his father to remarry so that the man’s life wouldn’t be monotonous just taking care of himself and the workshop. Erick wants to experience having a mother like his friends. Erick wants someone to take care of his father and his daily needs. Enjoy delicious cooking from a mother’s hands. During this time, Vanessa and Mommy Elena really loved her. But of course it would be different if he actually had a mother.

“Just let Erick open the door,” said Erick when he saw Dona walking unsteadily from the kitchen. Dona nodded then returned to the kitchen to continue her work.

“Good morning,” said the beautiful woman in front of Erick.

“Morning,” replied Erick, observing the beautiful woman’s appearance in detail.

With long white trousers combined with a matching tunic with a striped pattern, the woman looked elegant. Her long, shiny hair was left flowing beautifully, hanging down her back. The make-up on her face is so natural. Everything fits perfectly in Erick’s eyes.

“You must be Erick, right?” said the beautiful woman, making Erick confused. Just met once. This second. Then how could the woman already know him?

Seeing Erick who was confused, the woman introduced herself. “Let me introduce myself, Dinda, I’m your father’s college friend.” Dinda gave a gentle smile while looking at Erick’s face, which was very similar to Devan. The only difference is in the hair. If Erick has straight hair, Devan is the opposite. Devan has full curly hair. In fact, as far as Dinda remembers, Devan’s hair always had a crew cut.

In the past, Devan only studied until the 4th semester, the man just disappeared without a trace. Dinda, who had always had a crush on him, felt disappointed when Devan disappeared. Moreover, at that time Dinda thought that Devan was dating Vanessa. However, Dinda’s suspicions were wrong, Vanessa actually married another man. Likewise with Devan who actually married Vanessa’s manager. Then, after realizing that she had no hope of winning the heart of the man she loved, Dinda chose to continue her master’s education in Bandung and then stayed there because after graduating she got married. However, his marriage was destroyed because of the presence of a third person. Exactly 3 years ago, Dinda officially held the status of widow and single parent of a daughter who is almost the same age as Erick.

After the divorce certificate was issued, Dinda returned to Yogyakarta with her puppet daughter in order to heal the wounds in her heart and at the same time be able to reunite with her extended family. Two weeks ago, Dinda accidentally met Devan at a bank. They talked about many things. About the busyness they are currently living. Dinda feels that there has been no change in Devan’s friendly and pleasant personality as before. The man now looks much more mature and attractive. Dinda remembered that Devan’s body used to have several tattoos. The most striking ones are on the neck and arms. But now the two parts of the body are clean.

“Papa are you home?” Dinda’s words succeeded in making Erick surprised.

“There’s Auntie. Papa is behind now,” replied Erick stammeringly then immediately said yes

Dinda to come in.

While Erick was leaving, Dinda looked around all corners of the room. Then he moved towards the stacking shelves and saw the framed photos neatly arranged there. The objects in the frame are filled with photos of Devan’s small family who look happy. In the picture alone, Dinda can see the glow of love in Devan’s eyes for his wife. Dinda grabbed a frame, looked closely at the face of the woman wearing the hijab who was always by Devan’s side. Indeed, the late Gita was a lucky woman because she had the opportunity to be sincerely loved by a man like Devan. The love he never had.

From Devan’s story when they met several times, Dinda was very sure that the woman wearing the hijab had an eternal reign in the man’s heart. All this is proven by his widower status for more than 10 years. Dinda chuckled in amazement while rubbing the photo of Gita smiling broadly. That girl is very simple. However, her beauty still clearly shines through in this old photo.

“Sorry for waiting so long Din.” Without Dinda realizing it, Devan was already there. Dinda immediately returned the photo frame to its original position. Then smiled and greeted Devan.

“No, I just came,” replied Dinda smiling. “Sorry I came without giving you news,” said Dinda as she walked towards the sofa where she had been sitting.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“Please sit down!” Devan invited Dinda. “There’s no need to apologize Din. Every Sunday like this I’m mostly at home to accompany Erick and check on my pet fish,” replied Devan with a chuckle.

For a few seconds, Dinda stared at Devan, who looked relaxed. The man only wore shorts combined with a T-shirt. But in Dinda Devan’s eyes it actually looked even more attractive.

Not far away, Erick overheard behind the wall between the living room and family room. He deliberately wanted to know how close his father and the woman named Dinda were. It wasn’t long before a smile spread across Erick’s lips when an idea just crossed his mind.

“Time for action!”