Choosing to be happily single seems to be a disgrace for Wendy Aurelia's family. At the age of 31, Wendy was forced to marry to silence her extended family's scorn and comply with her mother's request. So she invited Bimo Hartawan, who had just left his fiancé. Through a secret agreement, Wendy and Bimo finally got married. But will their lives run as smoothly as Wendy planned?
Chapter 1 One
"What do you want to be, Wen, if you're not married at that age?"
"Others already have elementary school children; why are you still taking care of work? Later, you'll know the feeling if you can't get pregnant!"
"Having children means someone will care for us when we're old, right? You're strange, don't want to get married, and even having children seems doubtful."
These sentences seem to have become Wendy's daily diet every time she receives a call from Suwarni, her mother in Yogyakarta. Instead of asking about the news that their eldest child was migrating to Bali--the Island of the Gods, Wendy repeated a request that had never crossed her mind at all. As if getting married and having children is the only goal of life for women worldwide. However, this goal was not balanced with the same vision and mission of the husband and wife. Instead, it sparked a fire that burned their household with one problem after another. As a result, divorce and domestic violence are increasingly common. It's not wrong for Wendy to think a hundred times when giving her life to a man, right?
"You are told that your parents like to argue. I said this so that your life will be good tomorrow, Dear!" Suwarni scolded Wendy when she was still sticking to her guns.
"It would be nice if I could live in peace, work alone, not just take care of a husband and children at home, Mom," replied Wendy.
"Wendy!" Suwarni blurted out and immediately hung up the phone.
Wendy wondered why the people around her still believed in patriarchy and limited women's movement. They always say harsh words so that Wendy realizes that her essence is only to serve her husband and children. Women do not have to receive higher education or have brilliant careers like the stars in the sky. They joke that women should be at home, caring for the household, welcoming their husbands, and being teachers for their children.
Aren't we more like servants? Why does it have to be imposed on women and not men?
She couldn't imagine what it would be like to live in Yogyakarta and have to listen to every complaint her mother made. Just by telephone, Wendy's ears reddened when she caught Suwarni's words for words; who wanted her eldest daughter to get married as soon as possible as her dream before she died. A cliche reason that makes children give up their lives to other people, Wendy thought.
"When can I get married with a theme like this? So I want to," said one of the commis children - cooks - named Astrid, interrupting Wendy's reverie. The girl had just finished the purplish cupcakes and sprinkled them with sprinkles.
"That's bullshit!" Wendy exclaimed, waving her hand. "You're getting married to fill your feelings of desire. Later, if it doesn't meet your expectations, you'll cry," she sneered angrily.
"Getting married means you won't be single for long, Wendy. What you want to do is halal, not haram," replied Astrid, opening her mouth.
"Your mind needs to be brushed," teased Wendy. "If getting married is just for status, it means you don't really understand the meaning of marriage."
"Yeah, yeah... Astrid loses when I debate with you," complained Astrid.
The others actually laughed, some confirming Wendy's words, who now rechecked the first cake, a small cheesecake decorated with raspberries and bluish borage flowers. Just looking at it, one would be transported to a flower bed in summer. Wendy could feel this until her lips couldn't stop smiling as she looked at the results of the team's work and the creation of dessert designs specially made for the conglomerate's children's wedding party.
As a pastry chef, it is not only the leading food that can make the heart rejoice, but this applies to desserts as an accompaniment to the conversation partner and unites the guests who gather in the VIP hall of the D'amore Nusa Dua hotel. She can't wait for various comments from guests and event owners who have hired her services to show their cake-making talent. It takes time to discuss cakes and dishes according to the owner's wishes, including what decorations they like. Wendy even rummaged through her recipe notes during training in Yogyakarta.
The most important among the tiny cakes was a masterpiece in the form of a one-and-a-half-meter-high wedding cake that looked luxurious and slightly dark purple. At the top, there is chocolate covered in gold in the shape of the silhouette of the groom and bride kissing, while further down, the golden rose decoration adds to the impression of how glamorous their sacred event is. She imagined that her wedding cake would also attract attention.
"Be careful," said Wendy to the waitress pushing the trolley before the cake-cutting ceremony to symbolize their happiness that had officially become husband and wife.
Her lips couldn't stop growing so proud of her achievements tonight. Even though it wasn't the first time, every event held by the hotel always impressed Wendy's heart. Ah, except for marriage. She had to put a thick line under the words that marriage would not always be as happy as at the party. Many of Wendy's school friends or neighbors' children had to separate in the middle of the road for various reasons. One of the most ridiculous things, according to Wendy, is incompatibility.
She shook his head in surprise when she heard her friend's outburst. Why must it be bound by a sacred promise if it's not suitable? Doesn't that waste time and thought? Not to mention if there are children, fights over custody, mutual struggles over property, and ridicule from netizens who are suitable as if they know what is best.
Therefore, Wendy chose to be single, happy, safe, secure, and prosperous. She doesn't need to bother pleasing other people, comforting herself when she's heartbroken, or giving news all day. She can also be free to do anything and anywhere without being restrained by her partner or her children crying.
"Getting married is the beginning of a disaster," she muttered, looking away at the crowd passing by in the kitchen. "Only great people can survive there."
###
After the big event, which drained her energy, and while preparing ingredients for the following day, Wendy could only go home at six o'clock in the evening. Her body felt sore, and he wanted a spa massage while enjoying the sunset. Maybe that was a good plan for this weekend; Wendy immediately wrote it down in notes on her cell phone regarding what she had to do later. But for now, taking a warm shower and going to bed early is more attractive.
She can't wait for the weekend to be considered meaningful before being busy with activities on Monday with banquet event orders or guest order lists. She can cycle around Jimbaran, go to the market to meet her regular sellers or go to Nusa Dua to see the beaches and sit and enjoy the breeze alone.
Yes, without a partner.
Not a bad thing, right?
While dragging her feet out of the restaurant area, Wendy's cell phone suddenly rang. She snickered to see the contact name 'Mother' there. Again. She watched the cellphone screen for a long time so that the call would end quickly and hoped that her mother would think that Wendy was still busy working. She doesn't know what else Suwarni would discuss if Wendy answered the call which seemed urgent. Ah! It looked like Suwarni was too stubborn to end the call before hearing her daughter's voice, Wendy grumbled. She took a deep breath to regain her remaining mood before answering the call then parted her lips and said,
"Yes, Mom?"
"Wen, are you home?" asked Suwarni.
"I just finished and want to go home. What's wrong, Mom?"
"How? Mbok Lastri's daughter who just gave birth, and her second child, who is the same age as you, is getting married tomorrow," explained Suwarni, giving a code so that her first daughter would immediately end her single life.
Wendy's eyes rolled; what privilege was there that her mother wanted to marry her off? Should a woman's highest achievement be getting married and having children? Isn't Wendy currently holding a brilliant career? She snorted and grumbled softly, then exhaled through her mouth so that Suwarni's words didn't go straight into her chest. One hand ruffled her hair as she pressed the elevator to the lowest floor of the hotel.
"Ha-hello... Mom... the signal... Mom..." Wendy said pretending not to get the signal. "Mom... hello... hello..." Then she turned off the telephone network to airplane mode and leaned against the elevator wall, thinking of other excuses to avoid Suwarni's calls. If she hears her mother's story about the neighbor's married children again, then Wendy is ready to ask an ENT for help to make a hearing aid so that her ears can handle all of Suwarni's complaints.
Is it a sin not to get married? Mother is very pushy.
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