(Suddenly) Unexpected Groom

Let's imagine today she's trying to reward herself for almost nine-no, make that ten years!-of dedication as a career woman and the sole breadwinner of her family. So, this morning, this woman wrapped in a warm blanket wants to laze around. It's the last day of her vacation. Oh, if you're curious, she's never taken a vacation before. This is her first time. After... the failure of her engagement with that jerk. Let's just say her vacation is a way to cheer herself up.

She went to Bali, gorging herself on ayam betutu until she was satisfied. Sweetening her day with pie susu. Cooling her aching heart, betrayed as it was, by feeling the chill of Kintamani's air. Enjoying drinks until she was half-drunk in the bars of Seminyak, Bali. Then...

Wait, wait.

Marisa groaned softly, feeling a throbbing pain in her head. Damn! She'd gotten too drunk with that handsome guy last night.

Handsome guy?!

Her long-lashed eyelids flew open. She sat up abruptly, her dark brown eyes scanning the room. A super-soft and comfortable bed. A luxurious, milk-chocolate brown sofa that matched the brown carpet. A glass wall overlooking the beach. Oh, how beautiful... but this wasn't the inn Marisa had booked for a week in Bali!

Oh, God! Marisa wrapped the blanket tightly around her naked body. She panicked, frantically gathering her clothes scattered on the floor. As quickly as lightning, she put on her black jeans, then...

Wait! Where is my oversize shirt?

The woman scrambled around in a panic. She looked under the sofa. Where did they take off that button-up shirt last night until it disappeared like this?

Ah, screw the shirt!

Marisa grabbed a crumpled men's shirt from the edge of the bed. Putting it on as fast as she could, she tiptoed towards the door, clutching her sling bag. Even though there was no one else in the room, who knows if the handsome guy from last night was in the bathroom!

The woman's heart pounded as she roughly brushed her hair with her fingers. It raced as fast as her steps as she managed to get out. She didn't care about the soreness all over her body from last night's lovemaking.

Marisa let out a rough breath, feeling a little relieved when she managed to hail a taxi in front of the hotel lobby and sat calmly in the passenger seat. The fair-skinned woman stared at her reflection in the mirror above the car's dashboard. She wiped her face.

Hopefully, the taxi driver behind the wheel wouldn't notice how disheveled her passenger looked. The faded lipstick from who knows how many kisses. The tangled hair from the warm, strong fingers of that handsome guy. And... a little hickey on the right side of her neck.

Marisa quickly covered the mark with her long, loose hair.

Oh, that handsome guy is so...

Marisa! You're calling a man who just slept with you randomly "handsome"?!

"Oh, shit!"

***

The small house with two rooms was still quiet at six in the morning. A woman, who was enjoying a cup of coffee, was supposed to be alone with her younger sister. Since her parents passed away in an accident, she had to fight to survive in order to take care of her younger sister.

Marisa really wanted a little sister. A sweet little sister whose long hair she could braid every morning and evening, decorating it with various colorful clips and ribbons. She was only seven years old when her mother happily announced there was a baby in her womb. She was eight when Mariana, her sister, was born.

As her sister, Marisa promised to be a good role model and take care of Mariana. Unfortunately, she didn't realize how much sacrifice it took to take care of a younger sibling when their world crumbled. Her parents passed away when she was twelve and Mariana was too young to be left behind.

Aunty Sri and Uncle Yatno took care of the two girls until Marisa was able to stand on her own feet and support the family. She decided to live independently and separately from Aunty Sri's family, taking care of the family's finances and Mariana's future.

At the age of twenty, Marisa worked part-time while finishing her studies. Luckily, Aunty Sri's husband often gave her additional work as a local tour guide for tourists from the tourism department. Six months of English courses after graduating from high school were enough to make Marisa proficient in foreign languages.

Marisa and Mariana's lives had been peaceful. Both girls were obedient and excelled in their studies. As the elder sister, Marisa was incredibly proud of Mariana, believing that her younger sister would grow up to be a beautiful and successful woman. Perhaps many men would want to be with her. But... why did it have to be Rama?

"Just landed yesterday?"

The hoarse voice, typical of someone who had just woken up, shattered Marisa's thoughts. The woman, who had been staring blankly at the steam rising from her coffee, looked up. A pang of sadness hit her as she saw the man, looking far from the ideal image she had held in her mind since college, standing in her living room.

Reality, it seemed, could be harsh. Marisa had taken a deep breath and turned to leave. But then, a hand grabbed her wrist.

"Is this how you punish me?" he asked. His dark eyes, deep-set in his face, stared intently at Marisa.

"What do you mean?" Marisa yanked her wrist free.

Rama ran a hand through his hair roughly. "You're ignoring me, Cha! You promised everything would be alright if I took responsibility for Riana, didn't you?"

"I'm fine if you want to know. Look at me, I'm healthy and I can still survive even though my heart is broken," Marisa said without looking at him.

Deep down, she was still aware that those dark eyes were still her weakness. Rather than looking pitiful by lingering in front of the source of her weakness, Marisa chose to move. She abandoned her warm morning coffee before leaving.

However, this time, Rama's grip was tighter. He pulled the woman in her black pajamas until their bodies were close. Marisa had no time to react when the man suddenly leaned in. Rama's expression was cold and unyielding. His hand gripped her wrist tightly, pulling her closer. But then, what could she do when, in truth, there was still a lingering feeling?

Marisa's heart pounded. Her heart and mind were at odds. Initially, her body resisted. But as his lips pressed against hers, she softened. The strength in her fists loosened, replaced by a muffled sob. Then, in a small act of defiance, she returned his kiss before he pulled away.

"Please, wait for me to finish everything. After that, I promise I'll fix our broken relationship," Rama whispered, their foreheads touching.

Their breaths still mingled. There was a warmth that Marisa longed for, but the hatred stirred in her chest, a feeling that had always been there, a wound that could never fully heal. As tears began to fall, Rama's tight embrace loosened, leaving Marisa to sob into her hands.

"You bastard, Ram! Bastard!" she cursed, her voice muffled.

And she always found it difficult to break free from the chains of feelings that still lingered, even though things were no longer the same. It was painful, but it was hard to let go. After all, three years was a long time to build a relationship towards a more serious commitment.

Marisa wanted to end everything. Perhaps it would be best if she simply left.

Anyone, God, please send anyone to help me out of this painful situation.

These words always echoed in her mind, almost every moment.

***