CHANGE PAIR
CHAPTERS 10. OLD HOUSE

“After divorce usually a woman has to wait for her period to finish. To ascertain whether she is pregnant or not. but-you married me without caring about it. So, I doubt whether our marriage is legal or not?” obviously Reina played her finger.

“Are you looking for an excuse for not wanting me to touch?” accuse Varen of it.

Reina's body immediately stiffened hearing Varen's words. She had expected that her husband would think things through. But a marriage must be executed properly with due regard to the religious laws that have been established. Can't be as perfunctory as his father ordered.

“It is not so, I just want our marriage to be valid both religiously and legally.” Reina replied.

“Then what do you want?”

“Can you wait for forty days or about two months? After that, we officially remarry?”

Reina bit her lip, her heart beating so fast waiting for an answer from her husband. Varen's reaction is really hard to account for. The look of his face was flat without the slightest anger or annoyance. It was precisely Reina's heart was pounding even more as Varen walked up to her.

“Give me your hand.” the door.

“For what?” Reina frowned confusedly.

Instead of answering, Varen pulled his wife's hand. Reina is stunned when Varen opens her necklace and then pairs the ring to her ring finger.

“I can't give you a proper dowry for our wedding today. But I'll do my best for our wedding in two months. This is the ring that belonged to my late mother, just think of it as an engagement ring. Please don't lose it!” said it.

Reina was overwhelmed by the words of her husband. The ring that Varen gave was not as expensive as Bobby's wedding ring but Varen's attitude and words made the ring feel more valuable than the ring that Reina had before.

“Thank you.” only those two words are all he can say.

The next day Chandra, Indira, Elora and Bobby just arrived home. The reception ended in the middle of the night so they decided not to go home and stay at the hotel. Due to exhaustion, they were sitting casually in the quiet-looking central room.

Indira put the paper bag she carried on the table. He brought home the remaining souvenirs to give to Reina and Varen. “Bik Misna!” call Indira. As soon as her name was mentioned, the middle-aged woman immediately ran over to her master.

“Iya madam.” sahut with breath gasping.

“Create a drink.” Indira's command answered Bik Misna with a nod. Then the middle-aged woman turned around about to go back to the kitchen but she was called back by her employer.

“Bik...all first call Reina and her lazy husband.” said Indira ruled.

Misna twisted her body while linking her eyebrows together and said, “Nona Reina and Mr Varen yes madam?” tanya Misna confirmed the order of her master.

“Iya, Reina and Varen. Call them right now!” indira answered while sitting on the sofa. But he looked back at the maid who was still standing unmoved.

“Why stay still? Quickly call them!” snapped Chandra who began to be upset with the attitude of the servant's catapult.

“But, Sir, Mistress! that-Miss Reina and Mr. Varen will have left this house.” said Misna.

“What? They went?” peeking Elora, Bobby, Chandra and Indira were shocked to hear the departure of the two men.

Misna nodded, “Iya. Last night they left with suitcases.”

“Ma..quickly check all our valuables. Who knows if they left with our valuables! Strange, they dare to leave when they have no money! They could have stolen our valuables for their capital.” said Elora panicked.

“Oke ma.” sahut Chandra. They also left the middle room.

Very sad and outrageous indeed the Reina family. Instead of worrying about Reina, they accused her of something that was not true. Bobby rubbed his chest that felt thumping. Suddenly there was concern for his ex-wife. “Reina where are you going?”

...****...

In the old house, Reina seemed to be struggling with food in her hands. Earlier this morning he bought groceries at a vegetable maker who happened to pass in front of his house. He also bought a few kilos of rice. Reina felt grateful to still have a little money so she could buy groceries.

After he finished cooking, he put his food on the table. Although the old house they occupied was not as good as his family's house but fortunately the items in the house were complete so that Reina did not need to buy supplies for her house, but fortunately, the items in the house were complete,

All cooking utensils, cutlery and even gardening equipment are all available. And strangely, all the tools are clean and also worth using. It was as if there was always someone taking care of those items.

Reina glanced at her husband who had just walked out of the room. His face looked fresh with his hair still wet and the scented smell of bodywash smelled from his body.

“You cooked? Where did you get this food?” ask Varen while staring at the wonder of all the food on the table.

“It just so happened that there was a greengrocer passing by, so I bought side dishes and rice,” replied Reina.

“You have money?” Varen scrunched his forehead staring at Reina.

“There are two hundred thousand rupiahs. And now the rest one hundred and fifty thousand more.” replied Reina.

“Save the rest. I can't give you money yet! For groceries let me buy it.” said Varen.

Reina was about to argue but the man first interrupted her, “I will find a job to meet our needs.”.

“Alright then now we eat.” invite Reina.

Varen pulled the chair beside Reina and sat down. Reina sat down and filled her husband's plate with rice and side dishes. “Sayurnya want to be separated or not?” ask Reina.

Instead of answering, Varen looked at his wife's face. Seen some wrinkles. He looked at Reina with a serious expression.

“You separated or not?” ask Reina again.

“United only.” Varen replied quickly.

Reina also spooned the vegetables and poured them over the rice. Then she put the plate in front of her husband with a smile.

“Thank you.” said Varen in a slow voice.

Varen looked at the food in front of him. Foods with simple side dishes, vegetable sop and fried tempeh only became their menu today.

Reina furrowed her brows as she looked at Varen just looking at her food.

“Why? Don't you fit the side dish?” reina asked, she had only bought soup and tempeh because that was all that was left in the vegetable maker.

Varen shook his head, “No! It's not. I wait for the rice to cool first.” he replied while removing the rice on his plate.