Forced to Get Married Again
Papa Knows

Kei does his daily routine every morning in the clothes room, going up the small two-stacking stairs that Hardhan has prepared for him, to the height of Kei and Hardhan parallel.

Kei wrapped the tie around Hardhan's neck, slipped it between his lapels, and tied it with a triangular knot.

Kei's finger went down the length of Hardhan's tie to the end, which was right above Hardhan's navel, "How? Fitting length?"

Hardhan softly kissed Kei

"I should have asked you... I'm an extension for you or is it fitting?" god while smiling mischievously.

Kei blinked his eyes, not understanding Hardhan's question,

"meaning?"

Hardhan stroked the tip of Kei's head, though,

"Ah my innocent wife..."

Kei embraced Hardhan, fusing his palms together behind Hardhan's neck,

"Hmmm baby... Tonight I want to stay at Papa's house. May it?"

Hardan frowned, "Why all of a sudden, did something happen to your papa?"

"Oh no, it's just... We've been married for almost three months now, but I haven't even stayed at her house. And you promised you'd let me if I ever wanted to stay at papa's house."

"Have we been married that long? It feels like just yesterday the jihab qobulnya, maybe you miscalculated dear...."

Means three more months left, and I'm not sure if I've managed to conquer Kei's heart yet,

Inner Hardhan.

Kei rolled both his eyes, though,

"Honey, we got married in April, and it's July now."

"All right but just one night, because tomorrow night we're going to a party at the office, for the latest product launch."

Hardan looked at Kei who was suddenly speechless, and daydreamed, "Sonya is also present tomorrow."

Kei came back cheerful, "Really...? I thought I didn't want to come, but if there was Sonya at least I wouldn't be lonely, if you were busy with your colleagues there."

Hardan grinned widely, "I've expected it. Yeah, what time are you going to papa's house? Let Mang Ujang drive you."

"That doesn't need Hardan, I can drive myself, and my car is also here, I just go to papa's house. Gee whiz... I haven't even driven my car since we got married. Please..."

"Alright, but I insist that both of your bodyguards stay with you. Let them convoy behind your car...."

"That pin of Ipin? Why do they always have to come?"

"They've got a package with you, or should I add two more bodyguards?"

"Oh no, no need, just Upin Ipin it.." refused Kei.

"Deal, now please pick a suit for me." Hardan ordered while slipping his hands under Kei's armpits, then lifted Kei up high from the stairs and brought him around with Hardhan.

"Stop, I'm not a kid, put me down! Aarrgghh Hardhan I'm afraid of falling!!"

Hardan lowered Kei until the soles of his feet touched the floor, "You're as light as my darling feathers..."

"Even if my hand is weak, and you get thrown off it won't make you lose your life, baby, maybe just a little bruising, or at worst a broken arm or leg. And that's not going to happen, considering my hands are as strong as steel."

As Kei looked at Hardhan, he,

"Salt sea itself!" cibir Kei made Hardan's laughter again break.

**********

Mr. Hendrawan leaned his back against the dining chair, staring fully at his daughter who was cool to enjoy her dinner, Kei cooked it himself, and it felt no need to doubt. Kei is very good at cooking.

"You haven't seen a look on your face like that Kei...."

"I mean Papa?" kei asked and put a piece of broccoli in his mouth.

"Your shining, weightless face, Papa last saw it when you graduated High School."

Kei smiled gently, "My face is always like this papa...."

"No, your face has always looked grim since you came home from your friend's farewell on island X, indeed you still smile and laugh a lot, but your eyes say the opposite. You never want to tell papa, but I'm sure something happened to you there."

Kei looked at his papa, forcing a smile to adorn his lips.

"Pa, this is my umpteenth question, and my answer remains the same... It's just papa's feeling."

"Yes already... Most importantly, you are back to being yourself again. Papa is calm, this time you are happy with your marriage."

Being reminded of her marriage to Hardhan made Kei's feelings even more uncertain, "Hardhan told me that you already know about our six-month marriage."

"Yes, Hardhan is honest enough to admit it."

"Papa should know where there is a happy marriage with such a covenant."

"It can't mask the fact that you now really look happy. You may deny it, but your eyes cannot lie. The eyes are the windows of the soul."

"Yes, Hardhan was kind, and he treated me very kindly and generously. But I still can't love him Papa, Papa also knows how big my love for Galang mas, so there is no more gap for others. And Galang mas also loved me very much, he let me marry again for us to be reunited again, Papa."

"If Galang really loved you, he would never hurt you, or do anything that would hurt you. Not with words nor with actions."

"Pa..."

"Papa knows everything Kei, knows how Galang treats you, as well as his mother and his second wife, I don't know what keeps you with Galang Papa. But one thing is for sure and you should know, papa raised you not to hurt anyone else Kei... Papa raised you lovingly, ever yell at you, berate you or slap you?"

Kei shook his head, tears began to rise in his eyes, "Never.." Kei replied in a raucous voice.

"Papa's heartache saw you treated like that Kei.." whispered Mr. Hendrawan tears began to drip in his eyes, "And your Mama saw you from up there, it will also feel the same sadness as Papa Kei." he continued.

Tangis Kei broke, never had she imagined before that her papa would also be hurt, "Oh Papa, hiks... Ii'm sorry... Hix"

Mr. Hendrawan leaned his body to Kei, grabbed his hands and grasped them, giving strength to his only child.

"Where does Papa know? I never told Papa.." asked Kei when he had calmed down.

"Your gardener, papa's man. And he's good at extracting information from your maid and her mother's maid Galang."

"Oh Papa, I'm sorry, I just don't want to make Papa worry, I..."

"That's over, Papa doesn't want you to go through that kind of suffering again... Now you're happy with Hardhan, and papa will never agree if you want to go back to Galang. It's better to shut your eyes forever than to see you treated like that again..."