Marry Bening
Prospective Ghosts

Aslam Pov's

Mario and I arrived where we were making a living. In this seven-storey building I built my career and my business. Mario parked my car in a special parking lot. My and Mario's conversation was interrupted because a client who was meeting this afternoon called me. I almost forgot about my job.

I rushed to the office on the top floor. Assisted by Mario as an expert engineer, he is a reliable assistant and working partner. Although the level of songong level that he had exceeded the maximum limit, but he was a good friend.

This afternoon we met with clients at a cafe near the office and had lunch together. Be grateful that the desired sketch was completed on time. And I got a big project the second time.

"Lo, don't eat?" Mario asked with his mouth full of food.

"Telan just said," I replied flatly as I sipped a cup of coffee.

"Ampe when do you diet?" drink water after finishing the meal. More precisely he spent the rest of our lunch order with the client. This is what I like about Mario. Like a vacuum cleaner, it completely cleans up leftovers that are still untouched. Mubazir said.

"Gue's not on a diet" put down the cup of coffee I've tasted.

"What diet? Rarely eat at home, in the office. After eating with miras ampe mabok. Now just instead of eating, even coffee," paled Mario. "Lam, I'm serious! It's been almost a year. Ampe when did you torture yourself like a gini?"

"Gue don't eat because I'm not lager."

"No lager every day for a year, is that it? Trus, you want to wait for Erina to come back?" Mario's question this time is hard for me to answer. "Have you ever called him? Ever, he nanyain ato nyariin lo? Though I often hear he likes VC'an with Sonya, his model friend. In fact, doi often posts his activities on social media, even the Frendian is often in hastag, the nongol truss in the photos that doi post," said Mario.

I tightly clenched the handle of the coffee cup I was about to drink. Without answering what Mario was talking about, I quickly finished the black coffee that was still smoking. The clanking sound was quite loud when I placed the empty coffee cup on the small plate violently. Tissu used to clean my lips rolled and then I threw it randomly on the table.

"Sorry, I don't mean to offend you. But you know, too, right?" sorry Mario, he knows that I'm upset right now.

I was confused to respond to Mario's words. Yeah, I know that. Because I used to poke in Erina's sosmed, monitoring her activities there. At first I was happy because I could see his activity in the sosmed as if treating my longing for him. Whatever he posts, I welcome him with joy. Even likes and comments I include in every caption he makes. I often send messages and contact them. However, there was no reply or response from him.

Gradually I knew, the comment I posted had been deleted. It was as if Erina wanted to remove my tracks. Even with how often he listed Frendian as a partner he was very grateful for. They often take pictures together. He said he didn't want to be exposed to any man. But in fact, Frendian is always present in every activity.

Is it because Frendian is just the head of the agency and his manager so that the people who are there know him like that? Yeah, I think so. However, did our relationship really run aground when Erina left for me? Didn't Erina tell me to wait for her? Then why didn't he call me even once? Has Erina missed me all this time too? I miss it, but this heart feels bland...

"Draw lo abisin everything! I'll wait in the car."

Without wanting to hear Mario's babble that was like a mother, I left him with a mouth that seemed to be about to argue. I know Mario has finished all his food.

***

Today is exactly one year bad events last year happened. More precisely the day that my age increased again. I'm honestly upset. The reason is, why today is right on the weekend so that making this birthday party happens easily according to your wishes.

Something was different from this party. The party starts from noon. And he said the peak party occurred in the afternoon until evening. My mom prepared all this. From the decor, to the catering, everything. I insisted on not having a birthday party this time. Yes.given my actual age I'm not young anymore.

Last year I was still brave because I celebrated my birthday as well as the proposal event and also the wedding that ended up running aground, even before the event began. However, this time there was no purpose of the party being held. Remembering the people who came today is the same as in previous years. Where do I put my face?

I stared at the party decorations from the balcony of my room. The white color is decorated with beautiful crystal lights. The flowers of the collection also decorate the party this time. Yes, when viewed again, this house is like a flower garden. Will mama ever do business about per-Bungaan?

The gazebo in the garden was beautifully transformed. I didn't expect my mom's taste to be this elegant. Real beautiful. It was as if the white colors were symbolizing purity.

If last year I had followed my mother's wishes, would my marriage have taken place?

I traced the whole room so beautifully decorated. This white felt so sacred. Even my room is beautifully decorated like a bridal room.

No-no, it's not what I thought, is it? There's no way there's going to be a wedding at my birthday party this time.

Then, what is the table in the middle of the gazebo room? The table was prepared as if it were going to do a marriage contract.

"Geez! Why are the bells ready, anyway?" Mom's squealing makes me almost a hanger. "Where the hell is this, soon the event is about to start. Mama is ready to put on a shirt for you." My mother was busy to obey herself.

"Ma, I don't want to" I'm upset.

"Why? You used to be very happy if your birthday was celebrated with great fanfare. Even you make papa seriyosa because of the behavior of you and your friends." My mom reminds me of what happened years ago.

"That was, Ma. And now I don't want to! I don't like it!" I said a little higher. I don't want you to see the sadness in my eyes because you remember Erina. "Please, Ma. Don't force Aslam, "please.

"Mama don't want to know! You have to follow my mom this time. You have to be ready. Because the MUA team is ready to take care of you and your future mother!"

Like being struck by lightning during the day, I think there's something wrong with my hearing. THE MUA? Ghost candidates? Oh, what's mama talking about?

"You didn't hear wrong!" exclaim Mama. He was like a psychic who could read his son's mind. "Birthday party this time, you really should get married!" It made me realize the truth.

"MA!" I snap. Really not finished thinking about the path of your mind?

"You snapped mama?" Mama is equally upset. This time, I saw my mom that bad. Like a stepmother torturing her child.

"MA, DON'T BE RIDICULOUS! Who wants to marry? Erina again in Paris, Ma!" I don't want to lose. No way, right, if Erina comes back and gives me a surprise?

Curious about the possibility of it happening, I hurried to pick up my phone lying on the bed. I scrolled through my thumb and tried to see Erina's sosmed and kepo-in her activities. Perfect fit! Erina's status is live. And. nuances of the city in Paris which is the background today.

Erina isn't the potential ghost mom's talking about. Then who?

"You don't have to keep going to Sosmed Erina!" mama snatched away the phone I had in my hand when I let my guard down at the thought of Erina. "Forget Erina!"

BRUK, the sound of falling objects diverts my debate with my mother.

"Sorry. I was unintentional." Nervously the girl picked up the bouquet of flowers that had fallen off. "S-I was told Aunt Lily to deliver this bouquet of flowers," he explained later. He was standing right in the doorway.

"Lo nguping, huh? It's really rude!" Means to him. Piqued.

"No, my Mas. I really didn't intentionally sniff. Aunty Lily was here when the bridal room was shown. I just want to anterin this bouquet of flowers," he said in self-defense.

"That's why I nguping! Many reasons! Here lo!" hardikku pointed at him with his waist.

"Really, Mas. The suwerr! No boong!" his hands formed the letter V. The girl stepped back in fear as I challenged herself to get closer.

"Heh, you wanna try to escape, huh?! Here lo!"

"Ng-nga, Ma..."

I don't know why I was so excited and wanted to catch the girl when I saw her retreating. However, my steps came to a halt when my mother lifted my door. Wow, really stepmom inimah.

"Aawws...Ma, Ma, what the hell? Release Ma. It hurts..." I whine. Forgive me for being so sick!

"It's polite to talk to your own wife! Belom anything has dared to play snapped, which is soft talk!" Mama's twisting my earlobe.

It's not worth the pain of my mother's jeweran. I swear I am ashamed! Moreover, the girl who said the mother of my future wife was still standing at the spot to see firsthand how the interaction of mother and child. In fact, he dropped his bouquet again.

"This is a lesson for you!" Mama took off the window, I wiped the pain. His facial expression turned into an angel. "here, Honey. Come here, son," call Mama soft on the girl.

The darling? Really, this is bad abis! My ears are problematic. I've never heard of a mother as much as that concern for anyone other than me, her own son. Even to Erina, she never called him dear.

The girl approached reluctantly as the mother approached and pulled her hand. I've seen that girl before, but where?

"Son, he's the one who's getting married to you today. Prospective mommy. Pretty, right?" my mother made me speechless.

"W-what?" the girl looked in shock upon hearing mama's speech without filtering.

"Please..." Mama cupped my palms. "Please, this is for your own good" he hoped. "Mama has never banned anything you want. But for this time, please kabulin requests mom and dad..."

I looked at mama. His eyes were sad as if full of hope. I looked at the girl. He shook his head, a sign for me not to accept it.

Yes, when compared to Erina, this girl was ordinary. Looks sweet and cute, indeed...But he was like a child who was not old enough. But there's something strange rippling inside here (my chest).

My tongue was a cloud at that time. Accept no, refuse to be reluctant. My heart moved me, as if to accept it. Dan, what is this? This damn heart seemed to hurt and did not accept when the little girl shook her head so many times that I refused my mother's request.

Any more? I was rejected before my wedding.

***

EPILOGUES

Pov

"Bey, tomorrow afternoon we deliver this bouquet of flowers together. You're a beautiful dancer, yeah" ask Aunt Lily.

"Kok, you're welcome, Tan?" I frowned. "Usually, I am. Then why also must dandan beautiful just nganterin flowers doang?"

"Udah, say aunty." Without explaining, Aunt Liliy left me alone.

*

*

*

"Weizzz, cuakep bener Abang nii," with the neighboring country's accent I praised bang Rio.

"Really?" The praised smiling mesem. Sok sakep 😏 Cake Sii... 😊

"Huum." I nodded in response. "Where are you going, Bang?"

"You marry me," replied bang Rio who I thought was excited.

"Huh? What the hell, Bang. Who wants to get married?" I'm pissed off. "Party is young kelesss. I'm nineteen! I still want to buanyakk!!" Then I stick my tongue out at him.

"Gue never thought about it by the way" said Rio. There was a soft spot in his eyes before he left me alone.

*

"I really love you, Bey..." Mario stands behind the shop's glass door. Holding tightly the iron handle of the door seemed to want to crush it.

TB