Marry The Heir
The heir

POV Kean:

I still feel tired in my body which feels more and more when I keep quiet like this. After the shower, I thought my body would feel fresher, apparently not. Maybe because the tired is not just my body but my brain and my feelings.

This morning, Papah called me to the main house. He said he was sick and there was something he wanted to say.

Since the return of mamah and our family problems that arise, public consumption seems to have hit Papah mentally. When a man is a perfectionist and idealist, when there is one thing that destroys his idealism, it becomes a serious thing for him. The good image he had built over the years was suddenly shattered by the disgrace of the family that my uncle Marcel had brought up. Mr. Marwan said, papah had slapped Marcel and scolded him all out. If only people hadn't tried to break them up, maybe one of them would have ended up in the hospital.

Hah, I'm so tired. My mind's tired. Why does Marcel always try to find problems with papah? Even though I tried to be indifferent to the state of papah but when imagining a weak papah drooping on the bed gave me a fear of its own.

I also remember the words of Disa a few days ago, “Tuan still has a chance to fix everything. Having a great mistress and a great master at the same time. While I don't. I can't even ask how they are doing. Do they miss me or any other thing I want to hear with my own ears.”

Like a trigger, when I remember the words of Disa slowly if I think there is a point. I had to drop off most of my ego to come see Papah and ask him how he was doing. No, I have to learn to behave better than I did. Learn not to ignore people while they are there, before I regret.

“If it feels difficult, what's wrong with starting from learning to care even though maybe at the beginning is just an effort to make small talk.” That's the next sentence I heard from Disa. And that morning I decided to come see Papah.

Entering the papah workspace, I was like I did not see the papah I previously knew. So fast he looks old. His strapping shoulders were now like sagging, tired of bearing the weight. Apparently the effect received by papah from a mental attack. I no longer see the haughty papah, there is only pity when I see it.

“You came kean?” papah was quite surprised to see my arrival. Maybe he didn't think that I would comply to come.

“Hem.” I sat on the couch and the papah came up to me. I saw the papah that was walking not as straight as before. Her flesh began to look a lot with the look of a tired face that she showed me. No need to mince words, because it has been seen that he is not okay.

We sat facing. He signaled to Mr. Marwan to leave us and the old man complied. Somehow papah got people who are so loyal when papah people who are indifferent. Maybe papah has a service that must be paid by Mr. Marwan, or I don't know. It's just that seeing their closeness sometimes like a coworker and once as a friend and also a brother, is enough to amaze me.

The man left after nodding respectfully to me.

“Thank you for coming.” Papah rubbed his chest which he said often feels pain and tightness.

If said Mr. Marwan, arrhythmia, the symptoms are currently in papah and are waiting for the results of further examination. I still think, how papah who so take care of his food, routine exercise can suffer from diseases like this. Is it possible because of a problem in our family that made the disease appear?

“As you can see, papah is getting old and not very healthy.” Start by showing your weakness. What does the talk mean? Is he looking for my sympathy? I think he knew I was starting to melt so he was trying to find an opportunity to talk to me.

“Papah can no longer manage the company well. Papah has tarnished the achievements of papah itself with our family problems. The condition of the company began to be unstable and papah is sure you feel it.”

To the limit of that sentence, I think I'm starting to know the direction of papah's conversation. I know what he wants.

“Be the successor of papah. Heir of all companies that have a stub from scratch. Please help papah.” Papah paused his sentence with a long breath. Like trying to regulate the rhythm of his irregular breathing.

I know, sooner or later this is what you're gonna say. As he said before, I was born only to continue the papah company without being able to refuse.

“Papah still have om marcel, why still force me?” I chimed in coldly. Really, holding all these family-owned companies is not something I want.

“Marcel.” Papah smiled as he tapped his finger on the arm of the chair. “Papah can't trust him." the sentence was firm.

"He's too greedy. As of this moment, he made this matter in order for papah to comply with his wishes. But papah can't. Papah can not imagine what kind of small company that papah managed until it became now must be destroyed in the hands of Marcel.” I saw clearly papah's disbelief in Om Marcel.

“But papah hasn't tried it yet. Papah has never given him the confidence to manage the company.” I'm still refuting. This is a form of my denial of the heavy duty given papah.

“Who said?” papah. “When you are in America, papah gives two subsidiaries to manage Marcel."

"What results? The company he merged with another party, without a pengatahuan papah. What do you think of the workers? How many workers have lost their jobs because of marcel?” papah showed his frustration.

I know, Papah cares a lot about his workers. But I didn't expect that the thing about workers was such a sensitive thing for Papah. Maybe that was also what made Papah so angry when I almost made the subsidiary I led bankrupt.

“Maybe I'm no better than om marcel.” My rebut.

Papah shakes. “You are already in this position. You're coming down hardjoyo family business talent. Papah sure, papah did not choose wrong.” Papah seemed convinced by his words.

I still have to think about whether or not to accept Papah's request. Really, I can't imagine what my life is like when I have to act like papah. Most of the time it is to work without any attention to anything else more important, which is us, his family.

“Kean might be able to try it. But kean has one condition.” As Papah used to do, sometimes I have to bargain with the man in front of me.

“Say.” Like being prepared to accept my request.

I breathe deep. I hope my request can turn things around. “When kean meets papah demand, kean asks papah to do the role of papah as a man who has a wife and children.”

“Be a husband and as a father. Fix all the mistakes in the past so that there is no gap for anyone to drop our family.”

“Change things to feel that we are indeed a family.” I say with complete confidence.

Papah seemed to think and nodded. “Papah will try.” His word.

He smiled while looking at me. This time I saw him smiling sincerely. Maybe I should learn to trust Papah.

That afternoon, Papah immediately held a board meeting. Everything went quickly, as planned from the beginning. We gathered in the headquarters hall and discussed handing over the company leader's baton to me.

I did not expect, that the people in the company are so loyal to Papah. They easily obeyed Papah's orders. When voting for approval, only about 8% refused and 3% abstained. The rest of them welcomed my arrival. I officially became the main leader in the Hardjoyo group.

Hah, that burden is moving onto my shoulders. People greet me congratulate. Papah who initially looks sick suddenly is fine. Is Papah really sick or playing tricks on me?

“Wah wow! Congratulations kean!!!” a middle-aged man approached me. Experiencing then embracing me. Om Brata, papah's best friend and owner of one of the big property companies.

“Thank you om.” My solute.

“Om sure, you can lead this company much better than your papah. Om believe in you.” His impression while patting my shoulder.

I just nodded as I asked inwardly, can I really?

That afternoon, the meeting was closed with lunch together. Papah laughs again sharing his story with his friends and boasts me. Is papah really sick?

****

“Sorry, kean has disturbed mamah.” I said as I kissed Mamah's head.

“Who is disturbing? Mama is waiting for you. How was it today?” apparently mamah has heard the news of my appointment as a substitute for papah.

I sighed deeply and sat down on the side of the bed. There are a lot of burdens I want to tell you about but it feels like you are not obligated to come think about my problems.

“Current.” That's my only answer. Smile as if everything is fine and not long smile.

“Mamah strongly believes you can face it all. Allaattt!!” mamah excited me adorablely.

Amused enough to laugh.

“Thanks mah.” I grabbed Mom's hand and then kissed her. “Kean hope mamah is always next to kean when facing everything. So that kean is strong, calm and live everything well.” I held her hand warm enough.

“Sure. You are the son of pride. Mom will always be next to you.” Mama said as she rubbed my head. One of the most relaxing things for me.

“You've eaten son?” I just shook my head. “Can't go home yet. Maybe in a minute. But he's already cooked a good meal for you.”

“Not home? Indeed where?” tumben thinks I I don't know what he's doing.

“Go to reza. Condangan. She was so pretty wearing a dress. Momah sampe manglingi.” Mamah always mean it when it comes to praise.

I'm just smiling. There was a sense of annoyance tucked in my heart. He left with Reza, leaving Mamah alone. What's he thinking? He thinks he's that free? Hah, it's upset.

“Kean to room first. Mama sleep again yes.” It is better to end this conversation than mamah to continue discussing Disa and make me more upset.

“Hem. Good night dear.” Mamah rubbed my cheek gently and I gave her a kiss on her forehead.

“Hem. Beautiful dreams mah.” I covered myself to my chest and left him alone.

****

To this day I still breathe out. It's 10 o'clock Disa still hasn't come home. Maybe he was too busy with Reza to forget that someone was waiting for him at home.

After the shower, I went down to dinner. Even though I have no taste, I still have to fill my stomach.

“Goodnight sir.”

“Gosh!” I was shocked when I saw Disa suddenly standing in front of me. I saw his feet really treading, not a ghost.

“Ma-sorry if I startle you.” His word.

I see again, Disa is still wearing her dress but her makeup has been erased. A little curious as to what she looks like when she dresses up manglingi like my mom says.

“What's so fun going to meet a partner until you forget to go home.” That cynical sentence suddenly shot out without me being able to control.

It looks like he's aware that I'm angry.

“Ma-sorry sir. Car tire kak reza broke, so we are waiting for help.”

Akh reason cliche. He thought he could lie to me like that? I know Reza, he's a well prepared man, where might his tires break on the way?

I don't prefer to go to the dining table and see the food menu. Not tasteful. I closed the hood so roughly that it made Disa aghast.

I went back upstairs and Disa followed me behind, just three steps away.

“Tuan.” He called. Whatwant?

“Hem.” My heart without stopping my steps. He's still following me.

“I went to the party not as a couple kak reza, but as his friend. Anyway, mr. hilman my lecturer, so I fulfilled his invitation.” He tried to explain in one breath. Very spirited.

What is the difference between coming as a friend and coming as a couple? Didn't the two come together and go home together? And it was impossible during the time they were together nothing happened.

Akhs! See my brain start thinking no-no, imagining what they're doing in the car.

I turned and looked at him. He tried to smile as usual and my mind grew more and more uncertain. “Then, can you also go to the party with me as a friend?”

Damnit damnit! Where did that question come from? What the hell am I saying?

I've been looking at my own mouth that's sometimes too spontaneous.

“Can mr.” Answer it firmly.

Hey, don't play me. Don't play Reza, either. You made me and Reza like they were competing just to go to a party together.

Why am I happy to hear the answer? Did he really just think of Reza as a friend?

I didn't chim in anymore and chose to go back upstairs. My lips reflexively smile. In my mind keep spinning the words “She only considers reza friend.” Repeatedly until I was happy.

I think I can sleep well.

****