My Mom Wants to Mate
52. Daniel Ngambek

"Why, Brother Ren? These two months you're grinning, aren't you?" Kendrik continued the question.

Hearing that question Karen's chest felt deeply blushed. Many times he also asked himself, is he happy? Tears could no longer be contained in her cheeks.

"Lho you know, how does it cry?" Kendrik approached and rubbed his brother's shoulder.

Daniel hears and witnesses Karen crying as she questions her happiness after marriage. She was sick of seeing him which made her leave immediately before hearing Karen tell him about the household.

Kendrik pulled Karen to sit by their house. "Well, now the story, brother!"

"Don't tell Mama!" The classic phrase locking the mouth keeps the secret that Karen told Kendrik.

Kendrik.

"Initially, when fooled, I was sure I could love Daniel. After a few years, there was no chemistry. I continue to betrothed to the same marriage as him because my age is increasing. I don't want to constantly terrorize people. The plan is, I take this as a stepping stone and I want to cut him out. Turns out I can't. I still want people who live with me that care a little bit about me."

"Wait, 'springboard'? You mean you're gonna split up with Daniel one day?"

Karen nodded.

"Goodbye, Brother! You don't like him? Does he know that one day you want to leave him?"

"You know, we agreed. Plus, it turns out he's not who you see him as. You might think he's quiet, okay. Apparently, he was cruel. He used to beat people up until he got out of school. He used to go to our High School, outside, and go to Vincitore High School."

"What?" peekkik Kendrik, surprised.

"Yes, Ken, you're not wrong."

In Kendrik's vision, Daniel was a good person despite not being good at getting along. He also does not have a bad feeling even though his intuition is not 100% right. Before, he was convinced Daniel was the right man.

However, seeing her brother pitiful like this made her doubt her own feelings. He thought it was likely that his intuition was not as sharp as before so he misread Daniel's character.

"Frankly, Brother, of all those who try to love my spirit to make proposals again, then Brother Daniel who can really make me want to rise. Because he gave me a solution."

"That's it, Ken. He can match it just like you. But like me, he hates it. He never went first. He never spoke lightly with me. Never wanted to know how I was and what I was like. Maybe he's fit to be your brother or even your best friend, but as my husband, I don't know ...." Karen held her head.

Kendrik could only nod because he did not understand the matter of the household. "Ehm .. about him who said he was cruel. During these 2 months, have you ever seen yourself or been hit or flanked by him?"

"Never at all. Mostly he's diem and never gets angry."

"Is it possible that he was caliph and has changed now? People can change, brother."

Karen looked at that possibility. Is it possible that Daniel was not bengal but forced to defend himself? But that thought can still be dismissed by another fact that Daniel was expelled from school. The school will not play games in expelling students.

Meanwhile, even though Karen thought of all the possibilities, the result remained the same that Daniel used to be a bratty and cruel child. Karen also thought of another possibility: multiple personalities or maybe even psychopaths.

***

In the room, Daniel lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He kept remembering Karen's expression when asked by Kendrik.

Plus, his wife's riverbed tears made him feel very sad, angry and upset mixed into one.

I never meant for you to marry me. If you are living with me, why wait so long? You can stay with me anytime. (Daniel).

***

Karen and Kendrik enter the house and prepare for dinner. Karen went into the room to take her husband to dinner with the others.

"Kudanil, let's eat!" bring him.

Daniel who usually answers with a nod or other non-verbal language, this time does not criticize Karen. He did not even glance at Karen at all and went straight to the dining room.

"Daniel, eat a lot of ya!" mama Puri said.

"Yes, Ma."

"Quiet, Ma! Daniel ate a lot of it and all kinds of food he wanted. Favorite she's bitter, Ma. Tomorrow you can know Mama Masakkin bitter melon a lot," said Karen with a smile win.

Daniel did not respond to Karen's words at all.

Daniel looks. "No, Ma."

"Lhoh, Ren, luckily Mama has not cooked pare. You are ignorant" protested Mama Puri.

Karen looked at Daniel who had been staring and avoided her sight. It's not usually that the doctor refutes Karen's words. Usually he just resigned and assented whatever Karen said especially in front of Mama Puri and Mami Seli.

After dinner together, Daniel said goodbye to sleep first. Karen's coming soon.

"Kudanil, what's wrong with you? How cute? Uh, I mean, how's it better than usual?"

Daniel did not answer and turned his back on Karen.

Not out of reason, Karen pulled Daniel's body to face him. "Are you angry with me?"

Daniel only gave a cold look and frowned.

Yes, he's angry. Never had he had such ugly faces. Butwhy? (Karen).

"What's wrong, Niel? Is it because of bitter?"

Daniel turned around, turned his back on Karen, leaving his wife feeling guilty and curious.

***

The next day, they went home.

In their own homes as well. Karen was ignored by Daniel.

Apparently, the anger of a pendiem is so? Added diem. (Karen).

Karen's mind raged back to match Daniel's history with the facts she sees now. It is not fitting between the atrocities her husband has committed in the past and her anger in the present.

Daniel's anger is only expressed by ignoring Karen, that's all. He didn't even touch Karen at all, very far from being cruel.

"Niel, what am I wrong? Is it because you hate bitter melon but I'm talking to your mom if you like it?"

Daniel looked up and looked at Karen.

So, she knows that I don't like bitter melon? Why did he cook pare and yesterday did he talk to my mom? Forget it, that's not why I'm angry. (Daniel).

"Ups, ahahah, I know you don't like bitter melon, so I know you do. I'm not wrong, I'm sorry?"

Daniel flinch, at home in sculpture mode.

"By the way, Niel! Minimal answer 'yes', 'hm', 'no', nodding or the usual kayak rings."

Karen only realized that even the short words Daniel often uttered were very valuable.

"Eh, Niel, Tony Stark's enemy who can grow imperfect limbs what's his name?"

"Aldrich Kill-" Almost got Daniel hooked. He quickly snarled.

"Aldrich Killian, huh?"

Daniel went away so as not to be provoked again.

***

At dinner, Daniel hasn't shown up yet. Karen was looking around the house for her husband, but nothing. He finally had dinner by himself.

At night's bedtime, Daniel hasn't returned. Even the pillows and blankets were not on the bed. Karen called many times, but was not answered. The message on Chatsapp was not read.

Oh my God, where did humans go. Strange as well, stop by to take a pillow with a blanket. (Karen).

to be continued...

Jogja, June 11th 2021