Our Story: The Sudden Chancellery
80. A Day Before Applying

“Gala? Helloo?”

On that busy office day, Gala was faced with a pile of work that left her with almost no time to touch her phone. Since then, he has preferred to sit on his couch rather than a chair, with a pile of maps and papers that he should have reviewed before getting approval from him. Yes, that's how people who want to get married, if possible, all the work is pursued so that he can focus on taking care of the marriage.

But there was a thought that had troubled him since this morning.

He becomes a little distracted by the events of the day before he proposes to Gemma and Viani. Until now, he has not told his fiancee anything about the incident. If at the time of applying for Gemma, he did not really think about it so that the application went smoothly, but this time, the anxiety in him was no longer tolerated.

Upon hearing Gemma's soft voice, Gala flinched. Gemma was already standing before him and looking at him with a questionable expression.

“Kok daydreaming?”

The man immediately woke up. “Hah? Oh... What time is it?”

Gemma glanced at the wall clock. “Now half hour 10. You why? Any problems?”

It doesn't really matter, the guy just doesn't know where to start. Then he remembered that there was an appointment with designers who would sew their wedding dresses and suits. By going there, it might be a bit of a stall before he tells the woman everything.

“Hmm... We have an appointment with Aunt Yanti, right?” he said he smiled widely, put the documents he had held on the coffee table and then took the car keys. “Come, Darling.”

Gala runs ahead of Gemma. But the woman looked at her back strangely. He realized to be the subject of the woman's gaze. After reaching the door, he turned around. “Sayang... Come? Later late.” The man immediately grabbed Gemma's hand and took her away from there.

The journey to the store was no better. Gala's forehead was unceasingly frowning. He was also still unable to improve his mood or behave appropriately as possible in the presence of the woman. The car he was driving also drove too slowly, even though the road was empty. His right elbow rested on his side-closed window, while his fingers propped up his chin. His gaze was straight, but meaningless.

This is not the usual thing Gemma sees. Gemma does have a careless nature, but that does not mean that the woman does not pay attention to everything in detail. “Gala, you must have thought of something.”

“You need a new car?”

“He? How to be a car?” next to Gemma's eyebrows raised.

“Need?” ask Gala again.

“Neither, Mama's old car is still so good. Tell me, is there something wrong?”

Gala is back to her normal mode. The car was a little faster. Rarely are the streets of the capital deserted like this during office hours. “Ngak, Darling. I thought about what car would suit you. Toyota Supra time, good. Want?”

Gemma shook her head against the expensive car Gala offered. All right, he'll wait until where Gala survives. “I don't need. So, we go to our wedding. About cars, houses and all sorts, we can talk about that later. We work important first.”

Significant.

Why did that word bother Gala in such a way?

Unknowingly, Gala has now turned her car to the destination, to a fashion gallery of famous designers Aditya family subscription since the Mother is still alive. Yanti Boutique, consisting of 3 shophouses 3 floors merged into 1. The space owned is wide enough so that his production and gallery can be in the same building.

The receptionist greeted the couple so kindly. “Let's come with me, Mas, Mbak,” he said while unable to take his eyes off Gala.

“Oh My dear, Gala and Gemma. Come in,” said Yanti with eccentric hair and sexy fashion choices. “Well, have you got the concept yet?”

At that time, Gala had started to be able to concentrate well. After explaining to Yanti what kind of concept they wanted, the middle-aged woman immediately made a picture and design right then and there.

The two people could only nod at the rough streaks Yanti made. They trust everything to Yanti.

“Tante knows, it's still rough. Three more weeks, you can come back here for fittings, okay?”

“Good, Aunt. Thank you very much,” Gemma also stood and held Gala out of the boutique at half-time at 12 noon.

“I laper, we eat first.”

Because the boutique was right next to a Chinese restaurant, the man immediately took the fiancee to it.

They eat as usual and Gala still survives her silence. Not wanting to spoil the lunch, Gemma chose to ask later. Maybe after this lunch, or at night after she finishes working on a music course.

“I want to take you somewhere.”

Finally the man spoke too. Gemma nodded and allowed herself to be taken to a place that even she did not know where she was going.

Who knows that's a surprise, right? Gemma immediately twitched spoiled on Gala's shoulder, holding the man's arm in a friendly manner.

Unfortunately, it wasn't the surprise Gemma expected at all.

Gala's car takes her down a road that takes her back to the past, against both the beautiful memories and the bad memories she had experienced during High School. Gemma's chest instantly became tight.

“From all places, why should we come here?” gemma asked as Gala stopped her car right in front of a whitewashed house and an iron fence that looked worn out.

Gemma's facial water changed. His face was getting colder. Even with his hand that no longer hangs on Gala's arm.

“Actually what are you planning?” Gemma crossed paths, waiting for the man's explanation.

Gala took a deep breath. “The day before I laid your bed, I was actually looking for your father and I found him here. While in Jakarta and as a witness to the case of his former superiors in Rapidash—, Bambang, he lived here.

This house is still his home after a dozen years of leaving, since you and Indra were married first. I managed to meet your father, to ask for your marriage license.”

Okay, that's beyond Gemma's expectations. Gala came to ask permission from that horrible father?

Gemma amazed. He's such a gentleman! Gemma really does not regret receiving the proposal. But the woman knew that the news was not finished there.

“Then?”

“I am talking about my arrival and..” Gala sighed again before continuing, because this information is not good news in anyone's ears, but not too bad. “The reaction was not as good as I expected. He didn't say agree or not. Groaning answers. But, I still go ahead and propose to you, then tell him by phone that we are officially fiancee.”

“If he already knows, yes good dong. Then why do we have to come here again?”

“Gem, I know you are skeptical of this. But I think the parents' blessing is important to us. If I want, I can marry you in two weeks. I'd even been obrolin to our Wedding Planner in case it happened. However, you still have parents, Gem. Like it not like it, he is the only one still alive.”

“Try, now you to the point aja.” said Gemma jengah. Talking about the father is not a fun thing to be a discussion.

“I want us to go inside, we tell your dad that we're getting married. Tell us our plan when and where. He has to be at the wedding, honey. Om Yahya it's still your birth father.”

Gemma's eyebrows linked together thinking about everything Gala said. Should he tell his father in person that he's getting married? He turned his face away from Gala to hide his mixed feelings.

Anger, hate, disappointment join together to form a bitter root that is so deep. As much as he hates Indra, Yahya is a figure that surpasses the man. His mistake was the biggest. He was destroyed because of his father. There is nothing more painful than being hurt by your own parents.

Then who is he now suddenly appearing on Gemma's happy day? What right did he have to show himself to her after a dozen years of disappearing with no news at all?

Gemma's blood boiled until her face reddened. Her chest was filled with emotion. His necks poked out, his hands trembling withstanding the wrath that had almost taken over his entire logic, as if now his eyes were almost blind with anger.

“Gem..?”

Even the loving gentle call from Gala was unable to bring Gemma back. His feelings were like being crushed again, many times until he was unable to think. His encounter with Yahya the other day alone made him almost crazy.

“I don't want.”

“Sorry?”

“I. Naw. Mau!”

“Gem. Please—“

“I don't want to be forced. Or..” Gemma thinks of what threats are working on Gala.  “Or we can't get married!”

Gala's eyes rounded wide hearing the reckless threat. “Gemma!”

“My decision is final. You can meet my father alone,” the woman immediately got off the Gala car to the front garden of the complex that turns out to still exist today. He clutches his phone, scrolls through his screen in search of an online object or whatever it is that can take him out of that rotten house full of painful memories.

The fiancee immediately chased after him and found him still sitting alone in the garden chair, behind a row of tall plants that blocked the view of the passersby on the streets of the complex.

“Honey... I know now you are angry, disappointed, not accepted. I understand—“

“Don't tell me you know!!” Gemma pointed at Gala's face with emotion. “You don't understand what it's like to be beaten up and blamed by your parents for something you didn't do! You don't know how it feels to have your fingers broken by your own parents for doing what they don't like! You are not forced to marry someone you do not know! You're not rasain—“ Gemma's words are cut off with a quick hunting breath.

Without him noticing, tears had already dripped so profusely that both of his cheeks were wet. Her heart was so sore that the old wound that was still so painful was finally forcefully opened again by the man who was going to be her husband. “Why do you make so much?! You're the same kind of wound match I've been covering for a long time! Especially after this, Gala? Painful surprise what else do you want to give me?”

“Gem! Listen first!” Gala pulled the woman who was a little more about to turn away. This man is still trying to persuade Gemma. “Listen to me, please! I just don't want you to regret.”

“Ha?! Why am I sorry?!” Gemma snorted skeptically. “His life has been better since I didn't depend on him! You forgot the last time we saw him? What did he tell you and me? A dozen years had passed, he did not even feel guilty at all! All four of them insulted me and judged me as good as his heart without knowing how Indra and his family treated me!

If he is now suffering alone, he deserves it all!”

“You're right, Gem. He is worthy. Believe me, he has suffered enough alone.”

“Tau where did you come from, if he suffered? With the intimidation we got yesterday? He could be alone but he obviously didn't suffer the same seka—“

Gala who followed the emotions saw the stubborn Gemma finally could not stand it anymore. He was forced to drop the bomb even though he thought it was not the right time.

“He suffered from cancer, Gem. Your father has late-stage lymph cancer.”

...****************...

I can still double up baby2... Part2 is really emotional 2, and I have to remember myself first... Understand to end 🤭🤭🤭

enjoy 💋