Alexander sat in the corner of the living room, observing the interaction between Casandra and her mother. The two of them looked more like mother and daughter rather than mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. They appeared familiar and engaged in a warm conversation, unlike when Meri spoke with Cesilia. The two of them seemed more like enemies than in-laws.
“Now, tell Mama what happened that made you come back home all soaked like this,” Meri spoke to Casandra, but her gaze was directed at Alexander.
“I was just looking around the backyard. Accidentally, I fell into the swimming pool because I was too focused on the decorations there. I didn’t realize my feet touched the pool water, and I fell,” Casandra explained.
“Is that true?” Casandra nodded.
“Then where was Alexander when you fell?” Meri asked, her gaze sharpening. She clasped her hands together, trying to suppress the mix of nervousness and fear.
“Alexander…” Casandra paused. She squeezed her hands, trying to dispel the anxiety and fear that mixed within her. “He was near me, but he couldn’t catch me in time, so I fell into the pool.”
“Okay, so that’s how it happened. You’re being honest, right? Without being forced to lie to Mama,” Meri said.
“Yes, Mom. I’m being honest,” Casandra replied.
“Alright, then go to your room and change your clothes, so you won’t catch a cold.” Meri rubbed Casandra’s arm affectionately. She truly cared for the girl who had just married Alexander.
Meri didn’t know why she had so many hopes for Casandra. It wasn’t just about having grandchildren but also as a companion for Alexander until they grew old together. Meri realized she was getting older and wasn’t sure if she could accompany Alexander until he had grandchildren.
Casandra nodded, standing there without moving, still unsure of where her feet should take her.
Should she go to the back bedroom or another room? Meanwhile, Alexander had already started walking towards the stairs.
“You follow Alexander. Wherever Alexander is, that’s where you should be because you’re his wife,” Meri stated firmly.
Both Alexander and Casandra widened their eyes in surprise.
“Me?” Alexander protested. “I have to follow him? So you’re asking me to share a room with Casandra?”
“Of course. She is your wife, not Mama’s wife. And certainly not the gardener’s wife,” Meri retorted.
“Yes, I know, Mom. But sleep in the same room with her?” Alexander sighed heavily, massaging his temple that was starting to ache. If things continued like this, he might go crazy or die young.
“Now you go upstairs, Mom has arranged everything in your room and Casandra’s. There are spare clothes and all sorts of bathing essentials for Casandra. Yes, tonight you must start making a grandchild for Mom. No objections or lies drama.”
“Hold on!” Alexander looked at the floor and Meri alternately. “Mom said the upstairs room was filled with Casandra’s belongings? Cesilia?”
“Cesilia is still in your room. Your room and Casandra’s room are across from your room and Cesilia’s.”
“Do you mean my workspace, Mom?”
“Yes, that’s right. Mama has transformed it into a very comfortable room.”
“Oh my… Mom! After this, where will I work?” Alexander was not accepting Meri’s unilateral decision.
“In that room as well. You can work and sleep there together with Casandra.”
“But, Mom, how can I work if there’s someone else in my room? As you know, Cesilia never interferes with my work. She always gives me space to focus on my work.”
“Cesilia and Casandra are very different,” Meri snapped. “You two go to sleep because tomorrow morning Mama will make sure of something.”
Even if Alexander protested and turned things upside down, Meri didn’t care. For her, Alexander had to follow what she wanted in order to have grandchildren in the future. If possible, she wanted a change of son-in-law as well.
Alexander’s frustration didn’t end there. He wanted to curse because all the guest room doors were locked. Even the room usually used by Casandra’s mother was locked. In a situation like this, what should Alexander do? Yes, that’s right. He was forced to sleep in the same room as Casandra.
***
Casandra stood there motionless, observing the fairly spacious room. There was a queen-size bed, a vanity table, a wardrobe, a bookshelf, and a desk that Casandra believed to be Alexander’s workspace.
Casandra remained standing there without doing anything. Although her body felt cold, she didn’t want to change her clothes yet because the girl was still nervous and didn’t know where her clothes were or how to proceed.
Meanwhile, Alexander was preoccupied with himself. How surprised he was to find that half of his clothes and important belongings were in that room. He truly didn’t expect that what his mother said was not just an idle talk. Frustrated, Alexander entered the bathroom to clean himself.
“If this is how it’s going to be, I might go crazy because of Mama’s actions,” he sighed, completely desperate about what was happening to him right now.
Alexander wanted to confide in Cesilia, to express how overwhelmed he was dealing with his mother, but unfortunately, he couldn’t reach her phone number.
Ever since Cesilia decided to go to Bali.
“What are you doing there? Do you want to catch a cold? Do you want Mama to scold me again?”
Casandra turned towards the voice, and at the doorway of the bathroom stood Alexander, glaring at her. The man did look fresh and handsome as he had just finished bathing and cleaning up. However, in Casandra’s eyes, Alexander resembled more of a hungry tiger ready to tear her body into tiny shreds.
“Why are you silent? Do you want to create problems with me again, huh?”
Casandra shook her head. “Then quickly change your clothes!” Alexander approached Casandra. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Casandra tightly sealed her lips. “Listen, village girl! Don’t make trouble in front of me, because I can ruin your life even more than this.” Alexander pointed his index finger in front of Casandra’s face.
Instead of answering or complying with Alexander’s demands, Casandra remained still. Not only did she refuse to move, but she also refused to speak. Alexander grew even more frustrated seeing the stubbornness of the girl in front of him.
As a result, Alexander sat on the edge of the bed, reached for his phone on the nightstand, and tried to contact Cesilia. Once again, he desperately attempted to get news from his wife, even though he anticipated that Cesilia’s number couldn’t be reached, just like the previous times he had tried.
The last time she opened her messaging app was at the same time, coinciding with her departure to Bali.
“Sir,” Casandra called out. Hesitant but with no other choice. Whom else could she ask if not that annoying man?
“What?” Alexander replied curtly. He placed his phone on the nightstand and covered himself with a blanket. “Just do whatever you want, but don’t bother me.”
Casandra sighed deeply, observing Alexander from where she stood.
“Very well, sir,” she replied, trying to sound as polite as possible.
Although in her heart, she cursed how annoying the man was. Casandra just wanted to ask where she could find spare clothes for herself. However, Alexander responded rudely. Nevertheless, she remained calm because Alexander said she was free to do anything.
Finally, Casandra walked over and opened the wardrobe, confident that there would be spare clothes for her. Indeed, she found many women’s clothes there, but she didn’t want to wear any of them.
How could she? Meri had set up traps for the both of them. None of the clothes had sleeves; they were more like lingerie or skimpy nightgowns.
Casandra couldn’t bear to imagine Alexander’s response if she were to wear those skimpy clothes. As a result, she reached for Alexander’s shirt hanging on another door.
She pulled the corners of her lips, feeling relieved because Alexander’s shirt was more modest compared to the sleepwear available in the wardrobe.
Casandra quickly went to the bathroom to change her clothes. There were no undergarments, so she only wore the maroon-red shirt.
“It’s okay, better than catching a cold,” she mumbled to herself, examining her appearance in the bathroom mirror.
Once she finished changing, Casandra returned to the room and sat on the chair where Alexander usually worked. There was no sofa for her to sleep on, so she had no choice but to sleep sitting up. She folded her hands on the table and rested her cheek on her arm.
It was comfortable enough for Casandra, who was cold and extremely sleepy. Within minutes, she fell into a deep sleep, oblivious to the fact that Alexander was still awake, observing her actions all this time.
Seeing Casandra sleep like that sparked a sense of pity in him, but Alexander’s ego overcame his human compassion to help or invite Casandra to sleep together on the bed.
Thus, Alexander chose to ignore and let Casandra sleep, sitting there. Besides, their mother couldn’t see what they were doing. Alexander could sleep peacefully tonight. It didn’t matter that Casandra was in his room; they certainly wouldn’t share the same bed.