“Can you just follow what I want for once?”
“What do you mean, Sir?” Casandra asked, although she continued to follow Alexander as he dragged her away.
Casandra wanted to halt Alexander’s steps, but he seemed completely indifferent. Despite her efforts to hold her ground, Alexander kept dragging her away to avoid Cesilia, who was getting closer to them.
“Wait! Can’t you listen to me?” Cesilia finally managed to catch up and grab Alexander’s shirt. With great reluctance, Alexander stopped and turned to face Cesilia.
“I didn’t see you.”
“You didn’t see me? Are you sure?” Cesilia squinted her eyes. “I’ve been calling you, Lex. I shouted until my voice was gone, and everyone on the beach was stunned to see me running and calling your name. We were so close, but why did you say you didn’t hear at all? Just say that you don’t want to meet me, right? Just because you have Casandra now. It’s only been a few days since you got married, but you can’t even acknowledge my presence. What will happen in two or four months from now?” Cesilia lashed out, not caring if her words offended Casandra.
“So, that’s what you think?” Alexander folded his arms across his chest, ready to listen to Cesilia’s explanation about her statement.
“Of course, that’s what I think, because that’s the reality. You seem to be distancing yourself after arriving in Bali.”
“I’m the one distancing myself after arriving in Bali? Are you sure?” Alexander wasn’t ready to give an answer; instead, he asked another question.
He wanted to see how Cesilia had been looking at him all this time, to gauge the kind of love she had given him. Alexander wanted to know if Cesilia trusted him or not.
“I’m very sure. You’ve been different. Just because you got Casandra entirely, just because you experienced love with a young woman, is that it?” Cesilia’s emotions took over, and she didn’t think about her words before they came out, not realizing that her words had crossed the line.
Her words shattered Alexander’s heart into unrecognizable pieces, leaving it broken beyond repair.
“Yes, that’s who I am. If you judge me that way, then that must be the true essence of Alexander. He easily forgets the woman he once loved because he has found someone new. Thank you for your words that made me realize that I am not a good man like most other men, not like the Alexander you expected. So, congratulations on your work, and I apologize for disturbing you.” Alexander reached for Casandra’s hand again and led her away.
He really couldn’t talk much with Cesilia right now. He was afraid things would escalate again like before. Alexander wanted to calm himself first before talking to Cesilia directly.
“But!” Cesilia called out to Alexander, feeling unsatisfied with what she had conveyed so far. Seeing Alexander and Casandra ignoring her all this time naturally triggered Cesilia’s emotions.
Unaware that the current problem resulted from her own selfishness. Even her deep fear of getting involved in an illicit relationship with Maxime made Cesilia think negatively of Alexander. Although, up until this moment, Alexander had never touched Casandra.
And on the night when Casandra got drunk, Alexander had only accompanied and taken care of her. He treated her when she felt nauseous and vomited after drinking wine, which she had never done before. So, Alexander spent almost the entire night taking care of Casandra, applying eucalyptus oil to her head to alleviate her nausea and dizziness. He had no intention of dressing Casandra in his clothes, but seeing the contents of her suitcase that resembled a fisherman’s boat, Alexander felt that his shirt was more appropriate.
It wasn’t because of anything else, but wearing a fisherman’s net might make Casandra catch a cold instead of recovering like she did this morning.
“Alexander, listen. After I finish my work, I want to meet you tonight and discuss this further so you don’t drift further away from me.”
“Tonight? I can’t promise because there’s an important meeting I have to attend,” Alexander politely declined.
“An important meeting? But aren’t you in Bali?”
“Meetings aren’t only held at the company; there are many ways for me to hold meetings and discussions without being physically present at the office. I believe, as an educated woman, you understand what I mean.”
Cesilia clenched her fists tightly, frustrated with Alexander’s response. She wanted to drag Casandra away now so she wouldn’t get any closer to her husband.
Trying to remain composed after being rejected, Cesilia said, “Fine, but at least you can spare me a little time to talk, just 5-10 minutes. I beg you; there are a few things I need to explain and some things you should avoid when you’re with Casandra.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t have that much time for you. I’m afraid your presence might disrupt my work, just to discuss something unimportant like this. You know, whatever I want, you will never understand or do it anyway. I just asked for your understanding as a wife, nothing more. I also said to manage your own life. I will comply with your every wish, and you also asked me to remarry to please Mama. So, I made…”
“So, because of that, now you’re discarding me? Because you have a place to plant your seed, right?”
“It’s up to you what you want to say because I don’t want to explain to you about what’s been happening in my life. Because everything you say is true. Even if not, it’s still true in your eyes. So why else do you ask for an explanation from me?”
“You’ve really changed. It’s only been two days, Elang? But in reality, you’ve changed so much and hurt me.”
Alexander tugged at the corners of his lips. “No one is hurting you; it’s the circumstances that made me like this. And you must remember that it was your own desires that made me like this, Cesilia. Not my desires. Not fate, but it’s all you who arranged it to be like this.”
Alexander left without asking for permission first. He didn’t forget to hold Casandra’s hand, so the girl could only follow Alexander’s footsteps. Despite stumbling, Casandra still followed wherever Alexander went because she was now Alexander’s wife and would remain so since Cesilia had humiliated her and Alexander. The woman felt as if she were hurt, even though she herself had paid to become Alexander’s second wife.
Casandra complained, rubbing her flat stomach, “Sir, why am I suddenly hungry?”
“You’re hungry already after eating?” Alexander stopped walking before they entered the hotel lobby.
“Yes, because I was running around earlier, and now I’m tired. So, I want to eat again. There’s someone selling ice cream. Let’s go there!” Casandra pointed to an ice cream cart. Without getting Alexander’s approval, she dragged her husband to approach the cart.
Not to forget, she added a little confidence that Alexander would treat her.
“I want a mix of vanilla and strawberry ice cream. What flavor do you want, Sir?” she asked.
“Just get the same,” Alexander replied nonchalantly, although he also seemed interested in the ice cream. As the morning turned into noon, the scorching sun began to take its toll. So, ice cream was a suitable drink to quench their thirst and, hopefully, cool Alexander’s head, which felt like it was burning because of Cesilia’s actions.
After getting the ice cream, Alexander had already paid. Instead of going back to the hotel, Casandra led him back to the beach’s edge. She sat on a wooden chair, playing with the white sand beneath her feet.
“Aren’t you planning to return to the room?” Alexander asked. He actually wanted to sit next to Casandra and enjoy the waves, but he was afraid Cesilia would approach them again, like earlier.
Honestly, Alexander didn’t want to meet his wife right now. He really wanted to calm his anger and emotions first before giving Cesilia a chance to talk. Alexander was very afraid of saying something wrong later because his emotions were stronger than his love for Cesilia.
“Are you tired, Sir? Alright, let’s go back to the hotel,” Casandra mustered the courage to hold Alexander’s hand tightly, leading him back to the hotel.
As soon as they entered the room, Alexander’s phone rang. “Mama,” he said to Casandra, handing her the phone.
“Madam?” Casandra asked back. Alexander just nodded before walking to the balcony to finish his remaining ice cream. Realizing that Alexander didn’t want to be disturbed, Casandra quickly answered the incoming call from Meri. She neutralized her voice to sound fine, even though she was hurt by Cesilia’s actions earlier. If she followed her anger, Casandra wanted to complain about everything. However, she still wanted to protect Alexander’s feelings.
“Hi, dear, how are you both? Is everything settled, or are you still playing coy?” Meri greeted enthusiastically, inquiring about the progress of the relationship between Alexander and Casandra.
“Hi, Ma,” Casandra replied, making Meri slightly surprised because the one responding wasn’t Alexander but Casandra. However, Meri didn’t want to discuss it further.
With Casandra as the one receiving her call, it meant that the relationship between Alexander and the girl was going very well.
“Well, dear, how are you both?”
“We’re doing fine, Ma. If…”
“Loh, why, Sir? What’s wrong with you? Alexander is your husband, Cas. Not your employer. Did you forget that?” Meri protested, not liking that Casandra addressed Alexander as ‘Sir’ since their status was no longer that of a house assistant and employer.
“Well, you know, Ma.” Casandra rubbed her neck. “I’m not used to calling Alexander anything else.”
“Not used to it doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Change it, dear. After this, you must call Alexander ‘Abang’ or ‘Mas,’ understand?!”
“Yes, Ma.” Casandra giggled.
“Try again.” Meri took a deep breath. “Hi, dear… how are you and Elang? Are you both doing well?” Repeating her question to Casandra.
“I and Mas Alexander are doing fine, Ma. How about Mama?” Difficult and somewhat heavy, Casandra finally completed Meri’s challenge.
“There you go. That’s my girl.” Meri exclaimed happily. “I’m doing well, even better if you two can give me a grandchild.”
“How do we make a grandchild, Ma? Mas Alexander is still hesitant to get close to me.” Without hiding their current situation, Casandra hoped for some assistance to help her have a child soon. Hmm?
“Oh, really? Then your vacation needs a little more spice, so you’re ready for your wedding night.” Meri rubbed her chin, thinking of what she could do to make Alexander fulfill his duties as a husband.
If she kept quiet like this, it could take two more years without getting a grandchild from Casandra. One thing unknown to Alexander, although Cesilia decided not to work today and wanted to be a mother, Meri swore never to have a grandchild from such a selfish woman.
“Here’s the plan.” Meri paused, closing her eyes tightly as her little brain worked and came up with a brilliant idea.
“Tonight, you two should stay in. Have dinner in your room, and I’ll have the hotel send dinner for you both. As a wedding gift from me. And I don’t care; you both must finish all the food I provide. I make sure the menu that comes will be Alexander’s favorite, just like yours, Yas. I also don’t want to hear that you didn’t touch the food at all.” She emphasized each word she said to ensure Casandra listened to her.
“Alright, if that’s what you want, Mama. I’ll also tell Mas Alexander about it.”
“That’s more like it… that’s my new daughter. Whatever Mama says, listen, because everything that comes out of Mama’s mouth is for the best of your marriage. Okay, then, I’m going to order dinner for you two. Remember… don’t neglect it. Mama doesn’t like that.”
“Alright, Mama. Trust me, Mas Alexander and I will definitely eat it.” Casandra reassured Meri for the umpteenth time.
They both ended the call, and Casandra wondered what special dinner menu Meri would order for her and Alexander.