Chapter 13: Chapter 13

With a surprised look on her face, Rakia looked at Dashtan who was smiling at her. She ended the call unilaterally when the man came over to her.

“Don’t you have anything else to do besides being a stalker? I could have reported you to the police for invading someone else’s privacy.” Rakia said fiercely. Dashtan enjoyed every emotion the woman showed her since she met and saw her quite often.

“Going home now?” asked Dashtan.

“No, I’m taking the bus home,” Rakia refused sternly. She answered without looking at Dashtan.

“Your mom will find you, you’re new here, she must be worried, if I take you home, your stepfather will tell your mom about me.” This time Dashtan tried another way to make Rakia care about her. That way, she could get Rakia to talk about the marriage again. Rakia snorted and blew air out of her mouth by advancing her lower lobe. She turned to stare at Dashtan with an annoyed look.

“What do you want exactly?” asked Rakia desperately as she stood up.

“Fine, I’ll just follow you,” she finally decided. Dashtan smiled again then offered her arm for Rakia to hold.

“Are you crazy? Don’t mess with me.” Her gaze seemed to be able to kill Dashtan on the spot but the man was actually amused by showing his smirk.

“So that you don’t disappear, but if you don’t want to, that’s fine,” Dashtan said and left. Rakia felt confused and annoyed when she realized that the man’s pace was quite fast. She quickly chased after him.

“What a hassle,” she swore on the way as she chased Dashtan. He tugged on the man’s jacket sleeve to stop.

“Are you walking or running?” He invited her to leave. Rakia grumbled when she was near Dashtan.

“You want to kill me, huh?” asked Rakia as she tried to catch her breath while half-bent.

“You’re the one walking slowly.” Dashtan’s words only increased Rakia’s irritation with the man.

“You’re going too fast, like a tirex,” Rakia retorted angrily. Dashtan sighed. Since knowing Rakia they had argued more often and that had affected her emotions to some extent. Dashtan grabbed Rakia’s hand and forced the woman to follow the rhythm of her steps. With great effort, Rakia matched the rhythm of her steps with Dashtan. Arriving at a black range rover, Dashtan freed Rakia’s hand from her grip. She pressed the remote control key to unlock and then opened the door for Rakia in the front seat.

“If you marry me, I will happily treat you like this every day.” Dashtan returned to her act by spicing up the flirting. Rakia rolled her eyes as she sank into the car seat.

“No need to talk.”

Dashtan chuckled and closed the car door, then ran around the front of the car to get to the steering wheel. Rakia had used the moment Dashta got to the driver’s side to watch the man.

“He’s handsome, sweet-mouthed and romantic in his demeanor, but he’s selfish,” Rakia thought with her lips suddenly twisted at the thought of Dashtan being selfish. To her, a selfish man was a problem that could not be taken lightly.

“How about we eat first before I take you home?” Dashtan tried to buy time so she could spend more time with the woman.

“No, I’ll just eat at home,” Rakia refused without preamble.

“Come on... just dinner. Is that a problem for you?”

Rakia chuckled and glanced at Dashtan for a moment with a sharp glance.

“I’m not in the mood to have dinner with anyone, please just take me home.” This time, Rakia tried to ask nicely.

“Are you sure you’re not hungry? How about I buy you some food?” Dashtan did not want to give up. Rakia let out a tired sigh.

“One more thing, he’s a pushover,” Rakia said in her mind.

“Do you always force all women like this? Maybe that’s the reason why they don’t feel incompatible with you. Because you’re like a prison to them.”

Dashtan pressed his lips together, feeling that it was not entirely wrong.

“I’m just trying to be considerate and caring.” Dashtan defended himself.

“Yes, but not everyone likes to be coerced, in fact no one likes to be coerced into anything.”

They drifted in silence for a few moments and it established an awkward atmosphere between them.

“Tell me honestly, why do you want me to marry you?” Rakia erased the silence between them in an attempt to remove the awkwardness.

“You’re the perfect candidate.” Dashtan replied briefly but to the point.

“Actually, what is your purpose in getting married?” The question made Dashtan think of an idea.

“Do you want to know?” he asked. Inquisitive Rakia took the bait.

“You can explain whatever you want.”

Yes! Got you, baby!

Dashtan cheered in his mind.

“Then you’ll have to have dinner with me to hear the answer.”

Rakia sighed and realized her mistake. But the rice was already cooked, so she accepted the offer.

“Yeah, well, since you’ve been sneaky with me,” she accused Dashtan, who responded with a laugh.

“You’re the one who’s easily provoked. You can refuse.”

Once again Dashtan seemed to hit her weak spot.

“That sucks!” grumbled Rakia.

“Now, tell me your reasons why you want to get married.”

Dashtan sighed before starting to speak.

“My stepfather said he would give me his entire inheritance if I married someone. Settle down and become a husband.” Dashtan began.

“So, he’s your stepfather?” Rakia’s question honestly took Dashtan by surprise. He expected to get a statement like ‘You married just for the inheritance?! You son of a bitch!” or something to that effect.

“Yes, so what?” asked Dashtan curiously.

“I thought he was your real father, given your close interaction in the hospital,” Rakia said. That reason confused Dashtan a little.

“I was with him from the age of eight. My real father died and my mother remarried because she couldn’t raise me alone. Moreover, our economy was in a slump. Luckily, my mom found a man like my stepfather although initially, I didn’t get along with him very well. He was a controlling father.” That short story just flowed out of Dashtan. But he realized it was the first time someone wanted to know about his personal life, especially about his relationship with his stepfather. Unlike Dalilah, the woman who had lived in his heart for years did not care much about his personal life.

“I think you’re lucky. Being able to grow up with surrogate parents, at least your biological parents are not separated due to divorce.”

Dashtan turned his head for a moment to see Rakia’s expression after saying that. He caught a hint of envy.

“Did Doctor Pedro not become a surrogate parent for you after your parents separated?” It was Dashtan’s turn to wonder.

“You could say that, or rather I didn’t want a surrogate parent. But I don’t hate Pedro, after all he is in the middle of my family right now because my mother chose him.” Rakia was silent for a moment.

“Besides, he’s a nice guy.” She smiled as she remembered Pedro. It was an honest confession.

“By the way, do you like Padang food?” Dashtan asked, changing the topic.

“Yes, of course. I can even cook a recipe for ayam padang,” said Rakia, showing off her cooking skills.

“Oh, yeah? Do you enjoy cooking?”

Rakia nodded enthusiastically. Dashtan had seen that enthusiastic nod. He smiled.

“Why not become a chef?”

“I didn’t think of that.” Rakia answered honestly.

“If you want me to try your cooking, you’ll have to become Mrs. Dashtan first, how about that?” Dashtan tried to stifle his laughter while still focused on driving. A punch hit one of his arms close to Rakia.

“In your dreams!” retorted Rakia which only made Dashtan release the laughter he had been holding back.