Chapter 22: Chapter 22

A room that served as a workspace with a cozy interior made Rakia once again marvel at the man’s home. Dashtan invited Rakia to sit on a sofa that he had reserved for guests who would talk business with him. Rakia sat on the long sofa and waited for Dashtan to join her.

“Perhaps there is more you would like to discuss on this contract? Dashtan asked as he sat on a single sofa opposite Rakia’s current position. He put down a stack of HVS papers containing the contract they had been discussing since a few days ago.

“Can I cook for you? I mean you know, I can’t just cook for myself while I live here as your wife.” Rakia started the conversation. Dashtan smiled in response to the woman’s nervous look.

“No problem, the contract already says. There is no obligation for both parties to fulfill the role of husband and wife inside the house except in public including family.” Dashtan reminded one of the points of the contract.

“That means... neither you nor I care, is that it?” Somehow that statement struck her.

“How so? I’m living it? I must be out of my mind, forget it, Rakia... this relationship will only get you hurt someday.”

Her other self was angry and criticized her for making the decision.

“Isn’t that better, but that doesn’t mean I really don’t care about you, you’re my wife, legal in the eyes of religion and the state, it’s just that I don’t expect us to fall into the life of an actual husband and wife. We’re just agreeing here to get married and live together. And after the deadline we have agreed upon is due, we will have to part ways.” Dashtan looked at Rakia who was currently staring blankly at the glass table surface in front of her. She swallowed dryly as she blinked to brace herself. She sighed and nodded.

“I understand.” That was all Rakia could say. Dashtan stared at Rakia for a few minutes, then said, “Do you still want to discuss this contract?” Hearing that question Rakia looked down for a moment before answering.

“No, I understand.” And that was her final sentence before the two of them put their signatures on the stamped paper, and on that day their destinies began to move according to the will of the owner of hearts and lives. Rakia smiled at Dashtan after they finished signing the contract documents.

“Do you want something to drink? I’ll get you something,” Dashtan offered.

“No, thank you, maybe I should just go home I have to be early for work tomorrow,” Rakia refused with a reason that wasn’t entirely wrong. Rather, she felt she wanted more time alone to think about what she had done. Dashtan complied with her request and drove her home.

On their way to Rakia’s house, only silence prevailed. Each of them was busy with their thoughts. Until they arrived at the gate of Rakia’s house, no one spoke.

“Thank you,” Rakia said without looking at Dashtan then turned fully toward the door to open it. Dashtan just stared at the woman’s departure in silence. He didn’t know why he suddenly felt guilty. Trying to think about it further just made him argue with himself and he didn’t want to do that. Finally, Dashtan left Rakia’s house after a few minutes.

“How was the date?” Adeline immediately questioned her daughter who had just arrived with questions and curiosity. Rakia smiled and said, “Dashtan asked me to meet his mother.” Adeline immediately widened her eyes and covered her open mouth with her hand.

“Seriously, Sweetie? So... He's going to be serious, right?” Adeline was getting curious. Rakia smiled embarrassedly, but her heart suddenly became cloudy. They would get married but only live together.

“We’ll see in the near future, Ma, if Dashtan wants to be serious with me he will.” Rakia deliberately gave a vague answer. She didn’t want to appear too confident in front of her mom. So that she wouldn’t suspect that the relationship she was going to build with Dashtan was just a business relationship packaged in a marriage. Rakia walked away after her brief conversation with Adeline ended. She sat on the edge of the bed in a sluggish manner.

“I must be crazy,” she said more to herself. Her face was grim and her heart seemed to be pinched, a small pinch but felt. Somehow she could already guess what the marriage would be like. She tried to get up to change before going to bed.

“Don’t put your heart into that marriage,” she said as she looked at her reflection in the sink mirror after washing her face. She took a deep breath through her nose and exhaled slowly. Just as she started to close her eyes, a notification on her phone momentarily distracted her and she quickly reached for the object on the nightstand near her bed.

[Shall I drop you off tomorrow morning?]

Rakia smiled a little at Dashtan’s WA message. She typed her reply.

[Not yet, afraid of being troublesome, after all I’m leaving so early you must still be sleeping. ]

Pressing send her message was immediately read by the man.

[I can sleep late and wake up early. Just tell me what time to pick you up. ]

Rakia smiled while snorting lightly. She gradually got to know the man’s pushy nature.

[Why are you so pushy?] Rakia was just curious.

[I know you need a ride.]

Rakia shook her head at the man’s answer.

“What a man,” she cursed.

[Yeah... Well if that’s what you want, pick me up at half past six in the morning.]

Dashtan replied by sending a tumbs up emoji.

[Apparently, my mom will be happy if you become her son-in-law.]

She just wanted to prolong the conversation so that sleep would come to her soon, she needed something to do before going to bed.

[Oh, yeah? Of course, I’m the in-laws’ dream guy] Dashtan added a cool emoji to the end of her sentence. Rakia rolled her eyes while making a dramatic vomiting motion as well.

[Turns out you’re a narcissist too, what else do you want to show me?]

[ What do you want to see? ] Dashtan added a blink emoji at the end of her sentence, which made Rakia widen her eyes.

[You’re teasing me, huh? I mean, what other traits do you want to show me? Ah, I know, you’re a tease. ]

[ Is that what you think? Go to sleep, you have to go to work early tomorrow. ]

Rakia rolled her eyes.

“And Bossy,” Rakia said later. She put her cell phone back on the nightstand, then adjusted her nightlight so that it was not too bright after which she closed her eyes. The memory of Dashtan kissing her was the introduction for her consciousness to cross over into dreamland. She could even still feel the moment when it happened, how her lips and Dashtan’s lips tasted each other with a little tongue play. Rakia’s eyes that had been closed suddenly opened because of the vivid and disturbing memory. Rakia sighed irritably and tried to distract her mind from thinking about it anymore.