Not the Wife He Wants

Chapter 8. Angela

Angela's POV

I never expected that being kidn*pped by an uncle-like guy like Rick would be fun. First, because he wasn't as mean as I thought, second, because he wasn't as stiff as I imagined, and third, of course, because even though he can be annoying, I can feel that my cousin's boyfriend, Rick, actually has a good heart. He seems like the type who can't stand seeing others suffer. Just look at him now, he's really making me take a complete break in front of the TV and ensuring I eat properly and take my medicine regularly. A simple happiness that I've never experienced in my life. Let alone watching TV while relaxing like this, I can't even eat as I please at home. That's why I'm going to enjoy this k********g because who knows if I'll ever experience it again in the future. Consider it as building memories that might make me smile one day when I think about them.

"Uncle, when are we going to the beach?" I asked for the umpteenth time. Rick glanced at me with an annoyed look. But I kept staring at him, not caring, waiting for an answer. And if he didn't answer again, I would ask again. It's fun to annoy him with my chatter.

"Don't you understand the meaning of being ignored and not answered?" He said, and I shook my head. "It means your chatter is getting to the point where I want to explode and throw you out the door." He continued irritably, and I smiled amusedly.

"Uncle, you have to get used to this chatter if you keep forcing me to be your wife. Because I'm like this and will be like this every day. Even if you get angry, I'll still be like this. Can't be changed, this is a gift from God since I was born, Uncle." I replied, but he didn't care and went back to being busy with the files he was working on and something on his laptop. I was curious, so I moved closer and peeked.

"Wow, Uncle, you have a modeling company too? Wow, they're all so beautiful. But why doesn't Zia join your company?" I asked, and again, he didn't answer, which made me a little annoyed. "Uncle, let's go to the beach." He still ignored me. "The beach, Uncle, the beach!" I said again, Rick sighed but remained focused on his work. "Uncle, can I be a model like the ones on your laptop?" This question finally caught his attention. He turned and looked at me uncertainly.

"No way." He answered briefly and then returned his attention to the laptop.

"I can be beautiful, you know, Uncle, just wait until I work and have money to buy nice clothes and expensive makeup." I said, a little annoyed with his dismissive tone.

"Better use the money to buy more food, you're so skinny." He said without turning. "Not sexy at all, like a ten-year-old." He added, making me upset.

"What do you mean like a ten-year-old? Me?" I replied, annoyed. Then he turned and directed his gaze to my chest with a dismissive look. Reflexively, I covered that f*******n area with my crossed hands, and he sighed in wonder.

"You don't need to cover it up, it's not visible anyway." He said again.

"Uncle Rick, you're cruel and mean." I grumbled in annoyance.

"Ouch, Angela, why did you bite me?!" He yelled, not accepting it when I bit his arm and then ran away.

"That's payback for someone mean who insults my beautiful body." I said angrily, then slipped into the kitchen to get a drink. I thought he would be mad, but he just burst out laughing. He's so annoying!

"Beautiful body, huh? Get real, Angela! It's already noon, stop dreaming." He shouted, his voice reaching the kitchen. I drank my water until I finished a whole bottle out of annoyance. After that, I returned to the previous spot and glared at him irritably, but he just smiled amusedly, annoyingly.

"Let's go to the beach!" I said sharply.

"Is there no other topic? You've said it hundreds of times, Angela!" He replied.

"I'll say it thousands of times if you don't grant it." I insisted again.

"Don't you see the sun is blazing, Angela?" He asked, and I shook my head with a bored expression.

"No! We're inside your house." I replied flatly. I saw him take a deep breath and look annoyed, then stand up.

"Alright, before your nagging makes me deaf, let's go to the beach." He decided, making me cheer with joy.

"Let's go, uncle!" I invited enthusiastically while holding his arm.

"Wearing that? Going to the beach in a bear t-shirt?" He asked while looking at me.

"What's wrong with it? I don't want to wear a bikini, it's too sexy. I like wearing my bear t-shirt." I replied, making him tut in annoyance.

"You really are something, Angela. Besides being quirky, noisy, and biting, you're also stubborn and can't be told, and most importantly, you're stupid." Rick said, emphasizing the word stupid, which annoyed me.

"How can you call me stupid? If I were stupid, how could I get a medical scholarship at an elite university?" I protested indignantly.

"Yes! It's certain that besides academics, you're stupid in everything else." He said again, and I was about to bite his arm again, but he deftly avoided it. "You think I'd fall into the same trap? That's not happening!" He chuckled proudly for dodging my bite. "Quickly change your clothes! There are many knee-length dresses in that wardrobe you can wear!" He ordered, and I immediately turned towards the room, stomping off in annoyance.

It turned out Rick wasn't lying; there were many beautiful dresses in the wardrobe. Maybe he often came to this villa with Zia, so there were many women's clothes. But wait! These dresses are my size, not Zia's size. Did Rick bring another woman with a body size like mine?

"Aishh Angela, stop meddling in other people's business!" I muttered to myself. Then I chose a white dress that looked very beautiful and put it on. I took off my hair tie, brushed my hair, and let it down. I was a bit amazed when I saw my reflection in the mirror. Wearing nice clothes apparently contributes a lot to the word beautiful. My appearance was different from usual, just wearing jeans and a loose t-shirt. But you could say this might just be a dream because in the future, this won't happen again.

"I've changed, uncle, let's go to the beach." I said as I came out of the room. I saw Rick had also changed into more casual but cool clothes.

"Uhukk!!" He choked on his drink as he turned to look at me.

"What's wrong, uncle? Did I wear the wrong clothes? Is this not what you meant?" I asked, feeling a bit uneasy.

"Ahem, no, it's fine. Let's go to the beach." He replied a bit nervously, then walked ahead of me, causing me to frown. Did Rick get a call from Zia again? Is that why he's acting strange?

"Can we stay at the beach until evening, uncle?" I pleaded. Rick didn't answer. "Buy me coconut water later, okay, uncle?" I said again, and he still didn't answer. "Uncle!" I called him a bit annoyed while gently pushing his arm, making him click his tongue.

"Yes, Angela, yes! You're so noisy, can't you see I'm driving?" He grumbled in annoyance, but I didn't care. It's his fault for ignoring me.

"Wow, Bali is really beautiful, isn't it?" I commented while looking at the road we were passing. "Look, look, you can see the beach now." I exclaimed excitedly. Of course, Rick just stayed silent with an annoyed expression, but my excitement was greater, so I didn't care about his expression.

"You could see the beach from the back of our villa too, Angela! Don't be so clueless!" He snapped.

"Really? How come I didn't know? Why didn't you tell me?" I protested, annoyed, and he didn't answer again.

***

Finally, we arrived at the beach with its greenish-blue water that left me in awe. Seeing it in person is way more beautiful than what I usually see on the internet. Bali is indeed Indonesia's paradise with all its natural beauty. I'm so lucky to see this paradise with my own eyes.

"Wow, it's so beautiful, isn't it, Uncle? Come on, I want to feel the water." I exclaimed in amazement while pulling Rick's arm towards the shoreline, and then we ran back because of the waves. I laughed freely because our clothes were partially wet, and I saw him laughing too. This is so much fun, and I really want to thank him for bringing me here.

"Are you happy?" He asked, and I nodded confidently.

"I've never been on a picnic before, and this is my first." I said happily. Rick looked at me with an expression I couldn't quite interpret, then smiled.

"This isn't a picnic; it's a trip.” He corrected me.

"Ah, it's the same thing.” I replied with a laugh.

"Next time, I'll take you on a real picnic.” He said, catching my interest.

"Really, Uncle?" I asked enthusiastically, and he nodded. "Ah, but maybe not, or else Zia will get mad." I sighed in disappointment, realizing that my position next to Rick shouldn't be, considering he is her boyfriend.

"If you become my wife, Zia won't have the right to be angry. Consider it one of the benefits you get for agreeing to be my temporary wife." Rick said, instantly dimming my laughter. The phrase 'benefit of being a temporary wife' somehow pinched my heart and hurt deeply.

"In that case, forget it, because I don't want to be your temporary wife." I replied, which also dimmed Rick's smile.

"Haven't you felt over the past few days that being around me is very happy? You don't have to deal with your family's torment, and you're free to do anything. You can rest peacefully and regain your health after being sick. All of that will last long if you agree to be my wife." He said again.

"Is planning to become a widow after a year enjoyable, Uncle? You'll marry Zia after our contract ends, but what about me? Other guys will think twice about approaching someone who's been married, even if I'm still pure, and they might doubt my purity later. Not to mention the ridicule I'd have to endure from my friends. Look at me!" I said. "You and I are both human, right?" I continued. "You have feelings and can be hurt, and so can I. The end of a temporary marriage will hurt me deeply." I added. Rick was silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to the beach. He didn't respond to my words and seemed to be thinking. I really hoped he would consider being in my position because it's not easy.

"Let's get some coconut water!" Rick urged me to get up after we had been silent for quite a while. I nodded eagerly and followed him to the coconut vendor. Drinking coconut water by the beach was so refreshing while gazing at the vast blue ocean. It felt as if all my burdens were carried away by the wind, as if I were living in a different realm, as if none of this were real and I were dreaming.

"I just found out that coconut water is a thousand times more delicious when drunk by the beach." I said with a smile.

"You're so clueless, how would you know about this stuff?" He replied, starting to be annoying again. I pouted, and he just looked indifferent. Then two young guys walked by and smiled at me. I frowned, confused why they were smiling when I didn't know them.

"Uncle, I don't know him. Why's he smiling at me?" I asked, and Rick's gaze was focused on the young man.

"You're stupid." He said, not making any sense.

"Ugh, you're so mean.” I grumbled.

"Miss, this young coconut is from the guy in the white shirt.” A coconut stall employee handed me a young coconut ready to drink. It turned out the guy who smiled earlier was the one who sent it, and when I turned, he smiled again, pointing to the coconut. There was a piece of paper underneath it.

"In that case, give him this money and tell him I could buy this young lady all the coconuts in Bali, trees included." Rick said, handing over a bill. The server nodded and accepted it. I looked at him, confused.

"Get up, Angela! We're heading home." He said.

"Why, Uncle? We haven't even finished the coconut water." I protested.

"You're stupid, so we're leaving!" He said, looking inexplicably annoyed. Although, I should be the one annoyed for being called stupid repeatedly.

***