Unwanted Marriage - English Version

Chapter XII - Life on the Run

Mirah’s Pov

It has been 5 months since my escape, now my pregnancy is ninth month. Sometime ahead, the baby will come around. five months here on the run, I'm not alone, I'm helped by someone.

He’s Jason. The man whom I met at the charity dinner party the other days. That night Jason slipped something in my hand, and it turned out to be his business card, since then I kept his business card with me. I knew one day I would need it.

Jason, who took me from Jakarta to Surabaya, helped me find a rented house in the suburbs, and even gave me a job. For someone who was pregnant for 4 months at that time, it is certainly impossible to get a job with this position and payment. But Jason, he does his magic. Although, it's not something big on his end considering he's the owner of the company. I think having me as a senior accountant is certainly not a disadvantage either, after all, I'm one of the best graduates from one of the most acclaimed universities in London, so this should be a win-win solution.

5 months on the running many things around here have happened and progressed. Like in the second month I joined the branch company here in Surabaya, I made some alters which even followed by all branches of the company including those in Kuala Lumpur and Manila.

Regarding work, Jason only asked for one thing from me; to not take my maternity leave too early. He asked me to move it close to the day of birth, because he didn't want to make other employees feel uncomfortable, especially with the condition I had when I first came here. And for all his kindness, I tried my best not to disappoint him. Only with this I could return the favor.

Pey and Jason are two people at the peak of their respective industries. Peyton Cann holds the tech industry and Jason Wiratama in his e-commerce business. Their businesses have different markets. I don't know the history of how they met, nor do I want to mention anything about Pey. Pey is my long gone past now.

"Drrrttt…" The buzz surprised me.

"Yes, Hello ..."

"Hi Mirah, how are you?"

"Hi Jason, I'm good. I just finished a meeting this morning with the finance team. What’s up? Anything I can help you with?"

"Nope.” He continued, “Well yeah, actually. I'm going to Surabaya to open a new branch. I’ll be there in office there for about a week. You can keep me company for a week, introduce me to Surabaya cuisines. What do you say?" he asked.

"But I've only been here for a few months. I don't want to disappoint you. Haha… and we might have different preferences."

"Alright. Well, then you can cook me some food at your-… "

"Ehmm... are you sure, do you want me cook for you?"

"Yes, please. Anyway, you have to accompany me for a week."

"But there's Mr. Yossy, Jason. He would want to take care of you”

"Yossy? Isn't Yossy the head of the Surabaya branch? "

"Yeah, who else?"

"Ohhhh... yes. Actually, he invited me. But… urgh… Nahh… He's the most boring person I've ever met. He always made me listen to stories about his shrimp ponds in Sidoarjo. For almost 2 hours, I just listened to him talk about shrimp. All types of shrimp! I had to head off to the bathroom to wash my face and make sure I didn't fall asleep!"

"Hahahaha." I laugh, every time I listen to him tell a story. I enjoyed every opportunity to be able to chat with him and see the silly expressions on his face.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Today Jason came. We promised to have lunch together. I picked him up in the lobby. He looked really good and sharp wearing a gray suit. It’s been two months since the last time I saw him. Now, he grew a light beard covering his sweet face with masculinity.

"Hi, beautiful!" he said.

"Hi, handsome." I teased him back

"When is the due date?" as he looked at my belly

"Around next week." I explained.

"Really? That fast?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes, I'm actually a little scared." I tried to explain

"Well, maybe I should extend my stay here. I can accompany you” while he pulled me to give a hug from the side.

"No! Don't I don't want to bother you. Aunt Ina will look after and accompany me."

"Aunt Ina? "

"Yes, about my neighbor across the street, Jason." I added.

"She has been married for almost 13 years now with her husband. Unfortunately, until now they have not been blessed a baby. She offered to help look after the little one after I returned to work later." I continued.

"Wow. I didn't know you could get along so quickly with the neighbors!"

"Jason, I have been here for 5 months. It not that quick to mingle with everyone …”

“I’ll come to your place tonight. Please cook something good for me.” He pleaded.

“You cannot get some nice food from a restaurant?”

"I can. But I don't want to eat alone." he said as he winked at me.

"Oh my god, you’re so flirty with pregnant women!" I exclaimed.

"Everyone has their own preference, dear Mirah." while giving a sweet smile.

We soon walked away to our own desks.

* 6:30 pm

"Cringggg .............." the bell rang loudly. I opened the door. Jason was here in front of me holding a box.

"Dessert?" while holding up the small box. I replied with a small laugh.

"I made Rawon. I'm afraid you might not like it." I said.

"Relax, I have bad standards about food. You could get me some bad food from yesterday and I’d still think it's pretty good." he explained.

"Huff! Thank God." I responded.

Jason ate so happily, he even asked for an extra serving with some crackers and salted eggs. We told each other stories all night long. From talking and joking nonsense to talking about work.

"Mirah..."

"Yupp?” I said while pouring warm tea for him.

"Have you thought about what you want to do after your baby is born?"

"Hmmm, back to work?" I replied raising my brow.

"Yes, that's pretty clear. But what about Pey? What are your plans for him?" I felt shocked somehow. A long silence filled the room.

"What are your plans?" Jason repeated.

"I still haven't thought too far there, Jason"

"Do you intend to go back to him?" he asked again.

"Of course not! How could that thought cross your mind?"

"So what?"

"From the beginning, I wanted to get divorced. But divorce means meeting him. And I have not had the courage for that yet." I breathed deeply.

"You know what? Leave it to me. My lawyer will arrange it for you." he offered.

"Goshh, really? Thank you Jason!" I hugged him tightly, and immediately Jason gave a small kiss on my lips. I gasped. I was confused. I didn’t know how to react.

"Where's the toilet, Mirah?" he asked, trying to change the topic to divert from his sudden kiss. I pointed him to the direction, and he walked away from me to the toilet. I watched his V-shape back with perfectly broad shoulders. But my admiration was diverted by the sudden and constant pain and aches in the back, I held back the pain as I walked slowly across the table to sit on the sofa.

"Mirah, are you alright?" he asked from a distance.

"No! Do I look okay? Oh god. Jason, I think I'm contracting!” I replied with a little snapping.

"Oh my! Now??"

I nodded at him furiously while trying my best to hold back the pain.

* 40 minutes later

Jason pushed me in a wheelchair to the delivery room. In the room, A nurse laid me on the bed and asked me to spread my legs. Another nurse asked me to hold my breath, then put her fingers into my v****a. I stretched to adjust my discomfort.

"It's been open 6 centimeters. Just wait. The pace will quicken." the nurse explained to me and Jason.

Three hours later, I got quite tired because the contractions I felt immense pain. It felt like half of my body was going to detach. An incredible pain, far greater than anything I had ever known. Jason did not move from my side when the contraction struck. I gripped his fingers with my hand and sharp nails. He still smiled at me.

Finally, the 5-hour struggle of life and death for ended. I heard the sound of a baby cry loudly. I was beyond exhausted. I just wanted to fall asleep for a moment.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The second day at the hospital, a nurse pushed a crib and approached my room.

"Mirah Dewi Kusuma, your baby can be breastfed, ma'am." The nurse gave a sweet smile while putting a little baby in my hand. For the first time I saw his tiny face, remembering yesterday I spent the rest of the day just resting. It was a little awkward to hold him first, his small body was right in my arms. His sleep was very sound and deep. I played with his small nose, rubbed it with my fingers, he did not move his tiny body a bit. Then I opened the little blanket wrapped around his body and I touched his little feet. I think it’s cute and funny, how reddish his tiny feet with his little fingers are. I tickled the soles of his feet with one finger, finally his eyes opened, ahh ... another Hazel. He has my eyes. Oliver. That’s his name.

 _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Three days passed since we returned home from the hospital. Jason helped me carry all my stuff. We headed for the car together with my hands tightly hugging little Oliver to the road. "Tomorrow morning, I have to go back to the Jakarta office. Are you okay? I live alone, I will try to be able to frequent offices from Surabaya." he continued.

"It's okay, Jason. You have a lot of things to do."

"I promise will often to Surabaya." his hand rubbed my hand again. I replied with a smile. I cannot deny all the help is indeed what I needed right now

“Oh, yes! I have ordered dinner for us. I bought it before I went to the hospital.” he said, “it's the best noodles in this area. But it might be cold. So, it might need be warmed up again.”

Arriving at home, Jason hurriedly warmed up the food he had bought, and I put little Oliver on the bed, wrapped around a pillow just to make sure he doesn't tumble or fall.

“Give this a taste.” Jason came up to me and fed me with a spoonful of noodles.

"This is really good!"

"Oh yeah?" he replied.

"Taste it!" I offered.

"Oh, let’s eat together!" Jason's hand pulled me to the dining table, but I couldn't walk too fast because I was still recovering.

Seeing me walking a little limp, he held my arm and followed me slowly.

We ate together again that night. As usual he always managed to make me laugh out loud. We talked until it was almost midnight. He glanced at his watch and exhaled. That indicated that he must return to the hotel immediately because he has a flight tomorrow morning. I walked him to the door. Before I opened the door, Jason held my hand.

"Mirah I have one question for you."

"Ok, is this time a serious question" I laughed while teasing him, another joke I thought.

"Yes, this is serious, very serious." Jason's gaze changed following his word

 "Okay. What’s that?" I asked curiously.

"If it's all over, I mean you and Pey... Do you think someone like me deserves to accompany you… for good?"

"You mean- Jason? " I'm not sure about the question. I don't want to jump to conclusions from the question.

"Are you willing to let little Oliver use my last name as his?" I looked at him, not sure if this surprised me, given all his attention towards me. I paused for a while before continuing my words.

"Men like you deserve someone more than me Jason, a woman who does not share her children from a different man."

"I don't care at all about it Mirah. Even if I do not have children with you, I’ll still love you because you are precious. You are what I want." I covered my face with my two hands.

"I still can't afford to start anything now Jason. I feel overwhelmed now. I still can't decide anything. But please don't leave me. Stay with me!” I grabbed his hand tightly. I'm confused with the feelings I have. I'm not ready. But I don't want to see him go.

"I know, baby. I'm not going anywhere. I'm always here…" his hand rubbed my chest, while giving his warmest smile right at me.

Jason’s POV

I sat waiting for a call for flight GA 323. My mind flew back to Mirah. How that sweet woman took something in me little by little since our first meeting. Every time I imagined her face, my chest beat faster. Her face, her smile, her expression when she laughed out loud, and what I love the most from everything is her intelligence. I like her point of view of things around her. Gosh, what kind of foolishness did Pey do? What a shame he missed every little thing from a woman like that. But, now it's my chance to have her.

"Your attention please. passengers of Garuda Indonesia on flight number GA 323 to Jakarta, please board from gate A12. I repeat, A12. Thank you."

My feet rushed to leave Surabaya.