2. Danira and Zio
1233 Words
"Are you heading out now? This early?" Bara asked when he saw Danira all set, with her usual gifts in tow.
"Yes, I've prepared breakfast."
Despite their marriage, which was uncertain in its direction, Danira still took on some responsibility as a wife by preparing breakfast and dinner for Bara. But that was it; when it came to Bara's clothes and cleaning the house, Danira didn't lift a finger. She was already exhausted from working as Bara's secretary.
"Alright, take care, sorry I won't be able to see you off."
Danira just nodded and got into the car after placing Zio's toy in the trunk. She then drove to her parents' house. It took her two hours to get to the house where her child and parents lived.
Danira smiled at Zio's photo placed near the steering wheel. Zio would surely be thrilled with the new toy car she got for him. That was the only way she could show her love, as she didn't have much time to spend with him. Danira had to work, not just for the money, but for him too.
"Mamaa...."
Zio, who was playing in front of the house, immediately ran towards Danira as she just got out of the car.
Danira quickly crouched down to welcome her child's hug.
"Ziooo... Mama missed you so much, dear," said Danira, kissing Zio's cheeks fondly.
"Zio did too."
"Mama brought something for you. Hold on, I'll get it."
Zio squealed with excitement when Danira took out the rideable toy car.
"Did you get another toy car, Ra?" she asked her mother while handing Danira a drink.
"Yes, Ma, what else can I give Zio?"
Her mother patted and stroked her child's back.
"You're trying, Ra. Hopefully, everything you wish for Zio will come true soon."
"Yes, Ma, please pray for me."
"Of course, Ra. It's just that Mama worries when she sees your father still struggling to accept your decision to marry Bara."
"But Dad is healthy, right, Ma?" Danira asked worriedly.
"He's healthy, Ra. Now, he prefers to be at your stores rather than taking care of his own work."
"It's okay, Ma, as long as Dad is happy."
"Your dad is actually worried about your happiness, Ra. He's afraid you'll also be heartbroken by Bara."
"No need to worry, heartbreak comes from love, Ma, and I don't have that feeling for Bara."
"Not yet, or never, Ra?"
Danira didn't answer; she couldn't possibly talk about Bara's indecent behavior that made it impossible for her to love him.
"Next year, Zio has to start school, Ra."
"Yes, Ma, Danira knows. One year is still a long time."
While at home, Danira didn't miss a moment with Zio. She took him for walks, bought his favorite food, accompanied him cycling in the park, and at night, she would read stories and short prayers to him.
Danira was focused on teaching Zio to memorize short prayers when her phone kept ringing.
"Mama, answer it, it's noisy," Zio complained.
"Yes, dear, just a moment."
Danira then picked up her phone from the nightstand. A contact she named Dendam MemBara had been calling her phone repeatedly. With reluctance, Danira called the number back.
"Hello, what's going on?"
"Are you staying overnight, Ra?"
"Yes, I'll be back tomorrow afternoon. Is there a problem?"
"Mr. Ivan wants to meet you in person about the proposal you submitted yesterday."
"Can't you handle it?"
"It's not that I can't, but he's just looking for an excuse to see you."
"Alright, tell him to come back to the office on Monday."
"Why should I, Ra? Who's the boss here anyway? You should contact him yourself."
"Alright, I'll..., "Mama, don't take too long," Zio shouted from his bed.
"Your kid is already calling for you, Ra."
"I... yes."
"Alright, you handle that first. I'll message Mr. Ivan later."
"Okay, thank you."
Danira hung up and went back to Zio.
"Who called, Ma? Was it Dad?" Zio asked with bright eyes.
Danira smiled and gazed into Zio's bright eyes.
"I... yes, dear."
"Why didn't he ask about Zio or talk to Zio?" the child asked sadly.
"Dad's busy, dear, but he'll definitely have time to talk to you later."
Zio nodded sadly.
"Now, Zio, let's pray first and then go to sleep."
Danira gently stroked Zio's soft hair until he fell asleep. Danira watched her child's peaceful face. A face that reminded her of someone due to their resemblance.
***
Bara came back to the apartment close to midnight. He did this because Danira wasn't home.
Even though she didn't seem to like him much, she was always nagging about Bara's lifestyle, which she considered dirty and careless, including his habit of sleeping with different women every week. Danira often reminded him of the dangers of diseases that could come from it.
However, Bara never listened to her, let alone followed her advice to quit that habit. What amused him was Danira's remark about what if all the women he slept with ended up pregnant with his child. But Bara was confident that wouldn't happen; he always played it safe.
Bara entered his room and lay down on the bed after cleaning himself up.
The bed felt cold without Danira, who usually occupied that spot first.
Bara recalled how he first met Danira, when she applied for a job at his office at a very young age with little experience. However, she came at the right time, just after he had lost his secretary who suddenly resigned, making it easy for the competent, smart, and intelligent Danira to replace her.
Danira said she needed a job to support herself and her child, even though her job application stated she had never been married. So Bara questioned whether she was lying about having a child, and Danira's honest answer made Bara somewhat sympathetic.
Danira explained that the child was the result of someone's negligence during an intimate relationship, specifically a premarital relationship, similar to what Bara often did. Bara suspected that Danira used to do the same things he did until she became pregnant and had a child.
This was proven when he caught her making out with a woman in his office several times. Danira seemed indifferent, neither surprised nor pretending to be innocent by turning away.
Despite Danira's attractive appearance, Bara never intended to make Danira one of his outlets for lust. Perhaps because in his dirty mind, it was ingrained that Danira was a mother and had given birth, so he had no interest at all.
Bara had always avoided such situations in his professional relationships, which is why he previously employed a man as his secretary.
But for Danira, he made an exception; she was very smart and reliable. Another special quality was that Danira never tried to seduce him like other women.
If other women witnessed his intimate encounters, they might immediately assault him when he entered the room and met them, as it would certainly trigger an extraordinary arousal. But not Danira, she was that strong. Could it be that she could no longer love a man because of her life experiences? Bara felt embarrassed if that was indeed true. The shows he had put on all this time meant nothing.
But is it true that a woman as straightforward as Danira could be like that?
Should Bara attempt to prove it one day?
- Writer
