Marriage and Annulment

“By the way, how is Amara? It’s her birthday tomorrow, isn’t it? “I asked Mitch.

“Yeah, maybe she’s getting ready now,” Mitch replied.

“Maybe Duke also didn’t call me. I think he’s preparing for his meeting with Amara’s parents tomorrow. I know the fear has started now, ” I said.

“Amara’s parents’ faces are really strict, but not to their employees. Maybe for their only child. They also don’t want to get hurt and end up with a man with bad behavior. You know the trend nowadays; the man hurts the woman with or without a valid reasons , “said Mitch.

“I know Duke is kind. I’m sure when he and Amara stay together, he’ll be a good husband. We’ve been together in the service for almost four years, but he’s not reported that he got another woman pregnant, and he left a woman behind, or hurt by him.” I said.

“I can also see in him that he loves Amara very much,” Mitch replied.

“Yeah, we’re already here.” I said to Mitch.

I stopped the car in front of the gate because I saw Melissa, wearing a bathing suit, standing in front. I opened the car door and held Mitch’s hand so he could get out safely.

“Brother, is she your girlfriend?” Melissa asked and took Mitch’s hand.

“Yes, she’s your sister, Mitch,” was my answer.

“Come on, sister. Let’s start by taking a bath. Do you have a swimsuit? If you don’t have one, mom will have one, “said Melissa as she walked inside.

I shook my head. Will mom wear a bathing suit? Why does she have that? It’s showing too much skin. We have reached the beach. The place is beautiful. And I know it’s a private resort that Uncle Augusto bought because there are cement walls surrounding the whole place. Mitch just stared silently at my mom. As my mother turned around, fanning the barbecue, she cooked.

“Sweetheart, you should grill that later. Zander is here. Nice to meet you,” Uncle said to Mitch, smiling at the same time. Mitch smiled back.

“I’m also happy to meet you, Uncle,” said Mitch.

Then my mother faced us. And the size of her smile as she looked at Mitch.

“Hi, I finally met you too. I’m glad you got here, Mitch,” said Mom, once kissing Mitch.

“It’s nice to meet you too, Aunt,” Mitch replied.

“I’m about to get upset because I thought you didn’t want to see me and get to know me. You didn’t go home with Zander last night,” said Mommy, then smiled sweetly.

“You really are, sweetheart. Of course, Mitch is still thinking about how she’s going to deal with you. You’re making it too early for the two of you to meet. It’s normal feelings when she probably met with her boyfriend’s parents. I know that you felt the same way before you met my parents,” said Uncle. My mother burst out laughing.

“I’d rather have someone with me to fan the barbecue here, but, of course, I also want to see and get to know my son’s special someone,” mother replied.

Mitch smiled and I knew that she was uneasy right now when she looked at me. So I winked at her.

“Come here, Mitch, because this barbecue needs to be cooked right away,” said the mother.

“How about me, mom? I want to swim in the sea. I’m not with anyone, “said Melissa.

“It’s still too hot for you to take a bath. You might lose that beauty when you get dark.” said Uncle.

“All right, later, daddy. Just come with me,” said Melissa.

The Uncle laughs upon hearing that Melissa called him “daddy.”

“You know, Zander, I dreamed of having children as well, but it didn’t happen,” Uncle explained.

The surroundings is not totally hot in the afternoon because there are trees around. And mommy and Mitch started grilling. I don’t know what the two of them are talking about because we are so far away from them. Melissa, on the other hand, ran to her mother and started bathing in the shallow part of the sea. So I looked at my Uncle to ask.

“Why? What happened?” I asked him.

“We broke up with my girlfriend then, and she married someone else because I was careless. I was so blinded by her love for me. Now I just thought that you were getting older. You shouldn’t just be complacent that it’s not about you loving the woman without them taking care of her. You should love them more than your life. ” Uncle replied.

I nodded.

“Where is the woman now?” I asked.

It is true what Duke said about Uncle Augusto, why he reached this age without getting married.

“Your mother is that woman, Zander. Your father was the one she traded for me then.” Uncle replied.

When I heard what Uncle said, I was taken aback.

He laughed when he looked at me.

“I have no idea, Uncle, because my father couldn’t tell me about his past,” I said.

“But that’s what happened. I left without saying goodbye because we had a fight with your mother. I went to New York. I thought then that your mother loved me so much that I thought she was waiting for me. But I just found out that you were born. By the way, I know everything that happened in her life. I was hurt so much by what I did wrong. So until now, I haven’t been married. Because I seem to have lost my appetite, “said Uncle.

“Is that a reason, Uncle, that you stopped loving others? Just because you were hurt? ” I asked.

People have different minds, Zander, because I used to hope so much that maybe your mother and I would still have a chance. But when I found out that your father died, I couldn’t feel the joy because I could see that it was painful for your mother to go through what happened. The loss of your father, but this is what we are again. And I’m so happy because the thing I dreamed of happening happened again, “said Uncle.

“It’s true from the news I have heard about you, Uncle, that you didn’t get married because you were hurt by your ex-girlfriend. I don’t have any idea that woman is my mother.” I told him.

“Yeah, they all know that. What they don’t know is who that woman is. I don’t like to include the woman who will be my girlfriend in the news about me. Because they have privacy and a life that must be taken care of and can’t be involved in the media. So now I see to it and I’m avoiding really making mistakes in my relationship with your mother. Because it’s hard and painful to be left behind, especially when you love that person very much, “said Uncle,” while smiling and looking at mom.

Then my mother approached us, while Mitch accompanied Melissa.

“What are you two talking about there? Why is it serious? Did you tell my son what happened then, Augusto? It’s over, so there’s no need to go back,” said the mother with a frown.

“Nothing, sweetheart; I’m just telling Zander how much I love you,” Uncle explained.

“Is that true, Zander? “Mom asked me.

I nodded in response and smiled.

“What time is it? Haven’t we eaten yet? “Mom asked. “We’re hungry, sweetheart,” Uncle replied.

“Why don’t you take a table there? If I hadn’t come here for the serious conversation, you two wouldn’t have stopped, “said the mother.

“Are you curious about what the two of us are talking about, mom? It’s just a man’s conversation, and you can’t include it.” I said.

My uncle and I got up and went inside the house.

“To whom did you buy it, Uncle?” I would ask.

“To my friend who migrated to Italy. He sold it to me,” Uncle replied.

“Don’t they have any plans to come back here? I will ask.

“There are, he has properties and businesses left here. But he followed someone there in another country. But he didn’t say what or who. But I’m sure it’s a woman. ” Uncle responded with a smile.

“It’s really hard to understand women sometimes, ” I could only say.

“Yes, you’re right. But if you really love someone, you can understand them, “said Uncle.

“Don’t worry about it, Uncle. We can put a cloth on the sand and put our food there. That’s even better. “My suggestion.

“All right, wait. I’ll go into the room first and find a cloth we can use, “said Uncle.

I nodded, then Mitch entered.

“Are you okay, Mitch?” I asked her.

“Sure, I’m just looking for a toilet. I want to pee as much. ” Mitch replied.

“Come on, we’ll find out.” I said.

And then we stopped at the brown door with the toilet attached.

“It’s just like a public toilet, love, because there’s really something written,” said Mitch.

“Let it go. This is a beach resort. So maybe the former owner here has friends to spend the night with and take a bath. They won’t have a hard time finding a toilet.”my answer.

Mitch went inside.

“Mitch, I’ll go out first. Are you okay? I’ll help Uncle first. ” I said outside the door.

“It’s OK. ” Mitch replied.

I looked at my watch. It’s three o’clock in the afternoon.

I looked around and looked for them all. We choose the ones we want to buy individually. And I just saw them all at the counter carrying their belongings. So I approached them.

“Is that all you want to buy? Maybe you can add more?” I asked them.

“This is all we want, Miss, and we have nothing more to add,” they answered.

“All right, we’re going somewhere else. It’s a hassle if we bring paper bags. Put them all in the car.” I order them, after I pay at the counter.

They all came out, while I was left inside the mall. I turned around and my eyes fixed on a man who went to the office claiming that we’re siblings. He approached me and smiled. So far, I can see he’s kind. His voice was not as loud as his mother’s.

“Hi, sister. I never thought I’d see you here.” he said in a gentle voice, simultaneously kissing my cheek.

I was taken aback, and I had no idea he’d refer to me as his sister. And kiss my cheeks like we’re really family. Something in me longs for a brother or a sister. Maybe above, granted my wish, but in another way.

“Hi, are you with someone?” I asked him, out of nowhere.

“Nothing, when it’s like this. I’m not young enough to take my mother with me. By the way, I’m Calvin. I’m sorry about the incident in your office. I didn’t even introduce myself properly, “he said to me.

“It’s okay. By the way, I’m Zaneska. ”

We shake hands.

“So, who are you with here at the mall?” he asked, trying to strike up a conversation so that I didn’t feel awkward.

But for him, it seemed like nothing.

“I’m with my friends.”

“What about you? Your sister? ” I also asked him.

“Nope, I’m alone. My sister is in the house with a nanny. And my mother is somewhere I don’t know. ” Calvin replied.

“What about friends or girlfriends?” I asked him.

He laughed, barely seeing her eyes. Only now have I seen him up close. This man is handsome. Maybe he’s just strolling here in the mall because he doesn’t have any paper bags or anything.

“My friends are all busy with their work. I’m just jobless. And a girlfriend is nothing. I don’t like girls right now. I’m not gay. But I’m not really attractive to them yet, “he replied.

“You’re something,” I said.

“Thank you! Can I go to your house? “he asked me.

“Sure.”

“Really?” said Calvin, as if amazed at my answer.

“Why? Is there something wrong with my consent? “I asked him.

“Nothing, it’s just that I’m shocked. Because you agreed right away, “he replied.

“Should I be worried about what you could possibly do to me?” I asked.

“Nothing, I was kind. And I respect you, “he said to me.

I was touched by his words. He’s so kind. I can see.