Chapter 23: Behind The Mask

I took a deep breath and gave a signal to Regie to let go of his hand, "I've read a ton of books, movies' recapped, and articles until today." I relaxed my muscle and walked toward Rose.

"Reg, can you not let him go?" Reggie nods as he takes him to the lobby. I grabbed Rose's hand. "Are you ready to meet my brother?" She looks at me.

"Your dead brother?" I tried not to cry in front of the crowd.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"I'm waiting for this moment. I-I introduced you to my brother," my brother died when he was a baby. Do not drink too many energy drinks. It's not good for your health. Instead, energy drinks tried alternatives like coconut water.

I like to drink coconut water because it's refreshing. Also, coconut water 'washes' your kidney. In Indonesia, you can drink coconut water from the fruit, and sometimes you can add a cube of ice or mix it with other fruits. Try that!

So, I bought this hotel five months ago. I eavesdropped on the conversation and bought this hotel. All the staff doesn't know that I'm the owner, but the manager and CFO.

All the businesses I had until now. It's Rose and I's ideas. We decide to expand our business, and now I should build one big company to cover all of my businesses. I had a shell company whenever I had a transaction with foreign clients.

I pressed the button to where my chopper was waiting. "Babe, where were we going?" She asked as she rubbed her belly. I can't wait for the first wave purge. I mean the baby.

"If our baby were twins, what if we named them Cory and Coby?" I looked at my wife, confused. Does she watch Dude Perfect?

"Are you watched Dude Perfect?" She shook her head. I knew it! She wouldn't dare to admit that she watched Dude Perfect's videos. "What if our twin were female?" Rose rubbed her chin.

"Allison and Allyson?" There we go! I held her and smiled.

"No matter what their gender is, they are my baby, right?" Rose hugs me tightly. She's in a good mood.

"Why were you rent a chopper?" I kissed her forehead.

"Well, we go to Jakarta to meet my brother, right? And then, we lunched with your idol." She pushed me slowly.

"How many I should tell you that she was my mom's idol! My idol was Park Chaeyoung, Kim Jennie, Kim Jisoo, and Lalisa Manoban. My male idol was..." I kissed her before she said a word. She will mention all the K-Drama actors that she watched.

So, my favorite K-dramas were The Fiery Priest and Vicenzo. I'm not like averages people's favorite. I only like Song Jong Ki's acting. He looks like a real mob.

"You have a phobia, right?" I nodded as I'm wearing the headphones. This headphone has two functions. The first function was to cover your ears. The helicopter's rotor sound was loud.

Very loud. The second function was to communicate. You can't hear other people's voices except for the rotor. I want to learn how to drive a helicopter.

"Can I take a picture inside?" I nodded.

"You can take pictures as you want, but be careful," I said as I attached the wrist strap and lanyard. "It is also for the protection," Rose starts to take a picture.

I wiped my sweat and closed my eyes. My heart keeps pounding, "are you okay!? You look pale!" I held her hand. She knows I'm not a friend of heights.

"I-It's fine. I can deal with it." I looked at my left side. How good a life, isn't it?

"Babe, are you bringing your power bank?" I looked at her and shook my head.

"I left it in our room because it's prohibited." She looks at me, confused.

"Why phone is allowed, but a power bank it's prohibited? It's not fair!" I chuckled. How cute was she, right? I rubbed her hand.

"It's because the power bank contains lithium batteries cells," I took my phone and showed the lithium batteries cells picture. "It's because lithium batteries tend to combust. So, when it's heated, they will explode." I hugged her.

"You not dumb, babe. You are smart. you've got a scholarship." She response.

Rose looked me in the eye, "Eva said you never have time with her. It's that true?" I shook my head.

Flashback on

I closed my car door and looked at her arrival at my house. What time is it? I looked at my phone, and it was 10 PM. I saw her wave to Arif.

"You haven't been asleep yet!? What time is it now!?" I walked through the door and ignored her. "Yeah, ignored me like I'm a wall!" I should talk to her about this.

"Can we talk?" I gathered my courage and cleared my throat. "Where have you been this all day? You haven't answered my call or texted me. Can you pay a little respect to me, Eva!? I'm tired of you acting like I was a stranger."

Eva rolled her eyes, "can you quit your job? You never have time for me. I..." she closed my house and locked the door.

Flashback off

Rose looks into my eyes. She cupped my cheek and hugged me. "One thing you should know about autism was, always give an update if you go home late. All I need it's keep it posted. Is that wrong, Rose?" She shook her head.

"I will do the same if I see my hubby with someone else or go home late." I held her hand, "so, where were you sleeping then?" I looked at her.

"Inside my car," I said. It's tiring.

"She won't let you in?" I shook my head.

"Everything I said makes her mad or upset. She told me to tell the truth, but she didn't want to hear it. She's in denial," Rose rubs my back.

Flashback on

I opened the fridge and saw her playing with my phone. I took a deep breath. It's time, Lobak. You never knew if you did not tell her the truth. Delinda, it's right. She's not good for me, but I loved her! I'm willing to do anything for her.

I hope after this she can't change her attitude. I walked to the living room and put my milk inside the fridge. "Can we talk?" She took a glance at me.

"Just talk," she puts my phone on the table, and she shows me my D&D character sheet. "What is this!? Why inside your phone you had this!" Here we go again.

"It's my Dungeon & Dragons character sheet. Why should I tell you about this!? Can I get my privacy?" She looks at me. I think she's embarrassed.

"You losing your sleep because of this!?" Oh, God. Why she can not respect me1?" I took a deep breath, and I will not let my anger comes out.

"Why can't you obey me!? You sick!" I might be 'sick,' but I need some entertainment. I'm bored.

"I want to have some time with my friends. It's that wrong?" She left. I took a deep breath and tried to be more patient with her.

Flashback off

"If she loves you, she will not restrict your activity. She's doing it because you're too patient with her." I nodded, "but kind of patient was rare. I feel blessed to have you." She hugged me.

"We will land at the Soekarno-Hatta's airport." I took a deep breath and looked at her. Everything I do right now, I do it for Rose. No matter how hard to live here as LGBTQ+ married couple, I don't care.

I will keep fighting for her.

TBC