"My Home"

"Already in front."

The short message Orlyn received from Cein was only responded to with a sigh by Orlyn. The 25-year-old woman then put her phone into the black bag she carried.

"Already picked up?" asked Sania, Orlyn's old school friend.

"Yeah, Cein is already in front," explained Orlyn, then put on her bag and smiled at Sania.

"Next time we'll hang out again, okay? Sorry, I can't stay long today."

"That is, if you're allowed by Cein to hang out with us again," quipped Diandra, who was also in Sania's dorm room.

Orlyn looked at Diandra and then gave a wry smile.

"Sorry, I've been having a hard time these past five months. It feels like being in a cage."

"Come on, don't think like that! No matter what, Cein is like that because it's his responsibility towards you; you're his wife," said Sania, trying to understand Orlyn's current situation as Cein's wife.

Orlyn could only nod, agreeing with Sania's words. Even though what she said earlier wasn't exaggerated, she did feel confined since marrying Cein.

On the way home, Orlyn remained silent, and Cein was busy driving. They married partly due to an arranged marriage. Why partly? Because Orlyn was the one forced to marry, not Cein. The pale-skinned man with dark brown hair had been sure that Orlyn was his match since he first saw her at his cousin's wedding. Moreover, when asking for Orlyn's parents' blessing, Cein easily received it.

Orlyn had just graduated and still wanted to be free. But she couldn't refuse her parents' request because, according to them, Cein was the right man to guide their somewhat wild daughter.

"Have you eaten?" Cein finally broke the silence in the car.

"No," Orlyn answered briefly.

"You must have been busy chatting and forgot to eat. Do you want to stop by a Padang restaurant or just grab some fast food?" Cein asked again.

"Whatever, I'm okay with anything."

Orlyn's tone was still flat and slightly curt. Cein sighed, realizing Orlyn might be upset about being picked up suddenly while hanging out with her friends.

"Are you mad at me?"

Cein was the type of person who didn't hold questions in his heart and mind for long.

Orlyn looked at Cein and then snorted in annoyance.

"What do you think? I was hanging out with my old school friends whom I hadn't seen in almost five months. After just two hours, suddenly I was picked up."

Orlyn vented her feelings, which she had been holding back. Cein glanced at Orlyn briefly and then turned the car towards a Padang restaurant to get some food.

"Sorry, I thought two hours was enough for now. You're not a girl anymore, Orlyn. You're my wife and have responsibilities towards my needs."

Cein spoke gently, looking at Orlyn, who was also looking at him. For some reason, Orlyn now felt guilty towards Cein.

"Let's go down! You haven't eaten, and I don't want you to get sick."

Cein then got out first, leaving Orlyn, who had started to shed tears.

"This is why I can't help but like that man," said Orlyn, covering her face with both hands.

***

As usual, Orlyn and Cein had breakfast together. Sometimes, they even went out on Saturday nights. Cein did this so that Orlyn could start to like him, even though he could already feel that Orlyn was beginning to like him.

"Orlyn," Cein called.

"Yes." Orlyn answered briefly without taking her attention away from the food she was eating.

"Do you want to work?" Cein suddenly asked.

It was certainly sudden because Cein had firmly forbidden Orlyn from working for any reason. Cein confidently forbade Orlyn from working because his financial situation at 30 years old was already very stable. Cein was a financial manager, had many assets, and also had a business inherited from his parents.

Hearing Cein's question, Orlyn reflexively raised her head and looked at her husband with a furrowed brow.

"Really?" she asked curiously.

"Yes, after thinking about it, you also need work experience," Cein replied.

"Why suddenly?"

Orlyn began to suspect her husband, who seemed different this morning.

Cein remained silent and looked at Orlyn for a moment. Then, he smiled slightly, which was so sweet.

"It's not sudden. I've been thinking about it for a month. You graduated in architecture and must want to apply what you learned. I would be selfish to stop you from progressing."

Again, Cein's gentle words melted Orlyn's heart. It seemed Orlyn had indeed started to genuinely like her husband, whom she hadn't wanted initially.

***

"So that's the story, Mom."

Orlyn ended her heart-to-heart session with her mom. She didn't wait long to share the good news from Cein with her mom. Smiling as Orlyn told everything about Cein, her mom nodded repeatedly.

"That's good, it means he's starting to open up and trust you 100%," said Orlyn's mom.

"Trust?"

"Yes, if he still forbids you from working with the excuse of financial stability, it's not because of finances but because Cein is afraid you'll run away to another man."

Her mom's words confused Orlyn. Even though she married Cein out of obligation, she never thought of running away or liking another man.

"I never thought like that, Mom."

"I know."

"Then how did you guess Cein would think like that?"

Orlyn became even more confused, unable to understand her mom's words.

Her mom smiled and then closed the Tupperware filled with donuts she made for Cein.

"Because Cein realized that marrying you was something forced. Cein often came by and told me that you seemed not to like him until now, but it seems now Cein has made peace with his fears. That's why he can start giving you freedom to do what you want. He seems to have seen that you could like him now."

Her mom's explanation left Orlyn stunned. It seemed Cein, her husband, was closer to her parents than to her. Orlyn couldn't be as open as that, so why could Cein?

***