Honeymoon ( 7 )

  Dian provided a strategic approach with millennials and collaborated with all P city programs in gaining votes.

  Beginner voters were potential voters and contribute the most votes so Bara approached them by participating in their activities both in social activities and seminars.

  It was not uncommon for Bara to be an impromptu speaker.

  Within the next six months, Bara will be sworn in as a member of the West Sumatra's House of Representatives.

  After the plenary meeting with the General Election Commission, Bara and Dian went straight to the thanksgiving location.  The election winners from the yellow star party were greeted like heroes who had just won a battle on the battlefield.

  Bara got the most attention because it was the first time that he was running, he immediately got the most votes and hit his opponents badly.

Syafrin, the head of the DPD (Regional Board of Trustees) of a yellow star, greeted him warmly. The fifty-year-old man stretched out his arms. Bara hugged the chairman warmly.

  "Congratulations Aldebaran, your achievement is extraordinary. Only this time the young candidates from our party can become winners and win the most votes in West Sumatra," Syafrin said happily.

  "Thanks to your guidance sir."  Bara praised Syafrin in return. Bara must be able to win Syafrin's heart so that the old man proposed him to become chairman of the House of Representatives and a decree was made by the central board.

  "You are fast learning, Aldebaran. We need an ambitious young man like you," Syafrin joked, broke the silence.

  "I believe this is the fortune of your marriage. Your luck is very good, Young man. Your wife is a luck bearer."

  "You could," Bara said, while blushing.  "Sir, I ask permission in four days."

  "Are you going to honeymoon, Aldebaran?"  Syafrin guessed.

  Seeing Bara's reaction, the old man was sure his guess was correct.

  Bara chuckled with laughter because the old man's guess was right.

  "You're right."

Meanwhile Dian was busy chatting with the others. The beautiful woman was carrying out the task Bara gave her.

  "I forgot you just had a wedding reception yesterday. Your wife is very beautiful. You deserve to be side by side with Defri's daughter. You have the same background. Were you dating?"

  "No sir. We were arranged."

  "Today there are still those who want an arranged marriage?"  asked Syafrin in amazement.

  The era that was increasingly modern and customs had started to erode and it was very rare to find young people who were willing to be matched. On average, young people now preferred to find a partner on their own.

  "The proof is me, Sir."

  "Hopefully your wife will get pregnant soon after honeymoon."

  Immediately Bara immediately became embarrassed by Syafrin's prayer so that Dila would get pregnant immediately after the honeymoon. Let alone get pregnant, making love was impossible because Bara was gay and had no interest in women.

  Syafrin patted Bara's shoulder proudly. The man had great hopes for changes to the West Sumatra region in Bara's hands. He was still 25 years old, Bara had transformed into a successful young entrepreneur beyond his father's success in business.

  "Attention to everyone."  Syafrin took the mic and started making a speech.

  "Let us all pray and be grateful for the victory of our party in winning the elections in West Sumatra. Hopefully in the future our party will have a place in the hearts of the people and always win. Hopefully our elected cadres will bring big changes to our beloved village. Congratulations to the fifteen cadres who  have sat as the provincial House of Representatives and twelve cadres in the Regional House of Representatives. We are the winners," Syafrin said furiously.

Syafrin's speech inspired the cadres to work even harder.

  Dian approached Bara and whispered.

  "I hear the rumors of the strongest candidate recommended by the party to become the chairman is Defrin and you, Boss. Try to win over the old man Syafrin. Approach the chairman and deputy chairman, Boss. As long as he is happy, boss can become a member of the council."

Bara put his mouth closer to Dian's ear.

  "Do your thing Dian. I'm sure you know what I mean."

  "Boss, if approaching that old man, I don't want to. I don't want to," Dian squeaked, while pretending to cry.  "If he is young and handsome like you, I would like to."

Bara smiled amused at Dian.  His secretary started acting up again.

  "Don't start Dian. Can you not teasing me for a day?"

  "No boss. It's become a habit because my brain is always on nutrition to tease you, Boss."

  "Luckily there is only one woman like you, Dian. If there is one more, I might have killed her."

  "Wow, boss has the heart," Dian said.

"Don't you have a feeling and love for me? You have broken my heart, Boss," Dian said, in Fitri Tropica's style.

Bara couldn't help laughing. She always managed to make him laugh.  That girl had transformed into a different figure, not a teenage girl who had lost hope, had no passion for life and always tried to commit suicide to fight destiny.

After the thanksgiving ceremony at the Regional Representative Board's office, Bara immediately hurry home because later there will be a customary pick-up event by the sumandos. Started from tonight, Bara will live with Dila's family.

  Ranti had put all of Bara's clothes in the suitcase.

  "Mama packing stuff this much as if you're kicking me out, huh?" Bara asked, while glancing at the two suitcases.

"Watch your words. How could Mama kick you out. You're Mama's only child."

  "Why are there so many things? Like Bara won't just come back to this house."

  "Instead of you going back and forth to take things."

  "Ma, actually, Bara doesn't agree to live in Dila's family's house. Look, Ma. Bara often comes home at night and doesn't feel good with Dila's family. Times have advanced, we don't have to practice customs anymore. If you break customs, it's not sin, Ma.  How about we live in our own house, Ma? "

  "You can just do it now, you have to stay in Dila's family first. So you can seduce Dila to want to live in your house. What house will you invite her to live in?"

"It can be at the Hyatt Regency, Pondok Indah, Mutiara Residence."  Bara mentioned the location of his houses.

  As a young, successful entrepreneur, it was no wonder that Bara owned a lot of properties.

"For now, give up staying at Dila's house. After that, you discussed and invited Dila to move on with a reason that you want to be independent," Ranti said while tidying up Bara's white shirt.

The shirt sleeve that Bara had folded was straightened back by Ranti.

  "A little formal, Bara. Do not fold your shirt sleeves like this. This is a traditional event. All your behavior will be seen by your elders later."

  "Issshhhh why are you so exaggerated Ma. Everything is wrong," Bara protested irritably.

  Bara, who had lived in America for college, felt that his freedom was taken away because he was restrained by custom. According to Bara, there were too many trivial matters in Minang.