Eleven

"Okay, Tam. I do live where you are. But, the one whose name is already married... well, it's natural for the wife to stay at her husband's house. Which is natural, the wife lives at the husband's house or the husband lives at the wife's house?" asked Eshika. "If you feel that way because I live here, go ahead. You call my Mom, then tell me if we want to live in my rented house."

Tama's hands crossed. "You know that you really want to live with me."

Eshika's tongue stuck out, mocking. "It's not because I'm addicted. But, because I have no choice."

The boy took a deep breath. "Okay. If that's the case, isn't it human if you take care of your household affairs?"

"Eh?"

"From sweeping, mopping, cooking, washing clothes, washing dishes, and everything."

Eshika stared. "Wife is not a maid."

"Want to be a rebellious wife huh? I am as your husband has given me a house like this. Where else can you find a husband who is already handsome, also responsible huh?" asked Tam. "Or should we call your Mom to ask about this?"

Eshika closed her mouth tightly. "You're threatening me?"

"Like you didn't threaten me at the meatball stall earlier," sneered Tama. "How?"

Snorting, Eshika wrote the things that Tama mentioned earlier as Eshika's obligation. Then, Eshika's brain thought of something.

"If I have to be a good wife, then you too, right?"

"What?"

"I ask for a living every month!" said Eshika.

"Huh?"

"You have a distro, Tam. How much is your monthly income? There are a lot of teens shopping there, right?" Eshika thought profusely while rubbing her eyebrows. "Well ... it turns out you're not so bad as a husband. Since when did you have that distro? A year ago? A year and a half?"

Tama took a deep breath. "I'm just preparing money for the kitchen."

"That's fine." Eshika pointed at Tama with a pen in her hand. "Detergent, dish soap, clothes deodorizer, floor freshener, bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and many others." Eshika's eyes looked at Tama with an innocent look. "Whose money will it all be bought with? Time for the wife's money???"

A growl came from Tama's lips as Eshika emphasized the word wife in her words.

"Do you want the husband's self-esteem to fall in the eyes of the wife???" Ehika almost giggled at that. "This should benefit both sides, Tam. I donate energy, yes you donate material. Think about it, if you do laundry, eat out, etc., you will spend more money than you think. And the food outside is also not guaranteed to taste and clean."

"You want to try manipulating me huh?"

"Ups ... you noticed," said Eshika finally releasing her amused giggle.

"For the kitchen and other things," said Tama squinting, "I'll do the shopping."

Eshika's lips pouted. "Up to you. Eh, but at least you can buy me skincare, please."

"What?"

"I told your Mom, Tam."

Again, Tama growled. "Well! You're threatening me again."

"Ha ha ha." Eshika ignored Tama's growl and wrote down the points earlier in Tama's obligation section. "Just calm down. I'm not asking for a snack. Just skincare. Ha ha ha."

"Skincare you said just?" asked Tama. "I'm sure your skincare costs more than a week's worth of kitchen ingredients."

"It's also economical to use, Tam."

"Argh!" Tama ruffled her hair. "For the first time in my life," he said, "I don't like being thought of as a good guy who is responsible for people."

"Are you talking about Mommy?"

"Who else is it?" asked Tam. "That's if it wasn't Mommy who asked me directly, eh...! Until the cat lays eggs, I don't want to marry you."

Eshika's lips pouted again. "I also never thought about marrying a guy whose hobby was bothering me all his life." Eshika looked at Tama. "You remember how often you bullied me when you were little?"

One corner of Tama's lips rose, grinning. "You want me to put another toy snake in your bag?"

"Until that happens again, I'll give you a laxative for breakfast," threatened Eshika.

"Ha ha ha ha. Or do you want to fill your water bottle, I'll replace it with meatball sauce?"

Eshika closed her mouth. Reminds me of what happened when they were in first grade. "I'm really going to complain to your Mom if you ever hit me again, Tam."

"I'll also complain to your Mom if you threaten me too," replied Tama. "Your Mom really believes in me."

Unfortunately, Eshika had to admit that. Amazed. But, Popi really believes in Tama. In fact, it often irritates Eshika because if there is Tama, Popi will always put Tama's interests ahead of her.

Meanwhile, Tama often feels that her parents pamper Eshika too much, who is not their biological child. Often makes Tama wonder, considering that Popi trusts Tama more, while Mawar and Irawan trust Eshika more, is it possible that they are actually interchangeable children.

But, yes. If you already know it's been swapped, it's definitely reversed.

So, the point is that sometimes Eshika and Tama often feel jealous of each other. Even though if you think about it, they are even.

"Ehm… so, is this all we need to discuss?" asked Eshika after recording all the conclusions of their debate on the paper. "Nothing else?"

Tama took the paper and read it. "I don't think so," he whispered. "Oh yes. As for taking care of you or something like that, you don't have to worry. I promised Mommy." Tama looked at Eshika. "It's hard to talk about it, but if something's wrong, you should call me."

Eshika's eyes rolled around. "I'll try not to let anything happen to me. Just calm down. I can take care of myself."

"Okay," said Tom. Then, he looked again at the paper. Where has written their names both. "I signed."

Eshika saw Tama who signed the agreement. Then, he did the same. Put his signature on the paper.

"Okay... I'll keep this," said Eshika. "Oh, wait. There's something I want to ask you."

"What?"

Looking hesitant, Eshika finally got up the courage to reveal the things that were stuck in her mind.

"Our wedding ring..."

Tama coughed. "W-what's with the ring?"

At a glance, both Eshika and Tama looked at each other's fingers and realized that they were not wearing the ring together.

"Is it okay if we take this ring off?"

"Yes, Esh. If we wear a couple ring like that, the school will be excited!" said Tama. "But, yeah, don't leave it at home either. You know Mom often comes to school."

"Well that's the problem."

So, after all, Mawar and Irawan are parents who always pay attention to Tama's school activities. They often come to school just to meet the teachers and see Tama's progress. Often also see Eshika. Until the whole school knows how close Eshika's relationship with Tama's parents is.

Tama's eyes blinked. "So what's the problem?"

"I'm horrified to bring this ring to school. Do you want me to leave it in the bag, what if it gets lost?" asked Eshika as she reached into her uniform skirt pocket.

Suddenly, Tama widened her eyes. "Are you crazy! Do you have such an expensive ring in your skirt? If the ring is lost I will ask you to compensate!"

"Eh? Where is there a story about a wife replacing a lost wedding ring?" said Eshika. Her eyes flickered. "Yours, where did you put it?"

Tama took a deep breath and brought her hands to her chest. Undo the two buttons of his uniform.

"Eh! What do you want?!" asked Eshika frantically.

"Ugh!" Tama let out a small growl and took off her uniform. "Look here look!"

Eshika saw what Tama showed. In front of the man's chest hung their wedding rings. Tama makes it as a black rope necklace that she wears.

"Ah! Right! It's so lucky for me to see you're smart, Tam!"

"Again, Esh, talk me stupid. I throw out your window."

Eshika sneered. "You still have that necklace? I'd like one please to make something like that too."

"Ha ha ha. No no no."

"Do not want? Tomorrow I will wear this ring at school and I will know how you feel."

Tama shuddered. Then, without further ado, he went to his room. Soon he returned with a similar necklace.

The hookless necklace uses a double-sided knot that functions to increase and decrease the size of the necklace's circumference. Eshika immediately put her diamond ring into the necklace after Tama first untied the knot. Then, with great difficulty Eshika tried to put it on.

Tama helps Eshika put the necklace over her head. Then, slightly adjust the knot. He slowly pulled Eshika's hair out of the loop of the necklace.

Eshika stared at her chest. On the ring hanging there.

Subconsciously, she smiled.

*

tbc ....