Bittersweet Arrangements : A Sugar Dady Affair

“So… so you three?” Devan asked a little stuttering as he followed Elena’s gaze which was directed at two girls who were not far from them.

Embarrassed and shocked. Two words that are suitable to describe Devan’s current expression. Of course Devan was very embarrassed. The assumption that Elena intended to commit suicide turned out to be wrong. Devan was so panicked earlier that he could feel his heartbeat racing. To cover up his embarrassment, Devan waved his hand to call Citra and Melodi, who were still silent where they were, to come closer.

“Mel, we’re called!” said Citra who woke up first.

Melodi immediately panicked because she was afraid that Devan would complain about the three of them to Jeremy, Elena’s Daddy. But Citra’s thoughts were different again. Citra actually feels suspicious about the relationship between Elena and Devan. There is something different about the two of them.

“Okay, let’s go there!” invite Citra then start walking. Even Melody followed with feelings of doubt.

“Just the three of you came here? Did you bring your own car?” Devan said, immediately making the three girls in front of him shake their heads. “Say goodbye to your parents or not?” This time the three of them shook their heads in unison. “Good!” Devan scolded as he looked at the three girls in front of him in turn.

“We’re going home now!” Devan ordered firmly.

“No, we still want to play. Uncle Devan can just go home by himself. Why are you bothering us anyway?” Elena protested, refusing Devan’s orders.

Citra and Melodi were very surprised to hear the frontal answer their friend gave Devan. Elena’s tone sounded annoyed and reluctant. Just like people in a relationship who are arguing. Especially the way they look at each other. Citra cannot describe the meaning of the adult man’s gaze towards Elena. But Elena wasn’t like that. The pair of copper-brown blinds convey a feeling that Citra herself is hesitant to interpret. Suddenly Citra felt afraid. If his assumption was correct, then his friend was in big trouble.

“Okay, you guys can play first. Uncle will look after you here. We’ll go home together later,” replied Devan, giving in so as not to make Elena sulk.

Hearing Devan’s answer, Elena asked Melodi for her drink. Maybe because she was carried away by emotions, the lid of the drink bottle she was twisting didn’t move at all until Elena’s white hands, which looked wrinkled from playing with water, turned red. Devan, who had been nailing Elena, just smiled faintly and then took over the drink bottle. Opened the lid then handed it back to Elena.

Citra and Melodi bump into each other when they see the interaction between Devan and Elena. Just as Citra expected, the man and girl in front of them were like a couple who were arguing. But… Citra continues to try to avoid what is currently whispering in her mind. How could it be that the man who broke his best friend’s heart was Devan? Friends of Elena’s parents. At first glance, they are more worthy of being a father and son pair or an uncle and nephew than a couple of lovers.

“It’s up to Uncle!” Elena sarcastically said after taking a sip of her drink.

Elena hurriedly told Citra and Melodi to immediately drink their drinks and then asked them to go back to playing in the sea water. While watching the three girls, Devan sat in one of the chairs with an umbrella to take shelter from the hot sun. From a distance, Devan occasionally smiled when he saw Elena’s happiness with her two friends.

At one in the afternoon Devan got up and walked towards the beach. Came to three girls who were still having fun playing in the water there. Devan’s invitation to go home immediately succeeded in provoking Elena’s emotions again. A beautiful day with his two friends had to be disrupted because he had to meet Devan. Elena really couldn’t stop thinking. Why does the world feel so small. Wherever he goes he always meets people he knows.

Without wanting to argue, Elena complied, followed by Citra and Melodi behind her towards the place where the public bathroom was. Devan patiently waited for the three girls to clean themselves and change clothes. Before going home, Devan also invited them to pray at the prayer room which was not far from the public bathroom.

When Elena was about to get into her car, Devan called. “El, go with Uncle’s car!” the man ordered firmly. But Elena was indifferent. He still wants to share a car with his two friends. “El, come with Uncle or Uncle, call Daddy now!” Devan threatened, not playing around with his words.

Elena, who was currently in the doorway of her car, suddenly turned her head, staring sharply at Devan who looked very annoying. The handsome face that previously always fascinated her every time they met had now just evaporated. Elena is annoyed. Really regret their meeting this time.

Citra, who was already in the driver’s seat, then told Elena to obey Devan’s orders to avoid problems that would happen to them. What’s more, so they can go home soon. For a moment, Elena looked at Citra meaningfully and snorted.

“You guys wait for me for a moment. I’ll take the car first. Oh, Citra, just take the car slowly. I’ll be behind you,” said Devan to Citra then walked towards where her car was parked.

Melodi hurriedly moved into the passenger seat next to Citra with an unreadable expression. In her mind, Melodi was still wondering. What actually happened? Why did their hang out event have to fall apart like this just because of Devan’s presence?

***

Lonely. That’s the only thing right now to describe the atmosphere in Devan’s car. Neither of them had said a word since 30 minutes ago. They are busy with their own thoughts. As a more mature person, Devan was the one who was finally willing to break the silence.

“Why are you silent?” said Devan while glancing briefly at the girl beside him who had been looking engrossed in playing with her cellphone.

“It’s okay, I’m just lazy,” replied Elena nonchalantly. I swear to God, if there was another option, he certainly wouldn’t have to be in the same car right now with his annoying uncles beside him.

“Are you still angry with Uncle?” asked Devan who looked normal and relaxed as if nothing had ever happened between them.

“No, why is El angry with Uncle?” Elena replied no less casually. Even though in her heart Elena kept cursing endlessly because she was trapped with a man she really wanted to avoid.

“Then why just keep quiet?” Devan is still aggressively bothering Elena. “or are you having thrush again?” Devan’s question this time succeeded in forcing Elena to look at him.

“Just lazy!” said Elena, who was increasingly annoyed as she stared at Devan sharply.

“Why are you lazy?” Seeing the change in Elena’s face actually made Devan feel annoyed. It felt like Devan wanted to continue teasing the girl now. “Then if you’re not angry, why don’t you ever go to the repair shop again?”

“El is busy! Why is El going to the workshop anyway?” Elena sarcastically then looked back at her cell phone screen.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

This time Elena’s patience began to erode. Elena wanted to scream as loud as possible to get the man out of her life. It’s impossible considering that both of his parents have a very close relationship with Devan. But at least don’t let Devan appear before her eyes often. Not because she was fed up, but because it made Elena afraid of failing to move on from her parents’ best friend.

“Yes, accompany Uncle for lunch as usual,” answered Devan casually.

“Isn’t there already Aunt Dinda? I don’t want El to be a mosquito repellent,” said Elena, who could no longer be polite.

“Why are you Aunt Dinda? Uncle wants to have lunch with you, right?” For some reason, Devan was increasingly teasing the girl.

“Is it difficult to talk to grandfathers?” Elena replied with a cynical look. Deliberately wanting to make Devan angry and no longer willing to see him.

“What did you say just now? grandfathers?” Devan repeated to confirm the function of his sense of hearing.

“Yeah, is it wrong for El to call Uncle Grandpa? Besides, there are already a lot of gray hairs there!” Elena pointed at Devan’s strands of hair which were turning white. It’s not much, but it’s clear that several strands of Devan’s hair have turned gray.

“Where are there any? At least there are just one or two,” said Devan, not accepting it. His fingers spontaneously brushed her curls.

“One or two or two, Uncle! That’s really changing Daddy’s gray hair a lot!” Elena sneered while holding back an amused laugh when she saw the change in Devan’s facial expression.

Devan looked at Elena with an unreadable gaze. In his heart, Devan began to calculate how old he was now.