12. Ajumma

"No prank, not now nor then" Surya pulled a chair closer to her so that he could see her eyes directly.

"Listen Dea. I had no idea that building up a relationship was not easy at all. Although I am much older than you, it's not easy for me to say exactly what I have in my heart. You need to be mature enough to understand me. We have different way of thinking and there are many basic principles I don't understand from you.. nor you from me". She glanced at him from the side.

"So what is the problem?" that 2O year old girl found it difficult to understand the grown up man in front of her. She felt that he bit about the bush.

"Emmm….. I have no more confident to propose you" he was straight to the point.

"But why?" she got more confused now.

"Ufff… It's hard to say it as a man". He became nervous.

"It's okay. Just tell me. Honesty is very important in a relationship. Especially…. My father is still hoping we keep….emm…." Dea was too embarrassed to continue her words. She did not want to look so much hoping for his seriousness. She played with her finger nails. She did it anytime she was nervous and confused.

"I've been trying to find a new job for the this last month and it did not work well due to something. In short, I'm a jobless now" he slowed down the intonation. For a mature man admitting he was jobless was the hardest thing to say it clearly.

"Oh, so that is the problem…why didn't you say so in the beginning? not beating about the bush by asking about my opinion, instead". She looked relief knowing the reasons behind the shocking blow she got some time ago.

"This isn't a light issue. It's a big problem for me. How can I feed you later?" he dared to look at the girl in the eyes now.

"Don't make it too complicated. Just eat what you have. Hahahahah. Do you think I accepted you because of the properties and the jobs you have?. If your test right now is about the jobyou haven't had at hand, no need to be that sad". She looked much relaxed in contrast with the man in front of her.

"This is very serious issue, honestly. How if we happened to have children but we can't afford to buy formula milk for them?" he gradually became less tension

"Hahaha". She replied with laughter.

"You laugh again. Financial condition needs to be considered thoroughly. It is the main supporter of the main wheel in the household" Surya explained his point of view.

"Mr. know all. You haven't even got married". Dea preached him.

"Huh! I read it from some articles and from some reliable webs"

"You read too many unimportant information, sir" She was mocking him.

"You are underage. What I'm talking about is true. Finance is something important".

"I didn't say it was unimportant. But…it seemed you forgot something. There are blessings to a marriage. It opens the doors of fortune as well as peace to the married couples. Have you cevr heard that?"

"I did. But I can't deny that my brain works with logic and reality for such matters."

"Don't be too skeptical. There will be ways out. Don't worry too much". She seemed content to what had been designed for her.

"How if I could not fulfill your needs?" he wanted to know deeper about her point of views.

"Relax. I'm not going to ask you Hermes or Dior perfumes. I can survive with rice and eggs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner". She replied lightly. Surya laughed looking at how simple her concept of life was.

"You haven't visited my home. No wonder you knew very little about me. It's time to meet my mother I supposed."

"I have thought enough about it. But I'm not confident to walk there since I haven't got a job". He was still confused.

"Don't think it too much. Sometimes life does not turned out as we expected it. It will only cause stress when we rely too much on our brain. Simply do what we can do. Our destiny will find us"

"Is that so?"

"Yes sure. Trust me. Ops.. trust Allah"

"Thanks Dea. You turned out to be more mature than I am in dealing with life"

"Heheehe…not too formal please your thanking me"

"Is it?"

"Yeah.. but I like it." That girl smiled. She was blushed.

_Do I need to go back to Hendra? What a bad best friend he is!_

_Ahhh…look how cute she is when she smiles. I am an irresposnsible man if I can't feed that cute girl properly_

"By the way, if you are looking for a job that means you are no longer the secretary of Hendra?" now she could collect and connect the puzzles.

"No. I resigned. I fear I would not have time for my family once I got married if I stayed with him". He explained.

"It seems like you are a type of over-thinking man and make too many unnecessary predictions".

"Yeah, you are right".

"That's the problem… it's okay to have a short term target, medium, and long term ones. But if we are to predict what will happen exactly near soon, that is against the destiny".

"Is that it? Well I don't know that"

"Well….life insurance with whatever products they offer, will be sold out well with people of your type".

"Hahaha..that means I'm a well market target for them"

"That's the simple thought of mine". Dea didn't want to be 1OO% sure of her mind.

"Then, what am I supposed to do?"

"If you are destined to work for Hendra, just do it. But if in the running, it gives you more troubles, you can think of having your own business"

"You hit the nail right on the head. But will you be okay if I am too busy to you in our marriage time?" Surya inquired her ideas deeper.

"No problem. As long as you really do something important at work"

"Ahhh, too bad you don't know Hendra well. He is able to manipulate me even at night for his own sake".

"I guess he will change that if he knows you are a married man. He will be more understanding. He is your best friend, anyway".

"He might be…"

_Hendra was willing to go back home knowing I could not stay away from my family after my dad passed away. Why did I think the opposite?_

"It's okay to have a dream but don't dare to predict too precisely what will happen in our future"

"Alright Mam"

"I'm embarrassed. Don't call me Mam" Dea protested.

"Don't Sir me, then? Call me Oppa instead…"

"Oppa…." A soft voice called.

"Hahahaha" he laughed happily.

"Once again…I want to listen again"

"Oppa…"

"Hahahahah" he sounded happier.

"I love you, Dea". He glanced at her.

"That's trite word. Meet my mom". She persuaded.

"Hahahah..you should have been more romantic. It takes days of preparations for that"

"That's trite"

"You are such Korean lover! Put this ring on"

"Nope"

"Common, put it on"

"Not until you meet my mother"

"Alright Ajumma"

"Hey, do you know what ajumma is?"

"That is a call for ladies"

"Nooo…. Ajumma is call for a woman older than you. Ask first before using it". She frowned.

"You're angry?"

"Don't ask please"

"So sorry please… you sir me everyday I'm fine with that".

"But that's the truth about you. You're older than me".

"I'm your husband to be… call me with something sweet and romantic"

"When you are my husband, I will call you my handsome husband". Dea was amused with that idea. And Surya was smiling happily.