Because I Don't Want to Lose
4 - Honeymoon's

Anaya booked a two-bedroom suite at the best hotel in the Puncak area. Izzar did not comment on Anaya's choice and decision. Even when Anaya chose to use his car rather than Izzar's. She was also allowed to drive if she did not tell him to hold the wheel. But Izzar couldn't bear it. He remembered his mother's teachings about respecting and protecting women, anyone. He asked Anaya for the keys before she stepped out the door.

Along the way, Naira's cherry-picked mouth incessantly chattered inquiring and telling Izzar. The boy mastered the middle row seat with his toys and puppets. Trapping Anaya, who was reluctant to get close to Izzar, was forced to sit next to him in the front seat.

Izzar could feel the tension and discomfort of Anaya beside him. The woman's seat was too close to the door. His face is either facing forward or tilted to the window. Anti once he turned towards Izzar. Somehow later if the neck becomes stiff and cramp.

While driving, Izzar tries to include Anaya in his conversation with Naira to make the woman relax. However, Anaya only responded in passing and then got busy with her phone. The air between her and Anaya was as if a thick clear membrane that was hard to penetrate. Izzar also gave up trying to melt the awkwardness that blocked.

"Mama not cool!” naira suddenly.

Izzar held back his laughter hearing Naira's curse.

"What did you say?” Anaya turned her body to look at Naira.

"Mama not cool!” reset Naira.

“Talking instead play hape! So busy! Not polite!”

This time Izzar was unable to reduce his silence. His laughter also escaped.

"Don't laugh!” Anaya glared at Izzar.

But Izzar doesn't care. For him what Naira said was a natural funny innuendo that was right addressed to Anaya.

Anaya bit her lip. He admitted Naira's words shot her ego down. Very clever little princess turned around the expressions that often triggered Anaya when he commented on others who ignored him when spoken to.

He puts his phone in his lap and tries to listen to Naira and Izzar. He is amazed by the adaptability Naira receives the presence of Izzar. And that made Anaya so upset, because the man was very easy to reach Naira's heart.

They arrived at the hotel when it was night. After dinner, Anaya forces Naira to sleep in her room. However, the boy refused and insisted only to be accompanied by Izzar, so Anaya was angry and finally the mother and child quarreled. Izzar who tried to mediate even got spray Anaya.

"Don't interfere!”

Izzar raised his hand and opted out of the room, sitting over on the balcony. He could still hear Naira's screams and cries and Anaya's annoyed expressions. He wondered if this kind of mother-daughter quarrel would also be met if he had his own family later.

Hmm, it doesn't seem like. He believes that if he has a wife and children he loves, the days he goes through will be full of jokes and laughter. There are no barriers and boundaries like Anaya did.

Yes, Izzar understood his position and role. He feels a feeling of jealousy in Anaya's heart caused by Naira's closeness to him, which adds to the discomfort of him having to accept Izzar's existence. So Anaya was very hard on him.

After some time, the voices of the two women inside stopped. Izzar decided to enter because the night air was cold enough to bite his skin. He closed the balcony door and saw Anaya making tea in the pantry

"Anaya!” Izzar.

Anaya.

"Can we talk to you for a minute?” Izzar sat on the sofa located in the middle of the room between the door of Anaya's room and himself.

Carrying her cup, Anaya approached and sat down opposite Izzar. He made tea only for himself, and drank it without further ado offering it to Izzar.

Izzar held back his heart seeing Anaya's indifference.

"What do you want to say?” Anaya was impatient.

"Naira's asleep?”

"Have.”

"Why the hell, are you being too hard on Naira?”

Anaya scrunched her forehead. “Keras?”

"You don't like him being close to me?” shoot Izzar.

There was an emotion erupting in Anaya's chest. But he couldn't declare it. He could only stare at Izzar irritatedly.

"You don't have to worry about Naira. I'm not gonna do anything weird to the kid, or influence him to stay away from you. I'm just trying to ease your burden by helping to nurture it,” said Izzar.

Anaya was still at a loss for words.

"I actually hope that, despite being bound by a contract agreement, we can act like good friends to each other. Don't consider me your enemy. But, if you do feel like you should continue to be formal and keep your distance from me, let Naira be my friend.”

Izzar awaits Anaya's response. He really wanted Anaya to be more lenient to him.

"Have you finished talking?” ask Anaya.

“While already.”

Izzar shook his head, inexhaustible with Anaya's arrogance. Just this time to meet a woman like me Anaya. He who used to be adored by women suddenly became confused to face Anaya. But he wouldn't bother. He then chose sleep.

In the morning, Izzar was awakened by the subtle curliness in his nose. From her tiny fingers and her breath, she knew Naira was trying to wake her up. Slowly caught the little girl's wrist, which instantly made her squeal and laugh.

“Build! Just sleep anyway?” Naira shook Izzar's arm.

“Iya... I wake up!” Izzar opened his eyes wide. In front of him Naira gave her wide and innocent smile. He had a bath and was neat with shorts and a black T-shirt with a Minnie Mouse picture.

“Mom's word, breakfast at hotel restaurant, we want to go to Safari Park.”

“Oh yes?”

“Iya!”

“I was invited?” ask Izzar.

“Ya invited dong! We are family!” Naira answered in a high tone. Exactly mother.

Izzar laughed to himself. How similar two women who suddenly and forced to exist in his life now.

“Naira?!” Anaya was heard calling from the next room.

“Iya? Her Izzar dad just woke up this, hasn't taken a shower!” sahut Naira's.

“Say sprawl! Mama is hungry!” exciting Anaya.

Izzar got out of bed. In the middle room, Anaya is neat with jeans and socks the same color as Naira. He looked resentfully at Izzar who was still tangled .

“If you are hungry, you go to breakfast first with Naira. I take a shower first. I'll be following.” Izzar turned to his room.

“I want to be with Father Izzar!” Naira rejects Izzar's idea which she unknowingly adds to Anaya's annoyance.

Izzar rushed to the bathroom, avoiding the possibility of a debate he did not want to hear. He thought Naira would eventually follow his advice. However, the attitude of the little girl turned out to be harsher than her mother. Naira kept waiting for him to take a bath while watching TV instead of accompanying Anaya.

“Where's the name?” ask Izzar.

“Mama is gone first. He said he was hungry.”

“Why don't you go with Mom? Later if he is bullied people how?”

“Let's just! Mama is big. I'm bored ah, same mom. Angry continues,” answered Naira while grumbling.

Izzar sighed. Little-little Naira already appeared stubborn talent.

Despite the weekdays, the hotel remains crowded because there is a corporate seminar activity. Hotel restaurant with half full breakfast.

Izzar takes Naira in search of Anaya. His eyes found the woman at the table in the corner of the room. Next to him stood a man who was talking something. From Anaya's face and gestures, Izzar could see Anaya's discomfort.

Seeing that, I don't know what instinctual impulse makes Naira lift and hold, so that she can speed up her steps towards Anaya.

In a few seconds, Izzar was already near them.

“Hei! Here our mama apparently!” Izzar dropped Naira who was immediately welcomed and held by Anaya.

Izzar smilingly looked at the man who instantly turned nervous and left them.

“Who was that, Mama?” naira asked as she moved to sit next to Anaya.

“Prank,” Anaya replied.

Izzar looked at Anaya. He hoped to say thank you for saving him from the prankster. However, Anaya just kept silent and looked back at him coldly, without a word and a smile.

“I want to grab food first!” Izzar went towards the buffet swallowing his empty hope.

After breakfast, the three of them drive to the Safari Park.

Izzar still felt Anaya stay away from him. There's no meaning to Izzar's request last night for Anaya to consider him a friend. Although Anaya no longer strictly forbid Naira close and depend on him, but he still spread the distance with Izzar

Although annoyed, Izzar tried to be patient. He did not want to keep deep annoyance at Anaya's attitude in his heart. Enjoy the “honeymoon” holiday with Naira. It has been a long time since he has gone for a walk like this. He remembered, the last time he took time for a vacation was two years ago. Together with Sasika, his fiancee who could leave him when his condition slumped.

On the other hand, Anaya tries hard to be able to have fun like people on vacation. However, he could not get rid of the bulkhead he created between himself and Izzar. No matter how hard he tried, his little heart still regarded Izzar as a stranger. And, even though he realized Izzar was actually a kind and caring man, he still felt that he was weak, because he wanted to be forced to marry her for money.

...***...