Because I Don't Want to Lose
5 - Control

Upon returning from a short ‘honeymoon’ vacation, Izzar asked Anaya again in the morning about the rented house for where they live temporarily.

“I forgot!” Anaya stirred up her chamomile tea quickly, covering up her false taste.

Izzar took his breath. It made the fragrant tea that Anaya made to ambush his nose. Izzar remembered his mother. The gentle woman also loved chamomile tea, and drank it almost every morning. If he was nearby, his mother would make it too without being asked. Unlike Anaya, who offers it not.

“You said you wanted to help find?”

“Yes."

“Ya, search!” Anaya leaves Izzar at the dining table while bringing his tea to the back porch of the house.

Izzar follows Anaya, their talks are not over yet. There are other things that should actually be discussed related to the preparation of the Anaya home renovation process, not only the matter of renting a house for a temporary residence, but also about the items that must be moved, as well as, and when will it all start. Izzar also had to prepare workers and mobilize equipment and materials.

“I will help find a rental house, but you tell me what it wants, in which area, what budget. Then also, what furniture items in this house can be moved? I see some have been damaged, want to be repaired or –”

“As far as you are. I'm busy!” Anaya moved her laptop mouse that had been open on the table, without even turning to Izzar.

Izzar's conscience persuades him to be patient with Anaya. Think of it being faced with Sabrina, her sister, who is often annoying.

“You take care, have I paid you?!” call Anaya again, judes.

Anaya's last sentence scratched Izzar's heart. So, even though Anaya paid for herself, then she did not want all the business and was so strict to herself?

Resisting his annoyance, Izzar left Anaya and the house. He drove his car aimlessly. He just wanted to be away from Anaya, because he did not want the unfriendly attitude of the woman provoked his emotions.

Half an hour turning directionally, Randi called Izzar and invited him to meet at a cafe. He was with friends who needed architects. Izzar immediately agreed and twisted the route that was originally not intended.

Randi introduced two of his male colleagues who planned to build a restaurant and needed his services. They talked for a long time, who finally agreed to use the services of Izzar.

“Alhamdulillah! New bride's sustenance yes, Zar!” ledek Randi after his two colleagues left.

Izzar smile. In his heart he was grateful, after the first project that Anaya had given him, others began to entrust the work to him again.

“When does Anaya home renovation start?” ask Randi.

“I want it as soon as possible. But, he has not been able to rent a house for a place to stay.” Izzar sipped his coffee.

“Ngapain rental? Why not stay at your house?” ask Randi wonder.

Izzar was slightly surprised by Randi's question. Yes, it will certainly cause astonishment for others if Anaya rents a house again, while Izzar has his own home. They are husband and wife couples.

“My house is small. While Anaya's goods and furniture are many.”

“Anaya's furniture just move it in my warehouse, now it's empty. I know a lot of her furniture has been damaged as well. But, almost all the antiques, relics from his parents. Let me offer you to sell it. Do not deserve you to use old school furniture.” Randi laughing.

Izzar did not dare to comment.

“Already, you just take Anaya and Naira to move to your house. It's only temporary, right?”

“If Anaya doesn't want how?”

Randi laughed at Izzar's reply.

“You are her husband! Show that you also have the power to make decisions in your family!”

Izzar withheld his filing.

“I know, Anaya is stubborn and often acts as if she is the one who deserves the most power. But, he was carried away because since his father died, he worked hard alone even though his legacy was many. Plus Si Ridwan is lazy, and tends to take advantage of his advantages to make money," said Ridwan.

"In fact, Anaya is actually the type of woman who likes domestic work. Have you tried the cooking? It's delicious, right?” so Ridwan asked.

“I'm glad you've started getting projects again. If you have a lot more money, tell Anaya to stop working full time. She certainly will not mind, if all the needs of the household and herself have been met all by her husband,” said Randi.

Izzar's hand scratched his head even though there was no itching. Then he sipped his coffee. He pervades all of Randi's words that indirectly mention Anaya's weak point. Maybe this information Randi can use to dampen the arrogance of Anaya. Yes, even though their marriage was only temporary, Izzar did not want to live together with the rigidity and arrogance of Anaya.

Izzar returned to Anaya's house in the afternoon. He took down plastic containers and large cardboard sheets.

“Create what is all this?” Anaya's confused.

“Fuck your stuff, Naira and Mba Kemi, which is important and valuable only. Two days later we moved. Large items and furniture from tomorrow will be temporarily moved to the warehouse Randi.”

“Kok, don't tell me if you want to move to Randi?” Anaya scowling.

“Tadi mornin' right, you told me to take care of everything yourself? Now, I've started taking care of it, why protest?” Izzar turned back Anaya's words.

Anaya was silent watching Izzar carry his plastic boxes into the living room.

“Already got home for us to move?” anaya asked after Izzar was done with his work.

“Already.” Izzar took a glass in the pantry and filled it with water dispenser.

“Where?”

“My house,” replied Izzar after sipping his drinking water.

“Hah?! Why your home?!” Anaya surprised.

“If you rent another house while I have a simple house, will Ridwan not be suspicious later? Randi just questioned it earlier.”

Anaya took a long breath. He forgot, his decision to trick Ridwan with his fake marriage, brought many consequences.

“How much is the rental price?” ask Anaya.

“What rent?” Izzar looked at Anaya's confused face.

“Your house!” Anaya's voice was rising.

“I didn't say you had to pay rent.”

“But I will pay!” Anaya rushed to her room.

“Ngga, Anaya!” exciting Izzar.

But, Anaya's head of stone. He came back and put a thick envelope of money in front of Izzar, I don't know how much.

“This is to pay your house rent!”

Izzar. A second later his head was out.

“Take, Zar!” Anaya.

Izzar's annoyance that has been said, back again. He did not think about rent at all when deciding his house to be a temporary residence Anaya. All that passed through his heart was inevitably Anaya and Naira became his responsibility even though his marriage to Anaya was only on paper.

Without a word, Izzar looked at Anaya's money envelope. He recalled Randi's remarks about Anaya's stubbornness, and suggestions to show that he was a man who deserved to have control in this family.

Izzar gulped down the contents of his glass and then left Anaya, went into the room and closed it. He does not want Anaya constantly “buy” his pride.

Anaya is stunned by the actions of Izzar who ignores her and does not touch her money.

...***...