Elegi Of Rose

"How the hell do you do this thing?" Ayu asked, looking at the paper through the light the back porch offered. Her exhibit had been a success but she was more than happy and eager to go back home with Roy who said they could locate the star with a telescope. And that was what they were doing now, and she was having trouble with the coordinates.

"Let me do that," Roy snatched the paper from her. "For someone who loves stars, you should know this," he added.

Ayu rolled her eyes. "I don't have to learn that thing when I was looking at all the stars randomly. This coordinate thing is killing me."

"Uh-huh," Roy was already working on the telescope and did not hear her. "I think I found it," he said a while later. "You think?"

He turned his head and looked at her. "Let me rephrase that. I believe I found it."

"Pretty much the same thing," she nudged him aside. "Let me see."

With a chuckle, he stepped aside and let her peek through the telescope. Ayu smiled when she saw it. Well, what do you expect? It still looked like a star, but knowing it was named after you was awesome. And the fact it was the International Astronomical Union itself that did it was a plus.

"I hope you're happy," Roy uttered. "You have a star of your own."

"I still can't believe you actually did this," she said, straightening up. "It really blew me away, you know."

He kissed her and said, "I was hoping that would be the effect."

"Thank you," she said with feeling. Her heart was swelling with so many emotions that she couldn't help but hug him tight.

They stood there like that for a long time, just embracing.

"Can you tell me the real reason why you really need a wife?" she suddenly blurted out. "I know your family wants you to get settled and all, but that's just not reason enough. And don't tell me it is because I know there's a real reason." He was silent for a long time. He sighed and asked, "Are you familiar with Astor Industries?"

She frowned. "The food enterprise?"

He nodded. "I've been trying to buy stocks years ago but they won't budge. You know why?"

Ayu snorted. "Don't tell me they want someone with a wife."

"Pretty close to that, yes," he chuckled. "They pride themselves as a family-oriented enterprise and Mr. Astor wants his board members to be family-oriented."

Ayu's mouth fell open. She pushed away from him to look at his face to see if he was joking. "You're not joking."

He shook his head. "I'm serious. Mr. Astor has a son. Are you familiar with Zachary Astor?"

"I think I saw him on TV, yes."

"He doesn't make a lot of effort to please his father. And though the man has wanted to hand everything to him, he just wouldn't budge. His priorities are on different matters entirely. I think Mr. Astor knows what it is when people in his board

are all single. There was actually an article written why Astor Industries is adamant on its members being family oriented. It's crazy as hell, I know, but then, there are other companies with a lot of weird rules. At first, I rejected the idea of having a family until I found out my board members are trying to think about voting me out."

"They can't do that, can they? You're the owner of the company!"

"I own pretty much of the company, but I'm not the sole owner," he pointed out. "The company's having trouble with competitors like Astor Industries and merging the business with them will solve it."

"So you were forced to find a wife."

He nodded. "Your father offered me the solution when he approached me for help. My family, unknowingly to them, kind of made me even more desperate."

"And you've been planning it a long time ago," she sighed. "Roy Punda style," she shook her head. "So, I'm assuming you already merged with Astor Industries?"

He nodded, "The day after we got back from the Indos."

She was wondering why his reason didn't bother her at all. Well, maybe it was the thought from the back of her mind that knew about Roy having another reason. What she didn't understand though was how he would explain to his new associates about their divorce. She didn't want to ruin the mood of the evening so she rejected the idea of asking him. It would be his problem in the end, right?

*****

Hours later, she was lying on his bed wrapped in his arms with the same feeling of contentment she always felt every time they were like that.

Through the darkness of the room, she peered through her husband's sleeping form and smiled. She couldn't get over his gift. It was great and thoughtful and sweet. She hadn't-not in her wildest dreams-imagined that he would do something like that.

All the while she thought he was getting distant because of some reasons. She thought those calls he'd been making were just all for his business. And she also thought he didn't care at all that Lis hated her. He was just merely trying to thank Lis for what she did for him.

I bet she'll be furious when she finds out... Oh God, I'll pay anything just to see her face...

Rin and Yeyena were stunned when they knew about the star. Everyone was, actually, including Herland. Yes, of course she told Rin who told almost everyone. That was how the talk of the star spread through the crowd in the exhibit. I don't think I would want to leave when the time comes, she thought to herself as she traced her husband's face with her fingers. Her life had always been full of surprises, but they were mostly brought about by her. And when she was with Roni, it was always predictable. She knew his every move, his every thought, and his secrets. But with Roy, she was always at a loss, and always at a big surprise with the things he did. He never failed to make her do the extremes-good or bad- and she was starting to get used to it.

*****

The next day, it felt like the big needle that was stuck into the thin thread between them came loose and finally both of them could breathe more freely. And it also meant she had to go back to her chores.

But Ayu always found a way through.

It was her birthday! And she made it sure to remind him.

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"Didn't I greet you this morning?" Shit, she forgot about that. "And I already gave you your gift, right? Do you want anything else? I thought you don't like parties, but if you want-"

"No, it's not that. I'm going out to meet Rin."

"You're just going because it's your day to do chores, are you?" her husband said, the suspicious tone gone. He knew her too well to know what she was thinking that she even wondered if he knew about that one time she pretended she was sick.

"Of course not!" she denied anyway. "Rin and Yeyena are waiting for me. Ren's party is the day after tomorrow in case you forgot?"

Roy looked at her for a long time before he stood up and declared, "Then I'm going with you."

"You can't contribute anything to what we are going to do," she stopped him by planting her palms on his chest.

"I don't have anything to do today, so I'm going. I can watch over Ren." He did not let her say another word and walked out the kitchen.

"You're just going to watch over me, I know that!" She shouted after him.

"That one too!" He shouted back.

"I can't believe it," she sighed. She already missed their silent war. During that time, she was free to do whatever she wanted without worrying he'd come after her or tag along like a dog. Now he was back to being her personal shadow.

*****

Actually, no one knew it was her birthday and she made her husband promise not tell Rin. She was going to help with Ren's party and not be greeted just because she was born twenty-four years ago anyway.

"Don't tell me you're still fighting with Roy," Rin whispered half an hour later. They were at her sister-in-law's house and her husband went directly towards Ren the moment they arrived.

"Of course not. What made you think that?" she asked.

"I saw that you rode at the back."

Bummer. She forgot to transfer to the front which they always did ever since he came up with the brilliant plan.

"Oh, that..." she cringed. "I have this fear of riding shotgun. But you can't tell anyone. It's only you and Roy who knows about it."

"Really? That's weird, Yu."

"I know," she brushed the topic aside and asked, "Where's Yeyena?"

"I don't know. I can't contact her. Lately, she has been acting really weird. She's always late and she's never late."

"Especially when Roy is coming," she added with a laugh.

"Yeah, you're right about that one too," Rin chuckled.

They joined Roy and Ren until Yeyena arrived sweating and far from her usual glamour.

"What the hell happened to you?" Rin demanded.

"Don't ask. It's confidential," Yeyena said, tying her red hair in a bun and wiping her face with a towel. She had dirt all over her and she smelled quite unpleasant. It was not like her at all. "You've been saying that a lot."

"Go have a shower, will you?" Ayu told her, covering her nose. "You really stink."

"Ugh, don't mention it, I know," she went to the direction of Rin's room. "Oh, hi there, Roy," she waved and disappeared behind the door.

"What happened to her?" Roy asked across the room.

"Don't ask, we don't know," Rin sighed. "Hey, Yen! Don't use my soap!"

*****

After Yeyena spent almost an hour in the bathroom, they went on planning Ren's party. Since they were done with the most important details, they did not really do anything more except calling a lot of people about the food and the balloons and some bubble-maker machines. Yeyena literally slept through half the time, but she was obviously exhausted so they let her.

Roy kept himself busy with Ren, taking him out the lawn and even went out for a drive to buy some snacks for the ladies.

They left before dinner after pumping the balloons that were delivered that day. They would come back early the day after tomorrow so they could help with the set-up.

"You shouldn't have come," Ayu told him as they drove back home.

"I wanted to be with you," he countered.

She scoffed. "Yeah, right."

He just laughed.

Is that true? She wondered. "Where are we going?" she asked when she noticed that he was taking a different direction.

"We're going on a date."

"Date?"