Bittersweet Arrangements : A Sugar Dady Affair

“Uncle, I’ll borrow a sweater. How dare you let me be cold all this time!” Elena sulked because Devan didn’t take the initiative to lend her the sweater the man was wearing.

“On purpose so you want to keep hugging me!” Devan teased, still not intending to take off the sweater he was wearing. It’s not that Devan was insensitive, but he was deliberately teasing the girl.

“It’s afternoon, let’s go home, Bee!” asked Devan as he opened his arms. Without realizing it, they had been sitting on the rocks for more than three hours, with their legs occasionally sticking out into the water flowing beneath them.

“I still feel at home here, Uncle,” replied Elena, still reluctant to leave this beautiful and cool place.

Here Elena can feel a calm and comfort that she has never felt before. Elena doesn’t understand. But what is clear is that Devan’s presence by her side adds new color to her monotonous life. With a man she used to think was boring, but in fact he was the one who showed her the outside world.

“It’s almost 1 pm. We have to go home Bee.” Devan cleaned up their food waste, put it in a plastic bag.

Then Devan washed his hands with water flowing in front of him. He took off the sweater from his body then gave it to Elena.

“Put it on!” Devan said, handing over his black sweater. With sparkling eyes, Elena accepted the warm sweater.

While Elena was wearing a sweater, Devan helped put shoes on the girl’s feet. Elena was suddenly speechless. This is what it feels like to be loved. A warm feeling suddenly embraced his cold body. Even with his heart becoming more and more flowery. However, in the deepest corner of her heart, Elena felt anxiety that she herself was unable to interpret. Elena hopes that this togetherness will never end.

Devan stood up, extending his hand, which Elena joyfully accepted. Devan’s gentle gaze truly melted Elena’s heart. Elena was reluctant for them to leave now. She wanted to stay here longer with the man she was with.

Hand in hand, they began to walk along the rocky paths. The cool air added the perfect touch to their newly crafted love story.

Upon reaching the parking area, they didn’t immediately head home. Devan needed to perform the Dhuhr prayer, and Elena had to change her sanitary pad to avoid irritation. Only after reaching the mosque did they release their hands.

While waiting for Devan to finish his prayer, Elena sat on the mosque’s terrace, playing with her phone. Elena felt increasingly uneasy when there were no messages or calls from her parents. For the first time, she went out with someone else on her day off. Usually, Elena would only go out with her family.

“Come on!” Devan’s voice successfully broke Elena’s reverie.

Casually, Devan landed his hand on Elena’s shoulder, guiding her towards his parked car. After ensuring Elena was comfortably seated, Devan walked around the car before getting in. Behind the steering wheel, Devan didn’t immediately drive. He checked something behind through the rearview mirror. Instantly, Devan formed a thin smile while gently stepping on the gas, slowly leaving the Curug waterfall.

Just 15 minutes into the journey, Devan stopped his car in front of a restaurant. Hurriedly, Devan invited Elena to get off and have lunch before continuing their journey, which still had around 45 minutes left. Of course, Elena agreed because her stomach had been singing along with the music playing in Devan’s car since earlier.

After a slightly delayed lunch, they continued their journey. Elena, too comfortable in Devan’s warm sweater, dozed off.

“Forgive me, Bee. I will definitely keep my promise to you,” Devan murmured while gently stroking Elena’s head.

A sense of guilt crept into Devan’s heart. Why did he have to fall in love with this naive girl who, unfortunately, was the daughter of his best friend? Why couldn’t he have fallen in love with Dinda or any other woman who had approached him? Why did it have to be Elena, his choice after Gita’s departure?

Devan withdrew his hand, refocusing on the asphalt road ahead. Raindrops began to fall on his car’s windshield. Slowly, the raindrops turned into larger droplets. The sky began to weep, accompanying their journey until they reached the center of Yogyakarta.

“Uncle, where are we now?” Elena mumbled, having just awakened from her nap. Elena adjusted her sitting position, observing the surroundings outside the car. “Since when did it start raining?” Elena continued, now sitting sideways with her head leaning towards Devan, who was driving.

“Since you were asleep earlier,” replied Devan then reached out his hand to touch Elena’s chin because he was annoyed.

“Sorry Uncle, I fell asleep hehehe!” chuckled Elena spoiledly.

“It’s okay, Bee.” Devan’s hand moved down and grabbed Elena’s finger. Holding those slender fingers tightly while time is still on their side. Because when they get home, everything will change.

Elena adjusted her sitting position correctly again and then spoke when she realized that the car Devan was driving was not heading towards Citra’s house. “Oh, how come this way! The direction of Citra’s house is over there!” Elena’s fingers pointed in another direction.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“I’ll take you home. Your daddy is waiting for us at home!” Devan replied casually.

Instantly Elena didn’t move. Trying to digest the sentence he just heard. Elena cast a demanding gaze at Devan who looked calm.

“What do you mean, Uncle?” Elena scratched her head which suddenly felt itchy.

“I don’t want your Daddy to worry about waiting for you to come home, especially since it’s almost 3 in the afternoon. Let Lucky pick up your car and take you home,” explained Devan without making Elena feel suspicious.

For a moment, Elena looked at Devan meaningfully. If he could stop time he would have done it a long time ago. She still wants to be with an adult man beside her. I still want to carve out more about the beautiful story of the two of them. But that wish will only be a dream because soon they will be separated. Later, when he returns to his golden cage, it will be difficult for them to meet again.

Devan stopped the car. “Let me go in alone,” Elena pleaded, feeling uncertain. Her entire family was currently gathering at home. She feared her Daddy would bombard her with many questions she couldn’t answer.

“Don’t worry! Everything will be fine,” Devan replied, gently stroking Elena’s head. After the gate opened wide, Devan swiftly drove into the spacious and long yard, with palm trees welcoming them.

They got out of the car together. Devan walked towards the terrace, followed by Elena trailing behind. As Devan was about to press the doorbell, Elena quickly intervened. Elena hoped no one would see their arrival.

Devan smiled and slightly shifted his body, signaling Elena to enter first. Elena’s heart raced as she reached for the massive door handle. Slowly, she pushed it, accompanied by a soft greeting. Whispered. Very hushed, like a secret. On purpose, so that no one inside the house could hear.

However, what her sight captured exceeded expectations. Elena’s body froze instantly when she saw Jeremy sitting calmly on the living room sofa, holding a cigarette in his hand. The man who was Elena’s first love displayed no expression on his handsome face. Just two words could describe it-flat and cold.

For a moment, Elena could see Jeremy’s sharp eagle-like eyes staring at her, then shifting to focus on the man standing right next to her. They exchanged a gaze with an indescribable expression. None of them wanted to back down. Trying to break the tension, Elena attempted to speak.

“Daddy!”

Elena’s lips locked when Jeremy raised his hand as a sign that he didn’t want to be contradicted. He extinguished the cigarette in the ashtray and stood up.

“I can explain everything, Jem!” Devan said without a hint of fear.

“El, go to your room now!” Jeremy ordered calmly but with emphasis. Jeremy grew angrier seeing his daughter wearing Devan’s sweater. Now Jeremy felt foolish for being deceived by both of them.

Elena’s body trembled violently, her heart pounding irregularly. Elena’s face turned pale when she saw the flash of anger in her Daddy’s eyes-a terrifying gaze that she had never experienced before.

“Go to your room now, El!” Jeremy repeated with a louder tone.

Seeing Elena’s fear made Devan worry. Jeremy truly loved Elena, but who could guarantee that Jeremy wouldn’t be furious this time?

“Elena is not at fault.” Devan pulled Elena’s hand, hiding her behind him.

“I said go to your room now!” Jeremy shouted, already losing his patience. He no longer cared about Elena’s cries that were starting to be heard.

Jeremy had been suppressing his emotions since this morning just to keep Vanessa from worrying. But this time, Jeremy couldn’t contain his feelings any longer. Hearing Jeremy’s shout, Vanessa, who was in her room, immediately came out.

“What’s wrong, dear?” Vanessa asked, observing the two men in front of her, who were in a standoff.

“What’s going on here?” Vanessa grew more panicked when she saw Elena crying behind her best friend.

In haste, Vanessa approached Elena, taking her into her arms. Elena could only cry without having the chance to speak. When Daddy was angry, no one was allowed to talk.

“Jeremy, I love Elena,” Devan honestly shocked Vanessa. But not Jeremy. The man actually showed a cynical smile.

“What did you just say Devan?” Vanessa said, not believing it. “I swear your joke wasn’t funny this time!” Vanessa continued shaking her head. Vanessa even unconsciously spoke in their style when she was young.

“Sorry Vanessa, I meant what I said!” Devan admitted, looking pityingly at Elena. Devan really wanted to hug the girl to calm her down. But Devan couldn’t possibly do that in front of Jeremy who was angry. What Jeremy has is going to get even crazier in the future.

Jeremy’s hands clenched into tight fists. His jaw tightened when he heard Devan’s disgusting confession. His sharp eyes seemed to be red. His emotions exploded.

“Pyaar…” The sound of a breaking object deafened the ears, coinciding with Elena and Vanessa’s screams. The glass ashtray now scattered on the floor, shattered and shapeless. Elena’s cries grew louder. With disappointed eyes, Vanessa looked at Jeremy. This was not how they should resolve the issue. Yesterday, Vanessa had warned Jeremy sternly. Never solve problems with anger again.

“Get out of my house now!” Jeremy threatened, stepping towards Devan. He didn’t care about the broken ashtray under his feet. The pain in the soles of his feet was nothing compared to the pain inflicted by his daughter and her friend.

But Devan remained unmoved in his place, standing firm in his stance.

“I’ll say it again. You leave now!” Jeremy threatened, not joking. Jeremy’s powerful hand grabbed Devan’s seemingly calm shirt. No trace of fear reflected in his eyes, making Jeremy angrier. “I guarantee you won’t breathe again if you dare to see Elena.”

“And I also guarantee, Jeremy, I will marry Elena,” Devan challenged, full of confidence. After saying those words, Devan shifted his gaze to Elena, who was crying in Vanessa’s embrace.

“Don’t cry, Bee. There’s nothing to be afraid of,” Devan said with a reassuring smile, then hurriedly walked towards the exit. Not because he was afraid of Jeremy’s threat, but Devan was more concerned about Elena’s condition. He didn’t want Elena to witness how terrifying Jeremy could be when he was angry.

Devan knew Jeremy’s personality well. The man could do anything when he was furious. And this time, he was the cause. So, surrendering was the best solution for now. Giving Jeremy time to think. Devan was very sure that when Jeremy found out about his relationship with Elena this morning, he would be in shock and wouldn’t accept this reality.

“Go!” Vanessa pleaded with Devan, tears streaming down her face. For now, Vanessa couldn’t think clearly anymore. Devan’s departure was the only alternative before an all-out brawl occurred.

Before Devan could actually leave, Jeremy left first. His heart was too hurt to face the reality that his b