SR3. 30. Fall in Love

Shortly after Laura showered, Liana arrived with Arabella and Andra, carrying baby Azka in her arms. Laura froze for a moment as she realized her hair was uncovered without a headscarf, but her discomfort quickly melted away when Aryan called her.

"Come here, dear," Aryan called, instantly reassuring Laura, who then stiffly smiled at everyone while walking over to Aryan.

"It's okay," Aryan said, handing her an instant hijab from the bedside.

Laura accepted put it on without a mirror. Aryan smiled as he saw Laura feeling self-conscious and helped her adjust the hijab. "Don't be shy; it's just Mom and Mbak Arabella and Mas Andra. And you too, Mas," Aryan said, seeing Laura's sweet face turn red. He pinched the tip of Laura's nose affectionately.

"Ahem, Aryan, please remember we are here," Andra teased as he sat on the sofa with Baby Azka.

"Come on, Andra, like you've never seen it before," Liana defended while wiping tears from the corner of her eye. Liana was happy to see her beloved son had found love with the right woman.

"Let's have breakfast," Liana invited, opening the food containers she had brought from home. Arabella eagerly assisted, feeling content now that her best friend and her little brother were in love.

"After we're discharged from the hospital, I want to go on a honeymoon with Laura, Ma," Aryan said, making Laura even more embarrassed. She could only bow her head, feeling her face turn as red as a tomato.

"That's great! You two haven't had your honeymoon yet, right? Next week, Laura will be busy with her community service program," Liana continued, handing a steaming bowl of chicken porridge to Aryan.

"I've prepared everything for you; you just need to go. Besides, Aryan, you can also take care of our project in Malang while you're there. It'll be three days well spent," Andra explained casually as he fed Baby Azka some softened biscuits.

"Why Malang? Are you planning a honeymoon or work?" Aryan grumbled like a sulking child.

"See, Ma, even though he's married, he still acts like a baby," Andra continued, intentionally provoking his younger brother. Andra was confident that the surprise he had prepared would not disappoint Aryan.

"Enough, you two always argue like this. Let's have breakfast," Liana ordered, interrupting the ongoing debate between her two sons.

"Honey, it's okay if we honeymoon in Malang, right? Andra's just being stingy. He went on a honeymoon to Lombok, and we're only going to Malang!" Aryan complained while enjoying each bite Laura fed him.

"It's fine, Aryan. I've wanted to visit Malang for a long time; there are so many interesting tourist attractions there," Laura explained with sparkling eyes. She had longed to visit the "Apple City" known for its various tourist destinations.

"Are you sure, Honey? If you're not interested, we can go somewhere else," Aryan coaxed, wanting their time together to be memorable and perfect.

"Oh, now you have a special nickname," teased Andra, deliberately interrupting the lovebirds.

Aryan glared at Andra but ignored him, turning his gaze back to the sweet girl with rosy cheeks in front of him.

"It's okay, Aryan, uh, I mean, dear," Laura replied when she realized they were not alone, accidentally addressing her husband without any formalities in front of his family. If Laura's parents had heard that, she would surely receive lectures until midnight.

"Alright, if you're okay with it. Wherever I go, as long as you're by my side, everything will be perfect," Aryan said, once again causing Laura's cheeks to turn even redder. Aryan hugged Laura and planted a tender kiss on the top of her head, completely ignoring the presence of others around them. Liana just watched in silence, a continuous smile on her face, as she witnessed the interaction between Aryan and Laura. She was used to it when it came to Andra and Arabella, as her eldest son never hesitated to display his affection in front of others.

After finishing breakfast and cleaning up, Andra excused himself to go to campus as he had some matters to attend to. Arabella stayed behind with Liana since Andra would pick her up later. Andra kissed Arabella's forehead and then shook hands with Liana while giving her a peck on the cheek before leaving.

Suddenly, the loud voice of Aurora, who had been standing at the doorway, caught everyone's attention. Andra smiled and ruffled Aurora's hair as he walked past her into the room.

"It's a habit," Aurora grumbled while pushing her lips forward and using her right hand to adjust her blonde hair model.

As usual, they all laughed at Aurora's absurd behavior. This girl often acted strangely, which always invited laughter from everyone. Laura's close friend was indeed beautiful, a professional model, but when she was with her family or friends, her sudden childish and goofy behavior would surface.

Not long after Aurora arrived at the hospital, she quickly excused herself because she had morning classes. Shortly after Aurora's departure, Laura's family arrived. Last night, Laura had intentionally informed her family when Aryan had been transferred to the hospital, as she didn't want her family to worry, especially her father, who had a history of asthma. Laura didn't want her father's condition to worsen, especially after seeing him sitting alone on the porch with a sad expression when she had come home without Aryan.

Ricard placed a basket of fruit on the table after greeting everyone in the room.

"How are you, Aryan? Are you feeling better?" Johan asked as he took a seat, following Aryan's lead. Aryan, who was sitting back against the bed, nodded and held Johan and Della's hands, kissing the back of their hands one after the other.

"My parents, I'm fine, just a stomachache," Aryan explained politely.

"You have to take care of your health. Is it because Laura didn't cook for you for three days?" Della teased, giving a sideways glance at Laura, who was sitting on the edge of Aryan's bed, feeling embarrassed.

"It's not Laura's fault, Mom. I'm the naughty one; I smoked too much," Aryan defended Laura and held her hand. However, Laura tried to pull her hand away, feeling embarrassed in front of everyone.

"Please, Mother Della, father Johan, Nancy, and Ricard, enjoy the pastries first. Aryan is not picky; he's just being spoiled," Liana interjected, knowing the disappointed looks on Laura's parents' faces. Liana didn't want Laura to be blamed for everything, especially when it was partly Aryan's fault.

After some time, the awkward atmosphere turned warm again. They chatted about Laura's younger siblings' school and Della's catering business, which was gradually making a comeback. Liana became enthusiastic upon hearing that Laura was good at cooking. She would have a partner in the kitchen now. Liana had suspected it when Laura stayed overnight while Aryan was inspecting his project in Bali. Laura had appeared skillful in the kitchen when helping her.

Their lengthy conversation was interrupted when the visiting doctor arrived with two nurses to check Aryan's condition. They all thanked God because Aryan was allowed to be discharged that afternoon and continue outpatient treatment at home.

***

Liana had made up her mind that after returning from the hospital, Aryan and Laura would stay with her. Liana had been angry when she found out that Aryan had lied about buying a house and that it was still under renovation. It had been an excuse to avoid buying a house because their marriage was initially just a contract. However, everything was different now. Aryan loved Laura and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, along with their children and grandchildren, until death separated them.

Aryan's reluctance angered Liana, so he reluctantly agreed to his mother's wishes. It's not that Aryan was uncomfortable sharing a home with his parents; he just wanted to build his married life independently.

"Darling, you don't mind living with Mom and Dad, do you?" Aryan asked, observing Laura as she was moving their clothes from the suitcase to the wardrobe. Laura paused in her activity and looked at Aryan with a smile.

"Of course not. I'm actually happy to live with them. It's nice to have company when you're away for work," Laura replied, placing the suitcase in the corner of the room.

Laura chuckled when she saw Aryan stretching out his arms. Slowly, Laura climbed onto the king-sized bed with a radiant smile. She entered the embrace of Aryan's strong arms, inhaling his distinct masculine scent. Aryan closed his eyes, feeling the rapid, rhythmic beating of his heart—something he had never experienced before with any other girl. For the first time, he felt so afraid of losing someone.

"Don't call me 'Aryan' in front of them. If they hear you, they'll scold you all day long," Aryan warned as he stroked Laura's shoulder-length hair. Laura was different from most girls Aryan knew; she always showed her true self. One question still lingered in his mind: why did he fall in love with a tomboyish and defiant girl who was now in his arms?

Aryan continued to smile while running his fingers through Laura's straight hair. Suddenly, Laura released herself from Aryan's embrace and sat cross-legged, facing him.

"What do you want me to call you then? 'Mas'?" Aryan shook his head. " 'Abang'?" Again, Aryan shook his head, his eyebrows furrowed. Laura seemed to be deep in thought. " 'Honey'?" Laura suggested, and Aryan thought for a moment before shaking his head once more.

Laura bit her nail while pondering, and Aryan couldn't help but find her expression increasingly adorable. Both of Aryan's hands cupped Laura's face, bringing their faces closer together, their noses brushing against each other.

"'Honey' or 'hubby' is fine. Didn't you call me that yesterday?" Aryan said, causing Laura to be momentarily dumbfounded. She tried to recall the events from last night when they had slept closely on the hospital bed, admiring God's masterpiece in Aryan's perfect physique.

Laura cleared her throat loudly, making Aryan burst into laughter. A crimson flush spread across Laura's face, down to her slender neck. Now, Aryan was the one who had to clear his throat loudly as he envisioned that elegant neck covered in kiss marks he would create.

"I'm temporarily indisposed," Laura reminded him with a blush, noticing the mischievous glint in Aryan's eyes.

"It seems I need to learn patience again," Aryan replied, pulling Laura into his embrace.

"I love you, Honey," Aryan whispered, stealing a brief kiss on Laura's lips.

"I love you more, My Hubby," Laura replied, nestling her body into Aryan's large embrace.