“Then, don’t work too hard. You’ve got a lot of wealth, Har. You don’t have to work until the sun goes down. You can still make a lot of profit out of the hands of your workers.”

Oscar didn’t argue. He decided to just take Cleo’s advice. Because Cleo’s target was not him, but Harry. Oscar only needed to persuade Dirga to tell Harry that, later.

Because unfortunately, right now Harry wasn’t working at all. He lay in the hospital without any attention from his wife.

***

Cleo suddenly hugged Oscar from behind. It took the unprepared man by surprise.

She was entering a period of wanting to be pampered and needs attention from her husband. She also regularly consumes nutritious food to support the health of their baby.

Deg!

Oscar’s heart was beating fast.

He just got home at midnight. Cleo was still waiting for him. Cleo also hugged her from behind as Oscar had just sneaked into the bedroom.

“You’re finally back. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”

Oscar lowered Cleo’s hand. He kept his distance by pretending to take off his watch and coat in front of the wardrobe. Oscar glanced at Cleo out of the corner of his eye.

“You haven’t rested yet and are still waiting for me?”

Cleo stared for a long time at Oscar’s figure who was waiting for her. Cleo realized Oscar was keeping his distance even though he didn’t show it openly. Cleo tried to clear her mind by thinking positively that Harry might be tired and wanted to get some rest quickly.

Cleo sat on the edge of the seat with a disappointed expression.

“I was waiting for you on purpose. But you don’t look happy.”

Oscar still continued to slow down his movements. He took a clothes change and loosened his shirt.

“I am happy. How could I not be happy?”

Cleo pulled Oscar’s hand to touch her stomach.

“They want to feel his father’s warm touch. And after we knew their whereabouts, you’ve never touched them.”

Cleo acted pushily. She didn’t let Oscar take his hand away and continued to hold his hand until he became awkward. Oscar was forced to restrain himself.

“I’ve touched it. So, what more could you want?”

Cleo touched her forehead.

“A warm kiss from you.”

Oscar scratched his chin. A habit that he often does when he is stuck in a complicated situation.

“It’s getting late, Cleo. Can you rest and let me clean up?”

Cleo was silent.

She pointed to knowledge books for an expectant mother that she had bought at random out of interest in their titles. Oscar followed the direction she was pointing.

“What is it? And why?”

Cleo still hadn’t lowered her hand.

“Should I buy to you some books of that kind too? You will be a father. It’s good that you learn a lot how to please a wife and mother-to-be from your children!”

Cleo’s words pierced Oscar’s heart.

He felt very guilty and confused to make a choice. Because he’s not going to be a father yet. He also didn’t expect to be faced with a situation where he also had to become a surrogate father for Cleo’s future children.

Oscar had to obey.

He stroked Cleo’s hair. Then kiss her forehead.

“Sweet dreams. And dream of me.”

Oscar rushed into the bathroom.

Turned on the tap and wash his face. He looked at his appearance in the mirror. So different from his usual appearance. He succeeded in being like everyone else. But his heart was not satisfied.

He stared blankly at his hands which still felt Cleo’s touch.

Cleo was still waiting for Oscar faithfully.

Sitting on the edge of the bed and waiting for Oscar to come out of a bathroom. Their gazes met in the silence of the night.

Cleo watched Oscar carefully. She realized her husband was right in front of her eyes. But everything looks foreign. She didn’t know if she might be entering a period of strange pregnancy syndrome.

She found a few things that looked different from Harry. They look the same but the aura they emit was different. Their embrace just now felt foreign too.

Oscar noticed the blank look on Cleo’s face.

He came closer and tilted his head lower.

“What is it? Is there something on your mind or bothering you?”

Cleo noticed Oscar’s pitch-black eyes. If only the ones standing in front of his eyes were the real brown eyes. Cleo could confidently assume that the handsome man standing and worried before her eyes were someone else.

Their faces are similar. Oscar’s wet hair as it swayed freely was exactly like Harry’s. No one would think that they were two different people, including Cleo.

The silence and question-marked gaze invited anxiety. Oscar didn’t know what Cleo was thinking. Her dark eyes flashed a lot of doubt.

Oscar was still waiting for an answer from Cleo.

“You’re still going to continue to sit and stare at me like that without responding to my question?”

Oscar was still calm even though his heart was racing. He moved his hand super calmly to towel dry his hair. But he continued to use his eyes to judge Cleo’s monotonous movements.

“Have I ever wronged you?”

Cleo subconsciously became melancholic. She felt she had made a mistake. That has become why Oscar kept his distance from her.

Oscar let out a long sigh.

“Have you ever felt like you did something wrong to me?”

Cleo shook her head weakly.

“Did I ever blame you for something?”

Cleo shook her head weakly again.

“Then what’s your reason for asking?”

Cleo raised her head.

“Who knows. I feel you are avoiding me.”

Oscar gritted his teeth. He hates when someone has high sensitivity. But it wouldn’t be strange if Cleo realized something.

“When did I avoid me? Have I ever done it openly?”

Cleo shook her head.

“I don’t know. I doubt too. But I could feel it. Even if the reasons for work make you worthy of doing so.”

Cleo rubbed her stomach. She wanted to find peace from the person who would become her most valuable treasure.

“Since you came back. We are rarely together. Even though you are well aware of how anxious and afraid I am to have to stay in this home without clues and certainty from you.”

Oscar checked his memory.

“Didn’t I text you already?”

“Yes. But it was too late, Har. At a time when there so many bad thoughts filled my head.”

Oscar felt a kind of jealousy after knowing Harry had someone who loved him so much. He wished he had someone like him too.

Oscar hastily interrupted his silly daydream.

“What if I make up for it next time?! Choose a day for us to go out together. I won’t refuse. And you can let go of your longing for me.”

Cleo’s cheerful smile widened.

“Shall we go for a hangout?” repeated Cleo.

Oscar nodded resignedly.

“Yeah. For the sake of my beloved wife, of course!”

Someone who knew Oscar would definitely scream loudly if they saw his behavior.

Cleo wanted to prance. But she decided to stop doing that childish nature.

“I agree. Then, where is the destination?”

Oscar glanced around.

“Picnic. I’m sure it’s not bad. I will ask Dirga to prepare it. We’ll find out later.”

On that night, Cleo was again able to sleep peacefully thanks to Oscar’s sweet persuasion. While waiting for their moment together later.

***

Dirga was stunned by Oscar’s plan which was not in accordance with his rules. He repeatedly widened his eyes. They should have communicated first before Oscar’s extraordinary words were spoken.

“Did you think I didn’t exist, hem? How could you have come up with a great plan without discussing it with me for first?”

“You want Mrs. Sofia to strangle my neck?”

Oscar played finger taps on the table while folding legs.

“What could I do if that woman kept suspecting me? She was sad and depressed because her husband had become like a stranger. Then did not pay attention to his pregnant wife. At the same time making his whole job as an excuse!”

Oscar aimed at Dirga sharply.

“If you were me. Are you just going to be quiet?”

Dirga sighed.

“I can understand your situation, Sir. But, to arrange a schedule for a picnic together. Aren’t you worried that your lies will be exposed?”

Oscar corrected.

“It’s not just my lies. But, us. You should have said it on right.”

***