Chapter 5 Part 5

Bryant looked disapproving,"Marriage is not something to be decided casually."

"If you knew, why didn't you do it before? It would be better for our family to be ashamed because your marriage was annulled than for us to ruin someone else's future, Bryant!" Lina looked frustrated as she wiped her sweaty forehead, "You should discuss this big problem with us before you make your own decision!"

"Isn't Mom's request just now, Mom messing up our future?"

"Mom didn't mess up or ruin the future for both of you, she repaired the damage to make it even better. It's like when rice turns to mush and then shredded chicken and fried onions are added,"Lina snapped. She asked Rudi for help through his eyes, but Rudi just laughed silently.

"Sounds very delicious, madam,"said Tony in the middle of the tension that Rudi couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"You really can save the atmosphere, Tony. You never let me down,"said Rudi.

"Mom hopes that you and Wanda can find a better solution if it is true that you do not agree to realize the marriage that Mom suggested. Mom hopes that your decision will not hurt either party."

"Sure, Mom. We'll work things out without letting Mom and Dad down,"Bryant replied. He took Lina's hand to hold it gently.

"No need to think about us, just think about you two and put Wanda first,"Rudi warned Bryant.

"Right now, the one who has the potential to lose more is Wanda."

"I'm sorry for causing trouble for Auntie and Uncle,"Wanda said.

"The biggest problem in Auntie's life is that you are too sensitive to everything that happens around you,"Lina looked relaxed as she said these words, and ended with a light laugh as she received a pat and a kiss on the head from Rudi.

"What do you think of my mother's solution earlier?"asked Bryant after his parents had left.

They had sat in silence for about ten minutes, each of them absorbed in his own thoughts. Their brains were working harder than usual to come up with a solution so they wouldn't have to get married as had been suggested.

For Wanda, marriage has never even crossed her mind for a second. Right now, she is more focused on his career than on romance. It was too difficult for her to take care of a man when she couldn't even take care of herself. Besides, when she has to work, she also has to take care of the household, look after her husband when he comes home from work, and then cook for the two of them. The problem can indeed be solved with a domestic helper, if the husband allows it. And it's rare for a man to be so receptive.

"It's better if we discuss this somewhere else without..."Wanda stopped her sentence while she looked at Tony who was standing next to Bryant.

At first, Bryant was about to refuse Wanda's request, but then he thought it would be better to discuss this matter without Tony present.

"Sure,"Bryant said as he held out his hand to Wanda, making her nervous. Her eyebrows knit together.

"Your phone." Bryant held out his hand again, raising an eyebrow.

"For what?"

"So you can contact me with the address and meeting time,"Bryant explained to Wanda.

"We can't talk now, can we? It's too fast, our brains can't come up with a proper solution yet."

"Oh," Wanda chuckled dryly, "that."

In a split second, Wanda's phone was in Bryant's hand. Before Bryant returned his cell phone, Bryant said,"Call me as soon as you can.

"Sure, I'll call you right away," Wanda trailed off, seeming to think for a moment, "as soon as I can,"Wanda was a little unsure if she could get in touch with Bryant as soon as possible, because she had to get the job done as quickly as possible, and it wouldn't be done overnight. Finishing the last chapter was fine for tonight, but not with revisions.

"Will you see me tomorrow? No way," Tony suddenly interrupted. He took out a brown leather-bound book from his inside pocket and opened the page at random, then a few more until he stopped at a page full of neat writing.

"Why?" she asked.

"Mr. Bryant's schedule is full from morning to night," Tony explained.

"My schedule is also full for the next three days," Wanda said quickly. Was Bryant the only one who was busy? She is also busy chasing the script!

"Then I'll see you in four days. Tony will clear my schedule, and so will you."

Wanda nodded her head. Hopefully!

***

"BlackBean Cafe at ten in the morning," Wanda said as she typed the message on her cell phone and then sent it to Bryant's contact she got last week. They hadn't really seen each other for four days after their wedding because they were obviously busy with their own business. There is no schedule that can be pushed back.

Bryant was busy with office matters that required him to fly to Singapore to inaugurate a new ATM center in a shopping mall, while he himself had to complete the final revision of his manuscript. The script required a great deal of effort because the final part of the script, which he typed for six hours straight as ideas flowed like a waterfall, had to be reworked because it was too long and detailed. Thanks to Bryant for all the ideas this guy accidentally gave him!Wanda pulled the laptop charger out of the slot and rolled it up neatly before tucking it into the laptop bag along with the laptop and thick books that looked fragile from the outside. A book filled with notes of ideas she gets while walking or sitting in his favorite cafe.

She has learned the valuable lesson that any activity that occurs or that he sees with her two eyes must be immediately recorded in a book so that she can use it when she feels fatigue in her mind. Wanda can easily continue her novel without having to leave her comfort zone to look for new ideas, as she did the day she met Bryant.

Wanda planned to get to the BlackBean Café an hour early and be home by five in the afternoon. In between, she would discuss her next plan with Bryant and then return to work on his new script.

The BlackBean Café, which smells of coffee and oranges, really calms her mind, and the café is quite spacious, cool and comfortable. There was rarely any loud screaming from customers or crying children, as the cafe was usually full of people bringing their laptops to work without trying to peek at other people's screens.

Truly a very comfortable plact to drink coffee and type ten thousand words in a single visit. Once a week she managed to finish a novel because she got a big idea from the couple sitting in front of Her. And even though three years had passed, somehow Wanda had never seen them again. Wanda wished she could meet them today, if luck was really on her side.

Wanda immediately shouldered her backpack and left the room. Her online taxi order was waiting downstairs, so she had to get off immediately if he didn't want to be scolded, and what was worse, the driver had canceled.

***

Bryant reached for his vibrating cell phone to find a message from Wanda with the place and time of their meeting. Bryant had asked Tony to clear his schedule, and he had thought carefully about what he would ask Wanda. Things that would affect their future and hopefully not mess up their lives.Bryant grabbed the envelope containing two copies of their agreement to take downstairs with the car keys. Today he was going to meet Wanda without Tony at his side according to their previous agreement. Bryant was really curious about Wanda's thinking. Wanda was completely unpredictable, judging by the message she had just read. One of them is their meeting place.

Out of the many cafes in a big city like this, Wanda chose one that made her smile a little and immediately contacted the person in charge of that cafe. Simple, but really interesting.

On the other hand, Wanda was shaking her legs restlessly. she couldn't concentrate on the continuation of his manuscript, even though ideas kept flying through her head that needed to be written down right away. The reason was that the time for their meeting was getting closer and closer, and that made Wanda panic.

How was she going to come up with all the things she's tried to think of to make up for the loss she's suffer for the rest of her life? Would Bryant laugh it off or agree right away? Or would she get angry because she thought they were using it too much?

Ah! She can go crazy!

Wanda saved the document and then simply closed her laptop without turning it off. Wanda then put her laptop in her bag and decided to observe the surroundings of the cafe. Looks like I made the right decision. A smile spread across her lips when she found the couple in front of him! The partner she had been waiting for for the past three years.

There was one thing that made Wanda's smile even wider. A handsome little boy, who often frowns and looks naughty, is now clinging to a woman she didn't like before and who once stabbed her in the leg with a fork!

Goodness gracious! Wanda really couldn't stop smiling now! The three of them look like a very happy and carefree family. Also, the man's look at the woman in front of him. Really sincere and full of love. Coupled with a kiss on the head and the little boy's whining! When can she be like that?

A soft coughing sounded in front of her, causing Wanda to immediately focus her eyes on the source of the sound. She found Bryant standing in front of him with one eyebrow raised.

"I'm not too late, am I?"Bryant asked as he sat down in front of him, then glanced at the watch on his left wrist.

"Of course I came first because I have things to do here."

"I see," Bryant replied without asking further.

"How? What's your decision?" Bryant continued, placing the brown envelope on the table.

"What if you order a drink first? It's rude to sit down without ordering, especially since mine ran out half an hour ago," Wanda said, pointing to her empty cup.

"All right," Bryant raised his hand to call the waiter over.

The waiter walked over immediately and was surprised to see Bryant in the cafe, but his expression changed to a calm one after he nodded his head and received a reply from Bryant.

"Mineral water," Bryant ordered. He waited for Wanda, who was busy looking at the menu, before placing her order.

"Orange coffee," Wanda said, "with unsweetened milk." Wanda looked up from the menu, "Are you sure you don't want to order the same drink? It's my favorite menu item and the best coffee I've ever had in this cafe."

"If that's your suggestion, of course."

"The mineral water will be replaced with the same order as mine, Miss Tita,"Wanda ordered, giving her sweetest smile to the waitress who served her every time she came. Wanda had known him for three years. They had become close over time and often sat together for a quick chat when the cafe was quiet.

"Okay, Miss Wanda."

"Wait, my order is no sugar and no milk," Bryant corrected.

"You'll be addicted once you try the drink. After drinking it three years ago, I keep coming back. Its fresh yet bitter taste is addictive."

"Oh yeah?"

"This place is cozy, too, and the drinks are good," Wanda stopped her sentence to catch her breath before lowering her voice and leaning closer to Bryant.

"Actually, I'm not the only one who thinks so. The couple behind you are also addicted to being here all the time and enjoying their free time. I can tell because I first met them here three years ago,"Wanda explained proudly.

"I see. I will come often."

Wanda looked at Bryant with confidence and a broad smile that revealed her dimples. Her eyes curved into crescent moons, aided by the sunlight shining from behind her and making her brown hair glisten. This caused a strange flutter in Bryant's heart and he slowly smiled without realizing it.

The drinks were delivered by Tita fifteen minutes ago. So did Bryant, who had tasted and even praised the orange coffee Wanda had suggested. Even though Bryant knew the taste very well, it was his favorite drink. Only Wanda didn't know that.

Neither of them even bothered to discuss their problems. They both sat in the cafe and watched the road conditions closely. Both were preoccupied with their own thoughts, not knowing where to begin.

Bryant and Wanda cleared their throats together and then smiled awkwardly.

"I think we should both get married, following my parents' advice," Bryant began. He pushed the envelope that had been on the table. "But if you don't agree, we'll stick with the decision we made at the time, which was for you to continue your studies abroad."

Wanda swallowed hard and wet her lips before looking at Bryant and taking the envelope he handed her. "Me too. I also think we should both get married."

Wanda wanted her decision to further tie this marriage to Bryant to give her more inspiration, both for the novel she is trying to complete and for her future novels.