Bittersweet Arrangements : A Sugar Dady Affair

Early in the morning, Devan was startled by a tiny hand encircling his body. Devan's body froze instantly as he stared at the small hand. Trying to piece together the fragments of memories from the previous day before falling asleep with a woman. The scattered pieces slowly merged into a complete 100% recollection. Yes, he had been busy working yesterday, and it had been a while since he visited a nightclub. So, who was the daring woman now on his bed?

The warm breath caressing his bare back further puzzled Devan. In the dim light, he scanned the entire room, ensuring whose room he was in. Soon, a sigh of relief escaped Devan's lips as he recognized it to be his own room.

With a heart that started to beat faster, Devan held the small hand and carefully lifted it from his body. Still curious, Devan slowly shifted his body to free himself from the woman hugging him and took a sitting position. Glancing at someone under the blanket, revealing only long, dark brownish-black hair, he reached for the bedside table to find the sleep lamp switch.

"Oh God, Elena!" Devan exclaimed after partially unveiling the face of the girl, instantly recognizing her as Vanessa and Jeremy's daughter. Devan had completely forgotten that the beautiful girl with hazel eyes would be staying with him temporarily from yesterday afternoon until the next four days. However, what puzzled Devan was why she moved to his room when he had prepared a guest room specifically for her to feel comfortable during her stay.

Devan was relieved to find out that the woman in his bed was Elena, a girl he considered as his own daughter. Perhaps Elena was scared to be alone in her room or simply not accustomed to sleeping in a strange place. Devan knew Elena well; she was a bit timid and spoiled.

"You probably think Uncle Devan is your daddy, huh?" Devan said in a hushed tone, smiling gently as he looked at the sleeping Elena. Devan carefully got off the bed after adjusting the blanket on Elena. He headed to the bathroom to perform ablution.

Devan put on a traditional shirt with a sarong that he had just taken from the wardrobe. He also grabbed a prayer mat and a black prayer cap, which he placed on his head. As usual, he would try his best to join the congregation for the obligatory prayers at the mosque not far from his house.

In a bit of a hurry, Devan descended the stairs, not wanting to keep Erick waiting for too long. With a blossoming smile, Devan approached Erick, who was already standing at the bottom of the stairs.

"Let's go!" Devan invited, embracing his adopted son. Realizing Erick didn't move from his position, Devan turned and stared at his son, full of questions.

"Did you not wake El, Dad?" Erick asked innocently, still looking towards the door not far from Erick's room. Devan was surprised by Erick's unexpected question.

"Um... El. Ah, let's go. I'll wake El when we get back from prayers," Devan replied with a hint of hesitation. It was not the right time for Devan to tell Erick that Elena was curled up under his blanket.

"Okay," Erick replied, then looped his arm around Devan's waist. They walked together out of the house towards the place of worship.

***

After returning from prayers, Erick went straight to his room, as did Devan. Devan's steps halted when he saw one of his household assistants named Dona cleaning the kitchen.

"Dona, has Elena woken up?" Devan asked, and the woman replied immediately.

"Not yet, Mr. Devan. I haven't seen Miss Elena come out of her room."

"Oh... Alright, thank you," Devan replied and promptly headed upstairs to his room.

Upon reaching the room, Devan found Elena still sound asleep. He shook his head with a chuckle. Normally, El was used to waking up early and performing the dawn prayer with her family. If El's parents knew that Devan let her miss her five daily prayers, they would surely be angry. So, Devan turned on the main light in the room to wake the girl up. True enough, shortly after, she wriggled, covering her eyes with her hands to shield them from the light. She followed it with Elena's groans as she pulled the blanket over her, burying herself in it.

"Come on, El, time for prayers. If your Mommy and Daddy knew about this, they'd be mad at Uncle," Devan said, pulling the blanket covering the girl.

"Oh, Uncle Devan, just let me be. It's still early!" protested Elena, rubbing her eyes, which still felt very sticky.

"Get up. A good girl doesn't sleep in!" Devan retorted.

"Alright, Uncle, you're so naggy!" Elena assumed a sitting position, slowly opening her eyes. Faintly, she began to see the handsome man in a traditional shirt and sarong, wrapping his athletic body. With an annoyed snort, Elena started stretching her legs to the floor, attempting to stand up straight.

"Tomorrow, you're not allowed to wear pajamas like this again," Devan remarked upon seeing Elena's minimal sleepwear. She was only wearing very short pants paired with a sleeveless shirt that revealed her body's curves. "And you're not allowed to enter my room without my permission either," Devan added, gently but firmly.

"Okay, Uncle, sorry. I couldn't sleep last night. I miss Daddy," Elena said with a soft voice, then quickly pressed the doorknob she was holding.

After the door closed tightly, Devan breathed a heavy sigh. Devan realized that El was no longer the little girl who used to play with him. She had grown into a beautiful young woman with a doll-like face. Looking at her body, El was more suitable to be a model like her mother when she was young. However, Jeremy's genes were more dominant physically. Her brownish-black hair combined with a pair of beautiful hazel eyes made her resemble Turkish actresses.

Devan understood El's usual way of dressing up and daily routines. Usually, like any teenager. But seeing El in minimal sleepwear like earlier clearly disturbed his and Erick's peace, especially as Erick was entering adolescence. Devan just wanted to take good care of both of them. Wouldn't it be better to be safe than sorry? Taking care of what we have to prevent unwanted things from happening. Moreover, with the advancement of technology today, Devan was well aware that he was not a perfect father for Erick. He couldn't watch over Erick 24/7 because he also had to work. But Devan believed that what he had taught his son so far was the best effort he could make.

Under the stairs, Erick was surprised to see Elena coming down from the upper floor, where his father's room and workspace were located.

"Why are you coming from upstairs?" Erick asked, full of curiosity as he looked at Elena from head to toe.

"Don't tell me you sneaked into Dad's room last night?" Erick interrogated without giving Elena a chance to answer.

"Noisy, I want to pass through!" El replied casually, then quickly entered her room. Erick's jaw tightened as he followed Elena's steps until she disappeared behind the door. Suddenly, Erick felt uncomfortable with Elena's presence in his home. Erick lifted his face, looking towards his father's room with an uncertain feeling.

The teenage boy shook his head. Trying to dismiss the soft whispers from his heart. But it turned out not to be that easy for Erick to push away the negative thoughts that were gradually filling his mind. The teenager unconsciously walked towards the stairs. He paused after climbing five steps, unable to stop staring at his father's room door. Caught between doubt and fear.

Still trying to reconcile his heart and mind, which were in a fierce battle, Erick then turned his body and descended, heading back to his room to get ready for school.

***

Now the three of them were sitting in the dining room. Devan in his neat attire, and Elena and Erick in their school uniforms. Devan stopped his hand, which was about to feed himself, when he saw Erick just playing with his food in front of him.

"Erick, what's wrong? Are you sick?" Devan asked with concern. It was unusual for him to see Erick's gloomy face like this. The teenager seemed to be only stirring his food without interest, even though this morning's breakfast menu was his favorite.

"No, Papa. I'm fine, Pa!" Erick glanced briefly at Devan, shaking his head slightly, then quickly scooped up the food and chewed it quickly. Meanwhile, Elena remained silent, attentively listening to the conversation between the father and son in front of her.

After finishing his breakfast, Erick quickly stood up and was about to shake Devan's hand in farewell. "Dad, I'll take you both to school," Devan said, instantly widening Erick's eyes. It wasn't something unusual for Erick because Devan himself usually drove him to school every day. For the return journey, Erick was usually picked up by their family driver. But this morning, Erick felt annoyed because he had to be in the same car with Elena.

"Uncle, you don't have to bother taking me to school. Daddy has arranged a driver to pick me up every day," El explained casually. The girl slung her backpack over both shoulders, then stood up to bid farewell as well.

"No, El, I already told your Daddy that while you're staying here, I'll be the one to take you to and from school," Devan asserted without wanting to be contradicted by the two teenagers in front of him.

"Okay, whatever." El responded, then embraced Erick's shoulder, which was immediately pushed away by the teenage boy. Erick stared at El, who just smiled. El was fine with it; after all, Erick had always been closer to her younger brothers, Ivand and Viero, than to her.

"Let's go!" Devan quickly finished the last sip of his coffee and grabbed the car keys on the dining table. El followed Devan's steps without paying attention to Erick, who was still glaring at her.

"Such a strange girl!" Erick muttered softly as he followed Devan and Elena towards the exit door.

As usual, Devan's workshop was bustling with customers. Especially on the days leading up to the weekend like today, customers usually come in for a check-up and service on their cars before going on a family vacation. While the employees were busy with their tasks, Devan checked the inventory of vehicle tools in the workshop. For Devan, it was crucial not to disappoint customers, so he always made sure to secure the stock in his workshop to avoid any dissatisfaction that might discourage customers from returning.

Devan quickly took note of the tools with dwindling stock and called the company that regularly supplied original parts to his workshop. Since Devan left the military, it wasn't difficult for him to attract well-known companies to collaborate with his workshop. His name was quite recognized among entrepreneurs, so he decided to focus on his business, even though many regretted his decline as a strict, disciplined, honest, and fair role model. Unlike typical state officials surrounded by wealth and luxurious facilities, Devan and his family led a simple life. They lived in a government-provided house, and after leaving the military, Devan built a modest two-story home where he lived with Erick. Devan utilized his savings to establish an auto workshop, aligning with his passion for the automotive world during his youth.

Devan started everything from scratch. While trying to accept the loss of his beloved wife who had passed away, Devan kept himself busy at the workshop. However, his busyness did not mean neglecting Erick, who was then just 5 years old. Wherever Devan went, he always took Erick along. He tried his best to cherish the only memory left of Gita. He loved Erick as much as possible so that Erick never felt lacking in anything. Although Devan realized he could never replace the role of a mother for Erick, all he could do was educate him with religious teachings as the foundation, just as his late wife desired. Therefore, it wasn't surprising that Devan enrolled Erick in the best public high school in Yogyakarta.

Ring... Ring... Ring... The telephone on the table successfully disrupted Devan's concentration. He quickly picked up the phone and greeted a boy on the other end.

"Good afternoon!" Devan said gently.

"You forgot, huh? You said you'd pick me up?" the irritated boy said, surprising Devan.

"Answer my greeting first!" Devan replied, glancing at his wristwatch, which showed it was already 1:00 in the afternoon.

"Afternoon," Erick muttered without enthusiasm.

"Okay, I'm leaving now!" Devan quickly stood up from his seat, grabbing the car keys on the table.

In a rush, Devan bid farewell to one of his employees who was busy checking a car engine, explaining that he needed to pick up Erick for a while.

"Sure, Boss! Take care on the road!" Lucky said, stopping his work and saluting with his right hand placed on his forehead quickly to show respect, a gesture he regularly did. Lucky did this because he knew who Devan was before becoming the owner of the workshop – a high-ranking intelligence officer. Lucky learned about Devan's significant secret from Ardan, the owner of the orphanage where he grew up.

Lucky was the first employee that Devan hired from the orphanage owned by the Alfarizi family. He never doubted the recommendations from his close friends in the "Club Cogan" – a group of six accomplished and successful men who claimed to be handsome since birth, each with their distinguished careers.

The black Jeep model smoothly glided onto the roads toward Erick's school, which seemed to be gradually emptying. Fortunately, the distance between the workshop and Erick's school was not too far, taking about 15 minutes for the car to enter the school area. Erick was seen standing in front of the school gate, both hands holding the backpack straps on his back, and his right foot kicking whatever was in front of him.

Instantly, a smile spread across Devan's face. He slowly approached Erick, driving the car towards the spot where Erick was waiting. Tiiin... The sound of the car horn successfully startled Erick, who was focused on his swinging legs. Erick immediately got into the car and reached for Devan's hand to kiss it.

"Why does a boy sulk?" teased Devan when he saw Erick's annoyed face, continuing to drive his car out of the school area.

"I've told you, let Uncle Steve pick me up, or I can ride my own motorcycle," protested the 16-year-old boy without taking his eyes off the asphalt road ahead. Erick was often annoyed by waiting for his father, especially when Devan was busy or forgetful.

"Sorry, I promise not to be late to pick you up again. As for the motorcycle, I'll give you permission when you turn 17, once you have an ID card," replied Devan, reaching out to gently pat Erick's head.

"Smile!" teased Devan while smiling broadly, displaying his white teeth, a gesture Erick reluctantly followed.

"Satisfied!" grumbled Erick after returning to his sulky mode.

"Oh, by the way, I'll take you straight home, okay? Because I have an appointment with the tool seller, and besides, later in the afternoon, I have to pick up El after her tutoring," explained Devan, further irritating Erick. Erick felt his father's attention had been divided since Elena's arrival in their home.

"Whatever!" replied Erick shortly. He was jealous, feeling neglected, especially since Elena slept in his father's room the night before.

Devan glanced at Erick for a moment, then focused on driving. It was unusual for his son to get angry just because he was late to pick him up from school. Throughout the journey, Erick remained silent, ignoring his father, until they arrived in front of the house. Just as Devan was about to speak, Erick got out of the car and quickly entered the house. Devan sighed resignedly, then drove his car back to the workshop to continue the work that had been momentarily delayed.

***

"Uncle, I've finished my tutoring!"

A WhatsApp message notification appeared on Devan's phone. Seeing Elena's name on the screen, Devan quickly organized the workshop purchase receipts scattered on the table. He stacked them together, put them into the desk drawer, and locked it. Not forgetting to save the financial report displayed on the laptop screen, Devan turned off the laptop. While waiting for the laptop to shut down, Devan replied to Elena's WhatsApp message.

"Ok, I'm on my way. Wait for me there, don't go anywhere!"

Devan quickly left his office and locked the door, reminding Lucky to securely lock the workshop before leaving, as Devan might not return. Devan planned to take Erick and Elena out for dinner, hoping to cheer up Erick, who seemed unenthusiastic since earlier that morning.

As Devan entered Elena's school area, he reduced the speed of his car. Several teenagers in gray and white uniforms were exiting the school gate. Elena and her two friends were engrossed in conversation, standing under a tree where they usually waited. Although the school provided seating for students waiting for pickups, the three girls chose to stand there for some reason.

Devan rolled down the window when his car stopped not far from Elena and her friends. He honked the horn to divert the conversation of the three teenagers, who still hadn't noticed his arrival.

"Oh my, El, your uncle is so handsome!" praised Citra, her eyes sparkling, while both hands held her cheeks.

"I swear, El, I want to be introduced to your uncle!" exclaimed Melodi, equally excited as Citra.

"No, you can't! My uncle is only for me!" retorted Elena, leaving her two friends, who were still captivated by the charm of the mature man.

After making sure Elena was comfortably seated, Devan fastened the seat belt around her. Elena tensed as the masculine scent emanating from Devan's body reached her senses. Nonchalantly, Devan waved to the two teenagers still observing them with a sly smile.

"Let's go, Uncle!" protested Elena, urging Devan to close the window and drive away, leaving her two friends still smiling.

"How was the exam? Smooth, right?" Devan initiated the conversation.

"Smooth, Uncle," replied Elena briefly, only responded with a nod from Devan.

"Did you have lunch earlier? I don't want you to get sick. Your parents might scold me if that happens," Devan said again.

"It's okay, Uncle. Mommy and Daddy kept calling me to remind me to eat," Elena replied. She then reached out to change the music that was playing. Devan suddenly laughed when he heard the song selected by Elena.

But instead of being offended by Devan's words, the hazel-eyed teenager was fascinated by Devan's laughter. For some reason, the mature man looked much more handsome than usual. Since Devan and his parents had been friends for a long time, Elena was used to Devan's presence. But for now, there was something different, a distinct admiration in Elena's heart.

"Is there something funny, Uncle?" Elena asked when Devan's laughter began to fade. The man glanced at Elena for a moment, then focused on the road, chuckling softly.

"Just funny. Since when do you like dangdut music?" Devan's question flowed from his lips to satisfy his curiosity.

"It's been a while, Uncle. It's fun, isn't it? Besides, as Indonesian citizens, shouldn't we love domestic products?" Elena's reply and counter-question successfully silenced Devan's lips. The man coughed and then flashed a smile.

"You're smart!" Devan reached out to ruffle Elena's hair, as he usually did when they met.

But for a girl who had never experienced falling in love like Elena, it felt different. Her heart fluttered from the sweet gesture of the mature man, who was of the same age as her Mommy. It was a new feeling that Elena herself couldn't define. Indeed, for the first time, Elena was with a man other than her family. Jeremy, Daddy, who was always protective and possessive, never allowed Elena to go anywhere without his supervision. So wherever Elena went, she was always accompanied by Daddy's trusted people. Before Azka, Elena's cousin, continued her medical education in Jakarta, that man often accompanied her wherever she went.

"Going to continue your studies in which field?" Devan asked, as he was becoming interested in the uniqueness of the girl beside him.

"I plan to major in the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, precisely Literature and Regional Languages," Elena answered with confidence.

"Good!" praised Devan with a proud smile. Devan did not expect Elena to choose a faculty that was often underestimated by most Indonesian society.

Elena, following her request, had led them to a traditional street-side eatery near the town square. She appeared the most enthusiastic, choosing a variety of dishes before her.

Elena ordered her favorite pecel rice, a dish consisting of various vegetables such as papaya flowers, kenikir leaves, bean sprouts, and cabbage. These vegetables were then topped with sweet and savory peanut sauce. Elena also added some skewered fish, chicken intestines satay, and quail egg satay. Meanwhile, Devan and Erick opted for gudeg (young jackfruit stew) and beef empal (sweet soy sauce-marinated fried beef) for their dinner.

Now, they sat cross-legged, enjoying their preferred dishes among other culinary enthusiasts. The lively and cheerful atmosphere of Yogyakarta's town square at night heightened Elena's excitement. She couldn't remember the last time she was here at night. Her Daddy's protective and possessive nature had never allowed her the freedom typical of teenagers. Elena wanted to hang out with friends her age, whether hunting for culinary delights, shopping, or just strolling around on weekends. She often felt envious when her friends talked about the romance of their Saturday night dates with their respective lovers. Elena could only bite her finger as she would never experience her teenage years like they did. Her Daddy's excessive worries had successfully imprisoned Elena in a semblance of happiness. Her family might seem perfect and ideal to everyone, but Elena didn't feel that. She needed space to explore and express herself.

"El, don't eat too much spicy food; it might upset your stomach," Devan said, observing Elena reaching for more spicy dishes.

"Don't worry, Uncle; I'm used to eating spicy food," Elena replied casually.

Erick, witnessing his Dad's attention towards Elena, suddenly felt disgusted. He left his half-eaten food and lost his appetite just by watching Elena seek attention from his father.

"Yeah, but don't eat too much of it," Devan added, continuing to feed himself.

Devan stopped chewing when he noticed Erick acting unusually. His only son never left food on his plate, regardless of whether he liked it or not, as it went against the teachings of not wasting food. Moreover, this was Erick's own choice.

"Why didn't you finish it?" Devan asked, studying Erick's unenthusiastic expression.

"I'm already full, Dad," Erick replied shortly, grabbing the warm tea in front of him and finishing it.

Devan fell silent, attentively observing the two teenagers before him-Elena, seemingly calm and unaffected, and Erick, aloof and disinterested.

"Why are they like this? They usually hang out together," Devan muttered to himself, puzzled by Erick's unusually cold behavior towards his adopted siblings. Siblings bound not by blood but by the friendship of the Club Cogan formed since their youth.

Quickly, Devan settled the bill for their meal, ignoring Elena's protests as she was still reluctant to leave. Perhaps next time, Devan would fulfill Elena's wishes, but not tonight. The girl was facing her Final School Examination, and soon, the National Examination or UN.

"It's only 7 PM; this isn't fun at all, Mr. Devan!" Elena complained, only met with a smile from Devan.

"Can you shut up? You've been complaining since earlier!" Erick rebuked, no longer able to contain his frustration.

"Come on, Erick. Why are you so sensitive? It's like you're a girl on her PMS," teased Elena, bursting into laughter.

"Such an error-prone girl!" retorted Erick, not wanting to lose. He was now sitting in the chair next to Devan.

"Oh, my God, why are you two fighting? You're acting like crazy!" scolded Devan, shaking his head, bewildered by the teenagers' behavior.

Erick chose to seal his lips, diverting his gaze outside the window to calm himself. He didn't want to create trouble and invoke his father's wrath.

Twenty minutes later, they finally arrived home. Devan instructed Elena and Erick to fetch their textbooks for a study session.

"I'll study in my room," Erick refused indifferently, heading towards his room.

Devan sighed deeply, dropping his body onto the living room sofa. Shortly after, Dona, the housemaid who had been working with him for ten years, came over, offering him coffee. It was a timely offer, considering his worsening mood.

"Yeah, good idea," Devan replied, flashing a smile.

To dispel the discomfort caused by Erick's change in behavior, Devan reached for the TV remote, searching for an interesting program. Metro TV was Devan's favorite channel, as it always provided updated news from both the country and abroad. Soon, Elena arrived, carrying her school bag. She sat down on the floor with a carpet underneath, taking out the textbooks to prepare for tomorrow's exams.

"Can I listen to music, Uncle?" Elena asked, grinning widely. Devan's eyebrows furrowed, puzzled by her request. Typically, students preferred a quiet environment for studying, just like he did in his youth. Even Erick couldn't concentrate in a noisy or crowded setting.

"Can I, Uncle? My brain can't work in this atmosphere, especially with news about politics," Elena reiterated, not receiving an immediate response.

"It's up to you, just focus on serious studying!" Devan replied, refocusing his attention on the TV screen.

Eagerly, Elena got up to retrieve her earphones from her room. She returned, settling back down while putting the earphones in both ears. The soothing music entered Elena's ears, and her lips unconsciously followed the lyrics of the memorized song.

"Would you like a drink, Miss Elena?" Dona offered after placing a cup of coffee on the table in front of Devan.

"No, thank you. I'm still full," Elena declined, deliberately leaving one earphone off to show respect when responding to someone.

Dona returned to the kitchen to tidy up before heading off to rest. Working as a housemaid at Devan's house for ten years, Dona had always received kind treatment from her employers, especially from Erick, whom she had cared for since he was a child.

Suddenly, Erick emerged from his room, not to study with Elena but just to get some cold mineral water. He glanced at Elena, who was engrossed in her studies while singing, and then shifted his gaze towards his father, Devan.

"What's up, Erick?" Devan inquired when he saw Erick coming out of his room.

"I'm thirsty," Erick replied briefly, then left without further words.

Devan sighed deeply. Erick's reserved and reticent nature often left him perplexed about how to handle situations. This sometimes made Devan feel guilty because of the circumstances that led him to become a single parent after Gita, his late wife, passed away, leaving Erick an orphan when he was still a toddler.

"Uncle, are you not bored of being single?" Elena teased, biting her pen.

"What do you mean?" Devan asked, not understanding.

"Why hasn't Uncle remarried? Besides, Uncle is handsome even though he's old," Elena said innocently. Devan was taken aback by Elena's question but also objected to the term "old."

"Focus on your studies! Why are you worrying about me?" Devan deflected, not intending to entertain Elena's question.

"Ih, Uncle, this is pathetic! My friends on WhatsApp keep asking to be introduced to you. They say mature guys like you are fun," Elena honestly expressed with her innocence.

Devan was momentarily stunned by Elena's words and her innocent facial expression.

"They even said they want to sign up to be Uncle Devan's sugar baby," Elena continued, giggling mischievously.

In Elena's mind, the term "sugar baby" had a completely different meaning compared to what her friends and Devan might have thought.

"And then?" Those were the only words that managed to escape Devan's lips as he stared at Elena with a bewildered expression. The girl was either genuinely naive or putting on an act.

"Well, instead of them fighting over you, Uncle Devan, it's better if I claim you for myself. That way, they won't be noisy asking about you all the time," Elena explained, then returned to focusing on her textbooks in her lap. Devan, on the other hand, could only remain silent with his mouth hanging open.