The Santosa family's door creaked softly as Davin and Vania entered.
The warm, romantic atmosphere from their evening at La Mirage still lingered in the air between them. A smile still played on Vania's lips, and for the first time, she walked in holding Davin's hand, not walking ahead of him with a cold expression.
However, this warm atmosphere was immediately put to the test.
Sri, Vania's mother, was sitting on the living room sofa. Usually, she would greet them with a scornful look or at least ignore Davin's presence. Tonight, something was different. There was a rare glint of pride in her eyes, but it was directed at only one person: her daughter.
"Vania! My child!" Sri greeted, standing and opening her arms. She hugged Vania tightly. "I've heard! The whole family WhatsApp group is buzzing! You managed to get the giant project from Laguna Group! That's incredible! Grandma apparently even received a call from Joni Lunggana himself, singing your praises!"
Vania blushed with embarrassment but was clearly happy with her mother's praise. "Yes, Mom. I was surprised too."
"Of course you're surprised! This is a proud surprise!" Sri continued to hug her, then looked at her proudly. "Finally, after all this time, your name will be honored in our family. They won't look down on us anymore."
Then, her gaze shifted to Davin, who was standing slightly behind.
The pride in her eyes instantly vanished, replaced by her usual condescending attitude. "Him," Sri said, as if referring to something unimportant, "should be ashamed. His wife is this successful, while he? Still a ride-hailing driver? Now the gap is even wider. He'd be better off just leaving."
Vania, still holding Davin's hand, felt her mother's coldness. She took a deep breath. The night was too beautiful to be ruined. She wanted to defend Davin.
"Mom, don't talk like that," Vania interjected, her voice soft but firm. Sri was startled to hear her daughter defending her husband. "Davin also got good news today. He was accepted for a job at Laguna Group! Directly as a Manager! His salary is eighty million a month, Mom! And he got a new Kijang Innova company car."
Davin nodded, trying to affirm the good news with a smile. "Yes, Mother. I got the job."
Sri fell silent for a moment. Her eyes narrowed in disbelief. Then, a mocking chuckle burst from her lips. It was a laugh full of ridicule and disbelief.
"Ha! Manager? Eighty million? Davin, don't make things up!" Sri snapped, her face turning sour. "Do you think I'm stupid? A company as big as Laguna Group would accept someone like you as a manager? That's impossible!"
Davin tried to explain, "Mother, I'm not lying. I—"
"Quiet!" Sri cut him off rudely. "I know the truth! You were probably only accepted as a driver! A driver for one of the managers there! That's why you got that car, because you have to chauffeur your boss! Right? Don't try to deceive Vania and me with your lies!"
Vania tried to defend him again, "Mom, Davin isn't lying. He—"
"Vania, you're too kind. You're easily deceived by men like him," Sri interrupted, looking at her daughter with pity. "He just wants to ride on your success and make himself look better. A job as a driver is nothing to be proud of. It's a lowly job."
She then glared sharply at Davin. "And about our bet this morning? It doesn't count. I said 'accepted for a job', I meant a decent job, a proper office job. Not being a driver! So, don't expect me to cook you a special dinner."
Davin could only sigh. He had tried to tell the truth, but Sri's hatred and prejudice ran too deep.
Rather than argue pointlessly, he chose to remain silent. He shrugged, accepting that the truth would never be heard by ears already closed by prejudice.
However, one thing warmed his heart: Vania's attitude.
Usually, Vania would stay silent or even doubt him herself. Tonight, he saw a different light in his wife's eyes. Vania looked at him not with shame or disgust, but with... trust? And perhaps, a little tenderness.
After Sri went to her room, still shaking her head, Vania tugged Davin's hand. "Come on, let's watch a K-drama together in the living room. I downloaded the latest episode you like," she said in a warm voice, an offer that was very rare—almost non-existent—in their three years of marriage.
Davin could hardly believe it. His heart fluttered. Perhaps all his efforts and plans were starting to bear fruit. He nodded, a wide smile spreading across his face. "Let's go."
They sat close together on the sofa. Vania even rested her head on Davin's shoulder, a completely new intimacy. The television screen played the Korean drama, but Davin's mind couldn't focus.
He felt the warmth of Vania's body, the fragrance of her shampoo, and his own heart beating happily. For a moment, he forgot all his masks and hiding. He was just a man enjoying an intimate moment with his wife.
Unfortunately, that happy moment didn't last long.
Only about ten minutes into the episode, Sri reappeared from her room. Her face was still wrinkled with displeasure at seeing their closeness.
"Davin! Why are you here lazing around watching TV, huh? The bathroom floor is still dirty, you haven't mopped it! And the laundry in the back is piling up! Get to work! Don't just be a burden and laze around in this house!" she scolded, shattering the silence and harmony that had just formed.
Vania sighed, her eyes apologizing to Davin.
Davin looked at her, giving a small smile that said "it's okay."
He stood up, reluctantly leaving the warmth of the sofa and Vania's shoulder. "Yes, Mother. I'll do it now."
He walked towards the bathroom to get the mop, leaving Vania still sitting on the sofa.
Vania turned off the television, no longer interested in watching. She looked at Davin's retreating back, and for the first time, a strange feeling of guilt crept into her heart.
Maybe her mother was too harsh. Maybe there was something about Davin that she had missed all this time.
Meanwhile, Davin, with the bucket and mop in hand, returned to his "lowly" routine. Yet tonight, a small smile remained on his lips.
His struggle was still long, but at least today, he saw a glimmer of light at the end of the dark tunnel. Vania was beginning to open her heart, and that was his greatest victory of the day.