Ardi's house was located in the Menteng area. An elite and luxurious area.
The house wasn't an ordinary house. The house was a mansion. A mansion with a large yard. A mansion with a high fence. A mansion with very good maintenance.
Fiya had never seen a house like this before.
Ardi opened the door with an electronic key card. The door opened. The lights inside automatically turned on.
"Welcome to your new home," said Ardi with little expression. "This house will be our place of residence for the duration of the contract."
Fiya entered slowly. Her eyes widened.
The mansion's living room was very large. Larger than Fiya's entire old house! A large-sized sofa. A very large flat-screen TV. High ceilings. Shimmering crystal lights.
Desi immediately ran to the middle of the living room.
"Wow! Sister! The house is so big!" shouted Desi happily.
Fiya smiled seeing Desi happy. But in her heart, Fiya felt like she entered an alien world.
"How many rooms are there?" asked Fiya.
"5 rooms," answered Ardi. "Plus 4 bathrooms. Dining room. Work room. Kitchen. And a basement with a swimming pool."
Fiya just nodded. That was all she could do.
Ardi took Fiya upstairs.
The second floor was also large. There were many doors. Many rooms.
"This is my room," said Ardi. He pointed to the largest door. "A room with a balcony. Has a TV inside. Private bathroom."
Fiya looked from a distance. The room was indeed very large.
"And this..." Ardi pointed to another door. "A room for Desi. This room is a bit smaller, but still larger than Desi's old room."
Desi looked inside. "Wow! There's a big bed! And a big window!"
Fiya felt slightly relieved seeing Desi happy.
"And this..." Ardi pointed to the third door. "A room for Fiya."
The door opened. Fiya looked inside.
The room was large. Very large. Maybe 4 times larger than Fiya's old room.
A queen-size bed. A large closet. A beautiful vanity table. A large window with a view of the backyard.
A private bathroom too.
"This is Fiya's room," said Ardi. "Fiya's privacy is fully protected. There's a lock on the door. Fiya can lock the door."
Fiya nodded. Fiya felt relieved. At least Ardi didn't ask Fiya to sleep in his room.
"There's one more," said Ardi. He pointed to the 5th door. "A work room for Fiya if Fiya needs it."
The room had a work desk. A computer. A printer. A bookshelf.
Everything felt like a five-star hotel.
Ardi took Fiya downstairs. To the kitchen.
The kitchen was also large and modern. An expensive oven. A large refrigerator. A marble kitchen table.
"This kitchen already has everything that's needed," said Ardi. "If Fiya needs to add something, just say so."
Fiya just nodded.
"There's a helper who comes every day to clean the house," continued Ardi. "She comes at 8 AM and leaves at 4 PM. If Fiya needs other help, tell the helper."
Fiya still nodded. Fiya felt like all of this was too much to process.
That night, Fiya had already put her things in her room.
Fiya slept alone on a very large queen-size bed. A bed so comfortable that Fiya felt like she was floating.
But Fiya couldn't sleep.
Fiya felt strange. This house didn't feel like home. This house felt like a hotel. This house felt cold.
In the old house, Fiya slept in a small room. But that house felt warm. That house felt like home.
Here, Fiya slept in a large room. But Fiya felt lonely.
Fiya left her room. She walked toward Desi's room.
Fiya looked inside. Desi was already asleep. Desi slept soundly.
Fiya was happy seeing Desi sleep soundly.
But now, Fiya felt homesick for the old house.
The next morning.
Fiya woke up early. Like usual. 6 AM.
Fiya showered. Fiya got dressed. Fiya went to the kitchen.
Fiya wanted to make breakfast. Like she did every day.
But in the kitchen, Fiya felt lost. All the kitchen equipment here was a luxury brand. Everything felt new. Everything felt strange.
Fiya didn't know where the bread was. Where the eggs were. Where the cooking utensils were.
Fiya started opening cabinet after cabinet.
"What is Fiya looking for?"
Fiya was startled. That was Ardi's voice.
Ardi came to the kitchen. Ardi was still wearing pajamas. Ardi was rubbing his eyes.
"I... I wanted to make breakfast," answered Fiya.
"Oh. No need. The helper will come and make breakfast," said Ardi.
"But the helper comes at 8. It's only 6," answered Fiya.
Ardi stopped for a moment. He thought.
"Okay. If Fiya wants to cook, all the ingredients are here," said Ardi. He started opening cabinets. "This is where the bread is. This is where the eggs are. This is where the milk is. Everything is here."
Fiya nodded.
"If Fiya needs help, call me," said Ardi.
Ardi left the kitchen.
Fiya made breakfast. White rice with fried eggs and vegetables.
Simple breakfast. The same as what Fiya made in the old house.
Ardi came to the kitchen when breakfast was ready.
"The breakfast smells good," said Ardi. "What is this?"
"Just rice and eggs," answered Fiya. "Simple food."
Ardi ate. Ardi ate slowly. Like appreciating the food.
"This is delicious," said Ardi.
It was the first compliment Ardi had given to Fiya since they got married.
Fiya felt slightly warm inside.
After breakfast, Desi woke up.
Desi saw the house in the morning with more detail.
"Sister! The house is so big! We can play hide and seek!" shouted Desi.
Desi started running back and forth. Looking at every corner of the house.
Fiya and Ardi watched Desi run around.
"Desi looks happy," said Ardi.
"Yes. Desi has never seen a house this big before," answered Fiya.
They were silent for a moment.
"Will Fiya and Desi be comfortable here?" asked Ardi.
Fiya looked surprised by the question.
"I... I think so," answered Fiya. "The house is beautiful. Very beautiful."
"But?" asked Ardi.
"No but," answered Fiya quickly.
But Ardi already knew. Ardi knew that Fiya felt strange.
"Fiya needs time to adjust," said Ardi. "That's normal."
Fiya nodded.
The days that followed.
Fiya started to get used to Ardi's house.
Fiya woke up early. Fiya made breakfast. Desi ate. Desi played.
Fiya took care of Desi. Fiya cleaned the house (even though the helper also cleaned).
Ardi went to the office in the morning. Ardi came home in the evening.
They had dinner together. But they didn't talk much.
Fiya in her own room. Ardi in his own room.
They lived in the same house. But they lived in different worlds.
One day, Fiya asked Desi.
"Does Desi like the new house?" asked Fiya.
"Yes, Sister. The house is big. I can play," answered Desi. "But I miss the old house."
"Miss what?" asked Fiya.
"I miss the old neighbor who often gave me candy," answered Desi. "I miss the neighbor's chicken sounds. I miss everything."
Fiya understood.
The new house was big. The new house was nice. But the new house didn't have warmth.
The old house was small. But the old house had love.
The third day in the new house.
Fiya was in her room. Fiya was reading. Fiya had finished reading one book.
Ardi came to Fiya's room.
"May I come in?" asked Ardi from outside the door.
"Yes," answered Fiya.
Ardi came in. This was the first time Ardi came into Fiya's room since they moved.
"What is Fiya doing?" asked Ardi.
"Reading," answered Fiya.
Ardi looked at Fiya's table. There was a novel. A romance novel.
Ardi didn't say anything about the book.
"Does Fiya need something?" asked Ardi.
"No. Everything is already good," answered Fiya.
"Okay," said Ardi. "Tomorrow Desi has to check up at the hospital. To prepare for surgery. We will go at 9 AM."
"Okay," said Fiya. "I'm already ready."
Ardi nodded. Ardi wanted to leave.
But Fiya said something.
"Ardi..." said Fiya.
"Yes?" answered Ardi.
"Thank you," said Fiya. "For everything. The house. The nice room. Everything."
Ardi didn't know what to answer.
"That is part of our contract," answered Ardi finally.
Fiya nodded. Fiya knew this was business. Just business.
Ardi left the room.