#Chapter 4: Getting Married
Mentari stared at Gala in disbelief when he said he wanted to marry her.
"Bro—"
"That's enough, Tari. I can't stand seeing you treated like this anymore. It would be better for me to marry you than for you to be thrown out and left all alone out there."
Gala's eyes reddened as he held back his anger. He and Mentari hadn't even been given a chance to explain what had really happened.
Marwan smiled mockingly. "What do you have to support this stupid girl?" he asked, making Gala clench his fists even tighter.
For the umpteenth time, he heard Mentari being insulted by her own father.
"I may be poor, but I can still give Tari a life and happiness out there—more than she has here with you, where she's treated so unfairly."
"Happiness?" Marwan laughed loudly, mocking Gala. "You think someone as poor as you can make Mentari happy? Remember, Tari won't be full from love alone, and love can't be eaten."
Gala closed his eyes as Marwan trampled all over his pride. He knew perfectly well that he couldn't feed Mentari with love alone.
But Gala would keep trying until he graduated college and found a decent job.
'God, am I really going to get married today? I only feel sorry for Gala, who has to marry me because of a misunderstanding,' Mentari cried out in her heart.
Fania and her mother treated Mentari's heartbreaking sobs as entertainment. They were thrilled that the person they considered a parasite in their home would soon be leaving for a life of misery.
"I'll marry you two off today. After that, get out of my house!" Marwan paused, looking at Mentari with an unreadable expression. "And don't ever set foot in my house again!"
Mentari no longer answered. She could only cry and mourn her miserable fate.
'Mom, today Tari has to leave our home because of a misunderstanding.'
Once again, Mentari cried out inwardly as she remembered all the beautiful memories she'd shared with her late mother in this house.
An hour later, Gala truly kept his promise to marry Mentari.
Marwan had already called the marriage officiant and two witnesses. There was no beautiful dress, stunning makeup, or lavish ceremony—only sobs and the deep sorrow Mentari felt.
This wedding, held behind a veil of tears, tormented Mentari.
As the two witnesses spoke the words declaring the marriage valid, Gala and Mentari officially became husband and wife, both religiously and legally.
For the first time, Mentari kissed Gala's hand as her husband. Gala closed his eyes and prayed for their marriage to endure while resting his hand on the crown of Mentari's head.
Meanwhile, Fania and her mother happily watched Mentari become the lawful wife of a poor man who could never make her life happy.
'At last, I'm the only child in this house,' Fania thought with satisfaction.
The drama she'd created had gotten rid of Mentari in the blink of an eye. Tonight, as soon as the wedding ceremony ended, she would become her mother's and stepfather's only child!
"As we agreed earlier, the two of you have to leave this house. Take all your belongings, Mentari! I even feel disgusted having your things in this house."
Mentari clutched her chest as insult after insult came from her own father. Was she really so worthless that even the sight of her belongings disgusted him?
"Don't worry, sir! I'll take my wife away tonight," Gala replied coldly.
Gala wasn't even willing to call the middle-aged man in front of him his father, even though he was his father-in-law.
Gala felt like he couldn't stand being in this place any longer. He immediately pulled Mentari toward her bedroom.
"I'll help you pack," he said, his jaw clenched and his eyes red with suppressed anger.
"Why do you want to marry Tari when we haven't done anything wrong?" Mentari asked, looking at Gala with her swollen, tearful eyes.
"It'll be much better than being thrown out of this house and not knowing where to go," Gala replied as he took the suitcase from beneath the bed.
"Pack your things right now, Tari! I don't want to stay in this place any longer," Gala urged, and Mentari could only nod.