“What is it, Sis? Don’t scare me.” Bandot looked uneasy. He had no idea what Rumiyati meant by “it.”
Bandot turned around to face the beautiful widow he had set his sights on. His eyes demanded an explanation.
Rumiyati explained that Bandot had the birthmark Mbah Siman had mentioned. The young man looked startled, then turned to stare at the old man.
Mbah Siman chuckled inwardly. Since that afternoon, he had been thinking about how to pressure and force Rumiyati into marrying Bandot. It had to be Bandot! No other man would do.
He remembered that Bandot had a unique birthmark—a red mark on his back, right at the base of his neck. It was an exceptionally unusual mark, one very few people possessed. That was the only way to convince Rumiyati that Bandot alone could break the curse.
“And then...?” Rumiyati ran out of words.
On the other hand, she was rather tempted by Bandot’s solid, well-built body. He still couldn’t compare to Subandi, but the young man’s physique certainly wasn’t bad either. Any normal woman would be tempted by the sight. For a moment, she had caught a glimpse of the thick hair covering Bandot’s chest and running down to his stomach. Black, curly, dense hair, growing in neat rows as if guiding her eyes toward the jewel beneath. It was truly arousing!
It had been a long time since Rumiyati had been this close to a shirtless man, and naturally, her heart began pounding. Her mind tried to resist, but desire tightened its grip.
“Now, you can consider it for yourself. If you want to break the curse, then marry Bandot. If you don’t, that’s fine too. I’m not forcing you. I have no personal stake in this. Bandot might not even want you. You’re definitely older than him, aren’t you?” Mbah Siman pretended to play hard to get.
He didn’t want Rumiyati getting the wrong idea, especially about him. He was old and had no intention of looking for a younger wife. His beloved wife was still alive. Even then, he had to struggle whenever he wanted to make love. If he married a young, passionate woman like Rumiyati, she might very well be the death of him.
Subandi had died with his private parts turned blue from serving Rumiyati too much. And that man was clearly still young. He was barely in his twenties. What would happen to Mbah Siman? The old man shuddered in horror.
“What’s wrong, Mbah?” Rumiyati immediately noticed when Mbah Siman shuddered.
“It’s... your aura is giving me chills. This is truly an aura of darkness. Terrifying! You should get married as soon as possible to ward off misfortune, before this evil power takes a firm hold of your soul. Once it’s gone too far, it’ll be difficult.” Mbah Siman delivered his warning.
Rumiyati could only nod. She had already placed complete faith in the mystical abilities of the Mbah Siman before her.
What a sly old lizard! He could be lying through his teeth. Bandot laughed inwardly. He struggled to hide his smile.
After talking for several minutes, Mbah Siman asked them to leave his house immediately, claiming that it was already too late and he wanted to rest. That was merely an excuse. He wanted to give Bandot a chance to be alone with Rumiyati. Surely they needed to talk.
“I’ll perform the red-porridge selamatan tomorrow, Mbah. As for the second requirement, I still need to think about it. It’s not easy, Mbah.” Rumiyati took a moment to tell Mbah Siman after saying goodbye and kissing the old man’s hand. She also slipped an envelope containing several bills into his hand as they shook hands.
Mbah Siman merely answered with a thin smile and a slow nod. He watched the young couple leave with a touched expression.
I hope you two are meant for each other. You’re a perfect match. The man’s handsome and the woman’s beautiful. Just right, he said inwardly. Mbah Siman then planted a light kiss on the envelope in his hand.
Not bad. I got some money. The old man chuckled softly. He had helped Bandot and gotten paid, too. What more could he ask for?
Now let’s return to Bandot and Rumiyati. They were sitting together on the motorcycle, just as they had when they left Rumiyati’s house earlier. But now, awkwardness hung between them. Rumiyati was torn between attraction, happiness, embarrassment, fear, and anxiety. Bandot, meanwhile, kept smiling to himself.
That cheeky old brat. He could’ve made the whole thing up. I’d even forgotten I had a birthmark like this. The young man chuckled inwardly.
Of course Mbah Siman remembered Bandot’s birthmark. Bandot had been visiting him—and even bathing with him—since he was little. He might have been old, but Mbah Siman’s memory was still sharp and reliable.
“Ndot...” Rumiyati spoke hesitantly. She wanted to break the silence that had been clinging to them for too long. It felt uncomfortable. They were riding together on one motorcycle, yet neither of them was saying a word.
“What is it, Sis?” Bandot pretended to be awkward.
He wanted Rumiyati to think that he had been shocked too after hearing Mbah Siman’s explanation. He had to look like a victim so that Rumiyati would feel sorry for him. She needed to believe that Bandot had sacrificed himself to help her. Rumiyati would have to repay that debt of gratitude for the rest of her life. Yes, by becoming his wife and staying with Bandot for life and death.
Wasn’t a debt of gratitude the one debt that could never be fully repaid? No matter how much good someone did or how completely they devoted themselves, a debt of gratitude could never truly be considered settled. It would always be brought up and remain a burden for the rest of one’s life.
“Do you... already have a girlfriend?” Rumiyati gathered the courage to ask, responding to the uncertainty in her heart.
“Not yet, Sis. I know my place. I’m just a poor guy. I’m nothing special to look at. What woman would want me, even if I’m loyal and hardworking? I’m just unlucky, Sis.” Bandot was subtly advertising himself.
I’d take you, Rumiyati thought.
As a woman, she would have been too proud to offer herself first. Rumiyati intended to drop a hint so Bandot would dare move closer into her life. She was baiting the hook.
Rumiyati moved the bag that had been wedged between their bodies to the front of Bandot’s stomach. Her hands moved as well. She wrapped both arms around the young man and held him tightly.
Bandot grinned widely. Her body language clearly showed that she wanted to be closer. Rumiyati wanted to get to know Bandot more intimately.
As far as Rumiyati was concerned, if Bandot truly was the one who could break the curse, she had no problem marrying him. They had known each other for years, even if they had never been particularly close.
Bandot was fairly handsome. His face wasn’t bad either—pleasant enough to look at. He had never been involved in any strange scandals. He was a simple, obedient man. That was how Rumiyati saw Bandot. So there was no problem with him becoming her partner. Who knew? If she gave Bandot the chance to change his future, the potential that had lain buried inside him all this time might emerge and flourish.
On the other hand, Rumiyati didn’t want to remain a widow for too long. She wanted to try opening her heart to another man. Especially for Bandot, her savior.
“Tonight, when you’re on guard duty, can I stop by your place, Rum?”