Before we split up
Chapter - 22

Ayunda put a belt around her waist and then tidied up her clothes in front of the mirror, she let Ocean watch from the bed behind her. He deliberately chose clothes that are not too sexy, although it still looks quite laminim. Ayunda, breathing heavily, knew it was going to be a busy day.

“I have to go to work,” Ayunda warned, while looking back. “I can't go home in the afternoon, maybe I can just go home at three in the afternoon.”

It is very unfortunate when the Ocean comes, Ayunda can not accompany the Ocean all day, but it is not his fault, because the Ocean does not tell his arrival so that Ayunda can not empty his schedule.

While leaning on a pillow, the Ocean crossed her arms in front of her chest and smiled. “How about I go with you. I'll stay in your office. Trust me, there are so many things I can do.”

Ayunda felt her necklace, a rigid brass chain decorated with a series of cherries and diamond-encrusted leaves. “Daily?”

“Of course.” The ocean leaps from the bed, then appears behind her to grab a hairpin, then waits for her to lift her hair. “If you think I'm not interrupting.”

The hot kiss of the lips of the Ocean at the nape of Ayunda drained a shivering feeling into him and his senses were instantly shaken.

“I promise I won't bother you."

My God, the Ocean never interfered, it could sit next to my desk, but that's not the case.

Except for the existence of the Ocean, it can interfere with its concentration.

The sturdy hand locked onto Ayunda's shoulder as the Ocean twisted its body. While playing the red pendulum around Ayunda's neck, Samudra smiled mischievously. “Ceri. My favorite.”

His gaze skirted the body of the Ocean. White shirt and dark colored jeans. Without shoes.

Favorites too.

Samudra grabbed the hand of Ayunda who was touching her hard abdominal muscles, then rubbed her thumb on each of Ayunda's knuckles. “We're dating at the office, what do you think?”

“Good.” Refusing the Ocean is not part of the nature of Ayunda.

This is something Ayunda likes, now the Ocean understands that. Ayunda built this gallery into a part of him, not just his place of work, but his life.

They walked through the gallery door and felt as if the room was pulling Ayunda away, distancing Ayunda from her in an unexpected, unopposed way.

That's not what Ayunda wants. Really am.

The ocean was not ready to see Ayunda drifting away all of a sudden, either physically or mentally.

But he should be able to, at least in physical terms. Their marriage relationship has not been made public. They must be selective at every turn and keep their relationship a secret.

And if he had to be honest with himself, he actually wanted to know Ayunda's life further, Samudra wanted to see the house that Ayunda was building from his hard work, he wanted to touch all the parts of Ayunda that he did not know. But of course if touching Ayunda physically in public is absolutely not allowed.

In the gallery, Ayunda gives the impression of ‘viewable but not to be held’, just like all the artwork that adorns the walls. So they stood a meter away, and the Ocean tried to resist the urge to put his hand on Ayunda's shoulder or hug Ayunda's waist curve.

There were bewildered gazes from both the visitors and the staff, seeing the arrival of the Ocean, but Nindyra was a very capable assistant, she could handle it. Nindyra deftly distracted the visitors and staff working as Ayunda and Samudra walked into Ayunda's study. And if Samudra thinks he can make love to Ayunda on the desk or behind the door, he's very wrong. Ayunda is a hard worker who has a policy that the door of his study should remain open, even if there is an Ocean in his study.

Throughout the day they sat across from each other, Ayunda stepped out from time to time, then logged in again to see the work of a prospective artist or answer calls from clients.

"So the street artist who sells his paintings at the foot of five Malioboro, has contacted you?" ask Ayunda to Nindyra.

Nindyra nodded her head, "This time he will come here to sign his contract of cooperation."

"Good, please follow up. I'm waiting for the next news." Ayunda returned to her study.

Ocean was not used to sharing the room with others and was not used to seeing the busyness of others passing in front of him, but this time he had no problem with it, he was very happy to see Ayunda all day.

Ayunda had just answered the phone when Samudra went around her desk and miraculously the Ocean could find an open space (in Ayunda's chair) and sit next to Ayunda's hip. But Ayunda's gaze was always on the door while moving around turning her chair a few inches. "Samudra why are you sitting here?" Ayunda was about to get out of her seat, but Samudra did not want Ayunda to quickly go away from her, he grabbed Ayunda's waist, then pulled Ayunda's chair back, and locked Ayunda for a moment.

“I think you've done enough to rest for lunch?”

Ayunda's gaze crawled onto the table as Ayunda looked at the stack of files she hadn't worked on, “Want ready-to-eat food?”

So the Ocean is being cautious and restrained. Damnit.

“Although someone caught us together at the restaurant. Why why anyway? I can pretend to be your client.”

Ayunda leaned back in her chair thinking about what a nice lunch menu to eat.

“Tante Ayunda!” Enthusiastic screeches rang out from the doorway, a tiny body sliding into Ayunda's workroom.

“Aviran, you should have knocked first. Sorry, Ayunda,” heard a reprimand from a woman behind Aviran.

“Hai, Aviran. How's the little guy doing?” ask Ayunda while laughing so that the mother does not feel guilty because of the actions of her son who broke into the workroom Ayunda.

“Good, aunt Ayunda.” The boy pulled his belt, then raised his jeans to the rib height "Tante Nindyra called me yesterday, he said that my painting would be ready today, so I asked Mommy to drive me here"

The ocean looked at Ayunda, listening to every word the boy spoke, and the Ocean was impressed by Ayunda's warm nature to the boy.

“How about we just go straight to the studio to check it out?” bring Ayunda.

'The 'studio? Is that boy a painter?' the ocean again wondered.

Laras glanced towards the Ocean nervously “I don't want to disturb your meeting, we can just same Nindyra to his studio”

Ayunda straightened her shoulders and faced the Ocean with a tense smile. “No, this is nothing. No one is disturbed, absolutely nothing.”

The ocean wanted to laugh, seeing Ayunda's tense face.

“My name is Samudra,” Samudra said, extending a hand. Then, unable to resist teasing Ayunda, he added, “Samudra is not who Ayunda is."

Laras laughed and Aviran turned his face to plead. “Come, Aunt Ayunda!!”

"Yes, let's go to the studio" Ayunda led the way through the back hall into a room that the Ocean had never seen at the time of entry.

A brightly lit studio filled with child-sized painting supports, rope hangs various paintings, and a bucket of colorful painting equipment piled on the wall.

Aviran, who was not seen while walking earlier, suddenly shot to the open floor towards the dryer rack where he took his latest work, slowly flaunting it while expecting their praise.

Ayunda crouched down in front of the Aviran, speaking softly about the use of color and space in his paintings. The fifteen-year-old boy nodded in understanding Ayunda's every word. Then, when he realized that another spectator had escaped his attention, Aviran pulled his belt up and stepped over the Ocean, then thrusting the painting.

“This is the blue garden behind my house" said Aviran.

“I love it, it's so amazing.” There is a lot of blue in the Aviran painting and enough detail to describe the garden. However, the work of this child will certainly not be displayed at the exhibition that will be held by Ayunda.

The Aviran felt very proud, earning praise from the Ocean.

The ocean crouched down like Ayunda did, to get a closer look, and to observe more details of the Aviran paintings, then the Ocean asked questions as well as critics as their conversation continued.

The ocean laughing with this little boy who had a special uniqueness as well as very interesting, he was fascinated with the enthusiasm and excitement of Aviran.

Feels funny. The ocean suddenly thought she would have a child one day. But the reality was different, and after Ayunda left, Samudra put aside the thought of building a household and did not want to deal with the matter.

It is not difficult for Samudra to get rid of the thought of 'household' because the social sphere tends to be professional, he is always working, busy, and his friends are also busy working. As an only child, Samudra had no nephew to play with, so he never came into contact with children.

The ocean is touched upon learning that Ayunda provides a space for the children in life she built for herself, even though they are not her own children. Yes, Ayunda makes a painting studio for children who have a hobby of painting, and Ayunda provides it for free.

The ocean gulped when it saw a child in front of it. He saw his dark hair, bright brown eyes, and pure white skin, and wondered if Galen would look like this. Will their child be filled with so much energy that his little legs cannot stop moving even though they are trying hard to hold it. Would he love to paint for his mother, who wanted him so badly, and tell his father about his school and all the activities he did all day.

Then the ocean felt it. That tiny weight in his hand ended all his love, and all the plans he had made. The baby is so small, so adorable, but he will never have a chance to live.

For a moment this sense of loss felt so fresh in memory, so sharp, slicing it like a knife. He wanted to get out of Ayunda's studio to breathe fresh air forgetting Galen's shadow. But as Samudra stood up, he caught Ayunda's gaze. Sardonic. Directed on him.

To him and the Aviran.