He's The Unaffordable
Chapter 48 - Forced

The adult women took Clarissa out of the living room, while the others stayed with me in our seats. Dira put the suit he was carrying on the back of the sofa, pulled out a shirt and trousers, and gave the clothes to me. He pulled my hand so I could stand.

“What is this, Pa? So, Papa knows about Aunt Claudia and Aunt Lindsey's plan?” I just don't believe it. My own father hid a secret this big from me?

“Nobody can argue against Claudia when she has already decided something. You see for yourself how she and Lindsey directed the conversation so that Clarissa agreed to their plan.” Papa laughed a little while shaking his head.

“You are the same. How could you not warn me about this plan? And when did you finish tutoring and come home from school?” my protest to Dira.

“Kakak, see what time it is. I picked up Pak Sakti from the school finished tutoring, then to the house to take this suit. I just came here.” He pushed my body from behind. “Quick change clothes. I still need to help Sister put on a suit and tidy up her hair.”

“Why should I change my clothes? It's just an event between us, not a formal event. What's wrong with the shirt I'm wearing now?”

Since I could no longer fight them, I was forced to go to the bathroom that was on this floor and change clothes. I sat down as Dira and Charlotte helped to tidy up my hair as well as shed some idea on my face. I put on a suit and was ready to attend any event they had prepared.

Adi arrives along with the adult men who just came home from their workplace. Uncle Mason and Om Edu soon came out knowing Clarissa wasn't with us. I'm sure they can't wait to hug their granddaughter.

Dira and Charlotte were of no help at all as we waited for the women to return to the living room. They teased me all-out supported by Adi and Wyatt. Papa, Om Gio, and Om Helmut engage in a serious conversation. I'd rather join them, but my brothers and best friends won't let me get away from them.

We all turned to the door when the butler opened it. The room was suddenly quiet as we stopped talking. Aunt Lindsey walked in with a happy face, followed by Aunt Claudia who looked at me meaningfully. Then Clarissa came in with a much different appearance to the one who came with me to this house.

She was wearing a blue dress that matched her eye color. Her hair was left unraveled and one of her sides was wiped behind her ears. She did not wear any jewelry, but did not detract from her beauty. If it wasn't for me watching it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe that the same girl had just hit down the man who was a bigger man than her.

“How, Hadi? Do you want to miss the opportunity to be with the girl you've been waiting for?” goda Aunt Claudia's. I chose not to respond to her sentence, because I knew she had prepared a reply that would leave me speechless.

“Come, let's just start the show so we can have dinner. I'm hungry,” said Uncle Mason.

The show was very simple. Both of our parents expressed their happiness and agreed to our plans to be together. Just be right. We have no intention of being together in the future. These are all their own plans. Om Edu and Aunt Lindsey are Clarissa's guardians. Then as a sign of promise, I was asked to put a bracelet that had been prepared by Papa on Clarissa's wrist.

Papa pretended not to see my protesting gaze on him. It's worth it that he keeps teasing me about how I feel about Clarissa. It turned out that Papa not only knew about this event, but he also agreed and had prepared jewelry as an official sign of our relationship.

“You cannot remove this bracelet. Absolutely,” said Om Edu to Clarissa who made my forehead wrinkle. What's so special about that bracelet that it can't be removed?

“Good, Grandpa,” says Clarissa according.

“There is still plenty of time for you to get to know each other. Mason and I are coming back on summer break so we can plan your engagement officially. Until that time comes, I hope you guys will give us good news.” Aunt Claudia looked at her grandson. “Do not feel burdened with today's event. If you both decide not to continue your relationship to the next level, then we will respect your decision.”

“Claudia true. We agree that the final decision remains in your hands. We as parents only plan what we think is good for you. Claudia and Mason are good people. So did Edu and Lindsey. Therefore I am sure that Matthias and Abby, their children, will also educate their grandchildren well. So, why don't I unite my eldest son with my best friend's grandson?” my mother said with a happy face.

“Well, the show is done. Can we eat now?” ask Uncle Mason expectantly.

All eyes immediately turned to us. If the gaze of the eyes could kill, I was killing my own sister-in-law in that way. He instead exclaimed kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, which was immediately followed by everyone in the room.

Since I was alone with a different opinion, I was forced to comply with their request. I peeked at Clarissa's forehead, which received ridiculing cheers from Charlotte and Dira. The adults just smiled amusedly.

“That's what you call a kiss?” ledek Dira's. She and Charlotte are ready with their cell phone cameras pointed at me and Clarissa.

“Come, Hadi. Don't make our people ashamed.” Wyatt shook his head.

“Do, Hadi. The sooner you do it, then all this will be over soon,” whispered Clarissa who was trying to make that sentence can only be heard by me.

I gave in and kissed her forehead. This time I didn't get away from him as fast as I did. And I remember what happened in the room, when he was living with us. I don't know what happened to me that night so I kissed her forehead.

My heart was pounding so hard that I was afraid to sit closer to Clarissa. My ears were almost deaf hearing my own heartbeat. Why am I like this when I touch his hand and after kissing his forehead? Did I have a heart attack?

As the parents walked out of the room towards the dining room, Dira and Charlotte asked Clarissa and me to pose. They took pictures of us sitting up and standing. In order for all of that to end as soon as possible, I complied with their request.

“You can not upload our photos on social media,” I said seriously. Dira and Charlotte simultaneously twisted their eyeballs.

“We know the deal. Your relationship can only be publicized after you are officially engaged later. Don't worry, Hadi. I just want to save your photos today as a memento between us and the family,” Charlotte said.

It was the first time I could stand, sit, even hug a woman who was not my Mama, Dira, my aunt, or my two grandmothers. So, I was not surprised to hear Dira's protest saying that my facial expression was too stiff. I was trying to calm my heartbeat. I don't want Clarissa to hear it.

“Kak, you guys are no longer ordinary friends.” Dira stopped us when we were about to walk towards the door. “Gandeng hand fiancee Brother.” He fused my left hand with Clarissa's right. “Nah, so. Come on, we're eating now!”

He pushed my body from behind so I had to obey him. Clarissa just laughed a little at my side. I shook my head in disbelief at what happened to me today.

The parents were waiting for us to come. The food was served on the table, but they had not started eating. After we all sat down, Om Edu led the meal prayer and thanked Clarissa for returning and our engagement. I looked towards Dira. He looks very happy. It seemed that he was not bothered anymore with the breakup of his relationship with Colin.

Even though I feel unfairly treated today, I am also happy with what this family feels. For the first time, Om Edu and Aunt Lindsey look very happy. I did not see the black clouds that usually adorned both their eyes. What I saw was not only their smiling lips, but also their eyes. As well as Aunt Claudia and Uncle Mason. Charlotte even wants to return to Indonesia after years of living in America.

“What's up with today, Pa?” ask me to Papa when we get home. I deliberately waited until Mama and my two sisters were quite far away from us. “This is not Papa's usual style. Papa never does anything without careful calculation.”

“I, Mason, and Edu decided to do this. We just want to provoke Finley's reaction. We got a report from one of the lab employees who checked Clarissa's sample and Mason's family that someone tried to bribe her with a lot of money to make a fake report.”

“What do you mean by Papa, manipulating the test to write that Clarissa has no blood relationship with Aunt Claudia?” tanyaku. Papa nodded slowly. “Why not report him to the police? He's very dangerous, Pa. Me or Rissa could have died at their hands earlier had we not been able to defend ourselves.”

“Can't, Son. As long as there is no evidence that he has committed a crime, then we cannot report his actions to the police.”