UHUK!!!
The sound of violent coughing echoed from the bedroom—again—while Topan was in the middle of a video call with his mother.
"Is Dewi really okay there? I just heard her coughing. Wouldn't it be better if you came home? I'm really worried, dear!"
Topan let out a tired sigh. He was standing by the stove, stirring porridge in a pot.
"We can't go back yet, Mother. There are still a few things we need to settle here. Don't worry—she was checked by the doctor this morning. It's just a mild flu and cough," he said, trying to ease her concern.
"Hm… alright. But don't you dare leave Dewi alone, okay?"
Ratna's tone sounded threatening, and Topan simply nodded obediently.
He glanced at his mother on the phone screen, then back at the porridge.
"Mother, is this thick enough yet?" he asked.
"Let me see. If it's thick enough, take it off the stove—but—oh my God, Topan!"
"Tch—hot! Damn—"
Ratna screamed in panic when she saw her son nearly burn his hand. When Topan lifted the pot handle to show her, he forgot to turn off the stove. The flames licked the tips of his fingers.
"Wait, Mother, I—"
Topan panicked, unsure what to do first. He had just set the pot aside when hurried footsteps rushed toward the kitchen.
Drap… drap…
"What happened? Topan, are you hurt—oh my God!"
Dewi rushed in after hearing the noise. Shocked, she quickly turned off the stove, grabbed both of Topan's hands, and pulled them under the running water.
"You—seriously, what were you doing in the kitchen? Were you hungry? Why didn't you wake me up? Or at least order food! Look at your hands… gosh…"
She kept rinsing his hands over and over, scolding him in a hoarse voice—the unmistakable sound of someone who was sick.
After that, Dewi took a clean towel and gently dried his hands.
"Good thing you're okay. What if you'd really gotten burned, huh? You really—"
"I was making porridge for you." Topan cut her off.
Dewi froze.
Her eyes widened. Did he just say… porridge?For her?
She let out a small breath and turned to look behind him. Sure enough, not far from the stove sat a medium-sized pot, still releasing hot steam.
"You never go into the kitchen. Why force yourself like this?" she said softly, walking closer to peek into the porridge.
For some reason, Dewi felt a strange flutter in her stomach. Her chest tightened. Her face felt unbearably hot.
"Hey… both of you. I'm still here, you know."
Both Dewi and Topan jolted. Apparently, the video call hadn't ended. Topan's mother had witnessed the entire scene—thoroughly amused.
"Oh my gosh, Mother! I'm sorry, I—I didn't know you and Topan were still—uhh…"
Dewi lowered her head in embarrassment.
Oh no… she thought. Her mother-in-law must have seen everything.
Topan, equally flustered, quickly grabbed his phone from beside the stove.
"Mom, I'll hang up now, okay?"
Tut! Click!
He ended the call after seeing his mother nod enthusiastically with a wide smile.
Topan then turned to Dewi, who was still bowing her head, her face as red as a boiled crab.
Puk!
"Hey, is your fever getting worse?"
Dewi startled when Topan flicked her cheek lightly.
"Your face is so red. Do we need to change your cold compress—"
"N-no need!" Dewi quickly stepped back.
"My fever's already getting better, hehe… hatchoo!"
She sneezed. Clearly, her flu hadn't improved much.
Topan shook his head and took the pot from the stove.
"Eat your porridge first. Then take your medicine and rest," he said as he poured it into a bowl.
"I'm really fine! Hatsyimm!!!"
This time, Dewi sneezed loudly as she followed him to the dining table.
"Hm. That's why I told you not to play in the rain yesterday," Topan teased.
Dewi pouted, a little offended—though she knew it was her own fault. She had insisted on running through the rain when heavy showers drenched Mawa City the day before.
Creak!
"Hmph! That's so unfair. Why didn't you get sick too?! We got caught in the rain together, didn't we?"
She puffed her cheeks, her pale face turning sulky as she scooped up some porridge and tasted it slowly.
It wasn't bad—surprisingly decent for a beginner like Topan, who had just set foot in the kitchen for the first time.
Topan shook his head at his wife's childish behavior. Dewi ate while pouting, the cold compress on her forehead making her look even cuter in his eyes.
'Hah… so stubborn. Already warned her, but she still wouldn't listen,'
Topan thought, recalling what had happened the day before, before they returned to the cottage.
---
Flashback — 6:15 PM, yesterday…
…when their faces were only an inch apart and—
Crashh!
Rain suddenly poured down over Mawa City that evening. Some residents cheered in gratitude, children ran around laughing under the heavy downpour.
Dewi and Topan stayed seated for quite a while, both falling silent—still awkward about what had just happened.
As the rain grew heavier, accompanied by strong winds, the cold slowly crept into their bodies.
From the corner of his eye, Topan noticed Dewi rubbing her arms. He cursed himself for not bringing an umbrella—or anything at all.
"Wait here. I'll go to the workshop first and pick you up later," he finally said.
Topan stood up and decided to brave the rain toward the workshop a few blocks away from the drink stall where they had stopped. He couldn't possibly take Dewi with him—she would be soaked completely. At least this way, she wouldn't get sick.
Just as he was about to step away, a gentle tug on the back of his shirt stopped him.
"I'm coming with you," Dewi said when Topan turned to look at her.
"No." He shook his head firmly.
"So you're going alone in this rain? That's worse. We should just go together—"
Dewi was stubborn as ever. She stood up beside him.
"You'll get sick. Just wait here—"
Too late.
Dewi had already walked out of the stall.
"Heheee… it feels so cool. Come on, let's hurry to the workshop before it gets even heavier," she said cheerfully, humming to herself.
"Hey, you—! Ckk…!"
Left with no choice, Topan chased after his wife. The rain instantly soaked his hair and skin. He quickly grabbed Dewi's arm.
"You're unbelievably stubborn, huh?! If you get sick—"
"Ahh, just this once! It was so hot earlier anyway. Come on, let's run—play in the rain together, hahaa…"
Instead of shrinking under Topan's sharp glare, Dewi turned around and clasped both of their hands together. She ran, and Topan had no choice but to follow.
Seeing his wife's bright smile and hearing her carefree laughter, Topan unconsciously curved his lips into a small smile. For once, he let his racing heartbeat match the rhythm of the rain pouring over them both.
---
Past midnight — 11:00 PM…
"Hm… 42 degrees. See? I told you."
Topan rubbed his temples tiredly. In front of him, Dewi lay weak on the bed with a high fever. Her face was flushed, her eyes dull, punctuated by repeated sneezes.
"Uhh… b-but it wasn't for long… hatchoo!"
Topan shook his head. His wife really was hopelessly stubborn. Earlier, when he touched her forehead, the heat had shocked him. The cottage only had fever compresses—no medicine—while outside, the rain grew heavier, accompanied by strong winds and thunder.
"I'll call Dovic and ask him to bring a doctor here."
Just as Topan turned to leave the room, Dewi sat up and grabbed his arm, shaking her head hard.
"No. Don't. Haven't you seen the weather outside? I'm fine… I'll be better tomorrow—hatcho… hatchoo!"
She sneezed twice in a row right in front of him.
Topan frowned slightly but didn't step away.
"Ckk… at this rate, I might catch it from you."
Dewi immediately let go and stepped back, mumbling an apology. She sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her reddened nose.
Seeing that, Topan silently cursed his own words. Idiot, he thought. Clearing his throat softly, he tried to ease the awkwardness.
"Hmm… I'll go to the kitchen. Get you some water… uh…"
Hesitating, Topan finally turned and walked out, leaving Dewi behind in silence.
DUAR!!! KLAK!!!
"TOPAN—"
Gyut!
Just as Topan reached the bedroom door, a thunderclap exploded—followed by the power going out.
Startled, Dewi reflexively jumped up and clung to Topan's back.
"Hey—damn it, you're choking—"
"Aahh… I—I'm scared! Don't go… ughh…"
Hearing the fear in his wife's voice and feeling her trembling body, Topan slowly tried to loosen her grip.
"Sshh… it's okay. Calm down—"
DUARR!!!
Another bolt of lightning struck, blindingly bright. Dewi didn't hesitate—she buried her face against Topan's broad chest, hugging him tightly as her body shook.
Topan froze.
His heart pounded wildly—he was sure Dewi could hear it. But he shook his head, forcing himself to focus.
Gently, he guided Dewi back to the bed.
"Topan—ugh…."
The room was pitch black, and Dewi was terrified he might leave her.
"Calm down. I'm not going anywhere. Let's sleep. Looks like the power's out for the night."
For the first time since two months of marriage, that night they slept together—holding each other beneath a thick blanket that kept them warm.
"Ukhh… didn't you say you didn't want to catch it from me…?"
Dewi lifted her head slightly. She was held tightly in Topan's arms, remembering his earlier words.
"Sshh… be quiet. If I get sick, then you can take care of me next. Go to sleep."
Topan said flatly, one large hand rising to gently stroke Dewi's hair.
Luckily, the room was dark—so the redness on both their faces went unseen. But their pounding hearts?
Oh, let it be.
They chose silence—and simply felt each other.
Flashback End
TO BE CONTINUED…