BAB 6

HAPPY READING

***

"Frankly, I don't like women who complicate things that aren't important. In my position, it's like standing in an ocean full of options, and finding just one feels difficult."

"Does that mean Erin, the beautiful and accomplished one with wealth, is one of your options?"

Dario raised an eyebrow. "Hmm, not really."

"But Erin is an option you've chosen in that vast ocean, right?"

Dario paused for a moment, looking at Rubi. He couldn't dodge this one. "Maybe there will be other options in the future, who knows? Perhaps I'll find a pearl in the ocean."

"Oh, poor Erin, being just an option for you. Just a place to deposit your sperm."

Dario's eyes widened in surprise at Rubi's words. "No, Rubi, it's not like that. Maybe you misunderstood."

"Misunderstood how? I interpreted your words like that, Dar."

"What's wrong with looking for the best?"

"It's the same thing, isn't it?"

Dario took a deep breath and looked at Rubi seriously. "Let me explain, Rubi. When it comes to having sex, it's a consensual relationship from both sides. So there's no one using the other as an outlet for their desires. There's no 'user' and 'used'. My partner and I are equals, only with different genders."

"So, what's on your mind right now is that some men want to satisfy their desires with their girlfriends, even though they may not marry them, right? Is that what you mean?"

"Going back to my point, as long as you understand that sexual relationships involve the consent of both parties, it's not about who uses whom."

"In some cases, saying that you're the victim only benefits the man's side. However, in other cases, many women out there do it because they want to. I'm also not the type of guy who promises sweet words of marriage. If she uses logic, the woman can refuse it, because forcing someone is a crime."

"Whatever the reason is, giving consent makes it a decision. Every decision has consequences, and as adults like you and me, we shouldn't make excuses afterward."

"Similar to when you lend money without collateral, the lender understands the risk that the money might not be returned."

"The main point is there's no coercion."

"Sometimes, it goes as far as the woman making the first move. There can be sulking, manipulation, and even insistence. Given that the woman is an adult, she has the right to refuse but still agrees."

"Whatever form it takes, when a woman is an adult and gives consent, it becomes her responsibility for all the consequences."

"After all, it's mutual orgasm. The need for intimacy is like eating and drinking. If it's been a long time without sex, you can get a headache."

"If the case is that the woman has casual sex, has relations with her ex behind your back, while you're offering a serious path to marriage. Can you accept something like that?" Rubi asked.

Dario stared at Rubi intensely. "Fortunately, I have self-respect. If she's having relations with her ex, it's a form of betrayal. Am I supposed to marry someone like that? If I were to marry her, and she got pregnant, I couldn't possibly do a DNA test to determine the father."

"That's complicated, Rubi. If it gets that messy, just leave. I won't lower my self-worth for a woman who doesn't respect me."

"You deserve better. When it comes to marriage, it's a lifelong commitment. Don't marry someone who isn't good."

Rubi looked at Dario, admiring his thoughts. She wanted to give him a standing ovation, but she knew it would only make him more conceited.

"What about the case of a woman giving birth outside of wedlock? I mean, a woman who has a child without getting married."

Dario narrowed his eyes, staring intensely at Rubi. "Is that you?" he asked, getting straight to the point.

"Just answer; I want to know your perspective," Rubi replied, taking a sip from her glass of orange juice.

"What's the specific case, Rubi? I want to know the background of why she has a child. The woman could use IVF, have a child through sperm donation, or she might find a suitable partner with specific agreements without getting married."

"It's not that; it's more about a past relationship. The woman didn't ask for accountability. The man is already married to his partner."

"When it comes to Indonesian law, there isn't a rule that justifies having a child out of wedlock. But is it prohibited? Clearly not prohibited, Rubi. There's no rule that prohibits women from getting pregnant."

"If a woman doesn't want to get married, that's normal in my opinion. Some people simply don't find the right person to marry. There are also successful people who don't get married and contribute to society, like Oprah Winfrey. She has a successful business, employs many people, and supports families. Not getting married isn't a bad thing in my view."

"When compared to men who have two or three wives, that's going too far."

"If you have a child without being married, and the biological father is married to someone else, the woman should be open-minded. If I were in her shoes, I'd be totally fine with it. Being a single mom is admirable in my opinion."

"My reaction would be to support you if you're raising that child. It's the same as believing that all humans are inherently flawed. You consented, which resulted in getting pregnant out of wedlock, and that's an existential choice. Of course, you should take responsibility. There's no point in judging you."

"Do you have a daughter?" Dario asked again.

Rubi swallowed nervously. She didn't expect Dario to have such a strong feeling that she had a daughter.

"Why me?" Rubi asked, flustered.

"It's just a feeling. I think you have a daughter."

Rubi frowned, taking a sip from her tall stemmed glass. Could Dario really have such a strong feeling, or did he study mimicking someone's facial expressions? Did he take psychology classes to read people's faces?

"How did you know?" Rubi asked curiously.

Dario smiled and glanced at Rubi's phone, which was lying on the table. When he had reached for his drink earlier, he had accidentally bumped the touchscreen and saw that Rubi was holding a baby in her wallpaper.

"I saw the wallpaper on your phone."

***