The clock showed 9:45 AM.
Fiya and Ardi stood in front of the civil registration office. The office was simple. A 2-story building. Pale white color. Old trees in front that were not well maintained.
This wasn't a nice place to get married.
But it was a legal place to get married according to the law.
Fiya wore her black work uniform. The neatest and best outfit she had. But still, this was work clothes, not a wedding dress.
Ardi wore a gray suit and black pants. Ardi looked like someone who just came from a business meeting.
No one looked like newlyweds.
They didn't talk to each other. They just stood in front of the civil registration office door. Waiting for 10 AM.
Fiya felt nervous. Nervous like there were butterflies in her stomach. Butterflies flying back and forth at full speed.
Ardi looked calm. Calm like he was waiting in a line at a bank. Calm like this was just a normal thing.
"It's already 10," said Ardi.
Fiya didn't know if he was just mentioning the time or if he wanted to go inside.
They entered together.
The waiting room of the civil registration office was small. There were a few chairs. A desk in front. A door leading to the processing room.
The officer was a woman in her 40s. Her face looked bored. Like she had seen thousands of engaged couples.
"Name?" asked the officer without lifting her eyes from the computer.
"Ardi Sutrisno and Fiya Nuriyah Dewi," answered Ardi.
The officer finally looked up. She saw Ardi and Fiya.
"Is this the couple we're waiting for?" asked the officer.
"Yes," answered Ardi.
The officer looked toward the door. "Mr. Hendra has arrived. He's waiting inside. Please come in."
They entered the processing room.
The room wasn't large. There was just a long table. Chairs on the sides. And posters about marriage law stuck on the walls.
Mr. Hendra was already there. Mr. Hendra wore a formal suit as usual. Next to him was Mr. Hendra's secretary. Her name was Tuti. Tuti was a woman in her 30s. Smiling warmly as always.
"You've arrived," said Mr. Hendra warmly. "Let's begin."
The civil registration officer entered. He was a man in his 50s. His face was serious but not stiff.
"Let's begin the marriage process," said the officer. "Please prepare the documents."
Ardi and Fiya handed over their documents. ID cards. Tax numbers. Letters stating they had never been married. All the necessary documents.
The officer read through all the documents carefully.
"Well," said the officer. "Everything is complete. It's time for the marriage ceremony."
The officer read some articles from Marriage Law No. 1 of 1974.
The officer spoke in a monotone voice. Like he had read these articles thousands of times.
"Does Ardi Sutrisno consent to take Fiya Nuriyah Dewi as his wife?" asked the officer.
Ardi glanced at Fiya briefly. Then he answered, "Yes, I consent."
His voice was flat. No emotion. Like he was answering a test question.
"Does Fiya Nuriyah Dewi consent to take Ardi Sutrisno as her husband?" asked the officer to Fiya.
Fiya felt everyone looking at her. Mr. Hendra. Tuti. The civil registration officer.
Fiya felt her heart beating very hard.
This was an important moment. The moment when Fiya would say yes.
Fiya thought about Desi. Desi's surgery. The money Fiya would get.
"Yes," answered Fiya in a small voice. "I consent."
The officer read more articles. About the rights and duties of husband and wife. About shared property. About children.
But Ardi and Fiya weren't listening anymore.
They only heard a distant voice. A voice coming from the officer's mouth. But not entering their ears.
Then it was time to sign the documents.
Ardi signed in the section for the husband.
Fiya signed in the section for the wife.
Tuti signed as a witness from the wife's side.
Another civil registration office employee signed as a witness from the husband's side.
Mr. Hendra watched. Mr. Hendra didn't need to sign because there were already official witnesses from the office.
The officer also signed.
"Congratulations," said the officer. "You are now officially husband and wife in the eyes of the law."
The officer gave the marriage certificate to Ardi. The certificate was green. Printed on thick paper.
Ardi took the certificate with little expression.
When they left the room, Mr. Hendra and Tuti hugged Fiya.
"Congratulations on your marriage, Fiya!" said Tuti cheerfully.
Mr. Hendra extended his hand to Ardi. "Congratulations, Ardi."
They shook hands.
"Thank you, Mr. Hendra. For everything," said Ardi.
"No problem. This is my job," answered Mr. Hendra. "Now you're officially married. The marriage certificate will be ready to pick up tomorrow."
"Okay, sir," said Fiya in a soft voice.
They all left the civil registration office.
In front of the office, there was a space that was slightly larger. It looked like a small yard.
Tuti took a camera out of her work bag.
"Let me take a photo for documentation," said Tuti. "As a keepsake."
Fiya and Ardi stood side by side. Ardi didn't embrace Fiya. They just stood next to each other.
Tuti took their photo.
"Try another one. Closer together," suggested Tuti.
Ardi placed his hand on Fiya's back. Just on her back. Not intimate. Not warm.
Tuti took another photo.
"Good," said Tuti. "This is a good photo."
But the photo wasn't good.
The photo was of two people standing side by side. Two people who didn't look like a newlywed couple. Two people who looked like business associates forced to take a photo together.
Mr. Hendra looked at the photo.
"You are now officially married," said Mr. Hendra with a slight smile. "From now on, you are husband and wife."
Fiya didn't know what to answer.
"Yes, sir," answered Ardi. "Thank you again."
Mr. Hendra gave Fiya a small envelope.
"This is the first payment from our contract," said Mr. Hendra to Fiya. "300 million rupiah. I've already transferred it to the account that Ardi provided for Fiya."
Fiya opened the envelope. Inside was a bank check. A check for 300 million.
300 million.
A lot of money. Money Fiya had never had before.
Fiya felt dizzy. Dizzy from suddenly having so much money.
"Before tonight, that money will go into Fiya's account," continued Mr. Hendra. "Since today is a holiday, it might arrive tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Mr. Hendra," whispered Fiya. Her voice was barely audible.
After Mr. Hendra and Tuti left, Ardi and Fiya stood alone in front of the civil registration office.
They were married. Officially. In the eyes of the law.
But they didn't feel like a couple.
Ardi looked at Fiya.
"Now we have to go to my house," said Ardi. "We have to take your things from home. Then move to my house."
"Now?" asked Fiya.
"Yes. Now."
Fiya wasn't ready. But she couldn't say no.
"Okay," said Fiya.
They went to Ardi's car. A black Mercedes car that was very luxurious and frightening for Fiya.
Fiya got into the car.
The car was clean. Smelled like expensive perfume. Inside the car was very quiet.
Ardi drove. Ardi didn't talk. Ardi just drove focusing on the road.
Fiya sat in the passenger seat. Fiya glanced to the side. Looking at Ardi who was focused.
Ardi looked like a machine. A machine running a program. A program that was already set.
The machine had no heart.
Fiya thought: was Fiya now part of that program?
They arrived at Fiya's house around 11 AM.
Fiya's house looked very small compared to Ardi's car.
Ardi got out of the car. Ardi looked at the house with an expression Fiya couldn't read.
"Your house is small," said Ardi.
"Yes," answered Fiya. "This is what we can afford."
They went inside the house.
Desi was inside. Desi was playing with toys in the living room.
Desi saw Fiya and Ardi come in together.
Desi stood up. Desi looked at Ardi with curiosity. Desi had never seen Fiya's boss at home before.
"Sister! Who is this?" asked Desi.
"This is... a coworker of sister's," answered Fiya. Fiya couldn't say "this is sister's husband." Because that would be too complicated.
"Oh," said Desi. "Hello, aunt!"
Desi was still using child language. Desi called Ardi "aunt" even though Ardi was male.
"Hello," answered Ardi. Ardi didn't smile. Ardi just said hello.
Fiya looked at Ardi. Fiya wanted Ardi to be warmer. But Fiya couldn't tell Ardi what to do.
"Desi, sister has to pack her things. Sister will move to a new house," said Fiya.
"Move? Where?" asked Desi in panic.
"Sister will live in a new house. A bigger house. For you and sister."
Desi looked sad.
"But this house? Our house?" asked Desi.
Fiya had to make a decision.
"We will still pay for this house. So this house is still ours," explained Fiya. "But sister and Desi will sleep in a bigger house. A nicer house for Desi."
Desi didn't look happy. But Desi didn't protest.
Fiya started packing her things. Not much. Just some clothes. Some personal items. Old photos.
Ardi just sat on the sofa. Ardi didn't help. Ardi just watched.
Fiya felt uncomfortable with Ardi's presence in her small house.
Fiya's small house felt even smaller with Ardi's presence.
Everything felt unreal.