GINGER PHOENIX a novel by M. Cairol Yakup

Chapter 21

Twelve years passed by and Dita was already eighteen years old now. She was in her final year in high school. She would have to leave the orphanage once she graduated. She had no idea what to do and what kind of job would she be doing. But she had Putra with her.

Putra was in the same school with her but she never noticed him, until she started working part time as a cashier in a café in the city. They had been together for the past six months and they were so in love. Putra had been so eager to marry her.

"But we're only eighteen, Putra. Don't you think we're a bit rushing on that?" She said oneday when both of them were walking in the park.

"Dita, we're not underage anymore. I love you and you love me, what are we waiting for? I mean, we both ready for commitment, aren't we?" Putra said.

"The thing is, we aren't old enough to get married. You're not even mature physically. Just take a look at yourself. You look like a sixteen year old boy, and technically, you are underage, you're not even eighteen yet!"

"Our marriage has got nothing to do on how I look, Dita. The last time I check, you didn't mind to have a cute baby faced guy like me to be your boyfriend!"

"Yuck!" Dita replied mockingly.

And both of them were laughing.

"Seriously Dita, I want to marry you. I want you and I love you so much. I want to have a family like with you. I want you to be the mother of my children." Putra held her hand and placed it on his cheek.

"It sounds good, the idea. But I still think that we're too young to get married now. Can't we just wait? I mean, we're about to finish school. Don't you want to go to college or university or something? We should be financially stable to set up a family, right? By the way, it was romantic what you said about me being a mother to your children, but it doesn't work for me!" Dita took her hand away from Putra.

"I suck in study, you know that. I've no plan to continue that far and I know you're not going to further the study too~"

"How would you know? Maybe I want to go to college!" Dita protested.

"Oh yeah, what course exactly you want to take?" Putra asked naughtily.

"I'll figure it out!"

Putra chuckled and shook his head. He pinched her on the nose and tousled her jet black hair.

"The truth is, I love you so much. I don't want to let you go, Dita," he said quietly. "Is that a crime?"

Dita rolled her eyes. She heard that for so many times before. Putra was really good saying beautiful words like that. But she believed him and she had faith with Putra deep in her heart but the same time, she couldn't help thinking that he was being stupid.

"Consider yourself lucky 'cause you're beautiful, Putra. Or else, I will never fall for that!"

"I know that, I come with a good package, didn't I?"

"Yeah, right!"

"Please, Dita. Just think about it. There's nothing wrong with getting married. I promise you that everything will be alright. You have no one else and I feel responsible for taking care of you."

"Is this what it's all about? You feel sorry for me because I don't have parents and I live in the orphanage?"

"No, I don't mean it that way. I just want to be with you forever."

"You do know that by marrying me, you will have to get a proper job and get a house to live in, don't you?"

"Hey, I may look like a kid, but I'm old enough to know what getting married is all about!"