MARA'S POV
"Mom, please take care of Baby Tanya in the meantime," I said shyly.
"I'll take care of my granddaughter; you don't need to worry! Just enjoy the trip with your husband. I'm expecting a grandson when you come back here." My mother said teasingly.
I felt my cheeks blush.
"Mom, will you stop?!"
Tomorrow is Maru's birthday. I ask him what gift he wants to receive from me, and he said that he wants to spend time alone with me.
And I must admit, I was thrilled by what he said.
Maru never failed to make me feel special. Now my insecurities and fear for Jana are gradually disappearing. Whether I admit it or not, I see her as a competition, and I know that in this fight, I am at a disadvantage because she is my husband's, first love.
But after I gave birth to Tanya and after our "friendship first relationship," I felt like Maru became more sweet and affectionate. And now he puts Tanya and me ahead of anything or anyone else, even if it's Jana.
Now I can hardly see them together or talk. And when they are together, Maru always informed me about it, which makes me feel more at ease.
Also, his eyes and his touch. Whenever he looks at me, I feel like I am the most beautiful woman in the world. And whenever he touched me when we make love, he always makes sure that I will feel his love for me. And most importantly, he never failed to tell me how much he loves me even though I'm not answering back.
So when my husband told me what he wanted as a birthday present, I immediately gave it to him.
Our family is a member of Balesin, so I chose to celebrate Maru's birthday there. I'm deciding between Bali Village and Mykonos Village.
Mykonos Village is ideal for large groups, but I love the Greek style of this village. Well, that's why they named it Mykonos, lol.
While Bali village looks more romantic, perfect for the couple, well, I guess it's crystal clear, Bali Village it is.
I was about to leave my Mom's house, but I came back and kissed my baby again.
"I love you, baby Tanya! I will miss you! Be good to your grandparents, okay?" I said sweetly to my baby.
This is the first time my child will be away from me, so I was a little nervous and worried. But I know that my parents will take good care of her.
"We will take care of your child. All right, go to your husband, he has been waiting for you for a while now. You should have asked him to go here inside first." My mom said.
"I won't be here for long. I'll give baby Tanya to you, and then we'll go straight to Balesin."
"What are you saying that you won't be here for long? You are here for almost 30 minutes now!" She said teasingly.
I smile shyly at them. "All right, mom, dad, I'm leaving. Bye, baby Tanya!"
When I came out of the mansion, I immediately saw my husband leaning against the car, and you can see that he was getting impatient. Then a big smile went on his face when he saw me going to him.
"How's baby Tanya? Is it okay for your parents to leave our child to them?"
I nodded while smiling at him.
"They love it! My mom almost wants to chase me out."
I saw him smile. "Let's go, wife?"
He said while he held his hand to me.
I nodded and then smilingly accepted his hand.
***
We finally reached Balesin.
It's been a while since I went here. I used to go here a lot when I wanted some time to think. It was a bit expensive but worth it because of the beautiful scenery.
We went to our assigned water villa. Our room is so simple but what captivates us is the panoramic view of the island.
I was busy watching the beauty of the island when I felt Maru's arm wrap around me.
"You like it?" I asked him.
He kissed my temple. "I don't like it; I love it! Thank you, hon."
I touch his face and smile at him. "You are welcome, husband!"
I saw his eyes widen.
It's the first time that I called him with that endearment after our major fight.
I chuckled and kissed him on his lips. It was supposed to be a quick kiss, but he deepened the kiss, and I am very much willing to answer him back with the same intensity. We just found ourselves making love that night. What a way to start the night on the island!
Maybe because of tiredness Maru fell asleep early. I used that opportunity to prepare my surprise for him. Fifteen minutes before twelve, I had finished all the preparations for the surprise I had prepared for him.
At midnight I lit the candle and started to wake Maru up. I first laid the cake on the side table.
"Maru," I said while caressing his face.
"Husband, wake up," I said sweetly.
In just a few seconds, Maru slowly opened his eyes. I immediately took the cake and sang to him.
"Happy Birthday Maru, Happy Birthday Maru, Happy birthday, Happy birthday, Happy birthday to you!"
My husband is still a bit disoriented, but his shock and amazement were evident because of what I did.
 "Happy birthday Hon!" I said, then I kiss his lips.
"W-wow!"
I chuckled.
"Wow! Thank you, wife! The best birthday ever!" He said, then he gave me soft kisses.
"Blow your candle!" I said to him.
He chuckled.
He was about to blow his candle when I stopped him.
"What now, wife?" He said, laughing.
"Make a wish first," I told him.
He shook his head, then he closes his eyes and made a wish.
After that, he quickly blew out his candle.
"You made all these?" Maru asked, still amazed.
I smiled at him and nodded.
The view and our room are already romantic, that's why I just added small details. With the help of the staff, I hang all our pictures together in our room and spread rose petals on the floor.
After he looked at the hanging pictures of us two, I handed him my gift.
"I also have a gift? Wow, wife! This is more than enough!" He said while smiling.
"You deserve it, hon," I said.
"Open it, Hon," I said excitedly.
He immediately opened it. Excitement was evident on his face.
"You like it?" I asked him.
"I love it, wife! So you want me to stay by your side forever?" He said teasingly.
I raised my brow. "You don't want to?"
I chose to give him a belt as a birthday present. They said that when you give a belt to your boyfriend or husband, it means that you want to be with him forever.
He chuckled. "Of course I want it! I love you, wife!"
I smiled.
And last but not the least gift. "I love you too, husband!"
He was stunned. I saw tears form in his eyes.
"You don't know how long I waited to hear that word from you again, wife! I love you so so much!" He hugged me tightly and kissed me.
"Sorry if I took this long before I say this to you again. I love you, Maru! The night I told you those three words, it never changed. It's just that, at that time, I am very insecure about Jana. I feel like you don't have a choice but to love me. That if you were to choose, you would always choose Jana because she's the one you love." I told him.
"And now?"
My forehead creased.
"Huh?"
He smiled. "What made you decide to answer my I love you back?"
"Because you never failed to prove that you love me, and because of that, little by little, my insecurity is fading until it's gone."
"I have a confession to make." He said in a serious tone.
I furrowed. I felt my heart beating fast.
"I love you since the first time I laid my eyes on you. You were my puppy love, my infatuation, and my first and last love."
I was stunned. "W-what?!"
I can't believe what he just said.
"It's kind of obvious that you don't like me. That it's my brother who you like when we were kids. I tried to approach and be friends with you, but you were so aloof. And at the same time being so friendly with James. Since then, I have only looked at you from afar. And I will admit it; I feel happy when I found out that you are avoiding James, not knowing that the reason why you are avoiding him is that you thought that I'm the one whom our parents arrange for you."
"When Kuya left, I took that as an opportunity to make you my wife. I volunteered that time to be your husband. You never knew how much I longed for that day to come. That you will become my wife."
"I even tried to be close to Yelle just to get some information about you, not knowing that she likes me. But I told her that it's you that I like and that I will be marrying someday."
"You see, wife, even before it is you that I love."
"Then why did you court and made Jana your girlfriend?" I curiously asked.
"Well, I tried to fall in love with someone else; at that time, I was consumed with jealousy." He explained.
"Jealousy?"
He nodded. I can see the irritation on his face.
"I thought you liked that best friend of yours!" He hissed.
"Who? Alex?"
"TSK. Yes. When we were in college and until now, Jana likes Alex. So to comfort one another, we tried to be in a relationship. But after a month we broke up. We don't want to fool ourselves because we know who we love."
"What?!" I was shocked by his revelation.
"We did not just announce our separation, hoping that one of you will be jealous and make a move. But unfortunately, it does not affect both of you. Good thing we got married immediately."
"Then why do you always bring her in Tagaytay?"
"Because we remained friends. I treat her as a sister that I never had."
So that explains everything. All along, I'm the only one he loves.
"Why did you just say this now ?!" I said, a bit annoyed.
"A lot has happened, wife. I do not know how or when I will tell you all about it. And I think this is the perfect time to confess everything to you."
I can't help but smile. I gave him a quick kiss.
"I love you, husband, so so much!" Then I hug him.
I forgot that there is a cake in between us. The cake got ruined.
I heard him chuckle. And then he gave me his naughty smirk.
"This cake will taste better if we eat it this way." He said in his sexy voice.
He took a cake icing and put it on my lips. Then he licked it.
"Taste heaven!" He said.
I just let him do what he wants to do. It's his birthday anyway. Then we found ourselves naked with cake all over our bodies. We start eating it sexily and make sweet love all night.
***
I felt sticky when I woke up.
I saw that we were both naked while there were icing cakes on our bodies. Then I remember what happened last night.
I still can't believe what he just said.
He clung and hugged me tightly.
"Good morning, my yummy wife!" He said naughtily.
I softly hit him.
I heard him chuckle.
"Let's get up, hon. Just a little while and the ants will go to us."
"Why? Because of our sweetness?"
"Yes, literally sweet!" I said while laughing.
After that, we immediately got ready and went to Warung to eat breakfast.
We then decided to go swimming and do some activities offered on the island.
We went back to our room feeling exhausted.
We just cuddle; we're too tired to do some other naughty things. We decided to watch a movie while cuddling.
"I want to see you, wife like that," Maru said.
"What?"
"Like the girl in that movie, get jealous and be possessive."
"Weren't you feel like you're being choked?"
"If it's too much, maybe yes. I want to see you like that because I'll feel like I am important in your life. Well, maybe I want to see you get jealous and be possessive of me; in that way, I can feel more of your love for me."
I felt pain in my heart upon hearing what he just said. I am not aware he felt that way, that he needed more assurance.
"Okay, husband. After what you confessed last night? I think I can easily do that. You are mine from the start, so no one is allowed to take you away from me." I said sincerely.
I saw happiness and love in his eyes.
This time I know, I'm not hallucinating.
"And also, I want to see you fighting for me. No matter what happens, you will never give up on us." He said.
"I already told you, right? You are mine, so no one is allowed to take you away from me."
He nodded and then gave me a loving kiss.