New Love For My Wife

Will He Remember?

Nanette shuts down her laptop, tucks it into her office bag, and locks the office door in the faculty room. She's heading home. Today is their 5th wedding anniversary, and as usual, Nanette wants to prepare a romantic celebration for Valdi. Valdi, as always, is likely to forget this date, just like in previous years. He isn't the romantic type who remembers wedding anniversaries or other special occasions. Back when they were dating, Valdi never gave Nanette flowers or chocolates on Valentine's Day. It was always Nanette who busied herself with planning special events, even during their four years of marriage.

Nanette is brimming with romantic ideas to celebrate their anniversary. In their first year of marriage, she booked a hotel room and messaged Valdi to meet her at eight in the evening after work for a dinner date. Valdi, true to form, rushed over from his lab, only to find Nanette waiting for him in a sexy red dress. He facepalmed himself when he remembered that it was their first wedding anniversary. Valdi apologized profusely, but Nanette wasn't the least bit upset. She forgave him instantly because she knew it was Valdi's nature to forget special occasions. His work always consumed him, and he wasn't the romantic type. He's a scientist who relies more on logic than emotions. Nanette understands this well—it's the consequence of falling in love and marrying a scientist.

Back when Nanette and Valdi were dating, her sisters, Ninette and Nanitte, used to tease her, saying that Nanette was a fool for falling in love with a man who never gave her a bouquet of flowers or a special gift on Valentine's Day. Unlike their boyfriends, who were super romantic and always gave her sisters red or pink rose bouquets on Valentine's Day or their anniversary celebrations. Nanitte's boyfriend even once gave her a bouquet of 100 red roses on their 100th day of dating.

Nanette would simply smile and say that Valdi gave her all the love and affection she needed. She didn't need flowers because she loved Valdi just the way he was. Valdi, the smart one, the patient one, the incredibly caring and faithful Valdi, who was always full of love. Why go for someone super romantic like Ninette's cheating husband or someone who was quick-tempered, lacked intelligence, and relied solely on their wealthy parents like Nanitte's husband? Nanette preferred a man like Valdi, her husband, who had made her fall in love at first sight and whom she loved deeply.

The moment of their first anniversary was truly memorable for Nanette and Valdi. During dinner, Valdi was surprised when Nanette, with her foot, gently caressed Valdi's leg under the table, hidden by the long tablecloth. Nanette with her black-stockinged foot, slowly stroked Valdi's leg from his calf to his thigh, looking at Valdi with eyes full of passionate love. Valdi shook his head, signaling Nanette to stop teasing him. But Nanette kept doing it until Valdi couldn't resist any longer, and he invited Nanette to check in at the hotel. Nanette immediately pulled out the room key she had booked, and Valdi laughed with joy, shaking his head again, realizing that his wife had already prepared the room for them. Without finishing their dessert, they both headed straight to the hotel room and ended up pleasuring each other with passionate love.

That event is truly memorable and unforgettable. After that, they never stayed in a hotel for their romantic getaways because Viona was born a year later. So, for their fifth year anniversary today, Nanette will recreate the same celebration as their first year of marriage. Nanette has booked the same restaurant and a hotel room as well. Viona, accompanied by her nanny, will stay at Valdi's parent's house, which will surely bring a lot of joy to them because their beloved and only grandchild will spend the day there.

Nanette has also sent a message to Valdi, asking him to meet for dinner at the Bimasena Club at the Dharmawangsa Hotel. Valdi, as usual, responds with just an "OK" and adds a heart emoji. Nanette is delighted by the heart emoji from Valdi today, secretly hoping that maybe this year, Valdi remembers that it's their fifth wedding anniversary. It's unusual for Valdi to respond with a heart emoji in the messages he sends to Nanette. Typically, Valdi's responses are brief: "K" for okay, "Y" for yes, or "CU" for see you. Nanette has become accustomed to these short responses ever since she started dating Valdi. Valdi rarely has his phone with him when he's in the lab because his hands are usually busy with microscopes and research tubes, examining various genomes and samples.

At exactly six o'clock, Nanette arrives at her in-laws' house with Viona and Viona's nanny, Lely. Before they even reach the front door, Viona jumps for joy upon seeing her Grandpa and Grandma waiting at the gate to welcome her.

"Grandpa and Grandma!" Viona exclaims with excitement.

"Hello, my dearest grandchild," Grandpa Anton says as he lifts Viona into his arms.

"Grandpa, Mommy said I am staying here with my nanny " Viona says, looking up at her grandparents.

"Yes, dear. You will stay with us until Sunday, and then Mommy and daddy will come to pick you up," Grandma Dyna says as she leads them inside their one-storey home.

"Nanette, enjoy your time together, don't worry about Viona. I will take care of her," Dyna, Nanette's mother-in-law, says as she holds her beloved daughter-in-law's hand.

"Thank you, Mom . I'm sorry for the trouble these past two days," Nanette apologizes.

"Don't say that. Mom and Dad are happy to have Viona here with us. You two should enjoy your time together, especially on your anniversary. Valdi probably forgot again, right?" Dyna asks with a knowing smile.

Nanette smiles again. Upon hearing that her son Valdi has forgotten their anniversary again, Anton chimes in, "Valdi, is been forgetful since he was a child, not remembering special days. He even forgets his own birthday because his clever brain is always preoccupied with research. So, special occasions are always deemed unimportant by him. Luckily, our daughter-in-law here understands him so well, otherwise, they'd be arguing every year."

"Indeed, Valdi always forgets but then he makes up for it with even more love and affection. That's enough for me. I understand Valdi, who never remembers to celebrate our anniversary. Like dad said earlier, he often forgets his own birthday. That's just his nature. I've known it since we were dating. So, I'm used to it. Let me be the one to surprise him on our anniversary. As usual, he'll smack his forehead and apologize profusely. The next day, he'll give me a gift and apologize again for forgetting our wedding day. It's been going on for four years, Mom, so I've got the routine down," Nanette says with laughter.

"Valdi, Valdi. How is it possible that he's so busy that he forgets his own wedding anniversary, even though it only happens once a year?" Anton wonders aloud.

“ He's a scientist, and his brain is filled with research, leaving no room for anything else," Nanette says.

" I agree with your mom's words. It's a good thing you're Valdi's wife. If it were someone else, they probably wouldn't understand him as well as you do," Anton Says with gratefull tone.

"Thank you, . I have to leave now. I'm afraid of getting stuck in traffic. We'll only stay at the hotel for two days. We'll pick up Viona on Sunday afternoon," Nanette says as she takes her leave.

Nanette holds big hopes this year that her husband won't forget their anniversary. Will her hope come true this year? Will Valdi remember, or will he just forget like the other year?