LINGGA KALAGENI: Pendekar Terkutuk dari Sekte Pedang Naga

"Owen," Rosie called him for what seemed like the hundredth time, and just as before, she got no reply.

She felt a surge of anger as she watched him completely engrossed in his phone, seemingly oblivious to her presence.

Glancing at the clock, she noted that it was already 8:43 pm, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that her flatmate, Tessa, would soon start bombarding her with messages and calls, concerned about her safety.

Shifting uncomfortably on the stool she was sitting on, she turned her attention back to Owen, wondering how to get his attention away from his phone.

"Owen, I'm talking to you." She called again and tapped him aggressively on the shoulder. "You've been giving me the silent treatment, what's going on?"

"I've been giving you the silent treatment. Really, how?" He asked, finally putting his phone away, bemused.

"Can't you see I'm on a business blog? I'm trying to find wealth-related inspiration in this space. But of course, you had to choose now of all times to disturb me." He went on with a tone that explained exactly how upset he was.

"Owen!" Rosie exclaimed. "Calm down. What's with the tone? Did I do something wrong?" she asked again with concern written all over her face.

"There is nothing wrong Rosie. You asked where our relationship was headed last week, and I figured you wanted a proposal. Isn't that what you want?"

"In fact, why am I even asking," he continued, stopping her from saying a word. "It's glaring and very obvious that marriage is the answer you wanted for such an absurd question. Unless you have another explanation. Do you?" He asked again, looking at her.

Rosie disappointed him with her silence, so he continued his long annoying chatter.

"Right now, I'm checking out a wealth-related blog, trying to figure out ways to accumulate more wealth because we can't get married the way things are presently. But you obviously can't relate, because you do not know what it means for someone to be financially ready. How do you even intend to get married to someone when you are almost broke?"

"Owen!" Rosie called angrily. "Stop," she said in a low, shaky voice, unable to keep it steady. "I work," she added.

"There she goes again!" Owen exclaimed. "You need to be realistic honey, because your response to reality is funny at times. You are just an intern in a company I work in as a top Manager, and I know the meager salary you get every month. Do you think that peanut is big enough to sustain you in a marriage?"

"I have a side hustle." She reminded him with a firm yet low voice.

If there was anything she didn't want presently, it was raising her voice. She was scared he would hear the fear and sadness she was trying so hard to conceal.

"I'm very hardworking, you know that already." She added.

Owen let out a chuckle. He swung his head to the side and back, looked at her, and smiled even more.

"By side hustle, do you by chance mean the bead making that barely gives you a dime? Oh, please, be realistic for once. You make some cheap, worn-out beads for a set of low-income earners who can barely afford two square meals a day, and suddenly, you call that a source of income, a side hustle! You must be kidding me." He said standing up.

"When you asked where our relationship was headed," he continued, and began pacing the short distance from his seat to the window.

"At first, I was mad at you because I know so well that you are broke, and I'm not even where I want to be, financially. But I'd like to assume you have some money stashed up somewhere because I won't marry a liability; nobody in their right senses will want to marry one. Rose, I want a partner that will be productive, active, smart, and financially stable enough to march up to me. Not some broke woman who will wreck my life. Kindly note that I'm not referring to you Baby, I'm not... I'm just trying to throw some light on the issue at hand." He said.

Getting a hold of Rosie's hand, he squeezed it gently. In reply, she stared blankly at him.

"But honestly," He continued. "I doubt marriage should be at the top of our priority list right now. And I'm saying this with a heart full of love, total love."

Rosie, who'd had her eyes on their hands before now, gently slipped her hand from his grip and looked up at him.

"What are you even saying?" She started angrily. "I wasn't entirely talking about marriage. I only asked because I needed us to define the relationship we share. The question was more about where we are headed and what the plan is. Owen, I love you, and I wanted to be certain you feel the same way for me; that was all I wanted to know. Again, I'm not a liability. I take care of myself well enough, and I plan on working even harder for the kind of life I want. Do you hear me?"

She screamed, finally giving up on her plan to conceal her hurt and fear. She hurriedly turned and made to make her way out of the room but he pulled her back.