20 Years Adrift
Chapters 10. Don't Leave Me, Om.

The rain began to fall so that Affan could not wait anymore. He opened the trunk and took two umbrellas, one for him and one for Faya and Aira.

His facial expression did not show anger, but he was also not having fun. With a quick step, Affan walked over to them.

Aira who saw Affan's arrival first poked Faya's shoulder. Despite not saying anything, Faya knew that aira wanted to show her something. He then looked up to follow the direction of Aira's gaze.

"Gusti, Steve, we go home first, yes," Aira said to the two men.

"Assalamualaikum" said Faya.

"Wa'alaikum salam" answered Gusti followed by Steve.

Faya and Aira walk up to Affan, and Faya receives an umbrella from her father and opens it. He uses the umbrella with Aira and walks after Affan. Arriving next to Affan's car opened the door for them and paddled them while folding umbrellas. As a single parent, Affan is very protective of Faya.

Affan's car drove slowly because the rain was getting heavier. He just sat alone in the front seat, Faya and Aira sitting in the back seat. Inevitably Affan had to act like a driver.

Faya moved from her seat and leaned her body toward Affan. He wants to talk to her. The sound of heavy rain makes the volume of his speech rise.

"Dad, I have tutoring at Griya Pintar. Put me down there, yeah," Faya said.

"Yes, honey," replied Affan briefly.

Faya and Aira did not think much. They don't know if Affan is being frustrated with Aira. His ambition of building a real family with Aira seemed to evaporate.

'The girl who slept next to me last night didn't love me. I have to endure this feeling before I truly love her.' Affan tried to calm his turbulent heart.

Faya said goodbye to Affan and Aira when he arrived at the private tutoring place. Affan did not memorize his daughter's tutoring schedule because Mr. Toni who more often pick up his school.

After lowering Faya, Affan's car drove back slowly. Affan stopped his car at a red light and looked back.

"Move ahead!" affan's orders to Aira.

Aira did not dare to argue that she rushed to open the door but Affan asked her to jump forward. He also complies. After Affan lowered the seat beside him, Aira could pass through it easily.

Just as Aira was sitting down, the green light had lit up. Affan's car again drove casually across the streets of the capital.

Aira glanced at Affan who was driving with focus. His heart warmed when he saw his friend's father who was very charismatic.

"What do you see? I realize I'm too old for you." Affan spoke in a quivering voice, glanced at him at a glance and then looked back at the streets.

Aira gasp. His eyes were rounded with a heart that was pumping faster. He did not expect Affan to know that he was watching. Actually Aira was very embarrassed, but she did not want Affan to misunderstand even more if he just fell silent.

"You misunderstood, Om. I never thought if, um, it was old. God willing, I am happy with this marriage and will live it with all my heart." Aira looked at Affan with teary eyes.

"Aren't there a lot of guys who like you at school. You can think about it again." Affan could not speak more as they had reached their home.

Just as Affan was about to open his car door, Aira held back her hand.

'I don't care if what I do is considered lowly. This is all I can do to prove that I really mean it with my words.' Aira monologues in heart.

What Aira did made Affan shocked. Despite living in the same room he did not dare to touch her. For a few seconds he was silent but he finally returned Aira's embrace.

'Yes, God. What Aira did. Does he not know if men can be savage when adjacent to women.' Affan tried to restrain himself. Her white skin made her flushed face look very clear.

"Aira what are you doing? I'm just an ordinary human being who can't escape error." Affan spoke in a heavy voice.

"Don't leave me, Om! I want us to be a real couple." Aira sobbing.

Affan just found out that Aira's crying. Slowly she stretched out her embrace and wiped away Aira's tears with her thumb.

"Don't cry! I'm not leaving you. I just feel it's inappropriate to have a wife as beautiful and young as you. You're still a long way off, I'm afraid you'll regret it."

Aira shook her head and said, "No."

They had been in a car that had stopped for too long. Upon realizing that Bi Sumi and Nami were already standing outside the car, they immediately prepared to get out. Affan touched Aira's cheek with a smile before opening the door and exiting her car. Aira blushed to receive the treatment.

Bi Sumi and Nami smiled and felt misbehaved when they saw Affan helping Aira down after opening the door for her. They think that couples of different ages cannot be romantic. In fact his master was so considerate of his young mistress.

Arriving in Aira's room tries to erode the awkwardness between them. He helps to take off Affan's tie and does his job like a wife.

'I'm not sure I can continue to hold on if Aira continues to approach me like this.' Affan breathed quickly as Aira moved away because he was holding her close by.

Aira came back to Affan with a change of clothes for him. Affan accepted it with a stupefied face. During the course of the study he was used to doing everything himself. Today he feels like a special person.

"I took a shower in the next room, yeah, Om. We pray together after this," said Aira while taking his change of clothes.

"No, no, you're the one who's bathing in this room. I'll take a shower in the guest room. Your aura must be guarded." Affan immediately left after saying that.

Aira smiled and became more convinced that Affan was the right match for her.

Both pray together. The knocking of the door sounded coinciding with their finished prayers. Affan asks Aira to stay where she is and moves on to open the door to her room.

"Sorry, Sir. Miss Amanda's waiting for you in the living room." Bi Sumi seemed hesitant to convey her arrival.

"Say tell me to wait a little, yeah," Affan said.

"Good, Sir."

Bi Sumi leaves in front of Affan and returns to meet Amanda.

Amanda is Affan's college friend and Kayra's best friend. After Kayra's death, she tries to get close to Affan and works at his company. However, Affan does not love her and always remembers Kayra when she sees Amanda's face.

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