20 Years Adrift
Chapters 77. Tense

Steve did not dare to open the mask and cover his face not for fear of being close to Aira but for fear of cafe visitors recognizing him.

Aira did not know if Steve was a very popular YouTuber. He has millions of subscribers who always follow him. Along with that popularity, Steve loses his freedom and comfort while in public places.

"We just met, you shouldn't have kicked me out, Aira." Steve didn't want to leave.

"I'm married, Steve. My husband could misunderstand." Aira looked back and saw Affan walking towards them.

His face turned pale. Steve didn't want to leave in front of him. His fear grew when he saw Steve who looked relaxed like he was intentionally doing all this.

'No, the hard boy is very sayin. He was told to go and relax here. O Allah, may Mas Affan not think anything non-no about me and this little boy not talk about anything.' Aira continued to pray in her heart that Affan would not get angry.

His heart rate tightened when he saw Affan getting closer. If it wasn't God-made it might have gone out of place.

Affan looked at Aira and Steve in turn. Both are silent. Aira's mouth was choked and it was hard to speak.

"Good night, Om. Sorry I sat here. I don't get the table." Steve reasoned. He felt pity when he saw the frightened Aira like he was looking at a ghost.

"Oh, please. You can use this table because soon I'll take my wife away." Affan did not mind although a little astonished when he saw Steve's face tightly closed.

Aira got up from her seat when she heard Affan saying that he wanted to take her away from there. His face was still pale and his palms were cold due to his irregular heartbeat.

Affan thought that Aira looked pale in fear of the man before her. In reality Aira was pale for fear that she thought badly of him. However, Aira did not lie to Affan because he did not say anything.

Steve's face looked disappointed when he heard Aira was going to leave from there. He could no longer see Aira any longer. Actually she could have claimed to be her friend and met Affan blatantly but she did not want to make Aira bad in the eyes of her husband.

'I do like you Aira but I don't want to get you cornered in a difficult situation. At least I feel happy when I see you happy.' Steve looked at Aira's departure in silence.

Affan took Aira to a special room. It used to be his study but after he was not there, the cafe manager used it as a meeting room and reception room. When Aira arrived there, on the table there were already two glasses of drinks and several types of food.

"Well, it's you who prepared it, Mom." The tension on Aira's face began to fade. He looked enthusiastic as he looked at the dish on the table.

"I just chose the menu. The cafe staff prepared it." Affan spoke while pulling a chair for Aira to sit down.

Aira looked enthusiastic looking at the dish in front of her. His stomach was already feeling very hungry. Lately, the portion of the meal increases with age.

"I want to try the juice first. Bismillah." Aira sipped the mango juice that was in front of her.

His intention was just to try but he was eager to spend it now. Without feeling he had already finished half of his glass.

"Don't spend it, dear. You will be full to drink. You haven't tried these foods." Affan warned Aira.

Aira smiled shyly, making her look very cute. Seeing so much food, he was confused to choose it. He was looking for an empty plate to get enough food.

"Mas, aren't there any empty plates?" ask Aira.

"For what, dear? You can take what you like. For others let's eat the same as the cafe clerk." Affan turned to the side where two male servants were waiting for them.

Aira had not noticed it. He only found out when Affan showed it. Actually he wanted to taste some but because it felt bad he ended up choosing one menu that he liked.

After Affan took the menu he wanted, he then asked the waiters who had been waiting for him since then to bring the unselected food back. They can eat it.

The food sold in Affan cafe has a good taste at a fairly affordable price. No wonder if every day this cafe is always crowded by visitors.

After finishing the meal, Affan took Aira around. They see the view from different angles. From the second floor they could see the beauty of the city and the twilight that was almost down.

Aira looked at the dreamy Affan. He was more silent than talking to her. It seemed that in his heart still stored his past memories that made him sad when he remembered them.

A closed figure like Affan is very difficult to approach. Aira's presence in Affan's life was an accident. Suddenly, he became a part of his life without a plan.

"The sky is almost dark, my dear. We better get down." Aira spoke in a stifled voice.

His face looks sad to see Affan has not fully let the memories go. Sometimes he feels so important. But at a time like this, he felt like nothing.

"In a moment, Aira," said Affan, who had not noticed Aira's mood swings.

Aira turned her body and walked back to Affan. Her tears just rolled away without excuse. Not wanting Affan to see her he chose to go down first and stand alone inside the room they had previously used to eat.

The cafe workers had seen her enter but they did not know that Aira was crying. For a while Aira dissolved in her sadness and slowly began to gain control of herself.

Aira picked up the phone she had placed in the bag. Lots of messages came from Faya when she turned it on. His best friend and daughter was very attentive to him.

Not wanting Faya to worry, Aira replies to her message and says that she is at the cafe with her father. However, before the message was sent Faya first made a video call.

"Generic, Faya. I just want to bales you called first" said Aira.

"Wa'alaikum salam. You, anyway, late. Where are you, Ma?" ask Faya like she's no stranger to that place.

"I'm at the cafe." Aira turned her phone around to show Faya the situation around her.

Even though he was in a special room but Faya knew him quite well. Faya went there even though only a few times. Not much has changed from the cafe.

"Which father? No way, right, you're alone in there?" ask Faya curiously.

He felt something was wrong. It was not usual for her father to leave Aira alone.

"There, really. If you want to talk, I'll call." Aira's voice tone changed.

Faya knows Aira. Looking at his facial expression alone he could already guess what was happening. He knew that right now Aira was sad.

"Father does not mem— ...." Faya did not continue her words when she saw that her father had been standing behind Aira.

****

Connect ....