ARSHAKA
Frustratingly

Class hour is over.

Both of my hands were busy flapping things into a backpack: binder books, stationery, cell phone chargers as well as two books that I still borrowed from the Library did not forget I entered.

For a moment I turned on my phone before I put it in Fanel's pocket, there was no notification of incoming messages from Arshaka.

Today is Arshaka's last day to hold the National Examination.

It's been almost 2 weeks that Arshaka and I haven't seen each other again. As long as we didn't meet, we took the time to make video calls.

No one actually forbade us to meet. Both I and Arshaka just took the initiative, so that Arshaka can focus more on preparing for the test.

After the exam ended, we already had plans to spend some time to go on a culinary tour to Bandung.

Remembering that plan, my heart thumped. Can't wait for him to finish the exam.

To be honest, knowing myself who has started to behave like a sneeze like a shame myself.

I used to reject Arshaka's presence, trying to stay away from him. Now I want him to quickly finish the exam so we can meet again soon and make our plans come true.

Is this what you call Bucin?

If so, don't let Arshaka know. He will surely laugh at me.

I'm heading to the cafe with Karin. Then change my clothes in the employee's room and start working there.

It just so happened that Karin was going to meet Romeo at the cafe, so she came with me.

While I was working on making customer drinks, I saw Karin who was already with Romeo, sitting near the Bar Table not far from my position. Then Karin said goodbye to me and went out with Romeo.

Before long a woman came, entered the Cafe with riled steps and her eyes worked looking for someone in the cafe.

"Is there no Samuel?" ask the woman with a face so tangled. He asked Samuel to Mela.

I noticed the woman's condition looked quite impressive: the sexy clothes I knew must have been branded, wearing earrings and necklaces from Pearl stone, the famous Hermes bag, and a blink-blink watch.

Oh, there are also glasses that hang on the chest shirt.

Wonder, what does it mean try ditaro there?

Mela said that Samuel was having needs outside, considering that Samuel told Mela if he would pick up coffee tree at a distributor in Kelapa Gading area.

"If Arshaka existed?"

Spontaneously I raised my gaze looking at him while I was brewing Coffee for customers.

"Sir Arshaka is not here, sister," Mela replied as calmly as possible. But I know he's a bit flabby, like he's covering something up.

"Or can I get Arshaka's phone number? I've got to see him right away,"

Mela looked back and looked at me confused. So did the woman look at Mela and at me, looking confused somewhat suspiciously as well.

"Where? I just wanted your boss's phone number. I have personal business with him,"

Your boss?

Whatdoes thatmean?

"It's impossible if you don't have Arshaka's number. I have important business with him, and I have to see him immediately" he said starting to tone high.

Before long Mela took out her phone from her pants pocket, then gave Arshaka's number to the woman.

I still stared at the woman who had passed.

Seeing me still fixated, Mela approached me and asked me.

"Mel, what did that woman mean? Why did he say that Arshaka is the boss here?"

Mela looked stunned and hesitated to explain to me. Finally he said a fact that made me gape in disbelief.

"Actually Arshaka's sister is the owner of this Cafe. Brother Arshaka entrusted Brother Samuel to lead the Cafe,"

Okay, a new fact that leaves me dumbfounded for a few seconds. Without thinking for a long time I was immediately convinced that I could work here because of Arshaka. Considering that Samuel couldn't give me a job at first, he knew Samuel had come to ask me to go straight to work.

Seeing him bite his lips hard, I was sure he knew the woman. But afraid to tell me.

Finally Mela explained, "Before Brother had often come to the Cafe to meet Kak Arshaka. But after Brother Bian entered work, Brother had not appeared again. Especially when Kak Arshaka once ordered a drink and wanted to be written 'his girlfriend Bianca'. We thought you were dating. And when Brother started working here, we were asked to work together if we didn't know Kak Arshaka before."

I was getting excited to hear an explanation from Mela.

Feeling lied to, I immediately entered the employee room. As much as I could I stifled the annoyance and held back the tears that were already pooled in both my eyes. 

It doesn't feel good to be lied to as someone who I've considered important. And he is Arshaka.

I reached into my pants pocket, found a cell phone and called Arshaka. But the man did not answer my phone.

It was late and ten times I called him.

My phone did not respond to him at all, and eventually my connection was cut off and stopped calling after listening to the operator's tone if the number was off.

I clenched my hands, this pain reemerged in my heart. But this pain was more painful than the pain after I was cut off by Erick.

For a woman like me, a man who lies is a disgraceful thing.

Besides lying, breaking promises, yelling at women to disrespect women is what I hate from the negative side of a man.

Then I remembered where the woman wanted to meet Arshaka and asked for her mobile number. Does Arshaka have a special relationship with that woman?

Without thinking, I prepared myself, asking permission to go home quickly to Mela.

I don't care if I get a warning letter from Samuel for missing work.

I need an explanation from Arshaka right away.

*****

Car Karin stopped at a large house in South Jakarta area.

Earlier I asked Karin to accompany me to Arshaka House. When I went to the housekeeper, he told me that Arshaka had just gone to his place of association.

I immediately asked for the address of the gathering place and this is where we are.

"Here we go in?" asked Karin with his eyes to pay attention to the condition of the House page like a haunted house.

As I inhale and throw it rough, though I am afraid but my curiosity gets stronger.

So I decided to get out of the car and walk through the yard of the House.

There was no one as a door guard. In the carport section I also saw a line of cars and motorcycles parked there. One of them I saw Arshaka's car there, and next to him was Romeo and Samuel's car.

Then the three of them are gathered here.

Slowly I began to enter the House with a slightly open door.

Slowly and trying to make my steps and Karin not heard by the residents of the House, we settled down like thieves.

We started in the main room. Looks empty. There's not a single item here. Only the lights illuminate us.

Until I heard a blaring sound from the next room, Karin and I spontaneously hid themselves behind the wall.

Because this house is big, so Karin and I can catch their conversation there.

"So this bet was won by Arshaka huh."

I heard Arshaka's name called, and then a clap of applause and the sound of the clanking of bottles sounded there.

The more curious I tried to peek behind the wall. Then Karin peeked over my head.

I saw some people crowded there, some were standing and some were sitting on the Sofa.

The first person I saw was Romeo there, standing on his knees hugging a woman in sexy clothes.

Seeing that I didn't dare look at Karin. Karin's heart definitely caught the sight.

Then my gaze turned to Samuel who was sitting on the Sofa and laughing with one of his friends, then I caught the figure of Arshaka who was also sitting there, too, busy vertical drink in the bottle that I know is Beer.

I was surprised to see Arshaka drinking Beer there. So smoothly he sipped as if he was drinking ordinary mineral water.

And I also saw a woman sitting next to Arshaka. The woman who came to the cafe asked for Arshaka's number earlier.

The woman looked closely at Arshaka. Then she hugged Arshaka affectionately after spending the drink in the Bottle.

But Arshaka immediately brushed off the woman's embrace and distanced herself. Even so seeing them there my heart is getting sicker.

Then I saw someone take out a wad of money on the table, and he gave it to Arshaka.

"Gift of victory lo Ar."

From here I saw Arshaka smiling thinly.

"You use to order food." said Arshaka flat and they cheered happily. One of them started ordering food through Delivery Online.

"So, when did you break up Bianca?"

I froze when one of them called my name. And said that to Arshaka.

"Later Samuel videoin when Arshaka broke up Bianca. It must be exciting to see a cold and cold Bianca crying for an Arshaka."

They seemed excited to talk about it, "Totally. I agree."

One of the others crammed in and chuckled for a moment, "Truly. Especially if Bianca finds out that Arshaka is just using it to win the bet."

"Take a. Bayangin Bianca cry so creeps me. How does that girl's expression fit she knows that Arshaka is courting her just because of a bet? It must be very mebek tuh like a FTV drama that I used to watch."

As if I had been struck by lightning at night, I was stuck in the place of hearing their conversation clearly there.

And there Arshaka just flinch while opening the lid of a new drink bottle. Then he took another sip until the drink ran out.

I looked at them in disbelief.

So all this time Arshaka approached me because I was the Object he had to get just to win their game?

He seduced, attentive, sent Flowers often, and repeatedly he called the word love easily to me and it turned out to be just a trick?

As soon as I tried to stay away from him but he also tried to get close to me and wanted to take my heart just to get a wad of money on the table?

I clenched both my hands tightly. With all the courage and fury gathered together, I came to them and the room suddenly became silent as I stood in their midst, staring intently and angrily at Arshaka.

Arshaka immediately stood looking at me, he turned his head in disbelief that I was here and stood in front of him.

Not waiting any longer, I slapped Arshaka's cheek hard. I can see her cheeks starting to turn red from my actions.

From the bottom of my heart I wanted to pull her hair. I want to slam everything near me. And I really want to slap him again.

But I tried hard to hold back, undo my intentions.

I still love it with myself to slap a disgusting creature like Arshaka.

I better get out of here.

Before I wanted to finish what I wanted to say to this jerk guy,

"From now on I won't be working at your cafe again, and I'll make sure we never see each other again."

"And you don't worry. I'd assume that we never knew each other or met each other."

"Happy Arshaka. You're winner. Good job!" praise me cynically while patting her shoulder.

Immediately I turned around and pulled Karin's hand out of the damn house.

I continued to huff, even though Arshaka kept calling my name. And I don't care. I want to get out of here and not see his face again.

Karin immediately took her car away from the place and took me around the Capital.

I also deactivated my phone that Arshaka had called earlier. Then I dumped the phone through the car window, threw it as far away as possible so that Arshaka could not trace my whereabouts anymore.

I started crying so much. Spilling my pain through tears that plunge so hard.

Already done. My relationship with Arshaka is over.

*****