Blooming At It's Time
⁷ Good Men

Alden's room did look plain because there were not many items there, but it felt full because of the snoring sound. The voice stopped as Alden's head nearly fell from the edge of the bed, causing him to wake up in shock. Alden woke up with a body that felt very fresh. He found a small towel on his chest, then looked around. There was a small basin filled with water on the nightstand, whereas as Alden recalled, the one on the nightstand was an endless bowl of bubu. Alden scratched his cheek, feeling astonished, since when the basin was there.

Not wanting to drag on with his thoughts, Alden got out of bed, stretched, then walked into the kitchen to drink a glass of water. There, he saw the rest of the porridge on the dining table, along with the rest of the water in the glass. Alden approached the dining table, as soon as he saw a green sticky note taped to the table. He picked up the small paper, and read it from a closer distance. Of course Alden remembers who took care of him last night. So no doubt, the note was written by Alora.

"I've written the function and rules of using the drug wrapped. Drink if you are still sick. All were drunk after eating. Take vitamins!"

Alden smiled slightly, then put the little note back on the table. He saw the condition of his dining table that was really visible there were sick people in this house. Inexhaustible porridge, water, several packs of drugs and vitamins. I don't know when the last time Alden felt like he had someone next to him. Of course Alden felt very grateful to Alora, and he knew he had to tell her that. But.had it... Alden has to work today.

Yeah, Alden has to work, but somehow he can't focus. Her work has piled up, plus she has to please Shella who turns out to be referring because Alden did not return the message all day yesterday. Not to mention, Alden did not manage to get a limited edition make up product from the favorite brand of Shella. All of that happened because Alden was sick yesterday, and Shella didn't care about it. At the moment, Alden is in a meeting, his phone is in airplane mode and his mind is completely out of focus.

Alden was still listening to the reports from the staff, as Kenzo started whispering to him. Alden frowned, surprised to hear the news from Kenzo. Without warning, Alden hurried up and left the meeting room. He knew Kenzo would swiftly take care of all the office business. For Alden, the most important thing now is to go to the hospital to see Opanya who just entered the IGD.

Once in the hospital, Alden headed straight to the IGD to find his Opinion. Luckily it didn't take long, as his mother had already called once Alden entered the IGD room. Kala, who was reading Giri's medical records, raised a hand, signaling Alden to approach her. Kala could see her son was very worried, as Alden approached her to the nurse's desk.

"Where's the opa?"

Kala pointed at the bed of the patient not far from them. Then Alden sighed, relieved to see Giri resting there.

"What pain?"

"Vertigo's... Opa fell down time suddenly stood up from the sofa."

"Kc... How many times have I told you to be careful... Is it okay now?"

"Yes... Opa again rest. You take the drugs there to the pharmacy." Kala handed over a piece of paper containing hard-to-read graffiti to Alden.

After receiving the prescription, Alden headed to the pharmacy. From a distance, he could see a woman chatting with health workers on the doorstep reading "Pharmacy". Alden chuckled, not expecting that he would meet that woman today. The woman he owed the word thank you, who else if not Alora.

"Alorah." Say hello to Alden, as soon as he was near Alora.

"Who? How come here? Still sore?" Alora ends her chat with the pharmacy staff, when Alden hands over the prescription medication to Giri.

"No. It healed this morning."

"Oh..." Alora nodded, but her countenance looked dissatisfied with Alden's reply. Of course, Alden hasn't answered why he's in this hospital.

"Oh... Opa's sick... Now it's on the IGD."

"Geez, what's the pain?"

"Vertigo's. Opa fell down time suddenly stood up from the sofa." Alden repeated the information he got from Kala, with a smile so as not to look too pitiful.

Alora nodded, then joined in smiling, "But it's fine now?"

"Well... It's fine, it's still a break."

"Thank God."

Alden nodded, still accompanied by Alora next to him. The two were silent without a sound, only listening to the bustle of the busy hospital. Alden is silent, waiting for the cure for Giri, Alora is silent, I don't know what. Probably waiting for Alden.

"Al-"

"On behalf of Giri Adhigana."

Alden had just started calling Alora, but the pharmacy clerk had already called, so Alden hurried to the counter to receive the medicine along with his information. Luckily Alora realized Alden was about to call her. So the woman kept waiting for her position, until Alden came back to her.

"Why was that?" Alora asked, directly without further ado.

"Oh... Thanks, I helped you last night." Alden smiling. This time it looked friendly, like the smile of a friend.

Alden immediately waved his hand, cutting off Alora's sentence. "No it's okay... Really... Thanks!"

Alora nodded as she chuckled, "Okay then... Now, may Mr. Giri recover quickly."

"Alorah."

Alora precedes Alden, as she intends to leave. But his steps came to a halt, as Alden called out to him. Alora turned, but Alden never spoke. Even now Alora turned her body, then Alden walked closer, until he reached Alora.

"I don't feel good just saying thanks... Have you had lunch? If not, how do I eat?"

Alora thought for a second, then shook her head steadily, "No need! Seriously! It's okay!"

"Don't do it, Al. I'm the one who wants to. If you can't now, come with you anyway when."

"Seriously, Al. No need to."

"Or drink?"

Alora laughs. Alden was confused to see Alora laughing. His face clearly showed a big question mark.

"No... Al... I think I'm calling myself."

Alden was silent for a while, then laughed when he realized their names were both preceded by the letters A and L. So that when called from the front together, Al.

"Yes, yes, too. Funny, funny."

"Practice a drink, Al. Don't go far. From there."

Alden turned his head towards Alora's hand pointing, then chuckled after. A very simple request, until Alden did not expect it. Alora only asks to be treated with drinks from an automatic machine.

"Which one?"

"Cola."

Alden had a small laugh before pressing the button for a cola drink. In their three meetings, two of them always drank the same drink, soda. It looks like the woman is a soda connoisseur. Alden immediately gave the drink to Alora, who was received with a smile.

"Yay! Thank you!"

"Are you sure that's all?"

"Why? What do you think I want?"

"Well... Anything... A starbucks?"

Alora shook her head, opened her soda, and drank it. After being relieved, Alora said, "I don't need anything, you said thanks are enough. It means you know thank you."

Alden was silent, kind of thinking after hearing Alora's words. It was not that he did not understand, but Alden was quite surprised by the sentence. In his mind, Alden understood one thing about Alora, the woman who did not expect anything in return.

"I mean, you're a good guy." Alora laughed afterwards, then went back to drinking her soda.

"Thanks yes! That's what I'm going to be first."

Alora waved at Alden who was also waving with a smile. Alden was still observing Alora who was walking further and further away, until her shadow completely disappeared from his sight. Alden was not surprised anymore, instead he felt calm, after hearing Alora say he was a good man.

At that time, Alden licked a good flash of his life. Apparently all this time, no one told him he was a good man. Alden just realized his worth. Thanks again to Alora.

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