Can It Be Us?
TELL THE TRUTH

Ashana looked at Achazia's room with an astonished look. The room is so beautiful. It's even more beautiful than the rooms he sees on Google.

"You were here?" Tanya Ashana was still looking through Achazia's room. Oh yes, Achazia had dropped Ashana off when she got to her room.

Achazia. "Now it's still my room." Said the man.

"But you'd rather live in an apartment?"

"Yes." Yeah."

"Why?"

"Because it's closer to the office. What is the difference between a house and an apartment? Both are equally desolate."

Ashana's smile faded. He recalled the time Adrian told him about Achazia. If the Achazia family is-ah, that's it.

"Do you like my room?" Ask Achazia.

Ashana nodded enthusiastically. "Yes. My room is beautiful."

"You can have it."

"Huh?" Ashana looked at Achazia with both eyes glaring big.

"What's? I'm talking wrong?" Tanya Achazia saw Ashana's response which she thought was strange.

Ashana shook her head. The woman chuckled with her hands raised. "No, no." 'Have he spoken once that I could have his room? Do all rich people talk as they please?' Ashana said in her heart.

"Ashana," Achazia walked over to Ashana and stopped just a few steps ahead of the girl.

"What?" Ashana asked with a smile.

Achazia exhaled. "If I really love you how?" The man asked making Ashana's smile fade away.

Ashana forced her smile back. "Why do you think that?"

"I'm not sure Ashana. You're a different woman. I don't know why I--"

Achazia clenched both of her hands. Somehow he felt comfortable and calm when Ashana was beside him. He felt something different if Ashana was beside him. Achazia is not stupid. He understands what this is.

"Achazia, maybe you feel this just because we live together. We just had him stay together for weeks. Maybe if this is all over and you can go back to your old life. And me too. Besides, I feel like your family won't be able to accept me. And I'm sure you can't do anything 'cause--" either"

"What did you say?" Achazia walked closer. Even now the man gripped Ashana's hand.

"What-what?"

"You're saying I can't do anything? You doubted me?"

Ashana. "No, not like that. I'm just not sure if we can be together."

Achazia smiled obliquely. "If I could fight for you would you try to love me?" Said the man.

"You can get more than I deserve. I'm just an ordinary woman. There's a lot of amazing women out there who could be your partner."

"I'm tired of the incredible. I want the usual." Achazia.

Ashana turned her gaze. The woman did not want to look at Achazia who could make her speechless.

"Achazia i-"

"Do you love me?" Achazia forced Ashana to look at him.

Ashana could not answer. He also did not know why he could not answer no. It was clear that he did not love her. The woman could only bow. Unknowingly her tears were dripping. "Achazia please don't be like this." He said with tears constantly coming out.

"I can't." Said Ashana who couldn't hold back her stuffing.

Achazia pulled Ashana into his arms. The man hugged Ashana tightly. It made Ashana cry even more.

"Don't cry." The scales of Achazia are right next to Ashana's ears.

Achazia rubbed Ashana's back. Calm the girl who is now in her arms. Fifteen minutes of Achazia and Ashana were like that, until Achazia felt Ashana's body relax. The man immediately restrained Ashana's body from falling. As he looked, Achazia chuckled.

"At times like this you can still sleep." Achazia murmured while putting Ashana on the bed. The man confirmed Ashana's position to look comfortable. He covered Ashana before peeping at the girl.

"Trust me." Speak Achazia before leaving Ashana in her room.

*****

"Sleep?"

Achazia. The man was still busy eating the salad made by Adriyana.

"Tell mommy how Ashana can cry like that."

Does Achazia have to tell Adriana the truth? If all this was just a charade.

"Mommy," Call Achazia with a serious look.

"Yes?"

"Actually I'm not really in a relationship with Ashana." Achazia put the spoon she held. He looked at Adrian.

Adriyana frowned confusedly. "meaning?"

"I. and Ashana are just pretending. I just want mommy not to match me anymore. That's it." Achazia said honestly.

Adriyana sighed. The woman massaged her suddenly dizzy head. Why is this kid so happy to be looking for trouble? "Achazia, why are you so stupid?"

"I'm doing this just so mommy doesn't match me anymore." Achazia defended himself.

"Mommy betrothed you to yourself too Achazia. Mommy asked, how old are you now?"

"24 years."

"You're the time to get married. You know the Comman family tradition, for which men must be married before the age of 23? Look how old you are."

Achazia. His family why the hell? Everything is always based on tradition. There are a lot of guys out there who are unmarried. Many are even older.

"How about Ashana?" Ask Adriana worried. Ashana falls in love with Achazia.

"Ashana doesn't matter either."

"Have you not lived together for more than two weeks? And now you admit that you're just pretending? I don't understand the way you two think." Said Adriyana who got dizzy.

"But mommy, I love Ashana."

"WHAT?!"

Achazia. He repeated his words again. "I love Ashana."

Adriyana is screaming hysterically. Makes Achazia scared to see her mommy. The woman ran and hugged Achazia. "Why didn't you say this from earlier? If you love Ashana mommy will help you!" Adriyana said happily. He thought Achazia did not love Ashana. But it turns out the estimate was wrong.

Achazia chuckles at Adriana's behavior. The man hugged Adriyana.

"How about Ashana? Does he love you?" Adriyana asked as she let go of her embrace.

Achazia exhaled. "I asked Ashana that. But he doesn't seem to know yet. More precisely he didn't know what to answer." The man replied in a lethargic voice.

Adriana rubbed the shoulders of her eldest son. He smiles. "Just calm. There's mommy. If you love her, mommy will be willing to help you. Even if we have to argue with the family." Adriyana said that made Achazia smile widely and then hugged Adriyana again.

"Thank you mom."

"You're my son. I can't sacrifice my son's happiness just for the sake of my family's traditions. Nope, no. I'm not that old." Said Adriyana who even invited laughter between the two of them.

*****