Cold Man And Miss Stone
77. Looks Alive

"Emilia, I made—"

Samuel's words were cut off by his mother's gesture. The woman raised her hand, whispering, "Ssshhh," with Emilia in the arms. "He was asleep" said Mama almost without a sound.

Samuel nodded his head, understood. Soon he put down the steak he made, instead bringing Emilia a blanket.

"How can you?" Samuel asked faintly. A little surprised, frankly, the sensitive Emilia could fall asleep in a sitting position in someone's arms.

"Do you know why women take care of children?" Mama asked back. "Because our sensitivity is different."

"Come on, Ma."

Mom laughed without a sound. "He's tired. Mentally and physically."

"Can I move it?"

"Yes." Yeah."

So Samuel hurried to retrieve Emilia's body, very carefully moving it. This girl was very sharp, therefore the rhythm of one's breath could wake her up.

Surprisingly Emilia fell into a deep sleep until she didn't realize Samuel was putting her on the sofa inside.

"What are you talking about?"

"You want to know what we're talking about or what we mean?"

Samuel looked at his mother. To be honest, the first thing that made him proud was that Samuel was not himself but this woman.

"Say, Ma."

Mama rubbed the bandage that was also wrapped around Emilia's forehead. "Mama understood why Mahesa rejected him. He killed Ahkam without hesitation, but the aftermath was quite severe. Especially Rowan, and maybe even Soraya. He was nervous to hear Mama speak. Fear of being approached, defensive when talking about him. Mahesa's right. Ahkam is enough for this boy."

"He didn't realize Mama's stratagem?"

"No, maybe? Just look scared in there."

Samuel sits. Grabbing Emilia's hand even though she half-deadly hated every time she held, there was Rowan's ring there. "I should have prevented Soraya's murder."

"You realized?"

"Only glimpses. I knew Rowan would be targeted, but at least Soraya's mind was in the red zone."

Mama rubbed Samuel's head. "Then? You're not acting?"

"I don't think it's time. Also, I don't care."

"He's fine." Mama patted his shoulder. "It just takes time to calm down."

"Mama liked it?"

Samuel smiled as his mother nodded. That's enough.

*

Samuel stirred the warm milk for Emilia. Silence to hear Nina speak.

"That's right? Sam?"

Rashi always liked to do this. Protecting a person behind the back of the person most at risk of injuring him.

Perhaps he knew Samuel would sooner or later assume Nina, an eyewitness to Emilia's actions, was a threat. Samuel considered it.

The most appropriate action was to make Nina appear to be stricken by death, while Samuel took Nina to skin her alive.

Samuel already said. He doesn't care about anyone or anything. And Rashi knows it.

"Can't you be honest? You hate me, Sam?"

"I don't like you. That's it." Samuel stared at his almost ripe toast. "I like Emilia. That's the difference."

"I've been with you for a long time."

"Suryanata was with me longer than my mother. I killed him and laughed to see him die. So is Argantana." Samuel took a breath. "Stop telling someone to like you, Nina. If he likes you, he likes you. It's simple, right?"

"Emilia doesn't like you," Nina replied in her crying voice. "The girl rejected you. You chase. What's different?"

"Nothing, on the process. That's why I never told you to stop, right? You bother me, get angry things don't matter to me, pay attention to me even if I don't care about you. I'm quiet, 'cause I appreciate you."

"...."

"The results are different" said Samuel. "Because Emilia accepted me, I rejected you."

Nina was just crying.

"I'll ask you if your answer might have been guessed. You want to continue with Emilia?"

I heard the sound of breath in disbelief. "Why would I risk my life for Ahkam? I'm sick of seeing them, okay? I deal with them because of you."

"Yes, I'll thank you for that." Samuel should respect him. "Calm down, Nina. Ahkam and you are different. I still respect someone's life. It's just a threat to make you understand."

"Yes." Yeah." Nina tried to stop her crying. More like he was crying bitterly and sad. "I met Rangga, by the way. He also asked me not to mention Emilia again."

"Because it's different now."

"Aren't you going back to the media?"

"Fuck the media. I'm finally free from that fake job." Samuel really said it. "I'll close. No need to call me anymore. I put people to look after you if you're worried."

Since Samuel's hand was full, he planned to leave the phone and Nina closed it herself. But as Samuel walked away, Nina said something.

"I'm happy" the girl muttered. "At least you look alive now. And chatty."

Samuel snorts. Keep walking, towards the sofa where Emilia fell asleep last night.

*