DEALLOVES
40 | De-Al Love Never End

"Nan, is the meeting over?"

"Yes. More to a casual conversation. You haven't slept?"

"Not yet sleepy, Nan."

"Ra, I brought this for you." Nanda handed over the bag he had been carrying to Dera.

"What'sthis? Whoa, ice cream! Yeah, but it's melted."

"Maybe it was late on the road."

"Gapapa. I put the fridge down for a second, let it freeze again."

After Dera placed the ice cream in the refrigerator, Nanda invited Dera to sit down together to talk.

"Darling, you're not really sleepy, are you?"

Dera nodded.

"That's how we can talk, right? Like our plan at the time. You want to tell me all about you that I don't know yet."

"Hm, okay. Where do we start? Ehm-"

"It's all about you, what you like and don't like."

Dera begins to ramble at length about her which she thinks Nanda does not yet know. Nanda listened carefully.

"I think so, Nan. What else is it? Btw, I also don't know much about you, other than the one on the list you loved when I first became your secretary."

"On that list is pretty complete. For others, maybe you will know as time goes on. That's why we should always be together. Um, from you is there no more? Is that what I don't know?"

"Yes. That's it, Nan. I'm confused what else to say."

Nanda clasped Dera's hand, "Seriously? When it comes to your heart, how do you feel?"

"Nan??"

"Darling, what should I do? I just want you to have the same longing for me. Like you made Al."

Dera was surprised, her feelings were already bad. It was thought that Nanda knew of the incident between herself and Al after the meeting.

"I-i ...."

"You still love Al? You still wish you could come back with him?"

Dera.

While the look on Nanda's face began to be sad, even his eyes began to glaze over.

"You even talked to Al after that meeting, while I'm waiting for you to be alone here."

"Sorry, Nan."

"What did Al say that was true? Do you miss him too?"

"Manda.. That's not. Okay, sorry about that, Nan. I don't understand my own feelings either. I'm still trying, really trying to forget him and just focus on you, but-"

Nanda touched Dera's face and rubbed her cheek slowly, "Honey.. I just don't want to lose you. You want to give me a chance, make our relationship, right? I'll help you so you can completely forget your past. I promise."

"I'm sorry."

"OKAY. Enough's enough! I don't want to prolong this. From now on don't stay away from me and never hide anything from me again, yeah."

The tension instantly subsided. However, it was undeniable, in his heart Nanda still held quite a great worry. About Dera's heart that is not completely his, Nanda can not ignore it. Nanda was afraid that his chance could be completely lost.

---

After their project in Yogyakarta was completed, Nanda and Dera decided to go home. For a contract with Adikara further can be taken care of from Nanda's office. Before returning to their city, Nanda took Dera for a walk, enjoying some tourist attractions before actually leaving Yogyakarta. Don't forget to buy some souvenirs for Mama Nanda and the Dera family.

"Nan, I think this is enough. You bought a lot for my mother's father. Moreover, you don't want me to cut my salary for this."

"Sst, gapapa. We rarely come here anyway. You also helped me choose a gift for my mother. So, now let me learn to be your dream daughter-in-law for your mother's father."

"God.. Nanda!"

"Honey, you know I love this gift for mama huh. All right, let mama meet you, she said mama misses you."

---

Nanda takes Dera to her parents' house. Mama Nanda was very happy with the gift of clothes and batik cloth selected by Dera as souvenirs from Yogyakarta. Mama Nanda also invited Dera to make Nanda's favorite cake.

"Ra, it's been a long time, auntie kangen cook with you again."

"Yes, Aunt. Dera also misses cooking with Auntie."

"You're just fine, aren't you?"

"Ahh i-iya, Auntie."

While making a cake in the kitchen, Mama Nanda told a long story about her son and expressed her great hope to immediately propose Dera as a partner to live a life for his only son. Sontak Dera was increasingly feeling thought and burdened. It feels so heavy if he will disappoint the expectations of Mama Nanda, but to be completely with Nanda let alone to tie a promise to live on, Dera is still not ready and I don't know when he will be really ready, he really is, he himself could not be sure.

Until Dera did not expect, on that day Nanda also expressed her desire to be engaged to Dera, in front of both parents. There was nothing but Mama and Papa Nanda to persuade Dera not to refuse. Dera is stuck in a situation she doesn't want. Seeing the enthusiasm of the Nanda family, Dera's lips were persuaded to say yes. From that day on, preparations for Nanda and Dera's engagement began.

---

In the minutes leading up to her engagement, Dera's doubts were mounting. Although this is not a wedding, it still feels like Dera is not ready. He hoped that the time could be pushed back again, but in fact it was not even Dera realized that a beautiful engagement dress had been installed nicely on his body.

As soon as Dera was standing next to Nanda, witnessed by many pairs of eyes of the event guests and Nanda began to prepare with her engagement ring, suddenly Dera turned on her. Dera's body is limp, Dera is unconscious. Nanda immediately caught the body, carried it and brought it to the room to be laid.

Nanda was panicking. The doctor arrived soon after Nanda contacted him.

A few minutes after the doctor left, Dera regained consciousness.

"Dear, thank goodness you woke up. You just fainted. You should have told me that I'm not healthy anymore."

"Nan, sorry."

"Dear Father, we can continue this engagement after your condition improves."

Dera also tried to get up from his lying position.

"Darling, don't wake up. You're still weak."

"Sir, Nan. I want to talk to you."

"Okay, but it doesn't have to be now, right? You rest first, Ra."

"Please, Nanda. It's important."

"I can't be engaged to you."

"Yes I know. We're not getting engaged now, honey. Your condition is still-"

"No, I don't mean just for now. Until whenever I can't."

"Ra??"

"Manda.. I don't want to keep trapping you in a pseudo-relationship. The fact is I'll never be able to bales your love. I can't love you, Nan. I want us to finish this before it gets any further. I really feel guilty if I continue to defend this unclear relationship. I don't want to continue to torture you with one-sided love. It would be better for you to forget me from now on."

"God Ra, why are you suddenly like this? This may be because of your condition so you are too overthinking. Honey, everything-"

"Manda, I'm serious. Sorry for having to let you and your family down. I should have refused your request for this engagement from the start. Even if it's too late, it's better if this doesn't happen."

"But I love you, I love you, Dera! Please, don't do this! We can, Ra, maybe just need some time, right? I can-"

"I beg you, I can't. Don't force me, Nan. Go ahead, you may anger me, curse me, reveal all your disappointments to me, even you will fire me, I will accept. I am not a good secretary and lover. I believe you will get your happiness too, but not from me, Nan. Sorry to hurt you, but I think this is better for us."

Nanda just kept shaking his head. His face was red, even his eyes had been wet. Unable to deal with Dera, Nanda decides to leave Dera.

Dera felt guilty for disappointing the family as well as the Nanda family. He also felt bad if he had to linger in that place. Dera finally decided to get out of bed. Arriving outside the room, he meets Nanda's parents.

"Dera, where are you going? You still need rest, son," said Nanda's mother.

"Tante, sorry. Dera has to go home now. Whiz-"

"Son, Nanda told me everything. Whatever your decision, aunt will try to understand. Aunty can't make you either, can she? Although aunty is a bit disappointed because of the loss of a daughter-in-law like you, but you better be honest than all by force. Aunty knows at this time Nanda must be injured, but calm down, gradually he will heal by himself."

"One more time Dera apologizes, Auntie, Om. Dera has to go home and explain everything to mom's dad."

"Yes, let Nanda anter you. He also will not let you go alone in this condition. Nanda's in front."

As soon as Dera got to the front, he saw Nanda with a look of disappointment. Dera perfectly understood Nanda's current state of heart must have been completely chaotic.

"Nan, I'm going home."

"should now? Can't you wait a minute? As if until your condition recovers."

"I'm already in a gapapa."

"OK whatever. I'm your anter."

Just as they were about to get in the car, someone parked his car in front of Nanda's parents' residence. The man got out of the car in a neat tuxedo suit.

"Wheel!"

"Al's? What are you doing here?"

"Ra, you know, today's my wedding with Natasha. And now that I prove it to you, promise me, I won't marry her or anyone else. I ran away from that wedding."

"What's? You escaped? But Natasya is already your fiancee, you should not leave her that way."

"I don't care about anything else, for me the most important thing is that I fight for us."

"Al-"

"Are you really Nanda's fiancee?"

"Our engagement is off, and ... It's never gonna happen." Nanda patted Al on the shoulder. "Gue I lose, I can't make Dera. He won't be happy with me. So, if you really love Dera, please take good care of her, fight her, don't make her cry again."

"Nan, lo ... I won't let Dera down again, I promise. Ra, you want to come with me now? Let's get married!"

"What's? No way Al, without our parents' consent?"

"Dera, if you really love Al, whatever it is, you have to fight for your love. Go!" said Nanda.

Dera eventually follows Al. In the middle of the journey it turns out Al family car managed to follow Al car. After trying enough to avoid the pursuit of his family, Al had to stop when his family car managed to surround him.

Al took Dera out of the car. Mr. Darma and his wife, as well as several other members of the extended family, got out of the car to chase after Al. Feeling no choice, Al creates a drama in front of his family. It just so happened that they were on an overpass and the location was used by Al to convince his parents.

"Stop! If Papa gets close, I'll jump!"

"Al! Are you crazy! Why are you childish like this?" sahut Mr. Darma.

"During this time Papa and Mama could never understand my feelings. If I can't be with Dera, I can't be with anyone, I'd better be gone forever."

"IT!!"

"Al, you don't be reckless. Why does it have to be like this?" tukas Dera who is afraid.

"Darling, there's no other way. Sorry me. Now let it be up to them. You back off yeah, I don't want you to fall either."

A long debate ensued between Al and his parents. Al increasingly shows his deftness and statements that are not playing games. Al's really gonna jump. In the end, Mr. Darma decided.

"Good Al. Papa won't ban you from Dera. You back out of there now!"

"Serious papa? After this Papa won't change his mind, will he? Dad, you're not gonna hurt Dera and her family anymore, are you?"

"Yes. Just don't you ever be so reckless again."

Al immediately approached his parents, not forgetting he took Dera.

"Pa, Ma, I know, wherever you are my parents. You guys just want to see me happy, right? And my happiness right now is just the same with Dera. Papa don't worry, I'll help explain everything, love understanding to Natasha's family and also Dera's mother's father."

Al and Dera had their wedding that day. With super lightning preparation, only attended by both families and some guests who had been guests of Al and Natasya's wedding invitation. The marriage that they thought was impossible is now really happening.

While Nanda who witnessed the news of Al and Dera's impromptu marriage via social media can only smile bitterly. Half his heart was happy because seeing his Dera finally smiled happily after getting her love. The other half of his heart was crying because he realized that second he had completely lost his love.

The day after the incident, Nanda decided to leave for a moment, calming down in another country. For a time, the affairs of the company he left to his subordinates. Dera has sent his resignation letter to Nanda's office.

---

"Splitting.. Honey, now you believe, right? We are meant to be together." said Al.

"Yes, though, quite the effect."

"It's not a meaning, but it's our struggle. The love of Dera and Al will never end. Dera is only destined for Al and Al is only for Dera."

Dera and Al embrace while enjoying the twilight sky together.

•••

At the end of each story, there must be a happy side, there are also those who suffer. Who ultimately is happy or suffering is truly in the power of destiny. But suffering will not be forever. For God did not create His creatures just to suffer in the world. There is a reason and there is certainly a gift of happiness that has been prepared. It's just that the time of gift giving is different for each person. People can only try to live what is and let destiny do the talking.

-END