Just A Professional Relationship
S1 - Twenty-Two [END]
Mom, dad, Brother Juna, you guys must have seen me from up there? I'm sure there are times when you worry about seeing me who sometimes seems to get closer to danger. Every step I take, I hear your voice that is always trying to save me. But in the end, again
step into the hole with full awareness.
I felt once, the difference of life when you were still by my side and were not. Makes me realize that you've been hanging all this time and hiding behind the protection you provide. Never once did I feel fear and hardship, for you stood before me like a shield— who received pain in my place. Come to think of it, I'm really selfish huh.
But now I have learned. I chose to accept pain not because I was selfish, but because I wanted to learn how to protect someone. Apparently, now I can understand why you did that for me. The pain can go away as soon as we are sure that the person we are protecting is okay.
Father, mother and sister Juna, must have thought that way too, right?
But you don't have to worry. All these heartbreaking stories should be over. A month ago after Frans received his punishment properly, I was still sometimes frightened by the shadow he left behind. There are times when I worry that he will suddenly appear and take his revenge on me, on everyone around me.
One month is not a short time for me to fight against fear. Every day is excruciating. But, I am grateful when I know there are people who are still always patient to help me recover from all that.
As mother and sister Juna expected, Axel still remains beside me until this moment. He who never once exuded the slightest bit of boredom and fatigue, though I always dragged into the middle of trouble.
Now, every time I close my eyes, it is no longer a scary thing that comes to mind, but Axel's face that always shows his laughter and ignorant smile. Sometimes it makes me want to cry, because it seems like God took care of me by bringing down one of his human angels.
Father, mother, sister Juna, you can rest easy now…
“What did you write?”
The sudden appearance of Axel made me very surprised. Actually not all of a sudden either, considering we were both spending time together by the beach. But Axel was going to buy food, giving me time to pour my feelings into a piece of paper that I put in a bottle.
“Ngagetin! How come you're so happy to be back again?”
“Feeling half an hour, I left just now.”
Axel sat next to me, sitting on the sand. My hand was holding the bottle with the paper rolled in it.
“What are you doing daritadi?” Axel looked very curious at the thing I was holding.
“Write,” reply to me, while showing the bottle to Axel's front.
“Who's letter? Try me see.”
“No! Can't! This is a letter to my father, mother and sister Juna.”
“Hah? Keep wanting you what?”
I got up from my seat, and stepped towards the sea. Then throw the bottle as far as I can. However, Axel actually shouted seeing that. “Hei! Don't litter the sea!” he said, as he walked closer to me.
“Hehe.” I just replied with a grin.
Axel and I held hands, staring far into the ocean. The sky had started to turn orange, looking very beautiful in my eyes. Plus I'm here with someone who's precious to me.
“What are they all doing again see us now?” axel asked with a serious face. I see he's still looking at a point in the sky.
“Hu’um, definitely.”
“Perfect.”
Axel too
tilting her body towards me, made me do something similar. Lembayung twilight made his face as if blushing. Or is he blushing over something?
“I think it's the perfect time, as you always wanted,”. Axel's left hand was still holding my hand tightly. While his right hand reached into something from inside his pants pocket.
I can only be silent while not holding a smile. Of course I know what he'll say after this.
“You want to, marry me? Nadin Carmelia?”
My tears suddenly melted, due to a sense of happiness that could not be contained. “Iya,” my word directly. “There is no reason for me to refuse.”
Axel also put the ring he brought to my finger. Then I stormed her with a hug, and she hugged me tightly back.
Tears that still endlessly flow are not just the embodiment of happiness. Rather it represents the relief I feel. After what Axel and I have been through all this time. Circumstances that had to keep me away from him. He was always waiting for me.
Now, there should be nothing else that would prevent us from staying together.
***
“Haahh? Going to Paris? When?” Nadin suddenly shouted at his phone. Though from earlier he was busy chatting with Stefan, telling his pleasure after being proposed by Axel.
After hanging up the phone, Nadin immediately ran towards Axel who was busy with his car. “We're in Stefan's place now!”
“What's up, anyway? She why?”
“He said he suddenly wanted to go back to Paris!”
“Yah..he is a rich man, can return when he wants. Anyway, we can also go there to meet him.”
Without being able to protest again, Axel finally could only comply. The two of them quickly rushed to Stefan's residence.
Just past the entrance to the apartment lobby, Nadin met Stefan there. The silver-haired man seemed to have just returned after feeding. “Lho, you guys came very close. Luckily I finished buying.”
“She suddenly dragged me because you said you were going back to Paris,” replied Axel.
Stefan laughed and patted Nadin on the head. “Quiet, I will not suddenly leave without saying goodbye, kok.”
“I can't believe it. From the first, Brother Stefan will always disappear without news.”
“Iya also yes..”
The three of them walked together to Stefan's room on the twenty-fifth floor.
“Kak Stefan to where anyway, really every time we meet again busy continue.”
“Hm... there's more I take care of.”
“Apaan?” nadin asked curiously.
“Later you know too. I happen to want to introduce you guys.”
The conversation stopped until they reached their destination. Although Nadin continued to force, Stefan still did not give an answer.
Stefan opened the door and let two of his guests in. When he just stepped inside, Nadin could see someone who was sitting facing the window. A black-haired woman was carrying a sleeping baby.
The woman looked back when she realized that someone had just arrived. It made Nadin look very surprised when he realized that the woman was none other than Mala.
Nadin was silent because he still felt surprised, and did not know what to react to. He walked closer to Mala who still seemed hesitant to look at him.
“Beauty...” said Nadin when he saw a baby girl in Mala's lap. “What's the name?”
“Lentera.”
“Wah. Moga you grew up as beautiful as your mama huh, Lantern..”.
Anyone who sees will immediately understand that Mala still feels uncomfortable with the existence of Nadin there.not because of hate, rather he is haunted with guilt. The longer, the more he realized what mistakes he had done to Nadin. And Mala hasn't had time to apologize for any of that. “Sorry yes..” he said weakly.
Nadin looked at Mala's slightly bowed face. But he could still see that the woman was crying.
“Sorry, Nadin.. I.. I'm really sorry..”.
Without waiting for Mala to speak more, Nadin stood up and hugged Mala from the side. “Already... no need to apologize,” he said while crying.
After the two were satisfied to vent their emotions through crying, they looked at each other and laughed. Recognizing that both have had many mistakes in the past. And everything will become a memory that will then become a laughing stock.
Stefan and Axel could only see from a distance. Until things seemed to melt more, and Stefan walked towards Mala and Nadin were.
Stefan took the still-sleeping lantern from Mala's embrace, then carried it lovingly—as if he was the real father of the child.
Nadin had absolutely no idea how the two people's beginnings could be as close as they are now, but it made him feel happy.
“You are fit to be a father, brother,” commented Nadin.
“Wah, I'll be a hot daddy, nih,” reply Stefan. Make everyone laugh.
“I and Lantern will join Stefan to France later.”
“oya? Well, I'm happy. But sad also later we can not see often.”
“When did you guys go?” axel Sahut. He also walked closer in the other direction.
“Ah, yes too. You two just can't go before my wedding!” nadin quickly added.
“When? It's still a year away, right?” chirping Stefan.
“Enak! Also a month later, kok.”
“Amonth is too long. Why not tomorrow, okay?”
“Dikira me Roro jonggrang, nyuruh ngebangun temple last night doang!”
The four of them continued chatting excitingly, making a sunny day feel much warmer.
As of today, a new chapter has begun. Not only for Nadin, but Axel, Stefan and Mala also began a new step in their lives. End an old story that may not all be fun. And try to write a story that will certainly be much more beautiful.
------- JUST A PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP SEASON 2 ENDS -----------------