Never A Stranger
Is this the Beginning?

Today is Monday, they have no college this morning. However, Riri still has to go to campus because of his promise to Rendy that he will give the book 'love story' to Rendy.

At 09:00, Riri waited for Rendy to come to the library while reading another book there.

Until the clock pointed at 9.30 o'clock passing but Rendy did not come too, Riri had thought he would just put the book on his shelf again, he said, but he was also afraid that someone else would take it and Rendy would not have the chance to read it.

Finally Riri chose to keep waiting, because Riri was tired of listening to music with his earphones without realizing someone called him from the side.

"Excuse me! Kiria!!" turns out it was Rendy who had just come, Riri who heard a glimpse like someone calling her turned her head "Oh bang Rendy has come" Riri immediately took off the earphones then smiled kindly greet Rendy.

"Have you waited long?" ask Rendy.

"What a bang, I'm also reading another book" replied Riri.

"What book is that?"

"Book on English communication"

"Are you interested in English?"

"Yes a little bang"

"Have you finished reading the 'love story'?" ask Rendy again.

"It's bang, it's the book" Riri replied as she extended the book, Rendy picked up the book. Rendy did not go right away she sat on the bench next to Riri and began to open the book to read it.

"Will he read it here?" thought Riri, this will make Riri very awkward with Rendy.

"Ohya ri you were from SMA where?" asked Rendy, her gaze still towards the book.

"SMA Garuda bang" replied Riri.

"that's good, rarely can get in there. That's elite High School right"

"Not really bang, I think all the High School is elite deh" Riri tried to go down, Rendy just nodded.

"Why did he just nod? what should I say again" Riri thought in her heart.

"You got a boyfriend?" asked Rendy suddenly, the question suddenly made Riri startled and turned towards Rendy.

"What?"

"Why are you so surprised? I was just asking if you have a boyfriend?" Rendy repeated her question again while smiling at Riri's behavior.

"Gak bang" replied Riri briefly.

"Try to start again ri, you will not heal if you continue to be in the same point, move!!" said Rendy, Rendy's remarks made Riri confused exactly where the direction of Rendy's conversation.

"it's that.." Riri is confused what to say

"Here" Rendy showed me a small piece of paper tucked inside the 'love story' book, it turned out to be paper last night. So, the story last night Riri just idly wrote his heart, he did not realize he had put it on the side of the book. That was why Rendy asked Riri like that, Riri had mistakenly thought that Rendy would ask her out on a date.

"Ah is such a shame" Riri lamented in her heart

"Sorry, I accidentally put it there, besides it's just a prank word anyway" said Riri tried to reason.

"Hm so yes" response Rendy then re-read the book.

"What do you like about love stories?" ask Rendy.

"The quote and the way the author wants to convey his heart, there is one sentence saying that 'if you were told to choose between friend and love, what would you choose?, you should choose your love', but I don't agree with the content of that quote".

"Why?"

"Didn't love often betray? love sometimes makes wounds" said Riri.

"But can't we mean it differently?" refute Rendy.

"How does that mean?"

"Look.. Love and friends, can't we unite them?, maybe the author means he wants to convey if someone has a friend of the opposite sex but he began to like his best friend, it was, he was confused whether he should choose between being a friend or love. The word from the sentence was 'you should choose your love', meaning if you choose your love you can also be a friend later, you can be friends with him even though you make love. If you choose a friend you will not be able to be love because it could be that one of you will get another love out there someday, surely you can not continue to be together especially if your lover forbids you are still friends" said Rendy explained.

"Ohh.. Means that Rendy thinks so, love and friends are not only about friendship and romance yes but we can unite the two" Riri understood with Rendy's opinion.

"That's fine.. Then do you know about the quote 'love doesn't have to have'?" ask Rendy.

"Hm yes I often read it in love story" replied Riri.

"Most agree with that sentence, but I don't" explained Rendy.

"Why? Isn't that the right word?" riri asked curious about Rendy's opinion which was always different from others.

"If love doesn't have to have then why do we start love? we should have it, how can someone say that they are happy when they see their lover happy even though it is not with him, it is a lie, they have deceived themselves. Surely the pain is there, if his lover gets love on another what could he possibly be waiting for? if he waits it means he doesn't heed 'love doesn't have to have this' because it's the same that he still expects his lover. So, the point is, it's all a lie. When a person is left behind they will most likely find a new person and slowly forget their lover, how can it still be called love if he is the same?" rendy expressed his opinion.

"Ah sorry it seems like you are confused by my point" added Rendy when she saw Riri's face that looked confused by the explanation.

"It's not so bang, it's just that I'm in a different opinion" argued Ririm

"It's not about the way he forgets his girlfriend and finds another lover, but I think it's about how sincere he is. She did say that she didn't have to have that person if she loved him, it was like she was giving her lover a choice of her own, if her lover's choice is to leave then she must be ready to let go because she loves her lover.. So, it's not about forgetting but letting go" Riri's explanation made Rendy look stunned, she smiled as she nodded her head, whether it was an agreed or amazed response, no one knew.

"That's good ri.. This means that with this love story we can express our opinions, even though sometimes the opinions are different but it does not matter, the most important thing is that we have the point" added Rendy.

"Yes bang, thank you for sharing today's story" Riri said thank you.

Riri feels very happy today because there is something she can ask to tell her about love stories. Before he had never met anyone who really liked the love story, they mostly just knew it but did not read it.

"its okay" replied Rendy.

For a moment they both became silent and focused on their respective books, so Riri wanted to say goodbye to Rendy because the clock had pointed at 11:30, did not feel the time was running so fast.

"Eh already almost Zuhur, it looks like Riri has to leave home first deh bang" said Riri while cleaning his belongings

"Will you go home?" ask Rendy.

"Yes bang, Riri has to work on something else too", replied Riri.

"Today you are free? no college?" ask Rendy again.

"This morning is empty, this afternoon seems empty as well, the lecturer who teaches he said there is a meeting".

"Hm so yes"

"So you don't have a lecture?" ask Riri back.

"I'm currently submitting a thesis" Rendy replied.

"Really's? That means you're the final student?"

"Yes that's how it is"

"Then fight is bang, success!!" riri encouraged Rendy. Rendy looked at Riri with sincerity as Riri encouraged her, Riri unaware that she was tidying up her things.

"Yes thanks, btw if you are not busy playing on the top floor, there are many other level brothers maybe you can get new knowledge if you hang out with people who have been, already, Riri can invite Riri's friends as well" Rendy bargained.

"Can?" tanya Riri was happy to hear rendy's offer.

"Of course I can"

"Alright, later if Riri wants to go there Riri will contact Rendy bang first yes"

"okay then record your number here!" said Rendy while giving her hp.

"Oh.. Okay" Riri recorded her phone number on Rendy's phone then Rendy called the number so that Riri can also get Rendy's number, they've shared the phone number now.

"Thank you" Rendy said after giving her number

"Yes bang" Riri did not know what kind of expression he had to express, whether he should be happy or even shocked because a handsome person Rendy asked for a number

"Ga so go home?" asked Rendy when she saw Riri just silent.

"Oh yeah so forget, see you bang" said Riri took his stuff and left the library, Rendy smiled at Riri's adorable behavior, Riri said, Riri is like a plain child who behaves as he is without being made up.

After leaving the library, Riri met Ayu near the toilet door. Ayu just came out of the woman's toilet.

"There's a yu lecture?" riri asked as he passed Ayu.

"Yes nih ri, today the schedule is solid" Ayu replied as she tidied up her clothes.

"You want to go home?" ask her back to Riri

"He just wanted to go home"

"His book did you love?" ask Riri again.

"Udah just now" replied Riri

They walk both towards Ayu class, actually Riri can be faster by walking towards the side door without passing Ayu class. However, Riri is not good with Ayu so she chooses to walk with Ayu alone

"Ohy.. How come you were told by Maya about that incident?" ask Ayu.

"Yeah, we better not discuss that anymore. Kasian Maya she must be very unpleasant to Bella, I also kasian with Bella because she had to bear the consequences of Miko's malice to Dio" suggested Riri.

"You're right, after all, Bella's a quick-tempered and offended person. He's selfish sometimes, I've known him for 3 years, he'll be angry if someone makes a mistake with him. However, he could also suddenly become a servant, of course he has been taught independently by his father since his mother died" said Ayu explained the character of bella.

"I think Bella is good, for emotional problems sometimes we also have that nature, everyone has anger. It's just that Bella can not control her anger when faced with problems" continued Riri.

"Agreed"

Finally they arrived in front of Ayu's class, the lecturer had entered the class so Riri could not speak much to ayu.

"Would you like me to wait?" tanya Riri offered herself.

"Not ri.. Go first" replied Ayu.

"Father ri"

Because ayu did not want to wait, Riri finally said goodbye to ayu to go home first, he also told Ayu to give it to him when he arrived home later.

Ayu heads to the parking lot to pick up her bike, unexpectedly being parked she sees Dio. But Dio's not alone, he's like he's with someone, it's a girl.

"Who's that girl with Dio?" thought Riri when he saw Dio from a distance, Riri immediately hid so as not to be caught by Dio, the girl's face was not too visible because she turned her back to Riri, they chatted like a courtship person.

"Are they dating?" thought Riri again

Then the next thing that happened they both hugged Riri in shock, why they dare to hug here, there are quite a lot of people here as well. When the girl looked back to get away from the parking lot, how shocked Riri turned out to be the girl was..

"Bella?" Riri was shocked not to wince.

Bella goes away, Dio is parked somewhere to go. Riri who saw Bella go in the opposite direction to Dio finally chose to see Dio alone in the parking lot and asked Dio directly.

"Bang Dio" said Riri.

"Eh Riri, I haven't seen you in a long time" Dio said.

"Would you like to go home bang?" ask Riri to mince words first.

"Well, is Riri going home?" dio asked back, Riri nodded.

"Will you talk for a minute? can we have a chat at the cafe?" take Riri to relax, Riri did not worry that Dio would refuse the invitation.

"Is there something you want to say?" ask Dio.

"Yes bang, it feels bad to have a chat here" replied Riri.

"Well then let's have a chat and a drink at the cafe" Dio agreed to Riri's invitation.

They both walked towards the campus cafe which is quite far from the parking lot, their campus is very large so from that the journey feels very far.

At the cafe they both ordered a drink and immediately sat down in a chair that was at the end of the window.

"What do you want to say?" ask Dio.

"Why rush once? is there anything you should pursue after this?"

"Well, I was wondering what you were going to say, before we never talked to each other like this" explained Dio, the two of them were aware that High School never talked to each other even though they were one school. It was only today the first time they had chatted together like this.

"It's also true, when we used to be a school but why we never chat" continued Ririm

"Because we were not close, you do not want to be close to me first" said Dio teasing Riri.

"It's a pity yes" they laughed, they knew that what they said was not serious but just to melt the atmosphere so as not to be too tense.

"Dio now has a girlfriend?" ask Riri.

"Why? you want to be my girlfriend?" instead of answering Riri's question seriously, Dio joked and teased Riri again. However, Riri did not want to joke because he wanted to ask Dio seriously this time.

"ee..maybe the answer after Brother answers my question" argued Riri.

"Alright, now I'm single" Dio replied seriously.

"Really?"

"Yes, I'm not with anyone" Dio replied again reassuring Riri.

"Hm then how does Brother feel about Bella now?" asked Riri again, Dio looked silently at Riri and asked Riri "do you know Bella?" Dio had not previously known that Riri knew Bella because the identity of their relationship was not known to anyone but the Dio gang alone, it makes Dio surprised if Riri finds out about Bella.

"Yes I know" Riri replied casually and then drank the drink, Riri did not strain in the slightest to speak like that to Dio

"how do you know him?" dio asks worried that Riri knew Bella in High School.

"That's not the most important thing, the important thing is to answer my question first" said Riri.

"that's important to me" Dio said in a slightly raised voice.

"Well you mad at me?" riri asked as Dio spoke loudly to her, Dio sighed then he calmed down again.

"You know about our relationship?" ask Dio again

"of course" Riri replied briefly.

"Please ri, I'm serious now. Please tell me how do you know all that?" dio Pinta.

Riri did not answer Dio's question but instead said something else "do you not suspect I spread hoax news about you two first?" riri said still with his leisure, hearing Riri's statement made Dio upset.

"Don't test my patience" said Rendy, her face was reddened with holding back emotions, she seemed to want to vent her emotions on Riri at that time.

Riri turned his face away from Dio "I suspect that actually Brother already knows all that"

Dio did not answer him and still looked at Riri with anger "Abang know if Miko did all that?" ask Riri to make sure.

"Then you want me to do what if I know?" reply Dio who had started to get annoyed with Riri.

"Why do I care what you do? besides being pissed at me is useless, Bella is my friend now, we're close. He doesn't know the truth yet, should I tell him?".

"Don't." said Rendy as if afraid Riri would tell Bella.

"Wahh.. You're too worried bang, why? Hasn't Miko been mean to you?" tanya Riri cornered Dio.

"This is my problem with Miko, don't involve Bella in this. I don't want him why" Dio replied calmly.

"Soswet.. You turned out to love Bella very much" said Riri mocked Dio, Dio did not mutter when Riri mocked her so.

"ohya bang, earlier I was sorry because maybe the way I spoke made you upset. Now that I'm serious, I want to know why Dio faked my brother's identity?" ask Riri seriously.

Dio looked into Riri's eyes as if believing Riri was serious with his question "that's because.. Because I have a fiancee" replied Dio, but Dio's answer could make even the rest of the world shocked (lebay). Riri's eyes glared like a completely shocked person.

"Nobody knows this except my family, not even my gang, because bella was from another town so she was completely new to me. I took advantage of the opportunity to fake my identity and date Bella, Ayu also does not know who I am" explained Dio who had begun to seriously from the way he spoke.

"Then why are you dating Bella when you already have a fiance?" ask Riri.

"The story is long, it happened when I was in 1st grade High School, my father and the director of a famous company worked together, his daughter Veni was suffering from severe pain, she wanted to immediately marry off her daughter before her death, I never even met her once, all of a sudden we were invited and it was announced we would get engaged and get married after graduating from High School. I had not graduated at that time but it was said that I would get married, my father also promised me shares and I would be made heir to the company so I did not have to work hard to find a job" Dio explained

"Because I didn't like Veni, I tried to get the engagement annulled, I always jutek to him but Veni always patiently faced me, until finally when I was in 2nd grade High School I met Bella on the bus at that time, she was beautiful. However, my only goal was to make our engagement void with Bella, I didn't like her back then, I faked my identity on her as Alwi so no one would know I had a boyfriend, my image as someone who is liked by all girls at school can be destroyed" it turns out true that Dio is afraid his image is destroyed because he has a girlfriend.

"Bella is different, she managed to make me fall in love with her until the day of the ospek I met you ri.." Dio stopped explaining as if hesitant to say that.

"What's wrong?"

"ee. no. I met you and I have plans to approach you because you are a subsidiary director of a well-known company, I want you to make our engagement void by asking your father to join my father's company. I don't really like you Ri.. I got caught by my gang while I was looking at your social media, that's when I lied if I liked you, I'm really sorry for that ri. I shouldn't have involved you in my troubles" it all came to light again as if it was being cracked down slowly.

"I thought I knew about it, I realized that I couldn't be prettier than Bella, I didn't have a problem with that either. But I wonder why bang Dio also lied during ospek yesterday? Why did bang Dio say that my brother used to like me?" riri asked, his feelings almost calm and then became depressed made Dio. I don't know why he was saddened by Dio's statement.

"That's because I thought you were beautiful, you became so beautiful that I just spontaneously said that after seeing you" Dio replied, Dio's reply was very unreasonable.

"That doesn't make sense, but that's it.. What did you break up for?" Riri tried not to talk about her anymore.

"I got caught by Bella, Bella thinks I like someone, anonymous people send her messages and say bad things about me, Bella believes all that. Of course I was upset that he trusted the anonymous message more than I did and I ended up saying nonsense that it was all true even stupid me, I asked for our relationship to end" obviously Dio while holding his forehead was a sign he was very sorry.

"What happened to you and your fiancee after graduation?"

"Bella and I lost contact, while Veni and I were ready to get married. However, before the wedding day something happened, Veni died. Because of their daughter's sudden death her father canceled all employment contracts with my father, even blaming us for her daughter's death, the last point they did was to spread the false news that I had impregnated Veni, they also got a victory in court over the case, until my father's company became bankrupt afterwards" Riri had heard from Maya earlier about Dio's father's bankruptcy because Dio impregnated people's children, but it turned out that all was not true.

"How can I impregnate him? I've never met him, I've only just met him. Too bad they have more relationships to win cases" said Dio, his face filled with sadness, it turns out Dio did not impregnate anyone because of frustration break up with Bella.

"I was allowed to go to college with my father's remaining funds, until I finally went to college now after a year's leave of absence after graduation" Dio added.

Riri is today a good listener for Dio, for all the stories he tells Riri make Riri very flattered for the patience of Dio and his family.

"Sorry bang.. I seem to have asked you this far, aren't you papa?" riri asked worried about Dio's situation.

"Father ri, I tell you because I think you are the same person as me, you are the one who does not want to be oppressed and assertive. However, sometimes you have to be patient enough to face the reality that has happened".

"Yes bang.. It is possible that behind all that there is wisdom to be gained, I always believe those who are evil to us will get the right reply".

"Thank you for listening to my story today!" dio said sincerely, his eyes glazed over.

"No problem bang"

"I've said this to Bella" Dio said.

"What?"

"I explained to him in detail as I explained to you, the difference is that I didn't say the anonymous person was Miko" Dio explained.

"Didn't you cuddle earlier in the parking lot means you've turned back?" ask Riri about what she saw earlier.

"ee did you see it?"

"Who doesn't see it?, you hold it in front of a lot of people there, do you think you're in the woods?" riri replied annoyed with Dio's question.

"ee ee sorry ri.. Bella and I are dating again" Dio replied.

"What's? Since when?" Riri asked so because she had just had a storm with Bella, how could they now turn back.

"I'm sorry ri didn't tell you before, Bella forbade me to tell everyone, Bella also didn't say that you were her friend to me. So, I don't think you know each other because when you say your name when I tell you, Bella doesn't say you're friends" Dio said, apologizing.

It was possible that Bella also did not want to involve Riri in their problems. That was why he pretended not to know Riri.

"We've been dating since last night" Dio replied.

How could they reverse that fast, in just a matter of hours, in just one night. Even after the back of them had dared to cuddle in public like that, Riri was made as if in disbelief..

Seriate...