Only Raised Children
16. Suspicions

"How come you're laughing anyway? I'm serious, honey," said Rico who was still carried away by the atmosphere melownya.

"Rico, you don't have to worry about that with me. I'm used to this busyness. I would be bored if there were no activities. You know for yourself, I don't have any friends, so work is one of my activities to get rid of boredom" Alina said.

Yes, Rico also just realized that if Alina has no friends other than Andi and also her coworkers at restaurants and cafes. I don't know why she doesn't have any friends, but she's beautiful and smart. Aren't most people going to pick a perfect friend like Alina, then why doesn't this woman even have friends?

"Yes, but don't get too tired, honey. I don't want you to get sick from being busy."

Alina smiled at her boyfriend's advice, and then he agreed.

After the food on Alina's plate ran out, Rico immediately asked the restaurant waiter to clean their table.

"So, what do you want to talk about? I've been very curious since yesterday" said Alina after the waiter there went to bring her dirty dishes.

Hearing Alina's question, Rico sighed.

"Al, I'd like to ask. Do you have any male friends besides me and Andi?" ask Rico.

"I just said, right, if I don't have any friends, Co. Only Andi's been my best friend since college."

"So, that guy who used to meet you was really your brother?"

Alina sighed hearing the question. Looks like Rico still harbors suspicions over him, he thought.

"You still don't believe me, Co?" ask Alina.

"Bu–it's not so, Al."

"Co," interrupted Alina with a face that had already turned a little serious.

"I never lied to you. The man who used to meet me was indeed my brother."

"Why do you always wear a mask and a hat? It's like hiding from something" Rico said. Now he began to show his curiosity.

"Co, I can't tell you yet. Why are you still asking about this? Didn't I promise to make you the first to know all my secrets."

"I know, Al. But papa…"

Alina began to frown at him hearing Rico say the word papa.

"When papa drove you home that afternoon, he heard bad news from your neighbor. Your neighbor said, a lot of men with fancy cars are coming in and out of your house. Even papa was mistaken for a striped-nose man after driving you home."

Alina widened her eyes hearing that. He couldn't believe what he heard from Rico's mouth. Did the neighbors really say that?

"You're serious, Co?" alina asked with eyes that could not blink.

"Do you think my papa is lying, Al?"

During the years of living there, Alina had never heard the bad news. He even thought that the neighborhood where he lived was very friendly and kind. They always reprimand him if they meet eyes, even greet each other. It was really unexpected that bad news came out of the mouths of his neighbors.

Alina was silent with her thoughts. If so the nature of a human who likes to look at something from what their eyes see, maybe Alina will understand the suspicions of her neighbors with men who often go in and out of her house. He allowed that because it was so true.

But what if you accuse someone without solid evidence? He doesn't justify it.  Moreover, they accuse Rico's parents of a no-no. Don't they know an Irfan Renaldi?

Alina feels very guilty for what Rico and her papa got from her neighbor's words.

"sorry. Because of me, your papa is being accused of being a no-no with them, Co," Alina said in her lowest voice. He even lowered his head from feeling bad and guilty towards Rico. 

Rico also saw his woman sad then powerless. He got up from his seat and moved to the seat beside Alina.

"Dear."

Rico held onto Alina's shoulder, then he swung her face to look at her. His face that looks not as cheerful as before, makes Rico feel guilty for having discussed this. But if he does not discuss it, he will continue to be made suspicious of Alina and she does not want to be like that.

"Don't be sad, Al. Papa and I are not guilty of you. I just want to make sure I don't continue to be suspicious of you. I don't want to feel suspicious about the woman I love, Al. And I also want to prove to you that you're not what your neighbor said."

"Even if we believe that you are not like that, but we still have to make sure with you directly. Me, papa, and you, we're all ordinary people, Al. There are times when this suspicious feeling will present in various ways. And right now, the words of your neighbor a few days ago have succeeded in making this suspicion arise."

Alina was silent. In his heart he confirmed what Rico had said. Everyone has the right to have suspicious feelings, especially towards the people closest to them.

In addition to the allegations against Rico's parents, Alina does not blame her suspicious neighbors for what she does with her brother is right to be suspected. And he also didn't blame Rico for being suspicious of him for a secret he couldn't tell.

After a few minutes of war with her mind, Alina finally chooses to tell Rico a little secret. He did that so that Rico and his family would no longer feel that there was anything bad covered by him. And Alina also did that out of her love for Rico. Although the love is not so great yet, but with all the kindness and sincerity of Rico to her, Alina is quite sure of her feelings.

"The man who is often my neighbor and you see it is indeed my elder brother, Co."

"How many?" ask Rico.

"Only one, but he does change cars a lot."

"Huh?" Rico put on his confused face. Change cars?

"Em, he's changing cars because it's a rental car" said Alina who understood the meaning of Rico's expression.

"Next week my brother will visit me here. I'll introduce him to you" continued Alina.

"Next week?" 

"Yes. But I can't tell you much until my parents get here."

Rico scrunched his forehead hearing Alina's words. She did not understand what the woman was saying, but once again, she had to trust the woman because she was sure that Alina would never let her down.

All right, next week he'll make sure that what Alina's neighbors have been gossiping about all this time isn't true. In this way, she can prove to her papa that Alina is the kind woman she promised.

*

Just about to enter the cafe, Alina accidentally saw the figure of a woman she knew, Rena. Across the street, in the restaurant in front of the cafe where she works, Rena is seen fighting with a man who knows who. Alina never saw the man because he was not close to Rena.

Actually, Alina had no intention to interfere in Rena's affairs with her male friends, but because her instincts as a woman said that if Rena was not okay, then she was very forced to approach the woman.

Not yet arrived in front of the woman, Alina could already hear if the man who was with Rena was forcing her to come with him. Surely the quarrel happened because Rena who did not want to agree to the man's invitation.

"Hi, Ren," said Alina after she got there. Alina tried to be friendly and seemed familiar so that she could enter between the two people.

"Aline?" Rena looks surprised by the presence of Alina there.

The focus of Rena and also her male friend was of course to turn to Alina instantly.

"Remain here? This who? Your distant brother huh?" ask Alina who is still trying to be cool.

"Eum…"

Not even Rena answered her question, Alina had already opened her voice again.

"Follow me to the cafe sana yuk."

Alina pointed to the cafe where she worked over there.

"I'm sorry, Bang. I borrowed it for a while. His girlfriend also said that they had made a deal there. You didn't forget Andi's promise, did you, Ren?"

Rena looks confused by all the words of Alina. Who's meeting at the cafe? And anyway why is Alina so cool with him, he thought.

But when her mind suddenly works faster and understands the meaning of Alina's code, Rena immediately agrees with the woman's words. She even attempted to partake in the impromptu drama that Alina created. He tried to set aside his ego that still does not like his girlfriend's best friend, the important thing is that he can be free from the man who is currently in front of him.

"Ah yes, I do have an appointment with Andi. Thanks for reminding me, Al."

Without further ado Rena walked quickly away from the man who had forced her to come along with it. While the man looks not like the presence of Alina who bothers him.

"Rena!" the man shouted as Rena left from there.

He was about to chase after Rena, but his gaze with Alina made him unable to dwell. Alina's very sharp and impressed gaze was like she was threatening, making her forcefully let go of Rena just like that.

When the two women had entered the cafe, Rena immediately turned to look at Alina. His gaze was now not as friendly as before, but also not as cold as usual. He hesitated to say thank you for his exorbitant ego.

Alina who saw the doubt on Rena's face then smiled thinly.

"I'll call Andi to pick you up here" Alina said later.

Alina was about to walk past Rena, but the woman came to a halt as Rena held onto her arm.

"Al, you wouldn't tell Andi, would you if I were with my male friend?"

Alina looked at the look expectantly in Rena's eyes.

"You forbid Andi to be friends with me, but now you go alone with another man, even without Andi's knowledge. Don't be selfish, Ren," said Alina. He spoke as softly as possible so that Rena would not feel if she was being blamed.

"I–"

"That's it," interrupted Alina quickly, "you don't need to explain anything to me. I also won't tell Andi about the incident. You take it easy."

Alina stepped back to approach her friend who was waiting for her to perform. But Rena's voice again made him stop.

"Thank you, Al."

Alina nodded and after that she immediately passed from there. Climb the second floor and follow Rena from behind.

While waiting for Andi to come pick her up, Rena sat her body in the visitor's seat while watching the ongoing live music with Alina as the voice actor there. This was the first time Rena had come to a small cafe like this and she was quite enjoying the atmosphere there which was not too crowded like her reflection.

Half an hour more waiting, Rena began to look uncomfortable because people began to arrive and the cafe became increasingly crowded. The smell of cigarettes began to smell and cigarette smoke flew around him. Rena looks upset and feels like she wants to run from there immediately, but because she is still afraid that her male friend is still out there, so she is forced to stay at the cafe until Andi comes.

Not until ten minutes, Rena looks very happy when the figure of a handsome man in a black suit appears from the stairs. He immediately got up from his seat and approached Andi.

"Honey," cried Rena while holding her arm.

"Why are you here, Ren?" asked Andi in surprise.

A place filled with cigarette smoke and also noisy with the noise of men and women talking carelessly is not the right place for a Renata. It's only natural that Andi is very surprised to see him here. Moreover, this cafe is the place where Alina works. It was impossible for Rena to be here if not for being forced or forced.

"Em, just later the story. Now let's take me home. It stinks here" said Rena with a bent face. He really really wanted to get out of there because he could not stand the smell of cigarette smoke that was getting stinging.

"Oh, let's go home."

Before they left, Andi first said goodbye to Alina who was still singing with her co-workers.

"Al, thank you. We go home first" Andi said without a sound.

So did Rena, although not showing her friendliness, but she tried to smile at Alina as a thank you to her. Although his smile felt stiff, but he tried to fight his ego.

Alina who was singing at that time could only return the greeting of Andi and Rena with a thin smile and a wave of hands.

***

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