Only Raised Children
60. Arisan event

Since afternoon Alina had been at Santi's residence. Today he asked Santi to accompany him to gather with his fellow artists. Santi deliberately invited Alina to his association because he wanted to introduce his future daughter-in-law to his friends. He who was very happy Alina would become his son-in-law so was very impatient to introduce Alina.

Since Santi and Alina were both unable to cook, so the two of them only helped out a little from the housemaid jobs there.

When the voice of the Adhan reverberated, Santi invited Alina to worship first before having dinner together. Because all the guest rooms are being unable to be used for Alina prayer, so Santi advised Alina to pray in Rico's room.

At first Alina refuses because it is not nice if Rico comes home and she is in her room. But when Santi said if Rico was still in the office, Alina finally agreed to the woman's words. After getting the face of Santi, Alina immediately entered Rico's room and hurried to perform her worship. Before Rico goes home, Alina must have gotten out of there, she doesn't want to be caught if she's been in there by her boyfriend.

Since entering that room, Alina had no intention of glancing at the contents of Rico's room at all because she wanted to quickly get out of there. But when he finished praying, Alina's gaze accidentally stared at the figure on the small table, which seemed to be used by Rico to read books.

On the table, Alina saw a figure that showed a picture of a pair of men and women. Out of curiosity, Alina approached the table and after being there, she saw the picture turned out to be a photo of herself with Rico who was smiling widely. The photo was taken while they were having dinner at one of the hotel's restaurants a few months ago.

Unknowingly, Alina smiled looking at the figure. He was about to reach for the figure, but had not had time to hold it suddenly the sound of the door opening shifted Alina's gaze and she spontaneously faced towards the door. When the door opened, Alina was surprised when she saw the figure of Rico who was there and walked into the room while carrying her work coat. 

"Alina" Rico said as he realized the woman was in his room.

Alina who was like being attacked by Rico then fell silent can not dwell.

"Darling, what are you doing in my room?" rico asked as he approached the woman. Then he saw a picture of himself with Alina on the table, then ignored it.

"So your mother told me to pray here. He said the guest room below is being used for your new brother and the guest room above is being cleaned" he said in a misguided manner. He remembered his lower lip stiffly. 

Alina intended to leave from there, but her steps came to a halt as Rico clasped his hands.

"Why?" ask Alina.

"No papa. Then I take a shower first."

Without further ado Rico rubbed his head up to Alina's cheek gently, then passed the woman just like that and entered the bathroom without saying goodbye.

Alina was the one who looked wrong behavior then scratched her head that was not itchy. A few seconds later he woke up and immediately came out of his girlfriend's room before anyone caught him being alone with Rico in the room that would cause slander.

At that time in the living room it looks like a lot of people have started to arrive. Alina went down the stairs hesitantly because she did not see a single person she knew down there, even the brother of Santi who had met her before the prayer did not know where. Confused about what to do, Alina decides to go to the kitchen and help the maid there to prepare for their dinner which will be done in the garden next to the house.

No one reprimanded Alina at all other than the workers there. Maybe because no one knows him either, but it makes Alina happy because she can more freely do her job without anyone asking who she is. When all the food was almost available on the table, suddenly Santi who accidentally saw Alina was arranging a plate of food immediately walked up to her.

"Darling, what are you doing?" santi asked as she touched Alina's shoulder.

Alina who felt the touch then turned to the woman and smiled sweetly.

"Mama, Alina is just helping out" Alina said.

"God, honey, you don't have to help. That's enough, let's sit down. Dinner is about to start, just wait for Rico and his papa." 

Alina nodded and followed Santi to sit at that very wide round dining table.

Seeing Alina sitting next to Santi, then all of Santi's friends with one of his newly arrived siblings look to wonder about the woman.  There were some of them who whispered to his other friend and there were also some who were just silent with his own thoughts.

Santi really understood the purpose of the stares and whispers from his friends there. While waiting for the arrival of her son and husband, Santi finally introduced Alina first to all who were there. They had already muttered to each other hearing Santi's statement about Alina who was going to be her daughter-in-law. So many murmurs that Santi did not know, but he felt indifferent about it. He only responded to some kind responses from some of his friends there.

A few minutes later, Rico and Irfan walked to the dining table at the same time. His handsome face and the way the road looks so dashing makes some people who are there – especially women– looks praised, he said, but there are also some who look ordinary because they know that Rico is only an adopted child in the Renaldi family.

When everyone gathered at the dinner table, dinner began. Everyone enjoyed the dishes on the table very solemnly. The taste of the delicious food also made them all enjoy enjoying their dinner that night.

After dinner, the men gather in the living room with Irfan and Rico, while the women settled in the park to do their arisan activities accompanied by various snacks and drinks that have been provided by the host.

There Alina, who knew no one but Santi, tried to blend in with the people who were there. Although more silent and listening, but at least Alina did not humiliate the woman who was willing to invite him to this event.

"Aisshh, this is my fate" muttered Alina with her lips.

Alina's confusion comes to a halt when a beautiful woman believed to be the child of one of Santi's friends approaches her. 

"Hi," she said and was replied by Alina with a sweet smile and a nod of the head.

"Rebecca," said the woman introducing herself as she extended her hand. Intended to shake hands with Alina.

Alina who saw that also immediately received a helping hand from the woman while saying her name.

"You're Rico's girlfriend?" ask the woman who is now while reaching for a drink glass on the table.

"Yes," Alina replied as she watched Rebecca's classy yet haughty manner.

The woman smiled wryly and faced towards Alina. He was sticking Alina's body from top to bottom, like he was judging her appearance.

"Do you know who Rico is?"

Alina frowned at the woman's question

"What do you mean?" ask Alina. He did not understand the woman's intentions, but Alina also had a filling of something that was not good.

"Ow, so you don't know if Rico is really that.." Rebecca put her lips to Alina's ears, "Renaldi's foster son."

Rebecca pulled her body from Alina and smiled obliquely. "Not a real child" he continued, shaking his head.

Alina who heard that was just silent while staring at Rebecca.

"You know?" rebecca said after a few seconds they were silent to each other. "It was me and Rico that were close. We're almost in a relationship, but I knew this secret first. Because I felt lied to, I finally left him."

Rebecca walked from the right side to the left side of Alina slowly while holding her drinking glass.

"Alina, I've been kind enough to tell you Rico's secret. So, you better make a decision before it's too late. You take it easy, I won't ask for anything in return. I only help my fellow women" he said again with a sentence that sounded very soft but full of intent.

Alina was still silent. Even she was seen smiling after Rebecca finished speaking all the truth. And with that smile, it certainly made Rebecca become astonished.

"Why are you smiling?"

"I already know everything you said. About who Rico is and how he is in the Renaldi family. You shouldn't have bothered to tell me, Rebecca. And just so you know, I don't mind any of that. I accept Rico as he is."

Rebecca laughed at Alina's words, leaving Alina astonished. Then Rebecca stopped her laughter, as if afraid that her laughter might attract the attention of the people there.

"Did I hear wrong? You accept him for what he is?" 

Rebecca rolled her eyes lazily.

"Then what about your family? They definitely won't be able to accept Rico like you did, Alina."

"They accepted Rico. There is nothing to worry about as a foster child. Besides who am I to wish more for a rich man."

Rebecca smiled mockingly at Alina's reply. Then he looked back at Alina from top to bottom. This time Rebecca was really like she was judging every inch of her body and the clothes she was wearing. After his gaze had long enough fixed on Alina's cheap heels, Rebecca immediately looked back at Alina.

"Yes, you don't have the right to expect more from a rich man. You're a good fit for Rico, because you're both on the same level. Equally low," he said without hesitation.