Only Raised Children
9. Of jealousy?

This weekend Rico asked Santi to accompany her monthly shopping at one of the supermarkets in the mall. Actually, who used to take care of the kitchen needs in the house was their domestic assistant, but this time Santi wanted to do it alone with his favorite child. Just say quality time with family members except, Irfan. The middle-aged man could not come with them because there was an appointment to play golf with close friends and coworkers.

Rico who today has no appointments with anyone, is happy to accompany his mother shopping. She was very close to Santi and often traveled with her father as well. But when he began to trust Irfan to be part of the RR Corps, Rico so often in the office to take care of his work. The time is getting reduced just to invite Santi quality time. Even if he had free time, his mother was actually busy with her tourist gang. And today fortunately they are both free, so it must be used well the time there.

"Abang, will you leave later in the afternoon?" ask Santi to Rico. Now they have just entered the supermarket while pushing a shopping cart.

"Em, the plan is to go out with friends, Ma, tonight. Wh why? Do you want to ask Rico to go somewhere?" ask Rico back.

"Mama wants to invite you to eat malem with aunt Lulu, son. But if you have a promise already, anytime we have dinner," said Santi with a faint smile.

Rico looks bad because he accidentally rejected the invitation of his mother. Rico could at least refuse anything from Santi because he was with his mother, unless there was important work that could not be delayed. But this time he did it just because something that could actually be delayed or canceled. He'd better just cancel the plan that wants to take Alina away tonight.

"Rico's just planning, Ma, he hasn't made a deal yet. Rico goes with Mama."

Santi, who was sorting vegetables, turned to his son.

"You want to go with a woman?" santi asked a little curiously.

"Friends only, Ma. It's not very important. Rico goes with Mama" said Rico again.

Santi smiled gently. "You just go, honey. You do not want to interrupt your personal time. During this time you are always busy working, no papa if you want to go with your girlfriend. I'm glad you moved on from Angel."

"Huh?" Rico looks surprised by the words of Santi who seems to know if he is approaching a woman. She had not told her mother anything.

Rico rubbed the back of his neck. "Em, Ma, Rico and Alina are just friends."

"Name's Alina?"

Rico widened his eyes, he was surprised because he had unknowingly mentioned the name of the woman in front of his mother. Rico smiled stiffly at being confused as to how to respond to his leaking mouth. Not that he did not want to tell Santi about with anyone he was close, but he just did not want if Santi thought he liked to change women, but he did not want to, though not even 1 month he broke up with Angel. 

But on the one hand Rico was very surprised because previously Santi said he was happy if Rico could move on.

Santi who saw his son look shy and then smiled amusedly. Then he passed away leaving Rico still looking misbehaved.

Rico scratched his non-itchy head and followed Santi from behind while muttering softly. "Rico, Rico."

After going around the supermarket to look for housing needs, Santi and Rico decided to go home. They chose to go home because they promised to have lunch together at home. It just so happens that lunch time is coming soon.

While walking to his car is parked, suddenly Rico accidentally sees someone he knows. The one who turned out to be Alina.

She saw Alina just got out of the car with a man. He did not know who the man who was with Alina was because the man covered his face with a mask and also a hat. Rico's focus was disturbed, especially when he saw Alina holding the man's hand. He began to think about the things that had been unsettled in his mind.

Does Alina have a boyfriend?

During the time he was friends with the woman, Rico had never asked if Alina already had a special friend or not. Previously he was quite sure if Alina was still alone because of Andi's intention to introduce her to the woman solely so that they had a more intimate relationship. But now the question filled his head. Making her really continue to think about Alina's special treatment of the mysterious man.

Somehow he was really bothered by the sight he saw that afternoon. Although he was very interested in Alina, but his current feelings were slightly different. He felt like a person who had long held a heart for Alina and was jealous of the other man who approached the woman. Even Rico undoes his intention to take Alina out tonight because of her bad feelings.

At nightfall, Rico tries to ask Andi about Alina's status. Unfortunately, the answer he received was uncertainty.

"I know I don't exist, but I don't know if he doesn't tell me the same story."

That's the info Rico heard from Andi.

Rico thought about it all day and the next day, when he was meeting with his client at a restaurant. Rico sees Alina with a man.

The man with the same appearance as he saw yesterday and he was sure it was the same man. They had just entered the restaurant and sat her body at the corner table with the man sitting behind her.

Rico is very curious about who and what kind of relationship the man has with Alina. Even Rico almost lost his focus from constantly thinking about Alina and the mysterious man. But fortunately he was still able to finish his meeting with his client to completion. 

"Thank you, Mr. Rico. It's good to work with you" said Rico's client, standing up and holding out his hand to shake.

Rico smiled faintly as he stood up and received a helping hand from his client who said goodbye to leave. After the client left, Rico again sat his body on the chair. He had not yet moved from there and was still staring at Alina.

Long enough Rico with his position, until Alina accidentally saw his presence and stared at him, Rico finally threw away his gaze. Rico's feeling was very uneasy, as if he was really jealous of seeing Alina close to another man. Especially yesterday Alina had held the man's hand.

His mouth was silent, but his heart said that he did not like the special treatment.

Disturbed by the sight he did not want, Rico finally chose to go from there. He walked slowly away from his desk without any intention of approaching Alina or greeting her, even from a distance.

Just about to open the door of the resto, suddenly from behind someone holding his right shoulder. Rico stopped his steps and looked back.

There he saw Alina standing staring at him.

"Hey," said Alina first.

Rico smiled thinly. "What's wrong?"

Hearing Rico's question, Alina frowned.

"Em, what's wrong with you?" alina asked in surprise.

He was very surprised because today Rico looks different to him. There was no friendly look on the man's face as he stared at him. Moreover, a few moments ago before the man moved from his seat, they had a look at each other but strangely Rico did not approach him or just greet him through a smile, but the man just passed by as if he did not see him.

As far as she knew Rico these few days, Alina could judge a little if Rico was a friendly man. But today Rico is not as friendly as usual, the man looks like he is holding something back to not express more to him.

"You avoiding me?" ask Alina again.

"Who is avoiding?"

Again Rico answered Alina's question with another question. Makes Alina a little upset to hear it. He should have not asked and it was better to just ignore the man.

"You saw me sitting there." Alina pointed to the direction where she had been sitting with a man. "But why don't you come near me or rebuke me. Not at all."

Rico looked towards the direction Alina pointed at, then his gaze returned he focused on Alina.

"Oh, I just don't want to interrupt your time with your boyfriend."

"Huh, girlfriend?"

Alina was silent for a moment, then she laughed amusedly. So Rico is acting weird on him for thinking he already has a girlfriend? It doesn't make sense, he thought.

"Is everyone who walks alone with the opposite sex always considered dating?" ask Alina.

"What is the name other than dating if two people of the opposite sex join hands?"

Alina frowned hearing Rico who again threw a question at her. Then somehow Alina remembered her embracing the hand of the man who was currently sitting with her yesterday. Did Rico see that?

"You saw me in–"

"Yes, I saw you at the mall yesterday afternoon. You feel very comfortable embracing his hand when entering the mall. Aren't you guys dating?" ask Rico again.

They are now like lovers who are fighting because they see one of their partners who is caught walking with another man. It sounded funny in Alina's ears. He felt that right now Rico was jealous of him.

"You jealous?" alina asked by raising her eyebrows while holding back a smile.

"So right, do you have a boyfriend?"

For the umpteenth time Rico again answered Alina's question with a question. But this time Alina was not upset because she began to understand and felt her guess was right if Rico was jealous of her. Why are men camburu, while they have no special relationship. Doesn't-don't Rico have feelings for her?

"I don't have a boyfriend, Co. She's not my boyfriend" Alina said, pointing back to her seat.

"Oh yeah? So who is he?" asked Rico who was very curious.

"Nobody is it."

Rico scrunched his forehead. Why was Alina's answer so unclear like this, he thought.

"Nobody? Alina, sorry, I don't want to bother you if you already have a boyfriend. I'm not the kind of guy who likes to approach women who already have girlfriends."

"So you're approaching me?" alina asked withholding her laughter.

Rico was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry if I was sassy" he said later.

"Wish why?"

"Alina–"

"Co, he's not my girlfriend, but he's my brother" Alina said, cutting Rico's words.

Rico went back to hearing Alina's words. A brother? He glanced back at the mysterious man sitting in the corner of the table there. Is that man really Alina's brother? If true, then why does the man look so cool, isn't Alina from the village? Especially from a distance Rico can see if the shoes worn by men are one branded.

Rico doesn't know whether to believe Alina's words or not. He had better ask Andi if it was true that Alina had a brother.

Rico glanced at his watch. The time that has shown almost 1 makes Rico have to leave from there immediately. He almost forgot if there was still a meeting after this.

"Alina, sorry, I have to go now. I still have meetings outside" he said later.

This time Rico's voice wasn't as cute as before. Somehow it could be so, maybe because it has found an answer if Alina does not have a boyfriend. Looks like Rico is really jealous of Alina.

"alright. Sorry for interrupting your time" Alina said.

"I'm sorry it's so bad to think of you."

"Its okay."

"I'll go first." Rico turned around and immediately left from there, but before that he returned a glance for a moment at the man that Alina recognized as her brother. Hopefully that man is his brother, Rico thought.

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