Secret Denis
Sixty Two

The beautiful girl stood there by the window of her room. Looking at the grove of shrubs that are in the garden behind his house. But the mind drifts away from just the gaze of his birth. Thinking of his destiny to love without ever being able to get the rewards of all his tastes.

All these years he had perfected himself just to attract the attention of that man. A man she really likes and becomes her first love. All the temptations had gone through and there were even those who almost shook him. But a sense that is so strong and real makes him unable to divert his feelings of love. His heart will turn to the man. As far as his feet go.

Maybe he was about to give up but the path that the man had opened made him again have a strong belief. He had to get what he had wanted all along.

But when all is almost real, something has taken away her sweet dream. Dropped him to the bottom of a deep abyss of disappointment.

Viola sighed. His eyes closed, squeezing the blocked water in both eyes.

"Darling, you haven't eaten since this morning. Even last night you missed dinner."

A messy dinner. No one could eat after the terrible incident last night. How could it possibly be.

"Vio's not hungry, Ma."

"Don't torture yourself, baby. You need energy to face this life. Hm." Utami continued to persuade her daughter. He was very concerned about what happened to his daughter. As a mother and also as a woman, Utami was very understanding of what her daughter felt.

Love that claps one hand will be very painful. Plus a failed engagement. As a mother, she was also very disappointed. But what can he do. Maybe this is Viola's love destiny. Utami could not even imagine if until his daughter was paired with Alex. Will she be happy living with a man who never loved her. Although Alex himself submitted a proposal yesterday, but Utami knew there was something that made Alex do that. He knows how Alex feels about Viola.

"Don't be sad, baby. You better call Alex and talk to him about your problems. And whatever the outcome of your conversation, you should accept it with a breastplate. Mama doesn't want you to keep holding on to sadness. You deserve to be happy, baby."

Utami stroked her daughter's hair gently.

"Mom, do you think Alex will continue our delayed engagement last night? Or will he cancel?"

"Whatever he decides, it must be best for both of you."

"So you agreed that Alex didn't propose to me?"

"It's not like that, baby. Mom only thinks about your happiness. Do you think you can be happy by having people who don't want us? You'll be tormented for the rest of your life, baby. But if you accept his decision not to continue the engagement, maybe you will feel disappointed now. But you will get another happiness. Mama believed that."

"Why doesn't he want me, Ma? What is less than me? I have everything, right? Why does he never want to return my feelings?" Viola could not hold his stuffing anymore. His heart was broken and disappointed. More disappointed than getting rejection from the man before.

"There's nothing wrong with you, baby. Maybe Alex just isn't the same as a guy in general. Believe me, at first you thought he didn't like women at all. That's why mama is not very supportive of your desire to get him. You remember right? Mama doesn't really like it when you keep getting close to her."

Viola. Regretting his folly that continues to foster a sense of love for the man. Yep. She remembers her mother never supported her to be close to Alex. But he never banned it directly. The good relationship between her father and Arga Dinata makes it okay for Viola to be friends with Alex and Reno.

The real problem is when Viola shows his interest in Alex excessively while Alex responds to the usual presence of Viola. That was enough to make Utami feel astonished. While all the men are racing to get his daughter's attention, Alex always avoids Viola.

"You're here apparently." Rahman came out the door. Approaching the two women in his life.

"How are you, baby? Are you all right?"

Rahman rubbed his daughter's head gently. Giving kisses affectionately dipelipis Viola.

"As papa sees. He's not okay." Utami answered.

Rahman sits himself in a sofa followed by Utami and Viola.

"So Alex went to see papa." The man paused his words, seeing the reaction of his wife and daughter.

"What did he say?" Utami quickly interrupted.

"She's sorry about last night, the proposal couldn't go on." The man looked a little heavy to continue his words.

"Then what did papa say?"

"Papa says we can manage time on other occasions." The man took a deep breath. "Patience Vio. Papa knows you're disappointed, but there must be some good in every event that happens."

"Vio will return the ring Alex left behind. Maybe there won't be another chance, Pa." Viola.

"Are you going to give up? You're almost engaged."

"You better talk to Alex first."

"Vio's sober now, ma, pa. All this time Vio forced Alex too much, and it wouldn't be good. Now Vio feels hurt when ignored, what else later if we already have a bond. Better, Vio just back off."

Viola wiped the wet end of his eyes. But her cries could no longer stand when her mother hugged her and kissed her. At first he thought it was okay if he met Alex first. Alex's feelings may change over time. But now he's not sure about it. Too much time he's given Alex. But the man's feelings never changed.

"Mama's so proud of you, baby. No matter what your decision is, your mom will always support you. You know, you are a very perfect girl with a kind and sincere heart. I'm sure you'll find someone who will make you happy."

Rahman smiled and rubbed his daughter's head in the arms of his wife for Viola. Although he could not bear to see the sadness of his daughter, but he felt that this was the best for his daughter.

*****

Alex steps into a restaurant where he promises Viola to meet. Today he went alone. Faisal he was assigned to handle some work because he wanted to clear up his own problems as soon as possible. Not wanting to waste any time, Alex contacted Viola and asked him to meet this afternoon. He also spoke to Rahman, Viola's father. So far he's been getting good treatment from Viola's papa. He hoped that the meeting with Viola would go well.

At the table he had ordered, Viola was sitting there waiting. The girl smiled sweetly at his arrival.

"I just arrived too. I've ordered a drink for you. Sorry if you don't like it."

"You know what kind of drink I like."

"Yes. I know everything about you." Viola sighed. It was so sad to hear his own words.

"I'm sorry, Vio. It's got you in this situation."

"It's all my fault. I should have stopped at your first refusal. But I kept hoping and even nurturing my love so much that I couldn't control it. I thought I was a woman that anyone could accept. But apparently, your heart is completely closed to me."

Alex touches Viola's folded hand on the table.

"You are a perfect girl. I'm sure you'll get a better man than me."

"Did I really have no chance?" Alex took a breath. Thinking the right words so as not to hurt the girl who had always expected it.

"Do you love Denis so much?" Viola slightly shook out that sentence. But he has to make sure of everything.

Alex was stunned for a moment. Not yet he replied, a waitress came to bring drinks and snacks for them. Waiting until the waitress was done with her work, Alex looked back at Viola.

"Say Alex. You really love Denis, don't you?"

"I'm sorry, Vio."

Viola closed his eyes. He did not need an answer because everything was clearly visible.

"I thought he was a man. Did you know from the beginning that she was a woman?" I was not satisfied with Alex's answer.

Alex shakes.

"I also didn't know that she was a woman like you. You know, I think I'm crazy about liking him. That's why I'm..."

"That's why you asked me to get engaged? You want to turn your race on him?" Viola looked into Alex's eyes. "Good business, Alex."

"I'm sorry, Vio."

Viola laughed wryly.

"You're apologizing too much to me."

"I must have hurt you so much."

"Yes. That's it." Viola chuckled softly. Laughing at his own stupidity.

"That's lucky Denis. He got your first love. You've never loved anyone before. I don't know what made you fall in love with him."

"Love doesn't need a reason. He just came. I even tried to deny my own feelings. I don't want any of this taste for him. But he just appeared in my heart." Alex said softly.

"I never had any intention of hurting you either. But what I do always makes you hurt and disappointed. This is beyond my will. I'm really sorry."

"Enough, Alex. Don't apologize to me again." Viola closed her lips. Strengthened his heart to accept this extremely bitter reality.

"I want to give this back to you." He took out a red velvet box from his bag.

"You left him last night." The box was placed in front of Alex. The man was stunned to look at the thing that was now in Viola's hands.

"Vio, I.."

"Don't apologize to me again. It's yours." Viola put it in Alex's hand. Put Alex's finger on that thing. Alex held Viola's hand.

"Take it. Here's toyou. Think of this as a memento from me." Alex did the same thing Viola did. Put that thing in the girl's hand.

"No Alex. Don't make me keep remembering you. That's gonna hurt me even more. Takeit. Give it to the person who deserves it."

"Don't apologize anymore. I'm fine." Viola smiled. The smile he forced.

"Why can't I fall in love with a girl as good as you, Vio?" Alex looked into the girl's eyes. Viola laughed softly. He pushed Alex's face to turn away from her gaze.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm gonna fall in love with you."

Alex chuckles. He lifted the small box in his hand.

"So you don't want this thing? Last offer before I put it in my pocket. It's expensive."

"I still have money to buy things like that. No need to expect a gift from you." Viola sneered. Makes Alex laugh. And they both laughed together.

*****