Secrets of Lakefront House
CHAPTER 29. WITH JONATHAN

"In a moment, I have to call you Detective Jonathan Benedictus" Jilena joked.

Jonathan laughed, putting the pie in his mouth. He swallowed the food in his mouth and grinned. “Hey, how's your story? About the skeleton found in the lake?”

Jilena explains to her about the pendant that has been found and about the photo inside the pendant which is very similar to Ramira. That's his assumption, he thinks the corpse must be Ramira's mother.

“How can you see the inside of that locket? I think all the evidence is in the Criminal Lab at headquarters.”

Jilena gave him a mischievous smile while winking one eye. "I have my way."

“Mother Ramira, yes? Does Detective Wira know?”

“I contacted him, but I'm not sure he trusts me. He said he had to wait for the lab results to prove it.—you know, DNA, dental records, or something." Jilena chewed her food again.

"Who wants to kill Mariana?" ask Jonathan.

"I've got some names on my list of suspects" Jilena said. He frowned and stopped his fork in the air.

"Who?" jonathan asked curiously. How could Jilena have gotten her information so quickly. This girl is really smart, she murmured inwardly.

Ramira is the first name that appears on Jilena's head. Not that he was willing to kill his mother and bury his body in the lake, but someone who wanted to keep the origin of Ramira a secret would have a strong motive. Should he tell Jonathan what he knows about who Ramira's father is?

“No name yet.” the girl waved her hand. “It's too early to put them as suspects, but I've found a little embarrassing information."

"disgraceful? You mean" he tilted his head. "What-like?"

Jilena tells her about what Aunt Dewi told her about Mariana's affair with Arsyanendra and how she is quite certain that the man is Ramira's biological father.

"Mr Arsyanendra is Ramira's father?" jonathan was surprised.

"Surprising, huh?"

"Are you sure?" asked again to convince, because he was very surprised by what he heard.

“Not a hundred percent, but pretty sure. There should be a test, if Ramira wants to know.”

“You haven't told him?”

"No, not until I get confirmation from the lab" Jilena said.

“That makes her Noah's sister.” He put the last piece of cake in his mouth. “I never expected.”

“Yes, half-brother, but it's not for public consumption.” If it gets leaked, in this small town, Ramira will be humiliated for being the subject of widespread gossip. “Oh, no. That's gonna happen. Gossip!” Jilena was silent for a moment.

When they were done with their pie, Jilena took out a used plate and rinsed it in the sink. “By the way, how's your little one? Want to enter Kindergarten?”asked Jilena who suddenly remembered Vino.

"That's all he talked about—yah, go to school and you." replied Jonathan.

"Me?" Jilena's brows furrowed, as she dried her hands.

“It looks like you impressed him at the bakery the other day, old friend. Yes, Vino keeps asking about his beautiful old friend."

Jilena laughed at those words, turning from the sink facing. "He seems like a great little boy.” There was envy and a little emotional she felt, remembering her baby boy. But quickly Jilena erased that memory. "You taught him well, Jo."

They were standing near the sink, staring into each other's eyes. No words came out of their mouths for a long time. Jilena was sure Jonathan would bend over and kiss her—he could see in her eyes and as the man tilted his head.

Jilena is ready, waiting for a touch on her lips. He felt the pounding of his heart getting tighter and his body weakening. As Jonathan lowered his face to Jilena's face, he placed a hand on the chest of his field and pressed his fingers, the distance of their lips was only a few inches.

Jonathan stood so close that Jilena felt the hot breath of the man on her lips. Then he suddenly stepped back unexpectedly.

“Sorry. I can't do this right now. There is a Vino to think about.”

Jilena's legs felt limp hearing the man's words. "I don't understand."

“I saw you kiss Noah tonight. I have to be careful who I'm in a relationship with, for Vino's sake."

The romantic moment is gone. He crossed his arms and leaned his back against the counter. “What you saw earlier when Noah kissed me, he just said good night, Nothing more. I was also surprised because he kissed me suddenly.”

“Kiss you good night..so you went on a date with him?” ask Jonathan.

“I've explained that. We were just two old friends who went to dinner. It wasn't a date, Jonathan. Please trust me.”

“Listen, Jilena, when you're nothing more than friends, you don't kiss on the lips." Out of nowhere, Jonathan grabs his arm and pulls it. The man's lips touched his lips, kissed him fiercely,****** his lips, then he let go. Jilena's body became weak and her legs were wobbly, like there was a hot fire. He can't catch his breath.

His hand grabbed the table behind to lean. Jonathan stood looking at her, as if he was surprised by what he had just done. "I have to go." He stepped down the hall and a voice echoed from the closed door, leaving Jilena with a surprised face and a flabbergasted mouth.

...*...

While her father's desk drawer was still locked, there was nothing to do that night. After Jonathan left, Jilena went into the bedroom and laid her body on the bed, still confused by what had happened. He sunk his face into the pillow, moonlight penetrating his room from the thin window curtain. It caught his attention for a moment, but when he closed his eyes, Jonathan's face appeared. Recalling as the man's warm lips kissed him made his lips throb and tingle. Is Jonathan lying in his bed thinking about their kiss too? He rolled to the side, curled up on his pillow, and slept with a smile.

...*...

In the morning, the sound of a phone ringing wakes Jilena from a dream. With his eyes half closed and his mind still in the dream, he fumbled at the top of the nightstand looking for his cell phone. He answered with half-sleep.

“Good morning, my sun.”

“Rami?” Jilena raised herself with one elbow, peering at the alarm above her nightstand, her eyes still blurred from sleep. "What time?"

“It's seventy-thirty. Sorry, did I wake you?”

Jilena could have easily lied, but it was clear from her voice that she was sleepy . "I'm asleep, but it's time to wake up." His voice echoed in his ears, advising him not to sleep all day. "What's wrong?"

“You never called me back last night. Remember that? Dating Noah, huh? Romantic dinner?"

“Ugh! That's not a date. I've been telling everyone that we're not dating."

"Everyone? Who else did you tell?”

“Jonathan.” the answer is short.

“Oh, my goodness, now you really have to tell me about last night. Don't go anywhere, I want to see.”

Jilena tells Ramira all about her dinner with Noah, an unexpected kiss, the creaking of the tires, and her phone call with Jonathan who finally wants to come to her house.