Secrets of Lakefront House
CHAPTER 7. MEET NOAH ARSYANENDRA

The small bell clinks as the front door opens and Ramira looks behind Jilena to see the incoming customer. "Sorry, but we'll close."

“I just want to drink coffee.”

I know that voice. Jilena froze and her heart rate accelerated. Wishing he was wrong, he turned his body slowly. In front of him stood a tall man of about 30 years old with wavy black hair and eagle eyes that stared intently.

“Jilena?”the man's eyes sparkled to see Jilena there.

Jilena swallowed her saliva, looked at the person standing in front of her wide shoulder and charming smile just as she remembered. The man who once gave love and deep hurt.

“Noah?”

It's been a long time since Jilena met her ex-boyfriend last time, she's grown up to be a very handsome guy. Noah stretched out his hand and stepped towards him. Jilena let Noah hug for a while, wondering if Noah could feel his stiffness.

#It's a visual of Noah Arsyanendra.💕🥰😊

He used to miss this man's warm embrace. She remembers him crying all the way and hoping that his makeup wasn't messy. It's been years since he didn't meet Noah, and this isn't the way he wanted to when he meets his ex again.

"I heard the news about your father and I'm very sad" Noah said.

“You've heard?” ask Ramira.

“Master Rafael is my father's lawyer,” he replied, his brilliant black eyes sparkled—gaze at Jilena. “My father called me to tell me about it. I thought it was possible that you would return to this city."

"Do you think I won't come for papa's funeral?" jilena Bentak.

"Well, you must have come, even though I know you two didn't get along" Noah said.

"Yes, right. Thanks to you because you're the cause" Jilena snorted.

“You know, Ramira,” Noah raised his head to look at Ramira,“I think I want—

will pay for that coffee.” He put some money down and walked to the door, turning his back to Jilena. "I'm really sorry about your father." Noah turned around and stepped outside. There was a longing left in Noah's heart, seeing Jilena again made him happy.

Jilena looked at him through the window of the large window as Noah walked until he was no longer visible. That's not what he imagined, meeting an ex-girlfriend. He tried to recall all the things he had in mind for so many years— what he would say if he met, what Noah would say, what clothes he was wearing to look amazing in Noah's eyes. Jilena doesn't want Noah back. On the contrary, Jilena wanted Noah to come back and plead before her, and she wanted Noah to feel the pain and hurt he was inflicting on her at the time.

Everything looks so ridiculous now. They were lovers in high school, they were still great at the time, monkey love to be exact. Jilena shook her head remembering that. Noah may have moved on, maybe he dated a lot of pretty college students and maybe now he has a beautiful girlfriend.

“What was that about?” Ramira raised an eyebrow at him.

Jilena took her eyes off the window. "I don't know. I don't know why I acted like this when I met him again. Just hearing her voice instantly reminds me of our dirty past.”

"After all this time?"ask Ramira

"Yes. Crazy, yes.” Jilena grimacing.

“Well, I'm sure he'll forget about that. Things will be a lot better when you see her again." Ramira tries to cheer.

He looked into Ramira's eyes with a smile. His friend is always optimistic. "Maybe."

Ramira walked back to the back of the counter. “Stores must close. Why don't you go to Aunt Dewi's house and tell her that I'll catch up with you.”

Jilena loves Aunt Goddess. Since the departure of her mother, Aunt Dewi has always tried to enter as an intermediary between Jilena and her father whenever she can. But Aunt Dewi was not always sweet, sometimes her speech was rather spicy and a little pushy, she acted as if she knew what was best for everyone. The jilena moves towards the door. "Okay, I'll see you there."

Jilena stops at a long driveway in front of the magnificent Aunty Dewi house in the Monte Vista Complex, a neighborhood filled with large and luxurious houses with European designs. He lowered his window, his car faltered several times as he turned off the engine. Parking the car in the shade of tall trees lined around the property, he hoped there would be no items in the box in the backseat that would melt in the hot, smoldering month of July. He crossed the front yard and stood in front of a two-story building with a red brick of Georgian design with clean white trim and black shutters. A moment after he pressed the bell, the wide black door opened.

Sarah, her older sister opened the door and immediately hugged Jilena and sobbed on her shoulder. "I thought you weren't going home, I almost gave up,” Sara said. "Why did you arrive so long?"

#visual Sarah Arabella.

“I'm very happy to meet you sister,” replied Jilena.

“Come in, girls,” she can hear Aunt Goddess sayup-sayup calling from inside the house. "You let the hot air in, let's go in." Sarah stepped aside for Jilena to enter and followed her through the wide passageway. After passing through a large staircase, they continued down the hallway with a rather dark color design, polished wooden floors, a series of family photos and artwork hung on either side. Aunt Dewi sits on a bar stool in a lavish dining room with a granite countertop that covers half of the newly renovated spacious kitchen.

As the two girls approached, Aunt Dewi stepped down from the chair and stretched her hands to Jilena, pulling her and hugging her tightly. Jilena looked at Aunt Dewi's face looking mascara a little belepotan and her eyes reddened. "I still can't believe he's gone" said his aunt sounding deep sadness. He released his embrace on Jilena, wiping her tears with a white handkerchief.

“I didn't know he had heart disease. He looks very healthy." Although, Jilena must admit, she had not met her papa for a long time.

“The work is quite tiring and stressful,” said Sarah,“Papa who takes care of legal matters for Mr. Bastian Asyanendra. Papa is always the one who takes care of all his problems.”

Papa's? Jilena has not called him that long, the relationship between Sarah and the father is different than the one he had with his father. A feeling of jealousy pierced his heart.

"A long journey" said Jilena. “Can I refresh myself first?”

"Sure, honey, you know the way to the bathroom." Aunt Dewi wiped her nose slowly with a handkerchief.

Jilena closed the bathroom door and stood in front of the mirror. He shed tears for his father throughout the journey, no more fear appearing at this moment. She wondered if Ramira, Sarah, and Aunt Goddess might think—if she didn't care — was of course the immense sadness and sense of loss felt by the three women. Yes, he was grieving over his father's death, but he also felt even more grieved over what had happened between them. Right now, he just felt numb.

As she looked at herself in the mirror, she recalled the unexpected encounter with Noah, as soon as she threw away her thoughts about the man. At this time there was deep sorrow, they had to arrange funeral plans, and decisions to be made for his future. Now is not the time to mourn the lost love.

By the time she came out of the bathroom, Ramira had already arrived. She and Sarah were sitting on the flower sofa in the large room with Aunt Goddess, they were talking in a soft voice, the room was surrounded by walls with French-style doors and white-paneled windows separating the garden and swimming pool areas.

There is an addition of space to the back of the old house building, there is a new kitchen and breakfast area, is in the process of renovation, Jilena thought. Ramira raised her head to look at Jilena while walking “If you are hungry, I have brought some muffins and bagels that have not been sold today. Still fresh koq."

"Thank you." Jilena took the cinnamon bagel out of the paper bag then joined the others. Jilena kicked her flip-flops and then crossed her legs shortly after dropping into the green soft chair next to the sofa. "Have you seen papa's body?"ask her.

"Yes, I have" replied Aunt Goddess. “Because he was dead when the paramedics arrived, they took his body to the morgue. One of the paramedics knew me, he knew that I was Rafael—'s sister and I met a few times at the charity event—he was the one who called me.”

"What should we do now?" Sarah asked, her eyes wet and red from crying.

"Do you guys know papa's last request? in terms of funerals or cremations?" asked Jilena while tearing a piece of bagel and then chewed it.

"We have not discussed it," said Aunt Dewi. “Maybe he's written the last referee's letter and kept it somewhere. Usually lawyers are like that. ”

Jilena gulped and cleared her throat. “I'll check his study at home."

"Do you intend to stay there deck?" Sarah asked.

“Yes, my plan is so.”andjilena.

"Aunty thinks it's better that you stay here, dear," Aunt Dewi offered. "Are you sure you want to be in that big old house alone?”

“I think it's better if I check papa's belongings. Hopefully I can find his will or burial instructions.”

"How long will you stay, Jilena?" ask Ramira.

"As long as I want it."

“How about your job?” Sarah asked. “Did they not expect you back after a few days off?"

Jilena seems hesitant to switch. He didn't want to say anything, but now was the right time to tell them. "Not really. I got fired a few weeks ago. I've been looking for another job, but haven't had any luck.”

"So the time is right" said Aunt Dewi. “Tante hope you settle in this city for a long time, dear. We missed you. Isn't that right?” Ramira nodded quickly in agreement. Sarah shrugged her shoulders.

"Speaking about the right time," Ramira leaned over and patted Jilena on the knee, “just last week I heard the news that the Lembayung Post was looking for a reporter. Maybe you can apply for a job there. ” Jilena does need a job. Although, in terms of career, working in a small town newspaper was a step back, but he remembered the chastisement of his mother who always told him that a beggar could not choose.

“Maybe I have to wait a few days, until the funeral business and other things are done.” Jilena hopes to settle down and get used to small-town life again before leaving again and trying to find work in another city.

"Don't delay," replied Aunt Goddess. “Could have a job opportunity that was filled later. If you don't have a job, you have to grab every opportunity, but there is a chance.” Can't be a beggar be a voter? Seize every opportunity? Where do such words come from?

Jilena pulled another piece of bagel and chewed it. He really can't be picky. He almost decided to work as a waiter so he could get money. How bad is a small town newspaper? At least he can make money, he really needs money, maybe after having money later he can serve his car.

Now that her parents' estate is empty, she has a rent-free residence, at least for a while. Work, if he gets the job, could at least give him time to think about what he will do with the rest of his life. With all eyes on him, eagerly waiting for his answer, he relented. "Alright, I'll go impression to apply for a job tomorrow. ”

“And you don't have to worry about meeting Noah again,” Ramira said. "He worked in his father's real estate office, not in the newspaper's office." The eyes of Aunt Goddess look sparkling. "Meeting Noah again?"

"Tell us everything" Sarah chimed in

“Really, nothing.” Jilena is reluctant to discuss Noah with them, or with anyone about it. “She stopped by The Upper Spot before Ramira closed the store and then she left.”

"That's all?" Sarah sounds like she can't believe her sister.

Ramira leaned forward. "Jilena threw him out."

"Oh, my dear girl," Aunt Dew sighed. “You cannot live in this city without meeting Noah Arsyanendra. You'd better make peace with him or you'll just make yourself miserable.”

Aunt Goddess was right, but she was lazy to discuss it. His desire to avoid Noah was so deep that he lost his balance, he felt emotion. He shouldn't have met Noah, he's been thinking hundreds of times what would happen if one day he met Noah after all these years since they broke up.

However, as time went by Jilena began to forget, until the last few years she did not think about it at all. He had to figure out how to behave to the man without appearing to be rude. "Can't the topic be changed, don't discuss Noah?" Jilena begged, grabbed the last bagel and put it in her mouth.

As the afternoon approaches, Auntie Dewi orders food online from a local restaurant that specializes in providing fresh and organic food, the restaurant usually does not accept direct orders for delivery. But Dewi Ginanjar was able to convince them, after promising a sizable tip, the doorbell rang the sign of the food he ordered until.

Sarah and Ramira opened the food parcel and placed the dishes and glasses on the table in the dining room between the kitchen and the spacious lounge. When Auntie Dewi filled the crystal jug with water and ice, Jilena took the napkin and cutlery, arranged it on the table.

The three women took part in preparing dinner and they ate dinner together. Jilena is enjoying dinner with her family, something she hasn't done in a long time.

Although not in a pleasant situation, but it feels warm and comfortable— is different from the years spent eating only frozen food heated in the microwave, alone in the apartment, and in the apartment, sometimes he eats while standing near the kitchen sink or eats while working with his laptop. At that time, he focused only on education and work.

She doesn't have many friends even she doesn't have time to find a boyfriend during her stay in Jakarta, even among her co-workers at the newspaper, Jilena who is more focused on working as an investigative reporter. His job as a reporter to cover weddings and even gossip of celebrities and the upper class, covering social events, he has proven the ability to write and dig the truth to produce stories that interest readers.

As a pretty girl, Jilena always avoids having serious romantic relationships—not in college even after graduating college. She had dated several men before, but whenever she realized that the man was getting serious, she always found a way to break up the relationship.  He has already given his heart to one man, Noah Arsyanendra, which is disastrous for him.

To protect herself from getting hurt again, either consciously or unconsciously, she always avoids serious relationships and will never fall in love again. When she was seventeen, Jilena fell in love, loving Noah with all her body and soul, a love that made her soar above the clouds and lose consciousness.

Noah loves her, or at least Noah says he loves Jilena. But Noah breaks his heart and life, crumbling to the brink, leaving behind the deepest wounds, and Jilena does not want it to happen again. Upon her return to the town of Lembayung, will she be ready to open her heart to another man and fall in love?