The Price Of Sincerity
Reason

“Are you sure you'll be there alone? I can come with you, yes but it can't take long.” Shara said as she opened her seatbelt.

“It's okay, I'm alone. You'll miss your flight if you come with me.” Jane picked up a tote bag containing a jacket in the back seat. “Happy honeymoon, make sure to come back with baby, Okay.”

“Do not like that” Shara blushed in shame while Jane was out of the car. “I put your medicine in the bag just in case. Remember, no more alcohol.”

“Iya, yes. Why are you so chatty.” The frown on Jane's face showed no irritation but instead made her look cute with her cheeks becoming a little bulging.

“Aish, my little boy. Look out, you're fine here. If anything happens, call Dev. Okay.”

“Hemm, alright.”

Jane and Shara wave their hands at each other's farewell sign. Shara's going to the Maldives, Maldives. An island nation in South Asia. And it looks like Shara and her husband will spend one to two weeks there. Honeymooning. Busy with Jane's busy schedule, Shara has not had time to go on her honeymoon. And this is the time because Jane is taking time off. It was already two months from their wedding day to honeymoon now.

Jane looked around as she stepped into the apartment. It turns out that the outside is more luxurious yes, the inner Jane. Jane took the elevator to the top floor, the fifth floor. The hum created by the heels he wore filled the void of the passageway.

As soon as she got to the door, Jane checked once again the contents of the bag she was carrying, making sure that there was a black leather jacket inside. He took a deep breath before pressing the bell that was beside the door. Max leaves the jacket on his body when he returns from the bar in a semi-conscious state. Shara asks Devan for Max's address on the grounds of returning her jacket. That was Shara's intention, but it was different from Jane's. The jacket was just an excuse for him to be able to meet the man again.

The events of that night still troubled her mind, and she must definitely thank Max for helping her back then. He's very grateful. Jane pressed the bell button again and the door opened. A woman's head emerged from the doorway.

“Ya?”

Jane was surprised, she had time to think whether she was wrong or how. He checked the number on the bell box. No. gabe. He's correct. That's his apartment room. But why a woman.

“Hemmm, what is this—”

“Hei Jane, long time no see.” Said a man who suddenly opened the door wide and grabbed his hand to shake hands. While the woman in thin sleeping pajamas just stared at him expressionlessly before moving in. “You're looking for Max, right? Come in.”

Have we ever met? Inner Jane. He was astonished by the sentence Dye said upon seeing it.

With doubt, Jane enters while being directed by Dye. He doesn't know the guy, but because he knows Max he might be trustworthy. But Jane innocently follows the directions and enters Max's room, allowing Jane to sit on the soft sofa she's been sitting on before.

“Wait here. She was taking a shower,” Dye walked away from her and walked through the door that directly connected the room with the living room and kitchen.

Jane looked around her, still the same as the first time she was there. But something was missing, he no longer saw the photos arranged on the shelf. The place was filled only with beautiful porcelain and some expensive sweet souvenirs.

Max appears with a towel that only covers his body from waist to knee, exposing his chest and abdomen to great clarity.

“Jane, you're here.” Max stood beside the sofa holding a small towel in his hand, wiping his still wet hair. Jane was fixated on staring at him for a moment, their hot kiss at the bar made the woman's face instantly reddened. He is shocked when Max suddenly sits next to him.

“Ah. I want to return your jacket,” Jane put the tote bag she carried on the table.

“Pizza has arrived,” steps Dye immediately stop at the door once see Max and Jane who are in a position that is enough to create a misunderstanding. “Ehmm.”

The man's silence made Jane immediately take her eyes off Max, “Ah looks like you guys are gathering, sorry I came at an inappropriate time. I'll go straight home.” Jane stood up and was about to walk away, but her steps came to a halt when something cold touched her wrist. Max withholds.

“Stay here, it will be more fun if you come.” Max stood behind him.

“But I—”

“Follow it,” Max just passed it, pulling the woman's hand to be able to follow her. Dye could only smile with relief at the joy on Max's face, it had been a long time since she had seen him so much fun.

As soon as she got to the sofa in front of the television, Jane sat down a little awkwardly until Max started talking.

“Oh yes, you definitely don't know them. She's Dye and she's Ellen, their-sister sister. And for you, this is Jane.” They shook hands and returned smiles to each other, except for Ellen who was still expressionless responding to her. Max ended the brief introduction quickly because he had to wear his shirt. There was no way he was there just wearing a towel on his thigh. “Happy, I'll be back.” Max gently stroked the back of his hand.

Jane nodded. The elusan still felt warm—cold on his skin. I hope you come back quickly. His inner.

Shortly after Max's departure, Dye caught up with him. Jane and Ellen sit on the couch enjoying a slice of pizza while watching an action movie on the television screen. In awkwardness.

“Are you her new boyfriend? Or just the woman?” Finally Ellen spoke.

“We're just friends,” Jane answered honestly, because they're just friends. But the woman did not believe what she said.

“Hemm, so, yes.” Ellen returned to bribe her pizza and focused on watching.

Jane looked at the woman, trying to grasp the meaning of her words. Or just the woman? The question ran through his mind. He tried to find the meaning of the sentence but could not find it. She's curious.

“Itu—”

“Are you thirsty? I'll get you a drink, it looks like it's in the fridge. A minute.”

Seeing the woman go by made him undo his intention to ask. The smell of the woman's perfume left marks on her nose, but she faintly smelled Dye from there as well. And sure enough, when he took his eyes off the television and looked towards the kitchen, he accidentally caught Ellen and Dye kissing.

Isn't brand*a sister adik—.

“Hey, what do you see.” Max suddenly came and ate the pizza he had in his hand. The man's arrival instantly averted his gaze, his eyes immediately fixed on Max's thin lips, the man's dimples still appearing even while he was chewing food.

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