The Trouble Lady (Project of Love)
Chapter 26. Not Close Enough

11 Pairs of participants who were eliminated in this round were immediately asked to leave the dance floor. As for those who remained, they were engulfed in confusion. They were confused as to think of a way how they would dance if only by a square length of 30 centimeters. Very narrow size, exactly like the size of a ceramic tile.

Ricky is still a relaxed expression, because both of his legs have been inside the red square. But unlike Nisa, Nisa then looked at Ricky with a cynical look.

"Good, just stick to your own feet. My feet would come in, too, impossible. We lost," said Nisa.

"Not necessarily" Ricky said confidently.

"the way? Do I have to take off my shoes and stand on your feet?" nisa asked with her eyebrows raised next door.

"Wrong, I'll tell you later!"

The two compact MCs said, "The third branch begins! Play music!"

All the remaining participants immediately panicked, except for Ricky. Suddenly Ricky said to Nisa who was still embracing her neck. "Hand!"

"Eh, what?!" Nisa gets even more shocked when Ricky suddenly holds her back. He could only gawk in disbelief that he was now being carried by someone.

The sound of music was heard again, another couple who had followed the way Ricky was the number 8 couple. While the number 6 and 19 pairs are declared eliminated because they are still out of the square when the music has been played.

The other guests and the show's MCs were amazed by the way Ricky treated Nisa as his dance partner. "There are still 2 couples left! Numbers 8 and 13! Who's going to last until the song ends?!" charlie said enthusiastically.

"A suitable pair for valentine's theme! Aw, Charlie! Let's move aside, let's not bother this super romantic couple!" take Violet while pulling Charlie's hand to take her away from the remaining 2 pairs of participants.

On the other hand Nisa who had comprehended the state started to get nervous as she watched the gazes of the people to her. "Senpai .. put me down!" pinta Nisa with a flushed face.

"No way, tuh!" ricky said lightly.

"B-but .. I'm heavy!" nisa said in a soft voice.

"Within' light, are you dieting?" Ricky chuckles.

"Buehhh ... I'm serious! Aren't you ashamed of us seeing as many people?"

"No, what's the shame? I didn't break the rules and didn't cheat during the competition." Ricky then looked at Nisa closely. "If you're ashamed, don't look at them, but look at me!"

"..." - ".Nisa did not say a word, her pupils widened as she looked at a Ricky. Somehow the words spoken by Ricky really make him submissive. He blushed and both of his chubby cheeks blushed.

I must have been sick, my heart pounding faster than when I ran a race. Dance does not take care of energy. But it's weird, even though my heart's pounding but it feels good.

Ah, I just realized that she was this handsome when viewed up close. It is fitting that he is adored by the cute girls at school. Strange, though I know that his attitude sucks, but now I'm happy to spend time with him.

"Why are you smiling to yourself?" ricky asked that immediately made Nisa aware of her daydream.

"Eh, i-it .. I smile because I imagine victory, not a smile because I imagine you!" answer Nisa spontaneously.

"What did you say?"

"B-nothing!" Nisa takes her eyes off Ricky.

"..." - ".Ricky was silent, then also turned his gaze away.

It's the first time I've held someone, but seeing him up close somehow seems different. Usually always arrogant, alert and unapproachable, but now he showed a face of shame I had never seen before.

Ricky then spins in place to be seen and stay rated as a dance. As Ricky turned his body around, he saw the number 8 pair that had fallen. The couple died because the man who carried was no longer strong to carry until it was exhausted. If you want to win then now just make Ricky survive until the song ends.

Nisa who realized that there were no competitors anymore immediately smiled happily and tightened her hand on Ricky's shoulder. "Thank you, please hold on until the song is over!"

"Don't underestimate me, carrying you longer I'm still capable. Then for your thanks ... Equally, this is not a big thing."

Soon the song runs out which is a sign that the dance is over. But Ricky has not dropped Nisa because of the atmosphere. Nisa herself was the same, she did not realize that the song had run out because she had been constantly staring at Ricky.

"Ehem! The dance is over .." said Violet.

"You've won" Charlie said.

Reacting to the two men realized because of the MC speech that shocked them, Ricky then lowered Nisa slowly. The faces of the two were both flushed, they turned their faces away from each other as they blushed.

PROK PROK PROK!!

All the guests and the two MCs of the event gave a standing ovation. Then Violet thrust a mic at Nisa. "How do you feel about being a winner?"

"Of course happy, when can I get my reward?!" asked Nisa enthusiastically.

"Haha, calm down .. definitely can." said Violet who then directed the mic to Ricky. "You're so romantic, if you know how long you've been in a relationship?"

"A day," Ricky replied with a cold look.

"Gee ... So you guys just made it today, did you guys decide to date during the flower exchange game earlier?!" ask Charlie.

"Our relationship is not a girlfriend, but .." Ricky had not yet finished talking but the mic that was nearby was suddenly seized by Nisa.

"Haha, ignore our relationship!" nisa said with an awkward smile while glaring at Ricky.

"..." for a moment Ricky was stunned, then he turned his face away.

Am I wrong? It is true that from today on my relationship with Nisa is a friend, I would say that. But whatever, I'm just a plus one, I'm following the guy who invited me.

"Alright, then we go straight to the gift handover! The grand prize is to be able to talk to idols, but there is also an additional gift as a surprise gift." Violet then gestures to Charlie.

Charlie responded with a nod of his head, then he approached a committee and returned with a small box. Violet then opened the box and said, "Nooo! A surprise gift for you!"

"Wristbands??" Nisa and Ricky were confused when they saw 2 black bracelets in the box.

Violet then took the bracelet and handed it one each to Nisa and Ricky. "Now wear! But do not wear it yourself yes, put dong into the hands of his partner~"

Nisa and Ricky look back, it seems clear that they still feel awkward with each other. "Here!" said Ricky who suddenly pulled Nisa's left hand.

"..." - ".Nisa said nothing as Ricky put the bracelet in her hand. When the bracelet was perfectly placed, he looked at his hand with a look of disbelief.

"It's my turn!" ricky said as he extended his right hand.

"Eh, yes ..." Nisa holds Ricky's hand and also puts a bracelet in her hand.

"Well, if you have please try to join hands!" violet said enthusiastically.

Nisa clenched her hands as tightly as possible until she looked trembling. He was trembling not out of nervousness, but out of anger. He was angry because he felt told to continue by the MC of the show.

Ricky who realized it immediately grasped Nisa's hand. But something suddenly happened, the pendant decoration of the two bracelets suddenly stuck.

Violet smiled, "Good, right? The pendant is made of magnet, will fuse when your two hands are close together. This bracelet can be considered as the symbol that binds you! Romantic huh, I even got envious haha ..."

Instantly Nisa freed her hand from Ricky's grasp. With a flushed face he then said, "Where is my main gift?"

"Ahaha doesn't seem very impatient to want to talk to an idol, then alright, follow me!" charlie said as if offended because Nisa repeatedly asked for gifts.

"For the rest of the guests, please come back to enjoy the party! The game for today ends here!" violet.

Nisa then follows the MC, but not Ricky. Despite being persuaded by the MCs to come along, Ricky insists on not wanting to because he is not interested in talking to any famous figure.

The party continues, this time Ricky is alone at the party without Nisa's company. As if taking advantage of this moment, some of the girls who had been paying attention to Ricky were now trying to get close to him and talk to him. Ricky's antisocial nature is inevitable, he is cold to all who approach him.

TING!

The sound of a special notification message suddenly sounded from Ricky's phone, he then checked the message on his phone. Ricky looked very surprised when he read the message. "Professor Arman is here and is waiting for me upstairs" he murmured.

Ricky then looked up and noticed around, he saw Professor Arman standing next to the 2nd floor guardrail. He seemed to be carrying a cup of cocktails and stared intently at Ricky who was downstairs. Ricky, who realized it, went straight up the stairs and approached Professor Arman.

The 2nd floor was not an arbitrary place, as it was reserved for VIP guests. Where it contains important figures such as officials from the education office, influential businessmen, politicians, lawyers, lecturers from famous universities, doctors and so on.

From a distance Ricky saw Professor Arman who was talking to someone, he just approached him after the person had left.

"It was a good dance performance" said Professor Arman, insinuatingly.

"Don't talk about it, Professor! Lately when I wanted to meet, Professor must have been busy or had other needs. Professor kind of avoids me, even though I want to talk about the continuation of this research project!" ricky said in a soft voice.

"Speak as usual, here are some sponsors who are also involved in the project, you can be more free. So how's it going? Did you encounter any difficulties?"

"The problem is there, but I can still overcome it. Then about the development .. I did as the Professor asked. Now that the second stage has been completed, I've become close to the subject. The professor can tell you what the third stage is now!"

"No, the second stage is not finished, this is just the beginning" he said, looking at the glass of cocktails in his hand.

"How early? I am now a friend, and we dance together. Is being friends still not close enough?" ricky asked confusedly.

"You misunderstood Ricky, the close I meant was not the close status, but the closeness associated with comfort. Even if you've been dancing, playing or joking together, but it's still not close enough!"

"Then how do I make sure I'm close enough or not?"

"Get her trust! Make him completely believe in you, only then can we get into the third stage, the last stage! This stage will only be accomplished if he has already placed his trust in you, because the third stage is the stage where I will intervene directly. By making her believe to want to meet me willingly!"

"Professors really want to intervene directly?" ricky asked to make sure again.

"Of course, the goal of this project is to erase human feelings. And I've come to conclusions about some methods. Moreover, the field you pursue is surgery, not psychological. So I'll have to finish it myself."

"The second stage is difficult, even sometimes there are people who do not put trust in their own families. Your job is that, I really hope for you. You still have a lot of time, use this time as best you can to get closer to him." continued Arman again.

"..." - ".Ricky was silent, he knew very well that the task was really difficult. He then took a deep breath and said, "I'll give Professor a try. Now that I have to go back, it'll be suspicious if Nisa finds out that I'm missing. Excuse me," Ricky then rushed back to get off.

Soon Nisa has returned, she has finished talking to her idol. Seemed a satisfied and happy smile engraved on his face, even he also told these things to Ricky.

On the other hand there was still Professor Arman observing the behavior of the two people, he grinned while shaking his cocktail glass.

"Hi, Professor!" greet someone.

Instantly Arman turned to look at the person, he then put on a friendly smile as soon as he saw who greeted him. "Oh, it turns out Young Master Kartawijaya. The degree of this party is up because of your arrival."

"Haha, Professor is exaggerating." The Young Master stepped closer to Arman, then looked down with curiosity as Arman had noticed. "It turns out the girl," he said with a grin.

"You know him?!" arman asked in disbelief.

"Not really, but she's a pretty attractive girl. He's the one who dares to give me red roses without knowing who I am. Does the professor himself know him?"

"Yes ... knew him well, I was quite familiar with his parents. But he already had someone, the person who was currently beside him. So please don't take Young Master for an interest in him." said Arman with a cynical look.

The project that I had been putting together for a long time could be a mess if Nisa had a relationship with someone as influential as her. Anyway I have to prevent him from interfering.

"Currently, who's interested in a girl doesn't know the rules like that. Oh yeah, I just want to get a message from my dad. He said he was very grateful for the Professor's help last time. I told you what I meant, I'm sorry."

The Young Master left, but Arman was still watching Nisa with a cynical smile. "Rika, you have a sweet daughter .." she murmured.

You have a daughter who looks a lot like you, but I hate her eyes! The same eyes as that of a dog*n who took you from me! You used to promise to keep me company, but you turned out to be a traitor.

Nisa Sania Siwidharma, my reason for making you a subject is not because of the heartache your mother has given you, not because she wants revenge or revenge for betrayal. Except for satisfying my obsession.

Now I have studied the various states of human emotion and expression. But I haven't been able to find the true meaning of the emotion of despair. I want to see what it's called the emotion of despair! Through you, that goal will be achieved.