
- B's PoV--
*Singapore, Mandarin Oriental Hotel: 2003, Competition Day*
"B....." Aditya called me softly.
"Hmm?" I answered briefly to the man. Aditya still holds me in his arms.
"What am I..... Really no chance anymore?" This question. Why should he ask like this?
It's hard for me to answer. This question really made me feel quiet. It was not that I had no words to reply to her words, but for some reason, her words this time sounded so sincere that it rendered me incapable of words.
"Aware B! Awake it!!!" I spoke in my heart to warn myself.
Instantly my mind went back to work and thought about where the question was headed. Could it be that it was a question of affirmation before he carried out his plan?
I knew my answer would determine his attitude later. But I prefer to run my own strategy. Maybe my soul is too greedy to want to control everything.
I really believe in the plan I put together a while ago. That's why I deliberately chose silence, to let the man conclude my answer with his own thoughts. A few minutes passed with no answer from me.
Understanding my attitude of inertia, Aditya then let go of his embrace. Gently, he turned my body around, making my original position behind him face him.
"Can't ya?" The man forced his lips to smile, although the look on his face showed more disappointment.
I don't know why my heart suddenly broke. I seem to get carried away.
Yeah, I feel like I can feel the sadness that Aditya is feeling. The sadness that I should have doubted the truth.
"Sorry...." All of a sudden the words just slid off my lips, when I should not have said them.
Aditya shook his head. The man then hugged me back. This time it's tighter than ever.
Several times he took a deep breath and then exhaled violently. The man seemed to be holding something in his heart, before he finally spoke again... As calm and gentle as possible.
"Then at least let me give you one last memory of us at the competition." Aditya was getting me into his arms.
My heart's getting messed up. If I could describe how I am doing right now, I feel like I am at a crossroads.
Given how his tone of voice sounded so sincere and stifling, I seemed to not believe that this man was a cold-blooded human who could destroy anyone. However, on the other hand, I also couldn't possibly ignore what I heard while in his office back then.
Aditya will do something to Indra. If so, what might Aditya mean as a last memory for me is an occasion where I can see the destruction of Indra with my own eyes?
Imagine the destruction of Indra? Will I be able to?
My body trembled violently in his arms due to the sudden feeling of fear gnawing. I even let out a cold sweat all of a sudden.
At that moment, I hardened my heart. The second plan must be carried out.
I don't want my senses to get hurt no matter what. And Indra's safety can only be guaranteed if the plan to my duaku goes smoothly. I have to stop Aditya from going with me at the dance competition tonight.
"B... What's wrong with you?" It was possible that Aditya felt that something was wrong with my body. He then took off his arms and looked at my face.
"Hey... You're sweating cold sweat?" Aditya washed my sweat with his hands quickly.
"I-I'm fine. Don't worry!" A smile for him. I tried to show that I was in a stable condition.
"B... Should I call a doctor? Are you sure you can still continue this competition?" The man asked so frantically, while again touching his palm on my forehead to check the temperature.
Stupid, B! You idiot!! I should have been more in control of this body. What if I can't convince Aditya that I'm fine now and then he cancels my participation in the dance competition?
Now, I alone can actually mess up all the plans I've arranged carefully. Supposedly, it was me who prevented Aditya from accompanying me to the dance competition so that I could meet Indra, instead of preventing myself from meeting Indra.
"I-I'm fine. I'm just a little bit hungry" I said cautiously, putting on a hardened face, which I hoped would be enough to convince him.
It was the only reason that made the most sense to answer what was happening with my body at the moment. The answer was so spontaneous, but it was also logical at the same time.
Although it is not exactly the same as the scenario I compiled before, but at least the same final result I will still get. I thought, a little improvisation might make things look more natural.
"You're right. It's already lunchtime" Aditya replied as he looked at the chain's golden circle, which was attached to his wrist area.
"What do you want to eat? I'll order it for you" he continued, walking towards the nightstand, where a phone was placed.
"N-no need! I actually cooked this morning. Menu I like, maybe you want to see?" I then got out of my place and picked up a brown paper bag containing the food I had cooked this morning.
"Yes... I made balado shrimp, boiled cassava leaves, and there were a few pieces of cucumber as a companion menu," I told Aditya while offering him some boxes of food.
Aditya immediately took all the food boxes and brought them to the table near the sofa. In a hurry, the man then opened the box one after another. He was silent for a moment when he saw the menu and smelled the aroma.
"Can I eat this? Do you mind if I want to taste your cooking?" The man asked while looking at my face expectantly.
I knew that he couldn't possibly not be tempted by my cooking. Everything in the box was her favorite food.
"Of course!" I presented a smile that might look sincere enough to reassure her even more.
"I'll order rice. We eat together," said Aditya eagerly as he stepped back to the nightstand and prepared to pick up the phone handle on it, to contact the restaurant hotel.
Once he got an answer from the restaurant waiter, Aditya immediately ordered two servings of white rice and one pot of green tea as a complementary drink. The man also did not forget to ask for some empty plates, which was of no use.
Finished ordering food, Aditya then took my hand and took me to sit on the sofa. The two of us were now sitting opposite each other despite being separated by a table filled with food that I had made this morning.
Was he really this happy with the food? Or is she happy that I cooked her something?
While waiting, the restaurant waiter came and delivered the food, Aditya again invited me to speak. We talked more about our favorite food this time.
At that time Aditya told me that what I cooked today was his favorite menu. Something I knew, only that day I chose to pretend like I didn't know.
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Geck... Geck... Geck...
"That must be our order," Aditya said as he stepped in to open the door.
Right, what was his guess. After waiting for almost fifteen minutes, the menu he ordered had finally arrived.
Aditya invited the waiter to enter our room. He then asked her to rearrange the table containing the food. Skillfully, the restaurant waiter then prepared everything, until the table also now looks sweeter.
"Thank you" said Aditya, offering several pieces of money as tips for the waiter. As soon as the waiter left, Aditya immediately closed the door of our room and came back to me.
"This looks better, right?" Her eyes were so clear from the corner of my eyes. I nodded back and smiled a smile.
Aditya, the man looks happy, while I... I began to feel hesitant to proceed with all these plans.
"Come, we'll eat the food! But first, I will lead the prayer!" Aditya stuck his hands out toward me, hoping we would pray by holding each other.
I was caught up with his attitude. I don't believe it, he'll ask me to pray now and I'll feel more and more sinful.
"B... Do you mind if we pray while holding hands? My family used to do this when I was a kid and I was very happy when I did that first. I just want to share that feeling with you" Aditya asked so sincerely.
Oh, myGod! What am I supposed to do? Do I have to stop everything now?
My heart really isn't strong, if it should hurt Aditya. But... Indra... I can't let Aditya hurt Indra.
Heavily, I placed both of my palms on top of his palms. Aditya then clasped my hand tightly, along with that we both instantly closed our eyes. In the next second, the man immediately offered a prayer. We started by making the sign of the cross first.
"The loving god. Thank you for your blessing to us today. Thank you for now that your son can sit down and eat together with his beloved wife. Thank you that God also gave this opportunity to your son to eat the dishes that have been prepared by him. Bless these foods and drinks to be a strength for both of us... Amen." The two of us immediately made the sign of the cross back before finally opening our eyes.
Without hesitation, Aditya then immediately took the food I had prepared for him. The food I intentionally made.... To hurt him.
I know I can't back down now. I repeatedly strengthened my heart so as not to prevent the man from eating something that was a taboo for him.
Yeah, I've put pepper on that food. I put something I hoped would hinder her from attending the dance competition.
Yeah, just hampers! I'm not gonna kill him. I shouldn't feel so guilty.
One by one, my arguments and defense were up to fill this head. I tried to calm myself down who was restless. I tried to convince myself that what I was doing was not the right thing, but it was the best in this kind of situation.
Aditya had already put some of the food I made on his rice plate. He is now even seen starting to arrange the food in his spoon.
The man smiled at me, said 'good meal', before he opened his mouth and.......
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