Part 3

Even though her life feels desolate after Zidan seized her precious crown two months ago, Airin's life has gradually returned to normal. She begins to make peace with the situation, although her heart still aches from Zidan's actions and words that day.

Since that incident, Airin has transformed into a quiet and reserved individual. While she used to be cheerful and talkative, she's now closed off. Airin also avoids gathering with her friends, something she used to do after returning from campus. Now, once she gets back from campus, she goes straight to her boarding house without stopping here and there as she did before.

"Airin!" called out a man standing not far from the campus gate. The man who disappeared for quite some time, the man who destroyed her future. Yes, the same man who still occupies the deepest corner of her heart.

Airin knows someone is calling her name. She knows a man is trying to catch up with her because she doesn't turn or stop. She knows, but she has no intention of stopping. Her heart refuses to meet a man who couldn't appreciate what she had given.

"Rin, Airin... listen! Please listen to me first...!" Zidan shouted, attempting to reach for Airin's hand, hoping she would stop and hear his explanation.

"I thought you haven't forgotten the words I said two weeks ago. I don't want to meet you until you change that statement and decision. You know, Zidan, what you did that day destroyed my life and demeaned my dignity. So, what else do you want to talk to me about?" retorted Airin. Finally, she turned to Zidan, challenging him. Her eyes widened with a hardened jaw.

If only she could, Airin would have probably swallowed Zidan alive right now, so angry and disappointed she was with him.

"Okay, if that's what you want. If that's what you desire, so we can be like we used to. Let's get married. We'll get married one month from now. I've informed my parents that I've found a woman to marry. They agreed, as long as I finish the last project I'm currently handling. Darling, I can't bear to live without you, that's why I came back with this news. I beg you, don't be like this." Zidan spoke softly, at the end of his sentence, kneeling before Airin, pleading for her to come back to him.

Two weeks. Two weeks he was away from Airin, two weeks he felt the loss. But Zidan couldn't deceive the reality he was currently facing. He didn't want to lose Airin, but he couldn't afford to lose his family either. Perhaps he had to be smarter and more patient in his actions so that the incident with Airin wouldn't happen again. So that the incident with Airin wouldn't destroy all the carefully laid-out plans.

"I can't trust you." Short, concise, and clear. Airin stepped away and left Zidan. Afraid her heart might melt again and be captivated by what the man said. Captivated by Zidan's sweet words and undeniable charm.

However, just a few steps away, Airin's hands were already circling her slender waist. So tight and strong.

"I love you so much. Just two weeks without seeing you, and my world felt like it collapsed instantly. I feel like I can't live anymore without you, Rin. I beg you, please give me a second chance to prove that I'm truly serious about what I say."

Still the same as before. Every word Zidan uttered sounded so sweet and calming. Making any woman unable to resist and escape from the charm of Zidan.

"I want proof that I'm the one you desire. I want proof that you truly want to take responsibility for what you did, even though I'm not pregnant as you claimed back then." Airin turned around, releasing herself from Zidan's embrace. She wanted to see how Zidan's eyes spoke when making promises later. Promises that were still uncertain whether they would be kept or not.

Zidan nodded quickly, accepting Airin's challenge to prove what he had said.

"What? What do I need to do to prove to you that I'm sincerely apologizing and serious about marrying you?" Zidan cupped Airin's cheeks, locking her movements to prevent her from escaping like before.

"I want to meet your parents. I..." Airin's eyes widened. Suddenly, Zidan pulled her close and passionately kissed her lips, causing Airin's words to cease, and her breath caught in her throat due to the deep and fervent kiss. Ignoring the cynical gazes of other students.

"Darling, didn't I tell you earlier that we'll get married one month from now?" Zidan asked softly, wiping away the wet traces on Airin's rosy lips. "Let's discuss this somewhere else so you understand that I'm truly serious about my words." He held Airin's hand and led her to the car parked not far from where they stood.

"Let's talk about this at our usual place," said Zidan while caressing Airin's forehead. She wore a reluctant expression, not wanting to join, but also unable to refuse Zidan's request to accompany him.

During the journey to Zidan's intended destination, Airin remained silent. Folding her hands in front of her chest, she gazed at the road beside her. She had no intention of uttering a word, let alone engaging in their usual banter.

Normally, when Zidan drove, Airin would hold his hand and kiss it repeatedly, expressing her love for him. They would also laugh and talk to each other. Anyone who saw them would surely envy the affection they displayed. However, now everything had vanished, lost in the passage of time. Airin had frozen after the wound inflicted by Zidan.

"A hotel? Why a hotel?" Airin asked, staring sharply at Zidan as the car entered the parking area of a four-star hotel. Airin couldn't accept being taken there due to the trauma from what Zidan had done to her that night.

Zidan reached for Airin's hand and held it. "Don't think negatively. Didn't you want to meet my parents?" Zidan asked with a gentle tone. "We'll talk inside, so it's more comfortable discussing our marriage with them. I want my parents to know that my future wife is a highly classy woman. It's not suitable to discuss with future in-laws in an open and crowded place."

Once again, Airin believed that Zidan truly wanted to have a serious conversation with his parents. Without hesitation, Airin got out of the car and followed Zidan.

"Darling, go to the receptionist and get the key. I need to use the restroom quickly," Zidan said, kissing the top of Airin's head.

"Key? Isn't it?" Airin blinked. Her eyebrows furrowed upon hearing Zidan asking her to fetch the key. Wasn't his parents already in the room waiting for them?

"Just wait there. You'll understand later," Zidan said, distancing himself, instructing Airin to wait for him in the room. He also waved his hand, gesturing for Airin to approach the receptionist.

Without any suspicion, Airin did as Zidan said. She obtained the key and went to room number one hundred seventeen on the fifth floor. With the help of an elevator, it didn't take long for Airin to reach the intended room.

"Here it is," Airin muttered to herself. She entered the room when she found the correct one. With a pounding heart, she sat on the couch, waiting for Zidan and his parents. That's assuming he wasn't deceiving her for the second time.

"Darling, sorry for making you wait!" Zidan said as he entered the room. He immediately locked the door, which Airin had left wide open.

"Wait, where..." 

"Just be patient. Don't get angry right away," Zidan interrupted. He pressed Airin's shoulders, urging her to sit back on the edge of the bed.

"Zidan, don't you dare lie to me!" Airin retorted, standing up again and pointing her index finger at Zidan, who was now smiling. He took out his phone from the jacket pocket and, ignoring Airin's anger, sat on the edge of the bed, starting a video call with someone.

"I don't want to fall into a man's trap again..."

"Hi, Mom! Sorry for contacting you just now. It's because convincing this daughter-in-law of yours to go to a quiet place for a serious talk with you is quite challenging. She also accuses me of lying, just like I did before. And, as I told Mom, I had an illicit relationship with her. That's why I want to introduce you both to her so that she believes in me and is willing to return to my embrace. As you know, I can't live without her," Zidan explained quickly as the video call connected with a middle-aged woman.

Making Airin, who wanted to be angry, refrain from uttering curses from her mouth, she chose to remain silent and listen to what Zidan was saying to the middle-aged woman addressed as "Mom."

"Where is she? Why can't Mom see her? You said she would talk to both of us," the middle-aged woman responded.

"She's here with me. Darling, come here!" Zidan beckoned, taking Airin's hand and leading her to sit. Not just on the edge of the bed but on his lap.

"I'm embarrassed," Airin muttered softly when Zidan insisted on holding her and she just wanted to sit on the bed.

However, Zidan had wrapped his arm around Airin's waist, making it impossible for her to move, let alone change seats.

"Ah, no need to be embarrassed like that. Haven't you and Zidan done more than that?" teased the middle-aged woman, causing Airin's face to turn bright red. Awkward with unfiltered remarks.

"No need to be embarrassed. I've told Mom everything and explained what we've done. I'm sorry; I had to expose our shame. But, I did it out of necessity for our relationship to be approved," Zidan whispered, slipping his hand onto Airin's smooth back. Gently stroking the back that was still covered by the short-sleeved green blouse.

Airin bit her lower lip, trying to ward off the strange feeling that arose when Zidan's hand began to naughtily explore her back to unhook the fastener there.

"What are you doing?" Airin whispered. Her body tensed as Zidan successfully unfastened the hook.

"Nothing. Just playing around. I was just kidding, and you don't need to worry. It's better to listen to what my mom is saying," Zidan whispered with a voice so husky and heavy, as if the man was holding back something, and Airin could feel something hardening at the base of his thigh.

"Airin...!" exclaimed the middle-aged woman, who was faithfully watching them through the video call.

"Y-yes, Aunt," Airin stammered. Her body felt hot and cold because she now felt Zidan hardening even more down there.

"Ah, don't call me Aunt. Call me Mom, just like Zidan." The middle-aged woman protested.

"Yes, Mom..." Airin, who was increasingly uncomfortable, responded.

"Dear, Mom wants to plead with you to forgive Zidan for what he did that day. Maybe he made a mistake and couldn't control himself, leading to that incident. As his mother, Mom sincerely wants to apologize to you. And Mom also requests one more month, until Zidan finishes the project he's working on. So that your lives are secure, and you won't be criticized by Zidan's other family members. After this project is completed, you can marry Zidan. Mom will come to your parents' house soon to propose to you, dear. Mom begs you to agree because Zidan might go crazy if you're still angry like yesterday."

With teary eyes, the middle-aged woman begged Airin, confirming what Zidan had said earlier and convincing Airin that it was the truth.

"One month, Mom?" Airin asked to make sure. One month, of course, is enough to wait. One month is not a long time, just thirty days.

"Yes, dear. One month it is. Mom begs," pleaded the middle-aged woman again, urging Airin to agree to her request.

Airin, having achieved her desire, nodded. Approving the wish of the middle-aged woman, who was hailed as Zidan's birth mother. Because all she needed was confirmation that Zidan was indeed serious about taking responsibility.

After discussing many things, Airin bid farewell. Thanking them for approving their relationship. Now, she just had to wait for thirty days, and then she and Zidan would get married.

And when the call ended, without Airin's consent, Zidan immediately threw his cell phone on the bed. Pulled the hem of the blouse Airin was wearing up and took it off.

“Zidan…”

Airin was unable to speak. Because Zidan had covered her mouth with such a deep kiss. Airin, who was unprepared, was of course unable to dodge and prevent Zidan from attacking her.

In an instant, his once pure body was under Zidan's power. Airin wanted to scream, but couldn't. Because Zidan was so strong in controlling it.

"Zidan, I beg you," whispered Airin. She shook his head with a sad face, begging Zidan not to enter him again. Yesterday was enough, she didn't want to sin with his lover anymore.

"I ask. Just this one time, after this not again. You don't need to be afraid or worried, because my mother has given us her blessing, and haven't you heard that yourself?" Zidan joined in the plea, without pulling away from Airin.

"I …"

"Just enjoy it. Because in one month we will get married." Zidan enters. Drowning Airin in pain like that day. The taste is still the same, although not as bad as the first. For the second time he gave his entire body to Zidan. Yes, Zidane. The man who is now one with her, but not with her life. Even though Airin had talked a lot with her lover's mother, there was still an invisible wall that separated the two of them. Which could separate them forever.