In his mansion, Andrew checked his phone again as if he did it over and over, Lila’s text of -where he needed to pick her up- would come. Not seeing her for a few days upset him. Her excitement over little things always managed to lift up his mood, sending brand new energy to him. And he needed his energy right now.
It was almost midnight, how late did she mean by late dinner?
Over and over he noticed the passing time while checking his phone. He really wanted to call her but decided against it. If she hadn’t noticed his text, it meant she hadn’t checked her phone yet, which led to a conclusion that she was still busy in her lab.
Buuuutttt it’s nearly midnight. He groaned inwardly, staring angrily at his phone as if his phone was to blame for Lila’s lack of response.
He
Lila opened her apartment door. She was quiet, but her apartment didn’t seem so quiet. An ear-spitting moan welcomed her. The sound came from her bedroom. She knew her boyfriend was in her apartment because he texted her so when she was on her way to collect blood sample for her own research. His text made her decided to go back and put the blood sample collecting on hold. With wide smile and exciting heart Lila got off of the bus then took the route home bus. She couldn’t wait to see her boyfriend since they hadn’t seen each other for five months because of his overseas work assignment. The disturbing sound got louder. Frowning, she took a light step towards her bedroom. Is he watching a porn? The bedroom door was ajar and the air was tense. Clothes were thrown on the floor. Her frown deepened when she saw a bra and a panty that weren’t belong to her, lying innocently on the floor near her bed. Those certainly not hers, she didn’t like laces
The mysterious man was standing in front of Lila. The thing that never happened before. Lila gave him a puzzle look as his hand was holding a bottle of water and a pouch of baby wipes. “I don’t know what the laptop did to you that pissed you off. I’m sure your laptop is innocent.” Lila gave him an amused furrow, then he continued. “The water is to cool your nerves, and the wipes for freshen up because you look—” Oh god! Lila just remembered that she cried hard before, her looks must be messier with her swollen eyes. This is embarrassing! His hanging words surely because he was looking for unoffensive word to say to her. “—different.” He said after few seconds pause. “I’ve never seen you different like this for the past thirteen years. I hope the laptop doesn’t do something horrible.” His accusation tone didn’t sound offensive at all, it even sounded funny. Lila smiled widely, ignoring the fact that she might look ugly. Ri
“HELP!” Lila cried at the ER entrance. Her body was shaking. The big red stain that damped her clothes drew the paramedics’ attention. “What happened?” They asked in unison. “Not me. It’s Andrew, he’s in the car.” Lila managed to find his driver’s license before drove his car in panic to the nearest hospital. Male paramedics immediately ran towards the car. Lila didn’t know what they did to save Andrew as she was led to one of ER’s bed. A woman wore blue scrubs gave a glass of water to her. She asked. “Can you tell me what happened to Andrew?” After drinking the water, Lila felt a little calm. Her voice no longer trembled. “Four men tried to rob me, Andrew came to save me, one of them hurt him with a knife.” “Alright, you need to report this to the police.” Lila nodded at her suggestion. “But, let me check your condition first.” The doctor declared that Lila was fine, just needed to rest and eat. Lila waited in the ER’s waiting space,
“Did you watch any news program lately?” Andrew had come out of the car and welcomed by his cousin’s random question, while Max parked the car. He leaned against the wall next to his cousin. They were in the vicinity of a building called the Arena owned by their friend, Evan. From the outside, the building was like other ordinary one floor building. Only those who had granted the authorization to enter the building knew that down below it had more than one floor. “No, Henry. Unlike you, I have so many works to do.” Responded Andrew which made Henry rolled his eyes. Henry ignored the remark in-between joke and insult. “Grandfather called me, telling me to be more careful.” Andrew lifted one brow. He couldn’t relate what the news program had anything to do with being more careful. “Well,” Henry continued. “I saw news program, I think it’s kinda bizarre and nonsense. How can they come up with such idea about the crown prince for a news program like th
With a cup of tea in his hand, Andrew headed to the lounge. His hair was wet, he showered after spending two hours in the gym. An hour longer than he regularly did because he wanted to test his body limit. He wanted to beat those chickens with his bare hand the next time he went to the Arena. The thought of what they would do to Lila made his blood boiled. Last night, they were lucky since Max was clever, not to let him waste his energy, considering he had five stitches and just discharged from the hospital. But as a sharpshooter, he managed to scare them. Aiming like he pointed the gun to the head of the skinny one in the third chair whom he thought was the coward one. When he fired the gun, knowing the bullet would only scratch the tip of his ear, he tried to prove that they were lying. “Mercenary, huh?” Was what he sneered at them. A mercenary was not afraid of bullet, and the four thugs were in a shock state after the fire, solid evidence that they had no
“There’s so many mistakes in this paper.” Professor Gustav dropped the papers in his hand lightly onto the table as if they weren’t worth to look at. “Doctor Phillips, I don’t understand why you wasting my time by handing me these awful papers.” Lila was in Professor Gustav’s office, wanting to discuss about the potential of her research idea. She was shocked, her hard work was being misunderstood and treated poorly. “But—” “You know the rules, right?” It was a rhetorical question, Lila knew that, so she kept quiet and let the professor continued. “If you still want my recommendation, then everything must be genuine. Sample extraction isn’t genuine. Don’t make me tell you why.” Please, don’t! Lila shook her head unconsciously. “You’re right, Professor. It won’t happen again.” Lila’s hand tidied the papers on the table. “What about the primary idea? Do you still think it’s awful if I have a real blood sample?” “Basically, your idea is good. Al
“Why don’t you reply my text?” The hand that yanked Lila from her seat now helped her to stand steadily. “Tony, how do you know I’m here?” Lila tried to free her wrist from Tony’s harsh grip. “Why don’t you reply my text?” Tony asked again, tightening his grip. “And what are you doing, sitting alone at the bar, looking so sad? Are you trying to pick up a man just to get back on me?” The volume in Tony’s voice was normal, but the restaurant was quiet since the scene had begun the moment Lila’s glass fell onto the floor, drawing people’s attention on them. Very embarrassing for Lila. She whispered. “Let go of me!” “Just because I said I would forgive you if you cheated on me, doesn’t mean that I look forward to be cheated on.” Said Tony again with his normal voice level. They knew each other since grad school and began dating three years ago. Lila knew very well that Tony was the jealous type of boyfriend, he didn’t like Lila shared a la
Even though Lila had been transferred, she still came to professor Gustav’s lab. Obediently finishing some calculation of his research since she didn’t have any class to teach yet. In her heart she hoped, perhaps if she gave him continuous help with the research he was working on, he would eventually recommend her. She knew that she was being naïve, but she didn’t care. Because somehow, naïve was another form of hope and strength to keep moving forward. An email notification from the University’s President caught her attention. The president rarely sent her direct email. Besides, Lila was still living in his house, he could talk to her directly instead of an email. Right. She needed to find a place for her own immediately. Another homework, she cursed inside, she had a lot of homework lately. Clicking the email open, an opening background statement in a photo form, she assumed it was taken from a camera phone, greeted her. Lila recognized it
In his mansion, Andrew checked his phone again as if he did it over and over, Lila’s text of -where he needed to pick her up- would come. Not seeing her for a few days upset him. Her excitement over little things always managed to lift up his mood, sending brand new energy to him. And he needed his energy right now.It was almost midnight, how late did she mean by late dinner?Over and over he noticed the passing time while checking his phone. He really wanted to call her but decided against it. If she hadn’t noticed his text, it meant she hadn’t checked her phone yet, which led to a conclusion that she was still busy in her lab.Buuuutttt it’s nearly midnight. He groaned inwardly, staring angrily at his phone as if his phone was to blame for Lila’s lack of response.He
The pungent smell still lingered in Lila’s brain but not the effect though. Her eyes fluttered open when an unpredictable wavy swing swayed her ground, sending turbulence into her stomach. Instantly, she felt sick and dizzy at the same time.Her mind refused to work properly no matter how still she sat as another troop of butterflies stirring inside her stomach.What irritated her the most was that she couldn’t move. In a sitting position, her body was tightly tied on a hard wooden chair, and her hands tied on each arm of the chair.Damn! Not again. It seemed she had some kind of magnet that attracted kidnappers.The question was, who kidnapped her this time?All the rational clues led to one name, Carla. But her heart refuse
According to Lila’s experience, they were there with Andrew and the others to save her when she was kidnapped by the vengeful thugs. Based on that experience, they could be some trained military men. Also, perhaps they were a gangster member since there was this experience when she and the prince instantly felt safe not long after she ended her call with Andrew, at that time she didn’t think much as to why the prince pleaded with her to call Andrew because of the danger that threatened them and they had to keep the children safe. Lastly, the other day at the dinner they acted as servants and kitchen staff.Up until now a few days later, she could only draw a hanging conclusion. So many thoughts came into her mind on the drive home from the dinner. And Andrew was busy these past three days, delaying her to coax an answer out of him.But the way they bowed before
“Having you here tonight is breaking our years of tradition, Lila.” The king started after the servants were done serving the soup. “In a good way.” Henry quickly added, seeing Lila’s spoon froze midway to her mouth. He glared at his grandfather before explaining to Lila. “His Majesty is pleased to see a pretty face like yours instead of us. Since every year we, four men, have this dinner alone.” Lila’s startled look turned into an understanding smile. “Thank you for having me, Your Majesty. I didn’t expect it would be a dinner for your birthday, Your Majesty, when Andrew asked me to go to a secret dinner.” “Typical of Andrew. Always full of secrets.” Edvard snorted. “It’s a surprise. Not a secret.” Andrew snapped. Edvar
Edvard was looking at the starry sky, wondering what Lila had been doing. He was in a secured private estate, safely away from the hungry sensation's seekers of paparazzi. Where once a year they had family dinner to celebrate the king's actual birthday. His trail of thoughts disturbed when he heard confident footsteps coming closer. He recognized it was his father's footsteps since the other two younger members of the family hadn't arrived yet. “I met the prime minister this afternoon.” Said the king, standing next to his son. “He told me something interesting.” Somehow Edvard could guess where the conversation might lead, but he waited for his father to elaborate. He understood why his father was still looking at him expectantly. Sighing, he asked. "Which is…" The l
When Lila agreed to Prince Edvard's invitation to go to the museum with him, it was Saturday morning.Since Edvard was Andrew's relative, she thought becoming Edvard's friend was part of her duty as Andrew's girlfriend.She also became used to the cup of coffee and a pink rose that was delivered every morning on her desk. To the angel, whoever he or she might be, who sent the coffee and pink rose to her, she felt grateful and quit questioning it. Because she really liked the coffee and enjoyed every delicious drop of it.Sunday morning came. Edvard waited for Lila inside his car a few metres from a bus stop. He didn't understand why she asked to meet at this specific bus stop, since her uncle's house was far away from the bus stop.He realized there were so many things that he didn't know about Lila, and he wanted to know all of those things to understand her.Like right now as he watched Lila get off of the bus which served a route from
"What is she doing here?" Andrew's smile dropped and his step halted upon seeing who was the one behind Lila. "Why is she with you?"His abrupt halt made Lila halt her step too. Behind Andrew, Lila saw Maggie was sitting on the long sofa and calmly put her drink onto the table.She was slightly irritated. Though she understood perfectly why he acted that way toward Carla, did he have to spark fire like that in front of Maggie?"I told you this isn't a good idea." Lila heard Carla's whisper.When they were in the hospital to get some stitches for Carla's wounded hand, Lila invited Carla to go with her to directly apologize to Andrew and Carla uttered the same thing.She knew Carla was worried then, and right this moment she sensed Carla was worried and scared at the same time.Andrew could be very scary when he was mad, she had witnessed it once. He coldly dumped Tony out of the country, because Tony did something inappropriate to
"I don't have enough money to buy a drink there."Lila fixed a blank flat look at her cousin, Carla. Her eyes drilled into Carla's, searching for something to validate her doubt.Since Carla came to her lab when she was tidying her work, she didn't believe a thing from Carla's mouth.Well, there was one thing though. Carla suspected Andrew made her lose a few jobs, while she was a hundred percent sure Andrew was behind it. She knew it was an easy thing for Andrew.But it was almost impossible to believe when Carla said that she was sorry for everything she had done to her and wanted to fix their relationship.Losing jobs would never change someone with spiteful and hatred that rooted for thirteen years into a better person. The change perhaps to get the job back or revenge. That was what she thought about Carla's intention.Lila said nothing then walked inside the fancy cafe. She failed to find anything to validate her doubt. Not
Edvard sat alone inside his car. He arrived early to get a parking spot as near as possible to the research building so that he could have a good view of everyone who entered the building, hoping he could see one particular person that occupied his mind.Worry had him fail to do his everyday duty as the second prince. He was out of shape, looking nothing like a prince. So messed up, he couldn't sleep and eat properly. Like something wrong was happening in his life.After Dan's funeral the other day, Lila looked really dejected. He wanted to console her because he also felt guilty for putting her in danger, but his every move was blocked by the disturbing Andrew. His only chance to talk to her was at the end of the funeral when it was time to say goodbye.Phone calls and messages seemed on hold. So then he went to her Aunt and Uncle's house, too bad Andrew beat him again. Her uncle told him that Lila went to do volunteer work with Andrew. Which he knew was