The apartment door creaked open, and Aryan entered, slipping off his shoes and placing them on the shoe rack behind the door. He slowly made his way inside, hearing the sound of the television still on. He glanced at his wristwatch, which showed 11:30 PM. Aryan stood there for a while, watching Laura engrossed in her favorite Korean drama while cradling a jar of snacks. A smile spread across Aryan's face as he saw Laura was fine during his absence. It turned out that this woman could make him miss her terribly. It wasn't just her smile or her cooking, but also her chattering that he missed.
"You're not asleep yet?" Aryan asked gently, which immediately made Laura turn in surprise. Aryan approached and sat cross-legged on the floor, facing Laura, who was on the sofa. He took the jar from Laura's lap and placed it on the table. Laura froze, looking at Aryan, unable to believe that the man before her was the same person she had missed so much that she couldn't close her eyes for
The next day, Laura went to university with Aryan. Throughout the journey, Aryan couldn't stop smiling and occasionally stole glances at Laura. Aryan felt like a lovesick teenager, and Laura, on the other hand, often looked out the window to hide her blushing cheeks from Aryan's gaze."When you finish your classes, come to my office, and I'll ask Dodik to give you a ride home. I'll call Mbak Arabella," Aryan said as they arrived in front of the Faculty of Economics building. Aryan deliberately dropped Laura off in front of her faculty to prevent Leo from approaching her."Sure, it's up to you," Laura replied, reaching for Aryan's hand and kissing the back of it before bidding farewell."Wait," Aryan said, then he pulled Laura's hand and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. Laura's cheeks immediately turned rosy. She hurried out of the car, closed the door, and walked away toward her class. Aryan chuckled at Laura's shy demeanor as he watched her leave.Sinc
Aryan stood by the glass window, lost in thought as he watched the bustling and noisy city that had just awakened from its nighttime slumber. Andra entered Aryan's office, and her presence broke the silence that had enveloped Aryan for the past ten minutes."You handle Laura; I'll take care of the campus issue, Aryan," Andra said, interrupting his contemplation.Andra knew that this was not a trivial matter, as it involved someone's character and attitude, especially since Laura was a scholarship student and a model student at the university.Earlier, Aryan had dropped Laura off at Andra's house before heading to the office. He couldn't bear to leave Laura alone in her apartment, especially since the incident at the campus had left her mostly silent and tearful. Aryan even had to coax her to eat."The photos have already spread to some lecturers; let's hope they don't reach the university council," Andra continued, pondering possible solutions. Even at th
Aryan held Laura tightly, his arms providing a comforting sanctuary for her. He gently wiped away her tears with his thumb, his expression filled with love and understanding."Honey, I'm not going anywhere. We're in this together, no matter what challenges come our way," Aryan reassured Laura with a soft, tender voice. "I meant it when I said I love you, and that includes accepting you, your past, and any mistakes you might have made. What matters most to me is our future together."Laura nodded, her heart feeling lighter with each reassuring word from Aryan. She realized that she had been carrying the weight of her fears and insecurities alone, but now, with Aryan by her side, she could face anything."I promise, from now on, we'll tackle any problems together. No more secrets, okay?" Aryan said, looking into Laura's eyes with sincerity.Laura smiled through her tears and nodded again. "No more secrets."With that promise, they sealed their love w
All night long, Laura couldn't close her eyes due to the anxiety that gripped her as she awaited the new day. It had been three days since she hadn't set foot on campus because of the scandal involving her provocative photos. She wasn't prepared to face the judgmental stares of her friends, and this time, it wasn't just friends from her faculty but the entire campus."Finish your breakfast first," Aryan said when he noticed Laura was merely playing with her food, lacking an appetite. Laura looked at Aryan with a half-hearted smile.Laura observed Aryan approaching her while fixing his hair. If her mood were better, Laura would have chosen to stay home. She couldn't bear the thought of her husband becoming the object of attention for the campus girls. She understood all too well what went on in the minds of women who admired handsome men like them because she was one of them. However, ever since she had fallen in love with Aryan, there was no man more handsome in Laura'
Aryan stared at the large sign displayed in front of the café where his car was parked. He observed Laura, who remained motionless in the passenger seat, lost in her own thoughts and unaware that they had reached their destination.Gently, Aryan caressed Laura's cheek with the back of his hand. He was truly puzzled by Laura's continuous somberness, missing the spirited girl who always challenged him. Laura was startled by Aryan's tender touch and looked at him as he smiled."So, is it a date?" Aryan asked, giving her a playful wink."Let's go!" Laura replied briefly, then opened the car door and stepped out.They chose a spot at the back of the café, specifically the outdoor area, which faced a lush garden with coffee trees and colorful flowers. The sound of a babbling artificial stream made Epic Caffe feel like a natural paradise. It was serene and comfortable, making visitors want to linger and spend their time there.Laura's eyes s
Aryan's eyes widened almost bulging out of their sockets when Laura casually removed her swimsuit and left it carelessly aside. Now, Laura was only wearing her underwear as she playfully pulled Aryan, who was frozen in place, towards the pool."Are you trying to tease me, or what, honey?" Aryan whispered while carrying Laura into the pool. Laura simply laughed and teasingly traced her finger along Aryan's bare chest."Why not? You're my husband, so it's my duty to tease you," Laura teased even more, playfully running her fingers across Aryan's exposed chest with a mischievous smile."Alright, it looks like it could be fun to play here," Aryan whispered as their bodies started to enter the pool.Aryan felt Laura's body tense, and her hands gripped his neck tightly. Laura was panicking with her eyes closed. Aryan knew that Laura had intentionally teased him earlier, attempting to distract herself from her fear of the water. Slowly, Aryan released Laura's le
Aryan parked his car in front of the Coffee Resto where he and Dion had agreed to meet. With a sense of unease still lingering, he walked into the cafe, scanning the surroundings to spot Dion. In the southern corner, he saw a man in a bright blue shirt and black-framed glasses waving at him. Aryan returned Dion's wave and made his way to table number 14, which had a clear view of a large window overlooking the busy street.Dion stood up with a smile, greeted Aryan, and gestured for him to take a seat. He handed Aryan the menu so he could choose his preferred food."What would you like to order, Aryan?" Aryan asked as he browsed through the menu options."Up to you, Aryan. You must still remember our favorite menu, right?" Dion replied with an unreadable grin.This cafe had been Aryan and Dion's regular spot before the conflicts that tore them apart, back when they were involved in a love triangle that fractured their long-standing friendship from high sch
Laura's smile brightened as she opened her eyes to find Aryan's face greeting her. She had chosen to enjoy every moment of happiness with him and had not paid attention to his late-night arrival.This morning, as usual, Laura prepared breakfast for the two of them. She couldn't help but touch her belly, imagining the possibility of carrying their child. Her thoughts were interrupted when she noticed the time on the clock: 7:17 AM, and Aryan had yet to leave their bedroom. Curious, she made her way to their room and found Aryan still comfortably wrapped in his thick blanket.Laura grabbed the remote control for the air conditioner from the nightstand and turned it on. Simultaneously, she drew back the wide silver curtains that covered the glass window, allowing the sunlight to flood the room. The sudden brightness made Aryan reflexively shield his eyes with his hands due to the glare."Aryan, wake up! Aren't you going to the office today?" Laura said while tuggin