The colorful disco lights welcomed a clean-cut Chinese descent man who had just joined the night revelers. After a day filled with patients and hospital affairs, he decided to clear his mind and refresh his brain. Sometimes, indulging oneself was far more important. That's exactly what Ryan was doing by visiting his favorite disco. A smile graced his lips as the night's temptress welcomed him with a seductive look. And Ryan thoroughly enjoyed it."Hey, Baby, it's been a while since we had fun," a woman named Jeny said, caressing Ryan's firm jaw with a sensual touch."I've been busy, Honey," Ryan reached for Jeny's hand, which she had placed on his face, and kissed it.With his arm around the slender waist of his night's companion, Ryan sat on a sofa. Jeny clapped her hands to call a nightclub server. The male server came and slightly leaned down to hear amidst the loud thumping music dominating the place.Ryan began to scan the entire nightclub, which was fairly crowded with visitors,
"Maybe you're right. This is our room," Calvin replied, looking into Emily's eyes. Guilt now pierced Calvin's heart. He had maintained a distance from the beginning, building walls to prevent Emily from breaking through his heart.Calvin sighed deeply and let his feet touch the floor. He walked closer to Emily, who was sitting at the vanity table, wiping her face."I don't like it when you say that," Calvin firmly told Emily. "Starting tonight, we're sleeping in the same room, and from now on, we're a real husband and wife."Emily didn't react to his words. Instead, she replied, "Since four months ago, we've been husband and wife. I've never seen you as someone else, even though you seem to.""Calvin, I've never played with a relationship, not even with our marriage. For me, marriage isn't just a matter of two hearts; many other hearts are involved. I've never cared about the pain I've felt. What I'm worried about is our extended families, Calvin."Once again, Calvin felt cornered by
"Oh my God, Calvin! I forgot that there is a seminar tomorrow afternoon," said Emily, slapping her forehead hard. Even though the assignment letter had been sent a week ago and Emily had forgotten to ask her husband's permission."Yes, I'll take it tomorrow," replied Calvin casually. Calvin was still silent in front of the open cupboard. His eyes scanned the pile of shirts neatly arranged there.Emily, who was still made up, looked at Calvin from behind the mirror. It felt strange because it was unusual for Calvin to take quite a long time to choose his service suit."Dear Emily, can you choose a shirt for me?" Finally Calvin gave up too. For some reason, he suddenly felt strange seeing the pile of clothes in front of him."Halah usually chooses herself," Emily was annoyed but still got up from her seat."That's cute!" Emily took a plain maroon shirt. "It suits your white skin." said Emily with a smile.Calvin immediately received the shirt and put it on. But Calvin blocked Emily's st
"Alright, Doc," Dita replied and began to tidy up the room.Calvin remained calm in his chair as his phone, which had been lying there for a few hours, started ringing. Seeing Ryan's name displayed on the flat object's screen, Calvin immediately answered it."Are you done?" Ryan's voice came from the other end."Yes, why?" Calvin asked."I want to talk for a bit.""Okay. In my room, then.""Alright."It only took 15 minutes before a knocking sound was heard at the door. Dita hurriedly walked over to the door. But before opening it, she glanced at Calvin for a moment."Dr. Ryan," Calvin said, addressing Dita's hesitation, as it was usually Dr. Chelsea who disturbed their peace at this late hour of practice.Ryan thanked Dita and then took a seat on the sofa. Dita excused herself to step outside for a moment, not wanting to interfere with the two doctors' conversation. Ryan looked at Calvin's unusually cheerful face with suspicion. Curious, Ryan asked, "What's up with you? Did you catch
Chelsea continued to berate herself for her actions the previous night. After returning from Ryan's apartment that morning, she locked herself in her room and asked for permission to skip her hospital practice. Chelsea claimed she was unwell, but her absence was due to her overwhelming guilt and shame. She couldn't believe she had allowed herself to drink alcohol, especially considering her inability to tolerate it. Furthermore, she realized the risk involved when Ryan didn't use protection during their encounter. What if she got pregnant?"Please, Chel, you're acting so foolish," Chelsea scolded herself. "You knew you couldn't drink alcohol, so why did you do it? And last night, if Ryan didn't use protection and you end up pregnant..."Chelsea massaged her throbbing temples. She had made another major mistake. Years ago, during high school graduation, she had engaged in sexual activity with her then-boyfriend under the influence of alcohol, leading to her first experience. Last night
Two years of their relationship had given her insight into Rama's character. He had never been harsh or disrespectful towards her, even during their most heated arguments. He had always been gentle, never raising his voice or using hurtful words. Rama had treated her with the utmost respect, even when Emily had been curious about experiencing a passionate kiss, he had refused, saying, "You are not halal to me, my love.""I just want you to be happy in your marriage," Rama said, locking eyes with Emily. He could sense her uncertainty. "I hope we can still be friends. And whenever you need a friend or assistance, I'll be there for you," he added sincerely.The news of Emily's marriage had shattered Rama's heart upon his return from Singapore, where he had undergone intense cancer treatment. He had believed that all the suffering was worth it if he could see Emily happy, even if it was without him."Of course, I am happy," Emily replied firmly, standing up from her seat."I'll take you,"
"After the event is finished tonight, I'll pick you up, okay?" Calvin persuaded when they were in the car heading to the hotel where Emily's training was being held."I can't, Calvin, according to the schedule, tonight's event starts at 7-10 pm, then tomorrow morning I can't be late either," explained Emily as she looked at Calvin who was focused on the highway in front of her. "Besides, it's just tonight and tomorrow. Why, Calvin?" Emily tilted her body slightly to examine Calvin's worried face."I'm lonely in the apartment. There's no bolster." Calvin turned his head with a grin."Hey, that's too much, you've only slept together for two nights, can't you feel at home anymore?" Emily teased, which actually made Calvin laugh.Calvin chuckled at Emily's reasoning and her playful tease about the "Vitamin." He appreciated her commitment to her responsibilities and her dedication to her work."You're right, it's just one more night," he said with a smile. "And I have my 'Vitamin' to keep
Calvin appeared to consider it. Steve's offer did make him hesitate a bit because he had an early start the next day due to a scheduled operation at 7 AM, and the distance between his parents' house and the hospital was quite far. He was also concerned about potential traffic jams. However, he knew that sleeping alone in his apartment without Emily would be difficult."Yeah, I'll stay here. Staying alone in the apartment doesn't feel right," Calvin replied before excusing himself to perform the Maghrib prayer in his room."Aww, look at the newlyweds," teased Adelia, who had just entered the room. Calvin immediately turned to her and put his arm around her, saying, "You haven't showered yet, have you? You're always out with your boyfriend." Calvin playfully taunted her.Adelia pouted and placed her hands on her hips. They walked up the stairs together, exchanging playful banter along the way.Calvin lay on his bed and gazed up at the ceiling. It was only 9:30 PM, which meant he still h
Andrew couldn't hide his emotion when he uttered the marriage vows. Just a few seconds ago, those sacred words resonated in a room adorned with white and silver tones. Andrew managed to pronounce them loudly and smoothly, accompanied by the harmonious echoes of the official announcement. Now, Andrew looked at the beautiful woman beside him, gazing at the woman in a white kebaya who had been lowering her face. Andrew reached for the fingers of the woman named Alice Nichole Wirawan and then placed the ring on her ring finger.Slowly, Alice lifted her face, daring to look at Andrew with teary eyes. With trembling hands, Alice switched to holding Andrew's fingers, placing the ring on his ring finger as a sign that their relationship was now recognized both in the eyes of religion and the state. Nothing could separate them now except death.After Alice kissed the back of Andrew's hand for the first time, Andrew kissed Alice's forehead while reciting a prayer. This was followed by a collect
Now they were all in the dining room except for Melinda, who had not come out of her room yet. Despite receiving a warm welcome from Papa and Andrew's younger sibling, Alice's heart was not at ease. The key was Melinda, Andrew's mother. She was the instigator of the arranged marriage plan between Andrew and Nafisah that Alice had successfully thwarted. This was the reason causing fear in Alice at the moment."Alice, are you feeling better?" Anindya asked, as Alice looked pale and anxious since her arrival."I'm fine Nin, I'm okay," Alice replied with a smile."There, your Mom finally came down. Women always need more time to get ready," Januar whispered so as not to be heard by the hijab-wearing woman currently descending the stairs.Andrew and Alice immediately approached to greet Melinda. Then Melinda sat next to Januar, facing Alice without saying a word. The woman stared at Alice expressionlessly, while Alice chose to lower her head, her heart pounding. Honestly, Alice wanted to g
Andrew remained silent while playing with the ends of Alice's hair as she leaned against his chest. The facts he learned today truly opened his eyes, making Andrew determined to keep Alice by his side. However, a significant obstacle lay ahead. Could he keep the promise he made to Alice? Could he prove to her that his love was not just a mere joke? This time, Andrew was truly serious about falling in love, a feeling he had never experienced before. His emotions for Alice were so strong that Andrew felt powerless. He was like a tortured man awaiting a death sentence, just waiting for certainty from Alice. Ahead were two obstacles that Andrew couldn't predict. How to thwart his arranged marriage with Nafisah and waiting to see how Alice's parents would react when he came. Everything was still unclear, making Andrew's heart feel uncertain. All he could do now was wait, because forcing his will on Alice would be akin to torturing her. And Andrew didn't want to inflict more wounds on Alice
"Do your parents accept a prospective son-in-law like me?" Alice said with a wistful smile, looking at Andrew who was driving seriously.Andrew remained silent. Unable to answer Alice's question because he had never introduced a woman as his girlfriend to his parents."I haven't tried," Andrew finally answered, seeing Alice's disappointed expression. "We will meet my parents soon after you're ready. And I hope that won't be too long," Andrew said firmly, then reached for Alice's fingers to hold them.Alice snorted in annoyance. Why did it have to be so complicated? Alice's intention was to corner Andrew, but it turned into a boomerang attacking herself."Ahem... So, who was the woman in a hijab you hugged at the mall that time? I'm sure it wasn't your sister Nindy," Alice asked, shifting the conversation in a teasing manner."Are you jealous?" Andrew teased, receiving only a head shake from Alice. "Okay then. I won't answer if that's the case," Andrew replied, holding back a smile."J
"Oh, my God, I forgot to inform Mr. Andrew. I might get scolded later," Lexy muttered while holding his phone.Andrew, who was still talking with his colleague, immediately excused himself to answer the call."What's wrong, Lex?" Andrew said, getting straight to the point."Alice is now in the hospital, Sir," Lexy replied hesitantly, successfully surprising Andrew."Since when?" Andrew asked, sounding clearly panicked. Now he was walking towards the exit door of the ballroom."At 7 pm, Alice had a fever again. Then...""Tell me, which hospital?" Andrew interrupted impatiently."Medical Center Hospital, Cendana Pavilion VIP 03," Lexy explained quickly.Andrew quickly took brisk steps towards the parking area. Due to his haste, Andrew didn't even reply to the greetings of the security personnel on duty there. In a rush, Andrew started his car's engine and swiftly left the building area. Ignoring his duties entirely, he considered the most important thing at the moment was to meet Alice
A beautiful woman of English-Indonesian mixed heritage walked casually down the hospital corridor. Despite nearing half a century, her age didn't seem to affect her beauty. Her glossy, black, long hair was neatly tied. There was not a hint of sadness on her face. Unlike most mothers who would panic upon hearing that their daughter was sick, she remained calm and composed. Two words aptly described the expression on Valerie's face: calm and composed.Lexy, who had just stepped out of Alice's hospital room, was startled to see Valerie's arrival."Where's Alice?" Valerie asked arrogantly."Inside," Lexy replied briefly. Regret instantly crept into Lexy's heart. It seemed he was greatly mistaken in contacting a woman who did not deserve the title of a mother.Valerie stared at Lexy sharply, as he stood there dumbfounded, blocking her way. "Can you step aside?" Valerie said sarcastically. Lexy immediately snapped back to reality and quickly stepped aside, making way for the arrogant woman
At exactly seven in the evening, Asih, accompanied by Zahra, arrived with the bouquet of flowers ordered by Lexy – red and white lilies, Alice's favorites. Since their encounter at the flower market, Alice had never been late in ordering flowers to adorn her apartment. Every three days, Alice would order lilies and use a courier service to deliver them to her apartment."Where's Alice?" Asih asked with a worried expression."Alice is in her room, Ma'am," Lexy replied politely, accepting the bouquet from Zahra's hands and inviting them to enter.Asih's eyes instantly welled up with tears seeing Alice curled up under the blanket. Slowly, she approached the bed and sat by Alice's side."Oh, Lord, Miss, how did it come to this?" Asih exclaimed, tears rolling down her cheeks.Asih held Alice's shoulder while gazing at the pale face before her. Then, with trembling hands, Asih reached out to touch Alice's forehead."Son, let's go to the doctor. Miss Alice has a high fever," Asih said in pan
"Alice, what's wrong, Sir?" Lexy asked in a panic, barging in past Andrew. Passing through the living room, Lexy caught a glimpse of an empty whiskey bottle there. Without permission, Lexy entered Alice's room. Fortunately, earlier when Andrew called, Lexy was on his way to Alice's apartment. In his rented house, Lexy was restless after seeing the news on television about the marriage of the man who had once been engaged to Alice. So Lexy decided to cancel a date with his girlfriend and chose to accompany Alice during the weekend. And indeed, Alice violated Dr. Henry's prohibition on consuming alcohol again."Liz?" Lexy called when he saw Alice curled up under the blanket. "You're really stubborn, I've told you not to drink again, but you keep breaking the rules," Lexy scolded while taking a compress cloth from Alice's forehead."Alice has a fever, but she hasn't regained consciousness; I don't know where she keeps her medicine," Andrew said, walking towards the bed. "I'm also confuse
And Andrew finally gave in. With uncertain feelings, Andrew reached for the back of Alice's head and gently kissed her lips. Shortly after, Alice released their lip connection to take a breath. She looked into Andrew's eyes, now filled with passion, and kissed Andrew's lips again to release all the burdens in her chest. In reality, Andrew was the only man who always worried about her, the man who always came at the right time. Without any resistance, Andrew took Alice's body to the bedroom.Andrew started his actions, playing with Alice's body until she felt crazy. Unlike usual, this time Andrew quickly finished their passionate encounter. Alice quickly got up from the bed and put on her clothes casually, while Andrew still stared at Alice's back with an indescribable feeling."Liz!" called Andrew, instantly making Alice turn and mumble, "As long as we're having sex, I've never used protection. I'll take responsibility if you get pregnant," Andrew said for the umpteenth time, looking