Alicia tidied up her clothes in her small boarding room. She was going straight to the airport, driven by Lylyan in the same hired car. Alicia had to choose a flight time of 10:20 using one of the well-known airlines, from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Soekarno Hatta Airport -Jakarta (CGK), because she had to stop by a bank beforehand to cash a cheque from Aaron and exchange it into Rupiah so that she could use it in Indonesia. Alicia had to choose Jakarta first because there were no direct flights from Melbourne to Bandung, her hometown. From there she would continue her journey by travel because it was too far to the airport. Alicia comes from a tea plantation that is well known as one of the suppliers for packaged tea drinks, namely Cukul Village Plantation, Sukaluyu Village, Pangalengan, Bandung.West Java, Indonesia. In addition to tea, the village is close to one of the emerging tours that are usually used by nature lovers and photographers, because it is famous for its beautiful
After travelling for almost seven hours, Alicia arrived at Soekarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia.From Jakarta to Bandung the city took about 3-4 hours and from Bandung to her village it took about 2-3 hours to reach her village. Worried about arriving close to midnight, Alicia decided to look for a hotel around the airport so that the next day she could get to her village not too late if she left early in the morning.And as luck would have it, the Bandar Hotel, which is usually full, wasn't too crowded this time so Alicia could still get a room.Alicia entered her hotel room exhausted, traveling across the country is always tiring.After cleaning herself up she intended to call her best friend Lylyan so she wouldn't have to worry! "Hi, Lylyan! I've arrived in Indonesia! In Jakarta! And I'm fine! I'll probably go back to my village tomorrow morning! How are you doing, how's it going? Is it okay?" Alicia asked."Thank goodness you told me, Aly! There's some bad news here! It's
"Yeah right, it's me. Excuse me, who am I talking to?" Alicia, who didn't recognise the voice, answered curiously. "Excuse me, miss, we're from the Bandung hospital. Are we talking to Miss Alicia Zareta?" asked someone there, who turned out to be someone from the hospital. Alicia froze, her body feeling weak and worried that all she could think about was her aunt's condition. "Really. Is this about my aunt?" Alicia stammered. Alicia took a deep breath trying to calm her suddenly agitated heart. "Yes, Miss, can you come here? The doctor wants to talk to you!" said a woman who looked like a nurse. "I'm on my way there, Sus! I might be able to come tomorrow! What's wrong with my Aunty, Sus? Is...her condition deteriorating? Please don't say that... Oh my God!" Alicia trembled at this. "It's better that you come here soon, the doctor needs to discuss the next treatment with you and ask for your consent. But what I can tell you is...your aunt has...severe pneumonia. The infection is s
Alicia kept pacing back and forth in her hotel room waiting for news from the hospital, the village chief, or anyone else about her aunt's condition. "Dear God...don't let anything bad happen to my aunt! Please..God...I have no one else but my aunt! Please..I can't go through all this pain! Hik Hik!" Alicia raised her hands as if praying and begging upwards. For a long time Alicia paced back and forth indecisively until finally.... "I can't stay here forever! It's been over 30 minutes and they haven't told me! What happened? Is it true that the patient who dropped was Auntie? Oh my God...I can't wait any longer! I know it's getting late and it's dangerous for me to go to Bandung alone at night! But...my aunt..." Alicia hesitated a little, but then she took a breath and quickly got up and grabbed her clothes from one of her suitcases. "No matter how late it is! I have to see my aunt! Auntie, hang in there! Wait for me..." Alicia took her clothes and planned to change in the bath
Hearing her name called by someone with an unusual name, she was usually called by Aly if they were from her college mates. Or called Cia, if they were from her hometown. But someone calling her by Alicia, her full first name, never seemed to happen! This frankly made Alicia look back, out of curiosity. And she hurriedly approached the person because she recognised her, with a big smile Alicia greeted the person when she got close by extending her hand in greeting. In Indonesia, people usually extend their hands when they meet, or just cup their hands on their chest as a sign of respect, and it is not uncommon to hug each other too. When we got close to the person who was wearing a stiff face, suddenly... "Plak!!!" Alicia's face turned to the right with her hand still outstretched without being greeted. Alicia had a little red coloured liquid coming out of her lips. Alicia looked at the person in front of her with wide eyes and held her injured left cheek. "What... that..." Alic
Along the hallway Mr Rahmat dragged his wife roughly, and she continued to scream her disapproval. Meanwhile, Alicia, who was following them from behind, looked down with shame and hurt as she was shouted at by Mrs Rahmat for being a whore!Over and over again Alicia had to accept the cynical stares of people who passed her by, without knowing the truth. And Alicia looked down even more, covering her face with a mask.They arrived in a room labeled A 305. Mr Rahmat pushed the door roughly and pushed his wife inside. She almost fell to the floor if she didn't get a grip on herself."Look! Look there with your own eyes! Mrs Sarah is lying there weak!" exclaimed the husband who was upset and filled with anger and shame at his wife's actions.Alicia could not hold back her tears as she saw her normally healthy aunt lying there.She slowly stepped through the door of the room and suddenly a 13-year-old girl burst out and hugged her tightly."Sister Cia! You're here! What took you so long?
After weeks of hospitalization, almost a month in fact, Aunt Sarah had improved a little. No one knew that Alicia was actually having a hard time taking care of her aunt, especially with her pregnant condition, so it was not uncommon for Alicia to go to the bathroom repeatedly because she always wanted to vomit. Especially when she smelled medicine. Just like this morning, they were joking around in Aunt Sarah's treatment room. Aunt Sarah had been moved to the treatment room because her condition had improved, no longer in the Intensive Care Unit as before. Alicia was busy peeling a very sour young mango, all eyes were on her! It was a holiday so everyone including Aisyah, Alicia, and even Aisyah's younger brother Anton were there. Anton was allowed to go to the hospital this time because Alicia had previously forbidden him to do so. Her two younger cousins still had to go to school, and Alicia didn't want her younger siblings to take too much time off because they would definitely
Alicia linked her hands together in front of her chest as she spoke quietly to her younger cousin, Aisyah. It was a coincidence that Alicia's current position had her back to the person speaking who was none other than her own Aunt Sarah. "Please..." Alicia continued to plead with her sister not to divulge her secret, which she had not been able to reveal so far. "So what are you talking about? Who had the heart? What did your sister do, Aisyah?" Auntie came out of the bathroom and was assisted by her brother Anton and a nurse who happened to come check on Auntie's condition not long before Aisyah came in from outside to buy some medicine for Alicia which turned out to be vitamins and anti-nausea for pregnant people. * If there's nothing else I can help you with, please excuse me!" Said the nurse deciding to end her visit. "No, nurse! Thank you!" said Aunt Sarah. "It's my duty and obligation, Mum! Don't forget to take your medicine, Mum! Then you'll have to excuse me. "Thank yo
Alicia dropped an ice cube on her swollen leg and automatically screamed in pain.Adrian who saw it immediately threw himself at Alicia with a panicked look on his face."Hey! Why are you always so reckless! Look..your leg seems to be getting swollen! Be careful! Do you want to be treated here so that you can be close to my father? Use your brain!" Adrian exclaimed while looking at the condition of Alicia's leg and compressing it, and gently stroking Alicia's leg, this made Alicia's heart beat faster and faster.Alicia closed her eyes and hissed softly as Adrian began to gently massage her legs. Alicia immediately laid down her tired body slowly and unconsciously enjoying the sensation of Adrian's massage."Shush...!" a hissing sound came from Alicia's beautiful lips, and Alicia swallowed her saliva as she began to feel her throat suddenly dry.Adrian who raised his head saw Alicia who was enjoying the massage and closed her eyes while lying down. Adrian gave a slight smile, he felt h
Adrian held his nose which was hurting. Alicia lifted her face just as Adrian looked down so that Alicia's head hit Adrian's high nose quite hard.The startled Alicia felt bad, and said, "Sorry, Adrian. I'm sorry I didn't mean to! I didn't know you...why are you looking down anyway?" Adrian looked at Alicia who asked such a strange question, ' It wouldn't be possible if I said I looked down because I was mesmerized by her scent and wanted to kiss her, would it? What a shame, Adrian! Because Alicia doesn't seem to want that!'"Of course to see your condition! What else do you think, Aly? Look, you know I'm a lot taller than you! So there's no way I'm looking up, is there? Of course I'm looking down! That's weird!" said Adrian, holding back his embarrassment by diverting their conversation."Oh!" Alicia only replied briefly, because she was actually embarrassed herself, having touched Adrian's body a little intimately."Ehem! Now can you let me go, Adrian? I think I can still walk fine
Alicia frowned in confusion, 'What does Adrian want? Why is he stopping me? Does he not want me to get close to him? Do I disgust him?'Alicia continued to think in her heart, with a little disappointment and hurt she exhaled her breath and said, "Sorry! I didn't mean to approach you or anything I just... Hey! Where are you going?"Adrian didn't care what Alicia said, Adrian suddenly walked out of the room without saying anything."Shit! How rude of him! I was talking to him and he just left!" Alicia said in a slightly angry tone.Alicia unintentionally looked at Aaron who was still lying on the bed without waking up at all.Slowly despite having to endure the pain, Alicia approached Aaron and pulled a chair that was located not far from the bed where Aaron was lying. Alicia pulled the chair out and began to sit in it, right next to Aaron."When are you going to wake up, Aaron? I missed you... it turns out that you're the only one who always cares about me and always cares about me! I
Alicia tried to hold Adrian's hand but Adrian accidentally injured her. Alicia was knocked down on the floor of Adrian's treatment room in a sitting position, Adrian's elbow hit Alicia's cheek and made Alicia's right cheek red. Alicia's tears came involuntarily because of the pain she was suffering. "Akhhhh... It hurts!!!" Alicia said unconsciously. Adrian looked back and backed away from Doctor Smith. Making Doctor Smith breathe a sigh of relief, he had just escaped an injury that might have been severe if Adrian had continued his action. Adrian turned back and tried to help Alicia. "What are you doing, you idiot! Why are you holding and pulling my hand? Sorry! Are you hurt? Oh my God! Your cheek is red and a little swollen!" Adrian was about to touch Alicia's cheek. Alicia quickly brushed him off, knowing that Adrian's actions would probably make her position even more difficult as there was still Doctor Smith watching them. Alicia looked down with anxious eyes glancing at Doct
Alycia tried to turn her head in the direction of the sound, while then releasing her grip on Aaron's hand who was still unconscious. Alycia stood up and turned around and made room for a doctor who was around the same age as Aaron to approach her patient and best friend.Dr Smith came stumbling in, while rushing towards Aaron, and unintentionally violently pushed Alycia aside."Get out of the way! Let me examine him!" Dr Smith exclaimed harshly."Akhh" Alicia staggered backwards and was caught by Adrian."Are you okay?" Adrian asked softly with concern.Alycia just shook her head, "I'm fine! Thank you!" Once strong enough to stand, Adrian was about to approach Dr Smith who was busy examining his father Aaron while his back was turned to them. The look on Adrian's face held anger, but Adrian's steps and words were stopped by Alycia pulling his elbow while shaking his head, "Please don't make a scene here, this is a hospital, pity your sick father!"Adrian turned to Alycia as he said
BUGH!"DAD!!!" Adrian shouted and his scream made Alycia who had just touched the exit door of the room turn around in surprise. "Aaron!!! Oh, no!!! Oh my God...!!!" Alycia then supported Aaron's head and unbuttoned Aaron's shirt from above. And patted Aaron's cheek lightly."Help!!! Help!!!" Alycia shouted frantically.While Adrian stood in his place silent, he was shocked, the father he knew was so healthy that he never even saw the last time his father was sick, this was enough to shock him!"Hey! Adrian! Why are you silent? Hurry up and get help! I'm worried, he's having heart problems again! Please call an ambulance and call Dr Smith! Have him wait at the hospital! We have to get him there quickly!" Alycia said with a little tension."What do you mean, heart? What's wrong with his heart? What's wrong with Dad? Does Doctor Smith know about this? Why didn't anyone tell me? Are you lying to gain my sympathy?" Adrian looked confused but scared at the same time.Alycia exhaled her b
"What?"Aaron's eyes bulged while Alycia stared with mixed feelings. Hate and anger. "Who is he to say that I don't deserve Aaron?" Alycia's mind screamed."What do you mean, Adrian? Like Daddy said before... she's Alycia Zareta, she's your future stepmother, which means she's your Daddy's future wife!" Aaron said with a bit of annoyance and anger.Adrian glared at his father and then pointed at Alycia with his finger. "What? So she's going to be my future stepmother, Dad? Really? She's even more qualified to be my sister! Or...maybe my mistress! She must just want to make a fortune off you, Dad! Come on, snap out of it! She's nothing more than a deadbeat chick! So, how much do you want, huh? To leave my dad? 5 billion? 10 billion? How much? Name your price!" Adrian glared sardonically at the young woman who was currently sitting next to her father, right across from him. "BRAK!!!" "Adrian! Shut up! Watch what you say! How presumptuous of you! Alycia's not like that!" said the adu
"Look Adrian... you really... really..." Alicia pointed her index finger at Adrian with great emotion."What's wrong with me, what did I say?" Adrian stared with a mocking look on his face.Alycia took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment then looked back at Adrian with the same mocking look she had given Adrian. "Your mind is petty! Your heart is rotten! That's why you don't know anything! Just like before! All you know is that narrow mind of yours! I'm sorry but I'm not you who is petty and likes to play with people's feelings just for a game! A bet! Then leave her by betraying her! And you think you're that good in bed? Huh? I don't even remember it! Because we did it while I was unconscious! You must remember that, right? Or you could say you raped me!" Adrian's face reddened with anger, Adrian wanted to answer and reply to Alycia's words but then his mouth felt stiff, because there was one thing he realized, namely there was a part where what Alycia said was the truth.
Crack! "Excuse me sir, I'm here to deliver the order...sir...? What's going on?" a waiter walked into the VIP room carrying a trolley of food they had ordered while staring in confusion. Adrian shrugged his shoulders as he looked over to find Alycia already down from the table and now as if nothing had happened sitting in her chair. Adrian tugged the edges of the smile on his lips slightly and said softly, "You're so good at acting Aly!" Alycia ignored Adrian's words as if she didn't hear anything, but in reality Alycia heard everything he said. Word by word very clearly. Adrian walked and whispered to the waiter and put some money into the waiter's shirt pocket. "Do you understand?" asked Adrian. "Understood, sir. All right, I'll do it!" the waiter immediately nodded his head and left the room. Adrian was still staring at Alycia who seemed to be calmly sitting in her chair. "Don't stare at me! Stop your game! Sit quietly and we can finish this dinner in a calm and peaceful a