Chapter 3: How Do You Know

Aria got back into the car after she finished buying some medicine by showing the doctor's prescription she had brought.

She was relieved that grandma's medicine was not too late. Today she has received her salary. She smiled a little.

In the car, Alexander just looked at her with unreadable gaze. Making Aria nervous.

"Thank you for driving me here." She smiled sincerely. Alexander was still looking at her with those black eyes that Aria thought were beautiful but very intimidating.

For a few seconds of silence, Alexander just looked at her without responding. Then he moved closer, immediately making Aria freeze on her seat.

What will he do? Her eyes widened as she saw him getting closer without looking away.

Alexander leaned even more closer, their faces only inches apart. Aria could smell the masculine fragrance from his breath.

It turned out that Alexander reached behind her to take her seatbelt and fasten it safely for her.

“Hm.” He nodded in a deep voice. He leaned back in his seat, focused on the road and the car started moving.

Aria took the breath she had been holding.

What was that? She cleared her throat.

Alexander drove the car in a slow speed. Aria leaned back in her seat, looking at the street through the window. She frowned, wasn't the street empty back there? Then, why is it still crowdy around here?

She shook her head, trying not to be overthinking. Maybe it's a coincidence that several shop owners in there have decided to close their shops early.

"For who?" His cold, deep voice asked her.

Aria turned to him and smiled. After a long time, he finally spoke.

"My grandma." She answered.

After that, the atmosphere in the car returned to silence. At this moment, Aria could feel that she was not bother with his presence at all. Usually, Aria wouldn't feel comfortable being too close to strangers, especially the opposite sex. But this time is different. Maybe it was because Alexander meant no harm to her, Aria thought.

The two of them enjoyed their short trip that night.

When they were on the road to her house, Aria realized something.

She hadn't told him where her home address is. But they are here. And what surprised her even more, Alexander stopped right in front of her apartment building.

“How…How do you know this is my stop?” She turned towards the man who was again, looking at her with those beautiful black orbs.

"I know." He didn't blink and Aria gulped down her saliva. This man seemed to be reading what was in her mind. Why did she feel like she was being interrogated? What mistake has she made?

"Like I know your name isn't Jasmine."

Aria choked up with her own saliva. She coughed, covering her mouth with her palm. She could feel the warmth from her red face.

Well that's embarassing. Aria didn't expect she would be found out so quickly. She cleared her throat and tried to hide her flushed face.

She glanced again at Alexander. He still looked at her with his usual expressionless gaze. Instantly she felt guilty because she had lied to him about her name.

But, she still has to be careful with strangers, right?

“Give me your phone.” Alexander stretched out his hand and waited for Aria to hand over her cellphone. Aria was confused, but seemed enchanted by Alexander's intimidating aura. She handed her old cell phone into his big palm.

Silence. Aria saw that Alexander was looking at her cellphone with slightly furrowed eyebrows.

"What's wrong?" Aria asked. He seemed to still be looking at the cellphone in his hand.

“It can work, I can make a phone call, and send any messages I need to send. I know what you are thinking…” Aria explained poutly. She knew that Alexander would be surprised to see her worn out phone.

She didn't want to buy another phone, while this one still functioning really well,  with the money she had worked so hard to collect. As long as this phone still functions well. She won't buy a new one.

He seemed to give up on what she was saying and started typing something. After he finished, he returned her phone, it turned out that he had saved his number there.

"Alex..?" She read it on the screen.

“Hm.” Alex nodded once.

“Mr. Alex…”

When Aria saw his perfect eyebrows furrow again, she immediately laughed. Now she knows that Alex doesn't like being called formally.

"Alex..." Aria said again and now his disapproving face returned to its expressionless face.

This man spoke loudly without having to open his mouth. Aria smiled, this time she felt Alex was adorable too.

Alex looked at her again. Didn't look away. Aria looked around before turning back to looking at him.

"Thank you for riding me home." She said.

"Bye..." Aria waved her hand quickly and opened the car door.

“Aria…”

Aria stopped when she heard his deep voice calling out. She looked back and saw Alex who was still looking at her with those beautiful black beads.

Aria waited for him to say something, but this mysterious man didn't say anything else.

A mysterious man, that's how Aria described it. He was so cold, but it didn't scare her. His presence actually made her feel safe. But Aria doesn't know much about Alex.

"Goodnight." His toneless deep voice made Aria only smile a little.

"Goog night Alex..." She replied softly and smiled.

Aria didn't wait any longer and immediately got out of the car. She waved her hand once again and walked into the area of her small apartment building.

….….

"Who ride you home, dear?"

Aria stopped in the living room and saw her grandmother who was sitting on the sofa, in front of their TV.

“Grandma? Why didn’t you sleep? It’s so late." Aria approached her worriedly.

“Silly girl. How can I sleep? You're not home yet at this hour." Grandma also looked worriedly at him.

Aria breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that her grandma was fine.

“I'm sorry, today was hectic. I actually went home early, but I went to the pharmacy first." Aria smiled. Her grandma looked fine, although she looked tired. She sat on the sofa, right next to her grandma.

“Have you eat? She gently squeezed her grandmother's old arm. Her skin wrinkled but still very soft.

“Yes. How about you. It's late, eat, take a shower and rest." She said softly. Aria nodded.

"I bought your medicine, don't forget to take the vitamins too." Aria reached into her bag and took out a small paper bag, it was her grandma's medicine.

Her grandma looked at the medicine and sighed.

“My sweetest Aria…”

Aria changed her gaze to her. Aria smiled waiting for her next sentence.

“I'm fine. Look, I'm healtier. You don’t need to buy medicine for me anymore, my dear.”

Aria looked at her, as if she pretending to be angry.

“Grandma. Your treatment is still several months away. We'll see a doctor in ten days, remember? This is a doctor's prescription until we do the examination. Don't miss any of your medicine or vitamin." He said firmly.

Grandma nodded. “Thank you, my dear…. You shouldn't be the one buying this medicine, and taking care of me… You're a big girl already, you have your own life…”

Aria fell silent. She saw how Grandma's tears already flowing. She didn't want her Grandma to be sad. She sincerely did all this.

"Eeyyy..." Aria hugged Grandma tightly. “If it’s not me, who else? We only have each other. You are the one who take care of me since I was a little and now it’s my time to take care of you. Grandma must promise to live forever and accompany me. Okay?!"

They both laughed. Hug each other. Even though her work is tiring, Aria really looks forward to returning home to a warm hug like this.

"Okay, I'll take a shower first. Do you want me to take you to your room?" Aria let go of her hug.

“No need. I want to watch this show for a while then go to sleep..." She said.

Aria said good night and kissed her cheek. But when she was just about to enter her bedroom. Grandma asked again.

"You haven't answered my question, dear... Who was the one who take you home earlier?"

Aria froze. She turned her head quickly, “My friend. Haha…"

She then quickly stepped into her bedroom and closed the door slowly.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

She walked towards her bedroom window and blankly stared at the street.

Not that she didn't want to tell Grandma more about Alexander. She didn't know much about him and she didn't want Grandma to think anything strange.

Grandma always wanted Aria to have a boyfriend and get married. It's not that Aria doesn't want to get married or  have a boyfriend. She want to of course. But the time is not right yet.

Besides, who wants to be with her? She didn’t have that much friend and lonely since she quit school. She's a poor who lives in a small apartment with her grandmother. She was also too busy to work and collect money for his grandmother's treatment.

Aria looked under her window. The same car that always park near her work place was there. Parked opposite the street…