Chapter 7: Sickness

“I'll be out of town, tomorrow..”

Aria turned her gaze back at him, he had also been staring at her for a long time, trying to read what the beautiful girl in front of him was thinking about.

"How long?" She asked briefly. For some reason, Aria felt that she would be very lonely if Alex wasn't here anymore. But she won't admit it.

Aria was confused about her feelings. Isn't she used to being lonely? Then why did it become more pronounced when she got to know this big guy?

"One week." He finally answered her.

Her eyes widened slightly. In the next week, she won't meet him like this.

"After a week, will we go to this cafe again?" Aria asked innocently, blinking her eyes at him rapidly.

Alex smirked and nodded his head once. She looked adorable in every way.

“You must be very busy. Was your boss the one who sent you out of town?” She asked.

Alex stared at her without blinking for a few seconds. That smirk stayed on his handsome face. It amused him that she still didn't have any clue who he was after how people reacted when he was around.

“Call.” His deep voice sounded even more deep and intimidating when he spoke slowly.

"But you must be busy, you won't answer my call." Aria pouted. But then that sweet smile returned to her face and Alex didn't blink taking all of it for his own eyes.

“How about voice mail? You know, you must be busy and can't pick up the phone, let alone text, so just voice mail. I’ll make sure you hear my voice until you get bored.” Aria laughed.

Alex shook his head and couldn't hold back his chuckle.

….……………..

Sure enough, Alex didn’t bother to send her any text for a couple of days. But Aria kept her word and sent some voicemails to him.

"Hey! What's up? I hope you don't get tired of hearing my voice. If you're bored, just block it. Hahaha... Eh, don't block me please, otherwise, who will I bother?"

Aria clicked it and the voicemail mail was sent. She did this every day, every time she was bored.

“Alex, do you remember that Cafe last time? I went there today, and the waiter treated me to that delicious cake! I'm happy and I'm full. Have you eaten yet?"

Aria was walking home after she visited the Cafe when she sent the voicemail.

She missed him secretly and she won't tell him.

Since getting to know that man, Aria finally had someone who wanted to listen to her ramblings besides Grandma. She felt comfortable with Alex because Alex was not like other men when they saw her. They always had bad intentions whenever they approached her, whereas Alex, he was just there and didn't talk much, listening to her every word without saying anything strange.

Aria took a deep breath. If she remembered how people reacted whenever they saw Alex, she actually wondered what those people were afraid of. Well, he is indeed a big, tall man, full of muscles and tattoos, but Aria doesn't feel afraid whenever Alex is around her. Maybe his cold attitude, deep stare, and not talking much had already stuck with him ever since and that made people didn’t feel comfortable.

Aria didn't want to judge other people if she didn't know the truth. When she asked Conni, she just smiled and said that she didn't know.

“If I'm a bad person, then are you afraid of me?”

That was Alex's question the last time they met. And she answered him honestly.

Of course, she's afraid of bad people. Bad people always harm innocent people. But after she thought about it again. If Alex really wanted to hurt her, attack her, why bother to wait such a long time? He could have done something straight away when they were alone in his car, or anywhere when Aria was careless.

But he didn't do anything...

It was evening when Aria decided to just send Alex a text instead of a voicemail. She took a photo of the same black car, from her bedroom window, that was always parked wherever she was, and sent it to Alex.

“Hey, Mr. Silent, do you know this car? It always follows me everywhere. You know, if I get bored and this car still follows me everywhere, I’ll put a prank on it. Haha…"

Aria was sending random messages like that just for fun. Because once again, even though she didn't want to admit it, she did miss him.

Unexpectedly, her cell phone rang, and a text popped up. Aria smiled looking at her phone screen when she knew it was from Alex.

"Don't worry, everything's fine."

Aria lay on the bed while looking at his reply.

“I thought he was ignoring my messages… Damn you Mr. Ice.”

….……………..

Today was the day Aria and Grandma had to go to the doctor for a follow-up examination that the doctor had scheduled. Aria was quite relieved because she had collected quite a lot of money recently. And she hoped that Grandma just had this ordinary sickness, nothing too serious.

“Aria, how do I look?” Grandma came out of her room wearing a brown dress that she had just bought for her.

She gasped with widened eyes. Looking at her with amusement at how beautiful her Grandma is.

“Are you really my Grandma? Why do I look at you like a retired supermodel?”

Grandma couldn't hold back her laughter, she laughed so much that her eyes were watery.

"I don't know whether that's a compliment or not." Said Grandma, who was now greeted with Aria’s laughter.

“Hey, that's a compliment! You must be popular in your youth by all that curves and beauty.” Aria nodded while watching Grandma who was now walking closer, hitting her lightly on the shoulder while laughing.

"You are too much, my dress feels bigger, because of your words."

They both laughed. Aria really likes teasing her grandmother, at least even though it's just the two of them, they are happier.

They go to one of the biggest hospitals in the city by bus. Aria realized that even though she might not have enough money, she wanted the best for her grandmother.

“We are just going for the hospital. But you even bought this beautiful dress. Don’t you think it waste of your money?" Grandma said patting the back of Aria's hand gently. They sat next to each other while enjoying the view of the city on a sunny morning. Aria specifically asked Conni for leave today, because she couldn't possibly send her grandmother alone for this examination.

"After we finish at the hospital, I will take you to eat something delicious." She said in a whisper. Grandma nodded and smiled.

"Thanks, my dear..."

Aria knew how Grandma had taken care of her since she was a baby because her mother was always sick, even though Grandma herself was struggling. Only her Mother and Grandma that loved her sincerely. Now her Mother was gone. She only had Grandma by her side now.

They arrived at the hospital and they already got their number for the line. When it was Grandma's turn, she was surprised.

She did not expect that Grandma would be asked to undergo various tests and entered several labs. But she still prayed for the best for Grandma.

However, Aria's hopes were dashed when she was asked to enter the doctor's office, while Grandma was still in one of the labs there. And she couldn't hold back her tears when she heard what the doctor said.

“So what should I do, Sir? I don't want anything bad to happen to her. She's the only one I have in this world..." Aria wiped her tears.

The doctor looked at Aria with pity. The girl in front of him was still very young, but she had to endure many things that even adults would not be able to face alone.

"Aria, your grandmother will be fine if she starts treatment and chemotherapy immediately. She is still in stage three, but there is still hope for her to recover. But we have to hurry.”

“Y-yes, yes! Please prepare everything for her. "I will prepare the money, don't worry, the important thing is that Grandma must be treated."

….……

"Aria, this place is so beautiful..." Grandma looked at the view in front of them with a wide smile on her face. Aria nodded in agreement. Since they got out of the hospital, she held her grandmother's hand and never let go.

They sat in the city park which showed a view of a beautiful colorful flower garden. It was a bright afternoon and the sun was no longer as hot as it was during the day. They could sit comfortably on one of the park benches comfortably while breathing fresh air. Aria already planned this. Because since she was often sick, Grandma rarely went out of the house.

She didn't tell Grandma what the doctor had said. Aria was afraid that if she told her, it would affect her because she heard what disease she was suffering from.

"Are you happy?" She asked.

“Of course I'm happy. Sit with you in this place with a full stomach and a beautiful view. Who wouldn't be happy?”

They both laughed.

"But I would be even happier if you introduced me to your boyfriend..."

"I do not have one." Aria looked at her with wide eyes.

“Oh? The man you often hang out with is not your boyfriend? Then, is he your future husband?"

Aria shook her head looking at her grandmother in disbelief.

“Grandma…” She pouted.

“Okay... but you have to be careful when you get close to men. Make sure he wants to be friends sincerely with you, not to do anything that will hurt you."

Aria nodded and leaned her head on Grandma’s shoulder.

Aria promised that she would not let her grandmother suffer, just like how her Mother spent the rest of her life.

“I'll be careful Grandma, I promise…”