Two days earlier...
Bumi's POV
"Have you met Angkasa, Brother?"
The voice of Banyu, my second brother, broke the silence. He sat across from me, his expression filled with curiosity, while I leaned back against the sofa.
I stared at him sharply, feeling a bit exhausted. "Angkasa was still the same as before. He still refused," I replied flatly, trying to cover up the emotions gnawing at my patience.
Banyu let out a loud sigh—a reaction I had already expected. Angkasa's refusal had become a recurring pattern, just like before.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The sound of a cane striking the floor echoed, drawing our attention. I didn't need to turn around to know who was coming. Father. His heavy steps approached, followed closely by Roberto, his loyal attendant.
Father sat on the single sofa at the end of the room, strategically positioned to keep an eye on us. His gaze was indifferent, yet I could feel his authority filling the room.
"Angkasa refused again, huh?" he asked coldly, his piercing eyes locking onto mine.
I gave a brief nod, feeling no need to elaborate. As I expected, his hand immediately gripped the cane handle tightly—a habit that showed he was holding back his anger. The living room, previously just quiet, now felt cold, the tense atmosphere taking over despite the fireplace burning brightly nearby.
"Should I handle it myself?! It seemed Angkasa needed to be taught a lesson so he wouldn't defy my orders!" His voice boomed, firm and indisputable.
Banyu and I remained silent, choosing not to respond right away. But eventually, I spoke up with a deliberately sarcastic tone. "Surely you hadn't forgotten what happened to Angkasa when he was ten, right, Father?"
I noticed a slight change in Father's expression, but he still didn't respond. However, I knew he remembered. Back then, Angkasa had jumped from the fourth-floor window just to escape because Father had forbidden him from joining a school field trip.
Father had always had strict rules: school was the top priority, with no additional activities like competitions, trips, or anything involving outsiders. We were a mafia family, and in Father's eyes, too much interaction with the outside world only opened unnecessary vulnerabilities.
But Angkasa had always been different. He was the only one brave enough to fight back, even openly defying Father's orders. Usually, Mother would mediate between them. But after she passed away, everything had changed. There was no one left to ease the conflict. This house... we... nothing was the same anymore.
Silence engulfed the room. I could sense each of us deep in thought, lost in a whirlwind of buried emotions. In that quiet, I recalled what had happened earlier that evening before I returned here.
I chuckled softly, the sound cutting through the silence. A cynical smile formed on my face as I leaned back more comfortably on the sofa. "But I thought Angkasa would come here the day after tomorrow."
Father and Banyu turned to me simultaneously, clearly shocked by my statement.
"And yes," I added, playing with my tone, "don't be too surprised—he would be bringing someone with him. Perhaps... a lover?"
"A lover?!" Father exclaimed, his voice cracking like thunder in the night sky. His gaze grew even sharper, trying to read my mind.
I just gave a crooked smile and shifted my attention to Banyu. Without needing words, Banyu understood. He gave a slight nod and stood from the sofa. "What are we waiting for? We need to get ready to welcome Angkasa and his... companion, right?"
I nodded slowly, the cynical smile never leaving my face. Yet, inside, my mind was swirling with dark, twisted thoughts. That girl? She wouldn't dare set foot here.
I couldn't wait to see what would unfold the night after tomorrow.
Bumi's POV END
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Sky Café, 6:38 PM
Since Nadia's statement earlier, the atmosphere between them had turned silent. They had been sitting together in silence for the past half hour. Angkasa kept staring at Nadia with a blank expression, but his sharp eyes seemed to be trying to read the mind of the girl in front of him. What exactly made Nadia suddenly ask him to be her boyfriend?
"Err... t-that..." Nadia finally spoke, her voice slightly trembling. "Sorry if my words earlier sounded ambiguous. Umm... I mean, i-is your offer from the other day still valid?" Nadia tried to appear calm, but her fingers interlaced on her lap were shaking. The words came out with difficulty, as the pounding in her chest grew even wilder.
Angkasa kept looking at her, this time with a hint of curiosity hidden behind his cold face. He didn't immediately respond, just clearing his throat softly to compose his thoughts before finally speaking, "Are you sure? You know that once you decide on this, there's no turning back, Nadia."
His tone was low, but there was something sharp in it—a subtle warning that made Nadia swallow hard. However, she nodded slowly, even though a tinge of doubt slipped into the corner of her heart. She knew she needed Angkasa's help, even if it meant going through with this crazy deal.
"Actually..." Nadia took a deep breath, trying to steady her trembling voice. "Today, my editor told me about a writing competition. The timeline is from Christmas to Valentine's Day, and the theme is romance with a strong sense of realism."
Her cheeks began to heat up, a soft blush creeping onto her face. She lowered her gaze, staring at the table as if searching for the courage to continue. When she finally spoke again, her voice was even softer, almost like a whisper.
"I-I've n-never been in a r-relationship... let alone fallen in love. I-I've never felt it... ughh..."
Now, Nadia's face was as red as a tomato. What she said was true, but it felt incredibly embarrassing. She was too naive when it came to love, and it made her feel small in front of Angkasa.
"Hekh..."
Nadia heard a faint laugh from Angkasa. It wasn't a loud sound, but enough to make her look up sharply. In the quiet café, that sound was unmistakable. Her gaze, flushed with embarrassment, turned into a sharp, protesting look.
However, to Angkasa, that expression looked adorable. How could a girl be angry with a face that red? His thin smile almost turned into full-blown laughter, but he held it back, choosing to enjoy the sight in silence.
"Y-You! Hey, don't laugh! Ughh! I-I..."
Thud!
Overwhelmed with embarrassment, Nadia couldn't look at the handsome man in front of her anymore. Her flushed face grew even hotter, and without being able to hold back, she dropped her head onto the table. She tried to calm her rapid heartbeat and neutralize the burning redness still spreading across her face.
Angkasa could only chuckle lightly, unable to suppress his amusement at Nadia's simple reaction. Still, he felt something odd, as if there was something in Nadia that touched his heart. Finally, he spoke, trying to ease the situation.
"So, you want me to be your fake boyfriend so I can help you understand what love feels like? All that for your novel, right?"
Nadia just raised her head, still looking embarrassed even though the blush was starting to fade. She nodded slowly, unable to say much more.
"Alright," Angkasa continued, his voice deeper and more thoughtful. "We'll be fake lovers until Bumi and my family stop being suspicious of you. But in return, I'll help you feel what love is—what couples usually do. This is our agreement: during the contract period, we agree not to interfere with each other's personal matters and must not get close to any other person of the opposite sex. Deal?"
Angkasa's firm and clear words seemed to seal their pact. Nadia glanced at the large hand extended before her. She took a deep breath, gathering her courage, before accepting the offered hand. They shook hands, forming a bond that, without words, sealed their deal.
"Deal!" Nadia answered confidently, though her voice still sounded a bit shaky.
Angkasa smiled faintly, a smile he couldn't hide despite the turmoil within him. Their hands clasped tightly. There was a strange sensation flowing between them—something indescribable, but undeniably real.
Angkasa felt his heartbeat quicken, especially when he held Nadia's soft hand, which felt so fragile in his much larger grip.
"In that case, get ready. Tomorrow after work, I'll pick you up, and we'll head straight to my family's house."
"Ehhhhh?!"
Nadia's eyes widened in surprise. She almost forgot about the invitation from Angkasa's eldest brother, Bumi, which she received a few days ago. She never expected to meet Angkasa's family so soon.
'Oh God, help me!' she thought, feeling a deep anxiety about what would happen tomorrow.
-----
Nadia's POV
The sound of typing echoed throughout the quiet room. My eyes stayed focused on the strings of code displayed on the computer screen, trying to make sure there were no mistakes or errors.
"...But if you're scared, I suggest you break up with Angkasa and run as far away as possible from us because I don't like showing mercy!"
Thud!
Oh God, once again my mind drifted to Bumi's words a few days ago. His words were so sharp and filled with threats. I stopped typing and rubbed my face roughly. I lowered my head, lamenting my bad luck for getting involved with the Mafia!
'Is this a curse because I always rebel against Via and Antonio?' I thought, chuckling bitterly.
I remembered how sister Viarra and her husband always treated me like their own child. Even though I felt unworthy of making them proud, they always stood by me like parents ready to protect me.
Speaking of parents, I was still confused about who mine were. All I knew was that I was the sole survivor of a fire ten years ago, and...
"Ughh... sshh... it hurts... ukhh..."
I groaned in pain, as it always happened whenever I tried to dig into my past. A searing headache struck one side of my head. It was so painful, I felt like pulling my hair out. Ugh...
Tap!
"Nad? What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
I flinched slightly and turned to the side. Boss Afif was looking at me with a worried expression, as if my pain was truly severe.
"I'm fine..." I replied softly while shaking my head, trying to reassure him not to worry too much. I really hated when people looked at me with concern. I'm fine!
"It's already 2 PM, you better go home early."
I just nodded and quickly logged out from the system I was working on. Usually, Boss Afif was pretty strict about work, and I often got a heavier workload than him. Hah...
"Boss, I'm heading home now."
I bid farewell, and Boss Afif just nodded his head. I walked out of the room. Around the office, employees were bustling about, and my eyes narrowed slightly when I saw the elevator at the far end open, revealing Arina and two other friends chatting cheerfully.
Without thinking twice, I quickened my pace to get away from there. Avoiding Arina? Of course. Ever since that incident, my heart was too hurt and disappointed to even cross paths or meet her gaze—anywhere.
20 minutes later...
Ting! The café doorbell chimed as I pushed the door open. I let out a small sigh of relief when the cool air greeted my face. My eyes immediately locked onto Alvian at the bar counter, and I quickly made my way over.
"Vian..." I called out cheerfully. The guy instantly shifted his attention from the machine and looked at me with a smile.
"Sis? It's unusual for you to come here at this hour," he said, looking a bit surprised. Usually, I came to this café in the afternoon, so showing up at midday was out of the ordinary.
This café was always crowded during the day, filled with office workers and college students. Besides coffee and pastries as their signature menu, the café also offered a variety of other dishes, especially fresh seafood specialties.
"Would you like to order your usual, Sis?" Alvian asked, ready with the machine. I shook my head, feeling like eating something heavier and spicier today.
"Hmm, I think I'll try something different. Can I have Calderata?" I asked with a mix of hope and uncertainty, knowing that this dish was quite rare here because of its unmatched deliciousness.
Alvian glanced at me briefly before heading to the kitchen. 'Huh? Oh no, Vian, if it's not available, don't force it. Besides, the queue behind me is getting quite long...' I grimaced inwardly, sensing the growing impatience of the people behind me.
"Nadia?"
A voice startled me, and I quickly focused my gaze forward. There stood Angkasa, wearing a chef's outfit with his sleeves rolled halfway up. God, he looked so sexy!
I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself, and nodded while smiling.
"Follow me." Angkasa said again, his deep voice almost hypnotizing me.
Without realizing it, I nodded and followed Angkasa to the back, near the gazebo not far from the kitchen. I frowned slightly, remembering that I once cried and shared stories with Alvian in this place.
"Err, Angkasa?" I asked, feeling confused about being brought here.
"Wait here. We'll have lunch together," Angkasa replied.
I didn't even have a chance to respond before Angkasa turned around and went back to the kitchen, leaving me alone. I sighed and sat down on one of the chairs, waiting for him while daydreaming and thinking about many things.
Nadia's POV END
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15 minutes later...
Clank! The sound of a tray hitting the table snapped Nadia out of her thoughts. The irresistible aroma of food instantly filled the air, and her face lit up with excitement, eager to taste it.
Calderata was one of the most beloved dishes in Valdera City. It consisted of fresh seafood like shrimp, squid, clams, and lobster, along with boiled sweet corn cooked in a spicy reddish-yellow sauce with a touch of honey, and the broth made from boiled seafood blended perfectly, creating a mildly spicy yet incredibly savory taste. Calderata was usually served with ciabatta bread or warm rice.
"You rarely come at this time. Is there something wrong at work?" Angkasa asked while pulling out a chair across from her.
Nadia just shook her head and accepted the plate of calderata Angkasa handed her. She grabbed the bread placed beside it.
"No, nothing's wrong. Oh, did you make this?" Nadia asked, trying to change the topic.
Understanding her intention, Angkasa just nodded without pressing further.
"Yeah, and I hope you like it," he said with a small smile.
Nadia just chuckled and began eating her lunch. She didn't even bother to ask why Angkasa brought her here to eat together.
The afternoon passed with only a few conversations in between their shared meal.
●●●●●
"You said Angkasa would be here, huh? Look at this, it's already past dinner time!" A man's sharp voice broke the silence.
Bumi just scoffed at that remark, while Banyu glanced at him with an exasperated look. Their two younger sisters stared in annoyance at their oldest brother, who looked too relaxed despite having to take a quick flight from Siotto because of their father's orders.
"I never said they would definitely come here..." Bumi's tone sounded sarcastic. He had anticipated this—Angkasa, especially his lover, would surely be too scared of his threats. That girl was too easily provoked. Tsk...
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Suddenly, Roberto entered and reported something that took Bumi by surprise. His eyes widened instantly.
"Master Adrian, young master Angkasa has arrived at the front, and... he brought a girl with him..."