Calibri, 6:25 PM
Nadia let out a heavy sigh for what felt like the hundredth time. Her gaze repeatedly flicked toward the wall clock, ticking slowly as if deliberately playing with time.
Her steps were restless—sometimes she sat down, but not long after, she would stand up again just to pace back and forth in the living room. The unease was obvious—the thought of what would happen that night wouldn't stop bothering her mind.
She was waiting for Angkasa. The man had promised to pick her up at exactly seven o'clock. Nadia knew she didn't have a choice, but her heart was at war, full of doubts.
The conversation from earlier that day kept replaying in her mind like a broken record.
"Do I really have to meet your family?" Nadia asked, her voice half-pleading.
"Of course! Isn't that part of our agreement?" Angkasa replied, his voice calm but firm. "I'm sure Bumi thinks you're afraid of his threat."
Nadia fell silent at that moment. Bumi. That name sent chills down her spine, fear crawling over her skin. "But... I really am scared!" her voice softened, almost inaudible. "How about this—what if you just go alone, while I wait here? Besides—"
Angkasa cut her off immediately, his tone turning sharp. "I refuse! You're still coming with me tonight, Nadia."
Sigh...
Nadia let out another long breath, this time while leaning weakly on one of the chairs at her round dining table. She stared blankly at the table, her left hand tapping the wooden surface with an irregular rhythm.
"Should I just back out?" she muttered softly. Then she sighed in frustration, ruffling her own hair.
"Arghh, Nadia! You should've never agreed to that deal! To hell with the novel!" her voice rose, but it was only heard by herself.
Beep! Beep! The sound of a car horn suddenly echoed from outside, interrupting her irritation. Two short honks—distinctly indicating someone who disliked waiting.
Nadia glanced toward the window and snorted without hesitation. "Angkasa..." she muttered, confident that it was him. She hurried back to her room, grabbing the cardigan hanging on the door hook, and combed through her messy hair with a brush. Her long, jet-black hair fell back into place, reflecting a soft sheen under the lamp's glow.
Nadia looked at her reflection in the mirror, taking a deep breath to calm her racing heart.
Ding! The doorbell chimed once. Still clutching the cardigan in her hand, Nadia quickly walked to the door.
Click! The door swung open, revealing Angkasa standing there.
Angkasa stood at the entrance, dressed simply yet captivatingly. He wore a white long-sleeved shirt, rolled up just below his elbows, paired with a sleeveless black vest that fit his frame perfectly. Completing the look were black trousers and classic leather shoes. Simple, but exuding an elegant aura that couldn't be ignored.
"Hey..." Angkasa greeted, his voice soft yet enough to break Nadia's long, silent gaze—her eyes locked on him.
Angkasa himself was momentarily stunned, staring at Nadia's simple yet enchanting appearance. A knee-length lilac dress paired with a matching cardigan added a sweet touch. Her naturally flowing long hair made her look graceful. Every detail of her appearance made Angkasa's heart race faster.
"Ah, sorry..." Nadia snapped back to reality, quickly averting her gaze as her cheeks flushed. She felt silly for being so mesmerized just by looking at Angkasa.
Angkasa tried to regain his composure, taking a breath and clearing his throat softly. "So, ready to go now?" he asked in a firmer tone, trying to project his usual assertiveness.
Nadia just nodded without saying a word, hastily closing and locking her door. They walked side by side to Angkasa's metallic black car parked in front of the house.
Angkasa opened the passenger door next to the driver's seat, gesturing for Nadia to get in. That small gesture made Nadia's heart flutter. It was the first time she had been treated like that—simple but full of consideration. Even though, in reality, their relationship was just pretend...
"You can relax," Angkasa said as he started the engine. "The trip to our family's place is quite far from here, around two hours or more." He glanced briefly to make sure Nadia was comfortable in the passenger seat next to him, giving a slight smile.
A few moments later...
Inside the car, the silence felt comforting, only accompanied by the soft hum of the wheels gliding on the asphalt and the gentle melody playing in the background. The Only Exception by Paramore flowed from the speakers, carrying a calm rhythm.
I've always lived like this, keeping a comfortable distance...
Nadia stole a glance at Angkasa. His strong hands gripped the steering wheel casually, his eyes focused on the road. Yet there was something about his expression—calm but seemingly full of hidden thoughts, giving the impression that he carried many secrets behind that gaze.
"Is this your favorite song?" Nadia asked quietly, trying to break the comfortable silence. Angkasa glanced at her briefly and gave a faint smile.
"Not really my favorite... But my late mother used to play it a lot."
Nadia smiled softly, shifting her gaze to the window. Angkasa's words touched her heart. Sometimes, simple things like that felt more meaningful than they seemed.
You are the only exception...
With a soft hum, Nadia followed the lyrics, occasionally singing gently. Her heart stirred, feeling as if the song wasn't just Paramore's, but somehow, a little bit of theirs too.
●●●●●
Ravenwell Hill, 9:10 PM
Angkasa's black car entered the spacious yard, and in front of them stood a grand, majestic house—solid and impressively luxurious.
Nadia's eyes widened slightly, surprised. Earlier, they had passed through a large gate at the foot of the hill and drove along a spiral road that brought them up here. All around were stretches of trees and neatly arranged gardens, giving the impression that this house stood alone in the midst of tranquil nature.
Angkasa got out first and approached the passenger door beside him to open it for Nadia.
"Come on..."
Angkasa extended his large hand. Without hesitation, Nadia took it, though her heart was still captivated by the luxury surrounding them. In front of the house, a line of bodyguards dressed in black stood upright, welcoming their arrival with respectful postures.
"Are you ready?" Angkasa asked in a low, soft voice. "I hope so because soon we'll meet my family. Don't worry, security here is indeed very tight."
Carefully, he leaned in a bit and tidied up the strands of Nadia's hair that had been blown by the night wind—a gentle gesture that made Nadia feel calmer.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Nadia's heart pounded wildly like a runaway horse! Angkasa's treatment was too special for her. But hearing Angkasa's words earlier, Nadia realized that their drama as a fake couple was about to begin.
"Yeah, I'm ready, let's do it!" Nadia whispered firmly. Her grip unconsciously tightened, squeezing Angkasa's broad palm. Her gaze was resolute, ready to face whatever risks lay ahead. The show must go on...
The two walked side by side, holding hands. The line of bodyguards immediately bowed in respect upon seeing one of their young masters return home after a long time.
"Young master, you have arrived..." Roberto greeted and bowed politely.
Angkasa nodded and cleared his throat lightly, signaling Roberto to immediately inform everyone inside the house about his arrival.
Before parking the car earlier, Angkasa had noticed his younger sister's beloved Lamborghini parked over there.
"Please come in, Sir. The master and others have been waiting for your arrival," Roberto politely escorted the young master inside. Angkasa followed him, his strong fingers holding Nadia's hand, who could only follow his wide steps.
"Stay here, Roberto, go tell Father!" Not far from the entrance, Angkasa stopped, his voice firm with a look that demanded no disobedience.
"Yes, Sir, I will be back shortly."
Roberto walked away quickly, leaving the living room as instructed by the young master.
A few minutes later...
Thump! Thump!
The sound of footsteps approached the living room. Angkasa did not sit; he just stood, gently holding Nadia's fingers to keep her by his side. Angkasa knew well that Nadia was trembling beside him.
"Brother!"
The shout of a young girl was the first thing they heard, followed by a sudden hug that caught Angkasa by surprise. Despite his widened eyes, he promptly wrapped one arm around his youngest sister.
"Hey, Sekar, are you crying?" Angkasa whispered gently, noticing his sister sobbing in his embrace.
Sekar, the youngest and closest to Angkasa among the siblings, always felt lost whenever her brother disappeared without notice. Living in Siotto, Angkasa only met her a few times, and even Sekar didn't know what he had been doing these past few years.
"I... I missed you, Brother! You... you didn't come to Mom's memorial twice already..."
Sekar's cries grew louder. Angkasa fell silent. He couldn't deny his sister's words. It was true; for the past two years, he hadn't attended their mother's memorial service, even though they held it annually to honor her memory. Angkasa wasn't forgetting his mother, but his heart always screamed in pain, unwilling to accept her departure. Moreover, there was one more reason—he hated seeing the person he blamed for it: his father!
"Sorry... I was really busy at that time..." Angkasa said softly, his palm soothing his sister.
Sekar nodded, loosening her embrace. She wiped her tears before realizing that someone had been standing beside her brother all along, holding his hand.
"Ah! Sorry, Brother..." Sekar immediately released her hug and stepped back, feeling embarrassed after realizing that someone else had been there all along.
"Huh, I thought you wouldn't come?!" a cynical voice greeted, full of bitterness and resentment after the touching reunion. That man, with his cold, flat expression, always looked down on everyone, including his own family.
Angkasa could only glare, his lips pressed tight as he scoffed at Bumi's tone and attitude.
"Angkasa..." a deep, authoritative voice called his name. Firm footsteps approached the third son with an undeniable presence.
Angkasa shifted his gaze, staring at his father with a blank expression, showing no emotion. As usual, no feelings appeared on Angkasa's face when facing the man who gave him life but also left him with deep scars.
The head of the family stood beside his youngest daughter. Feeling uneasy, Sekar took a step back to give space to her father to talk to Angkasa.
The man looked sharply at Angkasa, then his gaze shifted to the girl standing beside his son. His eyes moved down, noticing the clasped hands between them. A small smile formed on his lips.
"What's your name, dear?"
Everyone in the room fell silent, stunned by the gentle tone from the father. Even Angkasa, who was used to his father's rigid and harsh demeanor, was shocked. His eyes widened for a split second before he steadied himself, preparing to introduce Nadia.
"She's my girlfriend, Nadia..." Angkasa replied calmly, though his heart was slightly stirred.
"Did I ask you?!" his father cut him off sharply, his voice piercing like a dagger. His glare was intense, staring at Angkasa as if trying to subdue him.
Angkasa's emotions flared up, but before he could explode, Nadia gently patted his arm, calming him down. Nadia took a deep breath to steady herself before speaking with a slightly trembling voice.
"Hello, Sir... my name is Nadia... I... I'm Angkasa's girlfriend..."
Nadia managed to say the word girlfriend with difficulty, as if it was heavy on her lips. She bowed her head slightly with a polite smile, despite feeling overwhelming anxiety inside.
"Relax, dear, no need to be afraid! Come in, let's eat! Your journey must be tiring, and you haven't had dinner, right?" The man's voice was warm, his smile surprisingly comforting.
Nadia hesitantly released Angkasa's hand and shook the father's outstretched one. Something in his gaze made her feel slightly more at ease.
"Don't call me Sir! My name is Adrian, and you should call me Dad like my other kids do. Come on, let's eat together. Do you like shrimp corn chowder? Nuri made quite a lot, and I hope you can help me finish it."
Nadia smiled awkwardly, but her face remained bright.
The siblings stood frozen, still stunned by their father's unexpectedly warm welcome.
"Wow... I can't believe this! You guys saw that, right? Hey, Brother, it looks like Dad approves of your relationship!" said the fourth sibling, eyes gleaming with surprise.
Angkasa just snorted, hiding his annoyance, then walked toward the dining room to follow Nadia and his father.
Before walking any further, Angkasa paused for a moment beside his oldest brother and whispered sharply, "See that? Even my girlfriend is warmly accepted by Dad..." Angkasa said with a cynical tone.
"You!" Bumi clicked his tongue in irritation, his eyes blazing red with anger, but he couldn't say anything. Feeling victorious, Angkasa walked away, leaving his brother speechless and unable to retaliate.