Part 19


    ra arrived at school. Monday, a day that required more energy because of the g ceremony.


    And ra’s face reflected that. She looked disheveled and didn’t have a single smile.


    “Why aren’t you as enthusiastic as usual?” Nadia asked. They hadn’t exchanged messagesst night. Her friend was sure something had happened to make ra not cheerful on this bright morning.


    ra remained silent. She was still guessing why Uncle Joe left earlier. Was it intentionally avoiding her, or was there some other work, or did he want to pick up Celine? Thetter was the worst possibility.


    “Uncle Joe again?” guessed Nadia.


    ra nodded, then rested her head on the desk. She felt too drained to lift her head.


    “Come on, tell me, maybe I can help!” Nadia prompted.


    “It turns out mypetition isn’t just Aunt Vivian, but there are many out there. All this time, I’ve been too confident in getting love from Uncle Joe!” ramented. The image of beautiful Celine and her captivating smile shed through ra’s mind again.


    “You still haven’t given up, ra?” Nadia probed.


    “Not yet!” ra replied. “I’m just feeling stuck!” she added.


    “Do you know ‘Tresno jran soko kulino’?” Nadia asked.


    “It’s Javanese, right?” ra guessed.


    Nadia nodded. “Lovees from being ustomed to it,” she said.


    “And?” ra looked up, waiting for Nadia’s answer.


    “Make Uncle Joe ustomed to your presence. After that, I’m sure your handsome uncle will feel lost when you’re away from him!” Nadia exined as if she were an expert in love.


    ra thought about it and felt it was the right time. Aunt Vivian was in Paris. At least she wouldn’t meet Uncle Joe for three months.


    “Okay. Nad, I won’t give up!” ra replied enthusiastically.


    “Good, ra, keep up the spirit!” Nadia clenched her fists. Always supporting ra.


    And thus, ra went through that long Monday. At school, she would focus on studying; she was intelligent, a good gene inherited from both her parents.


    ==?==


    At 2:00 PM, it was time for the students to go home. Mario was waiting for ra in front of the school gate.


    “ra, I’ll take you back to the dorm!” Mario requested.


    “Thank you, Mario, but I’m not staying at the dorm anymore,” ra replied. Meanwhile, Nadia had already gone back to the dorm. She would support ra in pursuing Joe. Therefore, she allowed ra not to return to the dorm.


    “Are you staying at that Uncle’s house?” Mario inquired.


    “His name is Uncle Joe, not just ‘Uncle,’ and yes, I do live there because that’s where my home is!” ra replied.


    “I beg you, please don’t stay there, ra!” Mario pleaded, getting off his motorcycle and sitting next to ra.


    “I have no one else besides Uncle Joe!” ra said, not liking Mario’s interference in her affairs.


    “How great is this Uncle Joe, ra! If you can stay at his house, you can also stay at my house!” Mario started to get annoyed. If ra stayed at Uncle Joe’s house, it meant she would often meet him.


    “He’s great, very great. He’s kind, rich, and the most handsome CEO in the world!” ra replied irritably. “I’m going home now!” she added, standing up and leaving Mario behind, walking towards the private car that was picking her up.


    Mario swallowed. He had a bad feeling. His love would wither even before it was confessed. He began to be curious about Joe’s true identity. He was a CEO, but what business field was he in?


    Mario started his motorcycle and rode off at full speed.


    .


    .


    .


    Upon arriving home.


    Mario got off his motorcycle. He grabbed his phone and immediately called his dad. Mario’s parents were quite influential, owning a majority of shares in several coal miningpanies in Kalimantan.


    The call connected.


    “Hello, what’s up?” Mr. Erwin greeted. He was disturbed by the phone call from his son during working hours.


    “Do you know Joe Sebastian, Dad?” Mario asked.


    “I’ve heard of him, why?” his dad asked back.


    “Please, Dad, give Mario information about that person!” Mario said hopefully.


    “Does Dad need to teach you how to use a phone? Some time ago, news about his divorce went viral! Don’t make Dad angry because of this, Mario!” his dad scolded.


    “Yes, Dad, Mario understands! Sorry to bother you!”


    Click. Mario ended the phone call before his dad could respond.


    Mario started browsing with his phone. He opened a search engine and looked up Joe Sebastian. He read several article titles and held his breath. The truths he received one by one made him flinch. Especially after finding out that the former wife of that man was the supermodel Vivian Rosaline.


    “Oh, I’m still not afraid! I will win ra’s heart!” Mario said confidently.


    ==?==


    ra arrived home. Joe’s residence looked quiet. Mr. Bond, Mrs. Linn, and Kimmy were out for a stroll.


    Joe’s car was in the garage. But ra wasn’t sure if he had already returned from work.


    ra walked towards the kitchen. She opened the fridge and poured cold water into a ss.


    She drank water while looking at the backyard.


    WOW.


    ra’s eyes, which were sad, widened now. She stared at the scene in front of her. Uncle Joe, yes, the handsome man was gardening.


    ra stepped closer to the window. Then, she observed Joe from a far.


    ra swallowed hard. “Uncle handsome. Why are you always handsome, and I’m always shameless because I’m constantly praising you!” the girl muttered with unblinking eyelids.


    Joe stood up and wrapped a towel around his waist. Then he walked to the kitchen.


    ra remained silent. There was no time to hide or run.Please check at N/?vel(D)rama.Org.


    “What are you doing, ra?” Joe asked with his heavy voice.


    ra took a step back. “Um…,” that’s all that came out of the girl’s mouth.


    “Let’s settle this now, ra!” Joe requested, pulling ra’s hand, leading her to the backyard. Afraid that a servant might overhear their conversation.


    ra pushed Joe’s hand away. She wanted to avoid and run. But Joe reached for ra’s fingers again, preventing her from leaving.


    “I don’t like it, I’m ufortable, ra. I’m ufortable with the way you look at me, pay attention to me, and steal nces from me!” Joe said.


    ra stayed silent.


    “Stop it all, ra, I only see you as a little sister that I have to take care of, that I have to protect, don’t misinterpret my attention, ra. Forget about me!” he pleaded, staring at ra with his eagle eyes.


    “Are you sure you don’t like me? Then why does Uncle Joe still care about me?” ra asked.


    “Because I feel responsible for you, ra!” he answered. “Please, stop your feelings, I’m afraid you’ll get hurt, I’m also afraid that I’ll hurt you!” he added.


    ra stayed silent. She wouldn’t be ra if she gave up that easily. No! Letting go of Joe was not something she would do.


    “Okay, I’ll try to forget Uncle Joe, but with one condition!” ra suggested boldly. Nadia’s message sparked a brilliant idea in her mind. ‘Tresno jran soko kulino.’


    “Tell me what’s the condition?” Joe asked.


    “Pretend to be my boyfriend, Uncle!” ra said confidently. Maybe by pretending to be in a rtionship, Joe would gradually develop feelings for her. Hopefully! ‘Tresno jran soko kulino.’ That word kept echoing in ra’s head.


    Joe narrowed his eyes, his eyebrows furrowed. ra’s request distracted him.


    “No, ra, I can’t. Do you think my life is just a game, I have to work and think about thousands of my employees!” Joe refused.


    “Well then! If Uncle doesn’t want to, don’t ask me to forget the feelings in my heart,” ra challenged.


    Silence.


    Silence.


    “How long are we going to pretend to be dating?” Joe asked, giving in.


    “Three months!” ra replied.


    “No, that’s too long, your final exam is only two months away!” Joe objected firmly.


    “How about two months, Uncle?” ra suggested.


    “One month only!” Joe bargained.


    “Forty-five days? How about that?” ra made an offer.


    “Okay, let’s make the contract now!” Joe said, feeling like he found a resolution to his problem with ra.


    “Okay!”


    ra and Joe went to their respective rooms and started writing down the rules they proposed.


    After twenty minutes, they met again in the living room, Kimmy’s favorite ying spot.


    Joe received a piece of paper from ra and began to read it.


    1. Escort to school every day.


    2. Dinner dates on Saturday nights.


    3. Respond to every WhatsApp message I send.


    4. Make time to chat and help me study every night.


    5. No arguments during this 45-day contract.


    “ra, for point one, I might not be able to do it every day, but I’ll try to take you to school!” Joe said.


    “Okay, Uncle.” ra understood that Joe was busy with work and sometimes had to travel out of town.


    “For points two, three, and four, I’ll try my best, but I can’t promise to do it every day!” Joe said. “For point five, I promise we won’t argue!” he added.


    “Okay, Uncle!” Now it was ra’s turn to read Joe’s rules.


    1. No physical contact.


    2. No one must know.


    3. Don’t interfere in my personal affairs.


    4. No pet names.


    5. No excessive demands.


    “Even just holding hands with Uncle Joe is not allowed?” ra responded to point one. Who doesn’t hold hands when they’re dating?


    “No!” Joe replied firmly.


    “Even if it’s just the two of us?” ra pressed.


    “Yes, none!” Joe refused.


    “For points two, three, and five, I can agree, but not for point four!” ra suggested.


    “Okay, you can call me whatever you want when we’re alone!” Joe said, not wanting to argue further with the girl.


    “So when should we start pretending to date, Uncle?” ra asked.


    “It’s up to you!” Joe replied, getting busy with his tablet.


    “Starting tomorrow morning, okay, Uncle?”


    “Yes.”


    “KIMMY?”


    “KIMMY!”