25


    ra entered her room. It hurt so much to hear every word Joe said. She would be hurt, that’s the meaning behind every word from Joe.


    Shey down, looking at the curtains in her room. However, what the man said was true. So, what should she do?


    Mrs. Linn and Mr. Bond might not approve of her rtionship with Joe. And so does Kimmy, the little girl wouldn’t ept her as a mother. There’s also Aunt Vivian, Joe Sebastian’s ex-wife. It’s clear she wants to reconcile after her career goals are achieved.


    It’s no longer just the media’s interest in the handsome CEO’s love life. ra sighed deeply. She couldn’t deny that what Joe said was true. It challenged ra’s mindset that had never thought ahead. All she knew was her immense love for Uncle, and she wanted that love reciprocated! That’s as simple as ra’s thinking.


    And.


    Joe couldn’t be that foolish. Besides ra, there were many hearts he had to care for. His parents’ hearts and his little daughter’s heart.


    ra swallowed hard. There was a bitter taste in her throat.


    Forgetting Joe was impossible, but reaching him wasn’t easy either. She had to prepare her heart as strong as a rock. It’s not as easy as she had imagined all this time.


    Throughout the night, ra couldn’t fall asleep. She changed positions several times. But still couldn’t sleep until early morning. Her mind was stuck!


    .


    .


    .


    The next morning. ra decided to get up earlier than usual. She really didn’t feel like meeting Joe, let alone talking to him.


    Twenty minutes, enough time for ra to shower and get ready. She decided to go to school by ordering a taxi.


    Arriving at school, Mario, who found ra arriving in a taxi, immediately approached her. Actually, without ra’s knowledge, Mario had been observing her every day.


    “ra!” Mario called out, stopping ra who was walking towards her ssroom.


    “Yes,” ra replied, turning back to the source of the voice. Finding Mario standing right behind her.


    “Are youing alone? Not with Uncle Joe or his driver?” Mario asked to the point.


    “No!” that’s all that came out of ra’s mouth.


    “BTW, where do you want to continue your studies?” the teenage boy asked. He wanted to be close to ra and learn more about the beautiful girl. The girl he secretly admired and adored during their graduation year.


    “I, still don’t know, Mario,” ra answered. She still didn’t know her next step. She loved designing, but wasn’t sure if she wanted to major in that.


    “Later tonight, I’ll pick you up, okay?” Mario made sure.


    “Yes,” ra replied, still feeling down because of Joe’s words fromst night.


    “I’ll also be the one to take you home tonight, okay? Do you want that?” Mario always looked at ra. In his eyes, the girl was always beautiful, smart, and perfect.


    “Yes.” ra threw a smile at her friend. “I’ll go first, okay?” ra bid farewell.


    “Okay, ra!” Mario replied.


    ==?==


    During break time, Mario asked Nadia to talk without ra’s knowledge. They talked in the school canteen, which wasn’t too crowded during the second break.


    “Nadia, I want to ask for your opinion!” Mario said.


    “About what?” Nadia replied.


    “I want to express my feelings to ra tonight, do you think ra will ept my feelings or not?” Mario asked. He thought Nadia was the right person to tell him about ra’s feelings.


    “I don’t know, Mario, my advice is to express it after the final exams!” Nadia said. It was also impossible for Nadia to tell Mario that ra liked Uncle Joe.


    “But Nad, I think this is the right time, if ra epts my love after graduation, we can study at the same university!” Mario suggested. He couldn’t hold back his feelings for ra anymore.


    “Okay, Mario, it’s up to you!” Nadia said. “But I can’t guarantee ra will ept your feelings!” she added and left Mario alone.


    ==?==


    At 3:55 PM, Mario arrived in front of Joe’s house. The red Ferrari car his mother bought him for his 17th birthday finally came in handy.


    To pick up and drop off ra. Mario sent a message to inform the girl that he had arrived at Joe Sebastian’s main door.


    Mario: [ra, I’ve arrived.]


    ra’s phone rang. There were dozens of messages from Joe that she didn’t open.


    She looked at herself in the mirror, wearing jeans and a high-necked sweater, she was already wearing. She let her hair fall neatly.


    ra’s phone rang. There was a call from Mario.


    ra slid the green icon to answer the phone.


    “I’ve arrived!” said the voice on the other end.


    “Yes, I’ll be down in a moment!”


    “Okay.”


    The phone call ended. ra closed her phone screen. Putting the t object into her sling bag.


    Then, she walked out of her room. The girl walked down the stairs and found Mrs. ra sitting in the living room.


    “Ma’am, I have a school event, after it’s over I wille back immediately!” ra asked for permission.


    “What time will you be back, ra?” the middle-aged woman asked, still staring at her phone. Exchanging messages with her chosen future son-inw.


    “Maybe around eight ortest by nine in the evening!” ra replied.


    “Alright, take care!” Mrs. Linn replied.


    “Okay, Ma’am!”


    ra kissed Kimmy, then walked out of the house. She started walking away from the terrace and opened the gate.


    Mario got out of the car and opened the door for her.


    ra sat next to Mario. And the four-wheeled vehicle began to move at a moderate speed.


    “ra,” Mario whispered. Turning to ra who preferred to remain silent.


    “Emm…,” ra replied, still looking out the window.


    “Look at me, ra!”


    “Yes, what’s up, Mario?” ra asked. They both looked at each other before ra turned her gaze away.


    “What should I do when I like someone?” Mario asked. He deliberately wanted to ask ra’s opinion first.


    “You should tell them! Express your feelings!” ra advised. She advised as she had done herself. Expressing it to Joe.


    “But what if they don’t ept my love, what if they don’t want to be my girlfriend!” Mario asked again. He was actually very afraid that ra wouldn’t want to be his girlfriend.


    “Express it first, whether it’s epted or not is another matter. You just need to express it first!” ra suggested.


    “But I’m scared, unsure!” Marioined again.


    “Emm…, I’m sure she’ll ept your love, Mario. Besides, who can resist the charm of the basketball captain and our school idol, no one can resist you, Mario!” ra said. She also realized that she was the girl Mario liked.


    “Is what you’re saying true, ra?” Mario asked.


    “Yes.”


    “Really!”


    “Really!”


    They arrived at school. ra and Mario started joining the other friends.


    Mario decided to inform Joe. The man who was ra Rusadi’s guardian had to know about his n to express his feelings towards ra. More precisely, to ask for prayers.


    The message was sent. Joe had read Mario’s message. There were two blue checkmarks indicating that the message had been read. However, there was no reply from the older macho man.


    ==?==


    The joint prayer event led by a teacher turned out to end earlier than expected.


    Joe parked his car in the school parking area. The lighting in the ce was not bright. However, Joe deliberately chose a spot where he could monitor in all directions. Clearly seeing towards Mario’s red Ferrari.


    Joe turned on the headlights of his car. Pointing towards the two teenagers who were walking towards the red Ferrari.


    Mario and ra stood facing each other. Mario was seen holding ra’s hand, then kneeling in front of her.


    “ra, I’ve liked you for a long time, will you be my girlfriend?” Mario expressed.


    ra was startled. She didn’t expect Mario to mean her.


    Silence.


    “ra, why are you silent, you’re the one who said I should express my feelings!” Mario said. Still kneeling in his original position.


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    Footsteps were heard approaching them. ra turned around where Joe was standing right behind her.


    “Uncle Joe!” ra eximed in surprise.


    “What are you doing, Mario?” Joe asked.


    Mario stood up. He scratched his head, looking confused and not knowing what to answer.


    “As ra’s guardian, I do not allow ra to date before graduating from high school!” Joe said, staring sharply at Mario.


    “Yes, Uncle!” Mario replied. He was annoyed but couldn’t do anything. Especially since ra remained silent, showing no intention of defending him.


    “Thank you for picking up ra earlier, and now let ra go home with me!” Joe said. Taking ra’s hand into his grip.


    Joe led the girl. To walk with him.


    “Get in, ra!” Joe said as he opened the door to his car.


    ra just stayed silent and continued to obey what Joe ordered.


    Now the two of them were in the car. Joe started the car and immediately left the school parking area.


    Silence still enveloped them. Joe seemed reluctant to speak because ra allowed Mario to pick her up. While ra, she was still hurt by Joe’s words and exnations fromst night.


    The man pulled over his car. In a secluded ce.


    “Are you just going to remain silent, ra?” Joe asked. “Now exin why you didn’t respond to my messages and ept Mario’s offer! Do you forget, during the 45-day contract…,” Joe’s words stopped.


    “Do I have to keep holding on, after what you saidst night, Uncle Joe? Do I have to keep nurturing my love, while I know everything is still uncertain! Uncle, I just realized! I’ve been too brave, loving you who I can’t reach! Now, I understand, Uncle! I don’t deserve to have Uncle Joe!” Tears began to fall from the corner of ra’s eyes. Finally, she could express the suppressed feelings in her heart. Feelings of disappointment and shame towards her own actions.


    Joe reached out to ra’s hand. Forcing her face to face him.


    For the second time, Joe couldn’t control his feelings.


    A kiss.


    A kissnded on ra’s lips. Longer and deeper. This time, he explored and savored her strawberry lips even more. Joe became more enthusiastic as ra responded to his kiss.


    Joe ended the activity. He looked deeply into ra’s eyes. One thing was certain, he was afraid ra would distance herself from him.


    “Uncle!” ra whispered, breaking the silence when Joe remained silent.


    “Yeah, what is it, ra?” Joe replied, still trying to control his feelings.


    “What does this kiss mean, what doesst night’s kiss mean? Is it normal for Uncle Joe to kiss any woman? Is this something adults do?” ra asked.


    Joe sighed. “I’m not that kind of man, ra. Besides my ex-wife, it’s only you that I’ve done it with,” Joe answered honestly.


    ra swallowed hard. Still unsure of Joe’s feelings towards her.


    “Do you like me, Uncle?” ra pressed, needing acknowledgment.


    “I… I just don’t like you being close to Mario. Let’s go home now!” Joe invited ra before she could ask again.


    He started the car and drove off at a moderate speed. Meanwhile, he thought about what he would exin to Mrs. Linnter.