CITY LOCATION: ANOTHER HEART
Episode 2
It was still morning, and Elle was already sitting pouting on her bed sofa. His eyes stared at the iPad screen, opening the incoming email last night. Closing his eyes, taking a deep breath as the faint fragrance of citrus wafted out.
“What is it?”
“Email, from Windy.”
“Craftsmanship?”
“Iya.” His head was down again to the iPad screen.
“Coffee?”
Only then did Elle look up, smiling at Raffi who was tearing himself up beside him. Elle put down her iPad, received the outstretched enamel cup, blew a moment before taking a sip. Morning, Raffi, and a cup of coffee. Perfect.
“Have made up your mind, would you like to take any offer?”
Elle shakes. “Not yet know. I plan to go back to the kitchen only.”
Raffi squinted. “Gracele Ariadna to stop being a celebrity?”
“I'm chef, Raff. ”
“Iya .. but why?”
Elle shakes. “It seems like enough, I want to live quietly again.”
Elle had calculated from the beginning, that his decision to switch from the culinary world to the world of celebrities meant that he had to be ready for all aspects of his life to be skinned by the media. Even with his personal life. Elle who is almost never seen holding a male figure, making it often a target of news coverage.
“Totally resigned?”
“Not really, anyway. I will still take one offer maybe, because if you immediately stop it will also be a question, right?”
“Which offer is the most attractive?” ask Raffi.
“There is a talk show, it is aired once a week and not a live event, so I do not have to tap every day. The duration of the episode in one session is also not long.”
“Offer where is it?”
“Global Channel.”
“Then, advertising offer?”
Elle shakes. Raffi silence. Observing Elle sipping coffee was a little dreamy.
“Resign from television, how about handle operational resto?” ask Raffi later.
“Resto?”
“Maghali’s?”
“Om Medy to where?”
“Already done, go home to Sibolga.”
“Oh...” Elle was silent, thinking. The cup changed hands. “But, does Aunt want?” tanyanya.
“It was Mama who asked me to offer this to you.” “Oh yes?”
Raffi nodded, turning his head when he heard his phone ring. Elle who grabbed her phone as it was closer in range, then stretched it out to Raffi.
A glance at the screen. “Halo? Yes, Nay?” While Elle took another cup, scooped up with both hands. Duck. Observe attentively the rim of the exfoliated enamel on the lip of the cup. “Iya .. I went to the office first this morning. Oh, wanna stop by? Okay. Okay.”
“She doesn't know that you're not coming home?” elle asked as Raffi lowered the phone from the ear. The man shook his head. Then silence.
“Elle.”
“Hmm?”
“Have you changed your mind yet?”
“Change your mind? About what?”
“Our relationship.” Raffi looked down glumly, observing his black shirt that looked loose on Elle's slim body, in contrast to his white skin. “I'm bored.”
“With me?”
“With this kind of relationship. I want to live it right, with you.”
“You have Naura, Raff.”
“Our deal used to be nothing like that.”
“What deal is much more important than our feelings?”
“Your feelings,” Error Elle. Both stared. There is a spark of disagreement that is immediately most beautiful. Elle smile. Escape the index tip through Raffi's breastplate.
“No problem, Raff. Me, and this relationship, everything's fine. Nothing needs to change.”
“Alright.” The cynicism was as thick as the coffee that Raffi had brewed this morning. There was no effort to hide it.
Instead, Elle was still smiling. This time it was so sweet. “Don't like to scratch others is always on par with the standard you set for yourself.”
“I love you,” that word is spoken with all the heart he has.
“I know.”
“And that's not enough to change your mind?”
“It seems, I can accept an offer for restaurant Aunt.”
“And offer from me?”
Elle did not answer. Laying down the cup, he inched into Raffi's lap. Wade through that neck with his arm, smiled wooingly, then shook his head.
***
Raffi has not come to Maghali’s very often before, but since Elle agreed to take over the job of Medy Saragih— the previous manager who resigned— about two months ago, he always stopped by at least once a day. And this afternoon he sat half-dreaming with a cup of coffee in hand, occasionally his gaze fixed on the waiter and restaurant guests. While across his desk Elle was busy chattering cheerfully with Aldera−adik only puppet. They were both very familiar from a long time ago. The tail of her eyes caught a twinkle on the phone screen, a notification of an incoming call from Naura that she had ignored. They'll meet here soon, why still call him?
Naura has made all plans to hold their engagement. And it's also with the knowledge of Siera, Raffi's mother. So, this afternoon he was called to talk about it. Women can sometimes be cunning and manipulative, Raffi thought grimly. The corner of her lips twitched as she cluttered with an elegant and efficient looking Elle in a black-black suit and hair bun loosely on the nape. Very different from the girl who did not hesitate to look messy and act wild like the one he had last night.
The man nodded. Remembering one of the headlines of a popular news column he found on one of the online news portals.
Popular News
Sexy Chef Gracelle Ariadna Finally Successfully Arrests Global Channel CEO
News agencies do not read, he knows most of the news of celebrity life is usually more seasoned opinions than the presentation of facts. The pictures tell more stories than words. Is all that true? He just wants to ignore it. But Raffi−alau does not move in the same circle of association, occasionally also invited in social events among the media or corporations who often use the services of his agency− on several occasions even see for themselves how the attitude and behavior of the young conglomerate to Elle. Some time ago Elle even came as a couple Rayhan Danubrata at the wedding of the daughter of a national cosmetics businessman. She asked Elle, but as usual, Elle always just said it was none of her business.
Raffi still doesn't think. Is that the man who was the reason Elle always refused? While if not, which normal women like uncertainty, or relationships without labels and status that can be accounted for?
Raffi turned his head when he heard Dera's phone ringing, an incoming call that seemed to make the girl have to leave and cut off her exciting chat with Elle. When his sister moved away, Raffi shifted his position so he sat right next to Elle.
“So, how?”
Elle. “What?”
“This restaurant.”
The one asked put his shoulders. “Not need to be too fixed. Well organized's. Om Medy's performance has been good all this time.” Elle looked around. “The staff has also been selected from the best. It's just .. I hope that they are cooperative and can work well under my direction.” Elle laughed softly.
Raffi frowned. “Why not?”
Elle was still laughing. “Because I'm a girl. I have no experience of taking on this much responsibility. Especially so far the gossip that they believe is, I am a flirtatious woman who can only dance and do not understand anything about resto.” management
“But Mama trusts you,” said Raffi. Elle smiled thankfully.
“This morning Mama and I will talk about my engagement to Naura,” Raffi said after a few pauses. Elle gnawing.
“Wah, nice dong. Congratulations!” Say it without a smile. It made Raffi feel angry again. Especially if you remember the news from the online media again.
“If you say ‘jangan’, I won't continue.”
“If you do not want to continue, it should be on your own decision. Anyway, Raff, in what capacity should I ban you?”
“Or just say to Mama, about us?” Raffi intends to bluff a little.
“If I don't agree, I don't think Auntie will be that easy to believe. Don't be so bad, Raff. You offered me this job. So, now you want me fired for your confession? Never mind, just live your engagement happily.”
“You don't mind at all, huh?” ketus Raffi's. Elle shook her head with an innocent expression. “Even if I touch it like this?” Elle's eyes widened when she realized Raffi's hand had moved down to stroke her knee.
Elle glanced around, then whispered. “It should be, right? Don't Naura even think you have a sexual orientation deviation if you don't want to care for her?”
Exasperated grunts sounded as Raffi's reaction. Drawn hands from under the table, when he saw the figure of his mother and prospective fiancee stepped through the entrance, then straightened the body, although not widening the distance to sit with Elle. Flat expression on his face as the three women greeted each other.
Naura was known for several years ago in an orientation event to introduce the campus environment, one of the faculty members of the senate. Two years older than him, making Dera until now unceasingly mocked him exposed to mother complex syndrome. They have been friends ever since. But Raffi knew that his former senior had feelings for him. At first Raffi was just playing around, because occasionally wanting to see Elle showed a jealous look to him. But the further, Raffi just like the confusion with what he thinks will not bring serious impact. Naura was quite resistant to him, and could get closer to her mother. Her mother is now very excited to design and prepare everything for their engagement.
“Yuk, Nay, to Aunt's room only. Raff ... Come on, Mama needs to talk to you guys.” Naura nodded and got up as Siera gestured after being satisfied to mince words and talk some things over with Elle. Raffi too. For a moment she still half wished for a change in expression on Elle's face, but the woman simply smiled as she let them go. Then he looked back at his iPad screen.
