DELENE

NINETEEN

JOSHUA

Joshua did not want to leave Delena. But he realized, hanging out with Delena and Gavin for now is not a good option. Because Joshua knew Gavin was harder than a rock. Even if the man realizes that Joshua is close to sacrificing the only head he has for Delena, Gavin is still cold-hearted Gavin. So he said goodbye, smiling sweetly at Delena before breezing off to leave the room.

Joshua entered his room, where he should have rested for a few days. The man had been in Delena's room too many times since the woman was unconscious. The doctors and nurses there were overwhelmed, as Joshua himself had not fully recovered.

"Memuin Delena again?" Selena asked, not to answer because she already knew the answer.

"What's up, Selena?"

"What is your condition now?"

"In addition to the obvious, I'm bad."

Joshua joined Selena, sitting on the ward, next to each other.

"Curely healed. Don't wander off and have a proper rest!"

"Yes. Thanks."

"Well, what about that woman?"

Changes in topics that are sharply cornered. Very fast, but expected. Selena played her fingers, looking agitated. The woman remained silent for a while, until Joshua took both of her hands. Grasping tightly. "Sorry" said the man.

Looking up, Selena found Joshua's warm smile. Gave him a little strength for at least that entire day.

"You don't have a schedule today? Oh, your manager knows yet? So, who's here?"

Selena smiled, her beauty everywhere. Yet strangely Joshua frowned, looking puzzled. "Why?" tanyakanya.

"I'm free today. My manager doesn't know about Jovita being free yet. And I'm here with Gavin." He answered all three of Joshua's questions while raising one by one his fingers in the air.

Joshua raised his hand and scrambled Selena's haircut. The man was unconscious, his actions were the most evil actions on the face of this earth.

Because he makes a woman fall in love, but she is more than her heart is impossible to have.

Poor Selena.

The ringing of the phone from Selena's handbag interrupted. They stared at the screen and found the name 'PAPA' listed there. The woman immediately pressed the green button and activated the speaker button for Joshua to hear as well.

"Selena, where are you, baby?"

"It's the same Joshua, Pa."

"OKAY. Don't go anywhere until the papa comes. Papa sent me a picture."

Selena chuckled when she saw the photo her father mentioned. His confidant couldn't possibly be that gleaming-looking skinny guy right? The papa must be kidding. The vest the man was wearing was even tacky. His face was exaggerated, his eyebrows were perfectly curved. It looks like a crescent moon.

"Don't do that. He may be the most appropriate person. A bodyguard with a stocky body will only attract attention."

"He looks more like a stylist. Fits you."

Joshua had a point, even though the man couldn't help but smile. And what does it mean to say Selena has a match with that half-finished guy?

"Joshua's right. He's a smart guy like Papa. Well, I'll see you later, honey."

Selena wanted to roll her eyes, but she was afraid of infidelity. So the woman simply closed their call, then vented it with a glare towards Joshua.

"What?" Joshua raised his shoulders, smiling innocently.

***

DELENE

If previously together with Joshua he felt awkward, just being alone with Gavin like now makes Delena so super dead style. The man sat quietly like a good boy, just kept staring at him.

"Gavin, say something."

"You need to rest."

"I can't rest if you see I keep like that."

"I've seen you sleep all night in my bed before."

Delena took the pillow, ready to throw it at the man. "Handling, darling. You're not fucking at all?"

"I'm the one who sleeps then. Wake up if there's anything."

Delena nodded. He then let Gavin take his hand before the man looked for a more comfortable position to fall asleep.

Then less than ten minutes later Gavin fell asleep, two super-fussy co-workers of Delena suddenly walked in. Delena used her free hand to warn them not to be noisy and they nodded.

They hugged Delena briefly, splashed alias kiss the right cheek-kiss left cheek. Then for a while Miss Sarah and Miss Laila looked at Gavin, amazed?

"Miss knows where I'm from?" Delena whispered, looking at Sarah curiously.

"As of yesterday's update on the instastory, we knew right away that it was you."

"Can't you?"

"Caption of 'Senior Bogor Hospital.' The only sister he had was to live independently in Bogor. Keep that BSH near your apartment. Keep asking directly to mbak Selena. Keep going..."

"Okay, enough."

Laila and Sarah smiled amusedly. "What pain are you in?"

"Not seriously. The doctor said I could take a quick ride home."

"Thank God that's it. Because, just in case you forget, Monday we have to go in. Bonus overtime because of a lot of work. It's a shame you didn't come in!"

"When is Monday?" Delena was dizzy just to remember the day and date. Especially when thinking about the rest of the day.

"A week to go, Del. There's still a week left to find a mate."

"Great. Thank you." Thank you." Not a matter of finding a mate, Delena is relieved because she has not spent too much of her year-end holiday.

"Either. I wish you were the same." Laila glanced at Gavin who was still asleep. He said it loud enough to make Delena itch to drive it away.

Gavin looks smiling. Only Delena saw him, because the man's head was turned against Sarah and Laila.

"Oh, I'm sorry, but I just took a drug. The doctor said there's a drowsiness effect."

"Father, we can't take long either. My husband and kids are waiting downstairs. Get well Miss Del."

"Thank you." Delena smiled sincerely. He doesn't lie about taking medicine. And he was also quite amused after being visited by two friends. They are not too close.

"Gavin, you can wake up now."

Gavin opened his eyes and smiled. He stretched his body for a while before moving to the sofa and lying there. "I really want to sleep now. I hope there are no more distractions."

"Unless it's you, I don't papa."

Delena remained silent, before lying down in her ward and facing the man. Delena's lips pulled upwards. Watching Gavin sleep was enough to make him happy. The man who looked like a big baby, Adrian Gavin, was his.

***

In her dream, Delena returned to the edge of the cliff. The two-meter-high waves struck the huge rocks below him fiercely while the sun above him shone scorching. Delena's exposed skin was burning, but there was more to her worries than that.

"Why?" Delena asked me softly. He tried to stare at the woman who had been his best friend when the reflection of light from the rearview jeep of the woman bounced directly into his two eyes.

"Dead in my hand won't hurt. And I'll be satisfied, because my heart ache is healed."

"You're not a killer, Jov. I know you're a good man."

"Shut up! You don't know anything!"

Jovita held a firearm in both hands, seemingly shaking. The bead was teary, but Delena was not too sure. Because his views were also clouded, along with his common sense over time.

"I'll die then. Because of myself."

Delena closed her eyes, before retreating and freefalling in the air. He heard gunshots and the sound of bullets just seconds before drowning. And more bubbles of water and air that he saw when he had fully entered the water.

Then Jovita appeared, out of nowhere in the water. Delena glared, but Jovita wrapped her arms around Delena's waist before bringing the two of them up to the surface.

Thank goodness, Delena thought. He let out a sigh of relief before a part of him thought: he would chop me up before I die.

"Well, it's not that easy. I haven't felt enough to see you alive" Jovita said. The woman was panting like herself.

Before Delena could argue, Delena heard another gunshot from the top of the cliff. The two looked up, then suddenly Jovita ran like a doormat to the east.