Engelskraft: Love of Wasted Angels

Knowing More Deeply

The smell of kitchen spices blew up to wake up Kevin who was sleeping soundly in the living room. Still half-conscious, his eyes looked around while trying to lift his own body which looked exhausted. He seems to have forgotten that he slept all night in Ailey's house.

“The CEO's father is awake apparently. It turns out that a leader of Abram can get up in the afternoon too, yes.” Ailey said from the dining table while preparing potluck dinnerware.

“Good morning, what time is it?” Kevin asked half-consciously.

“Jam 9 am. Actually I wanted to wake you at dawn because you have to go to the office, ‘kan. But watching you sleep soundly while snoring like that I don't feel the heart.” Said Ailey teasingly.

“Maclum, yesterday tasting driving.” Answer Kevin, “It looks like I'm skipping to the office, deh. Already will not be hunted to Jakarta at this time.”

“You sure? Miss Lina must be looking for you, you know.” Typhoon Ailey.

Kevin fell silent. The incident a few days ago seems to make the relationship between the two tenuous until the man is reluctant to talk about his fiancee.

“What are you cooking?” Kevin asked as he got off his lazy couch.

“Not something fancy, just fried chicken and parchment. Hopefully you like.” The answer.

Putting the spoon and fork in place, Ailey invited the man to sit at the dinner table with her. Without hesitation, Kevin pulled up a chair and sat right next to Ailey. His stomach was already impatient to eat the home-cooked food.

“By the way, where's your dad?” Kevin asked curiously for not seeing Ailey's father in the modest house.

“Bapak already went to the store early in the morning. Looks like he's more diligent than a CEO of Abram.” Goda's back.

“Your father seems like a hard worker, yes. No wonder she was able to raise her child to become a strong and strong person like you.”

“Bapak could have.” Ailey is embarrassed.

While eating the food served, Kevin seemed to enjoy every bite. During this time, he always ate private chef dishes at his home with a menu in the style of a five-star restaurant. So, a home-cooked meal by Ailey had its own delicacy on its tongue.

“Pak... You are not afraid of my illness?” Ailey asked in between her meals.

Kevin was silent for a moment. While swallowing the pedicle that was being chewed, he prepared an answer that would not hurt the woman.

“Honestly, I was scared at first. But after finding out about the HIV virus, there is nothing to fear. In addition to the limited transmission of blood, people who regularly take ARV drugs will have the virus content with the smallest amount to undetected. Undetectable is Untransmittable. So, I have no problem with you.” Answer with a smile.

Ailey who heard the explanation seemed amazed because she did not expect Kevin to do research to find out all about it. He replied with a small smile then sipped some water in his glass.

“Can I replace the one who asked?” Ask Kevin.

“Please. I'll answer as I can.” Ailey.

“Sorry if it bothers you a little. But, what caused you to get HIV?” Kevin to the point.

Ailey gasped at the question. In fact, HIV is not the real disgrace that the woman wants to cover up, but the events behind her illness.

“No need to answer if you don't want.” Said Kevin aware of the discomfort on Ailey's face.

“It's okay.” Ailey replied as she sighed as deeply as possible. “Then, bad things happened to me. I once... I...” He said hesitantly. “I was raped. That's what caused me to get HIV.” Continue with a trembling voice.

“One more time I'm sorry if I'm sassy.” He said full of regrets.

“That's okay, really. That incident was a long time ago anyway. Indeed, I should no longer need to dispute the events that have passed.” Reply Ailey.

Silence enveloped the entire room for a few seconds. Both of them seemed nervous about it. The sound of the clink of spoons and forks on the plate was very clear so clear.

“Eh, how is my food made, sir?” Tanya Ailey melted the atmosphere.

“Oh, very good, you know! Fun fact, this is the first time I've ever eaten a sandwich. Slightly similar to mashed potato, yes. Hehe.” Answer Kevin grinning.

“Serious father new first time eating parchment? All this time at what restaurant, anyway?” Tanya Ailey couldn't believe it.

“In my house there is always a chef cooking. He usually cooks European food. Rarely is there Indonesian cuisine.”

“Yes, my goodness sir! Once in a long life let's not be surprised. Hahaha.” Typhoon Ailey.

“Hey, don't call me Father again. Remember, you're not my employee anymore, you know.” Said Kevin.

“Yes too, anyway. But still you are the CEO.”

“Call name only, Kevin. Like that.” Kevin said while occasionally misbehaving.

Ailey who heard that didn't escape the embarrassment. Is it permissible for a village woman to call the rich man by name alone? Her thought.

“Come, call Kevin!” Ask the CEO to call his name.

“Ke.. Kevin.” Ailey said slowly.

The CEO's face suddenly flushed red hearing his name being called by his lady puja without any frills. His heart was pounding loudly at the sound of Ailey calling out her name melodiously.

“Aduh, I'm not ordinary, sir!” Add Ailey shyly while turning her face away.

“Call my name once again.” Kevin said softly.

Ailey's heart rang out to her ears. He knew his feelings for the man could no longer be hidden. Does just mentioning his name signify that there is a growing relationship between the two? Those thoughts had clearly messed with Ailey's view.

“Kevin.” Call Ailey.

Kevin looks happy to hear that. Whether it was because of the situation that had been well-established or because there were only two of them in the house, Kevin was moved to bring his face closer to Ailey. The little kiss she let go to Ailey's lips. The woman was surprised to get a sweet kiss from the CEO's lips, but strangely she did not refuse at all. Not because of the trauma to men who have disappeared. Perhaps more precisely because of the trust that had grown towards Kevin until he let his lips meet Kevin's lips.

“I'll cancel my engagement with Lina.” Kevin's whisper was right in Ailey's ear.

“Kevin..” Says Ailey is nervous.

“I will not let you be humbled again by others.” The man gave Ailey security.

The second kiss was brought back by Kevin. This time, Ailey replied by closing her eyes as if she wanted to enjoy the moment without any interference from the universe. Like a dream, this was the first time Ailey had received a touch from a man without the slightest rejection. As if time had stopped spinning, the world was already theirs.