FORBIDDEN TO FALL IN LOVE

52. Unreasonable

"You sure?" Valeda squeezed the dress. His hands began to sweat. Valeda tried hard so that he did not look nervous in front of Rangga. He did not want Rangga until he realized that he almost fainted. If Rangga found out, their conversation would be over.

Rangga pinched his forehead. "I think I'm pretty sure. If it's not wrong, the kid's shirt is torn. Burns were seen on his shoulder up to his neck. Maybe because of something that fell. We all never know. The boy completely disappeared from before us."

Valeda closed his eyes. His head feels dizzy. He got another flash of memory. The memory of when Verdinant smiled gently at her, then gave her a flower of Valeda's favorite rose. Then, the memory disappeared, replaced by another memory where Valeda sat with Verdinant while enjoying ice cream.

"Love?" call Rangga. "Why? Is your head hurting again?"

Valeda opened her eyes, then shook her head slowly. "I'm trying to remember what happened" Valeda lied.

Rangga looked at him with a probing look. "Then do you remember anything?" ask Rangga.

"No. I can't remember anything. Tell me more!" Valeda decided not to tell anyone anything. Actually, Valeda himself was not sure of what was happening. He's just a little suspicious because Daniel told me about revenge the other day. However, Valeda has not found any evidence and Daniel has done nothing but his role.

"What else do you want to know?" Rangga asked back.

"Is it just me and Verdinant who go to the greenhouse?" ask Valeda. He would not suspect that Rangga replied that he did not remember about it. It could have been Rangga did not see when they went to the greenhouse, or Rangga did not remember because he was too focused on the fire. However, when the fire broke out, Rangga was the same age as him. There was no way he could remember everything clearly.

"Yes, just the two of you."

"You sure?" Valeda.

Rangga. "I'm sure. I saw it for myself."

Valeda bit her lower lip. 'Why is he so sure, while he doesn't really remember Verdinant's wounds?' inner Valeda. "That's it... I don't want to talk about it anymore right now" Valeda broke up. There were a lot of things that did not match his returning memory. He also could not talk about this for too long, as his head was getting sicker.

"You okay? Do you remember anything?" ask Rangga.

"I'm doing fine. No need to worry," Valeda tried to throw a smile at Rangga sitting in front of him. 'The people don't believe I'm okay. I hope something else distracts him, Valeda prayed in his heart.

"Well, who am I meeting?"

Valeda turned his head back when he heard the greeting from the voice of a very familiar person in his ear. It was true when he saw his mother walking closer.

"Good day, Aunt Emely!" raga SAPA.

"Can Aunty join?" ask Mrs Emely.

Rangga. "Tante didn't have to ask permission for that" replied Rangga. "Me and Love don't mind."

Madam Emely sat down with a big smile. "Tante is always happy whenever you call Valeda affection" Mrs Emely said.

"It's become a habit. It's hard for me to change that" replied Rangga. "Tante's here for lunch?"

"It's too soon for lunch" replied Mrs Emely. "Tante's here for a snack."

Rangga raised his hand, calling a servant who was standing near them. "Please order, Aunt. Let me buy it."

"As usual" said Mrs Emely as a waiter handed her a menu. The waiter understood immediately because Madame Emely was a regular customer at the restaurant, then immediately went to talk to the restaurant chef. "It's okay. This time, let Auntie treat you. Rangga, you bribe Auntie too often with food. Aunty will look fat at the press conference."

"Press conference?" ask Valeda.

"Have you heard it from your father? We're going to have a press conference about your brother, Lucas," replied Mrs Emely.

"About Lucas' wife and son?"

Valeda was surprised by the last sentence that Madame Emely said. "Whose wedding?"

"Do you think Mama will just give up after you have Daniel?" ask Mrs Emely. "Until this moment, Mama still disagrees with Daniel. Mama's gonna find a decent husband to stand next to you."

"Daniel is a worthy man, Ma," sambar Valeda. "He's kind and he loves Val."

The waiter came back with a tray of cake and strawberry juice on top. "Please, ma'am," said the waiter when all orders were available on the table.

Madam Emely answered him with a small smile and nodded once. He waited until the servant left before answering Valeda's statement. "He's not worthy, Val."

Valeda clenched his hands on the table. "What makes it inappropriate?" Valeda insisted.

"You have to understand, Val," Madame Emely stirred the strawberry juice in front of her. "As a woman, we will look strong if we are next to people who have high status. That way, we'll be looked at." The madam sipped her juice slowly.

The new Valeda will open its mouth, when Rangga signals not to fight. Valeda swallowed his protest raw.

"Tante, how am I?" ask Rangga suddenly.

"How's what?" Madame Emely scooped a small piece of cake into her mouth.

Rangga smiled widely. "If I'm Valeda's partner, what about Auntie?"

"Hm!" Madam Emely put down her spoon and clapped her hands excitedly. "Auntie would agree!" answer with a cheerful tone. Madam Emely's face brightened. The cloudy cloud that had enveloped him while talking to Valeda, evaporated just like that.

"Mama! Val and Rangga are brothers" Valeda reminded.

Madam Emely sighed while looking at Valeda with a disappointed look. "You're ruining Mama's imagination, Val," grumbled Mrs Emely. "Well, apart from that, you are indeed brothers. Despite being cousins, is there no way for you to be together?"

"Mama!" great-grandson Valeda. She felt bad for Rangga because Madam Emely behaved like that in front of Rangga. "Step, no need to respond!"

Rangga laughed at the panicked Valeda himself. "Haha! You are funny if you are nervous like this," said Rangga.

"Don't taunt me!" Valeda glared at Rangga.

"But, I don't mind if I have to marry you, Val," added Rangga.

Valeda was stunned for a while, judging whether Rangga's words were serious or just a joke so that Madame Emely did not make Valeda cornered again.

"Tante can imagine how successful we will be. I can say that we are both an unbeatable couple together" Rangga turned to Madam Emely.

"You're right!" Madam Emely agreed with Rangga's words. "You're the most compatible couple Aunt has ever seen. Suppose you're not brothers."

"Not to talk about this anymore, Ma," Valeda said. "The house has people he likes."

Madam Emely turned her head quickly to Rangga. "really? Does Aunt know who it is? Your mother never told Auntie that woman" I'm Miss Emely.

"It's just love clapping one hand, Tan," Rangga replied in a soft tone. "I don't think I'm a good enough man to be in his sight yet."

Rangga glanced at the silent Valeda. Valeda realizes how Rangga stole a look at him. There was an unnatural awareness popping up in Valeda's head.

***