FORBIDDEN TO FALL IN LOVE

73. Eyewitness

The sound of a blunt impact and moaning of someone was faintly heard from an old warehouse with high walls inedible with age. Around the barn did not seem life. The warehouse was located on the outskirts of the city and stood on ten acres of private land. The ground held a high iron fence. The people who lived near the land knew that the land belonged to a young businessman and was used as a warehouse for his heavy equipment. No one dared to approach, as the place was heavily guarded by many security guards.

TUBS! BUKS! BUKS!

"Basins of despicable men! Just die!" rangga said as he floated the stick in his hand to the body of the man who was curled weakly near his feet. "What do you expect!?" his screeches. He paused and took a lot of breaths while gathering energy to vent his frustration again.

"Many.." replied the man below. Despite being hit so much that he almost lost consciousness, the man persisted. He did not know how to despair. His body could have been destroyed, but his brain still works to find a way out.

Rangga stood with blood boiling to his head. "Much?" rejoice of cynical Rangga. He did not believe that his opponent was still able to answer his words.

"I expect a lot... Because I love Valeda..."

MOMMY!!!

A kick landed right on Daniel's chest and made his breath restrained. For a while, he was unable to catch his breath and his chest ached. Daniel closed his eyes, hoping God would give him a little more strength to endure. He still believed that someone would save him. He doesn't want to die now.

Rangga pulled her hair back when she saw Daniel not twitching. Rangga knew that he had beaten Daniel enough. He won't let Daniel die. There were many plans and torments he wanted to give his rivals.

Rangga pulled the chair near the wall to be close to Daniel. He watched Daniel for a while. The man in front of him did not move. Rangga looked more carefully. A smile was engraved on his face when he found Daniel's chest still up and down.

"Valeda I will make despair" said Rangga. "Valeda will be slumped for some time. That's not a problem for me. I'll give him as much time as he wants to be sad. It was my last offer to let Valeda remember you. Then, when he's ready to get up, I'll be there." Rangga leaned on the back of the chair. This plan he had thought through carefully. "Valeda will realize that I'm always there for her. In the past and in the present."

Daniel opened his eyes. He glanced at Rangga who was sitting nearby. Rangga's face looked satisfied. Daniel knew that Rangga would go so far as to get what he wanted. That's one of the reasons Daniel doesn't like rich people. For many men are easily blinded with money, and such deeds will be easily done by the wicked.

"I will make Valeda fall in love with me. Many times and deeply. Until Valeda can't live without me. And don't worry about a fetus that's Valeda's bladder. I will raise your child affectionately," Rangga ended his sentence with both corners of his lips raised, making an arch like a crescent moon.

"Haha!" Daniel suddenly laughed. Although his chest was very painful, Daniel could not feel not funny with what Rangga said. "Rangga, you won't get Valeda. Even if it's just a strand of her hair" Daniel added.

Rangga got up from his seat. His face was red with anger. Emotions filled his mind until his common sense disappeared. Rangga threw a stick in his hand to make a clang several times.

"Dead you!" Rangga lunged at Daniel and beat him all out.

***

The sharp pain in the chest area made Daniel sober. He could not open his eyes well. His right eye blurred, while his left eye was swollen and difficult to open. He stared at the ceiling of the barn where he was held. Sunlight came in from the high window, almost touching the ceiling. The air inside was warmer. Daniel predicted that it was already near noon.

'How many days have I been here?' weak mind. He closed his eyes again. Hunger overcame the pain he felt. Faintly, Daniel could smell the bread. But the scent did not last long because of the blood that dried up in his nose.

Daniel looked at the iron door. It was the only way in and out of the warehouse. There were two pieces of bread there. Daniel smiled happily, not hallucinating. He remembered the last bread he had with Valeda.

The weather was very clear that day. The sky is clean without clouds. Valeda decided not to go to the office because her mood was good. Then he went to see Daniel. They ended up having breakfast together.

Daniel did not feel any premonition, that the next day he would experience a terrible event. Rangga's men kidnapped him on his way home from the office. Daniel was so convinced that Rangga had destroyed all the evidence that Daniel had to be kept in the warehouse for several days.

'How's Valeda doing?' thought. 'I'm sure he's confused right now. I hope his intelligence will work even in critical times. Valeda must survive from the demon Rangga.'

Daniel's eyes were hot. Tears melt from the corner of her eye. He felt sad, not because of his circumstances, but because he could not keep his promise to protect Valeda. Daniel is not on Valeda's side. Awareness of how fragile Valeda's position was, made him really sad.

'How will she continue her life if she stands alone in the midst of a starving wolf?' inner Daniel. He was eager to protect the woman who was now a moor of his heart.

***

"There's no clue at all" Celine whispered in horror.

Valeda threw herself on the living room couch of her apartment. He pinched his forehead, riled. It's been six days since Daniel disappeared. Valeda did not draw her suspicions to Rangga. But, the more vigorously he looked for evidence, the farther the bright spot he felt. All are biased to the point of being logically indistinguishable. Valeda did not expect that Rangga could act in this detail without any gaps that he could penetrate.

"Do I have to check one by one the properties that Rangga owns, to find Daniel?" tawar Kris's.

Valeda. "That'll just make you wretched. We need another plan" replied Valeda.

Celine looked at Valeda fixedly. There were a lot of questions in his head and he was eager to ask Valeda, one after another. But his tongue is cheeky. His voice did not come out either. He was afraid of the bad possibilities. Celine also wanted to believe everything would be fine in time.

"By the way, what about Miss's content?" ask Kris. "Isn't the first trimester the hardest?"

"Ah, yes, right," said Celine. "If you feel tired or dizzy, you can ask for my help at any time."

"I'll be there whenever Miss needs me, too" Kris added.

Valeda smiled seeing his two best friends give full dedication to him. Valeda felt guilty for not having the chance to explain everything to them before.

"Is now the right time to talk about this?" Celine looked doubtful, but she wanted to interrogate Valeda further. After all, Celine knew what Valeda's schedule was and spent most of her time with Valeda. The news that Valeda was pregnant really took her by surprise. "When can I find out the gender of your child?" ask Celine. "I really like kids. I'll help you take care of him."

"I'll help, too" continued Kris. "Indeed there wasn't much of my experience with the kids, but I could take care of them."

"After this problem is over, let's buy baby equipment and clothes, too" Celine asked.

Valeda smiled knot. Her mood became warm thanks to Celine and Kris. "You should know something" replied Valeda.

Celine and Kris were silent. They were watching Valeda closely. Valeda can feel great affection from both.

"I'm not pregnant" Valeda continued. Celine and Kris' expressions changed immediately. They were glaring with their eyes wide open. "To say I was pregnant was Daniel's idea. We wanted to make Rangga angry that time."

"Taa... But, that USG?" ask Celine.

"I don't know when Daniel set up the USG. I myself was shocked by his sudden statement" Valeda replied. "You know for yourself, I'm always busy with the schedule you put together for me. Besides, there's not a day I've missed without you guys, is there?"

Celine threw a glance at Kris, and vice versa. They exchanged huge question marks on their heads without a sound. Celine did not expect that she was fooled outright by Valeda.

"Then, what are your plans?" ask Kris. "How can we help?"

Valeda's face was lethargic. "I don't know," he replied in a desperate tone. "I was about to discuss this with Daniel, but he disappeared. I'm pretty sure that Rangga has done something."

"I can't keep my distance from him. In any case, I must not arouse suspicion in front of Rangga. He could've killed Daniel like-" Valeda stopped, he was horrified to himself when he recalled the accident that befell Daniel's younger brothers first.

THE TRIRIRIRING!

The sound of the doorbell made them flinch in shock. They were silent for a few seconds, before Celine got up from her seat. "I'll open the door" said Celine.

"Wait!" Valeda. "You get rid of your shoes and these glasses. Make it look like I'm not coming by anyone. Then, hide in the guest room!" valeda's orders.

Kris went straight to Valeda's orders without asking any questions. Seeing Kris like that, Celine hurriedly swallowed the question in her mouth and instantly tidied the glasses on the table. Then they went to the guest room, but left the door slightly open.

"Who is coming?" whispered Celine.

"Sst, we'll just shut up. You yourself know that Valeda has a strong feeling, right?" Kris whispered back. "Change your phone in silent mode!" Kris.

Celine reached into her bag and immediately did as Kris said. Then he peeked outside the room. The guest room was located next to the living room, so they could see what was happening outside the room clearly.

Valeda went towards the door to greet the guests who had come. After peeking, it turned out that person was Rangga. "As I suspected," murmured Valeda. He opened the door carefully. He did not want to until Rangga realized his fear.

"Hi, CInta," she said as usual.

If only Valeda did not suspect Rangga, he might feel calm and comfortable with the presence of Rangga. But, this time Rangga made him shudder in horror. If Rangga was the one behind all this, how could he appear with such a innocent face?

"What's wrong?" ask Valeda.

"I just want to visit," replied Rangga casually. "Can I come in?"

Valeda took a step back to let Rangga through. "I guess we'll meet at dinner at my house later" Valeda continued.

"I miss you" replied Rangga quickly. He sat on the couch in Valeda's living room. "I also want to apologize for what happened yesterday. I realized that I made you feel bad by saying something about Daniel. After all, he is the man you love and the father of your son."

Valeda returned Rangga's gaze. He almost lunges at Rangga and forces him to tell her where Daniel really is.

"I'll wait for you, love. Until you're ready to let Daniel go and come to me" Rangga added.

"I'll never be ready" the bold reply slid from Valeda's mouth. 'Even if I were really pregnant, I would choose to raise the child alone.

Rangga sighed. "Don't be stubborn. Your stomach won't be that small forever. The media will soon know about your condition. What about the reputation you have built? If the shareholders know that you're pregnant out of wedlock, how can they trust you later?"

"That's their business."

Rangga. "You should think about it carefully. You are still young. Don't ruin your future and your child's future. Accept my offer to marry me."

"NO!!!" peekkik Valeda's. Actually he was already stressed enough with Rangga's relentless insistence. He did not understand why Rangga wanted to marry him so much. "Why are you so stubborn? What do you get by doing this?"

"I'm your best friend. I just want to save you."

"Think of yourself!" Valeda exploded.

Rangga. His towering body with a stocky body, made Valeda a whip. The smile on Rangga's face faded away. His eyes glittered horribly. "Marry me" he growled. "As long as I talk about this well."

Celine was about to come out of hiding, feeling that Valeda was in danger. But he stopped because Chris pulled his hand. Celine turned her head, found Kris holding her phone on and recording everything outside.

"Calm down" whispered Kris.

Celine stood back and remained silent. He was amazed at Kris who thought this way, while he could only feel worried about Valeda. Celine hugged Kris' free arm, trying to find some protection.

"Go!" bentak Valeda's.

Rangga pulled her hair back. Eyebrows wrinkling. His eyes are so scary. "I'll say this one more time when we meet at your house. I hope your answer won't be like this for the third time."

"My answer will be the same for any number of times!" answer Valeda quickly.

That answer made Rangga lose his mind. His hand floated up and landed on Valeda's cheek violently. The slap caused Valeda to fall.

"You asked for this, Val," said Rangga casually. "From the beginning, I talked about this very well. I thought you were still the smartest girl I knew. Apparently Daniel has turned you into a fool and a bore."

Valeda blinked, rediscovering his consciousness. He pulled his hand to touch his painful throbbing cheek. This was the first time Valeda had gotten a slap. Tears to flow so painful slap Rangga.

"Compress your cheeks with ice. You can't come to dinner with a face like that."

"I'm not coming" Valeda said. His voice vibrates. "I won't come to where you are. I'll find Daniel any way and drag you into jail!"

Rangga. "What do you mean?" tanyakanya.

"I know, the one who caused Daniel to disappear was you. I'll go find the evidence."

"Haha!" Rangga. "What are you imagining, Val?"

Valeda gulps. This was the first time Rangga had not called out to him with their familiar call. It was impossible for Rangga to continue calling her 'Love', even though they were in such a tense situation right now.

"Are you so eager to meet that weak man?" ask Rangga.

Valeda looked up quickly, shocked by Rangga's question just now. "What?" whispered Valeda did not believe.

Rangga took out a handkerchief from his pants pocket, then immediately smothered Valeda. Valeda thrashed helplessly, losing to the power Rangga had. Over time, his body went limp and Valeda finally lost consciousness. Rangga let her lie unconscious on the floor, then tidied up the room that was a little messy as they wrestled.

"All right, let's meet you and that damn Daniel" he said, smiling.

***