Happy After Parting With You

Chapter 35

"Bears ma-du?" Rani spins her memory, she feels familiar with the call, "Arman!" He cried with eyes of disbelief. His best friend when SMU was in front of him. It has been a long time since they met, since graduating SMU Rani has never heard from him again.

It is fitting that he did not recognize this man, because in the past when SMU Arman had a slightly fat body. He was often the victim of bullying from his classmates.

Rani gets to know Arman when she accidentally sees him being bullied by his classmates. It happened near the cafeteria behind the school, their school did have two canteens. One is in the middle of the building, next to the student cooperative, the other belongs to the school guard. It is located at the back of the building, next to the residence of the guard.

At that time Arman's friends asked for all pocket money owned by the young man, Arman actually refused because some of the money to pay LKS. However, the children did not care and they still took it. It was then that Rani came and she bravely rebuked the children.

"You remember too." Arman said while laughing grimly.

"So, you have the heart, why not just talk, anyway, from yesterday." Said Rani while hitting the man's arm.

"And can you forget me?" Tanya Arman pointed to herself.

"Yes, how else. You've changed a lot since you graduated SMU." Rani said honestly, Arman now looks different. His body was not as beautiful as it used to be, nor did his face look more handsome.

"When what now? I look more handsome, don't I?" Asked Arman while raising his eyebrows.

Rani's face immediately flushed red, it is undeniable that Arman's face is now really very handsome with fine fur growing around his jaw.

"Where have you been all this time?" Rani switched the subject.

"I moved to Surabaya, that's where I knew Alvin."

Arman then tells his life story after graduating SMU. Starting from him who works after graduation to finance his college. Until meeting Alvin and his family until Alvin's family is good to him and helps his tuition fees.

"So you've known Mr Alvin for a long time?"

Arman nodded, "yes, we went to the same college. It's just the difference he's a dirty kid and I, well, you know for yourself, right." Said Arman while twitching his shoulders.

"But you seem to be a success now, man."

"Yes, during college I took a job. And after graduation I was recruited by his father Alvin, and finally trusted to take care of one of the branches in Surabaya."

Rani amazed to hear the explanation of his old friend, indeed since long ago Arman is actually tenacious and determined. It's just that he is inferior because friends often make fun of him, especially his body shape.

"Eh, Man, you used to be so fat, huh, how can you now be a gini?" Rani asked while pointing at Arman's body shape. The man followed Rani's index finger and watched her own body.

"I'm rarely given the same food as Alvin's mom." He answered with a serious face, but a second later he laughed out loud, "i also don't know why it's like this. Maybe because of work."

"I swear, Man, I didn't recognize you, you know." Rani was honest.

"It's getting better, right." Arman teases Rani.

"So, so narcissistic."

"You don't change, Ran, are too good for people." Arman's face turned serious as he stared fixedly at Rani.

"Yes, how else." Rani answered while twitching her shoulders.

"How far along are you with Alvin?" Arman was serious again.

"Me?" Rani pointed to herself, "only subordinates and superiors, why?"

"It's okay, just I feel like Alvin has a taste for you."

Arman's words have a point as well, in some occasions Alvin did blatantly show his feelings. However, Rani is self-knowing and only considers the man as her boss, nothing more.

"No way, man, who am I to the point that Mr. Alvin likes me?" Rani turned her face away, facing out the window.

"It could be you, right, single now."

Rani looked over quickly, "you mean?"

"I know that you just split up with your husband."

"Where do you know?"

"She, I mean, anyway."

****

A sunny morning has welcomed Rani, all night she has been thinking about one thing she wants to live happily out of the problems that have recently been pressing her. Rani called Alvin and said she wanted to take a short leave.

Alvin initially refuses because Ananta still needs him, but Rani tries to convince the man that she will return to work. He just needs time to calm down. Finally with a heavy heart Alvin granted the woman's wish.

Early in the morning Rani was getting ready with her gym clothes. He wants to jog and breathe fresh air, he has long not done this activity. Wearing blue training pants and matching t-shirts, Rani starts running around.

His goal was only to surround his home complex, occasionally he greeted neighbors who happened to cross paths with him. Just a few rounds and Rani felt tired, she rested for a while at the chicken porridge vendor's shop. He entered the shop and ordered a porridge, waiting for him to open his cell phone which he kept in his trouser pocket.

One message came in and it took Rani by surprise.

"Good morning my sunshine."

Message from the new number and Rani does not feel familiar with it. He will block the number, but there is another message from the number.

"Don't get blocked, it's me, Arman." The message is riveted with laughing emotes lined up.

It seems that Arman knows the habit of Rani who does not like to serve new numbers that are not known to him.

"Message me porridge too, yeah."

Rani drowned after reading the message from the man, but he did not manage to find it.