I know you're cheating

Outlandish

Dikta was silent for a moment. Shifting his eyes from the beautiful face of Varissa to his glass of orange juice which is now only half left. Busy thinking in the shortest time possible about whether he should be frank or keep the answer to the question tight.

"Ta? How bengong?" reprimand Varissa awkwardly. Being in this spacious, quiet and quiet room with a man who continues to disturb the normal performance of his heart really puts tremendous pressure on him.

However, you do not misunderstand me. That doesn't mean Varissa doesn't feel comfortable. Precisely, otherwise. So comfortable, he began to cultivate other feelings that should be abstained he fertilized before the hammer judge in the religious court cut the stem that he had been treated with Erik.

"Should I answer?" There was doubt in the man's words. A pair of neutrals who usually always stared coldly without hesitation, now even blink quickly while often tend to avoid.

Varissa nodded even though the heart she had was getting more awkward.

Dikta took a deep breath. Grab the orange juice and finish the healthy drink in one throat. The clink of the glass that hit the surface of the expensive granite-bottomed pantry sounded quite loud when Dikta put the glass back.

"I've been monitoring you from afar since Om Hadi died." Dikta said honestly while bowing his head. Fun looking at the ring that is circular on the ring finger of his left hand which he swivels in order to shift his focus a little.

Varissa gulped her saliva rough. Suddenly his throat hurt when his father's name is now called back by someone. It feels like for a very long time Varissa had never heard that name other than the mouths of Doctor Imran and Lawyer Reno. In fact, Erik never brought up or remembered his late father-in-law himself.

"Two days before Om Hadi died, he called me," continued Dikta back. For a moment, he looked at Varissa before lowering his gaze again.

"He asked me to change him to take care of you. So.." The man bit his lower lip. "I sent some people to monitor you for almost 24 hours every day. Those who reported your accident to me, as well as those who evacuated and drove you to the hospital that morning."

Varissa's right hand was tightly clenched. He turned his face in the opposite direction. Look up to resist the rapid pace of tears that suddenly come out without being asked.

"Then, why didn't you come when Papa died, Ta?" varissa asked without looking at the man's face.

Dikta smiled thinly. "I'm coming" he said, making Varissa look at him with a question mark.

"Only, I still know myself not to approach you" continued the man with a stinging smile. "I know you still hate me. And, my blatant presence could make your anger explode even more" he added.

The fingers are shaking. In the rubbing of tears that wet the cheeks while bowing in. Varissa was aware of her excessive fallacy in hating Dikta. In fact, come to think of it, Dikta does not deserve it all. Varissa's life was much luckier than that of a man who had lost everything since childhood.

Treasure, parents and brothers. None of the survivors of the fire tragedy ever hit his home. Dikta was the only survivor of the incident. And, those who should sympathize, condemn Dikta for the event that Dikta certainly never wanted.

Then one day came Varissa's father. The man came without reproach like the others. He came to extend a hand. Offering a new shelter to a boy who is on the verge of despair. Act stupid and close your ears when people around say that he will be exposed to bad luck if you keep the cursed child. All he did was smile. Pat the boy on the shoulder and say that he is not a child of pesky carriers. Instead, he was a child who would conquer the world. Unhesitatingly. Without the slightest cynicism.

"You don't have to keep that promise, Ta!" lirih Varissa was full of regrets. Really am! His past sins against Dikta were completely incompatible with everything Dikta had done for him all along.

"Papa is dead. You should have chosen to pursue your own happiness instead of having to go back to bothering yourself to take care of me."

Not long after, the man stood up. Stepping closer to Varissa then holding both of the woman's shoulders. Grip without hurting at all.

"Continuing Om Hadi's duty to look after you is my own decision. In fact, without Om Hadi asking for anything, I would definitely do it, Va. So, you better shut up. Let me do what I want to keep my only remaining family. Okay?"

Silent. Varissa was speechless at a loss for words. He could only stare at the broad back of Dikta who was now walking away without the power he prevented. The family? Does that feel like it's gone?

*****

At 2pm, Varissa decided to go home without saying goodbye. Not because he has no manners. It's just that the owner of the apartment was going somewhere from now on and had not gone home either. Tired of waiting, Varissa decided to write a memo for Dikta and stick it on the refrigerator door.

He walked out of the elevator when he arrived at the apartment lobby. Unbeknownst to him, the figure he had been waiting for was hiding near the reception desk when the two were about to cross paths. Dikta deliberately avoided. He needs space to be alone to relieve the anger that mounts in the heart.

Stop looking after Varissa? Comeon! That's not possible. How can Dikta think of his own happiness when the happy source is not okay? For Dikta, Varissa's happiness is a manifestation of his happiness as well.

"Dikta..," called someone half-screaming. The woman with greenish netra who some time ago he had refused even reappeared.

"Michelle?"

"Yes, me!" Michelle smile.

Just like before, Michelle was always cheerful and jolly. His mouth had not stopped chattering while spending snacks and soda drinks served Dikta for him. There is no more talk of serious feelings like yesterday. Today, the girl came without carrying any frills.

"In the swallow just spoke again, Cel!" dikta said half-sull. Finally the girl who always called Dikta 'Icel' was choking because of eating and talking at the same time.

"Balley, uh!" michelle's grumbling doesn't care.

Dikta could only sigh. Michelle was stubborn and always reluctant to hear her words.

The apartment bell suddenly rang. Quickly, Michelle got up from her chair. A little run was about to open the door for a guest he thought was a food courier he ordered just a moment ago.

"Udah da..," Michelle's words were interrupted. He stared at the face of the beautiful woman in front of him. Suddenly, something rustled in his chest. Yes, this is the woman who already has the heart of Dikta until this moment. Michelle knows that and understands that.

"Varissa?" The tiny lips of the European woman made Varissa increasingly tighten her grip on the tote bag rope that she held.