I Want to Be Loved

Reminiscences

“Daren!”

Flora turned her head as someone held her body, making her not fall to the floor. It turned out that the person holding his body was Daren.

“Flora are you okay?" Daniel who was next to Daren asked Flora.

“I'm fine,” replied Flora.

Flora tries to stand up with help from Daren and Daniel.

“If anything happens with Flora and the baby in her womb, I will not forgive you, Tina,”.

“He who started it first. He who first slapped my brother's face,” said Tina.

“That's because this man has behaved and said insolent to me,” tangkis Flora.

“You better get out of here. Or I will report you to the police because you have disturbed our calm,” threatened Tina.

“Look at me later, I will definitely find evidence if you have harmed my husband,” Flora replied.

“I'm not afraid, Honey. Because it is not me who harmed your husband,” said Brian.

“But take it easy ... I will help you to find the culprit.” Brian showed a mocking smile.

“I have to thank him for helping me get rid of Gio. I don't need to dirty my hands to get rid of that man.” Brian laughed loudly, as if celebrating his victory.

“Didn't you love Gio so much, Tina? Why would you let your sister do something bad to Gio?” Flora spoke with her tears followed.

“I told you ... It wasn't my sister who did that,” Tina said.

“Come, Flora, Daniel .. We'd better get out of here. Do not waste your energy and time here,” invite Daren.

“Iya, Flora. What Daren said was true,” Daniel continued.

Though dissatisfied with what he got from Brian, Flora is forced to leave the place. Moreover, his body also felt very tired.

“Ya, come on,” said Flora.

Daren wanted to wrap his hands around Flora's shoulders. However, Flora walked first, as if avoiding Daren.

“Thank you Deren, because you helped me,” Flora said after they were outside Brian's room.

“Iya Daren .. I also thank you,” Daniel continued. “But how can you know if we are here?” ask Daniel.

“I was going to the hospital to see Flora. But in the hospital lobby I met aunt Seruni and aunt Mariana. They said that Kalina had gone to see Brian,” Daren replied.

“Already, let's go from here,” take Daren who was directly signed by Daniel and Flora.

The three of them walked towards the company lobby. Arriving at the lobby, Daren invites Daniel and Flora to lunch together.

“This is in lunch hour. How about we have lunch together,” suggested Daren.

“That's a good idea,” Daniel continued. “Come on Flora, you also have to eat,” Daniel said.

“But ...” Flora felt lazy to leave.

“I don't want to hear rejection, Flora,” said Daren.

“Consider, this is a reply because I helped you earlier,” said Daren.

Hearing the words from Daren, Flora became unwell. Flora finally agrees to Daren's request. “Alright, come.”

The three of them got into two different cars. Daniel and Flora are in the same car. The car they ride follows the speed of Daren's car.

“Do Daren have no other brothers?” Flora asked Daniel.

“She's an only child like me,” replied Daniel.

”You're one generation, ’right? Are you one campus first?” ask Flora.

“Yes we are one generation, but we are different campuses," replied Daniel. “What's up? Why do you want to know about Daren?” Daniel asked Flora.

Flora shook her head, “Just want to know.”

Two cars carrying Daniel, Flora, and Daren entered one of the cafe's parking areas. The three of them got out of the car and went into the cafe together.

The three of them sat by the window. Daren raised his hand to call the waiter at the cafe. One of the waiters at the cafe approached the table occupied by Daren, Flora, and Daniel.

“What message do you want?” ask Daren.

“I want ice cream only,” replied Flora.

“Only ice cream?” ask Daren.

Flora nodded, “If there is any I want banana split.”

“Alright, I will order it for you,” Daren said.

Daren and Daniel both spit out what they ordered to the waiter at the cafe.

“Alright, that's it,” Daniel said.

The three chatted while waiting for their order. Flora was the one who started the conversation.

“Daren, may I ask you something?” ask Flora.

“Of course. Please, Flora,” said Daren.

“Where is your papa now?” ask Flora.

Daren stared at Flora for a moment, there was a doubt within Daren to answer Flora's question.

Flora noticed Daren's gaze. Flora felt bad and apologized to Daren.

“I'm sorry if my question hurt you. You don't have to answer. Forget it,” said Flora.

“I haven't seen him since he was a police fugitive. From what I heard he has been arrested by the police, but has been released, because there are those who enshrined him,” Daren replied.

“I don't know either,” replied Daren.

“Could that person be Gio?” inner Flora and Daniel.

“Do you know now where Om Adam is, Daren?” ask Daniel.

“I do not know where he is now,” replied Daren.

“Do you not want to look for it,” asked Flora.

“Honestly I am still disappointed with his actions. I didn't expect him to betray my mother,” Daren replied.

Their little chatter had to come to a halt as the food they ordered came to their table.

“We continue our chat later only. We better eat first,” said Daniel do not immediately embraced by Flora and also Daren.

They focus on their food. Especially Flora, the pregnant woman ate her order ice cream followed by her teardrops.

“Flora, no good crying in front of food.” Daren clasped Flora's hand.

Flora flinched as Daren clasped her hand. Flora immediately moved her hand away from Daren and wiped her tears.

“I just missed Gio. He loves banana split,” Flora said.

Flora turned her gaze towards Daniel.

“Daniel can we go home now,” pinta Flora.

“Yes well, come on,” said Daniel.

“But Daniel, you haven't even cleared your lunch yet,” prevent Daren.

“No, Daren. I am full too,” Daniel said. “Also Flora also needs a break.”

“I'm sorry Daren, but I'm really very tired,” Flora said.

“No problem, Flora. You don't worry I will definitely help you find Gio,” Daren said.

“Thank you, Daren,” reply Flora.

*****

Already one week after Gio's disappearance, Flora was still at the hotel where she was staying. It was Flora's last day in New York City.

Flora stood by the window, looking out over New York City night. To be honest, Flora did not want to leave the country until she discovered her husband's whereabouts.

Flora's eyes closed followed by her tears. Flora did not expect that someone who was such a girl would harm her husband.

Flora gasped as someone touched both of her shoulders. Flora's eyes opened again and then looked over. Flora saw her mother standing right behind. Soon Flora wiped away the tears that fell on her cheek.

“Come to sleep, Son. It's night,” take Seruni.

“I can't sleep, Mom,” Flora said.

“Mother knows, Son. I can't sleep because I think about Gio. But tomorrow we have to go back to Indonesia,” said Seruni.

“Honestly I still don't want to go home, Mom. I still want to be here until I find the whereabouts of Gio,” Flora said.

“Mother understands your feelings, Son. But we are here also do nothing,” said Seruni.

Flora is back. Seeing his son sobbing Seruni could not bear. Seruni immediately hugged Flora.

“Patience, Child. Strengthen yourself for the sake of the child in your womb,” said Seruni.

“Who the hell, Mom who could have done that to Gio?” Flora asked amidst her sobs.

After crying for a while, Flora pulled away then wiped her tears. “Flora go for a minute yes, Mom,” say Flora.

“Where are you going, son?” ask Seruni.

“Flora want to take a short walk. Before tomorrow we leave this place,” replied Flora.

“Then I accompany you,” says Seruni.

“Not necessary, Mom. Mom just rest! Mom must be tired from yesterday already take care of me,” Flora refused.

“But, Nak—”

“Flora wants to be alone, Mom. Flora's not far away anyway. Flora just take a walk around here,” said Flora.

Seruni actually felt hesitant about letting her daughter go alone. However, Seruni knew Flora needed some time alone.

“Alright, Son. Careful, yeah. Don't forget to wear warm clothes,” order Seruni directly signed by Flora.

Flora came out of her room and was right at the same time as Daniel.

“Flora, where are you going?” ask Daniel.

“I want to go for a walk for a while. Before tomorrow we return to Indonesia,” replied Flora.

“Alright, let me be friends,” said Daniel.

“Daniel, I want to go alone,” Flora said.

“This time I won't listen to you, Flora. Yesterday when I let you into Brian's own room. Lucky Daren came on time at that time,” said Daniel.

“Well come on,” says Flora.

“So where are you going? I will take you wherever you want,” Daniel said.

“To somewhere,” replied Flora.

Flora asks Daniel to take her to places where he spent time with Gio. Before tomorrow he returns to Indonesia, leaving all the sweet and bad memories in that place.