LOVE NARA

3.24. THIS IS MY WAY

By lunchtime, Ardi had arrived at the hospital and was waiting for Alya in front of his room. Although around the room was quiet because the patient examination schedule was over, Ardi remained faithful to wait as he said this morning.

Ardi could not contact Alya and said about his arrival because he had not saved Alya's mobile number personally, despite knowing it from the messaging group they were both following.

Ardi still kept their agreement in the past, that after the breakup, the two would not contact each other in order to more easily forget each other and live out their respective futures.

"I'll end our deal by then, Al. I will fight to get you back, even though it will be very difficult and require more time and patience."

Half an hour waiting, right at the time of showing twelve o'clock in the afternoon, seemed from the direction of the stairs Alya came with a slow step and a little doubt.

He is still nervous to meet Ardi, let alone Ardi starting to offer to drive him off duty.

From where he sat, Ardi smiled welcoming the arrival of the woman who had made her days start to be cheerful again.

There was something else in his heart, because this time he had known Alya's solitude and all the truths that had always been hidden by the woman of his past.

There is no longer a wedge in the heart like before. If at a past meeting she still had to hold back and maintain the attitude of considering Alya as the wife of someone else who has had happiness with her family, then no longer for now.

This time his heart has been fully opened and is sure to regain the first love he once relented to go and be separated from him for a long time.

Alya still continued to lower her gaze despite having arrived before Ardi, who immediately stood up to greet him. The man smiled widely and said his greetings, before greeting the tired-looking graceful woman.

"It's over, Al?" he asked pleasantries to reduce awkwardness between them, because Alya still seemed to keep his distance.

"It has. Hold on, I'll get my bag inside."

Alya glimpsed back Ardi's gaze then turned her eyes back. He opened the door of the room without letting Ardi in.

Ardi cursed at her and realized that they were just the two in front of Alya's room, while there were still a few patients in front of the other room that were still going on her examination.

Ardi remained standing waiting until Alya came out again with a bag draped over his shoulder and carried one large paper bag which he then handed to Ardi.

"What is this, Al?" asked Ardi who could not see the contents inside as the top was still neatly covered by the store seal.

"I bought a doll for Aura. Please give it to him when you come home. I hope he likes it."

Shamefully Alya answered him, without daring to look at Ardi who had developed his smile again. The man was pleased with the attention Alya had given his little daughter.

"Thank you, Al. I'll take it and put it in the car first. But later you have to give it to Aura yourself. He would definitely be very happy if he received it directly from your hand."

Alya could only nod and say yes, not wanting to refuse the request of the man she loved so much in her heart.

"Come, we're leaving now. There's still a little time for lunch. I don't want you to get sick from being too busy to forget about your health."

Alya was stunned for a moment. The sentence after sentence spoken by Ardi reminded him of the past when they were still together.

"You should always eat on time, or you will get sick from fatigue. Love yourself, Al."

Ardi continued his words that again made Alya's heart rustle smooth and imagined old memories between them.

Inwardly, Ardi planned something for Alya. He did not want to act too aggressively and quickly, while they had just met again after a few months ago he was slumped in loss over the departure of Bunga.

It may be true said Bunga first, if only Alya is the best and deserves to be with himself and Aura. Not as a substitute for the existence of Flowers, but as a new figure who deserves to be present to complete the happiness of his life with the beloved princess.

"I don't mean to make you wonder about this attitude of mine, Al. But this is my way of slowly reminding you of our wonderful stories of the past."

Ardi walked side by side with Alya accompanied by a happy thump in the chest. Same with Alya, who can only keep her head down while walking on the side of the man who always thrills her heart every time they meet and are close.

Together they entered the elevator which happened to open shortly after they waited, still in silence who became their stepmates that afternoon.

Inside the elevator, Ardi was quietly leaning against the wall behind him, with one hand put in a pants pocket and the other hand tightly holding a large bag of Alya's hand. Instead, Alya stood beside her unsettledly. His two hands continued to intertwine and did not stop moving in front of his body.

When the elevator door opened because it had reached the bottom floor, Ardi invited the elegant hijab doctor to come out first, followed by him who smiled knotfully while aligning their steps again.

"My time here isn't much else, Al. Only three days left. I don't want to waste this little bit of time without trying to get you closer to me."

Secretly Ardi kept stealing glances towards Alya, who occasionally also ventured to turn his head and throw a small smile at him, as their gazes met and glimpsed at each other.

"I don't expect much for now. But I will continue to try to remind you one by one of our memories, so that gradually may your heart also open and be able to accept my presence again, with our beloved Aura."

Without them noticing, a pair of sad eyes were staring at them from a distance, ever since Alya and Ardi got out of the elevator and walked towards the hospital courtyard.

"Just a few days of her presence here, you've been looking more comfortable being next to her, than being with me all this time, Al. Is your heart also beginning to open to receive it as it once did?"

Rendy, the owner of the pair of eyes that were dimming softly, took a deep breath and released it with relief, after a while ago feeling the tightness that extended.

"I'd be happy if that was the case. As I asked you last night, be happy with the one you love and keep you smiling all the time. Thus, I will also be happy for your happiness, Al."

"But ..., why does it feel like it's still this painful in my heart, seeing you both together with her ...??"

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