LOVE STRATA 1

CS1 Fidgety

The clock tick felt slowed down, when met face to face with a wait. Just like Anjani who was waiting for the arrival of Mario and John's personal secretary, Mario's father. It was still a few hours before the meeting, but Anjani's heart was already impatient.

Ever since Mario called him, Anjani's heart had been restless. Please be anxious, trying to convince yourself that nothing bad will happen. Failing, Anjani's heart is still restless, until he no longer focuses on doing things properly.

"Aw!" exclaim Anjani while holding the left index tip.

The blade scratched Anjani's fingertip, making a speck of blood appear there. Anjani pressed the area around the wound, then poured the wound with tap water. Really, it doesn't feel painful at all. The taste in the wound on the fingertips is not comparable to the anxiety that dominates him.

Ma caught the uneasiness in his daughter's heart. The cayenne pepper that had just been picked was placed by Ma on the kitchen table. Ma's steps then led him to Anjani, who had already re-sliced the potatoes into thin slices. The potato slices will soon be fried by Ma.

"You just put it down. Let Ma finish" Ma said as he picked up a potato that had been peeled clean.

"Let Anjani finish, Ma. It's easy anyway" Anjani pinta.

"It's easy to hurt your finger, huh?" ma asked who had seen the fact that Anjani's finger had been injured.

"Hehe .. That knife was sprained, kept hitting the finger. Let Anjani finish, Ma?" pinta Anjani with a forced smile.

Ma sighs. The princess was stubborn. He saw Anjani who still continued to slice potatoes. Until a few seconds later, Anjani's finger again scratched the blade.

"Aw!" exclaim Anjani, then put down the knife.

Anjani tries to show Ma that he is fine. Anjani rushes to the horse's grin, showing a row of his teeth. Although the teeth were revealed in the expression of the face of the grin of the horse, it still did not reduce the sweet charm of his face.

"Well-duh-duh! Already, don't think too much about what Nak Mario said when you were called earlier. Everything's gonna be fine. Later we will all also know what Nak Mario means," explained Ma while taking over the knife and potatoes.

"Hufts. Okay, Ma. Anjani will try to be calmer" Anjani said in the end.

Anjani smiles, then is a little spoiled at Ma beside her. He held Ma's arm, then rested his head on Ma's shoulder. Anjani's suddenly spoiled attitude made Ma chuckle.

"Hehehe. If you hold onto Ma's arm, how'd Ma slice a potato. Make green tea for your uncle, or coffee too. All of you make a cup, and drink up ahead" Ma said, giving Anjani a good idea.

"okay, deh. Sekalian Anjani want to nengokin the Miko in the cage," explained Anjani.

"Yes, great. Who knows if Miko is ready to cook anyway" said Ma.

"Haaa? No, Ma. Miko is no ordinary rooster. Plan, Anjani want to give a bow tie on the neck of the Miko this Saturday. The time of the wedding, "Anjani explained.

Ma laughed at the idea of his daughter.

"No Ma you, nih. Come on, get a drink and get ahead!" ma's orders, followed by a slower laugh.

Anjani smiled at the end. He took two cups, and he started brewing coffee for him and Uncle Sam.

***

In office.

Mario, Alenna, and Leon are in the workspace. The three were still silent after the long debate that had just been done, even though they did not meet a settlement point at all.

"So, what to do?" ask Alenna.

"This is indeed your family's problem, but it can still affect the company's image. Moreover, Mr. John plays a big role in the ownership of this company," explained Leon while holding a cross.

"Ah, make it dizzy, deh. Why is the media posting such news. Exaggerated, here!" alenna protested while looking at one of the news on the computer screen.

Brak!

Mario's breaking the table. Mario tried to hold back his emotions, but eventually failed as well. Mario's expression was not good at the time. His mind was muddled thinking of many things, especially the continuity of his marriage with Anjani.

Alenna and Leon instantly fell silent while still observing Mario's expression. When Mario had started to control his emotions, then Alenna dared to approach and try to calm down.

"Mario, calm yourself!" said Alenna who was starting to get agitated to see her brother.

Mario did not respond to Alenna's words. Mario is still trying to think clearly. Alenna who saw it could only go back to silence, and keep waiting until Mario calmer.

"Alenna better get you back overseas today, too" Mario suggested suddenly.

"What's? No! It's a mistake that Dad made. I can't just run, Mario. Especially having to leave Juno. Besides, what's wrong if my identity is publicly known, anyway?" Alenna snorted in annoyance.

"It will be even more complicated, your mother's identity will also be hunted. Scandals of the past that had subsided will re-heat up along with the new disgrace of the father who spread to the public," explained Mario. "Ah, father!" Mario's emotions are back on the cusp.

"Please yourself, Mario!" leon exclaimed when he saw Mario's emotions burning.

Mario had never been seen as emotional at the time. Mario who is known to people is a calm figure in dealing with problems. However, the predicate in the eyes of people did not apply to Mario at that time.

"We will think of ways that this problem does not drag on and tarnish the company image, also so that your marriage is still carried out" comforted Leon, although he was also not sure.

"Obviously the media also alluded to John's child marriage plans. It's me, Leon. Read the comments below, right? Many thought that I would do the same as my father. Se-ling-kuh!" mario said, as if he could no longer think clearly.

"But something is strange. Why would the public immediately know the wedding plan in detail and relate it to the father's news? Is there an insider who might disclose a lot of personal information to the media crew, some kind of spy?" added Mario.

Mario looked towards Alenna and Leon. Alenna just shrugged her shoulders. While Leon immediately turned his eyes and rubbed the back of the head with his right hand.

Tock-a-tock

"Excuse me, Mr. John wants to see you, Mario. Mr. Leon, and Miss Alenna please get out of the room for a moment" asked Mario's father's secretary, Uncle Li.

Leon understood the order. Leon immediately came out of the room.

Alenna followed Leon's steps. On the doorstep of the room, Alenna sees John, her real father. Alenna saw John standing still as he prepared to meet Mario. Noticing Alenna, John looked at Alenna at a glance, then rushed into the room.

Mario took a standing position near the window pane. I did not look at John.

Seeing his son behave this way, John chose to sit on the sofa in the room. John leaned his back, and tried to relax.

"Mario, are you angry?" ask John.

"Yes" answered Mario briefly.

"Dad apologize. Dad ... didn't expect the media to be able to highlight the news" John said.

Mario immediately turned around, and now looked at his father who was still sitting on the sofa.

"So you admit that the news is true?" ask Mario.

John momentarily relaxed the beard, justifying the words of Mario.

"So you're cheating on me again?" ask Mario seriously.

John breathed in deeply, then nodded back justifying.

"Dad not remember? Dad used to divorce his mother because he was caught cheating to have a child, Alenna. Now again?" Mario looks emotional.

John did not reply, and just looked towards the vase of flowers on the table. John knows Mario has a hard time accepting reality. When John's first affair was exposed, Mario also showed the same attitude as today.

"Don't you think how Mama Alenna feels right now? It must be the same as how you feel when you know you're cheating," explained Mario, vaping everything.

"Yes, I realize you're wrong. I'm sorry, Mario. I can assure you, this time no children were born. Dad was only a few weeks into a relationship with the woman, and didn't sleep with her" John explained casually.

"Ck. It was so light that Dad said that. It's a family disgrace and now the media is hot talking about it. In the other three fathers' companies there were even many journalists. Just waiting for this office time will also be visited. You're a fool to think everything's gonna be okay!" said Mario.

John seems to be less fond of Mario. John no longer rests his back on the back of the sofa. John's eyeballs even looked fixed to Mario's bead.

Tock-a-tock

The feud that had occurred was interrupted by the knock of the door. Uncle Li came in and told me that on the front page of the office there were some enthusiastic reporters following the hot news that was being reported by some media.

"What?" john doesn't believe it.

"Uncle Li, what do you think now?" mario asked his father's secretary.

"Mr Mario, I had a chance to discuss this with Mr. John. Looking at the same conditions and cases as a few years ago, it is likely that this news will subside by itself. The two of us also discussed the marriage of Mr. Mario with Miss Anjani on Saturday. If the wedding is still held, it will also have an impact on the comfort of the event, especially the comfort of the Anjani family." Uncle Li explained.

"Do you mean that my Uncle Li's marriage to Anjani should be annulled?" ask Mario.

"not canceled. More precisely postponed until all the news is muffled," continued Uncle Li.

"How long?" ask Mario then.

"It could be a few months, or even a few years. Let's see it later" said Uncle Li.

Mario digested Uncle Li's words. The situation and conditions at that time were well understood by Mario. Although reluctant, Mario still has to think about many things, especially about Anjani and his family.

Mario's breath sounded in that instant. Slowly his emotions can be controlled. Mario chose to sit at his desk, then drink a few sips of mineral water.

"Mario, postpone your marriage for the good of all. Enough of our family and the company involved. Don't let your future wife and her family get dragged along too until her life is not comfortable." John, who had been silent, finally spoke.

No response from Mario. Mario's eyes are on his smartphone screen. There's a picture of Anjani over there. For a moment Mario's heart was agitated. Shortly after that his mind spun, re-digesting Uncle Li's words.

Anjani, I'm sorry! inner Mario.

"Oh yeah. One over. From tomorrow until the case subsides, you focus on college. No need to come to the office!" john said as he sat back on the sofa.

"What's? Wh why? What about the company?" ask Mario in shock.

"Let Leon's company take care of. Alenna will help him too. Remember, the public still knows that you are my only son. If you're still around the company, chances are they'll drag you in the news. Already, just according to you!" said John.

Again Mario showed an expression of dislike with his father's unilateral decision. Mario's father was like that. Although already accustomed to dealing with it, Mario often can not control themselves if their thoughts contradict.

"Sir, this is for the good of Mr. Mario too." Uncle Li supports Mario's father's decision.

"Ck. What about cooperation related to internship student placement? Should it be delayed too?" ask Mario.

"No need, Sir. I am sure this case will not have an impact on cooperation with the campus. If it has an impact on cooperation with other partners it may be yes. But me and the team will help take care of all that. Master don't need to worry," Uncle Li explained.

Mario was silent again. Returning tried to calm down while digesting Uncle Li's words.

"Uncle Li, now we go to Anjani's house. Security up front will help keep those reporters from getting close to me. And .... Just let my dad in here. Let him reflect on his mistake" said Mario, glancing at John.

John only smiled at a glance when he heard Mario say that. John seemed to accept whatever Mario's words were that clearly blamed him.

"Come, we're going!" take Mario.

"Good, Sir."

Mario and Uncle Li rushed out of the room. Mario had a quick glance at Leon and Alenna who had been waiting outside the room. Afterwards, Mario went with Uncle Li to Anjani's house.

***

Thank you for reading the novel Love Strata 1. Looking forward to the next episode, yes 😊✨. Chrysanthemums for the author can also, you know. See You's. ❤