Marrying a Real Shadow

17. Little Labyrinth

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay here?"

"This place is even more comfortable than any place."

Meihan's father kissed the butler's hand. "My night will be very lonely without you" he said with a deep look.

"You have to monitor him, I'm not willing to surrender myself here. That cheap waitress has our vidio. He threatened me yesterday. Be careful with him."

"I'll take care of it. You take it easy," he said again still with a deep gaze.

While still enjoying the moments of the separation, Suddenly a fit and bald-headed person came in whispering a few words to Meihan's father. He understood and nodded then the bald-headed man came out while bowing.

"You don't have to worry in this prison. I've asked my acquaintances to prepare the best place here for you. I've also discussed with lawyers and judges, they agreed to cut your prison time during this froth. Can you crouch here for six months?"

"Six months? Isn't it too short for the punishment of taking someone's life?" said the half-bare butler in disbelief hearing the expression of the thin-moustached man.

"Calm down, I've arranged everything. The media will stop showing this. He's just a cheap waitress needn't be exaggerated. A mosquito's life is worth more than its life." Meihan's father raised his eyebrows and half laughed in disgust.

"I didn't choose you wrong despite everything. I have no regrets at all, hahaha...."

"Of course, hahah, I have real power, whoever is my ally will be lucky seven descendants, hahaha...."

They laughed and enjoyed that time. The sun that is visible from far in the western horizon is ready to freefall before emitting a beautiful purple sheen of red orange color that spoils the eye.

In the afternoon in the city, such a scene no longer spoils the eyes, there is no longer any interest in worshipping the sky in a beautiful afternoon. The bustle and noise of the city fade the whole beautiful and soothing. Only heartbroken souls seem to be secretly cursing the beauty with tears. There is nothing wrong with twilight just that dusk is the best time to blame the earth that continues to spin even though everything that happens is not in accordance with expectations.

***

Anna opened her eyes that felt unusually heavy.

"Don't tell me you're looking for that irresponsible guy" said Rafah, who was upset that Anna didn't care about him.

Anna rolled her eyes like she was reluctant to look at her half-sister.

"When are you like this?" rafah again.

"Until when? Mean you?"

"I know I was wrong. I'm sorry."

"Where is he?" Anna switched the conversation. His regret for Rafah is still unforgivable.

"Meihan?"

"Yes, why isn't he here?"

"Hahaha, that bastard. He wasn't even there when you almost fainted. Until you were rushed to this hospital he wasn't there either. The sudden business of his company is more important than your life" Rafah said a little upset.

"No way, he should have visited me" Anna said expectantly.

"Anna? Be aware, all this is just to strengthen the power of two families. Scrubbing love in a relationship like that will only make you hurt."

"I don't care, Meihan must have the same taste as me, too" he argued.

"Didn't you like seeing me with him? Hahaha," ketus Anna.

"Yes, I hate to see you smiling at another man" Rafah replied without hesitation.

"Maha." Anna could only laugh stiffly at Rafah's words just now.

"Until when are you going to deny it? I'm not that kid, he was dead a few years ago. I'm the kid that the woman picked up from the shabby orphanage down there. The rafah? I'm even disgusted to hear everyone call me by that name."

Anna was silent. He knew that for a long time. But he's not ready to admit it. Rafah must remain Rafah, his spoiled half-brother. Her sweet step-sister. His stepbrother who once saved him. They have strong blood ties, there should be no sense between them.

"I know you've kept it for a long time. I also. How long are we like this?" Rafah looked at him in a meaningful way.

Dag-dig-dug-in.

Anna's heart was like it was going to be rolled out through her ribs. He did not dare to look into the eyes of the man who was ready to admit all that. His eyes were full of seriousness and like he only blinked once in a minute.

"Is it wrong if I love you?"

Anna could barely breathe. The ventilator beside his bed started to make a little noise making a long 'tuuuut' sound. Marking the abnormality in Anna's chest.

That confession is not avenged. His feelings are long gone. Anna took a deep breath to reset her heart rhythm. He ventured to look into Rafah's round eyes with pliable eyelashes lined up neatly and fixed on him from now on.

"You think I'm gonna get carried away?" asked Anna with her trademark smile that was forced as indigenously as possible "You want to avenge yesterday's events in your apartment? I'm not like you, where maybe I can get carried away with just your jokes, hahahha...."

Rafah took a deep breath as well. "Anna, you're not a teenage girl anymore. You're not that stupid, I've loved you since the first time I saw you." He looked disappointed.

"Already Rafah, I will not be deceived." Anna is still trying to deny the confession. He was not ready and still needed time to translate the sense that had been stuck in his heart.

Rafah again took a deep breath. She no longer spoke of her change she flashed a caring and loving look at Anna. The gaze that a man usually does to the woman he loves. Even so Anna was good at hiding her feelings, no wonder Anna was a woman with a thousand kinds of ideas to save herself.

"You're an adult, hurry up and date a girl, so you stop teasing me." He pinched Rafah's cheek while smiling anxiously.

Rafah just looks resigned.

Tock-a-tock

A nurse came in with food and medicine. He managed to save Anna from that atmosphere that there was almost no gap to save himself. Anna could not even control her excitement when she heard the knock on the door from the nurse. She almost clapped her hands as she saw the doorway move followed by the beautiful nurse who entered while greeting with her friendly smile.

"Where are you going?" intercept Anna as Rafah stands up when he sees the nurse coming in.

"Finding a girl for me to date. You are no longer cool to be the target of my fight," he said with a smile sweet and bitter.

Anna quickly took off her hand. He returned the man's smile ambiguously. There is a sense of disappointment and confusion that is present without permission. Is that really a joke? That warm look was just a meaningless look. That sudden confession is just bullshit? How do you position yourself? Anna stared carefully at Rafah's back which was about to disappear swallowed by the door.

"I should have forbidden him to go out. I shouldn't have considered him a boy. I knew we were just two strangers who fell in love with each other and kept the feeling quiet. But we can't deny one thing, we're sister by law. This relationship is like a labyrinth with no way out."

Finish a little bit of conversation. The nurse left Anna. Successfully, loneliness begins to attack him.

"Then what if this relationship traps like a labyrinth? We don't have to find a way out. Spinning around in it is not a problem, as long as it is with you. Even though we're stuck deep. It was just a joke. We'll laugh out loud together when we get to the end of the wall-covered road, you'll make fun of me for choosing the wrong path. It will be like our days. Fun and boring. It's okay, just be with you." Rafah clenched his fists.

He fixedly looked at Meihan who was hugging kindly with Kenda.