Playboys
#18. The Out of Mind
Hi, about this valentine you get what gifts from loved ones?
Every three months, or every season, Liliana and her four co-workers will have a team dinner. As a form of their solid sense of all, all of it came from Florence's proposal, others simply agreed to it. Today was the same, but as the weather was clear, and almost into summer, they decided to take a day off for lunch at River Main.
River Main is one of the rivers with its natural beauty in Frankfurt, it is perfect for a walk along the bridge that stretches over the river, with views that are no less amazing on the left and right. If anyone wants to ride a canoe on the river can also. Entering the summer, with the remnants of the wind from the spring that increasingly adds to the cool atmosphere.
Liliana even brought the Eagle with her, she did not want to miss this beautiful scene just by herself. Florence had already booked a table for them in Bootshaus, one of the restaurants located on the riverbank. Selling a variety of European and German specialties, do not forget beer when in Germany, it is a mandatory drink for Germans.
“When I go alone here, it doesn't feel as warm as it is today,” said Ivy. One of the youngest among them all.
“Everything would be more fun if done together,” replied Florence. Florence is the most senior and the oldest of them all, her age this year will enter the forty-five mark.
“Allet alone there is an Eagle here, the weather is getting warmer,” added Ivy again. He turned the cheek of the Eagle, whose head had always been staring to and fro because of this new sight.
“I want to share this beautiful scenery with her, it felt unfair when I left her with the babysitter aunt,” Liliana said.
“Of course, so that the atmosphere becomes more lively. I'm so jealous of you for having a cute baby like Eagle.” Diana chimed.
“You'll run if you know how active he is right now, I'm just overwhelmed.”
“Tak bothered that, right? I'm sure I can do it,” Diana replied again.
“Tomorrow don't bring the Eagle to the nanny's aunt, Liliana, just give it to Diana. Then see what will happen next.”Florence chimed in with amusement.
Everyone at the table laughed at Florence's words. “I couldn't sacrifice my son for it.” Liliana also laughed amusedly at the idea given.
Although they only had time to greet when working, but everything fused when gathered like this.
“Am I late?”
Katherine appeared running in a hurry, then greeted her co-worker with a smile. Although only temporary, but Katherine remained part of them. After all, it can be said, Katherine is their indirect superior. His parents are owners of New Yorker.
“Ah, we almost forgot about you,” said Florence.
Katherine immediately sat down on the empty chair, and it was next to Liliana, not forgetting that she greeted the little baby that was in Liliana's lap. “When we are neighbors, but I very rarely meet this little baby,” said Katherine.
“You guys live in the same place?” ask Florence.
“We happened to live in the same apartment building,” Liliana said.
“But you guys aren't that familiar to be neighbors.” Ivy frowned confusedly. As far as she knew, Liliana and Katherine were not that close.
“It is precisely that we become neighbors, in order to become familiar, you know, Liliana is very rigid.”
Liliana shook her head, she could not be Katherine's neighbor who was very chatty and noisy. They just aren't fit to be friends. That is, they do live in the same building, then later they are involved in something quite related to each other, but Liliana is still Liliana, she will not be so happy to be friends with others.
For the rest of the day, nothing special happened. They just chatted with each other in a pretty cheerful atmosphere. Liliana for a moment was able to forget the problem that was afflicting her, she just followed the flow of all her co-workers who look familiar to each other.
As the day began to turn dark, they began to say goodbye to each other. Only Liliana still survives on the banks of the river, it is impossible to get rid of the beautiful scenery there and just go home. He took a short walk with the sleeping Eagle in his carrier, Liliana down the bridge with the trees
sending a gentle breeze to accompany Liliana.
**
Tonight, there's no alcohol around Katherine. Yes, he did not want to die young by becoming an alcoholic, but since long ago he has also consumed liquor. The reason is simple, he madly contacted a foreign man who he did not know his name through a business card given by the man
a few days ago. He could have asked Liliana about the man's name.
Let's just say it happened because Katherine was so drunk that she didn't drink alcohol. Drunkenness is not just caused by alcohol, right? It could be because of love, men, hearts, things like that. Then Katherine herself because of all those things, which she did not want to admit of course, her pride could fall if others found out the truth.
Katherine and her high self-esteem were her pride.
So, now he is sitting waiting in the sky lounge of one of the hotels in the center of Frankfurt. The view is very beautiful from up there, with sparkling lights from the skyscrapers and also the traffic below. Such an atmosphere should be romantic if only the two are a couple, or are in the approach stage.
“I didn't expect to get a call this fast.”
Katherine's gaze was shifted when she heard the man's voice, she had even memorized the man's voice in her brain. Is Katherine really in love with this guy? It can't be just a cliche like that, can it?
Yes, Katherine admitted, this man is perfect and also handsome. The value is almost one hundred percent perfect if only the impression he got when he first met was better. Katherine just doesn't want to admit, that's why she always denies.
“Am I too aggressive?” katherine asked with a slanted smile.
Katherine grunted in amusement, this was not the first time Katherine had been seduced like this, but it was fortunate that she did not show any strange gurgles. Surprisingly again, he was not too rishi with what this man did. It might be true that Katherine was truly in love with Richard, just waiting for the woman to admit it.
“That means you like all creatures of the female sex,” Katherine said.
“There is a problem with that?” ask Richard. This really reminds him of his college days, he had teased some of his female friends first. But, her friends used to be very easy to approach and no one was as cute as Katherine.
Katherine smiled faintly, if this time she really fell in love with this man, it meant that something was wrong with that part of her brain. “Do not misunderstand, you are not my type at all. I just want to affirm this misunderstanding, I can find a guy like you almost everywhere, so you're not that special.”
Did Richard just get rejected by the woman he met recently? In retrospect, all of this was ridiculous, they became like this just because of the hurt self-esteem. How much self-worth do they have to do all this? After all, they could choose to ignore each other, without having to constantly meet like this, intentionally, and also accidentally.
“Then I'll excuse you.”
Katherine got up from her seat. The problem is over, he can't fall in love that easily with a foreign man. For information, the business card that the man gave only contains the name of the company, and also the mobile number. Who in this day and age still does such a thing? Or the guy did it on purpose to make Katherine even more curious, whatever it is, Katherine won't be that easy to fall for this guy.
But Richard wasn't that good either. He could not accept this woman who was so proud, he blocked her arm, then immediately stood up. Maybe he's less handsome than Dimitri, but no woman has ever done this to him.
Richard brought his face closer to Katherine. “You're sure I'm not your type?” whispered Richard.
Katherine was petrified where she stood, the whisper actually gave her whole body goosebumps. Richard moved his face away to look at Katherine who was frozen in place. This woman sucks, she can prove that later this woman will be crazy about her. No one can resist Richard Pradana.
“My name is Richard, I'm sure we will definitely meet again, Katherine.”
Richard had never done this before, but he suddenly kissed the corner of Katherine's lips after saying that. Let it be that if he's going to be stamped as a jerk by this woman, it's been that way in the first place, right? And the more jerky thing was, Richard immediately left Katherine who was still glued to where she stood.
**
The real divorce will actually happen this time, and Liliana is already very prepared for it. He even contacted his lawyer in Indonesia to prepare the files needed. Nabila did not know what happened, as well as his parents and maybe Dimitri's parents.
He had also prepared a letter of resignation, he did not know how long this would take, and whether he would return to Germany again or not. If all the problems are over, maybe he will find another country to visit. Germany had exposed her pain again, and Liliana disliked it when many people found out about her personal problems.
“You want to resign?” ask Enzo.
Right now, the one in charge of the shop where Liliana's job was Enzo, so he had to tell this man. “Yes, I have to go back to Indonesia.”
“Together with the man?”
Liliana hesitated to tell me what was going on, she didn't feel she had to do it. “The story is very complicated and long, and yes, I will return to Indonesia with the man you mean.”
“If you think about it, we've never been that open. I know we don't have any relationship, but you can think of me as a friend,” Enzo said. His tongue was very bitter to say the word friend, he wanted more than that.
Liliana looked at Enzo with guilt, their relationship should not be like this, if only no one had started this lie. This is what Liliana was afraid of from the beginning, she did not want an ambiguous relationship, which is why she did not open up from the beginning. As well as the scope of his friendship, the more he has friends, the more he has to share stories about himself.
“We were supposed to get divorced a year ago, but it turns out that the divorce never happened. So I have to go back to Indonesia to finish everything,” Liliana said. Think of this as Liliana's gratitude for it
helped him from the beginning.
Enzo was fixated on hearing Liliana's explanation, so they had been husband and wife all along? Yeah, it's complicated.
“You still love him?” ask Enzo.
Liliana focused on the hems of clothes on her lap. Does he still love Dimitri? Still, Liliana was sure the taste was still in her heart. It was also the cause of his heart still hurt when he remembered all that, even when dealing with Dimitri the pain was more piercing his heart. He still loves the man who has hurt him many times. However, this relationship is also not possible to continue.
Let's just say Liliana's mind is in turmoil and out of control. If you still love why should you split? Everything can be done without having to bring a farewell, goodbye has never been so easy.
Enzo considers the silence of Liliana as the answer to ‘ya’. “After all your business is done, can I hope for you?” ask Enzo again. He's cruel enough as a man, but, if you don't say it right now, then there's no other chance to convey his feelings.
Is there still a man who wants to love Liliana in the midst of all the problems? It's not something to be proud of, he's not even sure he can still love after all this.
“I hope you don't do anything, I can't give you hope as you wish.”
“I can do it, if you don't want it even once,” said Enzo.
Liliana looked at Enzo. What has he done to this man? Facing one man alone Liliana failed, then came another man who offered the same thing. Is there anything else they can offer?
“You can go back to Germany at any time, you can also go back to work if you have done all your business. I can wait for whatever it is, so make sure you have to come back.”
After saying that, Enzo immediately left the cafe where they met. Liliana was again glued to her seat, why wait for her? Why else would Liliana? Don't they know how many heart wounds he has sustained, can't they just leave Liliana alone?
**
