Secretly Loving You's

Ch 18 - Accompany Me

"I'll take you to your room" said Mr. Armand, dragging my suitcase.

Ottok!!

My brain feels black. Can't think, until all I do is stand.

To room?? Does that mean I'll room with Mr. Armand?! Huh uh?? Just be right! I'm still a virgin. It is illegal for a virgin girl to live in a room with a man who is not yet a husband. What the fuck?!

"Arsha?" That voice built me up from the daydream. I saw Mr. Armand standing a few steps ahead of me. One hand holds the backpack while the other hand holds the suitcase. His eyebrows shot up with wondering eyes. "Come," he asked again.

"But sir ...."

"Save your questions. Put these things in the room first." Mr. Armand looked at me for a long time, as if he was waiting for me to follow in his footsteps. With a heavy heart I followed him.

He told me to keep all the questions, but various questions and rejections flashed in my head. How can the company arrange for unmarried men and women to be in one room?! This is not a western country. Where are their customs? Where are morals and ethics?! I can't hold it anymore. I must refuse!!

"This is the room ...." We stopped in a white tent-shaped room with a conical roof shape. I didn't pay much attention to the details, because my mind was full of other things.

"S-I can't ...." I clenched my hands tightly. Gathering the courage to declare rejection.

"meaning?" Mr. Armand looks confused.

Alright, it seems like I have to refuse firmly so that Mr. Armand understands what I mean.

"I can't room with my dad!! We are not married!! In religion and custom is strictly prohibited!! We live in a country that upholds the customs of the east. We can't do this sir!"

Hah, it feels relieved to be able to pull out all the bumps in the heart. Hopefully Mr. Armand can understand and not be angry.

There was no rejection or approval. There's no answer. Only silence. I was curious about Mr. Armand's expression. I forced myself to look at his face.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Armand turned out to be behind me. His body looks trembling. Is he very angry? Am I being too rude to say it? Am I guilty?

"P-Pak .. s-I'm sorry k-if any of my words offend ... Th-but...." Suddenly the body turned around. Our eyes are against each other. I saw an unusual expression on his face. A flash of jail and a joke and a thin pull on the tip of his lips.

Armand is smiling?! Ah, that's impossible!! For a few weeks I was his man, never once did I see him smile. All he had was a flat expression, nothing else. I must have seen it wrong. The stiff man will never smile!

"This is your room. There ...," Mr. Armand turned his body and pointed at the tent that was several tens of meters in front of us. "My room. Is that clear enough?"

"Huh?" I followed the direction that Mr. Armand pointed in stunned manner. Trying to understand the meaning of his words. Little by little, the light began to come.

I gulped with great difficulty once I knew I had made a mistake again. Don't ask how I feel? This shame is so great! I cannot answer his words. Even looking at his face can't. My face must have been flushed like a boiled crab.

"Your suitcase I left here. Have a good rest." Mr. Armand turned around, preparing to leave. I breathed a sigh of relief that I had sustained earlier. But the relief did not last long when I saw him stop his steps.

"If you are observant and smart enough, you can check the list of participants. It says the name of your roommate. Of course it's not my name" he continued and walked away.

I was dumb as a fool. He could only look at his back which was getting further away. When the consciousness returned, I only understood the meaning of Mr. Armand's words.

"Basic fool!! You idiot!! You idiot!! Until when will this stupidity be preserved ?! Not tired of embarrassing yourself?!! Argh!!"

***

That's right said Mr. Armand, if I were smart enough, I'd know the roommate's name. In the email it is clearly written all the information. Both from name, room number, position and branch origin.

My roommate's a woman. His office is the same as mine. And he's from the Mojokerto branch. I hope for seven days to get along with him.

Before that, I must apologize to Mr. Armand. There are many mistakes I have made. But where should I start?

I'm done unpacking the suitcase. The glamping room was made up of medium-sized twin bed. The facilities are equivalent to a 4-star hotel. Refrigerator, AC, TV, phone or a small sofa are in it. The bathroom has a bath up and shower. Even the hair dryer was there.

Satisfied to look around, I lay down on the sofa while thinking about the words of apology towards Mr. Armand. Half an hour passed, but my fingers were still stiff. Unable to type those words.

Time has shown at seven o'clock in the evening. No sign of roommates coming. Is he late?

It's not that I'm concerned, it's just that I'm worried about having to sleep alone in this spacious tent. Especially if I am far from home. Being in a very foreign place. The feeling of fear came so gripping.

"Ah, he's coming. Training starts tomorrow. There's no way he's missing this activity" comfort me to myself. To drive away all the fear that gnaws at the heart.

***

Out of nowhere, I heard a bell ringing nine times, a sign that time had shown at nine o'clock in the evening. At that time, my roommate had not yet arrived.

The anxiety is coming closer. I can't stop pacing the room. I wanted to call her, but didn't know her phone number.

Before, at half-eight we heard a call from outside. I thought it was from a roommate, but it was from the organizing committee who came over while handing over the dinner box.

During the waiting period, I always comforted and reassured myself that my roommate would definitely come. But that hope gradually dwindled as time rolled by night.

I try to take my mind off the fears that come haunting. I try to play gadgets, watch movies, read books. But none of that can kill my fear.

At ten, I decided to take a shower. Hoping to do so would make my sleep even better. But hope is hope. My eyes cannot be closed. My consciousness became one hundred percent.

The night is getting quiet. The sounds of human activity are beginning to disappear. Replaced by the hum of nature. The sounds of crickets and frogs began to fill nature. As if increasingly emphasized, that they were in a mountainous area.

"What am I supposed to do?" Whether it was just my feelings, or it really did happen, I heard the sound of dog howling from a distance.

"Astagfirulloh!!" my screams. Spontaneously I went straight into the blanket and hid there. My feelings are mixed. Anxious and frightened.

My body trembles. Cold sweat started to appear. While teeth were grinding against each other. I was unable to deal with this fear, so without a second thought and throwing away the embarrassment, I took out my phone and typed in the words.

"Sir? Did you sleep? Can you accompany me?"

***

Happy Reading 😚