The Blooming Lotus

Forced Dating

After ten minutes had passed just the silence created between the three of them, no one tried to make a sound.

As if dissolving in each other's minds, let alone Wenie and Eri who were still feeling tense because of the incident earlier. Eventually the car stopped in a residential alley.

Wenie was a little stunned. Mas Pras really, can you know Eri's house around here?

Not waiting long Eri immediately say goodbye. "Thank you for taking me, brother! I'm first yes, Wen. See you tomorrow," Eri lightly patted Wenie's right shoulder before opening the car door.

"Sama-sama," Prasetyo replied with a small nod, his expression flat.

"OKAY. Be careful, Ri," said Wenie with an uncomfortable feeling. He tried to smile as he looked at his friend before the car moved back forward.

Eri waved at the mouth of the alley then turned around to leave. You have to be careful, Wen! that's the meaning of his wave.

Prasetyo turns on music from car audio at a small volume to melt the atmosphere, relaxing itself.

He did not want to quickly end this togetherness. The opportunity he had been waiting for a long time, even though he had to go through such an unpleasant incident earlier. He turned his gaze to the side of the window trying to throw his annoyance.

"Mas," called Wenie down.

"Hm ..."

"We'll just go home, okay?" wenie Pinta. "Please anterin me," silent no answer.

While the car continues to go through the streets that are still crowded by passing vehicles that are out of nowhere, precede each other in a different speed rhythm.

Hustle and bustle of humans is a sight that is commonly plastered in this Jakarta city life. A metropolitan city that never sleeps.

And now they are in the middle of congestion in the city of Casablanca, Kuningan. Time was getting late, but Wenie did not dare to say anything. He only glances at his phone occasionally and replies to WhatsApp messages with Eri. Prasetyo remained silent as if unconcerned and continued to drive without looking at him.

The car that was running a bit slow is now turning to the right, turning direction and then entering the courtyard of a mall.

Prasetyo drove his car to the basement parking lot, then parked it in an empty section near the elevator.

"Let's get off. We eat first" he said, taking off the seatbelt and stepping out. Wenie complied in silence.

After getting out of the car, Prasetyo waited for him to approach then without further ado holding Wenie's arm.

They walked to the elevator that would lead to the upper floor with the position of the body sticking together like a lover.

Although his heart trembled in fear but Wenie just kept quiet and obeyed, he did not want to make Prasetyo back angry at a time like this. He was worried that the man would run amok again and then kidnap him or even leave him in the middle of a lonely road.

A terrifying scenario loomed in his mind, even though it was impossible. Unknowingly, he shook his head.

"What do you think?" prasetyo said awakening his daydream, his voice sounded softer.

"Eh, no," Wenie replied stuttering, her face blushing.

"Don't like to dream strangely," Prasetyo said again while still holding his hand.

"What the hell is it? Nothing," he replied softly with a lowered look.

Prasetyo gave a smile looking at the little girl who was a few inches shorter than him. "I don't think I know you," he said.

Wenie's chest again thumped in silence.

"What do you want to eat?"

"As far as you are, my. I'm full already" Wenie replied.

Prasetyo smiled obliquely. "What do people eat? Eat the wind ..."

"It's just a snack, but my stomach is full" Wenie said, looking worried at Prasetyo. "I'm with you, because I don't want to eat anything."

"Are you not hungry anymore to finish the storm with these thugs?" hiss Prasetyo does not like.

Wenie shook her head slowly with a bitter look, biting her lips.

"I can't believe it" Prasetyo said indifferently.

After getting out of the elevator they continued to walk in search of a restaurant that was not too full. Quite impossible indeed, especially on a weekend night like this.

Finally Prasetyo decided to enter a Japanese restaurant and immediately ordered some favorite menus there. A set of shabu-shabu menu with Japanese matcha tea, as well as some dessert menu.

They sit near the window glass which becomes a barrier to the side courtyard of the mall, a row of ornamental palm plants with a crowded street current smoothly across into a treat of the scenery. Flickering car lights and street lights illuminate each other brightening the darkness of the night.

The atmosphere felt a bit romantic. But still Wenie felt uncomfortable, there was something stuck in her heart.

"Mas, I'm not hungry" he murmured.

"Don't hesitate ..."

Finally Wenie grabbed the teacup, a bit thirsty as well as the taste. "I'll have tea ..."

"I said eat, baby. I've ordered portions for both of us," said Prasetyo softly but can not be rejected.

He was then busy stirring the broth of shabu-shabu which began to boil with slices of beef in it and then put some vegetables, noodles, and also baso fish, he said, he tasted the taste while adding a little spice.

Wenie just looked at it without helping, she noticed how deftly Prasetyo took and arranged each piece of food in his bowl using chopsticks.

Then Wenie's attention was distracted by the vibration of her phone, there was a message coming in. Read it at a glance, a message from the boarding house that worries him because until this hour he has not returned home.

After replying to the message, he put the phone back in his sling bag.

"Who?"

"Mother kos ..."

"Mother kos?" prasetyo asked, stop stirring.

"Yes. You've seen it before, haven't you ..."

"Cousin?" wenie's turn was confused.

"Rafael Primary. He's my cousin's sister."

"Oh," Wenie nodded slowly. "Then what is your relationship with doctor Frans, Mas?" wenie asked curiously.

Prasetyo froze for a moment. "He's the doctor who used to treat my wife" he replied reluctantly.

"Your wife's sick?" Wenie felt a painful incision in her chest.

The man fell silent and his gesture stiffened slightly. "We're not sitting here to discuss that, sweetheart!" says firmly. "Eat and don't make my taste disappear!"

Wenie lowered her head in fear then started eating in silence. Chew the food slowly.

"I hope you didn't ruin our date tonight, baby," Prasetyo said later. "Don't talk about something that has nothing to do with us."

Whats? Mbahmu dating! This kidnapping knew, Wenie scolded inwardly but her lips dared not say anything.

Finally the dinner almost midnight was finished in half an hour which felt very long.

Wenie looked at her phone. "God! It's almost eleven o'clock tonight now, Mas."

"Want to?"

"Let's go home. I've passed the boarding curfew," Wenie said anxiously.

"If I don't want to?" ulurannya.

"Maos ..." Wenie whined softly, Prasetyo shook his head reluctantly. "Come, Mas. Don't do it, dong. I'm going to be boarding at people's homes, have to follow the rules ..." began to urge uneasiness.

"We can go home to my apartment if that guy drives you out" she said lightly.

"Can't do that, Mom!" Wenie glared in annoyance, Prasetyo did not flinch. "OKAY. If you don't want to nganter .. I can, go home online motorcycle taxi," he pulled out his phone.

'Grab!'

Pras snatched it fast, Wenie gasped in shock. "Who is it that you ride an ojek?"

"Maos ..."

"Request the right!" prasetyo is arrogant.

Wenie sighed in annoyance. "Good Mas Prasetyo El Farishi, would you please bring me home? I've been overnight," he said in a contrived tone.

Prasetyo smiled obliquely hearing it. "A little while, baby. I don't want this good moment to end now." He observed Wenie's cell phone in his grasp. "Would you like to buy a new phone?"

Wenie shook her head slowly. "No need, Mas. My phone's not broken, though."

Without saying much more Prasetyo immediately got up which naturally Wenie also followed his movements.

They went outside after the man paid the bill at the cashier, then returned to hold Wenie's hand to stay by her side.

Prasetyo took Wenie around in the mall, asking her something she might want to buy while looking at some mobile phone counters that interest her.

Without them realizing that someone is not far from there is watching the movements of the two people, staring with curiosity and annoyance.

"Mas, give me back my phone" he whispered to Prasetyo. His instincts felt an unpleasant premonition.

Unsuspectingly he handed Wenie the phone while continuing to chat with a counter maid, carefully comparing the specs of some phones and forcing Wenie to make her choice.

'Drrt ...'

A WhatsApp message came in just moments after the phone changed hands.

'It's late at night, Miss. You better go home. Ms. Rahma must be worried about you.'

Wenie's frown was confused, who is this? Then he typed in a reply, 'Sorry, who is this? How do you know my number?'

Not long in reply, 'I'm Frans. Direction at two.''am.'

Wenie widened to read the message then circulated her gaze looking for the figure in question. A man wearing a black turtle neck seemed to nod cuefully from a distance not far from where he was currently standing.

God! How could that handsome doctor be here as well? Shit, shit, shit. Maybe they will fight again later, suddenly he felt his heart pounding. Some people are caught stealing mangoes in a neighbor's yard.

'I won't make a fuss here if you go home soon, Miss. Have him drive you home or I'll take you there!' A threatening follow-up message came in as if it knew the contents of his head.

Wenie shook her head anxiously while Frans just stared at her stiffly expressionlessly.

"What's up, sweetheart?" prasetyo asked.

"none. Let's go home, Mas. It's night," he answered reasoned to dismiss his anxiety.

Luckily Prasetyo was unaware of the change. "Yes, honey. Wait a minute let me finish the payment first," he said, handing a debit card to the counter's waiter.

Then he handed a paper bag containing the latest mobile phone Wenie output Samsung after previously he refused to choose the phone manufacturer Apple on the grounds of not wanting complicated.

Wenie stepped impatiently. "Let's hurry up a little, Mas! It's been a very late night, I'm not used to this night," said Wenie riled.

"Yes. This is also the way to go home, baby," Prasetyo replied casually.

"Mas, it's not going there?" reprimanded Wenie impatiently.

"Times?" he did not care and continued walking while still holding Wenie.

Wenie was forced to follow while scowling in annoyance. Aaargh ... why the hell are you always so gini, Mas. What a vow!!

It turns out that Prasetyo invited him to shop for basic necessities at the supermarket on the third floor, he bought a lot of snacks and various processed products for Wenie snack stock in kosan. Not to forget he also took some types of imported fruits to meet his shopping trolley.

After just walking around choosing a lot of groceries and finished paying at the cashier then Prasetyo took him home. It was no longer illustrated how upset Wenie was now.