THE DOCTOR'S LOVE TRAP

78. Brilliant Idea

"What's up, Ray?" Abrine put his bag on the table with him sitting on a sofa.

Abrine, Anne and Raymond were in the cafe to talk.

"You healthy? Last time I heard you didn't get into your office because you weren't feeling well."

Abrine nodded. "I'm fine, Ray," he said.

"Look, I heard about a woman named Claire..."

"Then?"

"I'm worried about you, Brine. I don't want you to get involved with a woman like that."

"I've gotten too used to dealing with women like Claire."

"No, he's different. I'm investigating, the last time I heard he'd be transferred to a mental institution."

"That's it, Ray. I don't want to talk about it."

"But, Brine... Do you know all this because of that man's past?" ask Raymond. She refers to Elrich, but she is reluctant to mention El as Abrine's husband so she only says about 'the man'.

"Yes, I'm quite aware of that. But, after El and I got married, it meant that we both had to be ready for the past of our respective spouses."

"But, Brine--"

"Like El who inevitably must also face you, Ray," Abrine interrupted Raymond's words.

Abrine's words are right, Raymond felt realized that he was the same as Claire. Claire is from Elrich's past, and she is part of Abrine's past.

"Well, in the future I hope you're more careful" said Raymond, who couldn't protest more.

"Hem, I know that. Thank you you for worrying about me."

"Always.." -...."

Anne could only be a loyal listener between the conversations Raymond and Abrine had. In fact, she felt sorry for Raymond whom Abrine had left married. He thought they had a special relationship all along.

"You seem more contained now." Raymond was already able to master the situation, he began to look as habitual as possible.

"Yes, my weight has gone up." Abrine wouldn't talk about her pregnancy. I don't know, he's still reluctant to be open about this even to Raymond though.

In the past, Raymond was the person he trusted the most. Every good thing he got, Raymond was the first person he told me. But now, everything has been different. Including his feelings for this man who was slowly eroded and began to become ordinary.

"Are you happy?"

"You've been asking this question over and over again, Ray. Maybe my weight gain could be real proof for you. You can see if I'm happy, right?"

Raymond nodded faintly. "I hope that what you say is what you really feel."

"Ah yeah, how's your project with my mom?"

"Oh, everything's fine. We will soon complete the final stage. Aunt Xena is very professional, lately she never discussed personal matters in the midst of our cooperation."

Raymond knew this, he just wanted to make sure that his mother didn't bother Abrine anymore. He had also opposed Xena's plan of working with Freya to make her forget about Abrine. Because, until anytime he will not be able to forget the woman he loves just like that.

The ringing of the mobile phone made Abrine have to receive the call as soon as possible. It was a call from Elrich.

"Yes, El?"

"Where are you? I'm already on the way home. If you haven't left the office, I'll pick you up."

"May, but I'm at the Jazz Cafe. It's not too far from the office building. Can you come by here?"

"All right, wait for me there."

Raymond and Anne were able to hear Abrine talk through that cellular connection. And they can already guess if it's Elrich who's going to pick Abrine up.

Not long after, Elrich arrived at the cafe and found his wife along with Raymond, the man who some time ago also had time to beat.

"Would he be with Abrine? Did he complain about the beating?" el began to guess. However, El did not discourage his intentions, he stepped towards their table.

"Darling?" sapa El while kissing his wife's cheek at a glance.

Anne smiled in silence looking at their romance. While Raymond was forced to throw away the view because it was enough to make his heart heat up.

"El, sit down.. Would you like to order a drink?"

The two men were now looking at each other, as if they were challenging through their eyes. But, not a word came out of the lips of the two to greet each other.

Abrine ordered a drink for her husband. The four of them gathered there.

"There's an important meeting, huh?" Guess El. Are they here because they're talking about work? Probably also.

"Not really, we're just talking casually, El." Abrine opened his voice.

"Oh, what's it about, baby?" El looked at Abrine with his trademark smile. "What's the talk about the two of them?" the word El refers to Anne and Raymond.

"They're both? Who are they talking about?" asked Raymond.

"Yes, you guys. You and Anne."

Immediately Anne who was sipping her drink immediately choked. Is her husband making a joke? But his face looked serious and there was no impression of a joke at all.

"Haha, that's right!" Raymond chuckled while shaking his head, inexhaustible with Elrich's words.

"Yes, but you guys fit in too." Abrine gave his opinion and at the same time Raymond looked at him with his eyes bulging, surprised.

"What the fuck, Brine!" raymond protest. Abrine also smelled a smile.

"Miss, don't joke." Anne also spoke.

Abrine and Elrich looked at each other as if they had the same thought.

"Why, Ann? I think my husband's idea has a point."

Anne glared in disbelief at the superior's words. Even this afternoon Raymond had just threatened him with anger because he did not give access to Abrine. Why is he now like a teenage boy who was betrothed to this man?

"Why don't I think. Your idea was brilliant, too, El." Abrine patted the back of her husband's hand as if feeling proud of the man's thought.

"uh? Very strange!" grouse Raymond.

After the drink ran out, Abrine took El away from there. Actually he was on purpose, because their previous discussion actually made Abrine think about why Anne and Raymond were not together? They look appropriate.

Don't ask Abrine's feelings of jealousy about it. He was sure he didn't have that kind of feeling anymore towards Raymond right now.

"We go first, yeah. My husband can't eat if it's not from my cooking. Yea...."

"But, Miss?" How Anne did not protest. Abrine had invited him to accompany her earlier. Why was he left intentionally like this.

"Bye, Ray. If you don't bother, please take Anne to the apartment, yeah."

Raymond had already opened his mouth to refuse but due to that a request from Abrine he finally clenched his lips.

"Anne, ask Raymond to drive you. But after that you have to be careful with a woman named Freya." Even Abrine still had time to whisper in the secretary's ear.?

Then, without anyone's consent, Abrine left Anne and Raymond alone. He grabbed El's arm and sauntered away.

While there, Anne and Raymond threw each other difficult-to-understand gazes. There is anger, annoyance at the same time strange to each other.

"Don't think about their words. You know, Abrine's a joke." Raymond got up from his seat. Putting out some money on the table because he refused when El had wanted to pay the bill for their drinks.

"Y-yes, I know this is just a joke." Anne was suddenly agitated and wrong. He was wrong until he stood up but then he sat down again.

"You're gonna stay here?" Raymond who was about to leave turned around and turned to look at Anne who was still reluctant to leave her seat.

"Ehm. Yeah, go first."

"But Abrine asked me to drive you."

"Not to." Both of Anne's hands were fluttered, refusing.

"Come on! I won't offer you twice. If you refuse now, I'll really go."

Anne seemed to think for a moment, weighing what she should do.

"I'm leaving" said Raymond, who would not wait any longer.

That's when Anne took a deep breath. Finally he simply stared at Raymond's tall body slowly moving away from his sight.

"Miss Abrine, what are you doing? Huh huh? You can change my view of Mr. Rodriguez.." Anne's inner wriggle, condemning Abrine's far-fetched attitude and deliberately leaving him alone with Raymond.

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