The Hidden Love of a Soldier

Gemmayzeh Street's

Maria drove in a relaxed car and arrived at one of the 1 famous and best restaurants in the capital of Beirut, the Em Sherif.

This restaurant is perfect for those looking for an unusual dining experience in the heart of Beirut. It is a themed restaurant with a luxurious ambience inspired by the distant Orient. Em Sherif boasts state-of-the-art and exclusive decor rich in detail, and features a band playing classical Arabic music, which conveys Lebanese culture. Despite the Oriental setting, the menu is usually Lebanese, and of course it includes traditional.

On our side of the meal, I asked Mary, "Shall it be this luxurious, Mary?" I said.

"To my best friend of all time, what is the meaning of dinner at this restaurant" answered Maria.

"I will host you later if you go to Indonesia" I said.

"Yes, I will go there and I hope you will fulfill this promise" Maria said.

Without Maria and I knowing there were eyes watching us. And before we finished our dinner, some well-dressed strapping men and sunglasses came up to us.

"Excuse me, Miss Maria. Ladies and gentlemen are waiting for you across the street" said one man in English.

*Sorry yes, Readers. All conversations in Beirut use English. While with Fathir, Hellena uses Indonesian.*

*Author may not have to write English and then translate it again. Capek bin Tired at last.* 🤭🙏

"Where do you know I'm here?" ask Maria.

"Master and Madam saw Miss enter with this woman" the man replied.

"I don't want to meet them" Maria said as she stood up and pulled my hand.

"Sorry Miss, you can't leave before you meet with Mr and Madam" said the other man.

"There's Maria, who are they?" my many.

"They were my father's men, and the stiff man was my father's confidant" Maria said, pointing out the man who first spoke to her.

"I'm still confused, Maria" I said.

"Later you will understand" said Maria.

"Take us to them, Hasrul" Maria told the man.

"Please ladies" said the man whom Maria called Hasrul.

Finally we were escorted to a dining room and at the entrance it was written VVIP. And sure enough, in the room sat a middle-aged man and a middle-aged woman as well (they were the parents of Mary).

After a tense conversation, Maria finally invited me to spend the night at her parents' house. And it turns out oh apparently, Maria's father was my Papi's business friend back in Beirut. Papi and his father Maria worked together to build a hotel in Beirut.

"This is my real life, Hellena. Always, Dad bothers me with my life. I just want to be what I want to be" Maria said.

"What's? So, your parents are divorced?" ask Maria.

"Yes. After completing my studies in the UK, I returned to Indonesia and got Mami no longer living at home" I replied.

"Yes, sometimes parents do whatever they want without ever wanting to know how we feel as children" Maria said.

"And you better obey both your parents" I said.

After last night I stayed at Maria's parents' house. The next morning I had breakfast with them. There was a casual conversation with Maria's Father and Mother, but everything changed with the arrival of a man.

"What the fuck is this Dad, why is he coming? I said once again, I won't marry him. If Dad still wanted me to marry him, I would rather marry Hasrul" Maria's words suddenly shocked everyone in the dining room. Even Hasrul almost fell because his name was called.

I chose to leave both of Maria's parents, to return to the apartment. Because all my clothes are there.

"I'll drive you, Hellena" said Maria.

"I can walk by myself. There's a taxi. Solve your problems with your parents, don't let them down, Maria" I said.

I left in a taxi that Maria contacted me. I saw beautiful places in Beirut on my smartphone.

I asked for a taxi stop near Gemmayzeh Street, because it was close to Maria's apartment.

Beautiful road in the morning. I walked down these streets in amazement. The streets are not too crowded but it has begun to look people passing by and sitting around relaxed.

Suddenly I heard the voices of Indonesian-speaking people and I looked for them. I started greeting a group of young people.

"Hi, are you from Indonesia?" my many.

"Oh, yes" they answered.

"Sister, are Indonesians too?" ask a young girl.

"Yes, I'm Indonesian. Exactly a mixture of Indonesia-Netherlands" I replied.

"You're Students?" my many.

"Yes, brother" replied a man.

"May I sit here?" my many.

"Come, sis. Please" take the veiled woman.