The Love of the Unknown Man

33 Is Like Before

Devan was silent in one corner of the party hall. His eyes blankly stared ahead where the invited guests who were all wearing expensive clothes were chatting to each other.

Since seeing Lisa who chose to go with Gustav, Devan became excited to attend Camilla's birthday party. So Devan decided to go out for a moment, trying to find calm.

Devan stepped across the park, lighting a cigarette while leaning his back against a palm tree. Just then, Devan felt that two people were on the balcony, making Devan look up.

And how shocked Devan was, when he saw Gustav trying to kiss Lisa. Anger instantly burned in Devan's heart. It can even make the tubers smoky.

But Devan also sees Lisa slapping Gustav and Devan drawing his own conclusions, if Gustav tries to get close and even tease Lisa.

Devan's hands clenched firmly, then he punched the palm tree trunk as a form of anger-spouting. Devan knows Gustav is a person who has more power than himself, but he also does not accept if Gustav dare to tease Lisa.

Devan throws the cigarette butts on the ground and stomps them with great emphasis with a sharp look he glanced at Gustav who was still silent on the balcony.

Later, Devan returns to the party hall to look for Lisa's whereabouts. It was not difficult to find the girl, because Lisa was standing in a quiet hallway leaning against the wall.

“Lisa..”.

Before Devan approached, there was another voice calling out to Lisa and that person was the one Devan hated the most from a minute ago.

Gustav again called Lisa even though the girl was just bowed. Devan who saw that, did not want to stay silent. He walked half as far as Lisa.

“Lisa, are you okay?” devan asked who then threw a cynical look at Gustav.

“I'm fine, Brother.”

“But your body is shaking, Sa.”

Oh, my God, Brother Devan. My goal was to escape from Gustavo so he wouldn't realize I was nervous to death. Devan's brother spoke out in front of Gustav. Lisa grumbled in her heart.

“I'm fine, Brother Devan. Seriously,” said Lisa to convince Devan.

“How about we just go home,” Devan gives advice while pulling Lisa's wrist.

Devan's actions made the jealous fire in Gustav's heartburn instantly. Gustav patted hard on the back of Devan's hand to release Lisa.

“I still have business with Lisa,” says Gustav Ketus. However, when she glanced at Lisa her gaze turned shady.

“Come on, Lisa. I'd like to introduce you to Grandma Camilla.”

Lisa complied more with Gustav's invitation, walking hand in hand, breaking up the crowd of people who filled the party hall. Until Gustav's steps stopped right behind Camilla.

The woman, who is now eighty-five, was very serious about talking to a man who became a business friend when she was young. Seriously chatting, Camilla was not aware of the whereabouts of Gustav and Lisa.

“Grandma the perfectionist. So as much as possible you should get a good first impression in front of Grandma. Okay?” Gustav whispered in front of Lisa's ears who reflexively nodded obediently.

Right at that moment, Camilla had just ended the conversation with an old friend. Then Gustavo gently patted Camilla's arm which made the old woman turn her head.

“Grandma, this is Lisa, the woman I've been wanting to meet with Grandma.”

Gustav's gaze turned to Lisa who was smiling and bowing her head very gracefully.

“Oh my god. You are really beautiful, Dear,” Camilla praised as her bead examined Lisa's appearance from top to bottom.

Hearing that, Lisa's cheeks re-encounter red as when Gustav kissed her. There was a feeling of pleasure that someone praised her beautiful, especially that person was Camila.

The feeling of pleasure was not only experienced by Lisa. But also Gustav who now arches a thin smile.

“So, Grandma will no longer match me with other women right?”

“Wait a minute. Wait a minute!”

Camilla pulls Gustav to a safe distance from Lisa's hearing. Camilla leaned in with her eyes squinting and whispering. “What does Lisa do?”

At once Camilla chuckled and was so happy that she patted Gustav's shoulder.

“Oh yes. Grandma liked this woman even more. Grandma thought you wouldn't bring Lisa here and if that happened, Grandma would match you with Keysha.”

Camilla threw a glance at Lisa and smiled. “Good to enjoy the party, Lisa. Grandma wants to see Gwen first.”

After Camilla's departure, the music changed slowly, a sign that it was time for a dance.

And Gustav immediately reached out asking Lisa to be his dance partner.

“We once danced by the side of the road. You remember?” asked Gustav which Lisa answered with a nod.

As long as the brand dances, Lisa is unable to speak. He wanted to see the face of Gustav whom he had longed for.

Especially the bead of green eyes Gustav who always makes Lisa as if bewitched and able to forget the world around.

You're still like before. It's a pleasure to look at the ball of my eyes, said Gustav who was only spoken in his heart while smiling faintly.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the room, Devan grasped tightly the hand that was holding the glass when watching Lisa and Gustav so close. Until the glass is broken and the glass shrapnel injures Devan's hand.

No one saw the wound on Devan's hand except for the young girl who was about to grab a drink nearby.

“Jeez, Sir. Your hand is injured,” exclaimed the young girl in a panicked tone. “Let me help treat your hand, Mr.”

Devan turned his head putting on an expressionless flat face at the girl standing beside him.

“Don't worry, Miss. I am a doctor, I can treat my own hands.”

After that, Devan stepped away disappearing behind the crowd of people. He did not know if the young girl who offered help, continued to look at him from a distance.

*

*

*

The party is over, Gustav drives Lisa to the place where the girl parked the car. Then from the other direction, came Devan who suddenly appeared against the two of them.

Lisa's body froze and felt a cold aura being emitted by Devan and Gustav. The two men both gave unsheathed gazes hinting at hostility.

“Lisa, I take you home,” said Devan who sounded a little pushy.

“No. He will come home with me,” said Gustav no less firmly.

Lisa who heard the debate of the two men before her could only sigh.

“Already, don't fight! Did you guys forget? I brought my own car. So no need for anyone to drive me home.”

Lisa breezes past Gustav and Devan to get into the car. However, Lisa has not been able to arrive, Devan first sneaked into the steering chair.

“I will be driving your car, Lisa,” Devan said with a look of anger.

“But Brother Devan..”

“Good. He's driving your car, Lisa. And we sit behind.”

As fast as lightning, Gustav pulled Lisa's arm to sit together in the back seat. Vague smiles triumphantly glimmered on Gustav's lips.

Even Gustav intentionally tightened his seat as a sign that Lisa was his.

“Why shut up? Let's fast walk!”