The Season of Reaching the Stars

CHAPTER 23

TAXI Laura stopped at a beachside restaurant. Luki called him this afternoon and asked him to come to this restaurant. He said there was something important to talk about. It's already night time. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very romantic. The candles on the table light up to warm the atmosphere.

"Reservation on behalf of Luki Rafael," Laura said to the waiter behind the desk.

The waiter told Laura to follow him.

Laura was a little confused when the waiter asked her to sit at the table that was already inhabited. "I'm sorry, but maybe this isn't my desk."

"Laura?" Ask the man who lives at her desk.

Laura looked at the man on her desk and smiled. "Oh, hi, Sam. Long time no see you." Laura first met Sam when Luki asked him to do a DNA test two years ago.

"Sit down." Sam stood up and shifted the chair next to her for Laura.

"I didn't know Luki invited you here," asked Laura in slight astonishment.

Sam laughs. "I didn't know Luki told you to come either. Last afternoon he said he wanted to talk to me about something important, and asked me to come here."

Suddenly Laura's HP rang. A message appeared there.

ENJOY DINNER WITH SAM. THINK OF IT AS AN INTRODUCTION BIRTHDAY PRESENT FROM ME. GOOD LUCK LITTLE BROTHER.

Opposite him ,HP Dan also reads. Sam stared at the incoming message in confusion. Laura now understood Luki's intentions.

"Luki's not coming, is she?" Sam asked Laura.

Laura shakes. "I think he's gonna set us up."

Sam sighs. "Yes. I guess so. Luki's always done what she wanted."

Laura put her HP on the table. "I'll scold him all out."

"Sorry, Laura." Sam's face looks bad. "Just last week, I met a woman I liked. Luki doesn't know about this. Maybe that's why he's trying to set us up. You're a charming woman. If I don't have a girlfriend yet, I don't mind being in a match with you. Sorry."

Laura laughs. "You don't have to feel bad. I like you as a friend."

Sam breathed a sigh of relief. "Thankfully. I don't mind if you want to go."

"Why should we go? Luki has paid for everything? Let's order the most expensive food. You don't mind, do you? Laura asked with a satisfied smile.

"I don't mind" Sam said with a smile.

While waiting for the order, the two chatted lightly.

"So, Sam, how long have you known Luki?" Laura asked to know.

"Since college, it's probably been six or seven years. We both went to Harvard. He went into business and I got into law."

Laura was a little surprised. "Luki's at Harvard? I really didn't expect. Luki rarely talks about herself to me."

"Yes. Luki prefers to talk about other people." Sam poured the drink into Laura's glass.

"I think Luki went to Harvard just to challenge Charles."

Laura nodded. "Yes. That makes a lot of sense. I never imagined Luki sitting quietly in the lecture hall and listening to the lecturer's explanation."

Sam laughs.

"Woman you like, is she pretty?" Laura diverted the conversation.

Sam nodded. For an hour later Laura found out everything about the woman Sam liked.

"Hm. you're a really good listener Laura" Sam said at the end of the explanation. "It's really comfortable talking to you. Maybe you should be the lawyer. I think all the perpetrators of the crime can confess immediately. Your calm looks are perfectly suited to the courtroom."

Laura laughs. "That doesn't feel. I'd rather be a cook than go in and out of court."

"yeah. Your food is really delicious. I tried it when Rafael Group held an event. You can make a man stay at home Laura's, "Sam praised him. "You're a special lady. I'm sure there's a special man out there for you too."

Laura was silent for a moment. "I don't know. I hope so."

Sam identifies Laura's questionable answer, and as a good lawyer he knows someone is trying to hide something. "I'm sorry if I asked you a little personally. Laura, have you ever been heartbroken?"

Sam's question hit the mark. "I should have known, I can't hide anything from a lawyer." Laura smiled briefly. "But to answer your question. I've experienced it."

"You haven't forgotten it yet?" Ask Sam again.

"I don't know" Laura replied honestly. "I've been trying for years.

If only heartbreak had a time limit."

Sam looked at Laura with sadness. "I was once heartbroken. It really takes time to forget. But, when you only remember the beautiful memories with her and you don't miss her anymore, that moment your heartbreak is over. So my advice, remember the good memories, then slowly forget them."

Laura was moved to hear Sam's words. "Thank you, Sam. I'll try your advice. It's really nice talking to you."

"Yes. I feel the same way. Can we continue to be good friends?" Ask Sam.

Laura nodded. "of course. And now as my best friend, I want to ask you for help."

Sam frowned in astonishment.

 

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Luki Rafael whistles happily in her apartment. He's known Sam for a long time and knows Sam's a good, caring man. Laura will love it. If her plans tonight come to fruition, Laura will be very happy to have a new lover. And who knows, next year they could go on to the bailout.

Luki smiled with satisfaction. His best friend and his sister. Both really fit.

Her HP reads. By Laura. Luki smiled. "So, how's the romantic date?"

Laura said calmly from the other end of the phone, "oh. The date's fine." Luki already put the wedding song on her head.

"Sam is a good man. You won't regret being with her."

"I know he's a good guy" Laura said. Luki grinning. "Just you forget one little thing. Sam already has a woman he likes."

Luki immediately sat down. "What's? Since when did Sam have a girlfriend?"

"Since last week," said Laura. "He hasn't told anyone yet."

Luki felt guilty. "Sorry,Laura. I really don't know." "I don't want to be in a match again" Laura threatened.

Laura threatened again, "if you still do, I'll tell papa and mama what you did in Las Vegas after you graduated college."

Luki's panicking. "How did you know about that?" Luki fell silent, then continued, "Sam. Definitely her. Please, Laura, don't tell mom and dad about it."

"I'm not going to say that you stopped setting me up" said Laura.

"Alright," Luki let out a long sigh. "I can't believe I was defeated by you again."

Shortly after her phone was shut down, Luki's apartment phone rang. This time it was Sam's turn to go all out. Luki's plan is falling apart. Afterwards Luki thought for a long time. She wanted Laura to be happy. Maybe not today, but someday. Luki just needs another idea to make sure that happens.

 

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Laura looked at the paper in her hand. NF Jewelry's. He saw the name in front of a building. He told the taxi driver to stop. Luki says she has a surprise for him and wants Laura to see it straight away. The entrance opened, Laura stopped stepping. He had never seen such a spacious and sparkling room as he entered now.

Luki looked at him with a smile from the middle of the room and told him to come closer. "Why did you ask me to meet here?" Laura asked after being beside Luki.

"I want to give you something." Luki delivered a ring box in front of Laura. "Open up."

Laura opened the ring box. "Oh.....Luka...." Laura could not express it with words. The star ring in front of her was truly beautiful.

"You like it?" Luki asked expectantly.

"really beautiful. I like it." Laura was still unable to take her gaze off the ring. "Thank you."

"You said you wanted a star ring. Happy birthday." Luki took the ring out of her box and put it into Laura's middle finger.

Laura stretched out her left palm. The ring is very tight on his finger. He touched it gently.

"I can't wait to show it to you. So I asked you to come here." Luki held Laura's left hand and raised it so that the ring faced her.

"David, thank you for making this ring" Luki told the man beside her.

"Together" said David. Seeing his customers happy made his heart happy too.

Laura looked at David. "You designed it? You're really great."

David shakes. "I didn't plan it. I just made the ring. My boss designed it. Ah. that's it."

Laura turned around and smiled to see the person who designed her ring, and wanted to thank her. But, his smile instantly disappeared.

"This is my boss. Niko Fareli" David told Laura.

A few steps away from where Laura was standing, Niko fell silent motionless. His heart stopped beating. The girl he had been in his car for eight years stood before him. They stared at each other without a sound.

"Niko, Laura really likes her ringtone. I have to thank you." Luki came forward and smiled at Niko.

Laura's breathing is irregular. His hands fell down. He did not expect to see Niko. NF Jewelry's. Niko Fareli Jewelry's. Laura should have made it clear. Not a doctor, but a jewelry designer.

Luki who did not know anything still kept talking. "Ah, yes. Familiarize. It's Laura. Laura, this is Niko, the man who designed your ring."

Niko took a few steps closer to Laura. His gaze never left Laura's face. He was about to hug her at that very moment.

Laura was overwhelmed by her shock. He strengthened his heart and took a step forward, his smile expanding slowly. "It's nice to meet you. Your plan is really good." Laura didn't know what to do. He could not face his meeting with Niko at this time. So he chose to pretend he didn't know her. He remembered Niko's last words. ("I can't be your friend anymore")*.

After staring at Niko for a moment, Laura turned around and walked towards Luki, ignoring the confused Niko hearing Laura's statement. "Luki, I need to get back to work now. I have to go."

*("please, Luki. Follow my will. I won't be able to survive if I stay here any longer.")*. Laura hoped in her heart. He clasped Luki's hand as if asking for strength.

"All right," said Luki. "I'll drive you."

"Thanks." -." Laura was a little relieved. "Let's go."

Luki bids farewell to Niko and David, then takes Laura out of the jewelry store.

"Boss, are you okay?" David touched Niko's shoulder.

Niko slowly smiled. He found Laura. She doesn't know why Laura Purapura doesn't know her, but Niko knows Laura recognizes her. "I'm fine" answered Niko." Better than the eight years I've been through."

Niko smiled at her assistant. David was confused to see the smile of his boss. Niko ran upstairs and picked up the star ring box in her desk drawer. He's unlocked. "It's good to see you again, Laura."

 

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Laura twirled the ring on the middle finger of her left hand. His heart has not stopped beating. Niko. Being in front of his eyes after eight years of not meeting. He felt he was doing the right thing by pretending he didn't know him. He thought he could forget his past. But as soon as Niko meets again, all the memories she's been trying to keep popping up again. Laura doesn't expect to see Niko again. He doesn't want to see Niko again. It's too painful.

"You played your ring from earlier," said Luki who was holding the steering wheel.

Laura stopped playing her ring.

"You really like the ring, don't you?" Luki looks doubtful. Laura looked at Luki with a smile. "Yes. L like it. I'll wear it every day."

"But you were quiet from now on. Is something bothering you?"

*("the man I liked eight years ago appeared in front of me")* Laura wanted to say so, but she decided it was better that Luki didn't know. He did not want to make Luki worry. "none. Just admiring this ring."

Luki smiled. "So what do you think Niko is?"

Laura choked on her own saliva and coughed. He took a bottle of water next to the passenger seat and drank it. Laura took a slow breath several times. ("Why should Luki ask her opinion about Niko?) Laura asked in her heart.("I can't answer it").

Luki looked at Laura carefully. Since leaving the jewelry store, Laura has not behaved as she usually does. She's nervous.

"I don't know her," Laura finally answered Luki's question. At least the answer is half right. Laura doesn't know him now.

Luki laughs. "I know you don't know him. I mean, what do you think of the plan? The shop owner and the jewelry designer."

"Yes. The plan is good." Laura felt a little relieved. On the other hand, she is happy that Niko can achieve her dream of becoming a jewelry designer. "You've known Niko for a long time?" "After two weeks. I met her in the apartment elevator" explained Luki.

"Apartment?" Laura's shocked. "Your apartment?"

Luki nodded. "Yes. He lives downstairs. It's just one floor."

Laura lowered her head avoiding Luki's face. He closed his eyes. ("How can I stay away from him if he lives in the same apartment as Luki?").

Arriving at the restaurant, Laura was sitting limp. Time has brought them back. He looked at the ring in his hand. Niko's design ring. Outside the window, the afternoon sun began to sink. Laura stops looking at her ring and starts working to forget her meeting with Niko.