Thorny Love

*Chapter 18

Rama smiled as Laila's hand gently stroked her shoulder. As Laila smiled at him, Rama felt more and more guilty about what had happened.

"I'm sorry La. I'm so sorry for what happened."

"Ssttts. Mas, already. Don't say sorry again. Because you have nothing wrong with me, so please, do not say sorry and all words of regret that will only make me feel more sad," said Laila while looking into Rama's eyes.

"I promise, I won't let you down again Laila."

"I believe you'll keep all your promises, Mom."

"Yes already, now, you rest huh. You have to rest a lot so that your health condition quickly recovers as before" said Rama while touching one shoulder Laila.

"Good, mas. But, I'm asking you to accompany me on a break. Because this is a new place, I'm still not used to it. I don't feel comfortable here either. I need time to adjust."

"Yes. You rest, I'll accompany you. I know how you feel. For that, I will always be there for you" Rama said with a smile.

Rama accompanies Laila until Laila is swept away into a dreamland. Then, he left Laila in the room after Laila fell asleep. Meanwhile, in the apartment, Zia was talking to Restu by air.

"What's up, Restu? Tumben you called mbak. In fact, you just came home from the apartment mbak," said Zia while sitting on her mattress.

"Sir, I called Zia's sister because there's something I want to talk to Zia's mom."

"What are you talking about, Res?"

"As for Rama and his wife. Can you come down? I'm waiting downstairs because it's impossible for me to talk on the phone."

"Yes already. Wait there. Mbak is going down right now" Zia said as she moved from her place.

"Yes, mbak."

Zia walked with quick steps towards the ground floor. She was eager to meet with Restu and listen to what Restu said about her husband and his affair.

Bruk ....

The sound of the collision of the bodies of two human children was clearly heard. Fortunately, the collision did not cause any of them to fall. Because, a burly hand was very swift to hold Zia's body so as not to fall to the floor.

For a moment, Zia and the man looked at each other. Because of the distance between Zia and the man, only a few inches. It made Zia's eyes very freely staring at a handsome face that could be said, almost perfect.

"Mister Zia!" Restu called out to Zia who was enjoying a very soothing sight.

When Restu's voice touched Zia's earlobe, Zia realized from her beautiful daydream. He quickly stood up to distance himself from the man.

"Mak Zia doesn't have a papa, does she?" tanya Restu was attentive.

"Our dad, I'm fine."

"Sir papa. I also apologize for walking while looking at the cell phone. My God, where's my phone?" he asked while looking at his hand. He just remembered that before he and Zia collided, he was holding a cell phone. But now, the phone was not in his hands anymore.

The man panicked a little. He looked down to find his cell phone. But, unfortunately, the phone does not exist.

Seeing the man lose his phone, Zia looked around. Not far from where Zia stood, lay a latest output phone with a phone screen that has cracked apart. Zia ducked down to grab the phone. He looked at the phone and picked it up.

"Is this your phone?" asked Zia while showing the phone to the man.

"Yes, that's my phone. But, geez, the screen is already falling apart. I definitely can't use it anymore" said the man somewhat disappointedly.

"I'm sorry for the mistake that broke your phone. Mmm, what if I buy you a new phone? As a sign of apology for making you lose this phone of yours," Zia said very carefully for fear of hurting the man.

The man stared at Zia from toe to head. Making Zia feel uncomfortable and groggy at once.

'He thought I couldn't buy what new phone?' ask the man in his heart.

'But, maybe the intention is good to make amends by replacing this phone with a new one. Well, then, he better not know who I am. Fewer people know me, it'll be better.'

"Hmm, I didn't mean to demean you. But, I just want to try to make amends for the mistakes I made. I want to replace your phone with a new one because I feel, this phone is damaged because of my mistake," Zia explained.

"Oh my God, I'm dead. This phone is not really mine. It's my boss's phone that asked me to take it from the car. Well, I can be fired if I have a gini," said the man feigning fear and sadness.

"Oh my God, my God. Ii'm sorry. I'll take responsibility. Take me to see your boss. Let me explain this mistake to your boss."

"But mbak .... " Restu who had been silent to see Zia and the man talking, now spoke as well.

He didn't like to see Zia feel guilty like that to the man. According to Restu, not necessarily Zia was wrong. So, why would Zia have to endure such guilt.

"Res, let me solve this myself. You don't have to interfere. You can solve everything" Zia said in a small whisper to Restu. But, his voice could still be heard by the man who was in front of them at this moment.

"You don't have to see my boss. Let me finish this with my boss myself. Because, I don't want you to be hurt if you meet my boss. My boss is a fierce guy, he has no heart, he's stubborn."

"Then, what should I do so that I can help you avoid the rampage of your boss?" zia asked really felt guilty.

"Just give me your phone number. If there's anything bad about me because of my boss' rampage, I can ask you for help. How's it?"

"alright. I'll give you my phone number. Record now!"

"Mother." Restu was again frightened by what Zia was doing. He was afraid that the man would take advantage of Zia on the grounds of responsibility for this accident.

"Ssttts. Don't worry," Zia said in a whisper.