WHEN I FELL IN LOVE

Chapter 42

A week has passed since Erwin's attack on my house. We are slowly not talking about the case anymore.

I rejected Mr. Zul's offer, which was to make me the superintendent to replace Erwin. Yeah, I thought, it would be better if I focused on developing the pastry business with Jayadi and Lela. But, as usual, I didn't reject the offer just like that. There is a name I recommend to Mr. Zul, who I think is competent enough to occupy the position of supervisor, namely, Boris. Boris is less prominent in the company. Perhaps, because he is a salesman who takes care of the sales of shops outside the city, whose sales are smaller than the sales of sales that take care of the sales of shops in the city of Bandar Lampung. I know Boris very well. He is hardworking and focused. Better than Erwin? Yep. He is no more charismatic. But, what good is charisma, if the ends are corruption?

Speaking of the pastry business. I am quite satisfied with the results we have. Everything went very well. I also started planning to sell our products to minimarket in Bandar Lampung city. Yes, although it still needs preparation and a more mature plan, but me, Jayadi, and Lela have made it a target that we must penetrate.

So today, I started visiting one of the minimarkets that I think is quite potential to peddle our products, the name of the minimarket, Fitrina. Incidentally, Lela also wants to request an order at the minimarket Fitrina. So, Lela and I agreed to go together.

In front of Mr. Ade (owner of the minimarket Fitrina), Lela and I had an argument with him. Mr. Ade argues, the pastry business is only sold in certain seasons, for example: during Eid and Christmas. So, she's a little less interested in my offer and Lela's. But, we continued to seduce her, and she finally opened her heart a little, by asking me to bring her an example of a pastry, so that she could taste it first. Yes, of course I will, and I hope he will cooperate with us after trying to taste my mother's pastries.

After I finished negotiating with Mr. Ade, it was Lela's turn to ask for an order to Mr. Ade. I see, Lela's been a lot more developed than before. The way it communicates and offers products, is much more mature than the last time I saw it. Yes, humans should be like that, developing for the better.

Lela had her order, and I knew what to do if I wanted to market cookies at the Citrina minimaret. And, since it just so happened that time had already shown around half an hour at noon, I invited Lela over for lunch. Offer that Lela welcomed with a greeting, “incidentally I am also hungry.” So we both went to one of the restaurants that had a mainstay menu of grilled chicken (menu that we ordered).

❤❤❤

I sat on the wooden chair of Pak Subur's restaurant. My stomach feels so full after spending a serving of grilled chicken, two dishes of white rice, and there are also acidic vegetables. While finishing the orange ice I ordered (Lela ordered avocado juice), I checked the incoming message on my phone.

“Bang Ben?” call Lela.

I turned my eyes towards him.

“According to Bang Ben, that morning—when Erwin wanted to stab Pak Zul and Bang Ben—I was also inside Bang Ben's house. Approximately, Erwin will also attack me not?” ask Lela.

I smiled after hearing Lela's question, then said, “if there's one person on this Earth that Erwin won't hurt. That's you, Lela.”

“Because Erwin likes me?”

“You know?” my question, wonder.

“Everyone around us knows too, Bang. Erwin is too aggressive, so without him having to say it .. I know,” said Lela. “But, what if at that time he also wanted to kill me? To get rid of witnesses, maybe?”

“Ya, true too. To get rid of the witness,” I replied. “But I will protect you, Lela. Won't I let him touch you, if that happens.”

“Why? Is it because I'm a girl?”

I'm silent for a moment. Confused what to answer. Of course not because she's a girl, but because I love her. “Yes, maybe. But, when one is willing to risk his life to protect others, it certainly takes a stronger reason than just gender.”

“Means?” ask Lela curiously.

“Ya, stop. Anyway, I will protect you if that happens,” I replied, and honestly I started to feel awkward with our discussion.

For a moment, Lela looked at my face. There was disappointment on his face, after he didn't get my answer to his question. And I'm getting awkward.

“Again .. The fact is, you're not there, Lela. Why do we dream of something terrible?”

“I just want to know,” replied Lela, ketus.

Oh, dearGod. How'this? Why does Lela look angry at me? And now, what am I supposed to say to him?

“Bang?” call Lela. “Why did Bang Ben help me get a job?”

Of course I was confused, why did Lela suddenly ask me that. “Yes, because your father asked for it, and there happened to be an empty position in my office back then.” This time I answered the question well.

“Why Bang Ben would teach me mastering my work?” Second question from Lela.

“If Erwin didn't ask Bang Ben to teach me, would Bang Ben still teach me?”

“Of course, yes.”

“Why?” tanyanya fast.

“For you to do your job.”

“Why does Bang Ben want me to be able to master my work?” ask again, the sooner.

“For the people in the office to stop judging you as a lucky person, who got a job with a high position because you're the son of the store owner Source Cake.”

“Why does Bang Ben want to change people's view of me?”

“Because I care, with you.”

“Why does Bang Ben care about me?”

“Because I love you.”

And, Lela smiled after hearing my final answer. The answer just came out of my mouth, because I was intimidated by the barrage of questions Lela asked.

“I mean ..”

“Why did Bang Ben never reveal it?” ask Lela. He cut off my conversation, and asked me something as sensitive as that. Honestly, for a moment I wanted to disappear from the face of the earth. I was confused as to what to answer.

“Bang?” Lela.

“Because I'm afraid you don't like it.”

“How about it turns out I like it?”

I'm getting nervous.

“How about it turns out, I look forward to it? And, what if I ... “

“I love you, Lela. You want to be my lover?” Finally the words were spoken from my lips. And, right now, I'll receive any answer from Lela.

Lela smiled after I expressed my feelings and asked her to be my lover. Then he said, ”Iya, I want.”

❤❤❤

Two years have passed since I expressed my feelings for Lela. During these two years, everything went so well, as if luck was on my side. Our pastry business is growing fast. We even hired three employees to help my mother when she was making cookies.

Then how are my friends? They are doing well and are becoming more successful. Boris served as supervisor, Jessica is now in literature school in South Korea, and Jayadi? Jayadi is a sales leader in the pastry business we live in. But unfortunately, his love story with Fitri ended not as he expected. Fitri does not want to have a special relationship with someone. Because Fitri was focused on pursuing her dream; becoming a novelist. As a result, Jayadi has been single until now, because he has not been able to move on from Fitri.

How's my?

Right now I am looking forward to the birth of my first child from my marriage to Lela.

~The End~