"Reen, you know what? Last night I was contacted by an agency engaged in E-Sports. Its name is RRQ. If I'm not mistaken, it stands for Rex Regum Qeon. So I was offered to be one of their pro-players in two different game divisions, Point Blank and PUBG. Both are FPS-based war games. Maybe you don't understand, but those two games are getting really popular in all circles of society, not just young people. You know what that means."
It's been about two hours since Aldy sat in his chair, talking about anything. Even though Aldy didn't get any response from Maureen, Aldy didn't know that Maureen could hear anything Aldy said.
Maureen's coma is indeed a little special, where she can hear and feel whatever is around her.
"I was thinking about it because the salary they offer is quite large and the problem of time between school and E-Sport is easy to manage, the important thing is how do I discipline myself. But do you want to know one thing? As soon as I think about you, I immediately refuse their offer. Do you want to know why?"
Aldy hung up on his story and flashed a friendly and warm smile at Maureen, even though Aldy was aware that Maureen couldn't see the super-rare smile that was almost never painted on Aldy's face for anyone else.
Aldy tried to hold back his laughter, thinking about what he would say after this. After taking a deep breath, Aldy continued. "The reason I turned down the offer was that I was afraid I'd be spending less time with you. I'm afraid you'll miss me if I'm no longer by your side like this. Funny, isn't it?"
Aldy let out a laugh while Maureen was still lying quietly with her eyes closed, without the slightest reaction.
Maybe not without a reaction. Because when Aldy said the joke, Maureen's heartbeat on the heart rate monitor underwent a slight pattern change in the green line on the screen. But Aldy didn't realize it because he was busy laughing at his own joke.
After laughing at himself, Aldy looked back at Maureen's peaceful face for a while. "Tonight, Marsel invited me to a birthday party. I don't know the person whose birthday is, but he said he couldn't come if he doesn't bring me along. Isn't that weird? I'm sure we've never met each other before."
Aldy's phone vibrated. A notification message popped up on the screen, notifying that Marsel was in the hospital parking lot and was waiting for him with Edwin and Zico.
Aldy returned his gaze to Maureen. Aldy slowly brought his hand closer to Maureen's face and planted his palm slowly on the top of Maureen's head, caressing the curve of Maureen's face very gently while smiling. "Okay. I'll go. I'll come back tomorrow. Don't miss me, okay?"
Aldy brought his face closer to Maureen. But when their faces were less than an inch apart, Aldy stopped. Aldy shook his head and turned his head away from Maureen's face again.
At first, he intended to give Maureen a goodbye kiss on the forehead. But he just realized that he couldn't do it until he got direct approval from Maureen.
Aldy got up and took his leather jacket that was lying on the sofa. He walked towards the door and left before he turned back to look at Maureen's face once more and then closed the door.
Inside, Maureen's heart was beating faster than usual. No one knew, but Maureen could feel Aldy's breath when their faces were close. But after a few seconds, Maureen's heart rate returned to normal.
Inside, Maureen became more and more curious about Aldy, the man who for the past six months had always accompanied her. Aldy had told Maureen so many things until this moment. Maureen could remember every detail, from important things to unimportant things.
Inside, Maureen was eager to reply to Aldy's stories with her own story. She also wanted to tell many things to her brother that she had never met before.
Inside, not only Aldy and Heri hoped that Maureen would quickly come to her senses and gather with them, but Maureen herself also wanted herself to quickly wake up from this life and death situation.
And the reason that made her want to wake up the most from his coma was her curiosity about the voice of the man who had always accompanied her all this time.
Maureen could feel how much he loved her, felt that she was so filled with love even though she was in a coma.
To her, it was a simple yet beautiful thing.
She felt like she wanted to return the affection she received from him, but her body still didn't want to obey her heart. Hopefully, she can quickly come to her senses and see what kind of man has been accompanying her and has declared himself to be her brother.
Inside, Maureen wants to know Rizaldy Pradipta, an older brother who loves her very much even though the two of them have never known each other.
***
Marsel stopped his car in front of the house, which was filled with other luxury cars. From the front, it looks like an ordinary three-floor mansion. The party takes place in the backyard.
Marsel, Edwin, and Zico walked first into the artificial hallway made of blue synthetic flower arrangements while Aldy walked a few steps behind them.
After walking down the beautiful hallway, they finally arrived at the backyard of the house. The atmosphere is completely different from the front yard. A party made lively with a stage by the pool and a long table that is the bar, plus a DJ on stage.
The very minimal lighting varied with colorful spotlights accompanied by soft tempo EDM songs really made the impression of a party that was luxurious but not too lively.
"Looks like we're late," Marsel said to Aldy, even though Aldy didn't care if they came even when the party was over.
Zico tugged at Marsel's arm, causing him to turn around.
"What are you doing?"
Zico pointed to the opposite side of the pool, making Marsel also set his sights on Zico's index finger. "Isn't she Rianti?"
Marsel narrowed his eyes slightly for a moment and then nodded enthusiastically. "Let's go there."
Marsel, Edwin, and Zico were ready with the gifts they each brought. The clothes the three of them wore were also quite formal, although Zico looked a little tacky in his suit.
Of all the men who attended the party, only Aldy wore clothes that were far from formal.
How come?
A gray T-shirt covered with a black leather jacket. Ripped jeans accented, ended with Vans SK8 High plus an old-school line on it. And the only accessories he wears are a watch on his left wrist and a black strap necklace that hangs around his neck in front of his shirt.
Moreover, Aldy did not bring any gifts to give to Rianti.
The four of them walked around the pool to the place where the birthday girl was.
Marsel was the first to greet Rianti. "Happy sweet seventeen, Rin."
Ririn is the nickname of Rianti, the prettiest student of Saint Marry Anne Senior High School, a private final year school exclusively for girls.
Ririn turned around and smiled at Marsel. "Thank you, Marsel. Are they all your friends?"
Ririn asked the waiter for help to accept the gifts given by Marsel, Edwin, and Zico, then put them in a place that was intended to accommodate presents.
"Chough~… " Marsel tried to clear his throat before speaking to Ririn. "These are my friends. The first is Edwin. Then Zico. And one more,"
Marsel turned around, trying to find where Aldy was. He was sure that previously Aldy was with them, but now Aldy has disappeared somewhere.
And when he saw a puff of smoke coming from the corner of the yard, Marsel immediately realized that the smoke was coming from Aldy, who was smoking.
Marsel returned his gaze to Ririn. "Aldy. But he looks like he's smoking in the back. If you don't like someone smoking at your party, I can ask him to—"
"Where's Aldy?" Ririn asked while looking around in all directions, trying to find the whereabouts of the man who attracted her, even though Aldy himself did not remember whether the two of them had met before.
However, after all, Aldy is different. While all the men present at the party were trying their best to attract Ririn's attention, Aldy was the one who felt the least concerned about whatever was going on here. He will stay if he wants to stay and will leave if he wants to leave.
Aldy exhaled with nicotine fumes from his breathing, which was billowing in the air, and the smoke immediately disappeared slowly upwards thanks to the party that was being held in this open and roofless place.
Not long after, Ririn came to the place where Aldy was. All the guests, especially the men, seemed to give way to Ririn like a princess who was being let through.
Ririn looked straight at Aldy, who still didn't look back at her. Aldy just stared at the view of the swimming pool in front of him while enjoying the nicotine smoke.
"Hey, you must be Aldy, right?"
Ally turned. His expressionless face made all the men there who watched him feel quite furious. I mean, how could he act normal in front of someone as beautiful as Ririn?
There are even some people who have called Aldy a same-sex lover.
Aldy put the stick of opium between his upper and lower lips, sucked it in one long breath, and then threw the cigarette's filter rubber into the drinking glass in his hand. Aldy exhaled upwards, letting the nicotine smoke disperse with the night air, and placed the glass of liquid mixed with cigarettes on a nearby table.
Aldy looked back at Ririn, still expressionless. "And you must be Rianti. Happy birthday," said Aldy holding out his hand, waiting to be shaken.
Ririn immediately welcomed Aldy's hand and shook hands with him. "Just call me Ririn."
Aldy smiled as needed, while Rianti tried not to smile too much. Instantly the DJ replaced the song with something slow and romantic as if he could read the situation.
"Want to dance?" offered Ririn.
All the men who heard their prima donna invite someone to dance felt very heartbroken. The look of hatred for Aldy is growing. The only ones who didn't look at Aldy with a hatred gaze were Marsel, Edwin, and Zico.
Marsel and Zico did not dare to look at Aldy with hateful eyes because they knew what Aldy was capable of doing to those who hated him, especially on the battlefield.
Unlike Edwin. He didn't look cynically or enviously at Aldy, who Ririn's full attention, because now he had talked to three beautiful women at once.
Edwin is a complete playboy. Although Aldy is still more handsome than him, still, Edwin has his own charm that makes him easily liked by many women at once.
Ririn was still waiting for Aldy's answer, "Hey, do you hear me? You want to dance with me, right?"
Aldy turned to Marsel and Zico on the other side. Marsel nodded while Zico was busy looking for good food provided at this party.
Aldy shrugged his shoulders briefly, trying to tell Marsel that he can't dance at all. Ririn understood Aldy's intention, and she took the initiative first.
Ririn grabbed Aldy's arm and led him along the edge of the pool, closer to the stage, until they were standing right under the spotlight.
Ririn grabbed Aldy's hand, guiding it to her slender waist, while Ririn's one hand was on Aldy's shoulder. The rest, Ririn's right hand and Aldy's left hand gripped each other. Their bodies were too close, almost touching.
Ririn didn't say anything. She just led Aldy to dance with her body. Ririn's eyes sparkled at Aldy's eyes, while Aldy looked back at her, still expressionless.
Ririn smiled at Aldy. "What's wrong? You don't like dancing with me?"
Ally didn't answer her question. Ririn took a step back then turned her body forward. Aldy followed Ririn's movements and caught her body. Now, Ririn's body is in Aldy's arms. Their faces were very close. Even Aldy could feel Ririn's breath on his face.
Ririn raised one hand, caressed Aldy's face gently with her palm while slowly closing her eyes as if wanting a kiss from Aldy. Ririn brought her face closer. And what happened next took everyone by surprise.
Splassshhhh!~ …
Aldy threw Ririn's body into the swimming pool and walked out of the party venue.
Everyone was still speechless in disbelief at what they had just seen with their own eyes.