"If you wanted, I would do anything for you "
"Stop fooling around. Only you who I wanted"
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Gandhi Family Resident
Riki Apriandi Gandhi was the first child from August Gandhi and Rita Wirya. Riki was not from a wealthy family like his cousin, Samuel Grahem.
His aunt or his father's older sister, Aunty Bulan, was married to Unkle Keanu Grahem who was an upper class person. Whether this was called good luck or bad luck, Aunty Bulan's wedding was not as beautiful as it seemed to outsiders. He quite knew what the problem was but he felt that he was not the one who should tell this.
Tonight was the first time that he planned to attend a bussiness party, which was organized by a businessman who just launched a product. Usually he just nodded his head when his father asked him to attend a party but he never attended it. This time was different. He was not Riki the college boy anymore. He had his own business and that meant he had to be diligent in looking for opportunities from other business partners.
As usual, every morning he would pick up someone and went together to work. That someone was Evelyn, the charming smiley. Why did he called Evelyn the charming smiley? You would know, if you saw her smiling.
Riki's pov
Evelyn Carla was a beautiful girl, who was a friend of mine since entering the college until now. She was also the girl who I liked. But unfortunately, the label as big brother has been pinned beautifully on my back, making me upset but unable to refuse it.
Currently, we had arrived at the office parking lot where she worked. As usual, I would open the passenger door for her.
"Thank you, Rik!" She said as usual with a smile.
"You're welcome. Don't forget to have breakfast!" I replied in a soft tone.
I hoped she would know and realize the difference in my attitude, especially the changes in my treatment towards her.
"Yes, he he !!" She replied with her little chuckle.
This was what I liked about her, always tried to give a cheerful smile even though her life was difficult and the burden she had to carry, was not light. I knew she had to pay extra more for Aunt's care now, not only for the hospitalization, but also for others thing that were not hospital-related but necessary to Aunt's recovery.
Since she worked as a personal assistant, she didn't have more free time like before. It meant that she had to pay more in hiring someone to take care of her mother's needs while she was working. My mind had once crossed my mind, feeling regret for recomending the job to Evelyn. But when she told me in an uplifting tone, that her financial needs were now sufficient since working in Samuel's office, I was glad that at least one of her burdens was lifted.
"Don't say only yes, but then forget it!" I said and pinched casually her sharped nose.
"Yes, I will remember, he-he !!" She replied with a chuckle again.
Her chuckle made me, Riki Apriandi, falling in love with her, again and again. We used to joke like this, maybe this was also what made her not seriously respond to my changes in attitude.
"Ok, Come on. Now, go get inside! Worked dilligently !!" I said with an enthusiastic tone.
"Ok, bye Riki. Have a pleasant work!!" She replied cheerfully.
She left me in the office parking lot where I could still see her who returned back all the friendly greetings for her.
"She has really no defense, what if they all get it wrong?" I muttered with my head shaking in disbelief.
How could she smile lightly at everyone, whereas each men had different thoughts and points of view.
"So annoying," I muttered softly.
I got into my car, started the car engine and drove out of the parking area of Samuel's company.
"Damn, I forgot to tell her about tonight!" I exclaimed irritated.
I just remembered that I was planning to invite her to the party tonight. I seemed to be enjoying this morning time with her so much that I forgot everything.
"Maybe later when I pick her up, I will tell her" I muttered and continued the journey.
Skip
As an architect, I spent most of my time in the field. But today, I didn't have any activities in the field, so I had time to pick up Evelyn from work.
I sent her a message notified her that I was already in the lobby.
I waited patiently while my eyes glanced around at the design's lobby of Samuel's company. It was an unique interior design. The lobby was surrounded with transparent glass, so I could see towards the parking area from where I was sitting.
Then, I saw Samuel who was walking with an annoyed face towards me. It seemed that something was upsetting him.
"Pick her up, Rik?" Samuel asked.
I nodded and smiled a little.
"Yes, are you going home?" I asked back.
"Hn, yes,"
What's wrong with Samuel, usually even though we were not that close but Samuel was never like that towards me.
"I'll go first, Rik," He continued hastily.
I just nodded, then he left me alone.
"Hm, What's wrong with him? " I muttered confused.
After that I heard a shriek from a familiar voice.
"Hi, Rik! Sorry, it took a long time. I had to save the data first," She exclaimed uncomfortably when she was in front of me.
Before answering, I smiled at her, rubbed her head dearly then patted her once.
"No problem!" I replied casually. Then I took her right hand, lead her to walk together towards my parked car.
"Let's go!" I said .
We walked together, and we were being watched by the rest of the employees who were still in the office.
At Evelyn's rented house
We arrived at the gate of Evelyn's rented house without any obstacles. As usual I would come out first to open the passenger door.
"We have arrived!" I exclaimed happily.
I smiled gently, when she accepted my helping hand.
"Thank you, Riki!" She replied cheerfully.
"Ok, I will go home now and you go take a rest" I said.
"Ok!" She replied curtly. "By the way, tonight I have a party invitation, can you accompany me?" I asked straightforward.
I smiled and looked at her expectantly. She smiled stiffly when she heard an invitation from me. It seemed like I was going to be rejected, whereas this was my first time I wanted to attend a party, usually I didn't like crowds and she knew it.
"Sorry Rik, I have to accompany Samuel too. Tonight there was also a colleague party, so I have to come with Samuel." She replied with an uncomfortable tone.
"Ok, no problem. You'll be careful at the party," I replied understood.
Even though I was irritated when I heard that, but I tried to suppress my emotions. She shouldn't know, the other side of me, especially if she found out, that I had a disease called possessiveness.
"Sorry Rik!" She exclaimed with an apologetic smile.
"It's ok! I'll go home first. Bye Lyn!" I replied softly.
I patted her head slowly, then I got back into my car again.
"Argh ... Shit !!!" I muttered irritated.
Being angry was actually useless because she was only doing her duties and I coudn't be selfish.
"Next time I will not let it happen"
At the evening
As I said earlier, tonight I attended a bussiness party. I was at a place where a bussiness party was being held, in a luxurious ballroom of one of the bigest hotels with the name Grand Elty, belonging to a respectable family. I came here with my father. Although my father's company was not as great as Unkle Keanu's company which was now controlled by my cousin, but my father's company was in the top twenty prestigious companies in the city. I, myself actually, had a small business in the field of interior design, to be precisely, I was an architect who owned a small business with only a few employees which most of them I recruited from my class when I studied at the college.
"Let's greet those who have the party first, then you can step aside!" Father whispered to me.
"Yes, Dad," I said without interest.
I followed father's steps to meet the owner of the party. Not long after talking about the company and stocks, I walked away with a polite smile on my lips. Then I went to the corner of the room and sat alone with a glass of mocktail in my hand. I usually not drank alcohol. It was not that I could not drink but I just didn't like that kind of drinks.
Suddenly, at the entrance of the Ballroom, I saw two people who I knew very well. They both held hands lovingly like a couple. Instantly my heart burned with jealousy, how could Samuel break his own words. Even though he had promised not to approach my Evelyn, other than for work.
"Do you have to hold hands like that?" I muttered irritated.
I drank my drink in one gulp, making my throat ache as the taste of the soda spreads through it. I saw how they whispered, then Samuel laughed. What the hell?? Why was Samuel laughing like that? Samuel always laughed with a woman, but Samuel's laugh this time was different, more sincere.
"Impossible!!!" I murmured worried.
I decided to keep quiet seeing how far would they be intimate like that. From where I sat, I could see Samuel who was very protective of her, proven by his hands that did not leave my Evelyn's waist.
"Damn, I 've even never held her like that," I muttered irritably.
"Hi, may I know you?" Someone asked suddenly from the side.
I turned my face to the side and winced in confusion when I saw a stranger.
"What's wrong?" I asked in surprise.
"Ah ... Can we get acquainted?" She asked again.
I saw her stretch out her hand and I welcomed her.
"Riki Gandhi!"
"Riyanti Grindson. I happen to be the kid who has the party!" She explained.
I nodded and smiled a little. We also talked about something that didn't really matter to me because I coudn't focus. My eyes were faithfully following the activities of her, who was currently sitting at the dining table only with Samuel.
"Would you like to go there?" Riyanti asked curiously.
It seemed that she realized that I wasn't focus when talking to her.
"Yes, I know them" I replied simply.
She nodded in understanding.
"Looks like, she's a smart girl," I thought.
"Then why don't we just join?" Riyanti suggested casually.
I considered Riyanti's suggestion again, the pros and cons of what would happen. I didn't want Evelyn to get the wrong idea and then gave Samuel a chance. But after I took another look, it seemed like trying a little change didn't matter.
"Okay!" I exclaimed excitedly.
She smiled too.
"Very weird!" I thought.
We walked together towards them. With slow but sure steps, we finally arrived behind the table they occupied.
"Lyn!" I called her.
Riki's pov end
To be continued