That week, Arissa and Cristan were so busy. Arissa even deliberately packed all of her schedules on Monday until Friday so that she could fulfill her promise to hang out with Cristan all day long on Saturday.
And as for Cristan himself, that week is very enjoyable for him. He can get closer to Arissa and taking a closer look at the girl because of his position as her manager. During lunchtime, they also can chat together with Jojo and Vika. Cristan even barely remembers how long he hasn't smiled as carefree as he does now and either Arissa. She looks much more beautiful since she smiles a lot lately.
Soon, the day that they have been waiting for finally arrived…
..................….
Saturday morning…
Arissa is serving breakfast when Cristan arrived at the dining table while he still yawning and half sleepy. But, the crisp smell of omelets and toast bread on the table made his stomach growled in no minute.
"Eitsss ... Stop! You have to take a shower first, brush your teeth and change your clothes ..."
"Then you can have what on the table…" Arissa said firmly. Unnegotiable. While she is well-dressed already and ready to leave at any time.
"Right away, miss.." Cristan winked one of his eyes and teased her as he hurriedly grabbed a towel and rushed into the bathroom.
In less than fifteen minutes, Cristan was ready and well-prepared.
Next, within half an hour, they are busy eating breakfast at the dining table. After that, Cristan put the dirty dishes into the sink and snatched his car keys. But, his hand suddenly stopped in mid-air.
"Oh, please keep your car keys for today," Arissa told him as she headed to the door.
"Huh? What?" He startled when Arissa opened the door and smiled at him.
"We'll be commoners today and blend in with people. Like everyone else. We'll ride on some commuter buses and train today ..." Arissa explained it casually.
Hearing her, Cristan just raised both of his hands in the air with a resigned face and smile broadly.
"Ok, princess. Your wish is my command… " Cristan replied her and putting down the car keys as he walked towards Arissa.
Arissa has arranged her bucket list for this occasional event. Firstly, they would take a bus to Sierra City and visit a theme park there. Secondly, Arissa will bring Cristan for having lunch in iconic ramen noodles at her favorite's nearby. Then, she would bring him to visit Rotteo University which is famous for its fancy parks, and in the evening, she would ask him to enjoy and watch the Festival of Lights in Sierra city. It is a yearly event and coincidentally, the festival will be started today.
Arissa wanted to test his endurance as a "crazy rich brat" who was accustomed to being spoiled with all the luxuries and comforts he had before. Well, let's see….
A challenge of being commoners for one day.
Could he bear it?
Hehe…
................
At the bus stop…
Cristan and Arissa waited patiently when their bus to the city of Sierra finally arrived. This trip would take approximately 40 minutes and along the way, Cristan is busying himself looking around the bus. As if he is looking for something.
"What are you doing?" Arissa whispered at him confusedly.
"I was looking for…"
"This…"
"Ah .. here it is .."
He pointed out a rose symbol that was carved neatly behind the seat in front of them.
" If I'm not mistaken, the bus company is also owned and part of my family's business in Levy Inc .. "
Then, he pulls out his cell phone from his pocket and writes some notes about the bus where they are riding on.
"What is that for?" Arissa whispered at him again. She couldn't hide her curiosity about what Cristan is doing right now.
"Oh, let's say…"
"This is a type of quality control that we usually do for our company. Once a month, when I was a kid, my mom used to bring me along with her like this. We acted as a commoner and blend in with people around us. The main reason is…"
"To become a good entrepreneur, we need to gain people's trust in our products. And it isn't easy at all. We need to understand their problems. Study our market thoroughly. Knowing what product would be fitted the most with their necessities and then, calculated the production cost and how long we would gain the return from the profit that we will make. At last but not least, is the quality control itself. Then, while we hanging out, my mom would make some notes during the trip and reported some problems that she found to the proper division in our company so we can develop some improvements in our products. This check-up keeps ongoing until now and that's why Levy Inc. always be the best corporation all over the world.."
"Because we always put the people first rather than making profits…"
"Give your customer your best service and they will always return to you…"
"For example, we are riding on the bus right now. Let's see…"
"Is the driver driving it at medium speed or is it too fast? Does the bus always come on time? What about the seat? Is it comfortable for the passengers or not? How about the female's safety once they're inside the bus? Etc…. " Cristan explaining every detail while he observing and analyzing the standard and quality of the bus that they both riding now.
Arissa nodded her head while she listening to all his explanation.
"Well, it is correct. Your mother has given you some good points and is a perfect role model for what you're doing now. Once before, I still remember that taking a bus like this didn't fun at all because the bus always came late and was way too crowded. It was stuffed with too many people and I often suffocated by its heat as well because the aircon is broken too…"
Arissa let out a deep sighed before she continued her story.
"It was a real struggle, but I often had to see Jacob at school back then. Thankfully, after a few years, this company has changed their management and its services and the facilities that they are provided are also much better. " Arissa explained sincerely.
Then, Cristan patted his chest with his right hand and smiling proudly.
"Levy Inc. at your service, mam…"
Arissa just giggled lightly when she saw his amusing behavior beside her. Eventually, they spend their time chatting and talking about many things on their way.
When they finally arrived at the amusement park, Cristan still busied making little notes because it turned out that the amusement park also belongs to his family. The two of them are having fun and truly enjoyed their moments at the amusement park after Arissa has been working so hard a week before and complete her "double shift" as Snow and as a fashion photographer.
Time passed by and it's time for them for having lunch now. Feeling their hungry stomach, Arissa brings Cristan to try legendary ramen at her fave's which is nearby from the amusement park. The owner is a descendant of a Japanese bloodline and he still uses the original recipe inherited from his ancestor. The owner's name is Benny Matsumoto. He is the sole heir to the fifth generation of the former owner of this ramen restaurant.
When the two of them arrived at the restaurant, it was packed and crowded with customers. There are so many young people and parents who were having lunch together there. The smell of miso soup and Japanese soy sauce wafted in the air and made their stomach growled even more after they had fun in the amusement park before.
Fortunately, Arissa had made a reservation so it wasn't difficult for them to find a reserved seat right away. Shortly, she ordered 2 bowls of special ramen noodles with miso soup and other toppings to be added to the soup, such as kara-age (fried chicken skin) and Gyu-Kaku with extra cheese.
Five minutes later, their bowls are served and without further ado, Cristan immediately took the first bite. Once he tastes it, the flavor of the noodles exploded in his mouth. The broth is condensed with a perfect combination of spices tickling his tongue. And not only that, the texture of Gyu-Kaku meat and cheese that he ate is incredibly soft and melts inside his mouth. Made him utterly speechless of its enrich sensation. Cristan can't hold himself any longer. He loves it and savoring every chew that he took slowly. Even more, he almost cried happily because he can taste this heavenly food.
"Err .. do you like it?" Arissa asked him softly. A bit worried if the taste of the ramen in this restaurant doesn't match his "classy" palate.
But her question was answered with a series of continuous chopsticks from the bowl to Cristan's mouth in lightning speed and finally, he put the chopstick on the table, holding the bowl with both hands, he slurped all the soup until no more drop was left behind!
"Do you still have to ask, Miss?" Cristan answered her and wiping mouth with a napkin then showing his empty bowl to Arissa who was still stunned by his eating speed before.
The chopsticks in Arissa's hand spontaneously fell on the floor while her gaze startled when she saw the empty bowl in front of her.
"Yeah… you surely like it…. very much indeed…"
Arissa finally replied to him after some time and started to eat her ramen noodle at normal speed. But inwardly, she smiled amusedly.
After lunch, they both have a walk and without wasting any minute, she brings Cristan to Rotteo University.
Among all the universities in Sierra City, Rotteo University is known as one of the top ten universities based on the national ranks and it also ranked as the 8th based on the standard of global universities. Once you've graduated from this university, it does not only bring such pride and prestige to the graduates but also the parents and their family members. But most of all, tons of million job opportunities out there with a maximum wage which offered from top companies all over the world!
The university also quite spacious and arranged neatly in fine exteriors. But one thing which the most famous of this university is their parks.
In total, there are 5 parks inside this area and each of them has their own uniqueness based on the theme that entitled them and not only the students who can enjoy it but also the outsiders. This university also has been targeted by Jacob as his ultimate goal once he finished his study in Montoya Boarding School.
"Do you like this university?" Cristan asked without hiding his surprised tone. This is the university where he is studying now and the reason why he was quite surprised because after lunch, Arissa didn't say anything and brought him here instantly.
Arissa nodded her head lightly when she heard his question.
"Yes, it's so quiet and peaceful here and the breeze is nice. Sometimes, when I have lots of things inside my mind, I would like to come here alone and rethink about what I supposed to do next... " Arissa explained her answer softly while her mind reminisces her past days.
"Huh? Why did you go alone? Where is Jacob? Why don't he go with you? " Cristan blurted out his questions without stopping. To be honest, there are so many questions inside his head but he can't ask her yet.
Not now, Cristan.
"You two had just get close recently. You need to be patient and wait a little bit longer…" His inner self reminds him inwardly.
"Mmm .. Jacob is in boarding school now. He has got a scholarship program .. " Arissa replied honestly.
Cristan nodded his head several times after he heard her answer. Then, he stood up and said.
"What a coincidence. This is my college, Arissa. And I'm taking my master's degree here. So, would you like to have a walk with me?" Cristan smiled broadly and stretched out his hand to her.
Arissa's eyes widened in disbelief and beamed in excitement when she heard the invitation.
"Wow ... really?"
Cristan nodded his head once again.
But just when the two of them were just about to have a walk, a woman's voice suddenly called his name loudly from behind their back.
"Cristannnn !!!"
.........…..