Jojo, who still driving, spontaneously turned his head away and gasped loudly in shock at Arissa who was sitting next to him.
Why did you never say anything about this ???
Heard the young man's reply, she immediately covered her face and screamed out loud inwardly. Gosh!!! He's asking for a death wish for sure!!
She rolled her eyes and let out a deep long sigh.
"It wasn't like what you were thinking, Jo ..." Arissa replied to him while she massaged her temple.
"We only share the rent .... that's all ..." She continued calmly. She was hope that with this final answer, Jojo won't asking any stupid questions towards her or him and misunderstood what happened between her and Cristan.
"Ahhhh…. I forget..."
"We also sharing the sofa too ...." Cristan suddenly opened his mouth and spontaneously spitted out his poisonous words afterward while he smiling mischievously.
CKITTTTTTT!!!!!
Jojo suddenly hit the brakes and made the two passengers inside his car almost jolt and jumped forward in great shock.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY??" Jojo snapped it out without a blink.
At this moment, he thought that his ear had misheard something. First, it's Arissa, the anti-male, she is living with a total stranger. Secondly, they also shared a sofa... wow ... wow ...
Sleeping together? Snuggling? Hugging? Cuddling? Kissing? Making love?
A stream of erotic pictures of them both swirled wildly inside Jojo's head right now. Made his facial expression weird and getting weirder.
"STOP, Cristan!!"
"ONE MORE WORD AND I'LL SERIOUSLY WILL THROW YOU OUT FROM THIS CAR!!!"
Arissa yelled and glared her death gaze at the young man who are sitting at the back with his annoying look and pointed out. Never once she thought that his roommate would be this imbecile. It even reached the point of making Jojo imagining stupid things about her. About them both.
Ugh !! If a look can kill someone, Arissa would make sure that Cristan will be buried six feet underground now!! Bah!
She doesn't want her image as a good woman to be spoiled in her best friend's eyes.
"I just borrowed his sofa in the living room for a sleepover before the renovation finished today ... that's all ..."
But, when Cristan was about to open his mouth once again, he was suddenly stopped by a pair of blue eyes that glared at him fiercely. Her deadly aura was the same as a Death God who was holding a butcher knife and ready to throw it anytime in front of his eyes!
Seeing Arissa's threatening demeanor, Cristan gulped nervously and only nodded obediently like a five years old boy.
OK! No more saying. I'll be a good boy this time, mama….
There, they go. Within an hour, the three of them continue their travel in peace until then, Jojo's car slowed down and entered a rural area. It finally entering the front yard and stopped in front of an old big house. Several children were chatting in the front of the house while other kids were reading a book in their hands.
When they heard the car's engine and saw who was come out of the car, all kids cheered up and their eyes sparkled with joy!
"Sister Rissa !!!"
All of them jumped around and hugged her with their happy faces. Arissa's eyes gradually soften while she looked at them and she immediately stretched out her arms. Reciprocating the same acts before they went inside altogether while Cristan and Jojo still stay outside.
"This.... "
Cristan observed the big house that stood sturdily in front of him carefully. His face showing a spooky expression. It's more like investigating if this kind of house was used as a setting in an old horror movie somehow. Then, he felt someone tapped his shoulder gently.
"Don't be like that…"
"This is the Young Generous orphanage. A place where Arissa grew up and lived before she moved to her apartment with you… " Jojo said it with a soft tone while he lit up his cigarette.
"You didn't know about this before?" He asked again in a sorry look. Cristan shook his head at once. Yes, they both are living under the same roof physically but the truth is…
Until now, both of them are still total strangers who had no idea where they were come from.
Jojo remained silent but his eyes keep watching the young man carefully. The one who stays with Arissa now. As a best friend, he knows that he is supposed not to interfere with their private business but he knows Arissa well. Too damn well.
Jojo felt that he needed to get to know the young man deeply before he could give his "blessing" to both of them. Whatever their relationship is. And, his first impression of this guy was not very good. He looks like a snobbish brat who easily act irresponsibly. A type who always stirs up trouble around him. It's the total opposite of Arissa who always being considerate and careful before she took another step and decision in her life.
"As she said, our relationship is not that deep ...."
Cristan replied casually and broke the silence between them both. As if he could read his mind.
"We are living together for sharing the fee. Nothing more. Rest assured. I won't do anything to harm or assault her or whatever you thought before… " Cristan said those words casually while he stared and smiled amusedly at Jojo who is still look at him suspiciously.
"Alright .." said Jojo again as he threw the cigarette and stomped it until it died poorly under his feet.
"We shall come inside…"
"And who are you?"
Cristan asked him back and raising one eyebrow on his face with an investigating tone.
"I'm his guardian angel ..."
Jojo replied to him casually as he walked in with long strides.
Cristan scoffed and chuckled while entering the house. He couldn't lie to himself if, on the very first day he met Arissa, his heart was pounding and thumping wildly inside his rib cage. This is completely unusual for him because he was never felt the way of each woman around him. But the uncanny encounter has changed it all.
Arissa….
Her way and style, have captivated his heart and mind.
From all the women who were busying themselves of teasing him seductively, she is the only one who always keeps her distance and never threw herself at him like the other girls. Even though they both lived under the same roof (which gave them both a great advantage for getting to know each other much better), but she is always been like an icy frost. Cold and untouchable. She was able to act naturally in front of him, but the fact was…
They both never been that close. No matter how hard he tried to become a friend with her, she still unmoved.
Unfortunately, her cold demeanor had sparked a curiosity inside him and at the same time, challenged him to conquer the girl's heart as quickly as possible. All of his silly and annoying behaviors just an act to get her attention!
Cristan laughed inwardly to himself at his ridiculous thought just now while shook his head amusedly.
..........................
Inside Young Generous orphanage…
Anne, who see her coming, was very happy and immediately called and help Mother Hua in her bedroom. Due to her old body, Mother Hua spent more time and resting in her room and watching movies. She only came out to meet some private guests or adoptive children of hers who pay the visit to the orphanage sometimes.
Arissa's heart ached as she watched the old woman was walking toward her with half-shuffled steps. Time surely passed by; she didn't realize that she had lived in this house for 15 years while she was raising Jacob alone. Mother Hua and other children in this orphanage have helped her a lot when she was struggling with her homework and assignments back then. Luckily, she managed to graduate earlier and got a cum claude as her final score. Now, it is time for her to repay all the kindness that was given to her mercifully at that time to her adoptive mother.
But, will time turn to her side?
Will her efforts enough to repay and reciprocating all love and kindness that she had received this far?
Looking at the old woman's condition, she looked like she would pass away anytime.
"Mother ... how are you?" asked Arissa sincerely in a soft tone while she kneeling in front of her adoptive mother.
"I'm fine, my dear. How about you?" replied the old woman. A light smile curved on her wrinkled face.
"Mother… How I miss you and other kids here…"
Arissa said again while she hugged the old woman inside her warm embrace. Closing her eyes and let a faint scent of medicated oil filled her nostrils. It's the signature of her old body. Reminding her that she needs to work fast and hurry before it was too late.
"Stupid kid, it's just a while."
The old woman replied to her shortly and chuckled. After a while, she pulled herself and stared at her adoptive child intensely. Arissa is a grownup woman but sometimes, whenever, she comes to this house, she always loved being childish and spoilt like she does now.
"Have you received the money sent? Did you take the medicine that Anne has bought yet? "
Mother Hua nodded firmly. She didn't want to make Arissa, who had come so far to visit her would feel anxious and worry about her well-being.
They were chatted a while but then, Anne tapped her shoulder and motioned her a signal to follow her.