"Why didn't you tell me first if you wanted to come? My event with Evelyn was disrupted."
Even felt annoyed, Lova still sat in the passenger seat because of Alder's coercion. With the threat that her job will be increased and there will be no monthly bonus if Lova does not comply with his wishes.
For Lova, the monthly bonus is money for self-care. The money she could use to just buy perfume and deodorant. Because the monthly salary she gave entirely to her parents for Arnav's college fees.
Lova is very happy to be able to help her parents and to be able to send Arnav to college until now. Although many people consider if she become a workaholic to get a bigger bonus every month, and it doesn't make Lova feel hurt. That's what happened anyway.
They don't know what Lova and her family are going through to survive. Commenting is the easiest thing to do. But to understanding someone condition, not everyone is at that level.
If now her life is better, it is clearly because of the efforts and prayers that Lova and her family have put in all this time.
"Evelyn said you guys have nothing to do."
"Because you, boss, came suddenly, she obliged said that."
Alder shrugged. "Whatever, I don't have your cell phone number."
Right. Good news that Alder doesn't have her cell phone number. For a moment Lova smiled because she felt victorious.
"Ask directly from you will never be given, right? I'll just ask Mr. Gustian later. At the same time tell him that the woman I've been chasing all this time is you."
Lova immediately turned around, seeing a smug smile from a man who didn't even turn to looked her.
"I'll give you later. No need to ask Mr. Gustian. It would be difficult if he found out."
"Found out about what? That you are my girlfriend?"
"Who said I am your girlfriend?!"
"I am, right? I just said that."
Lova bit her lower lip in anger. "Don't make nonsense rumors!"
"You don't like it?"
"No!" Lova looked at Alder who had already seen her.
Lova's palms clenched into fists. Her hearbeat made her breath catch in her throat again. Alder looked at her closely.
"Ah!" Again the man looked at the road. "I know, it will be a long struggle to get a yes from you."
Lova is silent. Still clenching her fists to neutralize her heart that seemed to be about to jump out of place.
"At that time I wanted to talk about this trip to you. But you rushed out of the lift and didn't mind me calling."
Ah, so that's the reason Alder called her when the two of them were in the lift wearing the same clothes that time? Okay. Lova chose not to respond to that.
"Where are we going?"
"Where have you been. As long as you don't run away from me."
That sarcastic sentence managed to make Lova choke on her own saliva. How great the man beside her was, Lova didn't want to know. But knowing that Lova had been avoiding him for the past few days, the girl was sure that Alder was too sensitive.
~.~.~.~
"Honey, wake up. We've arrived."
A gentle stroke on the top of her head made Lova wake up and immediately squinted at Alder who just smiled.
"Who's honey? Don't call me that, I warn you!"
Only a chuckle was heard in response.
Lova didn't know how long she had been asleep. But their journey is quite far.
Zoo. The place Lova had always wanted to visit. Lova loves animals and interacts directly. But because of her busy schedule, Lova doesn't have much time to pamper herself by taking a walk.
More precisely Lova saves. The cost of going to this safari park alone can be used to eat a few days with Arnav. Not to mention having to pay entrance tickets and rent a car to get around the vast safari park. If you have to walk to get around, it's not only the legs that will be crushed, but it's likely to be a delicious meal for the big cats.
It looks like Lova's annoyance will soon dissipate, thanks to the safari park and the animals inside. Look! Her eyes immediately lit up when she looked a little towards the inside of the safari park which featured a variety of animals.
"Come on."
Lova felt her hand gripped. The man beside her just smiled.
"Al, please." The girl tried to free her hand which is of course it didn't work.
"If you're still not nervous about me holding your hand like this, it means I have to do more than this."
Was that what Alder hoped for? And must Lova admit that now her blood was rushing because of the pumping of her heart that was about to jump and join for a walk with them looking at the animals?
"So childish, don't be a pervert. And don't expect too much it can make me nervous just because a holding hands."
"Okay then." Alder shrugged his shoulders briefly. Weaving his fingers between Lova's fingers. "Don't let go then."
Lova hoped her hands wouldn't get wet from this nervousness.
"You often hold your partner's hand when you're dating?" The question made Lova swallow her saliva.
"Hey! I'm a grown woman, okey. If it's just holding hands like this, I've done it for many times."
Lova repeatedly asked forgiveness for her lies to Alder. Lova clearly has never felt dating after four years of being single. Her last boyfriend, only lasted half a year. Then that boy left Lova for a prettier girl.
Hey! Beautiful girls will have big heads if they continue to be a benchmark for men to cheat and be ambiguous. What happens to a girl like me?!
"Does that mean you've been kissed before?"
Don't blame it if now Lova wants to step on the feet of a man who still looks at her with a mischievous smile.
Huh! Kiss?! Kiss?! Yes, never. I just holding hand only with you, stupid!
Her life during dating is very monotonous. Lova, the girl who crazy to chasing the end of the month bonuses is constantly working. Weekends are usually more used for sleeping. And on Saturday night, Lova uses it for overtime.
Maybe that's one of the reasons why her boyfriend cheated on her at the time. But whatever the reason, cheating is still unforgivable, right? It's better to break up first, then date another women. Don't dare to date both of women at the same time.
"You want to take me on a path or do you only want to interrogate me, anyway? That's a lot to ask."
Alder laughed out loud. "I know you're nervous. Your cheeks are so red."
For the sake of the elephant calf, which is now screaming because it is happy to be sprayed with water by its mother, Lova wants to immediately go and get away from the boy who now looks charming.
But Lova's steps stopped, making the girl turn around in annoyance. The intertwined hands made Lova unable to continue her steps.
"I won't let go of this hand easily. You should know that I'm mature enough and bigger than you now. You can't just walk away from me like that."
Lova just snorted. Glancing at the grip while biting his inner lip. The smell of apples wafted as Alder narrowed their distance.
"I love you, Lova. Don't pretend you don't know about it."
What is it? How should Lova behave now? Why are the butterflies flying in her stomach? Makes Lova nauseous and floating.