"Thank you," said Sonya, "I didn't expect you to be such an understanding man. I'm so sorry for my attitude to you, really, I…"
Sonya could only look down, covering her face with her palms.
Satya smiled looking down at Sonya. He was quite surprised because it turned out that Sonya was willing to admit her mistake and even apologized to him. And that was without him asking at all.
Isn't this something new? Satya thought who had never seen Sonya's current character after almost two years of knowing her.
"You know, Miss Sonya—"
"Please," Sonya looked into Satya's face, "I'm not older than you, Satya. Besides, we're not in the office. Just call me by my name."
Satya cleared his throat. "Okay... Sonya."
"What did you want to say earlier?"
"Naa," Satya smiled and looked down at the floor, covered with thick carpet which is soft enough under his feet. "I just…" he took a deep breath, glancing for a moment at the beautiful face on his left. "I thought about resigning from the company."
"Is it because I'm always angry with you?"
Actually, that is the strongest reason for Satya to leave the company where he works until now. It's just that, since Sonya now looks a hundred and eighty degrees different, Satya dismisses the reason, he shakes his head.
Sonya smiled wryly, Satya must be deliberately not being honest this time, she thought.
"Firstly," said Satya, "it was quite difficult for me to get clients, I admit that. And you're right, Miss Sonya—sorry, I mean, Sonya."
"About what?"
"I feel like it's useless for the company to pay me."
"Satya, please," Sonya touched the man's hand, looking into his eyes. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to look down on you in front of other people."
Satya smiled again and shook his head again. "No, you're right, Sonya. I always thought if I can't advance my career, shouldn't I just find another job? Maybe insurance isn't my expertise."
Sonya looked down again. However, she felt that Satya was just making excuses, it all must have started with her who often scolded and made fun of him in the office all this time.
"Secondly," said Satya, "recently, I really miss my hometown."
Sonya glanced at the downcast face to her right. This time, she could catch the longing in Satya's face.
"It's been almost five years since I have not returned to Bali."
"Aah, I forgot that you are from Bali."
"Yeah," said Satya. "Every day, my desire to return to Bali is getting stronger, I don't know why."
"Maybe the people in there are missing you too?" said Sonya. "Your parents, perhaps?"
Satya smiled, "No."
"Not?"
"My parents died long ago," said Satya, and again he bowed with a myriad of longing that suddenly suffocated his chest.
"Oh, Satya," Sonya touched Satya's shoulder, rubbing it gently. "I'm sorry, I didn't know—"
"It's okay," said Satya. "After all, they died long ago, since I was in high school."
"You must really miss them."
Satya nodded slightly. However, he could feel that his hatred for Sonya had completely disappeared, somehow the feeling had evaporated.
But at least, Satya is grateful for that. This way, he doesn't have to live with harboring hatred towards other people, especially Sonya.
"What about the rest of your family?"
Satya shook his head again, "I'm the only one left, alone."
"Oh my God, Satya…"
Sonya feels even more guilty because she has bullied Satya, who is an orphan. And unconsciously, or maybe because of the guilt she felt, she leaned her head on Satya's shoulder.
Satya looks quite nervous with the condition of the two of them now, he is like a confused person who doesn't know what to do but let Sonya lean on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry," said Sonya, "if that's the case, wouldn't it be better for you to stay in Jakarta? Sorry, I didn't mean anything bad with all the things left to you."
Satya took a deep breath. "I don't know," he said and looked down. "Perhaps, I miss the atmosphere in my hometown. Tranquility, or sea breeze. I'm not sure…"
Then there was silence for a while between the two of them with Sonya still leaning on Satya's shoulder.
"How about you?" asked Satya a moment later.
Sonya glanced at Satya who looked at her with eyes that asked about what Satya had just said.
"I mean," said Satya, he looked around the living room. "A house this big, I can't believe you're all alone here."
"You're not wrong."
"So that's true?"
"Well, except for two household assistants," said Sonya while still leaning on Satya's shoulder, "they only work in the morning, after they are done, they will go back to their homes."
Satya nodded, now he understood, Sonya lived alone in this house, especially at night.
"May I ask you?"
Satya glanced at the beautiful face for the umpteenth time, "About what?"
Sonya took a deep breath, she moved her head away from Satya's shoulder. "You didn't ask about what happened at the restaurant earlier?"
The man smiled. "No need," he said. "I don't like to meddle in other people's business."
"You're a really nice guy," Sonya said. "Not what I expected all along."
"Same to you," Satya smiled again, looking at Sonya with his eyebrows moving up and down.
Sonya laughed softly, she quite understood the hint. The hint in her attitude and words towards Satya all this time in the office, and now the opposite in the man's eyes. Of course, Satya could never guess what kind of true nature she always hides when she is in the office.
"Honestly," said Sonya after being preceded by a sigh so heavy and long, as if she was trying to suppress the great pain in her heart, "I am indeed Mr.Hengky's mistress."
Sonya looked into Satya's eyes again to see the man's reaction. Only, Satya was not affected in the slightest. After all, the same rumor had been circulating in their office for a long time. Sonya's confession was nothing more than a confirmation of the rumor itself for Satya.
But for sure, Satya quite admired Sonya who dared to admit this to him who was nothing to Sonya.
"I don't want to dictate to you," said Satya, "it's not in my nature. Like I said earlier, you must have a good reason for doing all that."
"You're right," Sonya sighed heavily. "I don't think there is a girl in this world who wants to be the mistress of a married man, moreover, the man himself is more worthy of being a father to you."
"Sonya," said Satya, "you don't have to tell me."
"You mind?" the girl asked. "Or maybe you feel nauseous hearing this excuse of mine?"
"No, it's not like that," Satya took a deep breath. "I just don't want you to be sad, that's all."
Sonya smiled. Right, she thought, Satya is a very understanding man, he is very kind.
And driven by her admiration for the man, Sonya again leaned her head on Satya's shoulder.
"Back then," said Sonya, "when I was in college, I was one of the top students. Unfortunately, my parents were not from the elite, we were just ordinary people who were lacking. Because I was so eager to study, my parents secretly borrowed money from Mr. Hengky. And yeah… you can guess what my story is going to be."
Satya sighed again, even heavier, deeper. Now, Satya understands why a girl as beautiful as Sonya Ardhamevia is willing to become a mistress. Hengky Hernandes, the owner of a private insurance company, must have planned this indirectly after seeing Sonya's tantalizing beauty and body shape.
The unpaid debt, which may have high-interest rates, must have made Sonya's parents, who are from the lower classes, struggle to pay. And it was Sonya who finally accepted Mr. Hengky's offer, solely to free her parents from their debts.
Another classic tale of the life and tragedy of a human descendant, Satya thought.
And yes, by doing so, Satya felt even more sympathy for Sonya, even more so with the life she had to live. Hard, must be very hard for her. Especially, if the relationship is known by Mr. Hengky's wife, or his children and family, Sonya will certainly be the butt of insults from them.
And in her daily life, Sonya has to face all the scorn and rumors that hit her.
"I'm sorry," said Satya, "for almost two years, I have harbored hatred towards you without thinking that there is a much more painful reason behind it all."
"No, Sat, don't…" and for the third time, tears flowed from Sonya's eyes. "I deserve to be hated."