After finishing visiting a restaurant, Suga was dragged to stop at a shopping center. At first, he wanted to refuse, but Nurma and Egy asked him to go along. And as Suga thought, Ratih and Gatra still dislike his presence, like in the last moment. But what can they do? They have to accept right the reality when Suga agrees to the invitation. That's right, Suga did it on purpose. Apart from wanting to intimidate Ratih at this time, it felt like it would be more challenging if she did something that woman hated.
"Why are you all brought me here!" shrieked Ratih suddenly after being engrossed in muttering curses at Suga, who had been beside her since earlier. "I want to go home!"
"Ratih, don't act like a child. We better have fun, okay!" said Nurma, angry because she didn't want to be left as the only woman when Ratih wanted to leave.
"What are you doing with strangers anyway, Nur?" Gatra complained in line with Ratih's current thoughts.
Suga little laughing.
"Why are you laughing? Don't you feel insulted? You are strangers in here, Sir!" asked Ratih, annoyed.
Suga shook his head casually as he folded his arms forward. "Are you talking about me? Why if I am a stranger? Your friend who dragged me to go here," he said sarcastically. "Are you brave because we are not at the office?"
Ratih fell silent and just sighed.
"Just pretend that I don't exist, Ratih and you..." After said to Ratih, Suga pointed at Gatra, who had been staring intently at him.
Because of Suga's words, Ratih and Gatra's faces immediately turned red. Both of them were completely silent, even lowered their heads. Meanwhile, Nurma and Egy were just busy watching their situation. Nurma was more sure if Suga started to like Ratih. And it was quite interesting to follow their storyline, two men and one woman involved in a love story. Even Egy felt their relationship would gradually become more exciting when the love triangle was formed faster.
A few seconds later, Ratih chose to continue walking. She didn't care anymore about Suga, which deliberately cornered her. Ratih tried to eliminate the discomfort so that Suga thought she was still fine. And her high self-esteem can no longer be taken away by the traps of every Suga's words, which are sickening!
Seeing Ratih walking start first, the other four people followed suit. They started the journey to a shopping center full of middle-class visitors. The mall wasn't as elite as the mall Suga's visit had known so far. Suga was just amazed by the warmth of some people who were so happy. Even the four people who were with him mingled without the burden and threats from the family, unlike him, who Daichi Lesmana still controls.
Suga wants to live a normal life like that. He can have friends, memories, and of course, a partner. But what power when marriage just is not permitted by his Dad?
"Very beautiful," Ratih muttered when she saw a pair of clothes in the form of a blouse and a span skirt. She thought the expensive clothes would be very suitable for work. Ratih wants that. Unfortunately, the price listed on the price tag is so expensive. It is natural because the brand is included in the socialite class.
Therefore, Ratih only swallowed saliva, and the rest smiled to show a happy streak.
"Why don't you take it, Ratih?" asked Nurma while touching her friend's shoulder.
"Are you asking a reasonable question, Nur? When the price tag is not commensurate with the contents of my wallet," Ratih grumbled in a whisper.
"Oh, haha, I am so sorry, Miss, because I already do not understand your condition."
Meanwhile, Gatra secretly approaches the pair of clothes that Ratih wants. He also swallowed saliva. He still feels objecting to the price listed. Gatra has not been able to buy it because his salary has run out to pay for his car installments. And he is sad because he can't make Ratih happy. If only Gatra had little savings, he would reward Ratih with this outfit. But alas, Gatra has yet to have time to raise any money, even if it is only coins.
I'm sorry, Ratih. Next time, I will give that shirt to you, thought Gatra. Then, he followed in the footsteps of the three people in front of him.
Not with Suga, who is currently unmoving in the same place. Until the next few seconds, Suga glanced at the outfits that Ratih wanted. He then approached it.
"Cheap, even very cheap," muttered Suga.
A woman who was a shop employee suddenly came up to Suga. "Mr—" His words were cut off when Suga gave him a sharp look behind his thick glasses. Strange, that's what the clerk thought to the bespectacled man.
"I want this," Suga ordered without thinking.
"T-this?"
"Yes."
"Em—"
"My wallet is better than my appearance. Don't worry about it. I have money, and I am rich," Suga's face grew colder when the woman was about to utter a condescending word. Suga knows because his appearance is too bad to admit if he is rich.
When Suga showed the black card, the female employee widened her eyes. People with a high caste, such as big businessmen throughout Indonesia, only those who can have a black card. But why does the rich man have a bad appearance like that?
"Come on, what are you waiting for?!" said Suga firmly, coldly, and arrogantly.
"Y-yes," the woman answered nervously and then did her job.
Payment transactions are carried out without any problems at all. Even the shop owner came out to serve. Power darkens their eyes.
"Thank you, please visit again," said the head of the shop in a friendly while smiling broadly.
Suga didn't reply, and he chose to go with the paper bag containing the clothes. Halfway through the steps, Suga sighed and chuckled in annoyance. The four of them had disappeared somewhere. The dense mall visitors made it difficult for Suga to find them, at least Ratih Kembang. Surprisingly, Nurma, Egy, Gatra, and even Ratih did not come back to look for Suga. Maybe they did it on purpose. And if it is true, of course, Suga will give punishment the next day.
Suddenly a small child hit Suga's body. And ... Suga's glasses fell off without being able to be saved. Suga quickly lowered his head, covering his handsome face with long bangs. Suga cursed softly. He wants to take the glasses that cracked because they fell very hard. With the palm of his right hand, Suga covered his eyes.
"Sorry, Mr, my child is naughty," said a mother who seemed to be the child's parents. The woman touched Suga's arm and tried to look at Suga's face before Suga managed to take his glasses.
"Sorry!" Ratih's voice was heard.
Suga only glanced in behind his fingers; Ratih's slender body was right in front of him.
"I'm sorry, Miss, it looks like the glasses are broken. My son is naughty, Miss." The middle-aged woman felt guilty as she glanced at the cracked glasses drooping on the mall floor.
"It's okay," Ratih answered briefly. The next second, Ratih faced Suga, who was still looking down. And it looks like Suga's palms are shaking. Then, Ratih took off her blazer and covered Suga's head with her blazer. "Come, Mr. Suga. Your body is shaking. We have to go from here."
With very fast steps, Ratih guided Suga to get out of the mall. Ratih and Suga left Gatra, Nurma, and Egy. Meanwhile, the three Ratih friends were astonished and were full of big question marks. Of course, questions about Ratih's actions, who tried hard to protect Suga, even to Suga, who seemed afraid that other people would know his face without glasses.
***