Aisha leaned against the car, exhaling a sigh of relief before bursting into laughter. Gradually, her laughter grew louder and more unrestrained. Hearing it, Alaric felt the urge to join in the laughter. There was a sense of satisfaction and relief in that laughter. Alaric turned to look at Aisha beside him. Yes, Aisha was truly laughing freely. Unconsciously, a wide smile appeared on Alaric's face.
"Beyotch! Shit! Oh, shit shit! I'm sorry I involved you in this. But, oh God! Being a whore is actually quite enjoyable. No wonder so many are addicted. It's truly the perfect outlet for nurturing my self-esteem. Especially when assisted by a guy. Like earlier!" Aisha jested.
Alaric just shrugged, still smiling broadly, although not fully grasping Aisha's statement.
"Do you have cigarettes?" asked Aisha.
Alaric raised an eyebrow, "Ah, so Mrs. Perfect PA is truly the perfect beyotch," Alaric chuckled.
"Shut up, Alaric! You really are like a naïve boy, exaggerating and using cigarettes as an excuse to call me a bitch! It's so embarrassing," Aisha grumbled.
Alaric laughed, "Let's smoke while riding."
"Sure. Don't open the canopy, or people will start gossiping about us," Aisha said.
Alaric burst into laughter, "Ugh! If that happens, you'll have to deal with my lovely bitch, Aisha. Shafina can be quite possessive."
Aisha grinned widely, "Your girlfriend? Ah, to me, she's just a sweet girl who can be easily appeased with a pat on the back. Dealing with Aymard's ex-girlfriend seems more challenging."
Alaric fell silent, glancing at Aisha as she entered the cabin. Then, she said,
"Let Jaya know that I'm going home with you. Otherwise, he might cause trouble and sweep the streets of Jakarta."
Alaric squinted, "You're giving me orders, Mrs. Pe-A?"
Aisha burst into laughter, "Sure, Young Master! Get used to it, because tomorrow I might be free to boss you around!"
"Hmm, way too confident," Alaric muttered as he sent a voice message,
"I don't have Jaya's number. So, I'll leave a message through Mardi." he said.
Aisha nodded, "It's okay."
"I don't have cigarettes either, so let's find some first," Alaric told.
Aisha grumbled, provoking a chuckle from Alaric. At one red light that Alaric ran through, Aisha realized something. Slowly, she cursed herself. Alaric tried to ignore it, but he couldn't help but glance at Aisha out of the corner of his eye. In his heart, he cursed why a mature woman could be so intriguing. Even her behavior was more unruly than that of young girls.
"Alaric..."
"Yes?"
"How old is Aymard?"
Alaric quickly turned, "He's turning 32 later this year. Why?"
Aisha widened her eyes, "And how about you?"
"I'm 27. Just had my birthday last month."
Aisha's eyes widened even more, "Seriously? You guys, oh God, are just kiddos! I mean, you're so much younger than me."
Alaric furrowed his brow, glancing at Aisha, not understanding what she meant.
"There's a decade age gap between us. No wonder I never thought we could connect. There's a significant generation gap, right?" Aisha explained.
Alaric laughed dismissively, "Why do you sound like, uh, a Preacher? Boring!"
Aisha burst into laughter for a long time. Alaric made a turn to a 24-hour convenience store. Aisha snorted loudly, even the signboard with orange-green lines managed to throw her back into the past. Alaric couldn't help but notice Aisha's heavy sigh as he unfastened his seatbelt. Whether he liked it or not, he gazed at Aisha. There was a sense of concern that had been growing in his heart since they started driving. Aisha seemed completely unable to control herself. Could a sip of gin have such a significant impact on her?
"Alaric."
"Yes?"
"Can I ask for your help?"
"What do you want?"
"Are you patient enough to handle my trashy words tonight?"
"I don't know, Aisha."
Aisha smiled awkwardly, "Okay, sorry. Forget it."
Alaric chuckled softly, "I will never be your trash can, Mrs. Pe-A, no matter what. I will only drive for you until you were tired tonight, understood?"
Aisha laughed, "That's good. But I still need your help tonight."
Alaric remained silent, staring straight at Aisha.
"Pretend that we're friends of the same age while we're driving."
"Why?"
"Because, I don't know, tonight I miss my youth. I envy you, Aymard, Jaya. … Why are you all so extraordinary at such a young age while I'm just getting there? Be kind for a while so that I can feel comfortable. Honestly, Jaya was right that I should forget about my ex. But sometimes I can't handle the shock therapy he gives to me."
"You and Jaya?"
Aisha laughed freely, "No. We've known each other for a long time. Lost contact for years, and he's the only cousin left from my father's side of the family."
Alaric nodded, "So, am I the one who needs to age or are you the one acting like a flirtatious young girl tonight?"
Aisha smiled, "Ah, sometimes I'm surprised to realize that you can be clever too."
Alaric frowned and got out of the car. Unexpectedly, Aisha followed him, walking behind Alaric and catching the attention of everyone at the crowded tables in the convenience store. Her makeup was still flawless, like a mask that made her stand out from her usual simplicity. It was the first time Alaric realized that a woman could be more captivating in her raw beauty than in full makeup. It seemed that the atmosphere at CUE had shaken his mind. He needed something that could make him feel a little lighter. Mass-produced wine might be an option, just a bottle. At the cashier, he saw Aisha standing gracefully, paying for cigarettes and a bottle of vodka.
*
To Aymard, Alaric gave a message to inform Jaya Emyr that his beautiful cousin was at Aymard's penthouse. Initially, they were enjoying aimless drives with uninterrupted cigarettes. They even tasted each other's cigarettes, leading to mocking each other's poor taste preferences. But in the middle of the night, as agreed upon, Aisha would act like a heartbroken young girl. Alaric enjoyed it until he realized it was extremely dangerous for him to witness Aisha removing her mask and closing the distance between them.
It was obvious that her pretends was not purely acting as they intended. Aisha was a terrible actress, despite repeatedly claiming to be trying to act like her younger self, Alaric was not convinced at all. Fluttering feelings emerged too often, and he loved it when Aisha continued to act this way towards him. She demanded his judgment and forced Alaric to understand her foul language without allowing him to correct her. If he didn't comply, she would pout cynically. It made Alaric briefly think about how much Aisha depended on him and relied on him.
It was truly the manipulation of easily manipulated feelings. In reality, it was only because he was driving that Aisha became dependent. Alaric felt delusional and decided to end the sweet pretends of Aisha, as it could potentially lead to danger. Moreover, after disregarding Alaric's warning not to quickly consume the vodka, Aisha became unfocused with everything. Alaric didn't accompany her to Weathergrass, unable to bear the thought of Rahman's reaction if he saw his mother in such a state. Drunk and felt wild due to smudged mascara from her uncontrollable tears.
Meanwhile, taking her to any hotel would be too risky for Alaric. He didn't want to give an RSVP or anyone an opportunity to slander him. So, staying in Aymard's place was the choice, as Jaya Emyr's residence was too far away. Fortunately, Aisha's disguised appearance as a young lady made her difficult to recognize.
Now, Alaric sat, hoping that Aymard or Jaya Emyr would arrive soon. He was restless, constantly going in and out of Aymard's room, trying to make sure Aisha was alright. He was too worried, realizing that he knew nothing about handling a woman's bad feelings. Alaric had never bothered to think about what truly lay behind a woman's mind. Likes, joys, desires—those he understood well. They were confirmed through spoken words, just like with Shafina. Their agreement with each other was always simple. They didn't complicate their sweet and beautiful relationship. It worked well for both of them as they pursued a life of perfection. They shared a passion for beauty and felt comfortable in each other's presence.
When Alaric noticed Shafina's shortcomings, he would address them directly while helping her improve. For example, her habit of chasing after discounted items or laughing too loudly. Thanks to Alaric's corrections, Shafina became more graceful and no longer wasted energy on things that weren't essential. Besides, Alaric had accommodated her desires for luxury bags and rare shoes. As for Alaric himself, he acknowledged that he had become more open in conversations with new people, thanks to Shafina's whispers to him about the importance of maintaining connections, even if he didn't necessarily need them.
But Aisha was like an arrow shot from the depths of the wilderness, shattering all the systematically arranged order in Alaric's mind. She made him realize that he had been complacent, only focusing on what interested him and considering himself content with what he knew. Yet, the world is too diverse to be judged solely from his perspective. It should not always conform to what Alaric likes and wants. It's no wonder that he now feels small-minded as a human being.
He snorted, glancing at the Volnay beside him. Was his tolerance for wine weakening tonight? Because his thoughts felt strange to him. Someone or something seemed to have taken control of his mind, and Alaric was certain of it.
He turned quickly upon hearing something fall. He found Aisha stumbling, scanning her surroundings before locking eyes with him. She remained unfocused, even more so now.
"Hey, I think we should talk about it,"
Alaric frowned, moving closer to Aisha to guide her to the sofa. "About what?" he asked.
Aisha nodded, "This. And what you said earlier."
Alaric furrowed his brow, "What did I say?"
Aisha brushed Alaric's hand away and walked over to the sofa, flopping herself down on it. "Seriously, ugh, I think I'm drunk," she grumbled, rubbing her temples.
Alaric looked at her, "That's obvious."
Aisha chuckled, "Maybe you're drunk too when you said those things earlier?"
Alaric frowned, "What are you talking about?"
Aisha burst into laughter, "See, it's true. You've forgotten. Thank goodness, praise the Lord."
Alaric furrowed his brow, sitting beside Aisha, looking at her in confusion. Aisha continued to laugh uncontrollably. It was clear that she was intoxicated. Downing a large gulp of gin and half a bottle of vodka was a reasonable explanation for that.
"Hah! Damn it, I actually thought you were serious earlier. You know, getting a confession of love from the hottest bachelor made me float. Dear Aymard, you're so cruel, making me, a girl soar high only to bring her crashing down!" Aisha exclaimed.
Alaric was taken aback. Aisha had mistaken him for Aymard. Now he felt empty-minded, knowing that Aymard had expressed his feelings.
"Hah! I was actually so grateful just now, Ay. The man who never saw me as anything more than a good time. The young man who didn't want to take a chance and just be a boytoy! Damn, a wolf is always a wolf. I understand, though. But seriously, I have no intention of dating. With me, it's either marriage or having fun. Those are the choices. Done!" Aisha continued.
Alaric was stunned. Had Aymard gone insane?
"Aymard the Wolf, it's so easy to fall in love with you!" Aisha rambled, laughing loudly again.
Alaric turned his head, studying Aisha carefully. Her drunken laughter even caused him pain. Aisha took a deep breath at the end of her laughter, slowly turned and found Alaric's gaze, which seemed dazed. In a matter of seconds, it stirred up all the emotions that had been lingering in Alaric's chest. It was all because of that brief intense eye contact. Aisha's eyes seemed vacant, clearly not in the present moment. Now, she smiled sadly.
"Oh, darling, you'll find an extraordinary girl who is certainly much better than the pathetic me," Aisha said.
Alaric didn't smile, contemplating what Aymard would say in response to those words.
"My dear Aisha, what if Aymard doesn't care? What if he only wants you?" he asked.
Aisha burst into laughter, "Don't even start."
Alaric shook his head vigorously. Suddenly, he felt a surge of anger. What was this? Why was he even thinking about what Aymard would do? This situation was confusing and he realized that his heart was truly hurt by the fact that Aymard had moved on so quickly. It was all without reason, and he felt like Aisha was playing with him, even though their closeness throughout the night was actually just an act. Aisha had openly requested Alaric to play along, and he had obliged.
"Ah, it would be easier if you just honestly wanted to have fun with me. I know exactly how people perceive me. A lusty widow! Hmph!" Aisha exclaimed.
Alaric smiled, his heart trembling. Yes, he understood. He had thought the same way, just like everyone else. He suspected that Aymard was only wrapping her up with beautiful words. He was sure that Aymard, like himself or anyone else, judged Aisha negatively for being single again and having a beautiful body. Aisha's smile was sometimes deemed too tempting. Alaric considered Aymard's politeness as nothing but an act. Especially since Aymard had jokingly labelled her as a MILF before. Aisha tilted her head. Alaric cursed silently,
"Hey, my MILF," Alaric whispered.
Aisha chuckled, "Hey, my Boytoy!"
Alaric smiled, leaning closer to kiss Aisha's lips. He trembled as he realized the warmth spreading rapidly to his neck. Was this intense sensation a result of his wild thoughts? Clearly, he didn't want to bear the shame of admitting that his heart was screaming with joy, despite the harsh criticisms that resided in the isolation of his mind.
Alaric gazed at Aisha, her eyes darkened and still unfocused, but the heat emanating from her mouth enchanted him, urging him not to waste any time. This kiss was passionate. Both of them held each other tightly as if afraid of losing the momentum. Everything around them seemed blurred. There was an insatiable hunger between their bodies. The allure of the world became their desired endpoint.
Sometimes, it's clear how blurry the line between right and wrong is. But over time, humans should understand that right and wrong ultimately hold value, also known as norms. Alaric knew that there would be consequences for his actions, consequences that he was fully aware of. Consequences that were too complex and wouldn't allow him to evade them. He would handle it. This time, he would be the villain. And villains always skill fully solve problems by any means necessary.
Or perhaps, this time, he was just a devil.
A devil between Aymard and Aisha, as Jaya Emyr had said.
*****