Two weeks later, Kenan still hadn't come home to Austin's apartment, and that had raised Helena's curiosity. The calm, relaxed atmosphere that prevailed as the Keano couple ate breakfast was broken by a question from the woman who was Mrs. Keano.
"Kenan's still not home?" she asked while Austin was drinking.
Slightly surprised by the question, Austin choked. That immediately got a quick reaction, Helena welcomed the glass and gave Austin a napkin for his head.
After wiping his mouth, Austin looked at Helena and asked, "Why do you ask?"
"Is it wrong for me to ask how your brother is doing? He's already my brother, after all. He hasn't been home for two weeks and you don't seem to care about him."
Helena was wrong. Austin was always thinking about Kenan. Not only in his mind, but also in his heart, although he always fended off the thought.
Austin looked at Helena who was still waiting for his answer. The man just took a deep breath, faced his wife and smiled. "He's probably busy with his career as a manager. So he won't be home for a few weeks. You don't have to worry about my brother, after all ... he's back after being away for so many years, let alone two weeks. Maybe he'll come back in a few days."
The answer seemed to bring a little relief to Helena's heart, but on the other hand there was a speck of curiosity that arose in the bottom of her heart. What kind of relationship did Kenan and her husband have in the past? That was precisely what made Helena ask the question that she did.
Every time Kenan's name was mentioned, Helena saw an unusual flicker in Austin's eyes. And just now she saw it too. After all, Helena was a woman with strong feelings.
Helena was still looking into Austin's brown eyes. Looking for an answer in them. However, before she found the bright spot. The sound coming from the cell phone automatically stopped her.
It was the sound of her cell phone. Breaking their gaze, Helena picked up the cell phone lying on the table and found a short message on it.
"Looks like my plans for Paris are going to be accelerated," Helena said, putting the phone back on the table.
"How soon?" Austin asked, as the woman's expression seemed lethargic.
"The day after tomorrow."
Austin's face became a little glum. Previously, Austin had plans for the next two days to be with Helena. And that plan was only decided this morning, when he saw the calendar on the manuscript table next to his wedding photo. August 7 was their third wedding anniversary. Three years old, and since then Austin has completely stopped playing with the ladies out there. Austin found it hard to believe that he could change, but he did.
Realizing the change in expression on her husband, Helena immediately comforted him by pinching Austin's cheek. Spontaneously, the man looked at her with a different face.
Helena then said, "Don't put on that expression, I'm only in Paris for a few days not forever," she joked accompanied by laughter, pinching Austin's cheeks tight.
Austin immediately caught her hand to remove the pinch as he said, "Stop pulling my face, you're making my handsome face wrinkled."
Helena replied with a laugh, "It's precisely by being pulled like this that your face becomes more handsome ahaha."
*
A plane takes off into the blue sky. Sukarno Hatta Airport was bustling with people with various needs. One hand was dragging a suitcase, and the other hand was holding someone. Wearing his after work suit, Austin managed to attract several pairs of female eyes with his appearance.
Austin faced Helena as he said, "Lately, I haven't had much time for you."
Helena smiled. "It's okay, at least we're still sleeping together, I'm glad to be by your side every night," she said as she rubbed Austin's cheek. "I hope I can forever be by your side when I open my eyes after sleeping and close my eyes to sleep."
Austin's gaze softened from before. He caught Helena's hand on his right cheek and said, "I wish it was like that too."
"I love you, don't leave me." The words came out in a soft tone from Helena's mouth.
Without waiting for Austin's response, she hugged him tightly as if his body was the only thing she had to hold on to when she was on a small ship floating on the ocean in waves and storms.
Outside, the glass window reflected the color of the dark sky sprinkled with sparkling stars. Austin stared out before finally looking at the man who had just entered his office, this time without permission.
"This is the last document of the day."
Austin blinked, surprised to find the man now standing in front of him. Nevertheless, he asked, "Isn't it Bernardi who should deliver the last document?"
"Uncle Bernardi had other business, so he asked me to deliver it."
Austin simply nodded in understanding, before Kenan turned his gaze towards the window, at the stars twinkling in the sky that Austin had been looking at before he came. Actually, Kenan was just averting his eyes from the gaze of the man in front of him. However, Kenan was not observant enough to see the look of joy on Austin's face. Kenan didn't know that he was the one who managed to take Austin's eyes off the stars outside.
There was a quiet silence before Austin said, "Are you busy after this? Let's have a drink together at the bar!" His tone sounded reluctant, but his eyes looked expectantly at Kenan to accept his invitation.
I don't know what possessed him this time, Austin managed to voice what had been in his heart.
Not immediately agreeing to the man's invitation, Kenan only paused to think for a moment. And Austin was willing to wait for the man's answer. Kenan's eyes saw Austin's figure who looked lonely—for the first time tonight. Kenan didn't know that the man's wife was in Paris. And that made Kenan agree to his invitation-even though he was still angry with Austin for what happened that night.
"Hmn," Kenan replied simply.
The Colosseum bar was Kenan's choice when Austin invited him to have a drink together. The man just agreed to wherever Kenan took him to be together.
Upon reaching the doorway, Austin gasped as his fingers were grasped tightly by fingers that had a softer palm texture. Austin suddenly looked up into the handsome face of his owner. There was a feeling of surprise, because he didn't expect it to be Kenan.
Looking straight at the man, Kenan said, "I used to drink here, I'll take you to the place where I spend my time."
Austin didn't have time to respond because Kenan immediately pulled him-without giving Austin a chance to answer. So, Austin just chuckled softly while letting himself be pulled by Kenan.
Austin looked in various directions once they arrived at the new stool. Kenan chose to sit in the corner where not too many crowds gathered. So, he felt like a hick who had just stepped into a bar, taking the far corner.
"I'd like two cocktails," Kenan asked the bartender.
The male bartender immediately understood. Kenan could be considered a customer, because he often came to this bar even though he was alone. However, there was something different tonight, Kenan brought a handsome man with him.
Not waiting for a long time, two cocktail glasses were served in front of them. No words came out after Kenan and Austin sipped their drinks, both of them immersed in silence through the loud music that played. However, it had no effect on the two men. Soon the music changed to a more relaxed tone. The creeping guilt and perhaps a bit of emotion produced an atmosphere of awkwardness between them.
"Mas Kenan," Austin called softly without expecting Kenan to turn to him. However, his 'Mas' call was like a spell that summoned Kenan from a great distance. Now the man beside him was staring at Austin with a facial expression as if to ask, what?
Austin hadn't even prepared the words to address to Kenan. They faced each other, their eyes met again in a split second, and it made a rumble in Austin's chest.
Austin was happy, he hoped after this their relationship could be like before. When Kenan stayed at his place before his drunken feud.
Don't know who started first, but now Kenan's lips and Austin's lips were locked in an intense kiss. They seemed to be trapped in time and space, ignoring their surroundings. The dim light was on their side, hiding what the two men were doing in the flickering darkness. The fluttering sound made when Austin slipped his tongue into Kenan's mouth, when his breath became labored, broke the kiss.
Without resuming the kiss, Austin simply tugged Kenan's wrist in a hurry to get out of the crowd and to the next stop. Kenan knew where Austin was taking him, to a hotel.
[]