Hello! I want to let you know that this story will not be published until the end of the webnovel. For those of you who want to read this story to the end (is there anyone who wants to?)
TSoFA will be available as an English PDF ebook. (Sorry if my English is still bad) The reason I'm not publishing until the end is because this story has been rejected for contract for the following reasons: the writing pace is too draggy. The opening is not eye-catching enough, the plot is not engaging enough and difficult to follow.
So, does anyone want to own the novel? I need money too :')
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Jakarta is raining tonight, the smell of asphalt mixed with cold greets the noses of road users. Through the slightly dewy glass window of the cafe Kenan took a deep breath while staring boredly at his cell phone screen. August 14, 20:32. that's the date and time on his phone screen right now. Sitting back and leaning against the white—painted chair, Kenan turned his face out the window. The man released a faint sigh from his mouth to extend his patience limit. He felt so bored, it had been almost half an hour that he had been waiting for someone who had yet to show up.
If it wasn't Austin who made an appointment with him at this café, one second later than the promised time—then Kenan would have left immediately. Speaking of the man he was waiting for right now, this morning Kenan had only glanced at Austin. Just a smile without any meaningful dialog, greeting each other like other employees. Even when he went in and out of Austin's office, Kenan did not find a man who immediately threw a smile—every time he entered carrying sheets of paper documents that were always taken care of throughout the day. There was only Shofie, Austin's assistant who used to take care of work whenever the man had sudden business. Kenan wanted to ask where Austin had been all day. However, his question was only held in his throat when he saw the expression of the woman who was two years older than him looking gloomy.
It didn't feel like so many minutes had passed after thinking about Austin, he who made the appointment still hadn't come. A faint chuckle escaped as Kenan's jaw hardened. It seemed his patience for waiting was running out. Tonight, in the rain, for Austin's sake, Kenan continued to wait like a fool. The smell of latte and the indefinable sound of tiles and raindrops could not ease his boredom.
*
It was quiet as Helena leaned back on the soft white sofa. Beside her was a man busy with his cell phone. Through the corner of his eye Austin could see her eyebrows furrowed with an incomprehensible expression. Bored, her attention shifted entirely to her husband who was lounging on the couch with her. Knowing he was being observed, Austin didn't seem to care much, he was still faithfully making out with his phone.
"Who are you calling?" Helena asked as she smoothed her slightly messy hair behind her ear. Deep through her probing eyes as they rolled over Austin's face that never left the screen of his phone, the man didn't even glance at his wife at all.
"Kenan." Austin replied lightly.
He thought, Helena wouldn't suspect anything either since it was a man she was contacting, and he was her adopted brother. Austin didn't give Helena a second thought if she suspected their relationship.
Even if Helena knew, Austin couldn't make a promise from the start that he would never sleep with anyone else. Austin couldn't control himself in the feelings he had for Kenan. Divorcing Helena was even more impossible considering she was pregnant with his child, the future successor to his company. And she was also unlikely to want to be left by him, so in the end Austin just let himself be trapped in a love triangle, deep down there was still love for his wife even though it was not as great as his love for Kenan. Austin can't share his love equally, that's a fact that can't be denied.
As selfish as Austin was, he wanted to have both without letting go of either one. At least until he no longer wanted the woman who was his wife next to him, Austin would really let her go.
Seeing Helena's gesture that seemed to want to say something, Austin asked, "Do you have something to say?"
Realizing that she had been observed, Helena hesitated slightly before saying, "Nothing."
Afterward she leaned her head on Austin's shoulder in search of comfort. The man let her be, neither intending to embrace her as he had embraced Kenan. The serious expression lingered for a moment though it had returned to normal. Austin smiled again without facing Helena directly, only one hand now moving to stroke each strand of Helena's hair. Even so, his heart was now set on Kenan.
If he is said to be selfish, so be it. Austin didn't care. Hadn't he always gotten whatever he wanted since birth? So, why should he give up one if he could get both. So what if he felt guilty? Is it because the responsibility he bears as a loyal husband has been denied? Cross out the word loyal husband, the correct designation is a husband who tries to be loyal. Didn't Helena already know what he was like before marriage? So why should she be surprised to find her husband playing behind her back, at least Austin wasn't playing with women.
For now, on a rainy day like this. The happiest activity is to be in the arms of the person you love, feeling the warmth of his body among the cold temperature that spreads in the air. Within a fraction of a minute of Helena feeling this comfort, in the next second, Austin unexpectedly moved his head away from her shoulder and got up from his sitting position after putting his cell phone into his pants pocket.
"Where are you going?" asked Helena as soon as her attention caught Austin wearing a coat, it looked like he was going out in the rain.
"To meet Kenan." Austin answered honestly, he already didn't care if she suspected him of playing with Kenan.
"In this rain?" Helena didn't want to ask, on what business Austin wanted to meet Kenan in the rain like this-if Austin could meet Kenan when he returned to the boarding house. Had Austin forgotten that he lived under the same roof as Kenan?
"I brought a car, don't worry too much."
However, Helena was not about to give up on Austin. Her hands swiftly caught Austin's wrists. She said in the softest tone possible, trying to buy time because she knew Kenan was probably waiting for her husband's arrival.
"Stay with me, at least until I fall asleep. For your son's sake too." she coaxed.
"Only until you fall asleep." Austin drew the line, and Helena readily agreed.
Without taking off the coat he had just put on, Austin clung to Helena's body as they moved to the right side of the bed. Austin closed his eyes, but in reality the man did not sleep at all. While the person in his arms still opened both eyes. Seconds became minutes, the clock ticking. When Austin opened his eyes, he had found Helena fast asleep.
Immediately afterward, as quietly as possible Austin moved his hands away from Helena's waist. For a few moments his efforts to break free were successful, and Helena was not disturbed at all. Finally Austin was free and on his feet. He hurriedly stepped to his feet and closed the door.
As soon as the door closed a pair of Helena's eyelids opened quickly, her irises moved towards the table, as quickly as Helena grabbed her cell phone to call someone. Three rings sounded through her eardrums, a heavy voice from the other side soon followed.
"Dad, I need your help. I want some of your men to investigate someone."
There was a friendly chuckle through her cell phone audio, "Of course, Helen, who is it?"
Helena smiled. "A man named Kenan Pradipta."
*
"Kenan."
Kenan turned his head to the side when someone called out. He found the body of a large man standing at a distance of one step from the table. He looked up to see the face of the stranger who had called out to him. It was a fierce-looking man wearing a thick black leather jacket and jeans that were torn at the knees. Kenan's forehead wrinkled faintly along with his eyes narrowed.
The man said, "My boss wants to see you."
His polite voice provoked a confused expression on every line of Kenan's face. He paused, remembering who the boss of the man standing beside him was. His mind was now sorting through memories until he finally remembered someone who was the boss of the man.
"When does your boss want to see me?" Kenan asked, since his business here wasn't over yet.
"Now."
Kenan's cell phone vibrated as the big man said a short sentence. Kenan's eyes saw an incoming message from the cell phone he was holding, it must be a message from Austin. Without considering whether to leave or wait, Kenan stood up immediately.
"Okay." One word spoken, Kenan stood up and followed the big man from behind.
The heavy rain pouring down on the city soaked everything it could reach, the drops hitting the roofs with a loud roar. In the parking lot of the café cars were lined up in the rain. As soon as they reached the door, the big man ran to the black Mercedes Benz just to get an umbrella for Kenan. The big man returned and handed Kenan an open black umbrella to use, Kenan took it without saying anything and walked towards the car about four meters away.
Under the rain, a black umbrella saves the raindrops that are about to touch him. Arriving at the front of the car, the big man immediately opened the car door, after Kenan got in he immediately started the car to go somewhere.
The car engine roars in the pouring rain, penetrating the impact of the countless drops of water with its spotlights splitting the road. Less than a minute after the Mercedes Benz carrying Kenan left the café's parking lot, a black Audi filled the newly vacated parking space. The owner got out of the car without using an umbrella for shade, his feet stepping into the puddles, creating small splashes under the rain without letting some parts of his face head and shoulders get wet.
Once at the doorway, Austin's attention scanned the entire café. While wandering around the man dragged his limbs into the café, looking for someone who promised to wait for him, he promised and the person was told to wait by him. However, after almost ten minutes of Austin's eyes scanning the entire Namaaz Dining, he ended up not finding the person he was looking for.
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