Chapter 32 - A Room From 22 Years Ago II

"Ha ha ha ha..." The two people who were observing Aruna, spontaneously laughed.

'What are they laughing at??'

For Aruna, saying this was normal. When Okefood came to the Magic Letter outlet, then brought food for her friends working all day studying, they would scramble to destroy everything.

They then would say such words.

It was a unique habit that Damar transmitted. The two people's lives in front of her maybe were too serious, Aruna concluded.

"Your appetite is quite surprising." Hendra teased.

"Seeing Miss Aruna, it feels like my stomach is full."

-Eitss.. who stopped at the food court earlier then?

"Don't you have a rule not to disturb people from eating?"

Surya once scolded Aruna, when the three had lunch together, and she accidentally asked a question.

This time, the girl hoped the two people in front of her would be quiet.

"Unfortunately, I'm in the mood to break it." Hendra was happy to be able to disturb Aruna.

The man placed his teriyaki chicken on his plate.

"How can you guys cook this well?" Aruna praised them.

"When we lived in California, Hendra had difficulty with the type of food there. We were forced to cook it ourselves." Surya explained.

"Really? I can hardly believe you're someone like that."

Aruna felt that the Javanese-and-English man's food taste didn't reflect his visuals. However, She knew nothing about her future husband.

"You, what do you like?" Hendra asked.

"I like all foods, especially if there are promo vouchers."

What Aruna meant was when there were Okefood promo vouchers.

"How about your hobby? Do you have an interest in something?"

It seemed that Hendra was also trying to get to know his future wife in the right way (no stalking).

"I like designs... any design, especially accessories, beads or anything related to crafts," Aruna replied while enjoying the last slice of dessert.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I've finished the invitation design. Before we duplicate it, don't you want to check it?" (Hendra's 4-dimensional invitation of his wedding with Aruna)

"Deliver it to my office." Hendra pulled his lips into a suspicious smile.

'Ah, Hendra.. He wanted to show who he is.'

Surya was getting bored being a supporting role among them. The man then stepped aside to look for other activities.

***

The girl was fast asleep on the pantry table, initially planning to wait for Hendra to finish eating and clean up, hoping that the man would carry her to a more comfortable place to rest.

In fact, the feeling of tiredness and sleepiness was unbearable.

Hendra carried her, laying her down on the same bed where she had acted earlier.

The man came out of the room as quickly as possible. There was a sense of tension that enveloped him.

"May I go first?" Surya asked for approval, finding his boss just coming out of the room where Aruna was resting.

"Okay, I can take the girl home after she wakes up."

Hendra's statement approved his secretary's request.

***

The clock kept turning. It was already over 18.00 at night. But, there was no sign of Aruna waking up yet.

Hendra intended to wait another 30 minutes. Somehow, he was reluctant to enter Aruna's room.

'Ah, it's almost 7pm. Why didn't she wake up either?

The man doubly opened the door.

'Dheg'

Aruna's feet were visible. It gave him goosebumps.

'No! There will be no problem... I can pass this.'

Hendra approached Aruna's bed, finding the girl's forehead sweating. Her face looked pale.

'Is she okay?'

'Hah, am I okay too?'

Hendra touched Aruna's forehead, finding the girl's forehead temperature was high. Her palms felt hot.

'Calm down. There will be no problem. Aruna just has a normal fever.'

This man seemed to be calming himself down. He looked restless not only because the girl had a fever.

Aruna's body slightly moved to balance her body temperature. The girl started deliriously.

Hendra was unable to be near her. Somehow, he chose to take a few steps back.

Something came to him. It wasn't restlessness, but there was a tinge of fear slowly assaulting him.

'I can't... I can't see this.'

He wanted to run out of the room. Unfortunately, his body froze.

'Please... Help... Help her... She will die... Help her…'

Hendra tried to get his voice out. His mouth could only breathe out short, irregular breaths.

A room from 22 years ago was slowly coming back. The nearby wall faded, fading into another wall from his long-term memory.

The memory was saved too neatly in his head.

The man felt that the woman on the bed was dying. But, he couldn't move, frozen in the same place.

'My voice... I don't want to be like this...'

'No!! this is not real!?'

Hendra was trying to gather his logical thoughts, troubled to reach for the phone in the pants pocket. The man struggled hard just to find and press the screen.

Finally, Hendra managed to press the last button of the phone out. He contacted his secretary.

'Please... Help me... Come here help me.'

Hendra repeatedly tried to ask for help. But when the phone voiced his words...

"Hello, do you need something?"

"Hendra, hello?"

"I can't hear your voice..." The secretary was confused.

"Bruk!... Klatakk."

Hendra's eyes grew blurry, darken. He lost consciousness, falling over with his past memories.

PTSD (post-traumatic disorder) greeted him once again.

"Hey?? what happened?!"

"Hello....??"