Chapter 378 - What About Marriage?

During the dinner, the atmosphere enveloping the four suddenly turned cold and extremely awkward, as if they were fighting in silence. Kumala, who had taken the three of them to dinner with enthusiasm and cheerful heart, suddenly suspected something. It seems like something is wrong between the three of them. Earlier, Rangga, Lisa, and Bella ate quietly without having any conversation as usual.

"Lisa, you eat a lot, right? You are currently pregnant, you need a lot of nutrition for your baby," Kumala said while putting vegetables on Lisa's plate.

Lisa gasped from her reverie, then raised her head which had previously been bowed down and looked at Kumala across from her. "Oh, yeah, thank you! You also need to eat a lot so you can always be healthy."

Beside her, Rangga also put a piece of meat on Lisa's plate, while Bella did not pay attention to the three of them. She was busy with her food, looking furious and jealous. She was annoyed because she was the only person at the dining table who was ignored.

"I think I'm full already. I will go back to my boarding house first, okay? I've got to work early in the morning," Bella suddenly said as she got up from her seat.

Kumala looked at her with a suspicious look. The middle-aged woman put down her cutlery and asked, "Bella, how come you just want to go back? Isn't it too late to go back to the boarding house now? Just stay here for a day. Just go to work from here,"

Bella originally planned to stay at Kumala's house for two days before returning to her boarding house, but she didn't think Lisa and Rangga would come to visit and ruin her day like this. Seeing the two childhood friends as lovers had made her very disappointed. She certainly couldn't contain her anger if she stayed at Kumala's house tonight.

"No mom, I'll just go back now. I still have some work that hasn't finished yet. Later if I have free time, I will definitely visit you again."

Kumala could only surrender and took a deep breath. "Fine then, but be careful, kid! Don't forget to notify us via SMS when you arrive at the boarding house!"

Just when Bella came out of Kumala's house, Rangga and Lisa felt relieved. 

"Lisa, how come your sister is acting strange today? Are you bothering her again?" Kumala accused as usual. This middle-aged woman always pampered Bella so that whenever there was a problem, Lisa was always the first one to take the blame.

Hearing Kumala's spontaneous question stunned Lisa for a while. She tried not to look at her mother's face directly as she answered, "No, Bella is probably tired because of work, that's why she is like that."

"Ouch, poor kid. She'd just come back from her graduation ceremony and immediately returned to work. Life is so hard for her," Kumala replied pitifully.

In her heart, Lisa snorted in annoyance. Why is her mother always overreacting, as if Bella is the only one struggling in her family? If only her mother knew how much Lisa was really suffering.

"Don't worry, mom. Bella is an adult, she can manage her own life. Don't spoil her too much," Lisa replied flatly. Then she returned to eat the rice on her plate.

***

After dinner, Lisa intends to wash the dishes but Kumala stops her. "No need, just let me wash it. You are pregnant, shouldn't you move a lot too much?"

"Moving too much? Since when did washing dishes is 'moving too much?'" Lisa said in her mind. 

Shortly after she came back from the kitchen, Rangga came and helped Kumala wash the dishes. "Auntie, let me help so you don't get tired. You can just sit back and relax in the living room," he said, turning his head to Lisa.

After cleaning and chatting casually in the living room, Kumala returned to her room to sleep while Lisa and Rangga were still hanging out in the living room together. For the first time, Lisa tried to sit beside Rangga and clung to the side of the tall, thin man. She thought that at least she should try to grow her love for him.

With Lisa leaning her head on his chest, the man's hand wrapped around her shoulder and then hugged her tightly. Lisa's heart immediately beat very fast when she felt Rangga's warmth flowing into her body like an electric current.

The man might not be as athletic and as big as Oscar, but there was something about him that made her comfortable. Rangga's slender fingers that embraced her slowly creeped through her hair and brushed it gently. Without Lisa realizing it, Rangga had embraced her like a husband and wife, in the living room, in the middle of a quiet and lonely night.

"I want to say something to you," Rangga suddenly said. His voice broke the silence.

Lisa cleared her throat in return. The man brought his lips closer to her ear then said, "I'm not the type to give promises that I won't be able to keep. I really love you, and finally you accepted my love though I have to wait for a long time. So... Why don't we walk down the aisle? I'll never leave you, I promise. How about it? Do you want to marry me?"

Lisa was surprised by Rangga's words. Just from the tone of his voice, the man sounded very serious and earnest. Unfortunately, Lisa thought that she didn't even love him, so she didn't want to be careless.

"Give me time, I'm still thinking about it. I'm a bit traumatized," Lisa replied flatly.

It would be a lie if she wasn't touched by Rangga's words about marriage, but asking her to marry him this soon? Lisa really couldn't digest it! Without realizing it, her mind immediately took her to an old memory where Oscar proposed to her in the Sky Lounge.

At that time, the music that played in the Sky Lounge when Lisa and Oscar were dancing was very soft and in harmony with the romance that enveloped them.

But over time, they lost their spark. This makes Lisa traumatized by marriage proposals from any man, including Rangga. Every time she says yes, it always ends up badly like hers with Oscar back then.

Rangga then held Lisa's hand tightly and said, "Okay, just relax. I'm waiting until you're ready to accept my marriage proposal."

The man adjusted her seat so that their faces met each other close. Rangga stared at Lisa's pretty face for a long time, then slowly kissed her.

Lisa could feel her body getting swallowed in a warm embrace when Rangga landed his warm kiss on her lips. She tried to keep him from pressing on her swollen stomach by holding the man's chest with her tiny hands.

Without realizing it, her face began to turn red with embarrassment. They were both at Kumala's house, why would this man dare to kiss her here!?

"Rangga, stop! Please stop! This is my mother's house!"

Rangga pulled his kiss from Lisa's lips then apologized, "I love you, you are the only one in my heart."

Bewitched by Rangga's charm that she didn't even think could make her stunned, Lisa immediately returned to her senses. Then she quickly shifted her seat away from the man. 

She is not a teenager anymore, she knows what a man like Rangga actually wants. She knows he won't waste a chance if she allows him.

Lisa immediately got up from the sofa and looked at Rangga with a scared face. "I'll sleep first, okay? You can sleep in Bella's room or on this sofa if you want.. Sorry, I'm really sleepy."