CHAPTER 9

That afternoon, the blue sky was covered with bright white clouds to describe Aris Sabarudin's heart, which was always eager to meet his anchor.

"How are you?" Aris chit-chatted as soon as Bella picked up the phone from him.

"Fine, Aris. What's wrong?" Bella asked from the other end.

"No, I just miss it." Then Aris smiled, the man felt awkward.

"You can do this, Aris."

"Hey, seriously, what did your mother crave when you were pregnant? How can her child want this?"

"Huwaaa, Mr. Aris is good at gossiping, isn't he?"

"Hey, it's true, Bella. I miss you."

"Alright, so what do you have to do with Bella?"

"So a girlfriend," Aris answered firmly, making Bella stunned for a moment she didn't say anything else.

"Hello, Bell? You're still there right?" Silence, no response from there.

"Bella? Well... you're still quiet, kid."

"Erm... still really."

"How?" asked Aris to be sure.

"How's it going?"

Bella still pretended not to understand the sentence earlier.

"Well, should I repeat what I said earlier?"

"Yes, it's necessary, right, Bella has already said that it takes hard work to convince Bella Kurnia Sari." Bella smiled sweetly. Even though Aris couldn't see it far away, the man's words made her flinch this time.

"So I'm being challenged?" Aris asked enthusiastically, "Okay... Bella, do you want to be my girlfriend?" he continued steadily, there was no doubt in his heart.

Silence strikes again. Bella gasped in silence, the mixed feelings her heart now felt.

His loud voice was enough to justify that the man on the other end wanted her to be a lifelong companion until death does us part.

Somehow, and for no real reason, Aris is sure his Bella will be the absolute mate of the Creator to accompany him to become the woman of hope materialized in his life.

Rania had seen and heard Aris' conversation with a woman named Bella. The girl quietly stood behind the wall, now she leaned her head slightly and looked up at the house's ceiling. The hateful girl's reaction became a little happy, although she had to swallow disappointment in the end. Because Bella, it turns out, has managed to win the heart of her betrothed.

"Mr. Aris, we know that it started with work. Bella became an intermediary for Mom and Mr. Aris's business. Honestly, I want this relationship to be limited to professionalism that must be maintained. Don't let Mr. Aris' expectations interfere with our cooperation."

"If you had feelings beyond Bella's control from the start, it would be better if we first established the existing feelings, if necessary, made Bella more confident without the slightest hesitation. We'll talk about it later because Bella doesn't want to turn a good relationship into a foreign relationship, uncomfortable." Bella spoke fluently and with emphasis. Accompanied by a tense face.

Aris just smiled. Trying to digest the sentences from Bella in a relaxed manner, Aris's facial expression became more and more indecipherable.

"Yeah, I see what you mean, Bell. So you're waiting for that proof?"

"Yeah... More precisely, Bella isn't sure yet, and sorry... Bella doesn't know what to say right now." The girl paused her sentence, took a breath and closed her eyes for a moment, she was considering the correct sentence to say. Honest without hurting. "But I give a chance for you to fight for me."

A happy smile grew perfectly on Aris's lips, even though Bella couldn't see it.

"But once again Bella emphasizes that it's not only Aris Sabarudin who is struggling to open her heart and convince Bella, so besides that, you have to be able to relax if one day Bella's belief doesn't go with Aris," he continued hoarsely, but there was a slight relief in his heart. There. At least the girl was telling the truth about things that could hurt the guy in the future.

Then the smile disappeared from Aris's face.

"I believe it and still believe in what the Creator has decreed later," said Aris resignedly. But not to back down, but even harder to fight. He just surrendered to what he was fighting for, the determinant remains the owner of life.

"Give me a chance, Bell," he continued pleading.

Rania is sick of seeing it. The girl refused to meet Aris, and Rania walked away from there a moment later.

You are difficult to love, so it requires me to be more patient in waiting for you.—Rania Adista Bramasta.

Rania went into the car, still breathing heavily.

"It should be me, Ris, I will be the happiest woman if a man I have loved for a long time comes and asks me to be his life partner. It's just that this is different, that woman is not me."

The girl still wanted to rebel. If only Aris's feelings for Bella were for Rania.

Rania wiped the tears that ran down her cheeks. It turns out that the more she tries to be okay, the sicker she gets. Rania is afraid that the image of Aris marrying another woman will haunt her.

***

After expressing his feelings, but did not get a definite answer from Bella. The phone just lay on the table. The screen is on. Aris remembered that there was an appointment with Rania.

Immediately Aris looked at the screen. Sure enough some missed calls came from someone. It says "Rania" on the net.

Ares sighed. His face looked sluggish, his heartbeat while talking to Bella was still left, giving a sign that there was indeed a different feeling for Bella. But there is another feeling that is now creeping into the recesses of my heart, feeling inadequate and feeling guilty.

He was silent for a moment, then he took another deep breath to prepare himself and his heart. Hesitantly, he pressed the call button, Aris tried to call Rania.

Then not long after, a hoarse voice sounded like a feeling of disappointment was heard.

"Yes, Ris...?"

That sentence made Aris speechless. Standing there could only be silent listening to every sob from the girl.

"What are you doing, Ran?" asked Aris doubtfully.

"It's okay, I just miss Mother."

"Are you sure that's the only reason?" asked Aris again to make sure.

"Yes ..." she answered quickly, nodding, then wiped the tears that kept falling.

"Where are you?" Aris asked to change the subject.

"In front of."

Aris looked at the window, he pulled open the curtains, indeed Rania's car was parked in his yard.

"Get out of your car now, wait for me out front," he ordered.

Rania frowned, without waiting for an answer from her Aris just hung up the phone.

Hurriedly, Rania wiped her tears and then kept them as much as possible so they wouldn't spill again.

It didn't take long, Aris's figure came out, and the man took his CBR motorbike. Then he climbed it and approached the door of Rania's car. The girl opened the door and got down from there.

"Go up ..." said Aris slightly looking back. A full-face helmet covered his face, only his eyes were visible and gave a signal for Rania to sit in the back.

"Where are you going?"

"Just go up."

"I don't want to! How will I be kidnapped?"

Aris took off his helmet and said. "You think I'm a pedophile, do I look that depraved, can you kidnap people's virgins? Eh, are you still a virgin?" Then Aris laughed out loud.

"Ish, it's like this, Rania is still a virgin, you know," replied Rania, annoyed. The girl pursed her lips, there was a slight smile on her pretty face, even her eyes which were still wet and puffy from crying earlier did not diminish her beauty.

"Really? Let me see here." Aris looked at Rania with a mocking look. Embarrassed the girl and reflexively hit Aris's arm so hard that he groaned.

"Remember, you can't be naughty!" Rania pointed at Aris as if giving a warning.

Aris was still chuckling while stroking the arm that Rania had hit earlier.

"Yes, yes sorry, do you want to come or not?" asked Aris later.

"Where first?" Rania still hesitated.

"To the Mall." For a moment Rania was silent, the two of them looked at each other deeply. Both try to dive deeper into each other's feelings. Looking at the person in front of her with a sense they couldn't explain. Rania just wanted to enjoy the moment.

"I want to go back to Rania who used to be a girl who is cheerful, fussy, likes to invite me out for snacks and spends my money." He continued to stare at eyes that now looked sad and puffy. Rania looked down for a moment, averting her gaze.

"Rania is dead since Aris considered her a nuisance, then blocked her number." The woman smiled bitterly in submission.

Aris smiled, there was a sense of pity now slipping away.

"That's why I took you to the Mall. Do you want to come or not? If not, I'll go alone."

Without thinking, Aris's threat just now managed to make Rania ride the motorbike.

Aris's attention this time made Rania hate the current situation even more. The scene she was experiencing was supposed to be sweet. But Rania felt otherwise. She is tormented. Considering the man nearby is currently fighting for another woman.

'Rania is sick of this condition' she mumbled.

If fate is not on our side, why is this flame of love getting bigger? I'm afraid of losing you, but one day that moment will happen too when it's clear the Creator shows that it's not your name written on lauhul mahfudz for me.

_Rania Adista_

The motorbike continued to drive through the deserted streets. His chest suddenly rumbled violently. He imagined someone who might be hurt if Rania knew about Bella.

Along the way, both of them were confused, Rania and Aris were busy with their thoughts.