Sky Café, 4:45 PM Local Time
Nadia sat by the large window, her chin resting on her hand, her gaze blankly staring through the view outside. In front of her, the chocolate milkshake was nearly melted, and the small spoon had been stirring it repeatedly without purpose. For almost half an hour, she had been trapped in her own thoughts, as if the world around her meant nothing.
Tap! A pat on the shoulder startled Nadia. She turned quickly and found Alvian standing there with a puzzled expression.
"Sis, why are you daydreaming? Work problems?" he asked, pulling out the chair across from her and sitting down. "Or maybe... someone special?" Alvian narrowed his eyes, teasingly.
Nadia's expression changed. Her brows furrowed deeply at Alvian's remark.
Smack! A light smack landed on Alvian's head before he could react.
"What's wrong with you?!" Nadia snapped, her face turning red. "I'm not hung up on some guy! Don't be ridiculous!"
"Ow, Sis!" Alvian winced, rubbing his head while chuckling. "That hurt! I was just joking…"
Nadia huffed in annoyance, but the corners of her lips twitched slightly, holding back a laugh. As much as he could be annoying, she knew Alvian just wanted to make her feel better.
Alvian kept wincing, still rubbing his head to ease the pain from Nadia's unexpected smack. For a woman, Nadia sure had surprising strength.
"But seriously, Sis, you've been spacing out for ages! I even called you a few times and got no response!" Alvian complained again, his tone now louder. He squinted, as if a thought crossed his mind. "Wait a sec. I never said anything about a guy. Don't tell me... you're falling in love?!"
Alvian's voice was loud enough to draw glances from nearby customers, some of whom looked rather irritated.
Nadia's face turned crimson. She took a deep breath—this time more sharply—trying to hold herself back from snapping again. But before she could say a word, a low, cold voice cut through the air.
"Ahem."
Alvian froze. He didn't even need to turn around to know whose voice that was. Angkasa, the owner and boss of the café, stood not far from them, hands in his pockets. His sharp gaze and cold aura sent shivers down Alvian's spine.
"Alvian," Angkasa said slowly, but firmly.
"Didn't I tell you to deliver the customer's order after coming from the storage room? Hm?"
Alvian swallowed hard. "B-boss, u-uh, the order got canceled, s-so I…" he stammered, but couldn't finish his sentence. Angkasa's cold, flat stare seemed to jam his brain.
Tap...
Nadia patted Alvian's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze to help calm the nervous young man.
"It's okay. He just stopped by to say hi. We were just chatting a bit. That's not a problem, right?" Nadia tried to mediate. Honestly, she was getting tired of the tense atmosphere Angkasa always seemed to bring with him.
However, when Angkasa shifted his gaze to Nadia, the tension only deepened. His eyes narrowed, locking onto Nadia's hand still resting on Alvian's shoulder. His face remained calm, but something stormy simmered beneath the surface.
"Your hand…" Angkasa said quietly, his voice cold and sharp.
Alvian's eyes widened. Without hesitation, he gently moved Nadia's hand off his shoulder. He was beginning to understand the meaning behind Angkasa's glare, even if Nadia seemed completely oblivious to it.
"I-I just remembered, Boss!" Alvian suddenly exclaimed, sounding panicked. "Lorry asked me to help in the kitchen—separating coffee beans! Yeah, that! I... I'll head back now!"
Without waiting for a response, Alvian dashed away. That sharp look from Angkasa meant something—jealousy, maybe? He wasn't sure. But one thing was certain: Alvian had no intention of staying there any longer.
-----
Seeing Alvian leave, Nadia began gathering her scattered belongings on the table. Her laptop, notebook, and a few small documents were quickly stuffed into her bag. It was nearly five in the evening, and she felt there was no reason to stay any longer.
Besides, she didn't want to linger, especially since she wasn't ready to face Angkasa. Viarra's words from two days ago still echoed in her mind.
"What are you doing?"
Nadia's hand froze just before grabbing her laptop. Angkasa's low and firm voice snapped her out of her thoughts. She kept her head down, unwilling to meet his gaze. But after taking a deep breath, she resumed putting her laptop into her bag without replying.
"I asked, what are you doing?" Angkasa repeated, this time a bit louder.
"I'm going home. Why?" Nadia replied irritably, still avoiding his eyes.
"I'll take you home," Angkasa said without hesitation.
Nadia looked up, locking eyes with the handsome man standing firmly in front of her. His gaze was sharp, filled with conviction. She scoffed, trying to contain her annoyance.
"I can go home by myself. Besides, look—your café's full of customers. Are you really going to just leave it like that?" she protested.
"There is no room for rejection." Angkasa's reply was cold and final. "The café is as busy as usual, and there are three other employees who can handle it. Wait out front. I just need to change clothes."
Before Nadia could respond, Angkasa had already turned away, walking confidently toward the back room. His neat chef uniform would soon be replaced by casual wear.
Nadia could only let out an irritated huff, adjusting her bag while muttering under her breath, "Tch, so pushy!"
Oddly enough, she didn't protest any further. There was something in the way Angkasa spoke—firm, yet caring—that drained her will to argue.
A few meters from Sky Café…
The sudden honk of a car startled Nadia, who had been daydreaming while watching two kids joyfully playing with cotton candy. She turned around to see Angkasa's car right beside her. Without delay, she stepped inside.
"You've looked deep in thought since earlier. What's on your mind?"
Angkasa's question came the moment she buckled her seatbelt.
Nadia was slightly caught off guard, then shook her head gently.
"It's nothing, really. Just some work stuff, but it's fine," she reassured, though her voice sounded a bit uncertain.
Angkasa glanced at her, his eyes focused and intense. He was sure Nadia was hiding something from him. Still, he didn't want to force her if she wasn't ready to talk.
He paused for a moment, then spoke again while starting the car.
"I want to stop by somewhere first. Is that okay?"
"Where to?" Nadia asked, puzzled.
Angkasa glanced her way and gave a faint smile before returning his focus to the road.
"You'll see," he replied mysteriously. Then, he turned on the radio, tuning in to the evening broadcast.
Nadia shifted her gaze forward and leaned back into the seat. She didn't ask again and simply watched the road ahead.
It's okay, right? After all, tomorrow's the weekend—no need to worry about work.
-----
Angkasa POV
I took Nadia to a small orphanage located on the outskirts of the city, at the border between Calibri and Valderano. This orphanage is called Dimora Speranza, which means "House of Hope." It is managed by Don Marco, a former priest, together with his wife, Elena. They have been together for 20 years and have no children. In this orphanage, there are about 20 children—abandoned kids who were unwanted by their families or born from illicit relationships. I make it a point to visit this place three times a year. The joy of the children and the peace that I feel in the village of Vinetta give me an escape from my daily routine and the turmoil that often haunts me.
"Why didn't you say you wanted to come here earlier?! Oh no, I didn't bring anything with me! Ugh..."
I glanced at Nadia who looked anxious beside me. She gently tugged at the sleeve of my shirt and whispered. At first, I thought she didn't like being brought here, but it turned out she felt sad because she didn't bring anything as a gift for the children here. I gave a small smile to calm her down.
"Don't worry, I've already brought plenty of food and clothes. Come on, help me take them out," I said.
Nadia just nodded and followed me to unload the things from the car's trunk.
Ding! Dong! The bell rang several times before a woman's voice was heard from inside. Creak!
"Yes, who is it? Oh, Angkasa! Oh my, come in. And who is this girl, hm? Is she your girlfriend?" yelled a middle-aged woman with simple clothes, her bluish-black hair neatly styled to the side.
I smiled, nodded, and put my arm around Nadia's shoulder.
"This is my fiancée, Mother," I said firmly.
I knew Nadia would probably feel uncomfortable, but I intentionally squeezed her shoulder as a confirmation. Nadia glanced at me for a moment, then turned her attention back to Mother Elena, who was now looking at her with a bright face. Nadia nodded and greeted her.
"Hello, umm, ma'am. My name is Nadia," Nadia said, a bit awkwardly.
Mother Elena was briefly surprised, then shouted excitedly.
"Oh my God, you're so beautiful, my dear! Wow, Angkasa is so lucky! Come in, come in. Make yourself at home, okay? There are lots of children here, so I hope it's not a problem for you," said Mother Elena enthusiastically.
She invited us in, while helping to carry some of the things I had brought for them.
Not long after we entered, we were greeted by the children's voices. Their cheerful sounds and bright eyes always made me feel warm every time I visited.
"Brother Angkasa is here, yay!!!"
The chorus of their voices greeted me. I let Nadia be led deeper into the house by Mother Elena, while I was surrounded by the children. I bent down to distribute some items for all of them.
"Don't fight, okay? Everyone will get something. Let's line up so I can give these out," I said while handing out toys and some healthy snacks to the orphanage children.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
"You're here again, young master?" A stern voice greeted me after I finished handing out the toys and snacks.
I stood up and looked at the adult man, who seemed to be about the same age as Roberto.
"Don Marco, how many times do I have to tell you, just call me by my name, hmm?" I said in a flat tone.
I shook hands with him before we sat in the living room.
Don Marco was not a stranger in my life. In the past, he worked for Atmadja, but now he chose to live far from the hustle and bustle, living a simpler life. As a former priest and spy who had been involved in various secret movements, he now lived peacefully, far from his past. However, I knew that Don Marco had a wise side that always made me feel comfortable talking to him.
Angkasa POV END
-----
In the kitchen...
Nadia and Elena were tidying up some of the food supplies that Angkasa had brought earlier. The two of them worked together while chatting casually.
"Does Angkasa come here regularly, ma'am?" Nadia asked, curious.
"Yes, he comes about three times a year. The children here always look forward to his visits. Oh, by the way, would you like something to drink, Nadia?" Elena asked as she began preparing something.
Nadia shook her head, feeling uncomfortable being served like that. Her sudden visit without preparation made her a bit uneasy.
"It's okay, ma'am, you don't have to go to any trouble…" Nadia declined politely.
But Elena just smiled and shook her head, quickly grabbing an empty glass and dropping some ice cubes into it. Then, she mixed pure white milk with a honey-like liquid that smelled like grapes.
"The weather's been pretty hot lately, hasn't it? Try this, dear. It might not be as fancy as what they have in the city, but it's just a mix of milk and homemade grape syrup," Elena said warmly, handing the glass to Nadia.
Nadia nodded, smiled, and took the glass. "Thank you, ma'am." She took a sip and her eyes widened slightly, surprised by the refreshing sensation of the sweet-sour grape and freshly-squeezed milk combination.
"This is really good, ma'am!" she exclaimed sincerely.
Elena chuckled happily at Nadia's praise. "We live off farming and raising cows. The produce is enough to sell, and the rest we use for our daily meals."
Elena's explanation made Nadia nod in understanding. She took another sip of the drink and enjoyed its delicious taste.
Not long after their conversation, a little girl came running into the kitchen with a cheerful face. "Mom! Come out front! Big brother's going to sing!" she shouted excitedly.
Nadia was momentarily surprised, but quickly composed herself. She placed the empty glass on the table and walked toward the little girl who had just spoken. Nadia crouched down in front of her, greeting the little girl with curious eyes.
"Hey, what's your name? Can I watch your big brother sing too?" Nadia asked softly, trying to be friendly.
The little girl looked shy, her cheeks blushing, but she nodded enthusiastically. "Umm, yes! Let's watch together. My name's Sarah," she replied quietly, her voice trembling a little from nervousness.
Nadia was charmed by her. Without hesitation, she pulled the little girl into a warm hug and lifted her up. "Let's go!" she exclaimed with excitement, which was instantly met with a cheerful squeal from Sarah.
Elena, who had been watching their interaction the whole time, smiled gently. In her heart, she felt happy to see the girl Angkasa had introduced as his future wife being so kind and full of joy. Elena silently hoped for happiness and blessings to follow them both.
In the front room...
Angkasa sat with a guitar by his side, gently strumming the strings. The soft sound of the guitar filled the room, followed by his warm singing voice.
"At Dimora Speranza, we're all together,
Wipe away the tears, replace them with laughter,
Here's the home of love, here's the place of hope,
Our dreams will slowly come true, no longer alone."
The song flowed with tenderness, as if wrapping the children gathered around him in a blanket of safety and hope. Every note, every word, carried a deep sense of love. The guitar sounded gentle, its soothing melody bringing warmth and a sense of promise for a better future.
Nadia watched it all unfold. Up there, Angkasa looked so different—with a guitar in his arms and that tender voice filling the whole room. In the next moment, Angkasa's gaze landed on her. They became lost in that look. Somehow, Nadia couldn't look away, allowing the pounding of her heart to blend with the warmth of the atmosphere.
Just the two of them—no one else in the world...