He's The Unaffordable
Chapter 12 - First Friend

*Hadi*

Since I had no school schedule, I followed Papa to the office since morning. It turned out that he started his day by becoming a guest lecturer at his old campus. With his activities so dense, Aunt Gista always managed to slip the schedule outside of work affairs for Papa.

Papa's presentation is always interesting when he discusses with Aunt Gista before a meeting with colleagues or the board of directors. Of course the presentation will be delivered by Papa's secretary, not Papa himself. And Aunt Gista always managed to convey Papa's message well during the course of the meeting. I never thought that Papa could do the same thing when talking in front of students.

I never believed in a soul mate. For me, every accidental encounter did happen without any specific plan behind it. But ever since I met this girl for the first time, we've met twice in unexpected places.

Seeing him trying to hide his face the moment I entered the public lecture hall, I was tempted to approach him. I wanted to make him even more uncomfortable by sitting by his side. But I managed to hold back.

There are a lot of strange things about him that make me even more curious about him. Who is he really? How did Colin get to know her and ask her to be his girlfriend? Why should he lie to me, Dira, and Liliy? Then without me knowing it turns out we are a university. How come I've never run into him all this time?

“You want to come to lunch with me or we meet at the office?” ask Papa when college is over. We walked together to the parking lot.

“I still have business here. So, I will go directly to Papa's office,” I replied.

We stopped at Papa's side of the car. Kafin is ready to open the door for him. Papa looked at me, then smiled meaningfully. “I'm glad you finally thought of something other than college and work.” Papa patted my shoulder.

“What does Papa mean?”

“From the way you see the girl, I'm sure she's what you mean by ‘majan’. Right?” I just kept silent and did not answer or respond. Papa smiled happily. “I'm sure your mom would be happy if she knew this. He just keeps worrying because you show absolutely no interest in the opposite sex.”

“I like the opposite sex. Just haven't met the right girl.” I rolled my eyeballs, imitating my sister's style as her interlocutors said silly things.

“Clarissa has gone a long way, son. I understand that he was your first close friend before Colin. But eighteen years into her disappearance, if she hadn't died, she wouldn't have remembered you or her family. He must have had his own life.” I gulped heavily upon hearing that fact.

Just like Om Edu and Aunt Lindsey, I can't believe Clarissa was gone before I saw her body. Even though it is so small, I believe that hope is still there. The hope that the promised daughter will be my wife is still out there.

She is the reason I am not interested in other women and focus on learning. After all this education is done, I will start looking for him. I don't care where he is, who he is, or how he lives now, I will find him. If it turns out that he is already with others or is not interested in me, then I can move on. But if she was still alone and wanted to live with me, I would marry her after my master's education.

“Should Papa, Om Edu, and Uncle Mason not give up,” I said in an accusatory tone. I need someone to blame for this.

“We do not give up. We just don't know where else to look.” Papa looked at me empathically. “It's time for you to move on. Stop worrying us. Go after the girl. You better focus on what's in front of your eyes than what's long gone.”

As soon as Papa's car was far away, I headed to my car and stood by his side while checking my phone. I wasn't careful today so Papa knew that I wasn't focused on hearing his presentation but on watching one of the students in the lecture hall.

The two of them never kept secrets, so I didn't want to ask Papa to shut up and keep a secret about my attitude earlier. After all I'm happy if Mama is happy when she finds out that her eldest son is a normal boy.

When the girl I was waiting for came, I was a little surprised to see her stopping near me and not trying to run away. I've never done this before, but I'm curious. So, I asked him to talk to me. We can't talk on campus. People will think that we have a special relationship and I don't like to deal with gossip.

Talking over lunch with her, I finally understood one thing. With her condition, she wants to claim to be Colin's girlfriend for only one reason. Of money. She no longer lives with her foster parents. Then he must work to meet the needs of his life, as well as to pay his tuition fees.

“Do you like me, Hadi? Is that why you want to know everything about me?” he asked, deliberately distancing our conversation from the main topic.

“We are strangers, Mila. How can I like someone I don't know?” my reply. I stood up and picked up the bag containing our food waste. “Come, I'll take.”

I don't care if he follows me or not. After throwing the bag into the nearest trash can, I walked towards the parking lot. Hearing the footsteps behind me, I knew that it was him. I opened the car door for him.

“I inter.”

“I told you no. I—”

“I'll take you all the way to the stop,” I said explaining I mean. He looked at me for a moment before getting into the car.

We were just talking about which stop I needed to go to to make it easier for him to get on the bus to his rental room. The rest of us were silent all the way. Then I remembered something important. Women should know what women want, ‘kan?

“Can you take an hour or two to help me choose something?” ask her. I could see him looking at me.

“I told you, I have a task from the lecturer that must be collected tomorrow.”

“Let me help. I don't want to go alone to a women's boutique.” I passed the screening and drove the car to the nearest mall. Mila sighed loudly, but she did not protest we did not get to her destination stop.

Arriving at a mall, I parked the car and took it to one of the convenience stores. I already know what Dira wants from Mama. But I don't understand where to look and where his favorite brand of bag is.

“Wow!” exclaim Mila. I looked up and looked in the direction he was looking at. A giant poster shows a photo of Dira posing wearing a T-shirt and jeans with a brand logo of jeans around us. “Your sister is a model?”

“You just found out?”

“Don't model, who is the famous movie star in this country also I don't know.” He shook his head slowly. “Your friend named Colin is so stupid.”

“Not only stupid, he is also tired of living.”

*******

Meanwhile somewhere not far~

“Dira already have a lot of shoes, why do you reward him this thing again?” grouse Colin. Lily rolled her eyeballs.

“You boys know what women love. Do not complain constantly. I'm all set. Do you want to buy something in this place?” Lily looked around.

“I can buy gifts for her later. I don't want to hear your talk about my gift of choice.” Colin turned his body. But Lily immediately withdrew her hand, blocking her from walking in the opposite direction.

“Then, we leave this place. I want to eat ice cream.” Lily looked towards the two people who were standing while talking in the special part of the jeans.

“You only want to buy gifts, why should I also accompany you to eat ice cream? I still have a lot of work, Ly,” protest Colin.

“My company or I will pose your threat. Mama wouldn't be happy to hear it.” Lily looks panicked as her brother tries to break away from her hand and intends to walk towards the two people who are walking towards them. “Good. I'll call Mama.”

Colin growled. “Eat ice cream only, then we go home.” He pulled Lily's hand and they walked in the expected direction.

Lily let out a sigh of relief, then glanced towards her back. He is confused to see the girl called Colin as his girlfriend instead walk alone with Hadi. What the hell is going on? If this is a love triangle drama, she doesn't want her brother and best friend to get hit in public.