He's The Unaffordable
Chapter 23 - Eating Together

“Mi-Mila ..?” colin said he did not believe it. He glanced at me for a moment before approaching the girl. He held her arm, intending to take her away from me.

“Colin, I didn't come to see you.” Mila brushed off her hand and walked back towards me. His eyes looked at me seriously. “There are important things we need to talk about.”

“Mila, did you not misspoke?” colin said again, trying to keep the girl away from me.

“Enough, Colin! Hadi knows everything. You don't have to pretend anymore. Before you forget, our business is done. I no longer have any responsibility to you.” Mila looked at Colin sharply. “So, stop blocking me from talking to him.” The girl looked back at me. “It's an urgent situation. I need to talk to you.”

“I have an appointment this afternoon with my two sisters.” I glanced at my watch. “I can talk to you afterwards. But if you don't mind, you can join us. I'm sure my two sisters won't mind eating pizza with you.”

“What do you mean, Hadi? You cannot bring Mila to meet Dira!” colin protest. “All my plans will be ruined if Dira knows everything.”

“Good. I can't delay it until tomorrow. We can talk after lunch.” Mila immediately agreed, ignoring Colin's protest.

“See you Monday, Cole.” I turned around and approached the car. I opened the door so that Mila could get in, then turned the car towards the driver's side.

Dira won't react like my best friend thought. We all know who this girl is except Colin. In return for his evil attitude towards my sister, I will not tell her about the new facts we discovered. Let him be the last to know.

We were silent throughout the journey, a sign that the urgent matter he wanted to talk to me about could not be discussed in passing. He was waiting in the car when I picked up Adi and Dira at their school. Because Wendy also came to work, they sat three in the backseat.

They greeted each other, then the atmosphere in the car was very quiet. Dira and Adi are busy themselves with their cell phones, while Wendy does not know how to. He seemed relieved when I stopped the car in front of the cafe where he worked.

“Not here, Brother,” Dira said as I pulled over the car to enter the parking lot of a restaurant. “We go to the mall in front only. I want to go to the salon after lunch.” I obey.

While driving around looking for a place, we were finally able to park the car. We went out and waited until Dira also caught up with us. Mila looked at me and Adi confusedly as we just stood by the side of the car. As soon as Dira came out, she finally understood. We were waiting for him to change clothes. He got into the car to do the same.

Even though we came at school, they had to change their uniforms. Just in case the security guards are looking for trouble. Since we had once walked into the mall in uniform in the afternoon, the security guards forbade us from entering.

Dira uses a mask to disguise his face. He couldn't possibly wear a hat and glasses inside the mall. Without having to talk, we know where to go. Adi and Dira walked in front, and Mila and I followed them.

“You can order anything you want.” Dira opened the menu book that was in his hand. We were lucky to get an empty table when we entered the restaurant. “We will only order one large pizza to eat together, then we order our own side menu.”

“Ng, I won't eat much. Pizza alone is enough for me,” said Mila reluctantly.

“Papa who pays for our food. Don'worry. You can eat anything you want.” Dira turned to the waiter who was standing at the side of the table and mentioned the food and drinks of his order. Me and Adi also mentioned our respective orders. Then we too the servant looked towards Mila. He ordered a glass of cold lemon tea and spaghetti with a meat ball.

“I didn't expect you'd be nice to me,” Mila told Dira after the waiter left our table.

“My problem is with Colin, not with you. He cheats and breaks promises, so I won't get angry or antagonize you.” Dira smiled sweetly. “But what made you come with my sister? Do you guys have any business after we eat?”

“Ng, I need Hadi's help. There are some things we need to talk about,” Mila replied honestly. Dira nodded his head.

“That's good news. I will enjoy the treatment in the salon for a long time, so Kak Hadi will have plenty of time to talk to you. Adi will be with me. He is not difficult to be invited anywhere as long as he can focus on playing with his phone.” Dira rolled her eyeballs.

Mila smile. “It must be nice to have two brothers.” I saw there was a hint of jealousy in Mila's eyes.

“Honest of all. It's better to have a sister who can be invited to do all the things that girls love. My brother and sister do not like to accompany me to the salon, shopping, or gather with my friends.” Dira sighed softly.

“Wendy has her own responsibilities. He had to work to finance his school and save for his tuition later. So, we can only take advantage of time together while in school.” Dira shrugged both of his shoulders, then he observed Mila's face while smiling meaningfully. “Seeing you can speak Indonesian fluently is unique.”

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lie,” Mila said slowly.

“No need to apologize. If you believe in you as a friend, then you are our friend too. Among the three of us, Big Brother is a person who is good at reading the nature of others. So, you have to be careful when interacting with him.” Dira blinked one eye. Me and Adi laughed a little at it.

Adi focused on the game on his phone, while I read several books that had to do with my research through my phone. Dira and Mila were talking together, so I didn't bother them. Even when we ate, they were still sharing their stories.

Dira and Adi finally knew that what I said about Mila was completely true. He had no idea who his biological parents were and his adoptive parents kicked him out of their house. Mila said nothing about her work or how she could support herself. Dira didn't ask either. But my brother is smart, he can definitely guess that one thing.

For those who knew of Mila and Dira's relationship, this scene must have been very strange. Dira is Colin's ex-fiancee, while Mila is his current lover. Fake girlfriend, to be exact. Of course, I'm the only one who knows that fact. Dira probably guessed it too because Colin had never discussed the girl in front of us like someone who was in love.

“Come, Adi. We're leaving now. Let Brother and his friend talk.” Dira stood up and held Adi's hand. The waiter who had returned my sister's debit card was still standing at the side of our table, preparing to clean every tableware we used.

“I inter. We can have coffee at the cafe next to the salon,” I said as I put my phone in my shirt pocket.

Dira cheered happily as she was able to continue her chat with Mila on our way to her favorite salon. We looked around and watched the snacks served in the glass cupboard. He stopped at one bakery, then bought a few slices of bread as well as two bottles of drinking water.

We split up in front of the salon. Dira and Adi entered the haircare, while Mila and I went to the cafe next door. The smell of delicious coffee immediately filled my smell. We headed to the counter to order snacks and warm drinks. Mila refused as I paid for all of our orders, but I did not let her pay for the orders.

“I know you have money and can pay for this food. But as long as you are with me, I will not let women spend their money.” I looked around us looking for a comfortable table position to talk to.

“You let your sister pay for our lunch earlier,” he reminded. Okay, I got to. That's why I laughed when I heard it.

“That's Papa's money transferred to his account,” I said defend myself. Finding a table that suits me, I took him to sit there.

I placed a board with two numbers on the table so that it could be seen by the waiter who would deliver our order. Mila sat in front of me with the table between us so we could talk freely. He's starting to look agitated.

Looks like I should start our conversation to ease any tension he might feel. “Please. What do you want to talk to me about?”

*******

Meanwhile in salon~

“I know now, you must have deliberately followed me. Where I go, you go too. Can't you just one day not appear before me?” said Reese fiercely seeing Dira standing at the counter cashier.

Dira closed his eyes, sighing deeply, before turning his head towards the girl. “I came to this place to take care of my hair. You please continue your affairs, I'm with my affairs.” Dira went back to talk to the cashier to discuss what he wanted to do.

“Can't be so.” Reese held Dira's arm and twisted the girl's body to look at her again. “I came here first. You better get out now and come when I'm gone. My mood breaks every time I see your face and it's not good for my hair.”

Adi stands between Dira and Reese, intending to stand up for her brother. But Dira put her hand in front of Adi's chest so that she would not interfere. Reese who had been staring intently at Dira only realized that someone else was coming with her.

“Wah, wow, wow. The young man who came with you this time was younger. Is he your old girlfriend's replacement? You should just decide him. You can get a more handsome and young.” Reese laughed cynically, but her eyes scanned Adi from head to toe.

“Is that all you have in your head about me? I walk to and fro with a different young man? What do you think I am? Predator male?”