He's The Unaffordable
Chapter 67 - Declaration of Love

I'm sure I spoke in a voice that almost whispered so that only Clarissa could hear my statement. But the atmosphere around us was suddenly silent until my ears were ringing. I took my eyes off Clarissa and looked around me. All eyes looked at me in disbelief.

Okay. This situation is starting to feel strange. I don't mean to express my very personal feelings here, when everyone is around us. But I don't know when I'll have another chance to say it. Something could have happened when we parted, so I didn't want to wait and wanted her to know how I felt now.

“Are you all going to keep staring at me and Rissa like that? The way you guys looked at us was starting to feel scary. Have you never heard someone declare love before?” I tried to be relaxed even though my heart was already beating wildly on my chest.

“Sister, do you remember anything?” asked Dira who immediately sat on my left side. “We'll go on vacation and Big Brother pays for all the accommodations! Yeeaahh!!”

“What do you mean?” many confused.

“You lost a bet, Hadi,” replied Clarissa meaningfully. A wager? Ah, that bet. I laughed remembering it. I don't care about my defeat. If this girl also loves me, then I have already obtained a much more precious gift.

“So, Clarissa. How're you? Do you love me too?” askaku expectantly.

The smile that had originally adorned his face slowly disappeared. The room was so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat. I still held her hand and she did not pull her hand away from me at all.

“I told you, we've only been acquainted for a few weeks. Too soon to discuss love, Hadi.” Not just me, everyone in the room sighed in disappointment. “Please, don't misunderstand. I don't know what love is to the opposite sex. I don't even know what I feel for you can be called love, but I want to learn to love you.”

All of our family cheered the joy of hearing his answer. Yes, that's enough. I can wait until he can say the word later. For now, I'm content to hear he's learning to love me. There are many people I can ask about tips and tricks for women to fall in love with men.

Clarissa blushed as her two grandmothers brought her seat closer to me. They asked us what kind of engagement we wanted. The event will be held at the house of Aunt Lindsey because I as a male party who came to propose to her. They won't be holding a ring exchange, just an announcement to let everyone know that we're both officially engaged.

I don't understand any details, it's important that Clarissa and I get officially engaged in front of everyone. I want everyone to know that this girl is my milk. A man like Finley would no longer be able to try to snatch him from me.

“I think it's time also for us to announce that Clarissa is our biological granddaughter, Pa. People need to know that we've found our lost grandson.” Aunt Lindsey looked at her husband expectantly.

“Of course, darling. Mason and I were also thinking of finding a good day to announce that Clarissa we've found. So, why not when she got engaged.” Om Edu smiled happily. We're all happy to hear it.

The doctor checked my condition the next day and I was allowed to rest at home. I was so relieved to go home and lie in my own bed. Unfortunately, I can't see Clarissa as often as in the hospital. He also went home and had to rest in his house.

What is the use of technology if we do not use it? We make video calls whenever we feel lonely. Dira has returned to school, so no one is accompanying me at home. Even though Mama works from home, she will not be out of the room especially if she has started to enter the world of characters she is writing.

And so did Clarissa. She didn't even have anyone in her house because Charlotte was back at school and her grandmothers were busy preparing for our engagement. Wyatt did not return to the United States and continued his plans to study in Indonesia. The thing that makes Charlotte careless every time she is at home.

Even though Dira was at school, I did not allow her to come home for a second. I don't want my sister to misunderstand me by letting the person who hurt her come to this house. I've had a lot of problems and I don't want to add any more.

Whenever I end our phone calls or videos, I always say the word love. Clarissa was often stunned for a moment before responding. She was adorable whenever her face flushed with embarrassment or sudden nervousness and misbehavior.

Almost a week of resting at home, I returned to college. Papa's been taking care of a new car for me the same kind as my last car. This time they proved to Papa that his entire air bag was functioning properly. They also paid compensation for the malfunctioning of air bags on the windows next to Clarissa's seat.

Papa won't let me drive my own car to college. I had to wait until I was fully healed to drive again. Pak Sakti was assigned to be our personal driver. Unlike me who parked the car on campus, Pak Sakti went home after dropping me off and picked me up when I finished college.

When I met Clarissa, I didn't like seeing burn scars on her temples. Colin was furious when he heard the story to get the wound, let alone me. Once she found out that Finley was intending to marry my fiancee, Colin rushed to the toilet. I think he's just kidding. It turned out that he was actually spewing out his stomach contents.

“Old bandot basis! He's really shameless. Has he forgotten his age?” colin said in a stifled voice as he rejoined us. He gulped water from his bottle, then exhaled a long breath. “I'm really nauseous, we'd better not discuss him again. Change topic.”

So Clarissa mentioned about our family's plans to officially announce our engagement. Clarissa invited him personally, because I can't do that. “If you come later, promise me you will keep your distance from Dira. She is my sister-in-law's candidate, so if you hurt her, you will come face to face with me.”

“I promise. Thank you for inviting me to your happy event.” Colin hugged my body tightly.

“Why are you hugging me? It was not me who invited you,” I asked in wonder.

“What does that mean I can hug Clarissa?” asked Colin who immediately closed his mouth as I brandished my fists. Clarissa laughed at our behavior.

We studied together at the library after attending all the courses. Since the issues on our proposal were different, then we could not discuss many things. Only me and Colin can do it. Clarissa had to think and figure out her own solution whenever she came across a problem in her research.

A few minutes before my brothers' extra lesson, I got a call from Pak Sakti that he was already in the parking lot. Colin and I drove Clarissa first to her car, which she had already picked up. She blushed as I kissed her cheek and said love. I really hope he will say the same, but it seems like he still needs time. Colin nudged my arm when I just stood there staring at his car.

“She lived without love for a dozen years, give her time,” said my friend was a wise sage. I just glanced at him, then walked towards the parking lot of our majors.

Our engagement day arrived. I woke up this morning feeling very happy. The first thing I did was say hello. Judging from the direction of the camera, he must have just woken up so as not to allow me to see his morning face.

After talking for a while, I ended the video call to get ready for a jog. I was very sure that she would continue her sleep and not start her morning activities until the sun was already high. Clarissa is very similar to Mama who is difficult to wake up in the morning.

“Kak!” exclaimed Dira who suddenly just opened my room door without knocking first. “There is something bad! This is really bad news, Brother!”