He's The Unaffordable
Chapter 71 - Unrequited Love

*Hadi*

“For eighteen years searching for our lost grandson, we finally met him again. Strangely enough, through a less than pleasant event for someone we care about. But no matter how weird it all started, we are grateful to be reunited with the grandchild we have been looking for.” Om Edu reached out his hand for Clarissa to stand by his side.

“I introduce you all, Clarissa Raina. Princess of Matthias Alexander and Abigail White, older sister of Charlotte Regina, first granddaughter of Eduardo Abraham and Lindsey Christina.” The flash from the reporters' cameras was directed at Clarissa and her family.

Om Edu's assistant invited reporters to ask questions and gave them only fifteen minutes before the dinner began. I frowned not understanding hearing it. Dinner after the interview? Then what about the plan to announce my engagement to Clarissa?

Feeling a touch on my back, I turned to my left side. My mother smiled at me, then grabbed my waist. “Edu, Mason, and their wives agree that the announcement of your engagement needs to be postponed. I hope you can understand their decision.”

“Our engagement announcement is delayed? What's reason?” aska I want to know.

“The time is not right and with the news in circulation, they need to calm the issue before making another big announcement.”

“And this is the second decision of Rissa's grandparents?” ask again.

“Iya,” Reply Mama. I looked towards him.

“Do you think I'm a child who can't read the situation well? Don't lie to me, Ma. I know it's not the parents who want to postpone our engagement. It's Rissa's request, ‘right? Aunt Claudia had long waited for this day, there was no way she would want to delay this day any longer. Formalizing my relationship with Rissa was the most important thing to her than just showing the world that Rissa was the granddaughter she had been looking for all this time.”

“I'm not lying to you. That is the reason that Lindsey and Claudia told me,” Mama said in self-defense, which I believe is the truth. Because I saw the two of them talking to Mama in the corner of the room.

“And the reason Mason and Edu gave me,” Papa said chimed in. “Listen, Son. I know you're disappointed with this decision. But Rissa has had a lot of difficulties in her life, so we let her calm herself down for a moment.”

“Let's not enough to describe what I'm feeling, Pa. I understand that Rissa won't go ahead with our plans today. But Papa and Mama should be able to explain to her grandparents that this is not fair to me.”.

“Son, you already know how the married life of me and your mama. Being in a relationship with a girl who doesn't want to be with you is not a good thing. You can't force his will. If you force your engagement to be held today, something bad will happen. Better avoid than regret, Hadi.”

I know everything they've experienced in their marriage. Papa doesn't need to remind me of that constantly. Every relationship has to be happy and sad, do they think I don't know that?

“Papa forgot one of the most important things. All that Papa and Mama have experienced in your relationship has strengthened the love between you. Even couples who love each other experience ups and downs in their marriage.”

My parents are silent and I am grateful for that. I no longer want to hear their advice about the relationship between men and women. They continue to assume that their relationship is not perfect. When do I ask them to be perfect parents or husband and wife? They both managed to maintain their marriage, that was all that mattered.

And I want to have a strong marriage like that. I know I'm not ready to get married. What kind of life can I give to my wife and children if I am still in college and do not have a job? But I'm sure to have a serious relationship with Clarissa. I'm ready to tell everyone that she's my fiancee.

Then just because of the bad news about his past before meeting me, he backed away from the plan we had already put together and agreed on. Does he think what I feel to him is just playful and not serious? She was the first person since I was a child I always thought of. And she was also the first girl I ever loved, I loved so much. How much he did this.

As soon as fifteen minutes passed, we were all welcome to enjoy the dinner that the host had provided. I sat down with Colin, Adi, and Wyatt. I avoid Clarissa as much as possible. I'm not ready to talk to him.

“You okay?” ask Colin when I'm done eating. I'm nodding. He glanced in the direction I knew where Clarissa, and Dira, were. “News circulating seems to make Clarissa change her mind. You're not gonna talk about this with him?”

“He has decided, then I will not be able to change his stance. Wh-wh-what for? I won't beg for her to introduce me to everyone as her fiance.” I thank the waiter who came to put a plate of pieces of fruit on the table.

“I don't care.” I shrugged both of my shoulders, indifferent.

“What Brother will disconnect from Clarissa?” tanya Adi concluded.

“Not me. He's the one who cut our relationship.” I took a fork and stabbed one of the pieces of watermelon, then stuffed it into my mouth. “You can see later.”

We only had a chance to talk before the show started. Until all the reporters came home and the guests took a break from the host, I didn't have a chance to talk to Clarissa. I did not come to him on purpose, and he obviously avoided me.

Grandpa and Grandma who had just seen me from afar, finally came closer. Papa and Mama's parents expressed their sorrow at the cancellation of the announcement of my engagement to Clarissa. Om Zach and his family also said the same thing. Unfortunately, I haven't introduced him specifically to them yet, our relationship is over.

“Hadi,” call Clarissa when me and my family are coming home. “Can we talk to you for a minute?”

“We will wait in the car.” Papa patted me on the shoulder before continuing to walk to our car with Mama and my two sisters.

“Ng, I'm sorry. I should have told you about the cancellation of our engagement before you saw it for yourself,”. “Grandpa and Grandma said ..”

“It wasn't their plan. I know that you want to cancel our engagement.” I immediately cut out that sentence.

“Hadi, you are an heiress to a respected and respected businessman. I have a past that will make you come to be the subject of people's gossip. We can't be together. Please forgive me.” He took my hand, then put something in my palm. A bracelet I gave him. “Find another girl who is better than me.”

I looked at the thing in my hand. This decision of his was something that he should have thought seriously and maturely. Ending a relationship is no joke. My feelings for him are not kidding. But he rejected me just because of the gossip in the media?

“You should know one thing,” I said slowly. “I waited for you all this time without expecting you to come back as an angel who descended from the sky. I am an ordinary man, so I look forward to an ordinary man as well. I never demand that you be perfect, then why does the news of your past make you ashamed? I am not ashamed to love you.

“Rissa, you are a strong, independent girl, and of course you have to accept the best offer to survive and finance your education. What's wrong with accompanying all those men by pretending to be their girlfriends? You're not selling your body. Don't let the media demean the way you escape hunger.

“They don't know that you have to pay all the fees incurred by your adoptive parents to raise you. The old man who has been carelessly reneging on their promises and throwing you away. They also do not know that you need a lot of money to find your family. But I know all that and I still want to be with you.

“I love you, Rissa. With the same love, I appreciate your decision. I will not force you to stay with me. It seems like my love is not strong enough that you do not believe that I will fight with you. I'll take this bracelet back and I won't bother you anymore. Hope you find a better young man than me.”

“I'm sorry, Hadi.” She looked at me with teary eyes.

“No. I'm the one who apologized.”

I immediately turned towards the car and did not look at his family. They must be looking at me with sad eyes. I don't need that. I don't need mercy from anyone. Hadiyan Bagas Perkasa is a strong man.

My family just kept quiet and said nothing as I got into the car, put on my seat belt, and stared ahead. Mr. Kafin drove to the gate to get out of Clarissa's yard.

But when a hand touched my shoulder from behind and squeezed it slowly, my fortress collapsed. I sobbed and my crying broke. The day that I should have stood proudly by my fiancee's side in front of everyone, was precisely the day that our relationship ended. Loving someone who does not have the same feelings is very painful.