Stains In Love
That Man...

“Stella, later tonight come with us to an event.”

The mother's words made Stella put down her cup of tea, then turned her head. He raised next to his eyebrows, looking at his parents with a puzzled look.

“What way?” ask Stella.

“The son of one of our friends has just completed his S3 study abroad and his parents held a welcome homecoming event. Come with us,” reply Early.

Anton folded the newspaper he had read, then helped chimed in, “The boy even immediately got an offer to work in a large German branch company in Indonesia. He must have been very accomplished during college out there.”

Stella rolled her eyeballs.

“I don't want to come,” he said steady.

One week living in her hometown, Stella's life feels much calmer and more comfortable. In the past week, Stella has spent more time in the tea garden or relaxing at home. He still feels reluctant if he has to re-socialize with many people. That's why he refused his parents' request.

“You should come, Stella. Who knows later you can add relations on the show,” proposed Anton. “To be successful, we not only need intelligence and hard work. We also need a relationship, Stella.”

“Your father is right,” timpal Early. “At least, come first. If you feel uncomfortable or bored, you can go home first.”

Stella breathed a tired sigh. Refusing her parents' invitation was something quite impossible for Stella. His parents always had thousands of reasons for Stella to come with them.

“Alright, I will come with you,” Stella replied in the end. Although he was forced to, he finally agreed.

*****

The car that Stella and her parents were driving stopped at a luxurious house that had been decorated with flickering lights. From the outside, there are many cars parked in the yard.

“Ma, Pa, it looks like I'm off,” Stella said.

“Why? We have arrived here,” reply Early. “Come, come in for a minute.”

Dini pulls Stella's hand so that Stella can get out of the car.

“Aduh, Mom. My head is suddenly dizzy,” Stella said as she held her temple.

Dini shook her head. “So Mama doesn't know you're lying? Already, let's get out quickly. Not good if you don't come in,” said Early.

Stella breathed a heavy sigh, inevitably she finally came down.

Stepping in, Dini seemed to hold Stella's hand tightly as if she was afraid that her daughter would run away.

“Look ahead and smile,” said Dini, warning Stella but not her daughter.

Stella spread her eyes all over the room. There's not a single person Stella knows here. ‘It will be a boring night,’ thought. Until his eyes stopped on someone who was chatting with some men in suits.

‘That man ...’

Two years ago, in Paris.

Stella and her friends are spending their semester holidays in Paris, France. Right now, he and his friends were walking towards a restaurant not so far from the inn.

On the way, Stella accidentally sees a man arguing with a woman. The woman continued to chase after the man even though the man rejected her.

“You know, Lucille, I'm getting married soon,”. The man combed around him, when he saw Stella, he then approached Stella and hugged Stella suddenly. “She is my fiancee.”

“You ...”

The woman did not continue her sentence. She ran away crying leaving Stella and the man. Stella was silent because she could not understand what had just happened.

After the woman left, Stella realized what had happened.

Roughly Stella let go of the man's embrace, then distanced herself.

“Basic crazy man! Why did you claim to be my fiancee? I don't know who you are!” nagging Stella, angry then walked away from the man earlier.

‘Why can he be at this welcoming event?’ stella asked in her heart.

At the same time, the man Stella knew turned his head. Realizing Stella's presence, the man smiled and walked over to Stella.

“I didn't expect we could meet again here,” said the man, Davin Elmar.

Stella smiled faintly, then rolled her eyeballs.

“Do you know each other?” ask Anton.

“Iya.”

“No!”

Davin and Stella answered almost simultaneously with two different answers. Anton and Dini also looked at each other and looked at the confused two people.

“I don't know this man,” Stella continued.

Davin smiled. “I know you,” said, contrary to Stella's words.

“Maybe you guys have met but Stella forgot,” timpal Early, mediate Stella and Davin. “Then, why don't you just repeat your introduction?”