The Story of Mukbang
02: Story of the Red Roses

In an area west of the city of S there is a stretch of red rose garden that stretches for approximately 1 hectare from the backyard of a large house, the classic-style house with its distinctive white pillars makes the house look more majestic almost like an ancient castle.

It was seen that some people were busy in the rose garden with various plantation equipment in their hands, their task is also diverse there are those who clean the weeds some who add fertilizer to prune the petals of red roses that have been dry in order to preserve the roses.

"Be careful not to spoil the precious rose petals" the command call from a middle-aged woman with a thick, vintage appearance, the flower dress with lacy long sleeves in addition to a black pandora hat makes the woman look younger than her age.

The middle-aged woman's command call made all her employees reply with the same sentence, "Good big mistress" they said obediently.

The woman then went around the garden with a wooden stick to balance her footsteps, she meticulously checked the work of her employees so as not to make the slightest mistake.

Tuk !

The wooden stick then pointed the woman towards the head of a man who was seen tidying up the leaves of roses that grow irregularly.

Inevitably due to the punch of the stick the man immediately stirred up in pain while rubbing his head which was the victim of violence from the middle-aged woman.

"Where are your gloves ?" reprimand the woman firmly while looking at the man's hands which appear reddened by the thorns of the rose stem that stuck in her skin.

The man just smiled without sin and then he lowered his head for a moment "Sorry, I'll take it" he said, full of courtesy.

Not happy because his words are listened to well, the middle-aged woman shook her head just before her hand grabbed the man's earlobe while pulling it to follow in simpler terms the man was now in the jewel.

"This is a great madam's pain, forgive my mistake" lamented the man with great difficulty while holding back his earlobe which may now have been flushed.

The middle-aged woman did not care about the protest from the man and continued to pull him into the house.

"Please this great mistress is really sick" the man pleaded with his pitiful face.

The middle-aged woman finally removed her hand from the man's ear then looked at him with an intimidating look.

"Call me Grandma, where your manners Arsenio Bamantara Xavier" he gave orders as well as a stern rebuke.

The man named Arsen immediately lowered his head after the middle-aged woman who turned out to be his grandmother had started to show her anger.

"Good Nek" his response was brief but there was a tone of regret there.

"Sit down" the middle-aged woman ordered again.

Two seconds later Arsen was sitting in the chair next to his grandmother with a face full of anxiety, his heart had not even stopped making prayers so that his Grandmother would not wear it today.

"Where are you this month ?" Her grandmother began her interrogation session.

Arsen changed his sitting position to be more firm and then gave a bold expression even though he was actually very afraid at this time.

"There are some things I have to take care of overseas, sorry I didn't give Grandma any news before" she explained politely but sounded reassuring.

Hearing the explanation from his grandson made him only able to sigh heavily.

"Don't repeat again, instead you're Grandma's law to take care of the garden including delivering to the buyer"

Arsen who heard his punishment reacted but his grandmother immediately gestured with her hand to keep Arsen quiet first.

"Grandmother doesn't need your protest, forget that you're an Xavier while you're in the law"

"But Grandma..."

"Here hand over the crown necklace and do your punishment"

His grandmother was very serious about his words, whatever Arsen said would have no effect so Arsen was very forced to hand the necklace with the crown pendant to his Grandmother.

But Arsen did not have time to give it up he stared sadly at his Grandma "Is this not outrageous Nek ? This is my precious necklace" he tried to persuade.

"You're going to act as you please with the necklace, so finish your punishment and Grandma will give it back" the final verdict from her Grandmother left Arsen helpless.

The man handed over his necklace unreservedly, his grandmother quickly took it and then passed away leaving Arsen who looked even more miserable.

Not without reason Arsen did not want his necklace taken, because that necklace is the only one that can help him live comfortably and prove that he is an Xavier.

Everyone who lives in the city of S knows how powerful the Xavier family is, even the Adrian and Kaysie family is nothing compared to the Xavier family.

The fashion, real estate and perfume industries are some of the businesses that came under the rule of the Xavier family because that is the highest social caste in decades still controlled by the Xavier family.

Therefore also the symbol of the Xavier family is a crown which symbolizes unlimited power in the social caste, another meaning is to use the necklace anyone can do what he wants without the need to work hard.

Arsen must now relinquish himself for a while not part of the Xavier family, but on the other hand he was also still lucky because his Grandmother was kind enough not to kick him away but only punished him for a moment and later returned his identity as an Xavier.

"Now there is only Arsenio Bamantara" he said sadly and then passed by lethargicly out of his mansion.

Arsen's appearance from inside his house made many of his Grandmother's servants look at him with worried eyes, from the back of a middle-aged man with a servant's appearance came closer towards Arsen.

"Young master is okay ?" tanyanya's worried.

Arsen stared flat at the middle-aged man "I'm not a young master anymore, watch your talk Frank or Grandma will punish you" he warned then he passed away to finish his job.

Imagine the life of a young master with many luxuries is now extinct for Arsen, in fact now he is no more than an employee of his Grandmother's red rose garden.

If you think about it, Arsen was also guilty because he went almost a month without giving information to his Grandmother, then now he suddenly appears by pretending to be a red rose garden employee so that his Grandmother not angry.

Expectations that have always been far from reality make Arsen stuck with his own plan, already he lost his Xavier honor and now he became an employee of his Grandma's red rose garden. His fate was almost the same as falling and then being hit by stairs, really unlucky.

Arsen who was busy finishing his work felt tired, he got up from his squatting position then saw how much more work he had left. His job is only to tidy up the leaves of red roses that grow not in accordance with the place but why it feels the power has begun to drain out.

The man's eyes looked around him and then he took a deep breath, his Grandma's red rose garden was so huge that it was impossible that in a day his work would be finished. Arsen now realized why his grandmother had so many employees just to take care of her red rose garden.

"Arsen" a woman's call from behind made Arsen turn her body while giving her angry expression.

Arsen was quite tired now in addition to the employees of his grandmother called him only by the name of Arsen alone, even though he was the young master Xavier. How disrespectful, thought Arsen.

The woman immediately shrieked in fear seeing Arsen's sinister face "Sorry, but the big madam told us to call the young master by the name of Arsen alone" he explained nervously.

Hearing the explanation made Arsen immediately bowed lethargic, he only remembered that only a few hours ago he had lost Xavier status so it was natural that his Grandmother's employees only called him by the name of Arsen only.

"It's okay, what is it gonna take ?" Arsen asked back in a calm voice and his flat expression.

The woman handed Arsen a small paper "Please take a box full of red roses to this address" she asked carefully.

Arsen picked up the paper then gave a small nod as a sign that he had understood.

"The vehicle and the goods are ready so sir.I mean Mas Arsen can go" obviously the woman again then she immediately hurried away with her quick steps before Arsen again showed the creepy expression of the man.

"From the young master so mas Arsen, down a lot" complained Arsen annoyed then he passed away while grasping the paper given by the woman before.

Arsen walked with his heavy steps towards the trunk of the car on the other side of his house, he opened the small door next to the iron door of the sealed trunk.

"Young master, here's the key" Frank comes again with his gentlemanly attitude while handing Arsen the car keys.

Arsen took it with no intention "If Grandma hears you can be in Frank's law, just call Arsen this time. I allow it" he said again commemorating the butler of his house.

Frank nodded obediently, though he was also unsure, knowing that his young master hated being called only by his name.

Just understand, though, Arsen is the first grandson of the Xavier family who has been called Young Master only for him, so it feels disrespectful for all employees of the Xavier family if you have to call Arsen only by name only.

The black box car that already contained one big box of red roses was ready in its place, Arsen walked over but his footsteps came to a halt as his eyes stared at his black luxury sports car parked to the right of the box car.

Again just a heavy sigh that Arsen can do today, it would be useless if he protested or complained because his Grandmother would not change her mind so the only way was to accept her current destiny.

Not wanting to dissolve his frustration Arsen immediately entered the box car and then turned on the engine, the iron door of the trunk opened by itself and before long Arsen left from there.

*******

The day that is approaching this evening actually makes the atmosphere of the city more crowded, there are many people who walk leisurely while shopping until there is only just sitting in the city park that is very comfortable while talking lightly.

The hot temperatures previously felt in the morning until noon are now starting to decline, the wind is also blowing with cool so it is not surprising there are many people who gather including Kaysie.

The girl this afternoon had a meeting with friends during high school, he has dressed neatly with jeans and a black cropped top wrapped in a long cardigan to the mere foot and black heels as high as 5 cm wrapped both feet beautiful.

Kaysie looked around her as she occasionally looked at her phone, where her friend had made arrangements at a cafe but until now Kaysie still had trouble finding her place.

"This is the way, but where's the cafe ?" he was confused while looking to his left and right.

Kaysie who did not want to be trapped by her own difficulties made her boldly ask someone, she was quick to stop a man who wanted to enter a flower shop that was not far from where he was.

"Sorry, I'd like to ask. Do you know this place ?" Kaysie asked while showing her phone which was written the name of the Cafe she wanted to reach.

The man took down the item he was carrying and then looked closer at the cellphone shown by Kaysie.

"At the crossroads there, you turn left. The place is behind the supermarket" he explained later.

Kaysie nodded in understanding of the man's instructions "Thank you" he said politely and then passed away to the direction the man had pointed out before.

After following the instructions of the man, Kaysie finally arrived at the cafe where she made an appointment with her friends. He put his phone in his jeans pocket and then entered the cafe that looks crowded this afternoon.

"Good afternoon Miss, for how many people ?" ask the waitress after Kaysie walks into the cafe.

"My friend has booked, on behalf of Sicily" Kaysie explained again.

The waiter smiled politely and then took Kaysie to the place her friend had ordered.

The cafe was really crowded, but it turned out that the cafe had two floors and on the top floor looked quieter. Tables and chairs in a neat arrangement complete with flower decorations so you can guess that the top floor of the Cafe is an exclusive place where you have to make reservations first.

Kaysie seemed satisfied with the atmosphere of the cafe, he thought his friend really had a good taste to choose their meeting place.

The maid invited Kaysie to the left after they reached the top floor, but Kaysie suddenly stopped walking and her eyes looked straight at the right side of the cafe.

"Adrian" he said cheerfully after realizing that his girlfriend was there too.

Kaysie excitedly walked closer to Adrian, making his lover surprised was a prank idea that suddenly entered his brain.

After asking the maid to wait for a moment, Kaysie walked slowly closer to Adrian. His plan would surprise Adrian but he seemed much more surprised.

His legs suddenly could not move after his eyes saw clearly there was a woman who was next to Adrian, who was, he could not see his face because of his position behind the woman but he could see Adrian's face looking happy while talking to the woman.

"That's probably her coworker" Kaysie tried to think positively, at her age which is not the time to easily draw conclusions. He had to find his full information if he did not want to experience regret in the end.

However, Kaysie positive thoughts still his heart is not calm, only yesterday Adrian proposed to him but now he saw with his own eyes that Adrian was with another woman. There were various speculations in his brain but his heart refused to accept all of them.

"Mba, I just want to sit there" Kaysie finally found a way to prove her speculation.

The girl pointed at the table that was right behind Adrian's desk and the woman, who was, because the cafe has hollow barriers so the possibility of Adrian seeing his presence is quite large so Kaysie was forced to choose a place behind the man even though he had seen there is a 'Reserved' writing there.

"But Miss, the place has been booked" the maid said later.

Kaysie took her wallet out of her cardigan pocket and handed her the credit card "I paid double the reservation fee" she said in an undeniable tone.

The waitress was silent for a moment until finally her hand took Kaysie's credit card which meant the deal worked and the table was hers now.

Lying if he says Kaysie's condition is fine now, in fact his heart feels mixed at this time. Which woman can bear to see her lover with another woman without her knowledge, may indeed be a co-worker or friend but it still makes a woman's heart uncomfortable.

Kaysie walks towards the table carefully, it can't be caught Adrian. The maid also went to take care of the payment for Kaysie. Now Kaysie is alone with his gloomy face, he sits right behind Adrian while trying to sharpen his hearing.

"Then what's your plan ?" the woman next to Adrian spoke in a relaxed tone.

"Marry her and divorce her" Adrian now speaks.

The woman chuckled, "You're crazy" he replied again.

Kaysie heard it, she was confused as to what Adrian meant. If married, are the two people talking about it and divorced ? What does that mean ?

"Kaysie is nothing more than a plain little boy"

"His family's wealth is very much but he can only scatter it at will"

"The foolish boy will regret that once all his assets become mine, we will get married and I will defeat the Xavier family"

The deg!

Today his sense of hearing is in a normal spell, he clearly captures his name in the conversation Adrian and the woman. Kaysie repeatedly took a breath to relieve his emotions, he was not only involved in the conversation but he was also nicknamed a stupid child by Adrian.

Her heart was broken, and Adrian, who would be her husband, could speak like that. The man actually used it to take over all his assets.

Kaysie clutched the table hard, her emotions were stifled. Anger mixed with sadness could no longer be distinguished in his heart, he could not cry because his heart was completely broken.

If Kaysie wanted to, she would come over to Adrian and beat him until he was dying but that wasn't Kaysie's style. Adrian will feel great head and consider himself very great.

Kaysie touched the stop button on her phone, since the beginning she had already recorded all the conversations Adrian and the woman had. It may have been very painful for her heart but Kaysie couldn't let her brain stop running. He had to repay Adrian in a respectable way, making the man beg for mercy at his feet.

Kaysie closed her eyes and then got up from her position and left with her heavy steps. He should have had fun with his friend today but his heart turned to dust because of Adrian's betrayal.

Kaysie completed her payment after she successfully requested a cctv recording showing Adrian along with the woman as additional evidence to strengthen her voice recording.

The girl stopped in front of the cafe door while looking at the sky that was dark at some point in time, while in the Cafe maybe he can uphold himself and walk confidently as usual but after coming out of the Cafe he immediately grasped the edge of the ladder divider to support his body.

Kaysie felt her legs no longer had the energy to stand upright, the destruction of her heart was affecting all her limbs.

As powerful as Kaysie walked away from that place, he even dragged his legs forcefully as if his legs had been sprained. Along the way he just stared blankly in front of him, until he finally stopped walking and touched his chest that suddenly felt tight.

Not far from there, right next to the flower shop was a small alley. Kaysie then walked there, he needed time alone at least he had to restore his calm even though his heart was completely broken.

Kaysie crouched behind a wall belonging to the florist, hugged her own knees and then looked down deeply. His memory repeats randomly his memories with Adrian until he finally starts sobbing during a memory a few minutes ago, where Adrian clearly expresses ill will to him.

Kaysie's cries grew louder until her body shook and her breathing became irregular. It was enough for him to pretend to be strong, however it felt so painful that breathing was excruciating.

Kaysie kept crying in that little alley, no one would notice her so she could cry there but what she expected did not work out.

Although Kaysie was looking down, but he could see right in front of him now there was someone because he saw a pair of white sneakers.

Kaysie raised her head, her eyes were red and wet because she cried for a long time.

Someone in front of him was looking tall, Kaysie had trouble seeing his face because the person was covering the dim rays of the twilight sun but Kaysie knew that the person was a man because of his appearance.

"For you, don't cry anymore"

The man spoke briefly in his heavy tone of voice while handing an object over to Kaysie.

Kaysie was glued to her place, the thing the man gave her was a red rose. Kaysie did not feel touched, he was surprised by the man.

This was the first time for Kaysie, when she cried, she was given a red rose as an inducement to stop crying.

Despite the confusion, Kaysie still grabbed the red rose and held it tightly. He did not care if the thorn in the flower would hurt him because the pain was now greater than that.

"If you want to cheer me up, buy me some ice cream"

Kaysie said random, but somehow his brain suddenly thought of his favorite vanilla banana ice cream so he just said his request.

The man seemed to be in disbelief at what he had just heard from Kaysie "You want ice cream ?" tanyanya.

Kaysie nodded with the spirit of "Ice vanilla banana flavored cream" he said again in seriousness until the man in front of him could only move a little bit of his head a sign of confusion.