Chapter 2. The Final Decision

Clarissa and Adam have been sitting side by side on a long sofa. The man's eyes glared at his lover's beautiful eyes. If Adam did not make a sound either, it was a sign that Clarissa had to strike up a conversation.

"Honey, only you know better than anyone how important this job offer is to my career," Clarissa pointed out. Seeing Adam still silent, the young girl resumed her words. "I don't have much time to discuss it with you first," she lamented.

 "Not even a phone call?" Adam cutted.

 "That email came this morning, and …."

 "And you're immediately to receive it?" Adam urged.

 "Yes, but …."

"That means you never remember me. Such a huge decision and you are quick to accept it." Adam pointed out.

Hearing Adam's words, Clarissa frowned and prepared to pour out her heart. "Why did you blame me now? This shouldn't be a big deal. Because we were just getting engaged. That means we're not really attached to each other?"

Adam looked the other way. The man did not believe what he had just heard. "Not really hooked up?" The man lowered his palms to his face.

Adam's response made Clarissa become nervous. The guy was more serious all of a sudden.

"Clarie, what exactly does our relationship mean to you?" Adam asked seriously.

Clarissa flinched, and could not answer the man's question. If she was willing to do so, it was a sign that he should be prepared with the worst possible for their relationship.

Adam took a deep breath and then looked closely at the lover. "Then let's just hurry up the wedding," Adam said suddenly. 

The girl was surprised. "I can't do that, Adam!" Clarissa answered.

It was unusual for Clarissa to call his name directly, which made Adam think that maybe the girl was afraid to face the two families because of that decision. "You don't have to worry, let me tell our family," Adam replied.

"That's not what I meant," Clarissa mumbled. "Why are you being such a pusher?" she muttered.

The man's head cropped unconsciously and waited for clarification on the meaning of Clarissa's words. "And then? You don't want to marry me?" he asked.

"I …."

"After all this time I thought our relationship was important to your life," Adam said.

"Yes, of course."

"But it wasn't. For you even the betrothal rope cannot tie us together. Even when I say we move up the wedding, you're not interested at all."

"Because I have to go and stay in Milan, Adam." Clarissa blurted out the man's concentration.

Once again, the girl succeeded in surprising Adam. Now he stood up and got away from Clarissa's position. With both arms to his hips, Adam turned to the girl and then asked, "What surprise are you still hiding? Tell me everything when I am strong enough to accept it," Adam challenged.

With all the courage left, Clarissa answered Adam's challenge. "I know this time I've gone too far," that girl claimed. "But I lost in front of my biggest dream, Adam. The offer came suddenly and without overthinking it I immediately received it," the girl said.

While Adam was still standing, his hands were folded across his chest. The man still glared. 

Although Clarissa may be uncomfortable, it has been decided to settle the issue immediately. "And I just said yes to all the requirements they gave," the girl explained.

"What are their requirements?" Adam asked.

"I had to stay in Milan for at least five years," Clarissa answered with a nervous response. "And as long as it is forbidden for me to marry," she added.

It was like hearing lightning in the heat of day. Since the terms mean that the wedding was about to be held in the next three months it will have to be postponed. Nor will there be a wedding for them for the next five years.

"Unbelievable!" Adam hissed.

"Honey, we have to postpone our plans. After five years, I promise everything will be okay. We can carry out the plan that we've built," Clarissa said.

If the wedding was hastened, Adam felt that no one would mind. Still, Adam could not imagine how his family would behave if they knew the reasons for postponing the marriage. Adam's family, especially Mrs. Wursita would not agree and she would ask Adam to find another woman to marry instead.

"Five years? My family can't even delay a day from our schedule, Clarissa. How can we convince them to wait five years?" The man looked so impatient.

"We can try, right?" the girl suggested.

"What if it doesn't work?" Adam asked.

Clarissa froze.

"Are you going to cancel the Milan offer?" Adam added.

"This is no longer an offer, Adam. I've already agreed. If I cancel, my name won't be good anymore. And that would be the worst decision of my career," Clarissa protested with a serious face.

All at once the man lost weight, limbered, and made his way to the large window of the apartment. His eyes would stare up at the sky in the distance. He knew exactly what Clarissa would do next. If this girl had decided something, she could no longer be bargained.

"Just say what you want to say. I am ready," the man said as he closed his eyes.

Clarissa cleared. Deep within, she was cursing herself about the man she was with who knew her so well. But she did not have the guts to fight selfishness inside. There was no way she was unleashing dreams in her hands. The girl ran out to hug the lover. Her face leaned weakly against the back of the man she loved.

"I'm sorry, Adam. Please, forgive me." Her tears began to roll down her cheeks. His hands tightly embraced the man's body. "I love you. Really!" Clarissa said expressively.

"But you love your dreams more," Adam replied. The man's face was now filled with disappointment. He knew he could not force his will on clarissa. The girl had a free personality. Clarissa would do what she wanted to do and can not be constrained by the rules she might bend.

Clarissa's sobs were unbearable. Her tears flooded the blue shirt that Adam was wearing. It was hard to say that even Adam fell in love with Clarissa because of her intense and persistent personality. Unfortunately, that time his love was not enough in the presence of the girl's greatest dream.

Adam's reverberation was interrupted as his cell phone rang echoed from the living room. The man gathered his consciousness and walked over to where his phone rang. He looked at the name on it. His personal assistant called. "Yes?" Adam said.

[Boss, madame wants the other number switched on. Your mom was furious that she had called many times, but had not been connected] Adam's main personal assistant, Hassan Pribadi, said.

"I fully forgot. Battery died last night. Okay, I'll do it. Anything else?" Adam asked.

[You should be ready, the great madam seems to be up to something] Hassan warned. 

"About what?" Adam asked.

[I got an information that madame these two days met the Waskita family]

"Why does that have to do with me?" Adam said slothfully.

[The Waskita family has a daughter returning from London. I'm thinking maybe madame would like to match you with that lady]

Adam threw a distasteful glance in the window.

[Boss?] Hassan called.

"It's okay, let me handle this. Thank you," he retorted.

That phone line was over. Adam was silent for a moment. Think of all the possibilities one would encounter when calling his mother. Look hesitantly at the number of hours on the phone. It was six in the morning.

'Mom must have woken up,' Adam's inner self said. The man walked to get the other phone in the room. Turn the little thing on, wait a while, then pick a number to call. He prepared himself while waiting for the dial to change to his mother's voice.