LOGINThirteen years of my life were given to Ethan Cross. I believed in his music before anyone else did, stayed through the long nights when success was only a dream, and held on to every promise that I would be the woman by his side when it all finally came true. After eight years as his girlfriend and four more wearing his ring, he walked away. Seven months later, an invitation arrived. Ethan is getting married. And not to me. He is marrying my cousin sister. The wedding is set on a two week getaway meant for couples only. Ethan may think I will stay behind, broken and forgotten, but he is wrong. I will not be showing up alone. My date is Adrian Cole, Ethan’s powerful boss in the music industry, the man who holds his career in his hands and the one rival he never wanted near me. Ethan thought he left me behind. But this time I am not the girl he abandoned. I am stronger, I have found my own rhythm, and I am walking back into his world with the one man who can break him the way he broke me.
View More“Celine, Kiara....” Bianca berteriak tepat saat ia membuka pintu utama rumah mewah yang baru pertama kali kudatangi ini.
Dari dua nama yang disebut, hanya satu yang muncul. Seorang gadis dengan daster berwarna merah muda sebatas lutut, matanya sembab seperti orang yang habis menangis. Tatapannya datar, bolak-balik melihatku dan Bianca.
“Celine mana, Kiara?” Bianca masih menggandeng tanganku saat kami menghampiri gadis itu.
“Belum pulang,” jawab gadis itu lalu tatapannya berpindah padaku. “Pacar baru lagi, Ma?”
Bianca terkekeh. “Mama dan Mas Jevan akan menikah minggu depan.”
Kiara terkejut, matanya yang bengkak itu melotot sempurna. “Ni-nikah? Kok bisa? Ah, maksud Kiara... kemarin bukannya Mama pacaran sama Om Alden?”
Kiara menatapku dari atas sampai bawah. “Umur Om berapa? Kok mau sama Mamaku? Mamaku umur 45 loh. Kayaknya Om masih muda.”
Ocehannya sangat berisik, persis seperti Bianca, bikin pusing. Aku hanya nyengir kuda, tapi tetap kutunjukkan ketulusanku.
“Saya mencintai Mama kamu, Kiara,” jawabku lembut, tapi yang kuterima adalah balasan tatapan sinis gadis itu serta decihan kecil seolah ia bisa menebak bahwa aku memang tidak tulus.
Kiara berbalik badan, dari belakang bisa kulihat bentuk tubuhnya yang bahenol persis seperti Bianca tapi versi mini. Bokongnya sintal, memantul mengikuti gerakan kakinya. Indah sekali.
“Mas, kita duduk dulu, yuk. Nanti aku suruh Bibi bikin makanan dan minuman.” Bianca meraba perutku, disertai tatapan menggoda yang membuatku harus mati-matian menahan diri.
Wanita yang baru kukenal tiga minggu yang lalu, tak kusangka dengan mudahnya menerimaku masuk dalam hidupnya. Bermodal kalung berlian, Bianca langsung putus dengan pria yang baru ia pacari dua bulan yang lalu.
Ia pun tak sungkan mengajakku segera menikah setelah kukatakan bahwa aku punya berpetak-petak tanah di kampung halaman. Muda, tampan, dan kaya raya, itulah yang Bianca tahu tentang diriku.
“Om, silakan diminum.” Kiara tiba-tiba datang dengan nampan di tangan. Wajahnya masih sama datarnya, tapi begitu ia menunduk untuk meletakkan nampan di atas meja ... belahan di balik dasternya menyembul di depan mataku.
“Mbak yang kerja di rumah ini lagi sakit, jadi kalau butuh apa-apa panggil aku aja,” kata Kiara lagi.
Kesadaranku kembali setelah bermenit-menit gagal fokus. Begitu Kiara berbalik badan, mataku lagi-lagi terpusat pada bongkahnya. Sial sekali ... kenapa Bianca malah membawaku ke sarang gadis muda cantik seperti Kiara ini.
Waktu sudah menunjukkan jam delapan malam, pintu utama terbuka saat aku dan Bianca sedang berbincang santai. Seorang gadis yang kutaksir usianya lebih dari 20 tahun muncul, wajahnya ramah, terlihat dari senyumnya saat melihatku dan Bianca di sofa ruang utama.
“Siapa, Ma?” tanya gadis itu.
“Celine, kenalkan, calon Papa kamu namanya Jevan.”
Gadis yang kulit wajahnya seperti porselen dengan tahi lalat di bawah mata itu mengangguk, lalu mengulurkan tangan. “Saya Celine, Om. Kakaknya Kiara.”
Kusambut uluran tangan Celine, detik itu juga hatiku berdesir luar biasa.
Mulus, seperti wajahnya. Aroma parfumnya bahkan masih tercium padahal wajahnya terlihat lelah sekali khas budak-budak korporat yang kelelahan selepas bekerja seharian.
“Saya ke kamar dulu ya, Om,” kata Celine.
Ekor mataku melirik, meski Celine tak sebahenol Kiara, tapi kaki jenjang yang terbungkus rok span selutut itu berhasil mencuri perhatianku.
Kuteguk salivaku bulat-bulat, pikiranku mulai berkeliaran ke mana-mana. Bagaimana bisa aku bertahan di dalam rumah berisi tiga bidadari sintal?
“Mas, udah malam banget. Kamu mau nginep aja gak?” Bianca menawarkan, seperti biasa suara lembut dan tatapan matanya membuatku terhipnotis beberapa saat.
“Aku harus ngantor besok, Sayang,” jawabku sembari mengusap kepala wanita itu. “Aku ada meeting dengan klien, gak bisa ditinggal. Ini penentu pernikahan kita minggu depan, kamu mau mahar mewah walau pesta kita sederhana, kan?”
Bianca mengangguk, ia rapatkan duduknya, tubuhnya condong sehingga dadanya yang besar itu menempel tepat di lenganku. Kecupan singkat tapi hangat menyentuh pipiku, sementara satu tangannya mengusap-usap lututku.
“Mas jangan nakal, ya. Kamu udah janji mau serius sama aku sejak kita pertama kali begituan,” bisik Bianca nakal.
Aku tersenyum, tak membantah. Aku memang mengatakan hal itu pada Bianca dalam keadaan sadar saat menikmati tubuhnya di bawah remang lampu hotel bintang tiga.
“Aku boleh numpang ke kamar mandi?” tanyaku segan.
“Aku antar, ya. Tapi kamar mandi di kamarku dan di dekat dapur lagi ada masalah. Aku antar kamu ke kamar Kiara aja, ya.”
Aku hanya mengangguk, tak punya waktu untuk bertele-tele karena sudah di ujung tanduk. Bianca mengantarku sampai ke depan kamar Kiara, ia membuka pintu tanpa mengetuk terlebih dahulu. Bianca tak ikut masuk, hanya aku dan leherku yang celingak-celinguk mencari pemilik kamar.
“Sepi. Apa gak apa-apa aku pakai kamar mandinya tanpa bilang-bilang?” gumamku.
Ah, masa bodoh, aku sudah tak tahan. Kudorong pintu kamar mandi, dan kutuntaskan hajatku. Aku mendesah lega sembari menekan tombol flush. Selesai sudah.
“Punya Om ternyata gede!”
Aku hampir melompat, tubuhku oleng hampir menabrak dinding. Kiara muncul dari balik gorden yang menutup bathtub. Tubuhnya basah kuyup hanya ditutup tangtop tipis dan celana pendek yang mungkin sebenarnya tak mampu menampung bongkahan panggulnya.
“Ki-Kiara... maaf, saya pikir gak ada siapa-siapa—“
“Sssttt, santai aja, Om. Jangan sok kaget gitu nanti Mama curiga.” Kiara tersenyum sinis, kedua tangannya berkacak di pinggang, menatapku menyelidik.
“Jujur umur Om berapa? Kayaknya masih muda, kayaknya seumuran sama Kak Celine. Om cuma mau morotin Mamaku, kan? Mamaku itu janda kaya raya, mendiang Papaku ninggalin harta buat tujuh turunan!” sergah Kiara menutut.
Aku menelan ludah.
“Kenapa diam? Bener kan tebakanku?” Tangannya terlipat di depan dada, membuat gunung padat itu makin terlihat menantang.
“Ka-kamu salah paham, Kiara. Percuma kalau saya jelaskan, kamu pasti gak akan percaya. Lebih baik kamu tanya Mama kamu sendiri, sekalian tanya kalung berlian yang dia pakai itu dari siapa,” kataku mulai santai.
Kiara terperangah. “Jadi berlian itu dari Om? Wah, aku mau dong.”
Matre! Persis Bianca sekali.
“Nanti kalau kamu resmi jadi anak saya, saya beliin satu set.”
Kiara hampir berteriak, saking girangnya ia melompat ke pelukanku, membuatku yang tak siap otomatis harus memeluknya—menahan tubuh agar tak jatuh. Kedua tanganku refleks membungkus pinggang Kiara, sementara kedua tangan gadis itu memeluk erat leherku.
“Om mau minta apa sama aku? Aku kasih,” katanya, entah polos, entah memang sengaja.
“Mi-minta apa maksud kamu?”
Ia mendongak, tanpa melepas rangkulan di leherku, ia menatapku persis seperti tatapan Bianca yang selalu menggoda. “Jangan pura-pura polos, Om. Aku udah 19 tahun loh.”
“Terakhir kali aku minta iphone sama dosenku langsung dibeliin, tapi hampir tiap hari aku ciuman sama dia.”
Aku melotot. “Ci-ciuman?”
Gila nih anak! Batinku mulai kacau.
“Iya, sambil pangku-pangkuan. Nanti kalau Om udah jadi Papaku, Om minta aja sama aku. Aku kasih....”
By the time we left the mall, both Mara and I were completely drained. My feet ached from hours of walking round the mall, and my arms were sore from carrying bag after bag of dresses and accessories. Mara’s cheeks were flushed, her hair a little messy, but her grin was still impossibly wide.I slumped into the car, letting out a long groan. “I think I just aged ten years,” I muttered, stretching my stiff limbs.Mara laughed, tossing one of the shopping bags onto the seat next to me. “Welcome to the glamorous life of dress shopping, baby girl. Exhaustion is part of the package.”We drove back in relative silence, both of us too tired to argue or joke, letting the hum of the city pass by unnoticed. By the time we walked into Mara’s apartment, every muscle in my body screamed for rest. Mara immediately went to pour wine, and I sank onto the couch with a groan, already planning to collapse completely as soon as possible.I slumped onto the couch, kicking off my shoes with a groan. “Mara…
The next morning, Mara’s off-key singing drifts down the hallway, scraping at my ears. I groan and bury my head under the blanket.“Mara, stop torturing the neighborhood!” I shout.Her laughter floats back. “Get up, sleepyhead. Big day ahead.”I roll out of bed like a zombie, feet dragging, and find her at the kitchen counter, hair in a messy bun, coffee in one hand, phone in the other.“You look like you’re plotting world domination,” I mutter.“Not the world,” she says, smirking. “Just your wardrobe.”I freeze. “Oh no.”“Oh yes,” she grins. “If we’re doing this, we do it right. No sweatpants, no sad-girl hair. You’re going to that wedding like you own the place.”I slump onto a chair. “This is a terrible idea.”Mara sets a mug of coffee in front of me. “No, it’s brilliant. Ethan sees you walk in with confidence, with his boss no less. He’ll choke on his champagne.”I glare at her. “You really enjoy this, don’t you?”She shrugs. “A little. But also… you need to remember who you were
Lyra didn’t reply to the first message. She barely thought about it, brushing it off like one of those random texts that vanish into the noise of her day. Her mind was tangled with Ethan, Mara, and the chaos of the wedding plan, and honestly, she didn’t have the energy to entertain some unknown number texting her.Hours later, her phone buzzed again. Same number. Same unknown sender.Lyra, it’s Andrew. Are you really going with me so I can make arrangements for us?.Her stomach drops.“What?!” she whispers, gripping the phone like it might bite. She looks at Mara, who’s casually sipping her coffee, completely unbothered.“Mara! You didn’t even ask me! You just gave him my number? Without telling me?”Mara shrugs, leaning back in the chair. “Relax, Lyra. I knew he’d text eventually. And honestly, you were going anyway.”“Relax? Mara, do you even see this from my side? I—” Lyra cuts herself off, her throat tight, her voice strangled with frustration. “I’m choking here! I can’t even—” Sh
“You can’t wear that,” she says, pointing at my oversized T-shirt and shorts. “You look like… a sad potato.”I blink at her. “A sad potato?”“Yes! It’s tragic. People might feel sorry for you, and that’s not the vibe we’re going for.”Before I can protest, she’s already rifling through her closet. “No, no, no. This one!” She holds up a sleek, dark-green dress and shoves it at me. “Try it. You’ll thank me later.”I stare at the fabric. “Mara, what is all this fuss? Where exactly are we going? Why all the dressing and—”“You’ll see,” she says with a grin that makes me suspicious. “Just trust me.”Next, she sits me down at the vanity and starts applying light makeup. “Nothing heavy. Just enough so people know you didn’t roll out of bed five minutes ago. Eyeliner, a little blush, some lip gloss. Bam—instant classy.”I watch her work, half-amused and half-panicked. “Mara, I still don’t know where we’re headed, and you’re doing all this like it’s a gala or something.”She laughs. “Oh, Lyra.
On good days, I love my best friend. On really bad days, I remind myself she means well.But today is neither of those. Today is one of the worst days of my life, and I am furious with her.“Hades’s asshole” doesn’t even come close to how mad I feel. My hands rip free from hers as if her touch burn
Hours slip by, and Mara still hasn’t returned.I can’t stop wondering what she meant—what was so important that she couldn’t say over the phone.By the time I sober up, guilt and dread hang over me like a stormcloud. I drag myself into the shower, scrub my teeth until my gums ache, and keep my hand
When I first dragged my suitcases into Mara’s apartment, two things struck me at once. The first was how nothing about her had changed since college, she was still every bit as high-maintenance as I remembered. Every corner of the place gleamed with expensive taste, from the designer furniture to t
It had been seven months since Ethan left me.At first, I didn’t handle it well. He kicked me out, and I had nowhere to stay. My apartment had been in his name too, so I had nothing but a few bags of clothes. My best friend, mara, insisted I move in with her. She has a small tiny apartment in the c






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