2. Restless

"Fahira!" Ariel called out as she shifted her position to sit and closed her book.

"How are you feeling now? Are you better?" Fahira asked, touching Ariel's forehead to check her temperature. Last night, Ariel suddenly shivered with a body temperature of 38°C, and today, she had to take a day off from school. Since being diagnosed with a heart condition, Ariel often had to skip school.

"I'm feeling better now. By the way, I'll make some drinks for us," Ariel said as she got up from her seat and headed towards the refrigerator.

Fahira placed her bag on the table and straightened her legs. She removed her scarf and blazer and placed them on her lap. Shortly after, Ariel returned with a glass of cold tea and handed it to Fahira.

"Thank you," Fahira said, reaching for the glass and taking a sip until it was empty.

"Fahira, I'm sorry for making you go through all of this," Ariel said with a sad look, gazing at Fahira, who smiled back at her.

"Don't worry, Ariel. It's not your fault," Fahira assured her, diverting the conversation. "Get ready; we have an appointment with Dr. Gavin this afternoon. I called last night, and we have the third appointment, so we mustn't be late."

"I promise, Fahira, I'll get better soon and graduate from school quickly so I can find a job and..."

"You don't need to think about that right now. The most important thing is for you to focus on your school and get well soon," Fahira interjected before Ariel could continue. Fahira didn't want to see the sadness and vulnerability in her younger sister's eyes every time Ariel expressed her feelings.

At 4:30 PM, they arrived at the Medical Center where Dr. Gavin practiced. Dr. Gavin, a handsome and young cardiac specialist, had been Ariel's regular doctor since she was diagnosed with arrhythmia four months ago. Dr. Gavin explained that arrhythmia is a heart rhythm disorder, indicating a disruption in the heart's electrical system, causing the heart rhythm to be too fast, too slow, or completely irregular. This condition occurs due to a disturbance in the electrical signals that regulate the heart rate, causing the heart not to function properly.

Dr. Gavin's observation indicated that the main cause of Ariel's illness was the heavy stress and pressure that Ariel had been keeping to herself all this time. And of course, Fahira knew the exact cause.

Reluctantly, Fahira recounted the events that happened to her and Ariel three years ago to Dr. Gavin. She described their life in Surabaya when their parents were still alive and the accident that befell their family. Fahira's honesty left Dr. Gavin feeling uneasy and sympathetic at the same time.

Fahira was careful not to reveal everything in detail because she herself didn't know how she and Ariel ended up in Jakarta. Even the apartment where they lived seemed to have been prepared for them. What was even stranger, Fahira received a letter stating that she and Ariel had to stay here for an unspecified period for their safety. During their first month living in the apartment, Fahira used the money that was included in a brown envelope beneath the letter to meet their needs until she could find a job.

Following the consultation with Dr. Gavin, it was decided that Ariel would undergo a cardiac ablation procedure, which had a permanent success rate of 97%. Ariel was scheduled for observation by the medical team before the operation. Knowing that Ariel would soon recover made Fahira exceptionally happy. Her sacrifices would not be in vain.

***

The next day...

Darian had just removed his suit and placed it on the back of his large chair when he noticed the steaming coffee juxtaposed with the sunlight filling his office. It was his secretary's signature morning coffee, which he enjoyed daily. Darian let out a frustrated sigh because once again, he found himself thinking about Fahira's sad face. The girl had seemed to hypnotize him, making Darian feel powerless over his own emotions. He shook his head to clear the strange feelings that had been troubling him for the past few days and turned to open his laptop. He needed to check his emails, which he hadn't gotten to yesterday.

Darian reached for the phone on his desk, attempting to contact Fahira. As he waited for a response, he absently toyed with the rim of the coffee cup with his finger.

"Unusual for Fahira not to be in my office by 9," Darian mumbled, annoyed that Fahira hadn't answered his call. 

Darian put the phone back in its place, then reached for the coffee cup and took a sip. It wasn't Fahira's usual blend, and it seemed to intensify his irritation.

"David, come to my office!" His loud, irritated voice echoed before a folder was thrown off his desk.

"Sorry, what's up, sir?" David asked with surprise when he saw the disarray in his boss's office. Papers were scattered on the floor.

"Where's Fahira? Why hasn't she come to my office at this hour? She hasn't answered my calls!" Darian snapped, causing David to lower his head. It wasn't like Darian to be angry like this. Normally, when Darian was in a bad mood, he'd invite David to go to a nightclub with him. He'd have a great time with his fellow young executives, accompanied by alcohol and beautiful women. However, strangely, every time they went to a nightclub, Darian would forbid David from touching any alcohol. He'd instructed David to leave as soon as he was no longer conscious from drinking, indicating that Darian didn't want to end up in bed with women he didn't desire.

"Did Fahira not request leave from you, sir?" David replied. "Fahira didn't come to work because she's sick."

"Sick?" Darian muttered in a low voice, looking different than usual. 

"Yes, sir, Fahira said she's not feeling well. That's what she told me this morning," David continued, raising an eyebrow at the change in Darian's expression.

"You should leave my office now, and today, I don't want to be disturbed by anyone," Darian ordered, prompting David to leave before he became the target of his boss's frustration.

After his personal assistant's departure, Darian took out his phone from his jacket pocket, unlocked the screen, and found several missed calls and text messages from Fahira, who had asked for permission to take a sick day.

***

Two hours passed, and Darian was absorbed in a pile of documents on his desk. He read through and examined them in detail before signing them. "What is happening to me?" Darian sighed in frustration, unable to clear his mind of thoughts about Fahira.

The ringing of his phone interrupted his thoughts abruptly. Seeing his mother's name on the caller ID, Darian answered it with a falsely gentle tone. He was still annoyed with their conversation this morning.

"Good morning, what can I do for you, Mom?" Darian said while pretending to be gentle. He was still annoyed by their conversation this morning.

"Good morning, Meet Alea at the Japanese restaurant this afternoon. She'll be waiting at 1 o'clock," Yasmin ordered with a tone that Darian recognized as unchallengeable.

"Alright, Mom."

"Be careful, Darian. I don't want to see any excuses," Yasmin warned, making Darian chuckle. 

"Are you sure you won't be jealous if my love is divided with another woman?" Darian teased, holding back laughter as he successfully teased his mother.

"Mom is serious, Darian," Yasmin said with a firm voice, sighing heavily.

"Yes, Mom. I love you," Darian said before ending the call.

At 12:30, Darian stopped what he was doing. He put on his suit and walked to the door. His mother had called to remind him of his meeting with Alea. David smiled and nodded, following Darian to the top executive elevator.

"I wonder when Jakarta will be free from traffic. It's so annoying!" Darian complained as they were stuck in a long traffic jam.

"Hehehe, that's Jakarta, sir. It wouldn't be Jakarta if there were no traffic," David replied casually.

"If it weren't for the Grand Lady commanding me, I wouldn't want to meet that woman," Darian continued, frustrated.

"Her Majesty's orders are absolute, sir," David answered. "You're right, finding a wife that meets the criteria is challenging."

After being stuck in traffic for a while, their car finally broke free from the long line. Darian glanced at his watch, which indicated it was 1:25, meaning he was late for the appointment scheduled by his mother. However, Darian's attention was suddenly drawn to a woman who had been plaguing his thoughts since this morning. She was standing on the sidewalk, at the end of a crosswalk, among other pedestrians who were about to cross.

"Fahira," Darian murmured almost silently as he glanced back when the car had already passed the spot where Fahira was standing.

"Is there a problem, sir?" David asked, puzzled when he noticed Darian looking back.

"No, nothing, let's keep going!" Darian replied and adjusted his seating position.