5. Zidan's True Nature

"Aris walked with another girl and even laughed. Kak Aris has forgotten about me, Mom," Allisya began to complain. She was fed up with Aris's attitude and his promises that he couldn't keep.

Selena looked at Aris suspiciously, her eyes narrowing. "Is that true, Aris? Why? What if Allisya gets sick with a fever again? Will you take care of Allisya until she recovers?"

Aris nodded. Of course, because Allisya was his responsibility. "Yes, I will. But I was just talking to her; she's a colleague from the organization, nothing more," Aris tried to clear up the misunderstanding, whether Allisya believed him or not.

Allisya let out a hollow laugh. "Oh, an organization colleague, huh? To the point where you laughed and Kak Aris forgot about me?"

Aris reached for Allisya's hand. "Sya, I can explain if—" his hand was brushed away by Allisya, and she went inside the house.

Allister approached Aris. "I trust that you can take care of Allisya's feelings. Don't make her sad."

"I'm sorry, sir. I promise I won't do it again," Aris said sincerely. Being ignored by Allisya made his heart and mind uneasy.

---

After arriving home, Aris sent a message to Allisya. He missed her so much.

**You**

Sya? Please forgive me, okay? I promise I won't get too close to other girls. I feel really guilty. Punish me, Sya, if it will make you feel better.

Not long after, Allisya typed a reply.

**Allisya**

Hm.

Aris called Allisya. That short reply didn't necessarily mean his girl would forgive him easily. After the call connected, Aris explained everything—about Yeni, his organization colleague who already had a boyfriend.

"Oh. That's it, right? I'll hang up," Allisya responded casually, with no emotion. Aris was confused. Did Allisya stay silent when she was jealous?

"Allisya," Aris's voice was soft, almost a whisper. "I really miss you. Please don't hang up. I want us to talk longer. Oh yeah, let's meet at the canteen tomorrow, okay? I want to eat together like usual."

Elsewhere, Allisya smiled. She couldn't stay angry at Aris for too long.

"Okay. Sure, but buy me some seblak, okay? I haven't had it in a long time—ahh, Kak Aris!" Allisya cursed in annoyance when her call suddenly disconnected. But when she saw that her battery had died, she grew even more irritated.

"I wanted to talk longer. Ugh, so annoying," her mood improved slightly. Allisya felt a bit relieved after Aris apologized for his mistake of daring to interact with another girl, especially laughing with her.

Allisya was simply afraid. Afraid of losing Aris, whose love was so sincere. Aris was hers alone, and Allisya didn't like to share.

---

Allisya was already sitting alone in the canteen, waiting for Aris to arrive.

Kaila was still standing outside her faculty with Aqila, chatting as usual. Then Kaila's gaze focused on Aris walking side by side with that girl from yesterday.

"Who is that girl anyway? She already knows Kak Aris has a girlfriend, yet she's still butting in, trying to steal him. This is what girls are like these days—never satisfied with one guy because they say they're bored or it's not fun, or the single ones act overly flirty. I feel like slapping every single one of them," Kaila clenched her fist, itching to punch the girl beside Aris. They were chatting and laughing together.

"Huh? What if Allisya finds out?" Aqila asked. Surely Allisya would be sad again, combined with disappointment—a complete package of heartbreak.

Kaila took out her phone and took a picture of Aris. "I'll just send this photo. Because once someone lies, they'll keep lying. Poor Allisya," Kaila also couldn't bear to see Allisya heartbroken.

Aqila nodded in agreement with what Kaila said. "Hurry up and send it!"

Allisya, who was lazily stirring her iced tea, was distracted. A message from Kaila, especially a photo of Aris with—her again. Allisya squeezed her phone. What Aris said yesterday was nothing but empty words.

"Okay, see you. Don't forget the paper," Aris waved at Yeni, who had now entered the History faculty building. Aris approached Allisya, who was sitting alone—she must have been waiting a long time.

"Hi," Aris greeted warmly, sitting next to Allisya. But the girl shifted her seat, putting distance between herself and Aris until she was at the very edge; one more move and she would surely fall.

Aris, feeling that Allisya was upset, moved closer to his girl. "What's wrong? You saw what happened earlier, didn't you?" he guessed. Allisya must have seen him talking with Yeni earlier.

"Sya, she already knows that you're my girlfr—"

"WHAT?!" Allisya's voice rose sharply, almost shouting, her face turning red. "Everyone's girlfriend?" Allisya asked arrogantly.

The few students in the canteen turned to look at Allisya and Aris. A small commotion in the middle of the day.

"Sya, listen to me first," Aris held Allisya's hand, which was trying to leave.

"Let her go. Allisya doesn't want to be with you," Zidan said, arriving as the hero savior.

"Kak Zidan," Allisya released Aris's grip and moved beside Zidan. "Are you hungry too?"

Zidan smiled sideways. Aris looked away—he must be jealous.

"Yeah, I am. Let's eat together," Zidan took Allisya's hand and found a seat a little farther away from Aris.

"Why does it have to be Zidan?" Aris ruffled his hair in frustration, watching Allisya look so happy with Zidan.

"Why were you angry earlier? Having more problems with your boyfriend?" Zidan wanted to know more, especially about Allisya's romantic life, which seemed to be getting more complicated by the day.

Allisya was silent, unable to answer. Besides, what was the point of trusting again when Aris had already lied to her once more?

Zidan understood. He shouldn't bring that up right now. Allisya's mood wasn't good.

"Do you want some seblak?" Zidan was just guessing, but Allisya's response was so cheerful that he could see that smile again without any sadness on her beautiful face. So this was her simple happiness? Found in spicy food?

"I really want some," Allisya nodded enthusiastically. "Level 5 spiciness, okay?"

A five-year-old child called Zidan's name. Since the canteen was quite empty, Zidan easily found the source of the voice. His younger brother, Rafael, had managed to get out of the house without anyone watching.

Zidan got up from his seat, approached Rafael, and took him to a quiet spot.

"Why did you come here? You know it's dangerous to go out. What if something happens?" Zidan scolded Rafael. The boy looked down, hugging his Iron Man toy.

Curious, Aris secretly followed Zidan.

Allisya didn't want to get involved. She waited for her food to arrive because she was very hungry.

Rafael sobbed. Zidan, his stepbrother, was indeed a bit harsh and authoritarian.

"Go ahead and cry. No one's going to hear you. Just don't wander out of the house. I'll take you home. You're just causing trouble. And you interrupted my date earlier. Let's go," Zidan pulled Rafael's arm. His quick pace made Rafael unable to keep up, getting dragged slightly.

Aris, who witnessed this, managed to record everything. Perfect. This was proof to make Allisya distance herself a bit from Zidan.

Allisya let out a small burp—she had finally finished her spicy seblak. She took a tissue and wiped the corners of her messy lips using a small mirror she had brought.

Aris stayed quiet. He just sat beside Allisya.

"What are you doing here? Go back to that girl," Allisya shooed him away, but somehow her body didn't want to leave.

Aris played the video recording. Allisya watched it silently, observing until she clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"You shouldn't be angry at a little kid. Especially making him cry like that," she muttered. But without realizing it, she was also engaging Aris in conversation.

"So you still want Zidan? What if your child gets scolded like that later?" Aris teased Allisya a little.

"What? Haha, child? I'm marrying Kak Aris, not Kak Zidan, duh," Allisya crossed her arms and turned her face away from Aris's gaze.

Hearing that statement, Aris's heart calmed down. Even though she was angry, Allisya still loved him and was thinking about their marriage.

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