Part 3

Before departing, Frans instructed two willing citizens to accompany the deceased individual, who had been respectfully covered with a cloth, to the hospital. He left them with some money to ensure the necessary arrangements would be made.

Once the brief ordeal was over, Frans sped his car to the hospital, ignoring the curses of other drivers. It didn't take long before they arrived at a hospital. Veronica's father was immediately taken to the emergency room (ER).

Veronica clutched her own body, staring blankly at the ER door before her. She couldn't bear the thought of losing both her parents at the same time. Her mother had tragically passed away at the accident scene, her life ended abruptly when her body fell from the motorcycle and was immediately struck by a passing car.

Seeing Veronica's condition, Frans was also devastated. He wished he could hug her to offer comfort, but he knew his role was that of a lecturer, not a friend, let alone a family member.

An hour later, a male nurse came out of the ER. "I'm sorry, the patient wishes to see his daughter," he said, looking at both Frans and Veronica.

Upon hearing this, Veronica stood up and said, "I'm his daughter."

"Please, go in! The patient wishes to see you," the nurse stepped back slightly to let Veronica pass.

"Wait! I'm his daughter too," Frans approached the nurse before he closed the door.

"In you go, Sir," the nurse said.

Once Frans entered, the ER door was closed behind him. Inside, he saw Veronica kneeling on the floor, crying as she held her father's arm.

Frans's heart ached as he listened to Veronica's sobs. He wanted to embrace her, to provide support. However, he realized that his status was merely that of a lecturer, not a friend or family.

Veronica's father, weak and frail, murmured, "Vi…" as he tried to open his eyes to see his beloved daughter. She was the only light in his life, and now he saw her devastated, witnessing her mother's sudden death and his own injuries.

Hearing her father's feeble words, Veronica immediately stood up and looked into his eyes. "I'm here, Dad. You have to be strong, you have to recover... I don't want to lose you," she said softly amid unstoppable tears.

Frans hugged Veronica's shoulder again. "You must be strong, Vero. Don't cry! Your father will be fine."

Veronica nodded slowly, following Frans's advice. She didn't want her father to be sad and broken like herself, so she wiped away her tears and tried her best to hold back her sobs.

"Who is this?" Veronica's father asked, wanting to know who the man standing beside his daughter was, offering her support. Who was this man who seemed sincerely concerned for his beloved daughter?

"This is Mr. Frans, Dad. He's one of Vero's lecturers at the university."

"I'm Frans, Sir," Frans gently patted Veronica's father's hand, reassuring him that there was nothing to worry about because he was there.

"Frans, will you marry my daughter? I want to marry her before I go."

His words were faint and stuttered, but he finally managed to say what he had been wanting to. This happened as Frans entered the ICU room.

Veronica's eyes widened. "No, Dad, don't say that... You'll get better."

Veronica began sobbing again, unable to bear the thought of her father joining her mother in death. She didn't know what she would do without her family.

Frans raised his head and closed his eyes tightly. He couldn't possibly marry Veronica, but he also felt sorry for her. Seeing that Veronica had no other family, he decided to grant her father's request, despite all the consequences that would come later.

Finally, Frans nodded, and a happy smile appeared on Veronica's father's lips. With the help of several medical staff, the preparations for the wedding between Frans and Veronica were completed. However, for the time being, they had a simple wedding because obtaining the necessary marriage documents would take time. Meanwhile, Veronica's father's condition continued to deteriorate.

Before the wedding took place that evening, inside Veronica's father's hospital room, with witnesses from the hospital and representatives from the relevant office, and with labored breaths, Veronica's father successfully married his only daughter. He managed to fulfill his wish of seeing his beloved daughter married, whether it would be a lifelong commitment or not.

After the wedding ceremony was completed, Veronica's father took his last breath, closing his eyes and departing this world forever.

Realizing that her father had passed away, Veronica immediately lost consciousness. She still couldn't accept the fact that both her parents had left her within such a short period of time, at the young age of twenty.

Veronica couldn't believe that her parents had gone in such a tragic accident. They had traveled to Bandung for a client's request to create a garden. They had spent five days in Bandung for work and were looking forward to returning home to surprise Veronica. However, everything was shattered when a pickup truck rear-ended their motorcycle, taking both their lives.

The Next Day...

After the funeral for Veronica's parents was completed, Frans took her back to the apartment that used to belong to Arinda. Arriving at the apartment, Frans guided Veronica into a room to rest.

Veronica nodded quietly and followed Frans's request. Inside the room, Veronica lay down on the bed, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. She still couldn't come to terms with what had happened. Her parents had both left her forever without any warning.

Veronica took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to ease the tightness in her chest. The thought of living without her parents plunged her further into despair. Veronica had no family left besides her parents. There was no more mother to hug her when she was sad, and no more father to protect her from everyone's criticism. Imagining this, tears flowed from her eyes uncontrollably.

Veronica curled up and cried silently, not wanting Frans to hear her sobbing. He had already helped her so much, even though Frans was just a lecturer she had met only a day ago.

As the sun began to set, Frans entered the room to check on Veronica. She hadn't left the room since the afternoon, and she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon.

Frans walked quietly into the room and saw Veronica, who had fallen asleep while curled up on the bed. He knelt beside the bed and gently rubbed her shoulder.

"Vero... wake up. You haven't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon! I don't want you to get sick," Frans' baritone voice woke Veronica from her slumber. She blinked her eyes repeatedly to clear her vision. Her eyes were swollen and felt heavy from all the crying. "Sir..."

"You should wake up first, okay? Take a shower, and then have your meal," Frans hugged Veronica's shoulder and helped her sit up. "After your shower, you can eat."

Veronica smiled and nodded softly, thanking him. She immediately stood up and asked, "Where's the bathroom, Sir?"

"It's over there, the bathroom," Frans pointed to the door beside the wardrobe. "I'll wait for you outside. Once you're done, come find me."