Chapter Ten - Cake By The Ocean

The villa Karin booked was far bigger than I'd imagined — seven bedrooms, all facing the sea, an infinity pool that dissolved into the horizon, and a sprawling outdoor kitchen that made Nikau's eyes light up the moment we arrived."Sei," he said, exploring every corner of it like a child loose in a toy store, "did you see this? There's an outdoor pizza oven.”"You and Beck already have a week of menus planned, don't you.”"Maybe," he admitted, with zero remorse.Our room — per the text from Karin that had made my heart stutter strangely when I read it last week — faced the open sea. A large bed draped in white netting, and a private terrace wide enough for two loungers and a small table."This—" I stopped at the threshold, suddenly awkward."Nice, right?" Nikau had already set our suitcases in the corner. Both of them. He looked completely at ease, as if sharing a bedroom with me for a full week were the most natural thing in th

Last Updated : 2026-07-18

Chapter Eleven - His Place

"We're going to my place, okay?" Nikau said in the car from the airport. His right hand stayed on the wheel, the other holding mine as always. "I've been wanting to bring you there for a while. Just never found the right moment.""And now the moment's right?""Yes," he said, a small smile aimed at the road ahead. "You just saw me at my most—" He paused, hunting for the right word. "—undone. Feels only fair that you get to see all of me."His loft turned out to be in an area I never would have guessed — an apartment he'd converted into something that felt like an old industrial building reborn. Exposed brick, high ceilings, and vast windows facing the Jakarta skyline from a height that turned the city lights below into miniaturesI stood rooted in the middle of his living room, taking it in. An open bookshelf, its titles arranged far more neatly than mine ever were. One black-and-white family photograph hanging on the brick wall. Green plants that were clearly ten

Last Updated : 2026-07-19

Chapter Twelve - Your Pleasure is MY Pleasure

The Saturday after Vino evaporated, Nikau finally paid his oldest debt."Netflix day," he announced at his loft door, taking my bag before I'd fully crossed the threshold. "The real one. No agenda, no reservations, no being anyone's boss. You said it in the car from the airport, months ago. I keep my promises late, but I keep them."We did absolutely nothing, and it was magnificent. I fell asleep twice on his chest during a documentary neither of us finished. He made lunch without asking what I wanted, which by now I understood was its own kind of gift.Somewhere in the afternoon, hunting for water in his kitchen, I found the thermos. THE thermos, sitting washed and ready on the rack like a soldier on standby."Nik.""Dalem, sayang?""You keep the STMJ thermos stocked." I held it up. "Susu. Telur. Madu. Jahe. The drink every bapak in Java swears keeps his stamina up." I let the word sit. "Anything you want

Last Updated : 2026-07-22

Chapter Thirteen - Your Pleasure is MY Pleasure

The Saturday after Vino evaporated, Nikau finally paid his oldest debt. "Netflix day," he announced at his loft door, taking my bag before I'd fully crossed the threshold. "The real one. No agenda, no reservations, no being anyone's boss. You said it in the car from the airport, months ago. I keep my promises late, but I keep them." We did absolutely nothing, and it was magnificent. I fell asleep twice on his chest during a documentary neither of us finished. He made lunch without asking what I wanted, which by now I understood was its own kind of gift. Somewhere in the afternoon, hunting for water in his kitchen, I found the thermos. THE thermos, sitting washed and ready on the rack like a soldier on standby. "Nik." "Dalem, sayang?" "You keep the STMJ thermos stocked." I held it up. "Susu. Telur. Madu. Jahe. The drink every bapak in Java swears keeps his stamina up." I let the word sit. "Anything yo

Last Updated : 2026-07-24

Chapter Fourteen - Ashes

I woke that morning in Nikau's loft, sunlight through the big windows, and found him already sitting on the edge of the bed, half-dressed, staring at something in his hands. "Morning," I said, voice still rough with sleep. He turned and smiled — but there was something different in it. Relief and nerves, braided. "Morning," he said. "I want to tell you something. All of it. If you're ready to hear it." I sat up, pulled the blanket around me, and nodded. He started from the beginning — not from the day he took my contract, but long before, from his childhood in New Zealand. "My mum spent years dating men who were never actually good to her," he said, quiet but steady. "I remember one, two, then I lost count. They'd promise everything, then leave the moment something easier came along. And every time, she blamed herself. Thought she was the one lacking. Not good enough to keep." I listened, my hand find

Last Updated : 2026-07-25

Epilogue

Rosa's housewarming invitation arrived via the group chat, in her signature style — always too excited for correct punctuation.[WHATSAPP GROUP — LUCKY 7] Rosa: GUYS!!! Beck is hosting a housewarming this Saturday, everyone come, just bring yourselves Sary: WAIT, NEW HOUSE? SINCE WHEN IS THERE A NEW HOUSE Rosa: ...since Beck bought us a house in Jogja two months ago and I forgot to mention it because I was busy?? Just come, I'll explain Sary: JOGJA?? Sekar: We're flying. All of us. Obviously.I laughed and turned my screen toward Nik, who was brewing coffee beside me."Rosa bought a house," I said. "Or rather — Beck bought them a house. In Jogja. And she's only telling us now.""Good for them," Nik said, smiling. "One more contract burned." We flew in Saturday morning, all of us, because of course we did.The house — if you could call it