Cerpen 21++ End

While we were eating, Tristan Shaw suddenly set down his fork and looked at me. “Who is Fatcat Cook?” The fork in my hand froze midair. My heart skipped a beat. Fatcat Cook. That name was someone Lena Moore and I made up on a drunken night. We had agreed that if anything ever went wrong and we couldn’t reach each other, we would use “Fatcat Cook” as a code. No one else knew that name existed. Only the two of us. And Lena had been missing for a full month. She said she was going to Valoria for a trip. Then she never came back. I looked at Tristan’s calm, almost indifferent face, and felt my heart sink. How did he know that name?

Zane Kessler, tough captain of the Thunder Wolves, has spent years vowing to crush Jaxon Caldwell, the fast, clever captain of the Storm Hawks. Their rivalry is brutal… hard checks, sharp words, pure hatred on the ice. But after Zane's team loses their biggest game of the season, Jaxon finds him alone in the empty locker room. An argument flares… then a simple touch turns into a soft, surprising kiss. Hate suddenly feels warm and confusing. From that moment, their rivalry begins to melt into something sweeter and deeper. But the hockey world isn't kind to feelings like this. Coming out could destroy their careers, and their teams would never forgive the captains falling for the enemy. Then the league drops the bombshell… the Thunder Wolves and Storm Hawks must merge into one team for the upcoming National Championship. To foster unity, Zane and Jaxon are forced to share a small apartment near the rink. They share the same space, the same locker room, and literally breathe the same air. At first it feels like torture… bumping into each other in the kitchen, sharing the couch after tough games, trying to act like nothing has changed. But the walls come down fast. Quiet talks turn into laughter. Simple meals become excuses to sit close. Stolen kisses in the dark hallway feel like winning the biggest game of their lives. Now they must lead their new team to the title while hiding a love that grows stronger every day. One wrong glance, one slip, and it could shatter everything… the championship, their careers, and the beautiful thing they’ve finally found. On the ice they were sworn enemies. Off it, they’re falling hard. And the closer they get, the more impossible it is to let go. Who will surrender first?

My younger brother told me he was overwhelmed by school stress and had developed depression. I tried to help by encouraging him to seek treatment, drawing from my own experience with the illness. However, my mother blamed me, accusing me of passing the depression onto him. She took me to a witch, who locked me in the house. Every day, the witch used willow branches to drive away evil spirits, beating me until my skin was raw, forcing me to drink filthy water, and making me bleed. "This is the only way to banish the evil and bless your little brother." After enduring days of torment, my depression worsened, and I chose to end my life. However, when I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day my brother first confessed his depression. I looked at my body—whole and unharmed. This time, I will make them pay for everything I endured.

I am heading to my job interview when my close friend, Thomas Lang—the same guy who always cautions me about meddling in other people's business—suddenly throws caution to the wind and sprints toward the wrecked limousine. I instantly realize that Thomas has been reborn, too. In my past life, Thomas and I were the top two graduates of the finance department, both making it to the final round of interviews at a Fortune 500 conglomerate. Yet, on the day of the interview, we suddenly came across the CEO, Ruth Gibson, who had just gotten involved in a car crash. I abandoned the interview to save her, while Thomas hurried off to the interview. In the end, Thomas landed the offer, while I lost my shot at working at the top conglomerate. I received sympathy from everyone around me. However, Ruth sought me out eventually, and in the spirit of profound gratitude, she presented me with an immediate proposal of marriage. I became the man who would marry Thomas' superior, achieving incredible status overnight. Meanwhile, Thomas stayed an ordinary worker, perpetually crushed by impossible metrics and corporate pressure. I was enjoying the heights of my privilege at the annual dinner, standing beside Ruth, while Thomas lurked in the background. He was a miserable face lost among the nameless guests. Consumed by jealousy, he brandished a knife and stabbed me to death right there. I suddenly open my eyes and realize we are both back at this single, pivotal day of Ruth's accident.

It doesn't mean that you are rich, everyone immediately accepts you for the person you love. Sometimes they're the one who's judging you,and they are the one who's choosing for your loved one the person he should love. Love is not about positions of your life.. wealthy or not. It really depends on the person if they want you for the rest of your life. Love is not about money, because if you love that person, you'll choose him rather than the money. Love is love. No one can stop it.

I lapse into unconsciousness for a few days after a high fever. When I wake up, I see my boyfriend and his best friend standing by my bed. I want to enliven the atmosphere, so I joke, "Who are you?" Eric Cobb, my boyfriend, is taken aback. I almost laugh at the look on his face. Then, he points at his friend, Jonah Mullen. "Don't you remember? Your boyfriend's been panicking over you. As his best friend, I have to be here with him." This time, I'm the one who's taken aback. Unexpectedly, Jonah steps forward and says, "That's right. I'm your boyfriend, Jonah Mullen."

Tiffany Hwang, gadis campuran Indonesia dan Korea Selatan itu harus merasakan pahitnya kehidupan selepas perceraian kedua orangtuanya. Selama lima tahun belakangan tidak ada hal manis yang membuahkan hasil. Terlepas dari segala kemewahan di kota Seoul, ia memilih tinggal bersama Ibunya di Jakarta dan berharap hubungan dengan ibunya ikut membaik. Kepindahannya ke Jakarta membuat hidup Tiffany penuh kejutan. Berawal dari kesalahpahaman tentang surat cinta teman kantornya yang membuat Tiffany harus terlibat dengan David Mahesa, seorang pria berdarah Bali, dimulai. Lingkar takdir kehidupan mereka seperti bercabang namun berakhir pada satu titik yang sama. Pria berkulit sawo matang itu sangat menarik perhatian dengan lesung pipinya. Tapi, isu yang menyebutkan tentang latar belakang keluarga David di Bali yang menjadi buronan Polisi membuat banyak orang enggan mendekatinya. Sosok David yang begitu dingin dan juga misterius membuat Tiffany kesulitan untuk mengelak. Segala cara dilakukan untuk menghindar tapi selalu berakhir pada pria tampan itu. Seiring waktu, Tiffany merasa kinerja jantungnya bermasalah setiap kali berurusan dengan David. Cinta yang hadir akankah semakin bersinar atau malah semakin keruh? Perlahan, alasan kepindahan David ke Ibu kota juga terkuak. Tentang siapa dia dan apa yang terjadi pada keluarganya hingga membuatnya harus melompat jauh ke Jakarta. Tak hanya masalah kehidupan David, tapi rahasia kehidupan Tiffany juga ikut terbongkar, alasan yang menjadi latar belakang perceraian kedua orangtuanya membuat Tiffany merasakan hidup penuh penyesalan yang menyedihkan.

Aku adalah satu-satunya kelemahannya. Ketua Mafia Alex Mahardika, penguasa Kota Valenusa. Dan aku adalah permaisurinya. Namun beberapa hari sebelum anak kami lahir, aku dilempar ke Pertarungan Dermaga Hitam, tempat itu adalah tempat permainan kejam yang disiarkan untuk hiburan dunia mafia. Peluru beterbangan, jebakan tersembunyi menunggu di setiap sudut, setiap upayaku yang ketakutan dan menyedihkan untuk bertahan hidup disiarkan langsung di layar-layar raksasa. Lalu, aku mendengar suara tangan kanan kepercayaannya dari pengeras suara. "Bos, istri Anda akan segera melahirkan. Anda yakin mau berada di sini?" Aku membeku. Alex ada di sini? Beberapa saat kemudian, suara manis seorang wanita terdengar dari pengeras suara. "Lupakan jalang itu. Alex bilang satu-satunya hal yang penting hari ini adalah berada di sini bersamaku. Iya kan, sayang?" Itu Nadira Santoso. Putri dari Aliansi Valenusa. Kekasih masa kecil Alex dari Kota Valenusa, wanita yang selalu dia manjakan dan perlakukan secara istimewa. Selama bertahun-tahun dia menolak perasaan wanita itu, tetapi tidak pernah menolak kemauannya. Hari ini dia sedang dalam suasana hati yang buruk dan memaksa ingin menonton pertandingan maut itu, jadi Alex datang untuk menemaninya. Aku berteriak memanggil Alex, dan memohon bantuannya, tetapi dia tetap yakin aku adalah pembunuh bayaran yang menyamar. Karena Nadira tertawa dan berkata permainan itu perlu dibuat lebih menarik, dia menekan tombol itu. Anjing-anjing patroli yang buas mengejarku. Air ketubanku pecah, bercampur dengan darah di tanah. Aku pun kesakitan. Permainan itu mencapai puncaknya ketika lebih banyak anjing dan pria bersenjata mengepungku dari segala arah. Semua orang bertaruh siapa yang akan mati berikutnya. Alex tersenyum sambil berkata dengan suaranya yang rendah dan terdengar tidak peduli, "Aku bertaruh perempuan menjijikkan itu yang akan mati." Dia baru mengetahui kebenarannya ketika aku kehabisan darah di meja operasi, dan anak kami mati bersamaku. Mereka bilang ketua mafia yang kejam itu hancur. Benar-benar hancur.

Julie Greene hadn't had a boyfriend since she started college. The last time she was in a relationship, her heart was broken and it was hard to trust again. Having a best friend since childhood was a big advantage, she never really felt lonely. Kelsey had always been like a sister, they were almost always together. They were always there for each other, even when Julie had a bit of a fall out with Preston, her "other" best friend. That is until Kelsey had a new boyfriend that she met on her summer vacation.

Zafi harus menjadi janda dengan talak tiga tidak beberapa lama setelah ijab kabul. Sang suami Dion lebih memilih mantan yang dulu pernah mencampakkannya. Duka mendalam di rasakan Zafi karena tak lama setelah kepergian Dion, Bapak dan Ibu Zafi harus kembali ke pangkuan Illahi Semua peristiwa ini menjadikan dendam yang terpatri di hati Zafi. "Kau harus merasakan apa yang aku rasakan! Kehilangan orang yang di sayang dalam waktu bersamaan!"