Airin blinked, clearing her vision. She wanted to squirm to see what time it was.
"Oh, God!! Half past three? Three in the afternoon or..." Airin hesitated, glancing at the hotel room window. Dark. One word fittingly described what lay behind those curtains.
"No way," Airin mumbled, shocked. She quickly sat up, covering her bare body, searching for Zidan, who had taken advantage of her multiple times. "Zidan, where is he?"
Airin slid off the bed, wrapping a blanket around her innocent body. Searching for Zidan in the bathroom to question him. But alas, not even Zidan's scent lingered. The man had left.
"Damn it!" cursed Airin. She immediately grabbed her phone to call Zidan, asking why he left her alone in the hotel room after what they did from the late afternoon to midnight.
Airin still felt the pain in her lower body and her entire skeletal structure aching. Zidan had truly taken the opportunity to satisfy his desires until she lost consciousness. Truly, a despicable man.
'Airin, forgive me, I had to leave without saying goodbye. My dad was hospitalized after falling in the bathroom. I had to go home because mom panicked seeing dad in critical condition. I wanted to wake you up, but I couldn't bear it, knowing you must be exhausted after a long night. I left with a heavy heart, and once everything is okay, I'll ask mom to contact you. Please don't be angry with me, my love.'
Airin took a deep breath, exhaling harshly after reading Zidan's message from two hours ago. She pulled one corner of her lip when staring at herself in the wardrobe mirror.
Messy hair and a body marked with purplish-red signs of their forbidden love with Zidan. Airin laughed at herself, easily surrendering to Zidan. Despite talking to his mother, she shouldn't have willingly opened her legs to be enjoyed. Even now, Airin didn't know Zidan's address, and his phone number was inactive when he disappeared.
Airin roughly wiped her face, hoping no one knew how far she had gone, especially her parents, who worked hard in the village to fund her education. But she played with fire with a man from Jakarta, with an entirely unclear address.
"You're so foolish. What if you're pregnant?" Airin mumbled. Standing tall in front of the wardrobe mirror after she finished showering and packing to return to her boarding house. She caressed her still-flat stomach, biting her lip hard to ward off the fear that haunted her.
"But..." Airin stared blankly at the mirror in front of her, recalling Zidan's words about taking responsibility if she got pregnant. That meant they would marry sooner if she was pregnant, right?
"May you come soon. So my fear diminishes and vanishes. Come, so I no longer commit a great sin," she whispered in her heart. Praying to truly be pregnant and have a child. So she wouldn't have to wait a month to marry Zidan.
Because Airin was certain that until they got married, Zidan would keep coming back for her services. Moreover, she wouldn't be able to refuse, given that Zidan had thoroughly enjoyed her."I hope I get pregnant soon," Airin murmured. As she reached for the money Zidan intentionally left on the nightstand. He left it so Airin would have money to return to her boarding house, which was quite far from the hotel, including money for her daily expenses.
Airin realized, Zidan asked and was serviced, leaving behind a sum of money, and she had started resembling a prostitute. Airin also realized she was picked up on the street and went home alone with a sum of money.
"You're no different from a prostitute, Rin," Airin mocked herself. She grumbled throughout the journey from the room to the hotel lobby... until...
Bugh!!
"Ouch!" Airin shrieked as her backside hit the hard lobby floor.
"Sorry, I..." A man who accidentally bumped into Airin apologized, extending his hand to help. However, he was stunned when he saw who the woman he accidentally collided with was.
"Airin?"
"Mr. Fachri?"
They exclaimed simultaneously, both shocked by each other's presence at the hotel at such an unusual hour.
Fachri, one of her professors at the university, was undoubtedly surprised to find one of his students at the hotel. At dawn, no less, wearing the same clothes as yesterday.
Yes, Fachri could vividly recall that Airin wore a leaf-green blouse yesterday, exactly like what she was wearing now. Fachri was not mistaken at all, as he taught in Airin's classes from morning to afternoon. That meant the beautiful girl hadn't gone home but instead stopped at the hotel.
"Airin? What are you doing here?" Fachri asked, with an extraordinary surprise. However, he still helped Airin stand up, despite being the one who caused her to fall.
"I... I'm accompanying my parents who are staying at this hotel. They just arrived from the village, and I'm heading back to my boarding house to get ready for class. I'm afraid of being late, so I hurried." Airin rubbed her neck, almost losing her wits to come up with a suitable excuse to answer her professor's question.
"Oh, is that so?" Fachri scratched his non-itchy head. He tried to recall whether Airin had a morning schedule or not. Although his mind was sure that Airin only had afternoon classes with her department's professors. Hopefully, he was wrong in his recollection.
And hopefully, it was just his mind thinking negatively about Airin's presence in the hotel at such an early hour, not to mention a purplish-red mark peeking behind the collar of her blouse. Fachri reassured himself that it could be a wasp or giant mosquito bite.
"Yeah, that's it, Sir. What about you, coming here so early in the morning?" Now Airin turned the question back to Fachri, who was battling with his sanity.
"I came here to help my cousin's sister-in-law, checking whether her husband is really here or not. He lives in Jakarta now, so he can't keep an eye on his husband. And coincidentally, these past two days, her husband had meetings with clients here, but she received reports that it was just a lie. The person sent by my sister-in-law even said her husband went to this hotel with a woman. Unfortunately, the messenger had to leave immediately because her sister had an accident. So, I continued the task to verify the truth," Fachri explained thoroughly, not hiding anything from Airin.
Because he didn't want to be viewed negatively by his student, it would be an unpleasant gossip if any rumors spread throughout the campus."Oh, I see, Sir. Well then, I'll go back. Have a good duty!" Airin bowed slightly, bidding farewell to Fachri to leave.
Fachri just nodded. Despite Airin's attempts to hide something, he was still convinced that she was keeping something from him.
"Besides, there's no way there's a giant mosquito in this hotel," Fachri muttered, observing Airin, who was starting to move away and disappeared from his sight.
The twenty-six-year-old man could only hope that Airin wasn't involved in free relationships, and that mark earlier... was truly just a mosquito bite. Or maybe a birthmark?
"How is it? Is your husband there?" a woman at the other end of the call asked. When her call was answered by her cousin's younger sibling, who was assigned to check the whereabouts of her husband."No, Sister. But..." Fachri paused, carefully considering whether to tell or not the information he just received from the hotel receptionist. Information stating that, indeed, his cousin's husband came there last night but checked out at 2 am. More painful, the one who took the room key from the receptionist was a young girl. For his cousin's well-being, Fachri had to weigh carefully whether to tell the truth or keep it a secret until he found evidence and caught him red-handed. To avoid mistakes in conveying information."But what, Fachri? Is he there?" the woman asked again, breaking Fachri's contemplation about his decision. Ah, if only he were allowed to view the hotel CCTV footage, he wouldn't have to think so hard."No, Sister. He's not here. He said he already checked out, but he wa
Airin was annoyed. After making her way to building three, Fachri asked her to come to his office in the main building. With a seemingly innocent face, he requested her to wait there while also asking for help in bringing a stack of assignments from the class he currently taught.With reluctant steps and a perfectly pouted lip, Airin headed to Fachri's office. Navigating through corridors and up and down stairs, she finally reached the youngest lecturer's room.Airin was stunned, witnessing the neatness and pleasant aroma of the room. While the campus had cleaning staff, the distinct fragrance emanating from Fachri's office was different—unique and pleasing to the olfactory senses. The spacious room was also impeccably organized, not messy at all.While waiting for Fachri, who knows when would arrive, Airin arranged the books on the table. She sat down, folded her hands on the table, and resumed her nap that was interrupted by Fachri's request."Sorry for making you wait," Fachri said
Fachri let out a frustrated sigh as Airin quickly rose from her seat, responding to her ringing phone."Excuse me for a moment, Sir. I'll take this call." With a slight bow, Airin excused herself. Fachri couldn't stop her, especially since the call might be important, evident from Airin's swift departure."Damn. If only her phone didn't ring, I might have known who the guy she's involved with is by now," Fachri cursed inwardly. He rubbed his face harshly, regretting that Airin had hurriedly left. This was a missed golden opportunity, and he might not be able to get Airin to reveal much about her boyfriend afterward."With whom?" Airin asked as she reached the end of the terrace outside Fachri's third-floor office. She also made sure there was no one else around. She was confident the unknown number calling was Zidan's mother.Hoping for the same, as Zidan had mentioned his mother would call when things started improving."Is this Airin?" a woman at the other end of the call inquired.
"He's way more handsome, Rin," whispered a middle-agedwoman in a floral house dress with neatly rolled hair. There were three rollsperched on the top of her head. She grinned as she introduced herself toFachri.In her eyes, Fachri was incredibly handsome and fit the idealman that women desired. His prominent nose, sharp jawline, and thick eyebrowsframed by black-framed glasses. Not to forget, his thick and curly eyelashes.His broad chest and slightly muscular arms, along with a flatand firm abdomen. Fachri was also above-average in height. Even Zidan, who metthe height requirements to apply to an institution, only reached his ears.Which woman wouldn't be enchanted by his perfection? Except, ofcourse, Airin. Her blind love had closed her eyes to see any handsome man inthe world other than Zidan."Auntie could be right. But, for me, he's still the mosthandsome," Airin replied, nudging the arm of the landlady."Oh, come on! Are your eyes malfunctioning, Rin? It's clearthis o
Airin massaged her temples to ease the headache. Since earlymorning, she hadn't stopped vomiting, even though there was nothing left toexpel. However, the nausea would be quite bothersome if not purged. So, she hadto keep going back and forth to the bathroom, catching Sonya's attention as shewas now getting ready."Rin, aren't you tired of going back and forth like thissince earlier?" Sonya asked, curious about Airin, who seemed tirelessgoing in and out of the bathroom. Surpassing someone who was suffering fromacute diarrhea, making it impossible to stay still."I wish I wasn't like this, Onya. But my stomach hurtsbecause of catching a cold. So, I have diarrhea and keep going back to thebathroom. Do you want me to do it here?" Airin replied weakly. She crafteda sudden lie. It seemed impossible for her to say that the reason for goingback and forth to the bathroom was due to unending nausea."Oh, a cold. You pretend not to eat even when you'rehungry. Just because Zidan hasn
For over five days, Airin has been eagerly awaiting her monthly visitor to arrive, hoping for peace of mind and relief from negative thoughts. She no longer fears having a child out of wedlock because, until now, Zidan remains unreachable.Airin has the urge to search, but she doesn't know where to find this irresponsible man. Zidan's number is still inactive. How will she demand accountability when she has no clues about his address? She hasn't even asked for his mother's name.Airin laughs bitterly, mocking herself for being too naive. She opened herself up to a man with an unclear background. Now, she is prepared with three pregnancy test kits and a small bottle of urine set aside.Holding her breath, Airin dips the test kit. She waits with a pounding heart, fearing that the result might not align with her hopes. However, fate has a different story to tell. Two red lines appear on all three pregnancy test kits. Her body goes limp. Her gaze stares blankly at the pregnancy test resul
"I can't go, Sir.I'm sorry!" Airin asserted. Trying to exit the car, but Fachri had alreadylocked the car door. There was no way for Airin to leave without Fachri'spermission."You have tocome. You need to accompany me to your hometown. So you can cancel the marriagewith the second choice of your parents. You're still young, Rin, your future isahead. You shouldn't get married, and what about your studies?" Fachri insisted.Unhappy with Airin's marriage, though it was just a pretense.Airin shook her head."No, Sir. I can't take you there; it's already the absolute decision of myparents. It's also a mandate that must be fulfilled," Airin explained,adding a new lie to prevent Fachri from asking more questions. Honestly, shedidn't want to lie, especially to Fachri, who had been kind and helpful."But not allmandates can be fulfilled. And not all parents' wishes should be obeyed,"Fachri countered. Staring sharply at Airin, who remained determined to go homeand get married, wit
"Ha-pregnant?" Fachri shook his head, unable tobelieve what the doctor said. Airin was five weeks pregnant and had to behospitalized due to bleeding. Despite the scare, she was fortunate that thefetus in her womb was saved, thanks to Fachri's swift action in taking her tothe hospital.Panicked by seeing Airin pushed by the middle-aged woman shereferred to as "mom," Fachri rushed her to the hospital. Airincomplained of stomach pain after the impact with the hotel floor.Without investigating who the middle-aged woman was, Fachriprioritized taking Airin to the hospital to ensure her safety, especially sinceshe was bleeding in the pelvic area. Fachri put Airin's well-being first, evenbefore satisfying his curiosity.Fortunate enough, Fachri's decision was right. It saved Airinand her baby, even though they had to stay in the hospital. It was only fromthe doctor's explanation that Fachri realized Airin had been pregnant all thistime, and the fetus was quite advanced in age.Fe