Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
“Aletta.”
Bianca’s voice came from behind the bedroom door.
Aletta was still sitting on the edge of the bed. She quickly wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks, taking several deep breaths as she tried to hide her tear-swollen face before standing up.
Slowly, she opened the door.
Bianca was already standing outside, impeccably dressed, her expression as blank as ever, not revealing the slightest emotion.
“Get ready,” she said curtly. “The guests have arrived.”
Aletta stared at her mother for several seconds.
“Is this what you want?” she asked in a quiet voice.
Bianca didn’t answer.
“Don’t keep them waiting.”
After saying that, Bianca turned and walked away down the hallway.
Aletta remained standing in the doorway.
Her eyes followed her mother’s back as it grew more distant, until Bianca finally disappeared around the corner.
Slowly, Aletta closed her bedroom door again.
She leaned her back against it.
Her eyes squeezed shut.
A single tear rolled down her cheek once more.
She walked over to the small vanity in the corner of the room. A small cream-colored notebook Bagaskara had given her lay there.
Aletta picked it up.
She opened to the last page and wrote a sentence with slightly trembling hands.
“Can someone still smile... when their life is about to be decided by someone else?”
Her writing stopped.
Aletta stared at the words for a long time, then closed the notebook and hugged it tightly against her chest.
A few minutes later, she wiped away the rest of her tears, straightened the house clothes she was wearing, and stepped out of her room.
Whatever was waiting for her in the living room...
She knew she had to face it alone.
With slow steps, Aletta began descending the stairs.
Each step felt unbearably heavy, as if her feet were reluctant to carry her toward the living room.
The closer she got, the clearer the adults’ conversation became.
Occasional soft laughter drifted through the air, interspersed with warm-sounding conversation.
It was the complete opposite of how Aletta felt at that moment.
When she reached the first floor, she took a deep breath before finally entering the living room.
Several people she had never seen before had gathered there.
Thom and Bianca sat with warm, welcoming smiles that were completely different from how they acted at home every day. In front of the guests, they had once again taken on the roles of a harmonious couple.
Aletta merely watched it all without expression.
Among the guests sat a young man in a dark-colored shirt.
Both his hands rested on his knees, while his head was slightly bowed, keeping his face hidden from Aletta’s view.
The girl didn’t know him.
Or at least... she couldn’t see clearly who he was yet.
“Please, sit down, Aletta,” Thom said in a friendly tone in front of the guests.
Aletta obeyed without protest.
She sat with her hands clasped in her lap, trying to hide the unease filling her heart.
Slowly, the young man began to raise his head.
And in that very second, Aletta finally saw the figure who had been sitting there silently with his head bowed.
“Nathan...”
The name nearly escaped Aletta’s lips in a whisper.
Her heart seemed to stop beating for a moment.
The young man sitting across from her was no stranger.
She knew him.
Nathan.
The captain of the school soccer team, as well as Bagaskara and Rafael’s close friend.
Slowly, Nathan lifted his gaze until their eyes met.
His expression remained blank.
There wasn’t the slightest hint of surprise.
As if he had known about this meeting from the very beginning.
Aletta, on the other hand, stood frozen in place.
All kinds of questions raced through her mind.
“Why is Nathan here?”
“Don’t tell me...”
Her hands unconsciously curled into fists in her lap.
Nathan let out a quiet breath.
To be honest, he had heard his parents mention the name Aletta Lesmana several times while discussing their families’ arranged marriage.
At the time, the name had sounded strangely familiar.
It was only after seeing the girl who entered the living room that he realized Aletta was the quiet student from his school.
He studied Aletta for a few moments.
There was surprise in his eyes, but not because of her identity.
Rather, he now understood why Bagaskara talked about Aletta so often.
The atmosphere in the living room suddenly became awkward.
Neither of them said a word.
While the two families remained busy discussing their future, Aletta and Nathan simply stared at each other in silence, both aware that this meeting would change many things.
In a corner of Nathan’s heart, only one thought kept circling.
“If Bagaskara finds out about this... everything is going to get complicated.”
“Uncle, Auntie... may I take Aletta to the garden for a moment?” Nathan asked politely.
All eyes immediately turned toward him.
Thom gave him a faint smile.
“Of course. Go ahead.”
He glanced briefly at Aletta before continuing,
“Maybe you two can get to know each other better.”
Bianca merely nodded, offering no comment.
Nathan stood.
He turned toward Aletta and subtly gestured for her to follow him.
Without saying a word, Aletta rose from her seat.
They walked out of the house, crossing the spacious terrace until they reached the backyard. An expanse of green grass and neatly arranged trees stretched all the way to the Lesmana family’s golf course.
Once they arrived, Nathan stopped walking.
He didn’t speak right away.
For several seconds, he only stared at the view ahead, as if trying to arrange the right words.
“I don’t know where to start,” he said quietly.
Aletta remained silent.
Nathan let out a long breath.
“Honestly... I just found out that you’re the person my family wants me to marry.”
Aletta slowly lifted her gaze.
“I never asked for this arranged marriage either,” Nathan continued. “I came because I respect my parents’ decision. Not because I’ve already chosen this path for my life.”
Aletta’s gaze softened slightly.
Nathan turned toward her.
“So... you don’t have to worry about me forcing you into anything or expecting something from you.”
Silence fell for a moment.
“I know we’re both in a difficult position.”
His words made Aletta gently clutch the hem of her shirt.
Nathan smiled faintly.
“And one more thing...”
He looked at Aletta seriously.
“Bagaskara doesn’t know about today’s meeting.”
At the mention of that name, Aletta’s heart began beating faster again.
Nathan noticed the change in her expression.
In his heart, he began to understand that the relationship between Aletta and his friend might be more than simple familiarity.
And if that was true...
Then the arranged marriage being discussed by their families inside the house would not only make things more difficult for Aletta, but could also change the friendship he had guarded all this time with Bagaskara.
Aletta opened the small notebook she always carried.
With slightly trembling fingers, she began writing a few sentences.
A moment later, she held the notebook out to Nathan.
Nathan read it slowly.
“There’s nothing going on between your friend and me. So don’t worry. This won’t affect your friendship.”
Nathan exhaled softly after finishing.
He lifted his gaze to Aletta, who stood several steps away.
“I hope that’s true.”
His voice was quiet, but uncertainty lingered in it.
“Because... I know Bagaskara better than anyone.”
Aletta only stared at him in silence.
“When he gets serious about something...” Nathan gave a humorless smile. “He’s not the kind of person who gives up easily.”
The afternoon breeze drifted softly through the garden, sending leaves fluttering to the ground.
Nathan looked at the writing in the little notebook again.
“Maybe as far as you’re concerned, there’s really nothing between the two of you.”
He returned the notebook to Aletta.
“But... I’m not sure Bagaskara feels the same way.”
Aletta lowered her gaze.
For some reason, Nathan’s words made her chest feel tight.
She remembered all the attention Bagaskara had given her.
The little notebook.
His words of encouragement.
The nighttime motorcycle ride.
And the sincere smile he always gave her whenever he saw her.
All those memories spun through her mind.
But Aletta slowly tightened her grip on the notebook.
To her, growing closer to Bagaskara would only drag him into the problems that had been strangling her life all this time.
And that was the last thing she wanted.
Nathan’s ringtone suddenly shattered the silence.
Nathan glanced at his phone screen.
Bagaskara Calling...
He quietly exhaled before walking several yards away from Aletta so she wouldn’t be able to hear their conversation clearly.
“Hey, Gas.”
“Where are you, Nath?” Bagaskara’s voice sounded excited on the other end. “Rafa and I are heading to your place. We’re going to watch the World Cup together.”
Nathan glanced toward Aletta, who was still standing silently beneath a tree.
“Uh... I’m at a family thing, Gas.”
His voice sounded slightly hesitant.
“Oh... man, that’s too bad.” Bagaskara sounded disappointed. “I even got snacks ready.”
Nathan smiled faintly.
“Sorry. We can watch the final together tomorrow.”
“Sounds good.”
Before Nathan could end the call, Rafael’s voice cut in from a distance.
“That’s unusual, bro. You’re actually going to a family event? You’re usually the one who hates them the most.”
Nathan gave a hollow chuckle.
“Yeah... this time’s different.”
“Getting set up, huh?” Rafael teased, followed by Bagaskara’s laughter.
Nathan froze for a moment.
His heart began beating faster.
He glanced toward Aletta again.
The girl was still standing with her back to him, staring at the expanse of grass without knowing what they were discussing.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Nathan replied quickly, trying to sound casual. “I’ve got to go. I’ll let you know later.”
“Okay, take care, bro,” Bagaskara replied.
The call ended.
Nathan stared at his phone screen for several seconds before letting out a long breath.
That was close.
If he hadn’t been careful, Bagaskara might have already found out that the family event he was attending was a meeting with Aletta.
And Nathan wasn’t ready to face whatever might happen if his friend learned the truth.