Tama watched the figure disappear behind the building. A sudden unease filled his mind.
He hadn't expected the young woman's presence to leave such a deep impression. His chest was still pounding. His breathing was uneven. And what unsettled him most was how badly he wanted to see her again—so badly that he felt he couldn't ignore it.
"Damn it... What's wrong with you?!" he grumbled irritably. He rubbed his face roughly, as though he could wipe away the strange feeling taking control of him.
Damn. He sounded like an unstable teenager who had just fallen in love for the first time.
But Tama wasn't that kind of man. He was withdrawn. He avoided emotional attachments to women as much as he could.
He had fallen in love once, long ago. And the feeling had been complicated, abstract, impossible to predict. It had stolen his logic and rationality, leaving him vulnerable.
That was why he had driven it far away. He chose to focus on his career, working day and night until he could stand tall and command respect the way he did now.
There was no room for love. No room for losing control.
Yet now, his attraction to Zara had come with overwhelming force. Strange. Raw. Gripping.
It wasn't merely a desire to get to know her. There was a wild impulse inside him that wanted to possess her. To protect her. To make sure she stayed within his reach.
Tama leaned back against his seat. He let out a long breath and stared for a while longer at the figure growing smaller before finally vanishing into the distance.
The auditorium was still bustling with students even though the seminar had ended several minutes earlier. Zara, who had chosen to sit quietly for a moment with her best friend, Inara, stared at the noisy room.
"Zar, Zara!! What is wrong with you? You've been spacing out this whole time! You didn't seem focused during the seminar either. What's going on? Are you still thinking about your mom?"
Zara turned toward Inara, who was looking at her curiously. Ever since arriving on campus, Zara had seemed unusually listless and quiet. And during the seminar, she had appeared tense and restless as she stared at the speaker onstage.
"Y-yeah... Something like that," Zara replied vaguely. Her best friend already knew about all the difficulties she was facing. But what had happened the night before? That was something she would keep to herself. She didn't want to be looked down on now that hardship and pain had become so tightly bound to her life.
Inara clicked her tongue and gave Zara a reproachful look. "I already told you to use my money for the hospital bills. You're so damn stubborn. It's hard to get money instantly these days unless you sell your body," she rattled off sharply.
"What? Don't be ridiculous," Zara protested. Secretly, she felt offended after nearly selling her body for money the night before.
"It's because you're so stubborn," Inara said sarcastically, but Zara didn't pay much attention.
She had already caused her friend too much trouble. Now Zara was doing her best not to burden Inara any further with her problems.
"I don't want to trouble you anymore. I haven't even paid back the money I borrowed before," she said by way of explanation.
"It's fine. Relax. I don't really need it that badly right now."
Zara slapped Inara's shoulder hard enough to make her eyes narrow accusingly. "You're lying. That money is for your tuition, isn't it?! Admit it!" Inara didn't deny it. She only smiled broadly and winced, caught red-handed in a lie.
"Good thing I didn't take it. Go pay it now before it gets eaten up by your spending money!" Zara grumbled, though she felt relieved that she had stood firm and refused to take Inara's money. She knew her friend needed it just as badly.
Inara was a student from out of town, with her parents living far away across the island. She had dared to attend college in a major city, relying solely on the money her parents sent her. Zara knew the girl's financial situation all too well, especially since Inara had told her that her parents were coffee farm laborers.
As much as possible, Zara didn't want to make things difficult for her friend either. It was enough that she was the one struggling financially right now.
Inara clicked her tongue. "Yeah, yeah..." Her eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh, by the way, the speaker this time was really cool, wasn't he?" she said, gazing admiringly as she remembered the masculine figure who had spoken at the event in the auditorium earlier.
"I just can't believe he's already that old. Like a..."
"Hot daddy," Zara muttered unconsciously. A second later, her eyes widened as she remembered what she had just said. She promptly tapped herself on the head for speaking so shamelessly.
Inara only giggled, as if agreeing with Zara.
"Do you think a guy like him has an ani-ani too? Or a sugar baby, maybe... Like all those established businessmen. Sugar daddies are trending these days, right? Ani-ani are becoming popular too," Inara whispered, glancing around in case any female student took offense.
"Instead of worrying about his sugar baby, you'd better think about the discussion material from earlier. You have to turn it in to Mr. Galih later," Zara said, slightly flustered as she averted her gaze.
That was what had kept her silent all this time. Tama's image had reappeared before her eyes in an entirely different light. Alexander Wijaya Utama, a CEO at an international airline company who had managed to capture the attention of countless students, including her own. It wasn't only his success, but also his handsome, charismatic appearance.
He was thirty-nine years old, yet his commanding presence was incredibly powerful, radiating from the sharpness of his gaze—eyes capable of reading a person with a single look. He was the perfect combination of charisma and intelligence, a visionary who had turned his airline company into one of the most prominent in the world.
And that was the same man who had helped Zara the night before! He had saved her from misery that would have become even more complicated if Tama hadn't helped her.
Zara hadn't expected to meet that man again in a completely different form, one far above her. And she hoped she would never have to see him again, no matter the reason.
"I still don't want to think about it! My brain is still back on Mount Rinjani," Inara said, her thoughts wandering as she reminisced about last week's mountain hike. A sweet smile spread across her pink lips, her eyes closing as she pictured it. The girl really did love hiking, unlike Zara, who preferred keeping herself busy with part-time work rather than looking for a hobby.
The sound of movement beside her made Inara open her eyes again. She looked directly at Zara, who was already standing and gathering her things.
"Hey, where are you going?" she asked curiously, watching Zara put her notebook into her backpack.
"Work."
"At Sinar Rasa Restaurant?" Zara nodded.
Inara gathered her own notebook and walked out of the auditorium with her. They walked side by side down the campus hallway toward the main gate.
"Where are you going afterward?" Inara asked before they parted. Inara had her own motorcycle, while Zara had to wait for a bus or another form of public transportation whenever she needed to go anywhere.
The scorching midday sun made Zara squint as its light stabbed at her eyes. She paused for a moment and looked at Inara, who asked again.
"The hospital. My mom is still being treated there. By the way, I'm still leaving my things with you for now. Once I get a new boarding room, I'll take them back," Zara said, reminding her. She had no choice but to leave her belongings with Inara since it was impossible to bring them to the hospital.
Her mother's ward was just an ordinary room shared by eight patients. It would be far too cramped to hold her belongings, few as they were.
"It's fine. If I have some free time, I'll keep you and your mom company later." Zara nodded, feeling deeply grateful inside for having such a kind and caring friend.
"Hey, if you need to rest, just go back to my boarding room. No matter how comfortable the hospital room is, my tiny place is still more comfortable," Inara suggested. Zara smiled and nodded again without refusing. Sometimes she went to rest at her friend's place because it was comfortable and peaceful.
"Thanks. I'll get going."
At last, they parted ways. Zara walked toward the bus stop and waited for a bus. Now she had to work as a server at a local restaurant for ten hours. Zara couldn't make any more mistakes, because the pay from this job would be enough to cover the hospital bills.
Zara did her work as usual. She wore the same uniform as the other employees. She began serving dishes to customers with her captivating, friendly smile. The restaurant was always crowded, especially around lunchtime. That was naturally because it had already built a big, legendary reputation. Many people returned to savor the distinctive flavors of its signature dishes.
Zara delivered food to a VIP room on the second floor. She smiled politely at a man standing outside the door, and he immediately stepped aside to let her in.
She knocked before opening the door slowly and wheeling the food cart inside.
As she walked in, Zara froze when she saw a familiar guest.
"Mr. Tama? Oh God, why do I have to run into him again?" Zara muttered, stunned. She stared at Tama, who was looking at her intently as well.
Zara only gave him an awkward smile as she stopped the cart beside the table. Then she neatly arranged the plates filled with various dishes on the tabletop. She tried to focus on her task beneath Tama's scrutinizing gaze.
"You work here too?" Tama's voice broke the silence in the room. Zara froze for a second, then smiled awkwardly and nodded.
"Yes, sir. Please enjoy your meal. I'll excuse myself," Zara said hurriedly. She quickly turned the cart around and headed for the door. But Tama's voice stopped her in her tracks.
"Wait... Eat with me."
Zara's body tensed. "B-but, sir, I have to go back to serving the food," Zara refused professionally. She didn't want to face Tama again so soon. His aura felt different now, more intimidating—especially after learning his true identity on campus that morning.
"I'll take care of it," he said in a tone that brooked no argument. His fingers moved across his phone as he typed an order to the man outside the room.
Zara remained rooted to the spot. She hesitated, unsure whether to move forward or backward.
"I won't do anything to you. I just want some company while I eat," Tama explained, realizing how wary Zara was.
"Your bodyguard...?" she asked to make sure. If Tama wanted someone to accompany him while he ate, wasn't there already a man standing faithfully outside the door? He should ask that man to join him instead of her!
But the man didn't budge. Instead, he set his phone on the table.
Zara watched Tama begin placing food on his plate. Then he looked at her when she made no move to join him.
Tama's gaze was so sharp that it seemed to hypnotize Zara into obeying him. Awkwardly, she finally sat in the chair across from him and watched as Tama began bringing food to his mouth.
"Eat," he said indifferently. Tama appeared focused on his own meal.
Meanwhile, Zara awkwardly served herself some rice and one side dish. She didn't want to seem greedy by taking too much food, even though she was extremely hungry.
"How is your mother?" Tama asked between bites, his eyes on Zara as she raised a mouthful of food.
Zara answered first before putting the food in her mouth.
"She's better, sir. Her blood pressure has gone down," Zara replied, her thoughts returning to her mother lying in the hospital bed. She had no idea how long her mother would remain there, considering her history of a mild stroke that needed to be treated quickly and properly to prevent more serious consequences.
"That's good to hear," Tama replied, and Zara nodded.
Zara took another slow bite. Every now and then, her eyes drifted toward Tama as he ate with such calm elegance.
"About your offer yesterday, I'd like to collect on it." His voice once again shattered the silence, nearly making Zara choke.
"What offer, sir?" Zara asked, trying to convince herself she had heard him correctly.
"You couldn't possibly have forgotten what you said last night," he replied casually. He continued eating until not a single bite remained, leaving Zara sitting stiffly and helplessly across from him.
"A pleasure..."