Chapter 3

Time passes.

Ajdin and Melisa's friendship continues. Melisa feels happy whenever Ajdin is around.

When Ajdin showed her kindness, she learned to trust him without hesitation. She believed in his words. She hopes their friendship lasts.

On the other hand, Ajdin finds a reliable friend in Melisa. He can share his problems with Melisa without hesitation because he finds it easier to tell her his problems and secrets than to those who know him. Melisa always listens to him if he tells his problems to her, so he makes time to be her friend despite his hectic schedule.

Because they are close friends, he sometimes talked about how someday he would find a woman to marry and share the rest of his life with. Make a family. And if he saw a woman that caught his attention, he told Melisa.

Sometimes, Melisa gets jealous because she fears that if Ajdin finds a girlfriend, he will stop their communication and friendship. But Ajdin doesn't notice her jealous reaction.

So when Ajdin tells her he wants to date the woman, she can't help but be envious. But she considers Ajdin a friend, so she listens to what he is saying. Sometimes she even wishes Ajdin would find the right woman for him to marry.

Ajdin is five years older than her. Ajdin is twenty-five while she is twenty. So Ajdin starts looking for the right woman to marry because he is at the right age.

And if Ajdin tells her that he has failed to date the woman he likes, her feelings are mixed. When she sees that Ajdin is upset about what happened on his supposed date, she feels mixed emotions.

Melisa wants Ajdin to be happy. But she can’t help but rejoice when Ajdin fails to go on a date. For her, it means he is still there as her friend.

Melisa once asked him if he could find a girlfriend if he stopped being friends.

Even though Ajdin wants a girlfriend, he also said he doesn't want to lose Melisa as a friend. Even if he has a girlfriend, he said it would be fine if they continue to be friends. He promised that whatever happened if he got a girlfriend, she and he would remain friends. But Melisa still doubts what he promised. She doesn't know if Ajdin will keep his promise. She doubts if he keeps his promises.

In a very prestigious office, Ajdin and his grandfather, Daniel, talked to each other.

Ajdin didn’t notice that Daniel, his grandfather, was talking to him again. Because he is chatting with Melisa asking what color of clothes she wants. He planned to buy Melisa some clothes after meeting his grandfather at the company. He wanted to invite Melisa to his birthday party. But Melisa said she didn't have any clothes.

Daniel noticed that Ajdin was not paying attention to what he said. He noticed that Ajdin was busy checking his phone.

Daniel shook his head and frowned. Then he called Ajdin's name to get his attention.

“Ajdin, who is that?”

Ajdin was surprised. His phone slipped into his hand. And dropped on the floor. In front of his grandfather. Unfortunately, his grandfather picked up his phone and saw the message he received from Melisa.

“Grandpa, can I have my phone now?” Ajdin tries to get his phone from his grandfather.

Daniel shook his head. Ajdin received the phone. Take a deep breath and look away.

"I'm not for what you are doing, Ajdin."

"I don't know why you behave like that after seeing I am chatting with Melisa."

He dared to ask his grandfather a question. He had some reasons to ask him. He dared to raise a question even though he feared a sermon from his grandfather if he addressed him with a question.

"What do you think, Ajdin?"

"As if you are disappointed in me, Grandfather?"

"I can't believe you are making friends with Melisa. A lady who doesn't belong in our society. And now you waste most of your time with Melisa."

Ajdin is standing with downcast eyes in front of his grandfather when he hears what his grandfather speaks to him. However, he still answers him.

"I'm sorry, but I'm only making friends with her. I have no plans to have a relationship with her if that is what you want to know."

"Whatever your plan is with her, I'm not in favor. And stop wasting your time on Melisa. You may go home now, Ajdin."

Ajdin knew it was a warning. He knew his grandfather very well. He cannot disobey him.

“Yes, Grandpa,” Ajdin answered in a sad voice.

He leaves his grandfather's office. He returns to the parking area and drives to the nearest shopping mall. He buys Melisa some clothes to wear to his birthday party before he returns home. He plans to give it to Melisa when they see each other downtown. He knows Melisa will go there to buy supplies for their restaurant.

When he arrived home he proceeded straight to his room. He was sitting on the floor near the door leading to his bedroom’s balcony. He's holding a beer can. He is drinking. He drinks because he wants to forget every small thing his grandfather said.

“AND STOP WASTING YOUR TIME ON MELISA.”

“AND STOP WASTING YOUR TIME ON MELISA.”

“AND STOP WASTING YOUR TIME ON MELISA.”

Still, Ajdin heard the words his grandfather had said.

From childhood until now, Ajdin always obeyed what his family wanted him to do. Especially his grandfather because he is the chosen successor of his grandfather's previous position as the CEO of their holding company. Ajdin belongs to a wealthy clan. He is a billionaire.

Despite his grandfather's orders, he will not stop seeing Melisa this time. He likes Melisa as a friend.

“I will break his rules this time. Just time for you Melisa…"

Ajdin talks to himself as he starts to feel sleepy. That’s alcohol's effect. The beer can slip and fall on the floor. Beer spills wake him up.

The wind blows hard. Snowflakes get inside the balcony. He feels cold, so he slowly stands up from the floor and walks to the balcony. He ties up his shoulder-length hair in a man bun. He looks up into the dark sky and lets snowflakes fall on his handsome face. He feels sad. Snowflakes remind him of something.

"Winter reminds me of my parents. It has been too long since they left me here but the memory of them comes back to me when winter comes. I miss them so much." Ajdin muttered.

It's 2:00 am and snowflakes fall. He slowly walked into his room. He was intoxicated, so he lurched from wall-to-wall heading for his bed.

He reached for his bed. He stumbled onto his bed because he felt dizzy. His phone keeps vibrating in his pocket, but he is too intoxicated and can't check who messages him.

Melisa wanted to tell him something. But since he was not answering her message she was unable to tell him what she wanted to say.