Chapter 3. Fahira’s Hope

"Where did you get all that money, Fahira?" Ariel scrutinized Fahira sharply as she was arranging some items and food in the small cabinet next to Ariel's hospital bed.

Fahira paused for a moment before sitting down on Ariel's bed, smiling softly. She held Ariel's hand, which was connected to an IV, and looked into his eyes. "Listen, Dek, this money was obtained in a proper way. You know Pak David, right? I borrowed the money from him, and I'll pay it back through monthly deductions from my salary," Fahira explained. She had to lie, knowing that if Ariel found out the truth, he would refuse the money and choose to suffer for the rest of his life.

"I promise that after I recover, I'll help you with work, Fahira. Arif's parents asked me to privately tutor his little brother in math and science since he's still in middle school," Ariel explained with his eyes shining brightly. He hoped to recover from his illness, so he wouldn't be a burden to Fahira anymore. He had seen Fahira working hard day and night to provide for both of them while they lived in this foreign city, a city known for its nightlife and glamour, but hiding its true cruelty.

"It's up to you, Ariel. The most important thing is for you to recover quickly and stay focused on your studies. We can think about the tutoring later, okay?" Fahira replied, her eyes shining with happiness at seeing the spark of joy in Ariel's eyes.

"Oh, by the way, Fahira, if you have to work tomorrow, I'll be fine alone at the hospital. Ariel said he would accompany me after school," Ariel said, returning Fahira's hand squeeze.

"I've already asked for two days off, so it's okay if Ariel wants to come here," Fahira replied with gratitude in her heart for Ariel's kind friend.

Fahira knew Ariel well. The teenager had been coming to her house since they were in 10th grade, which meant they had been friends for almost two years.

Shortly after, two nurses entered Ariel's hospital room to take him to the operating room. "I love you, Fahira. Promise me you'll recover," Fahira whispered, kissing the top of Ariel's head with tearful eyes.

"I promise. I love you too, Fahira," Ariel replied, looking into Fahira's eyes. With all his strength, he managed to smile before the nurses took him away.

Fahira's body slumped weakly on the sofa as tears streamed down her cheeks. She clutched her chest tightly, trying to ease the suffocating feeling. After managing to calm her anxious heart, she wiped away the tears that kept flowing. "Ariel will get better, Fahira," she whispered to herself, pounding her chest to alleviate the tightness. Fahira got up from her seat and quickly followed the two nurses taking her brother. According to the doctor's estimation, Ariel's surgery would last around 2-3 hours.

At the Japanese restaurant, a woman with long brown hair was engrossed in her phone. Darian walked towards table number 7, as instructed by his mother.

"Excuse me, are you Miss Alea?" Darian greeted, trying to appear friendly, which was something he rarely did with anyone. He did it all for the sake of his only parent.

The woman tensed up and looked up to see Darian standing in front of her. With a wide smile, she stood up to welcome him and gestured for him to sit across from her.

"Let me introduce myself, I'm Alea," she said warmly, extending her hand towards Darian.

"Let's just get to the point, what does Miss want from me?" Darian replied bluntly, looking at Alea's outstretched hand. He sat down and glanced at Alea, who was pulling back her hand.

Rather than being annoyed by Darian's cold and distant demeanor, Alea became even more intrigued by the man in front of her. Darian was the only man who didn't seem interested in her. Most of the men she met would look at her with admiration for her beauty and allure.

"Aunt Yasmin must have told you who I am, right?" Alea replied with her sweetest smile.

"All I know is that I'm not interested in you, and Mama's plan to set us up will definitely not happen!" Darian replied calmly but firmly.

"Really?" Alea challenged, becoming more convinced that Darian was not just another wealthy man who only cared about his desires. Darian leaned back in his chair, looking at the woman who seemed to want to play with him.

"Of course!" Darian retorted with a hint of mockery, observing Alea's seductive appearance. Alea was mistaken if she thought she could tempt Darian with her physical perfection. For Darian, women like Alea were like venomous snakes.

"Come on, Darian, am I not attractive enough?" Alea replied with a teasing look that made Darian feel disgusted and nauseated.

"I'm sorry, but it seems you have the wrong perception of me, Miss." Darian got up from his seat and gracefully left Alea.

"Darian Mahesa Putra," Alea murmured with a smile as she reached for a cup of choco vanilla, sipping it slowly. She enjoyed the sight of Darian's strong back walking away from her view.

Seeing his boss coming out of the restaurant, David quickly got out of the car and opened the door for Darian. He got back in the car and drove back to Darian's office.

"Is there a problem, Boss?" David broke the silence because Darian hadn't said a word for the past 10 minutes.

"I don't know, David. I don't like Mom trying to set me up with that model named Alea," Darian explained casually. Besides being his personal assistant, David was also his only friend.

"She's beautiful, Boss, looks like the actress hehehe," chuckled David, looking at Darian who looked more disheveled than earlier in the morning.

"For you, then. I'm not interested in her," replied Darian, returning David's gaze with an inscrutable look.

"Unfortunately, I already have a woman in mind, Boss. Just tell me what type of woman you like, and I'll find candidates for you," David added, earning a playful punch from Darian on his shoulder.

"Boss, are you really never been in a relationship?" David asked again, feeling puzzled because he had never seen Darian dating anyone.

"What's the point of dating? I don't need women, my life is already comfortable without those annoying creatures called women."

David burst into laughter, shaking his head at his boss's way of thinking. For him, women were the most enjoyable creatures. What was the point of having so much wealth if not used? Even if Darian had a wife and many children, it wouldn't diminish his wealth.

"Keep it down, and tonight, accompany me to the club," Darian replied, ignoring David's teasing remarks that sounded annoying.

Despite their formal boss-subordinate relationship, Darian and David were close friends since high school. While Darian pursued his education in America, David pursued a military career. David came from an upper-middle-class family, and becoming a police officer had been his childhood dream. After Darian graduated from his college in America, he immediately contacted David to work for him.

David often found himself confused by Darian's anti-women attitude. Everywhere else, men would be interested when they met beautiful and attractive women. But not Darian; he was different. Darian always claimed that women were the most annoying and complicated creatures.

"Why are you grinning?" Darian snapped, annoyed by his friend's weird smile that suddenly appeared.

"Are you still normal, Darian? Nothing's twisted, right?" David probed further, laughing.

"Shit!" cursed Darian. "Of course, I'm normal! I've even removed the seal," Darian continued grumbling, causing David to suddenly slam on the brakes.

The sound of a honk and cursing immediately came from behind their car. Without paying attention to the noisy commotion from behind, David quickly pulled the car over to the side of the road.

"Are you sure? I don't know about it at all? I've been with you for almost 24 hours. You must be dreaming!" David replied, surprised. He was torn between believing and not believing, but he knew Darian was serious at the moment.

"Are you my mother? Should I report to you every time I go on a date with a woman?" Darian snapped, irritated, and ordered David to drive the car again.

David grinned suspiciously but immediately obeyed his boss, who seemed to be in a bad mood now. Throughout the journey, the cramped space was filled with silence between the two of them. Darian was once again troubled, thinking about Fahira's sad face, while David seemed focused on the busy streets ahead, with a smile on his face.

"Finally, my best friend is falling in love too. I'll investigate who the lucky woman is that has stolen Darian's heart," David thought to himself as he glanced at Darian, who was now staring out of the window.

At the hospital, Fahira remained silent, covering her face with both hands. In her heart, she prayed endlessly for Ariel's heart surgery to go smoothly. Tears began to flow again. She finally decided to perform the prayer in the hospital's prayer room. It was the only place where she could pour out her heart's sorrows and plead for her brother's safety as he fought for his life on the operating table.

In her long prayer, suddenly a middle-aged woman sat next to Fahira. "God will surely hear your prayers, dear," she said, causing Fahira to open her tear-stained eyes. Fahira then wiped away the tears that had moistened her cheeks.

"Thank you Miss," Fahira replied briefly, smiling softly at the woman.

"I'm sorry, I have to excuse myself for a moment," Fahira politely excused herself as she took off her prayer robe, folded it, and placed it back where it belonged.

"Just a moment!" The woman interjected and opened her bag, handing Fahira a business card. "If you need anything, you can contact me through this number, dear," she continued before Fahira expressed her thanks and accepted the business card.

Arriving at the waiting room for the operation, Fahira froze when she saw the door of the operating room open. She ran towards Dr. Gavin, who had just come out of the operating room with a nurse.

"Thank God the surgery went smoothly for Brother Ariel," said Dr. Gavin, causing Fahira's body to tremble with her mouth wide open. She was speechless, but her heart couldn't stop expressing gratitude.

"In a moment, Brother Ariel will be transferred to the observation room first," Dr. Gavin continued, looking at Fahira for a moment before leaving.

"Mom, Dad, Ariel will soon recover," Fahira whispered in her heart as she collapsed on the floor, tears streaming down her face. Unbeknownst to Fahira, a man was observing her with a melancholic gaze.