SR3. 22. Tradegi in the Past

Aryan stared at the large sign displayed in front of the café where his car was parked. He observed Laura, who remained motionless in the passenger seat, lost in her own thoughts and unaware that they had reached their destination.

Gently, Aryan caressed Laura's cheek with the back of his hand. He was truly puzzled by Laura's continuous somberness, missing the spirited girl who always challenged him. Laura was startled by Aryan's tender touch and looked at him as he smiled.

"So, is it a date?" Aryan asked, giving her a playful wink.

"Let's go!" Laura replied briefly, then opened the car door and stepped out.

They chose a spot at the back of the café, specifically the outdoor area, which faced a lush garden with coffee trees and colorful flowers. The sound of a babbling artificial stream made Epic Caffe feel like a natural paradise. It was serene and comfortable, making visitors want to linger and spend their time there.

Laura's eyes scanned the menu in front of her, and she seemed quite serious about choosing her order. Meanwhile, Aryan leaned on the table with both elbows, watching her with an amused smile. He couldn't believe how infatuated he was with this sweet and simple girl in front of him.

"Epic Caffelicious and rosemary chicken?" Laura suggested to Aryan, who immediately nodded in agreement. Aryan didn't mind what menu Laura chose as long as they were together.

Laura called a passing waiter and placed her order, then waited while enjoying the romantic music playing in the background.

The view in front of her always managed to soothe away her troubles. Her mind drifted back to her memories with Noval, her first love. Their relationship had been smooth, with no serious issues for over two years. But suddenly, after a month, Noval began to distance himself from her and abruptly ended their relationship. His reasons made no sense to Laura. He claimed his parents didn't approve of their relationship, even though, as far as Laura knew, Noval's parents had been aware of it since they were in high school.

Aryan noticed Laura's heavy sigh, and he tried not to disturb her thoughts, although he couldn't help but feel jealous if Noval was the one occupying Laura's mind.

"Let's eat first, and then we can go home to rest. We're having dinner with my parents tonight," Aryan suggested after their dishes were served on the table. However, his expression suddenly turned cold when Laura mentioned another man's name.

"It's Noval," Laura inadvertently said Noval's name while with Aryan.

Laura's body froze as her emotions and logic tried to reconcile. She realized she had mentioned another man's name while sitting next to Aryan, not Noval. She covered her mouth with her right hand, seeing Aryan's facial expression turn cloudy.

"Sorry, Aryan, I didn't mean it that way," Laura quickly apologized, feeling guilty.

Aryan remained still, his gaze fixed on the garden as he prepared Laura's ordered beverage. His heart ached; the woman he loved deeply was still thinking about a man from her past.

Laura's hand clung tightly to Aryan's arm as she tried to convey her feelings, but she couldn't stop her tears from flowing. "Forgive me, Aryan," Laura whispered between sobs.

Hearing Laura's cries, Aryan quickly turned to look into her swollen eyes, attempting to fathom her feelings through those puffy orbs, which had been shedding tears for quite some time.

"It's okay, forget it, Laura," Aryan whispered back, embracing Laura tightly.

"I'm sorry, Aryan," Laura said, wiping away her tears. "Sofia is actually Noval's stepsister, and I'm sure Noval wasn't involved in this mess."

"It's okay, Honey. We don't need to talk about it anymore. I already know everything. I don't care about your past. What matters now is that I love you and will always love you, even as we grow old together," Aryan said, cupping Laura's face gently with both hands, locking their eyes together.

Laura nodded and hugged Aryan tightly. Aryan was her home, a place where she sought refuge from the storms of life. She promised herself that Aryan would be her last love.

"Thank you, Aryan. I love you too," Laura murmured softly.

Aryan released his embrace and gently wiped away the remaining tears from Laura's face with a tissue he grabbed from the table.

"Don't cry, you look ugly when you cry," Aryan teased, playfully pinching the tip of Laura's cute nose with his fingertips.

Aryan reached for the plate of plain rice and brought it closer to him. He scooped some rosemary chicken onto the rice and offered it to Laura, smiling. That morning, Laura had only eaten two spoonfuls of rice and a glass of milk due to her anxiety. Aryan didn't want her to fall ill.

With her cheeks still blushing, Laura opened her mouth slowly and chewed the food while maintaining eye contact with Aryan. Her heart swelled with joy at Aryan's tenderness. What woman's heart wouldn't melt at such a loving gesture?

On the fifth bite, Laura shook her head and pushed the spoon towards Aryan's lips. Aryan chuckled and obliged her request.

Finally, they finished their meal together. After washing their hands thoroughly, Aryan suggested they head home as it was already 1:25 PM, and they hadn't yet prayed (midday) prayer.

Laura accepted Aryan's outstretched hand and stood up with a smile.

"You newlyweds, huh? Making us all jealous," a woman's voice suddenly disrupted the romantic atmosphere between Laura and Aryan.

Laura only just realized that they had become the center of attention in the crowded café during lunchtime. She quickly withdrew her hand from Aryan's grasp, her face turning beet red with embarrassment.

Andra, his face pale and tense, looked at Aryan and Dion. "It's bad, Aryan. She has a spinal fracture, and the chances of permanent disability are high," Andra replied with a heavy heart.

Aryan felt his world crashing down around him. The girl's life was forever changed because of his thoughtless act. Guilt and remorse washed over him like a tidal wave. He had never imagined that a simple push could lead to such a tragic outcome.

Dion placed a comforting hand on Aryan's shoulder, trying to console his friend. "Aryan, it was an accident. None of us could have foreseen this. What's most important now is supporting her through this difficult time."

Andra nodded in agreement. "We should focus on helping her recover as much as possible. We're all here for her."

Aryan took a deep breath, trying to steady his trembling emotions. "You're right. We need to do everything we can to help her."

Flashback On

"How is that girl, Dion?" Aryan asked nervously, both of them trembling as they held onto Dion's shoulders.

"It's bad, Aryan. Andra said her spinal cord is damaged, and she needs surgery right now, and... she might end up being paralyzed," Dion explained, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.

Aryan was immediately overwhelmed; he had truly accidentally bumped into the girl. Now, Dion and Aryan sat in silence in the hospital garden, trying to process all the information they had just received.

"What about Andra? How is she?" Aryan asked, and suddenly Andra was standing in front of them.

"We should pray a lot. Her parents will be here soon. It's better if you see her condition for a moment, then you should go home," Andra replied calmly, despite being anxious herself.

Aryan didn't respond; he just pulled Dion's hand and headed to the emergency room. With a pale face and trembling, Aryan peeked into the all-white room. He saw a girl lying motionless, her white uniform stained with blood, and the medical staff cleaning her wounds and blood. Aryan could only watch as she lay there, an oxygen mask partially covering her face.

"I promise to take responsibility, no matter what her condition will be," Aryan whispered softly, leaving Dion to look at him, trying to comprehend Aryan's words.

Flashback Off

"Aryan, why didn't you wake me up?" Laura exclaimed, pulling Aryan back from his past memories. Aryan was startled as Laura suddenly stood in front of him.

"Do you want to go swimming together?" Aryan invited, sitting down and wrapping his arms possessively around Laura's waist. He playfully kissed her flat stomach, causing Laura's hands to instinctively stroke Aryan's wet hair.

Laura appeared to think for a moment, then agreed to Aryan's proposal, even though she still felt some lingering hesitation. She wanted to break free from her trauma, and this was the perfect moment to start anew with Aryan. She wanted to erase all the shadows of her past and create beautiful memories with Aryan.

"Don't worry; I'll always be by your side," Aryan whispered, instantly bringing a smile to Laura's lips.