Considering Darren's return, Chloe felt extremely happy. She felt like she had a friend to talk to and fill her days with, just like before. They would spend a lot of time together, whether it was having lunch together or, well, doing other activities. Thinking about it made Chloe have a little smile on her face.
Still, at the restaurant where they had breakfast together before Chloe started her work at the café, the couple truly enjoyed each other's company, finally reunited after a week apart. For Darren, their closeness solidified his determination to have Chloe, no matter what. Not Irena or any other woman. He had a week to persuade Chloe to visit and meet his parents. He would make Chloe agree to it. He needed certainty and felt guilty about leaving Chloe hanging like that.
As for Chloe, being by Darren's side confirmed her heart's decision. She no longer wanted to think about Leonel, no matter what. Her mind was made up, and she was going with Darren's flow. The relationship she desired was heading towards a much more severe stage than before.
"Is something wrong?" Darren asked, noticing that Chloe seemed brighter than usual.
"Nothing," Chloe replied, taking a bite of her salad. "Everything is fine."
"Is... Leonel still in Beverly Hills?"
Chloe put down her spoon. Her eyes locked with Darren's, who had been looking at her first. Chloe didn't want to hide anything from Darren. She tried to be honest with him. "Yes. And he still hasn't returned, as far as I know."
Darren clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Is he bothering you?" His simmering emotions slowly started to boil. He felt resentful and regretful for leaving Chloe in Beverly Hills without keeping a closer watch on her. Various negative thoughts began to fill his mind.
"Kind of," Chloe said, savoring her food. "But I don't care. It's up to him what he wants to do. I don't want to know. I've pushed him away many times, but it seems he has no shame."
"Indeed," Darren quickly replied. His face was no longer friendly as before.
Seeing Darren's expression made Chloe happy. Despite his busy schedule in Surabaya, jealousy still lingered in his heart. Though Chloe found it strange that Darren restricted their communication, it made her think a lot. And in the end, this was her choice. To accept Darren. Besides, falling in love with him didn't seem difficult.
The fact that Darren got worked up just from hearing about Leonel was proof enough.
"Relax," Chloe said, gripping Darren's hand tightly. It made him repeatedly glance at Chloe and their intertwined hands. "I don't care about Leonel's presence."
Finally, Darren's smile was filled with relief. They resumed their breakfast while occasionally discussing trivial matters. Fortunately, Darren didn't have to work today because he was too tired from traveling from Surabaya to Beverly Hills. But he always tried to make Chloe love him more with his gentle demeanor and understanding.
However, unknown to Chloe, Darren's return to Beverly Hills had another purpose. It was to ensure their relationship. His parents had been pressuring him to introduce Chloe to them because if Darren didn't do it soon, one way out was to arrange a marriage between Darren and Irena.
Their breakfast session concluded, but a few snacks remained for them to nibble on while they continued their conversation. Chloe's position sitting across from Darren prompted him to take the initiative to change seats. He wanted to be closer to his beloved.
"What's wrong?" Chloe asked curiously.
"Is it not allowed?" Darren grinned mischievously. "I miss you, Sa."
Chloe just laughed. She shifted her position so Darren could sit next to her. Then she felt her shoulder being slightly heavier. Darren had wrapped his arm around her affectionately. "Lean on me, Sa."
"This is a public place, Darren," Chloe said, her face red as a tomato. She didn't expect him to act so childish!
"What's wrong with that?" Darren moved even closer. Chloe couldn't do anything but accept what Darren was doing. She was getting lost in his embrace, unaware that time was passing. But it didn't matter. After all, she was the owner of the café, right? If she happened to be late to work today, she would get understanding. Moreover, when she left earlier, Peni knew who she was with. So it wouldn't hurt to be late occasionally.
Darren took the opportunity to think about how to start the conversation with Chloe. Despite their proximity, the scent of Chloe's perfume filling his lungs, and the softness of her hair that he was gently caressing, he still couldn't find the right words to say in the simplest way possible without making Chloe overthink things.
He didn't want his words to create distance between them.
"What do you want to say? I've been waiting," Chloe said, tilting her head slightly. Their faces were so close that they almost touched. It was clear that neither wanted to let go of each other. Not only that, Chloe also looked comfortable in Darren's embrace. Unbeknownst to her, Leonel observed them from a distance, feeling a surge of jealousy in his heart.
"Can we not ruin this intimacy, Chloe?"
Chloe pouted, but she felt Darren's pull getting stronger.
"Patience, my dear. I'm filling the void of missing you by my side for a week," he said.
"You were the one who stayed in Surabaya for too long."
Darren chuckled at Chloe's words and complaints.
"Do you want us to spend the day alone together?" Darren asked Chloe cautiously. He deliberately discussed the topic to see if Chloe would make time for him. Darren wanted to discuss the seriousness and future of their relationship. He didn't want to go along with the arranged marriage his parents had in mind with Irena in Surabaya. He only wanted to marry Chloe.
Only Chloe.
Upon hearing Darren's question, Chloe furrowed her brow, not understanding why he suddenly brought it up. Although Darren didn't know that Chloe had spent most of yesterday at home, trying to calm herself down, his request worried her.
"What's wrong?" Even though Chloe took a day off yesterday, it wasn't a big deal. At most, she received some messages or calls asking about delayed reports. Besides, she had Peni she could rely on.
Due to her suspicion, Chloe distanced herself from Darren's embrace. She looked up and stared closely at him, wondering why he acted this way. Did something happen? At a time when she was setting her goals? Oh God! Chloe started to worry even more. She preferred to stare at Darren's face, which now seemed downcast.
"No," Darren exclaimed in surprise. He looked at his girlfriend's somber expression, feeling restless. "I didn't mean anything, Sa. I was asking if you wanted to spend time alone together. Can you take the day off? I want to spend the day with you," Darren said to Chloe. He lifted her chin, seeing the tenderness in Chloe's eyes filling his vision. "Come on, don't overthink it. I want to fulfill my longing."
Chloe remained silent momentarily, trying to understand the meaning behind Darren's words.
"Why suddenly? Are you planning to end our relationship?" Chloe asked, slightly confused by Darren's behavior. His previous statement caught Darren off guard.
"End our relationship?"
Chloe lowered her head again. Darren gently pushed aside her hand, which was still resting on his chin.
"Oh, Sa! No! I have no intention of distancing myself from you! I want to be alone with you, seriously," Darren said firmly. "Don't think about things I don't want to do, Sa. Leaving you is not in my life's plan anymore."
His words made Chloe raise her gaze. "Is that true?" However, tears welled up in Chloe's eyes. She felt a growing sense of fear. Darren's behavior seemed so different. She was terrified.
"Yes, Sa." He tightly held Chloe's hand. "I just want to be with you. Tomorrow, I'll be busy with work. You, too, right? Even though we can be together after work, it's different from a special date. Let's consider today as our special date. How about it?"
Observing their interaction from a distance, Leonel fixed his gaze on them. He wanted to know what they were discussing, but unfortunately, the distance between Leonel's seat and Chloe and Darren was quite far. He couldn't catch what they were saying, especially with the background music in the restaurant disturbing his hearing. However, Darren's every gesture and Chloe's body language near Darren was enough to hurt him deeply.
His jealousy had indeed taken over now. He had to wet his throat countless times to maintain his composure. Certainly, seeing Chloe being affectionate with Darren made him furious.
Meanwhile, Chloe smiled upon hearing Darren's words. She finally nodded, agreeing to his request. It made Darren embrace the woman he loved once again.
"That's right. I just wanted to ask you this. Going on a date together, and if you're willing, we'll spend the day together. Besides, I want to discuss many things with you if you're willing," Darren said with as much optimism as possible. In his heart, he was anxious, waiting for Chloe's decision. He hoped she would agree to his sudden request, even if it seemed forceful because he genuinely wanted to spend time together.
Just like when he invited Chloe on a vacation to Bali back then. Repeating the intimacy shared between lovers wasn't something wrong, right?
"Okay, if taking a day off is not a problem for me. Peni will take care of things. I'll tell her I won't go to the café today," Chloe said with a honey-like smile. It made Darren laugh with joy. He brought their still intertwined hands closer and kissed the back of Chloe's hand without permission.
Besides, Chloe didn't mind. It only made her feel even more flattered by Darren's actions today.
"But, Darren, I need some clarification. You said there's something you want to discuss; why not do it here? Does it have to be when we're together later? Is it that important?"
Darren smiled widely. "It's essential."
"Is that true?"
Darren didn't hesitate to nod. "Are you done with breakfast?"
"Yes." Chloe nodded quickly. "But... can you tell me the purpose of today?"
"Um... I don't know yet."
"Oh, Darren!" Chloe looked surprised. It was unlike Darren at all, making her furrow her brow again. Her concerns about her relationship with Darren resurfaced. Please don't tell her that Darren would say something more severe, like breaking up?!
No, no! Chloe couldn't bear to hear that.
"Just tell me now," Chloe urged with impatience. However, her heart was already in turmoil. Her heartbeat was irregular.
"Later, Sa." Darren smiled mischievously. "Come on."
"Decide on the destination first," Chloe pouted. "I don't want to go on a trip without a direction."
Darren sighed softly. Chloe and her habits took work to accommodate. "How about going for a random trip today? It'll be fun."
Chloe squinted her eyes. "Random?"
"Yes. Wherever the car goes, we'll follow."
"You're being too random, Darren."
He chuckled. It was true that Chloe's words hit the mark. Darren had never taken Chloe on such a randomly planned trip. But what else could he do? Besides missing her, he wanted to spend time with Chloe and discuss some serious matters later.
"I have my reasons, you know. Are you okay with it? I'll explain everything. I won't hide anything, Chloe. I want everything about us to be based on honesty."
To be treated like this by Darren, how could Chloe's heart not flutter?
"Alright, Mr. Random. I'll go along with whatever you want to do."
Darren furrowed his brow with a mischievous grin. Suddenly, a slightly crazy idea crossed his mind that he wanted to express to Chloe. "Or... spend time together at my place? Just you and me?"
Chloe widened her eyes. "Darren!"
Darren's laughter echoed.
Leonel, watching from a distance, became more infuriated. He took advantage of a moment of what Chloe and Darren were doing. The tension was building up in his body. He wished he could approach them and hit Darren with all his strength, following the ignited emotions. But it seemed impossible; he couldn't do it. And so, Leonel wiped his face roughly, frustrated from watching what they were doing. Leonel thought Darren's return from Surabaya made them more romantic and harmonious. Was there any chance for him, even a tiny one? He intended to win back Chloe and bring her back into his embrace. Or was it all over?
"Damn it, why did you have to come back to Surabaya and steal Chloe's attention from me? You shouldn't have come back and stayed in Surabaya! That way, I could have returned to my ex-wife," Leonel growled, glaring sharply at Darren, who was still tightly embracing Chloe.
Shortly after, Darren and Chloe finally rushed out of the restaurant, true to Darren's words that he wanted to spend time with Chloe. Moreover, she had agreed to take another day off, allowing them to spend time together and discuss what Darren wanted to tell Chloe about his parents' pressure.
Although slowly, Darren was confident he could persuade Chloe to meet his parents. He believed that Chloe wouldn't refuse. Before leaving the table where they had spent their time, Darren fervently prayed in his heart. Hopefully, this plan will succeed. He only wanted Chloe to accompany him for the rest of his life.
Just that.
Seeing the two of them leaving the restaurant, Leonel didn't want to be left behind. He immediately followed Chloe and Darren's steps as they exited the restaurant. It didn't matter if he was labeled as a top-class stalker.
As usual, Darren always held Chloe's hand wherever they went. It made Leonel feel envious because he had never treated Chloe like that. Only Darren treated Chloe so, especially now, but Leonel tried to neutralize his feelings. He resisted his emotions and tried to calm his anger at what he saw in front of him. Although he wanted to snatch their connected hands, he also thought about what would happen if he suddenly appeared like this.
Darren quickly opened the car door for Chloe and hurriedly returned to his seat. He drove the car towards a place he had in mind. Along the way, Chloe and Darren chose to remain silent. In this silence, Darren tried to think about starting a conversation with Chloe so she wouldn't be shocked. Why was he so worried? He kept thinking about it repeatedly. Oh, it was apparent! The stakes were their relationship. Darren didn't want Chloe to drift away. He didn't want that to happen. They were especially rejecting him outright and disappointing Darren. He didn't like the arranged marriage to take place; he just wanted to marry Chloe.
"Are you still tired? If you feel that way, it's better to go back! I don't want anything bad to happen," Chloe spoke up when Darren was still focused on driving to a comfortable place for them to talk.
Darren was startled because, all this time, his mind had been preoccupied with worries. Yet, Chloe was right by his side. He shouldn't make her feel ignored, especially since Darren didn't want any negative thoughts to enter Chloe's mind.
"Of course not; I feel much better when I'm with you," Darren teased Chloe, who unconsciously smiled.
Eventually, Darren chose a lush park with many food vendors and a beautiful view. Considering the shady and not-too-hot atmosphere, this park became their favorite place to discuss what needed resolution. Chloe also liked this place because it brought her a sense of tranquility and comfort.
"Should we spend time here in the park?" Chloe asked Darren.
That question made Darren chuckle, and he shook his head gently. "No, I just want to talk about something with you here. Don't you really like this place?" Darren asked Chloe, who nodded subtly in response. It took only a short time after that for Darren to park his car near their destination. He took a deep breath multiple times, trying to convince himself that this plan wouldn't fail.
"Alright, I'll follow you," Chloe decided with a thin but sincere smile as Darren opened the door. He extended his hand to receive a warm welcome from her.
Meanwhile, Leonel continued to follow them, filled with suspicion. Were they going to spend time in this park? It was not classy at all. He also observed that the surroundings were quite crowded. Oh, goodness! Darren's taste could have been more profound.
In the park, Darren and Chloe sat on one of the chairs. Darren looked at Chloe's serene face before starting the conversation.
"So, what do you want to talk about?" Chloe asked.
"First, I want to ask about the clarity of our relationship. Are you sure about the seriousness of the relationship we're going to have?" Darren asked Chloe, who nodded subtly, but he could sense a trace of doubt on her face. He tried to push away his negative thoughts.
"Yes. That's true. I do want to be in a serious relationship with you. Why? Is there something wrong?" Chloe asked with a furrowed brow.
"If it's serious, I want to introduce you to my parents, considering they always question your presence and our commitment to this relationship. They often pressure me about when I plan to bring you to meet them and introduce you. I hope you can make time for us to meet my parents," Darren explained to Chloe, who fell silent.
His words left her speechless, not because she was shocked, but because they had discussed this before. Didn't Darren decide to go to Surabaya instead?
"First of all, I apologize for prolonging the discussion. It could be more straightforward between us. Why do I say it's complicated? I'm afraid of burdening you, Sa. I don't want to appear to be forcing myself on you. Though, well, my parents do want seriousness in our relationship."
Darren looked distressed, and Chloe could feel it. Slowly, she tightly held Darren's hand. It also made Darren lift his gaze, and they exchanged glances.
"I'm not burdened, Darren. You know that," Chloe gently stroked the fingers of his hand. "I'm afraid that you'll leave me."
"Is that true?"
"Do I look like I'm lying?" Chloe asked with a pout. It made Darren smile happily.
"Why have I been postponing the introduction until now, Darren? You know, I'm a widow. I'm afraid of being looked down upon by your parents. I also need to present myself well. I don't want any other assumptions, such as being seen as someone who relies on a man like you. You shine like the sun, Darren. Me? I'm just someone lucky enough to have someone kind around me."
"Sa," Darren interrupted disapprovingly. "Why would you say that? I wouldn't say I like it when you say things that belittle you. I'm not okay with that!"
Chloe remained silent.
"My parents are pressuring me to meet you because they want to get to know you better. How can I show them the person I often admire in front of them? The person who I'm deeply in love with. The person I want to share half of my life with. My mom and dad have never mentioned anything about your status, Sa. Don't worry about that."
Darren's words sounded so sincere. They touched Tisa's soul and brought a different warmth as time passed. The doubt about Darren's feelings in Chloe's heart slowly vanished. It was replaced by the complete conviction that her choice wasn't wrong.
Leonel was only a part of her past. An obstacle that came before her happiness. How strong would Chloe hold up against this obstacle to stay with Darren?
"I choose you to be by my side, Sa. No one else. Just you."
Chloe nervously swallowed.
"If, Sa... and I'm saying this in case the things you're afraid of happen. Let me be your shield. Let me live that life, Chloe. With you, we'll be happy. We don't need anyone else, especially my parents criticizing our relationship. They won't live this married life, right?"
Darren's words made Chloe's face light up even more for some reason.
It also sounded like... "Are you proposing to me?"
Darren laughed playfully. "Come on, and I'm not proposing in a place like this. I want to make sure I invite you to meet my parents. That's it. After that, if we talk about proposing, I'm sure you'll accept me."
Chloe laughed along with Darren's humor.
They didn't know that a pair of eyes behind the car window closely watched them. His jaw clenched. His gaze was full of pain. His heart burned fiercely. He felt like burning everything that dared to touch Chloe.
Unfortunately, he was no one.
Just an outsider who happened to be the ex-husband of the woman who looked happy sitting with another man.
"Damn it!!" he cursed while hitting the steering wheel.