Shopping and Dinner

James drove Laura to the downtown Mall in his white Fortuner. They chatted casually.

"So what time do you plan to leave for the airport on Monday, Honey?" James asked as he drove.

"The flight is at 18.00. I can go by myself to airport, you don't have to bother with me. Do you have a practicum on Monday, James?" Laura said, asking James's busy schedule on Monday.

"Monday tomorrow I will be free, there is no practicum or assistance, only lectures in 2 classes, don't worry. I will pick you up at your apartment at 4 pm," James argued, rejecting Laura's idea to go to the airport herself.

"Okay." Laura answered briefly. Laura wondered why lately she had always had to succumb to James's wishes willingly or compulsorily. This young man was indeed much younger than Laura, but stubborn and bossy more than her own father.

Laura remembered that she had not been to her parent's house for the past few weeks. She hoped they didn't think that way, yet Laura still sent WA messages to her Papa Mama and also the naughty Deasy, her sister who was still studying at Ausie.

"What are you thinking My Honey?" James asked again watching Laura who was lost in her own thoughts.

"Ahhh just remember that it's been a few weeks I haven't been home to my parents." Laura answered honestly.

"When will you come home .... After Thailand, I'll take you back to your parent's house, okay?" James replied casually.

Laura who was not relaxed at James's words. "Ehhh I can go home alone, no need to bother carrying me James."

"But I want to meet your family too. Baby ...," James protested with a chuckle.

Laura felt dizzy and massaged her forehead. This kid has a really fun hobby. Hmmm! "Okay. I'll arrange a schedule to visit my parent's house later," replied Laura relenting.

James smiled broadly, satisfied with Laura's answer. He's the type of guy who can't take the word 'no'. Papi's upbringing since he was a baby is to get what you want, never give up and never fail. Only with Laura did he compromise on a few small things, that too had made him lose his temper a bit. This girl really eroded his ego that was as high as Mount Fuji.

They arrived at the Mall and James looked for an empty car park. Weekends are always crowded with mall visitors. After that they got out of the car, James took Laura's hand and entered the mall entrance.

"Where are you going, Honey?" James asked.

"I guess I just want to go to the supermarket, I want to buy daily necessities that are running out in my apartment." Laura answered as she walked towards the Carefour shopping center.

James followed where Laura walked. But he had an agenda later and it had to be followed by Laura. James took the shopping trolley and pushed it next to Laura. They walked down the aisle between the stacked shelves of goods.

Laura took refill liquid soap, toothpaste, shampoo, body lotion and kitchen necessities as well. She wanted to buy sausages, nuggets, rice, some kinds of fresh vegetables and fruits too.

James was still pushing the trolley that was starting to fill up casually. He had never shopped for monthly necessities at a time so he was a bit surprised by Laura's bulk.

"It's all James. Let's go to the cashier, there doesn't seem to be too long a line." Laura said as she walked beside James.

"You want to go to Thailand why buy vegetables and fruit anyway?" James asked in surprise.

"It's okay, it's still 3 days left. After that, vegetables and fruit," replied Laura, smiling at James.

James smiled at Laura too. Whatever was important Laura was happy inside. It was their turn at the cashier. The cashier started to scan the barcode of the groceries until they were all done.

"Cash or use card?" The woman in the cashier asked to James.

James pulled a debit card out of his wallet.

"Ehhh I paid myself James," Laura cried, preventing James from paying for her groceries.

James ignored Laura's protests and still handed over his debit card to pay for Laura's groceries.

"Thank you Ma'am," said James, taking back the debit card and the long shopping receipt.

"Come on Honey. Where else are you going?" James asked, pushing a trolley filled with several plastic shopping bags full of goodies.

"Maybe it's better to put the groceries in the car first so it won't be a hassle." Laura suggested to James.

James also asked Laura to wait in the sitting area at the Mall and he took the trolley to the car park.

James walked casually over to Laura sitting waiting for him on the bench in front of the men's clothing store.

James then sat down next to Laura and put his arm around her shoulder. "Are you hungry yet Honey?" he asked.

Laura answered. "Already hungry, let's find something to eat first. What do you want to eat, Beb?"

"Do you want to eat barbeque grill with Suki?" James suggested then Laura nodded her head in agreement.

They walked upstairs holding hands like a couple in a relationship. James asked for a private room for the two of them. The outlet does provide an exclusive private room, of course with a different premium price from the table in the regular area.

"Why don't we just sit outside James?" Laura asked confusedly as James led her to the restaurant's private room.

"Don't ... I am afraid of caught between college students who happen to pass by here. Most of the students hang out at this mall," answered James.

James ordered menus for the two of them while asking what Laura's favorite menu was. After the waitress left the room to prepare their orders, James lifted Laura into his lap and hugged her.

"Your body is too light, Honey, really need additional nutrition huh," said James while kissing Laura's fingers which made Laura amused by the touch of James's lips.

"Ohh yes, after eating later I want to ask you for help, will you?" said James.

Laura frowned and asked back. "What do you ask for?"

"There you go .... You'll find out later. Let's eat first." James answered adding to Laura's curiosity.

"You're not hot, haven't you showered, Honey?" Laura asked.

"It's not too bad, because I've been exposed to air conditioning since morning, mostly indoor activities," answered James, cradling Laura in his lap.

And indeed James's scent was still fresh, the perfume he wore was an expensive perfume that lasts.

The menu they ordered came too. The waitress looked enviously at Laura when she saw James hugging her affectionately. James's appearance is tempting and invites the admiring gaze of women.

Moreover, James was very royal in ordering menus and a private room. Laura moved to sit next to James so they could be more comfortable eating.

James was the one who served Laura to grill the meat on the grill and put it on Laura's plate, it tasted really delicious. Laura praised James's skill in barbeque cooking.

After they finished dinner, James paid the bill to the cashier.

Laura looked at their total bill and felt bad. Why do you always run out a lot? For one meal spent more than a million IDR. Although James's savings were abundant, Laura felt that she had no right to waste it. James treated her like a queen.

As they walked out of the restaurant Laura spoke to James. "James, I feel bad. You're too wasteful to eat with me."

James even laughed at Laura's protest. "Hey My Honey. I can't stop myself from spoiling you. Sorry to say ... my family's standard of living is a bit above normal. You can believe it or not, I'm the youngest child who is the most spoiled by Papi and my two brothers. This is my first date, before that my savings were completely untouched and continued to grow throughout the rest of my life. I didn't have to spend a penny on everything I wanted."

What James said was absolutely true and his Papi was always watching what his little prince was doing. Reports and photos of James and Laura together have also reached James's Papi, Leonard Indrajaya. Even Laura's complete personal data was known to his father.

Leonard sits in his working chair at his head office in Jakarta. One of the skyscrapers where his business empire thrived. He was a bit surprised to know the little prince's chosen woman. It's been almost two months that something is different with his son's routine.

Leonard placed guards to guard his youngest son who was studying in Jogjakarta from the very beginning James lived there. However, James never noticed because the person was very professional.

Laura is actually a very perfect woman. Beautiful, smart and kind. Even at a relatively young age, she already holds the title of professor of veterinary science, graduated from abroad. Her family is no ordinary person. The textile and batik business owned by Laura's parents is quite large, Leonard knows several brands of their fabric products.

From the reports of his subordinates, Leonard knew that James was the one who kept chasing Laura until the woman gave up on James. What a basic James character. It was he who molded his little prince into such a figure. There is no word fail in his dictionary. What was most important to him was James's happiness regardless of what he chose even if it wasn't ordinary. Maybe one day he would test how much James felt for Laura.