RENDRA'S SHADOW

Aleeta took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. The eyes closed for a moment. For some reason the last few days, the image of Rendra, who is known as Ryan, seems to keep flashing before her eyes. Disturbing thoughts that are in fact inevitable.

In her mind she wanted to find out about the figure of that man. However, her mind immediately brushed aside everything that had nearly made her lose her sanity.

Yes, how not? Even everything that appeared before the eyes, suddenly turned into Rendra's shadow. Everything that appeared on the television screen, on the walls and ceilings of her room, even when she was about to eat, suddenly the rice on her plate turned into Rendra's face which showed a big smile on her. Ah, looks like she's really gone mad.

Many men who have always tried to approach her. Although Aleeta is not experienced in love, she is also not an innocent and stupid woman. It is clear from the way they behave and try to attract her attention. However, there was still nothing that had an effect and made her heart waver. It seems the woman is still reluctant to open her heart to other men.

"Am I stupid for still hoping to meet him, when there are so many guys out there trying to get close to me?" She whispered as she put her arms on the edge of the bathtub.

Soaking in warm water surrounded by aromatherapy candles, seems to be a good thing for Aleeta at this time. Calm the mind and stretch the muscles that had tensed due to too many activities that she did all day.

Her mind suddenly turned back to several years ago.

"Hey, where are you going?" A boy seemed to be running after a little girl with long hair tied in a ponytail, making the hair seem to move left and right, keeping pace with every step of her feet.

The little girl continued to run away from the place, making the short-haired boy seem to have lost track of her.

"This time you will definitely not find me," whispered the little girl who was hiding in the tree house, not far from where she lived.

The girl was little Aleeta when she was 6 years old, while the boy was her best friend.

"Hey, crazy girl, get out of your way!" shouted the boy, right under the tree house where Aleeta was hiding.

Instead of trying not to show herself in front of her best friend, Aleeta's foot accidentally stepped on the floor of the tree house made of wood until it broke and made a sound. Oh shit! It looks like the tree house is very old.

"Aaauuw!" Aleeta groaned as her legs were slightly pinched by the broken wood by her actions.

Panic. Of course Aleeta panicked, because her legs were difficult to pull.

Not only Aleeta, the boy also panicked, when he heard the moans from his best friend. He swiftly climbed to the top of the tree house, intending to save Aleeta.

"You really are annoying!" The boy continued to grumble while carrying Aleeta whose leg was injured.

The sound of a cell phone ringing screaming for attention, instantly awakened Aleeta from her daydream. Even though she was in the bathroom, the sound of the cellphone ringing still reached her ears, I don't know how much volume was set on the cellphone.

Ah, it's too beautiful to imagine her childhood with her best friend, in fact it makes her spend quite a lot of time just soaking in warm water. It seemed she had to put an end to that activity immediately. Not to mention the screams of the cell phone that didn't want to stop calling her. So disturbing!

Just as she was coming out of the bathroom, the phone stopped ringing. However, she was still curious about the caller who had disturbed her euphoria.

Aleeta immediately walked to the nightstand on the left side of the bed. She reached for the flat object lying there. So many missed call notifications on the phone screen. Not to mention the WhatsApp messages that have also piled up.

Aleeta immediately checked the notifications one by one. Immediately she was surprised when she found a WhatsApp message from an unknown number.

'Have a good rest, beautiful Miss Aleeta.'

***

The leaves fall in the rain that dances with the wind. The drizzle was still faithful to bring the cold, even though it was no longer morning. The time was already 12.25 p.m. when Rendra glanced at the expensive watch that was wrapped around his wrist.

A moment later he looked at the pile of files in front of him. His passion for work was lost somewhere. The creak of the door opening made him turn his gaze to it. Showing a tall, lanky woman walking towards him.

"I want lunch," said the woman with a sharp look.

"People will misunderstand you when they see you like that. You look more like someone who's getting into a fight than asking for a meal." The man answered with a snort. "But since I'm kind and not arrogant, I'll forgive you. Okay, where do you want to eat?"

"Don't be too confident, okay?" Again the woman said in a cold tone.

"Well, weren't you the one who invited me to lunch? How confident are you, anyway?" Rendra dipped an eyebrow at the surprised woman in front of him.

"I mean ... I'm going to have lunch–"

"Yes, yes, come on," said Rendra, cutting off his cousin's words.

"Listen to me first!" She said annoyed, "I want to have lunch with Ryan. So, you, my brother, don't hold him for work reasons."

The man paused and looked at her. Pointing the index finger at the woman.

"Before becoming your lover, he was my assistant. After all, didn't you two meet last night?"

"I only met him briefly, then drove him home," the woman argued staunchly.

"You choose him or me, Ryan?" Rendra asked to Ryan who for some time had been standing between them.

The woman turned her face to look at her lover with a pitiful face. Making the man not have the heart, then looked at the boss with a sad face.

"You prefer him, Honey?"

The woman grabbed the lover's arm and took him.

"Well, you don't care about him. He's just a lonely old man. Come on, Honey," said Malika, then left the room with a gleam on her face. The woman was happy because she felt that she had won the battle for the handsome assistant.

As soon as the two of them actually left the room, Rendra grabbed his cell phone and called someone.

"What about the results of your investigation? All right, carry on. Tell 02 that I have a new assignment for him."

***

"Why doesn't Mr. Rendra come here often anymore?" asked a woman with a sexy appearance hanging spoiled in Rendra's right hand.

"Yes, Mr. Rendra. We all miss you. When will you play with us again?" Another woman chimed in and clung to Rendra's left hand as well.

Rendra did not answer the two women's questions. Not only the voices of the two women, even the sound of pounding music accompanied by the screams of the nightclub visitors seemed invisible in his eyes. His mind was wandering far away on the figure of a woman who always danced in the corners of his eyes. She is Aleeta. The only woman who was cold to him.