Love?

I love you.

What's this joke again, God? How come a foreign man who has only met Laras once, immediately loves Laras?

Although forced, Laras still chuckled amused. "Are you kidding? We've just met, and you said you love me? Your jokes aren't funny at all."

"No."

"Huh?"

"This isn't our first meeting. We've seen each other before but unfortunately you don't know who I am."

Laras rolled her eyes lazily. "If this is just an argument for me to accept this matchmaking, you'd better go home. I won't be affected at all by what you say."

"I'm not lying, Laras. I'm in--"

"Enough! You don't have to say much, we're not that close." Laras stood up, about to get up and leave Panji alone, but the man grabbed her arm. "Wait a minute."

"Especially?"

"Where are you going? Let me take you." The man looked up at Laras. The bright reflection of the sun made his face shine even more.

Handsome, Laras thought. If only Panji denied this matchmaking, perhaps Laras could be a little gentle with him.

"Why are you silent? Do you want me to take you?"

"No!"

Panji let Laras go, without hindering her in the slightest. He knew that the woman would not take it for granted about this matchmaking plan. Even though Panji explained honestly, even to the point of foaming at the mouth, Laras wouldn't believe it.

But, I swear to God, Panji loves Laras sincerely, from the beginning.

***

"I don't know, Nin. I feel like looking for Randi. Wherever, no matter how far, I want to follow him. I can't stand being away from him, Nin." Laras complained to Nindy who had just arrived.

"What are you doing with your aunt?"

"I was betrothed."

Nindy pensive. She looked at Lara's face. There was something strange about her face. Since the departure of her parents, coupled with Randi running away from her responsibilities, Laras' face always looks sad. The look in her eyes will shine softly on anyone who stares. But this time not so. Nindy could see there was a glimmer of life in her eyes.

"Do you want it?"

"No! It's crazy, I want to. I'm loyal to Randi, I want to wait for him, or if necessary propose him. But I'm confused where to look for him. Randi didn't tell me the address of his big family's house." Laras's face began to fade, sadness enveloped her face again.

"Maybe this is a way out for you, Ras."

"It means?"

"Yes, maybe this is God's way to help you get out of the complexity of your problem. You don't need to look for Randi who has clearly run away and is not responsible for you, even to apologize for not doing that. And most importantly, there's no need to do stupid things like abortion like yesterday. There are men who are willing to take responsibility for you and your future child." Laras averted her gaze. What Nindy said was true, one hundred percent true. But the problem is, Laras doesn't want to marry anyone except Randi.

"Ras?" Call Nindy. "Think about it carefully, maybe your decision will change."

"No, Nin. My decision will never change. After all, even if their parents accept my current situation, they won't necessarily treat me well. I've had enough of being treated like a maid with my aunt, I don't want to anymore."

"If Randi will come back to you, be responsible for all his actions, do you think his family will accept you? Do you think they will treat you well?"

Once again, Nindy's words managed to slap Laras. It's true what Nindy said. Randi's family is a respected family, with a myriad of achievements and a good name that is famous everywhere. It would be a disgrace if their only successor had to marry at a young age, without adequate finances, and the most embarrassing part was that the woman who was his partner was pregnant before marriage.

Ah, looks like Laras will also be treated like trash by Randi's family.

But, should Laras accept this ridiculous matchmaking?

***

While in the corner of the room, Panji looked at a small plank made of wood. Boards that are worn out due to time. A board where there are lots of photos of a woman who Panji loves very much.

"I miss you, so much." Panji spoke softly, while kissing lightly one of the small photos that showed a sweet smile on the girl's pretty face.

"Laras?" The man with the shirt left unbuttoned turned his head to find her mother staring deeply at him.

"Mommy why?" Panji asked when he saw his mother's eyes teary after hugging him briefly.

"No, Mommy is just worried that you will be sad because Laras doesn't want to accept this match." Widia stroked Panji's black mane affectionately. There was a tightness in his chest when he remembered Laras' refusal this afternoon. Until finally she found Panji pensive in the corner of the room as usual. Staring at dozens of polaroid photos stuck to the wooden planks.

"I'm not sad, don't worry. Besides, it's natural for Laras to refuse. She doesn't know me, how can she want to marry a man she doesn't even know."

Widia shook her head. "No, Panji. Laras is knows you. Maybe it's because you don't appear in front of him as Panji, so he doesn't recognize you."

"It was my fault, a big mistake. I was too cowardly to appear in front of Laras, I only dared to find out how she was. When she was in trouble, I always helped her. I knew all her problems, but unfortunately I didn't appear in front of her."

Widia nodded. She knew very well how incessant Panji was to find out about Laras' life. Starting from who his lover, his friends. Even to the point that only a few people know, that Laras' biological father still bothers the woman. Everything Panji knows, without exception. And if asked what the reason was, of course Panji would answer loudly; because I love her, love her so much.

"Mommy and daddy will do their best so that Laras can be a part of our family. Be your life partner, until you grow old." He hugged Widia tightly.

"You can help me, but don't burden yourself with it. I don't want you to get sick like before." Widia nodded with a smile.

"Yes, promise. What happened before, will never happen again."

Widia had been in a coma for one month because of a single accident that happened to her. The incident happened not without incident or purely an accident. Widia accidentally crashed her car into a power pole, just because she wanted Panji to stop doing things that hurt himself.