Chapter 21

Mentari looked at Senja's hand which was being treated and bandaged by a nurse.

Currently, Mentari, Senja and others are in the hospital to treat Senja's hand which was stabbed by a knife. Mila had already been taken to the police station, when Yunifer had called to report the incident. Awan, Vivi and Yunifer waited outside the emergency room, and Mentari went into the emergency room to accompany Senja. The girl was just silent, not making a sound at all since earlier. Mentari has been examined by a doctor and fortunately, there were no serious injuries to the girl.

"Hey," Senja called. He touched Mentari's arm with his other hand. When Mentari looked at him, Senja smiled faintly. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? Hm?"

Mentari shook her head and forced a smile. The girl then lowered her head and clenched her hands on top of her feet. Her eyes felt hot and Mentari wanted to cry.

"I'm fine, Sir. It's Mr. Senja who is injured." Mentari spoke in a tired tone, making Senja worried. When the nurse finished treating the wound on his hand, the guy immediately grabbed Mentari's shoulders, asking Mentari to look at him.

"Mentari, it's all over. Your necklace is back, the culprit has also been arrested. Everything is fine now," said Senja with a smile. "You have nothing to be afraid of anymore."

"But, because you have to protect me, you get hurt," replied Mentari. "How can I not feel guilty? How can I be okay? I almost hurt you, like Mila said when she threatened me." Mentari looked down again and looked at her hands. Then, she covered her face with her hands. Her body was shaking. "I… I almost hurt someone else. I, I...."

"Shh. It's okay, Mentari," said Senja soothingly. He immediately hugged Mentari's trembling body tightly. Senja even gently patted Mentari's back to give the girl peace of mind. His smile appeared. "I'm protecting you because that's my job as a teacher. How can I not protect you, when I see you will be hurt by others?"

Mentari is silent. She started crying and kept crying. She felt fear. Fear that she will make others hurt because of her. However, Senja's embrace made Mentari calm. Until finally, without her realizing it, Mentari fell asleep. But, before Mentari actually fell asleep, the girl had heard a whisper. A whisper that made her smile slightly.

Everything will be fine, Mentari.

###

Three days had passed since Mila's case was over.

The girl should be punished for her crime. The school even kicked Mila out of school and Mila's friends couldn't believe that Mila could do such evil things. At first, Mentari still feels sad because of Mila's case, but she is happy again because she doesn't want to make her friends worry.

Today, it's raining. Mentari was in the school cafeteria with Vivi and Yunifer. Every time it rains, Mentari will feel weak like this because it will remind Mentari of her mother's death.

"What's wrong with you this time?"

The question made Mentari turn around and she clicked her tongue. Mentari is too lazy to argue with Senja right now, but it seems that Senja is never happy if he hasn't invited Mentari to argue. Senja only showed his gentle attitude when Mila's case happened. Really annoying.

"Sir, can you not bother me?" Mentari grumbled. "I have a headache, here!"

"Headache?" asked Senja. He pulled up a chair beside Mentari and sat down. The guy greeted Vivi and Yunifer, then returned to focus on Mentari who had just sighed. "Why?"

"She will have dinner with her father tomorrow, Sir," Yunifer said with an amused chuckle. "And tomorrow is Saturday night."

"And?" asked Senja. Don't understand where the problem lies. "You want to hang out with your boyfriend?"

Mentari snorted. "Since when do I have a boyfriend?"

"She's going to have an arranged marriage, Sir."

"What?" Senja blinked and looked at Mentari, frowning. "You're going to have an arranged marriage? With whom?"

"He is the son of my father's best friend," grumbled Mentari. "Actually, my father didn't say that he wanted to set me up with his best friend's son. But, I believe that this is the wedding that my father has planned for me. I know the marriage must be in the far future, waiting for me to be a grown up woman. But, I still have to be engaged to this person first."

Senja is silent. He doesn't know what to say. The guy didn't think that there was still an arranged marriage at a time like this. Then, he frowned and put his arms in front of his chest. He was so busy thinking about Mentari's new problem, that Senja forgot that tomorrow he would also be asked to come to dinner with his parents to accompany the daughter of his father's best friend.

"And my father's best friend's son is much older than me."

Mentari's words surprised Senja. "Huh? Do you mean an old man?"

"Maybe?" Mentari sighed heavily and clicked her tongue. "I can't possibly refuse my father's wish because in this world, my father is all I have. I want my father to be happy." Mentari groaned. "Maybe this is a bad idea for me, but if my future husband is rich, I'll accept it."

Hearing that, Vivi and Yunifer laughed while Senja frowned. He shook his head and ruffled Mentari's hair. Senja stood up from his chair and said, "Don't worry about it. I am sure, your father's choice must be the best for you. There's no way your father will choose a bad partner for his daughter, right? I'm going first. I'll pay for the food for the three of you."

After saying that, Senja returned to his office. Strangely, Senja felt that there was something strange about him right now. He was so annoyed, for some reason.

###

Mentari and her father got out of the car and entered a restaurant that was crowded with customers.

Tonight, the moon is shining brightly. The stars were twinkling in the dark sky. At least they shone brightly, in contrast to Mentari's cloudy heart. The girl forced a smile and answered her father's questions in a cheerful tone. Of course Mentari didn't want her father to feel sad because he saw her unhappy.

Arriving at the table that had been ordered, Mentari could see a husband and wife sitting at a table. Her father waved and immediately approached them, making Mentari sighed again. She nodded politely and kissed the back of the couple's hands.

"This must be Mentari, right?" asked the beautiful woman in front of Mentari, making Mentari nod. The woman then immediately hugged her. Mentari could feel the warmth of the hug. "You've grown, haven't you? Very beautiful. Perfect for our Senja."

Hm? Mentari blinked and suddenly panicked in her place. Senja? How many people with the name Senja are there in this world? Why does it have to be Senja? Why....

"Dad, Mom, I'm so sorry that I'm late. There was a traffic jam on the road."

That sentence made everyone turn their heads, so did Mentari. Mentari blinked and froze in place. Likewise with a handsome guy in formal clothes that looks very suitable for him. With her shaking hands, Mentari pointed at the guy in front of her.

"Mr. Senja?!"

"Mentari?!"

Mentari Jingga and Senja Alexandro both did not expect that the two of them would be engaged and will marry in the near future.