CHAPTER 7 HASIGAWA TAKAHIRO

"And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears."

Bali, 7 years ago

Hasigawa sat waiting for Andini to come. They promised to have dinner together tonight. They became closer during the collaboration.

Hasigawa has been calling Andini for some time with an additional chan.

The word chan in Japanese usually refers to people who are loved or have a closer relationship. Usually to the younger ones.

This afternoon, Hasigawa approached Andini.

"Andini chan. Let's have a dinner with me, okay?"

Andini was a little surprised but she had expected to talk with Hasigawa san and she immediately answered: "Okay. Boss! What time?"

"I'm not your boss. 7 o'clock." Hasigawa laughed and mentioned the name of the place.

"Andini chan ... Come alone. It's just dinner for the two of us."

Actually Hasigawa was a bit hesitant about this dinner with Andini. But he thought he had a responsibility for everything that happened to Andini. Moreover, everything that happened in Japan. He was not sure but he had a feeling that all of this would lead to Masaki Ichiro, his bestfriend. So he decided to try to talk to Andini privately.

" Ah, Ichiro. If all of this is true as I thought, this time you have made a big mistake, Ichiro. " He thought.

Hasigawa remembered that day, before Ichiro's departure to Alaska that man stopped by to his house.

Ichiro was like a dazed person. Hasigawa knew Ichiro that day seemed like he wanted to say a lot of things. Hasigawa thought something had happened last night. And he was not surprised, he knew his bestfriend very well. Masaki Ichiro was a bastard. A playboy. Always surrounded by women. Everybody knows about his reputation and what a handsome man he was. And indeed he knew about that too.

But that day, Ichiro looked confused. He seemed like not his self.

"Takahiro. Tonight I'm leaving for Alaska. I don't know how long I will be able to return to Japan. Listen ... Something happened between me and Ms. Sonata Andini last night. Do not laugh. Listen to me first. It all happened because I saw someone put something into her glass at the party last night. I guessed it was aphrodisiac. That's why I was a little pushy to drive her back to the hotel. Because I saw that thug waiting for her to eat her. " Masaki Ichiro said.

"And you took advantage of that incident last night, right?" Hasigawa chuckled.

"Ah what an old song, Ichiro."

Masaki Ichiro looked even more confused. He looked like a guilty person.

"Look. I admit I'm a bastard but I really attracted to her at that time. Like I had bewitched. I thought she was just like any other girl. Having a boyfriend and making mistakes like cheating. But ... She's different, Takahiro. She's different at least to me."

"What makes that girl different from yours, Ichiro?" Hasigawa asked.

"She's still a virgin, Takahiro! And she didn't tell me! If only I had known I wouldn't have taken that chance. The moment she should bend with the person she loves." he said.

"Damn you, Ichiro. She's a nice girl. She's my co-worker." Hasigawa sighed.

"I'm sorry, Takahiro. I'm sorry." he really seemed to regret it.

"Tell me how it all happened. Details !! Because I have a bad feeling about what happened next "

" Please don't say that, Takahiro. I really confuse now. If I have time I will chase her."

Then Masaki Ichiro told him every details of what happened. Of course it was not the detail when the two of them were in bed.

"Takahiro. You have a collaboration work with her right? Please take care of her. We didn't say anything today. It just like we don't have to contact each other. Andini didn't want me. She clearly said it this morning. For her I was just a person who passed by and help her to let go of her pain last night. Promise me. I'll try to call you from Alaska every time I have a chance. I will see her when I return to Japan. I will come to Indonesia to find her. Please call me if you find something with her. "

That night Masaki Ichiro flew to Alaska for his new job. He would be there for some years. And it would be difficult to call him in a deep forest.

Hasigawa waved his hand when he saw Andini coming.

"Hi. Please sit down, Andini chan."

Andini felt their relationship was getting closer. But not in a romantic way. Andini sat directly opposite to Hasigawa.

She smiled. Her face glowed and looked even more beautiful.

" Aren't pregnant women like that, are they ?" Hasigawa asked himself.

He remembered once he had a pregnant women's photo shoot. For some reason Hasigawa felt that they all looked so beautiful. Hasigawa smiled.

"Nani, Hasigawa san? Is there something on my face ?" Andini raised her eyebrows.

"Nandemonai, Andini chan. You look so beautiful."

" Ah. Arigatou Hasigawa san. " she smiled so brightly.

They ate together that night talking about many things. But more about Andini's progress work and the fetal health development.

"Andini chan. I'm sorry if I'm a little presumptuous. I have something to talk about privately at this time to you. Please .. Don't build a wall between you and me. Think of me as your brother or your bestfriend. But I won't push you. I respect you." Hasigawa looked a little awkward.

"What's the matter, Hasigawa san. I'm not going to build a wall between us. Promise. You can ask me anything." Andini smiled.

Andini had actually been waiting for this since returning from the hospital. She thought she has to have someone to lean on. Someone who knew Masaki Ichiro better. So that everything she was living right now does not feel too heavy.

" Well .. Does your pregnancy have something to do with Masaki Ichiro?"

Andini sighed but she tried to smile.

"Yes. Hasigawa san. There are no other man. Only him."

Hasigawa immediately lowered his head and covered it with his palm.

"Damn you, Ichiro!"

He stared at Andini not knowing what to say and how to continued this conversation.

"Listen. three months ago, Ichiro came to my house before he left for Alaska. And he looked confused. Obviously it wasn't like him. And he told me what happened that night. Don't be embarrassed. You're a grown woman, aren't you. On that day I had a bad feeling, something will happen. "

Andini knew that Hasigawa felt worried because it was clearly visible on his face at this time. So she grabbed Hasigawa's hands.

"Hasigawa san. Don't put on a face like that. I'm 27 years old. This is my life. My choice. Whatever happens to me is my responsibility not anyone else. And this isn't something bad. Thank you for worrying about me and this baby. But I have to tell you. That I never regretted what happened to me right now. I have nothing to regret, Hasigawa san. Because I love him. Indeed, at first I didn't realize it. But when I arrived in Indonesia I realized I fell in love with Masaki san. Maybe it sounds like someone stupid and it is impossible for love to exist just overnight. But that's what happened to me right now, Hasigawa san. All of this is fate. Nobody can avoid it when God has determined your path. Don't the Japanese believe in fate? And this is my path, my destiny. This baby is a gift that God bestows on me. I have to take care of it and raise this baby myself. It doesn't matter to me."

Hasigawa was stunned. He never thought that this petite girl was so mature and thoughtful. No wonder Ichiro was so attracted to this girl, he thought. He never realized her inner beauty is really strong and shown up.

Then he grabbed Andini's hand.

"Listen. Whatever happens to you I believe is your responsibility. But Masaki Ichiro is my bestfriend. We have been friends since childhood and are like brothers. He is in Alaska now to work. I don't know when will he come home. It can be for years. Do you want him to know about your pregnancy? " Hasigawa san asked her.

" So he is in Alaska now.... No. Hasigawa san. Not now. I'm afraid this will disturb his concentration at work. I will wait until the time comes. Maybe this sounds very unfair to him. But I know that this is the best way for the time being. Don't tell him about anything. "

" Even though you don't want Ichiro, allow me to be someone who will always support you and be someone you can lean on. I'll be there for you. Promise me. " Hasigawa said.

Andini nodded and smiled.

"Yakusoku!" it meant promise.

She gave Hasigawa the pinkie finger.

" We don't do that anymore, Andini chan. But it's okay. " Hasigawa laughed and linked his pinkie finger to Andini.

That night Hasigawa felt relieve because he knew Andini was a strong and brave girl. There was nothing to worry about anymore. He believed Andini would love and care for her baby well. And Hasigawa will always support her for Ichiro's sake.

Then he said, "I hope one day you both will be united. And I asked God for that."