Arya, too shocked to hear the news, was silent. He could not comment and only stared at Alex and Amira.
Only Robert could smile as usual. “Congratulations, bro! Can you introduce us to your girl?”
Alex looked at Amira. He smiled tenderly, then nodded slowly. “This is Amira.”
Amira greeted Robert, then Jeremy. Arya reluctantly stood up to greet Amira. Amira pretended not to see Arya’s outstretched hand by looking at Alex with an affectionate stare.
“Let’s go home. It’s late already.” Alex stroked Amira’s hair and reached his hand.
Amira nodded quickly. She took Alex’s hand. Alex immediately waved at his friends while still holding Amira’s hand with his other hand.
As soon as they left Club 20, Amira let go of her hand that held Alex’s hand. “Thank you for helping me.”
Alex smiled wryly. “You have to be careful. Arya isn’t someone you can fool easily. Don’t let yourself get hurt in the end. Arya isn’t a bad person, but he doesn’t think long and often acts too spontaneous.”
Amira looked straight ahead. “Maybe, but the problems of fifteen years ago must be resolved. I have promised myself to avenge my heartache. Now, it is an opportunity. I will never back down until I succeed.” She answered in a cold tone.
Alex took a deep breath. He opened the car door for Amira. After entering, Alex looked at Amira seriously. “Remember what I said earlier. Don’t hurt yourself and Arya either. Know your limits!”
“Yes, bro.” Amira nodded. “I promise.”
After that, Alex’s silver sedan moved through the capital’s street, getting quiet. It was dawn, after all. Alex was busy with his thoughts, so was Amira. It didn’t take long to arrive at Amira’s boarding house finally.
Once there, Amira unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to Alex. “Thank you for sending me home, bro. I will remember your words.”
Alex didn’t answer. He just stared at Amira for a long time. Then, finally, he tucked Amira’s few strands of hair to the back of her ear. “It’s been so many years without seeing you. You’ve changed a lot. I barely recognized you.”
Amira grinned. “Really? Then how could you recognize me back then?”
“From your dimples to your eyes that shrank when you smiled. It hasn’t changed yet. After seeing that, I kept thinking about who you really were. Then, finally, after thinking hard, I just remembered.”
“Ah, so, is my change good now?” Amira’s smile was wide. Her dimples reappeared on her thin cheeks. But then, as Alex said just now, Amira’s eyes also narrowed when she smiled.
Alex took a deep breath. “I don’t know. I miss your chubby cheeks that made me nervous before. Now they’re gone.”
Amira laughed. “Ah, bro, it’s been a while since our high school time. I’m getting thinner. So, yeah, I had none of the chubby cheeks anymore. Bro, I’ll go out. See you later.” Amira grabbed the door handle.
“Amira?”
Alex’s calling stopped Amira from getting out of his car. She turned her body and stared at Alex. “Yes, bro?”
Alex grabbed Amira’s hand. Amira’s body immediately jerked toward Alex’s direction. He held her chin and then kissed her lips quickly.
Amira did not refuse, nor did she kiss him back. Instead, she was just glued to the spot. It was hard to believe that Alex, who was usually calm and like a big brother to her, could kiss her lips.
As quickly as Alex kissed Amira’s lips, he let her go. “I’m not going to apologize because, for years, I have always wanted to do this. Good night, Mir. Sweet dreams.”
Amira blushed. Without answering, she immediately got out of Alex’s car. Amira even ran to enter her boarding room.
Meanwhile, Alex continued to stare at Amira’s back until she was out of his sight. Only then did he start his car and drive away.
In her room, Amira immediately placed her handbag on her desk. Then, without changing clothes or removing make-up first, she immediately lay down on the bed. She touched her lips which Alex kissed earlier. Now, her cheeks were hot. “Brother Alex ....” she mumbled.
Amira’s mind drifted to some events fifteen years ago when she was in the ten grade. She was very close to Priscilla, Alex’s sister since they were from the same junior high school. She often played in Priscilla’s house. Then she met and became acquainted with Alex. Amira was amazed by his maturity and seriousness when she met him for the first time. Alex was like an older brother she never had. Amira is the only child of her parents, so she felt that Priscilla and Alex were like her sister and big brother.
Amira also met Arya several times since he liked to play in Alex’s house. When she met Arya, Arya’s impressive appearance fascinated her. Even in senior high school, Arya had been a hunk. But unfortunately, Arya did not think of her as an attractive girl. As a result, he had never seen her twice, even when he met her at Alex and Pricilla’s house.
For a year, Amira often searched for information about Arya. She asked Priscilla too once in a while. One day, when Amira waited for Priscilla, who was taking a bath, she finally decided to ask Alex about Arya.
“Bro, has Brother Arya had a girlfriend yet?” Amira asked.
Alex didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked at Amira, then sighed. “It’s hard to say. Arya often changes girlfriends. Why?”
“Oh!” Amira shook her head. “I just wanted to know.” Her face turned red.
“Do you like Arya?”
“I ....”