Chapter Fourteen : My Ex

Indah walked back and forth in front of the minimarket with a feeling of worry. It was almost 11 pm, but Adrian had not come, not even contacted her. She had contacted the man 31 times, but did not get any response at all.

"Where is he? Stupid! I shouldn't have listened to what he said. He's just playing me again." She grumbled while kicking the wind in front of her.

"Doesn't he know that I'm cold now waiting for him?" She complained. Indah tightened the thin jacket that was covering her clothes. She never thought that Adrian would play tricks on her again like this. He was annoying, but it felt like Adrian didn't need to teach her a lesson like this. It felt like the feeling when all her friends mocked her for being a beggar.

The streets around the shop were starting to get quiet. The only ones passing by were street vendors who were about to go home. The night wind was starting to pierce Indah's ribs. Tonight she didn't wear any warm clothes, because she thought Adrian would arrive on time. After her coffee cup looked empty, Indah threw it into the trash can. She looked back at the road in front of her while hugging herself.

Once again, Indah glanced at the chain watch on her wrist. The time was almost half past 12 at night. She was sure that Adrian might have gone home first. Plus the night wind made her skin stand on end.

Finally Indah decided to go home. She felt completely cheated by her husband. It was likely that she would fall ill tomorrow considering her weak body history and never being touched by the night wind.

"This is all because of that damn man. Adrian is stupid!" She grumbled in her heart. She stepped home. At the same time she realized that Adrian was not the prince that his handsome face looked like.

** FlashBack**

Three years ago

That afternoon, an Italian restaurant located in the Jakarta area seemed crowded even though the sun was mercilessly shining on the area. Some people seemed to be enjoying their food and seemed reluctant to move from their places. So did the two lovebirds who were currently enjoying their togetherness. On a normal day, they might not be able to be this free because they were busy with their respective jobs. Because it was Saturday, they could spend more time together.

The man who was currently devouring his pasta kept staring at his lover who was struggling with the camera in her hand. Even to devour the food in front of her, the woman seemed reluctant. Seeing this, the man seemed to raise his eyebrows in surprise.

"Honey, aren't you eating your food?"

The woman answered with a nod, but never once took her eyes off the camera.

"Rian, look at this photo. What do you think of my painting? Isn't it good?"

Adrian looked lazily at the picture there. The painting with a beach background and a man in it was indeed beautiful. But for some reason he was lazy to respond to it. He just smiled at his future wife's enthusiasm.

"Ana, have you tried on the dress yesterday?"

Ana immediately turned her eyes away from her camera. She saw Adrian smiling at her, waiting for her answer. Her face felt tense, but Ana tried as much as possible to act as usual.

"O..Of course I've tried it, Rian. It's just that there's something that needs to be added a little more." She lied. In her heart she really felt guilty for lying to Adrian. She knew how enthusiastic the man was to take care of all the necessities for their wedding which was only a few days away. While she was busy with various painting exhibitions everywhere and forgot the fact that she was going to be a wife.

Adrian took Ana's hand that was idle on the table. He stroked it warmly. "You know, I don't mind at all the idea that you will continue your career after we get married. But if you ask me what I think, honestly I prefer you in my kitchen, barefoot waiting for me to come home, honey."

Ana felt her heart being stabbed. She knew that Adrian didn't mean to close the way to achieve her dream, the man was just expressing what was the basis of his thoughts. It's just that Ana still felt that the man honestly really objected to her intention. But painting was her life, she could die of boredom if she didn't paint for a long time.

Ana returned Adrian's embrace on her hand. She held his hand with her tiny hand. "I know, and you know I won't change my decision, Adrian."

Adrian could only smile weakly. He really couldn't deny anything that was Ana's reason to live happily. For him, the woman's happiness was his main priority in life.

"Okay, honey. I will support you as long as it can make you happy."

**end of flashback**

Adrian walked towards an Italian restaurant with red and black motifs. But his steps stopped when he was in front of the glass door of the building. He raised his head up and stared at the pitch black sky without stars. He still remembered how many unforgettable memories were stored in his memory about this place. This is where... his first meeting with his first love, Ana. The woman was now sitting on one of the chairs, where they used to sit. From outside the window, the woman seemed to have her back to him with her narrow and fragile back. Her jet black hair fell on the wooden back of the chair, just like three years ago.

Unconsciously, a warm feeling gripped his heart. He was a little happy to know that the woman was still a simple woman. His simple and beautiful Ana, that's what he thought before the woman's action of 'throwing' him away like trash. Remembering that moment almost made him crazy. The woman he was most crazy about in this world had the heart to hurt his heart. The woman he had originally hoped could heal his wounds and be a place for him to cry instead left him, even at an important time for both of them.

Adrian exhaled loudly before deciding to continue his steps into the building. The sound of the entrance bell hanging above his head greeted his footsteps. His appearance, which was not like that of Indonesians in general, attracted the attention of several visitors, especially women. Pairs of eyes stared at him in awe, like seeing an artist who often appeared on television. But that was them, not Adrian. The man had maintained his normal harshness since entering the restaurant. In his heart he wanted to quickly disappear from this place, but part of him wanted to listen to what the woman from his past would say.

Just as Adrian had taken three steps forward, the woman turned to look at him. Her black eyes looked bright seeing the figure of the man she had been waiting for. She really didn't expect Adrian to be willing to meet her. She thought at first that the man would ignore her request, but in fact the man was already standing not far from her. Towering tall and still handsome in his increasingly mature age. Ana, the woman couldn't help but smile broadly seeing the arrival of her 'ex' man. Immediately, she stood up to greet the man's steps towards her. She shouldn't have been surprised anymore when she saw Adrian's cold expression, but her heart was a little tickled. Still deep inside she expected Adrian to give her the warm smile he used to show when he was with her. Ana realized that it was probably just her wishful thinking. Her mistake was so big to that man. It was only natural for Adrian to act like that. In fact, she should have been surprised if Adrian had come and hugged her straight away.

"What are you talking about, Ana?"

Ana smiled wryly. From his tone alone, she could tell that the man didn't want to be here. Adrian already hated being near her. Before the man had even sat down, she had already asked straight to the point about her request to come.

"I-I.. I.. I want to congratulate you on your.. marriage." She said in a choked voice. Ana almost shed tears in front of the man. But no, she wanted to look strong. She knew Adrian liked strong women and she wouldn't look weak in front of him. But the fact that the man had belonged to another woman made her heart ache.

Adrian walked past Ana and sat on the bench across from her. He immediately crossed his arms and looked sharply at the woman who was still standing in her trance. "Thank you. But that's not what I need right now."

Ana sat down in front of Adrian. Her Adrian.. the man now looked even more handsome. His face that she didn't know where she got it from looked like a painting of the Greek gods that she had seen. But there was something that made her heart a little pinched when his hazel eyes stared as if he wanted to kill her.

"I...I'm sorry." She squeaked. Ana felt small right now under Adrian's sharp gaze. She didn't know if Adrian was willing to accept her forgiveness. She knew that no one would accept forgiveness from someone who had betrayed them, including herself.

"Tch.., after everything that's been through I'm surprised you can still say that." Adrian said sarcastically. The man's gaze shifted out the window which showed several cars and motorbikes passing in front of him. His heart felt like it wanted to be broken by anger. He wanted to explode everything he had been holding in. Saying that he almost committed suicide because he lost Ana in his life. But did that woman still deserve to hear all his suffering so far. According to him, the presence of that woman would only rip open the wounds that he had forgotten.

"I know.. I was wrong." Ana couldn't hide herself from starting to sob. She wanted not to cry, but the tightness in her chest became even worse, especially when she received a murderous gaze from the hazel eyes that usually soothed her. She was sick, that wasn't the Adrian of old. Not Adrian, her Love.

Adrian snorted loudly. Honestly, he was starting to get fed up. Many people say that someone will realize their mistakes when they are down, and this is what Adrian might agree with. The woman did look fragile, but who would have thought that this figure was the one who had dumped her. Treated her like worthless trash.

"I'm not surprised that this moment will come. I knew sooner or later you would regret everything." Adrian said calmly but still hardened his gaze.

Ana looked up. The grip on her shirt was a little tighter. She bit her red lips tightly. She knew Adrian was directly teasing her. The man's mouth was indeed known to be spicy, and she now felt it too.

"I beg your pardon, Adrian."

Adrian looked intently at the two eyes that were pleading with him. In his mind after everything that had happened, what would happen if Adrian forgave Ana? Would they get back together?

Of course not.

Their destinies were now different. Adrian with his life, and Ana... she should also enjoy her life no matter what kind of woman she was.

Adrian immediately stood up. His body towering in front of Ana who was now looking at him with resignation, just kept quiet. But unlike before, the man now just looked at him weakly.

"If I forgive you, what will happen to us? Will we get back together, Ana?" he asked hoarsely.

Ana just kept quiet. She certainly knew the answer to that question. After everything returned to normal, Adrian was able to open the door to his forgiveness, What would he do?

The man now had a wife. The three years that had been the distance between them had changed him. Adrian was no longer her lover, no longer a single man who was ready to marry any woman he loved. He was Adrian, a man who already had a wife and Ana knew that. But somewhere deep in her heart, she still couldn't let that fact get in the way of them. She wanted to be back with Adrian, to the point where she felt like screaming out loud that the man was hers. But what could she do. Adrian would definitely hate her even more if she interfered in his household affairs.

"I think without me needing to answer it, you already know the answer to that question, right?" Adrian asked with half-raised eyebrows. "It's better that after this there is never any relationship between us, including work matters. I don't want to lose my woman a second time, Ana."

Ana looked up weakly. She hoped there was still love left for her there. But what she expected was not what she got. Those two hazel eyes looked at her coldly.

"I think I should go. Enjoy your night, Ana." Adrian said before his feet walked away from Ana.

"Do you love him?"

Adrian immediately stopped in his tracks. He turned to stare at the woman's narrow back. His two hazel eyes widened in disbelief at what the woman had just asked him.

Ana stood up. She turned to look at Adrian with her puffy face. Her black eyes showed her obsession that she didn't want to lose the man. Adrian barely recognized the gentle woman.

"Do you love your wife, Rian?" she asked again.

DEG

Adrian didn't know what to say. But remembering the fact that he now had a wife, a woman who faithfully waited for him at home, warmed his heart.

Indah. 

The woman was indeed not as beautiful as Ana. She couldn't even dress up. But there was something in the woman that managed to revive his day, able to make him dare to dream about the future that had been destroyed because Ana left him. Her eyes that always looked at Adrian seemed to give a sensation that no other woman had ever given.

Adrian looked up with certainty to return Ana's gaze that seemed to demand an answer from him. Honestly, Adrian didn't have to answer Ana's question. He was sure that the woman would give up on her own along with her silence. But he felt that there was something that had to be emphasized here. He was not the Adrian of the past, who was willing to carry the entire contents of the world just for Ana alone. He was also not the Adrian of the past, who was so crazy about Ana that he almost wanted to die when he lost her.

The person he is now is Adrian, who has managed to rise from his slump. And Adrian who now has Indah as his wife.

"I can't explain it, but for now there is only one woman who now fills my heart. She is the only woman who is currently in the grip of my heart, namely... My wife, Indah."