13 13 A LONG-HAUL JOURNEY AHEAD

Jojo drove Arissa back home to her apartment. Along the way, there was an unlikely awkward silence between them both. Arissa was busy with her own thoughts while Jojo occasionally glanced at her with nervousness and guilt in his eyes. Only the sound of the radio broke the endless silence between the two of them. For Jojo, the journey home that day seemed like forever because Arissa usually does lots of talking along the way. She would spill out anything and everything to him. Either does him. They have always been the perfect partner in crime from college. Today, they turn into a pair of strangers who were in the same car. Sobbing inwardly…

Jojo really wanted to cry out loud at his current situation. Please…please…please…

Hurry up and get there as soon as possible….

Within 15 minutes, Jojo's car stopped at her apartment. Once arrived, Arissa immediately got down and stepped inside with a scowl on her face.

"Hey ... you're not going to invite me to come inside?" Jojo teased her with a huge grin on his face while trying to suave her. Even though, by looking at his best friend's wry face, he already knew the answer.

Arissa turned around and replied shortly, "Not today, Jo ..."

In an instant, her shadow disappeared into the building.

Seeing her attitude, Jojo let out a long sigh heavily. He had known her too well. If her mood swings into a bad hair day like this, the best way to deal with her was…

Leave her alone. It's just that, at that moment, Jojo felt a winced pain inside his heart. Betrayal.

As if he has sold his own best friend.

..................

Once she arrived, Arissa saw Cristan's bag on the sofa. Her roommate had returned already. When Arissa was about to knock on the door of his room to say thank you for being so grateful to her and letting her sleep on the sofa as her temporary bed for a couple of days, Arissa heard strange sounds from inside. A loud moan from a girl. Hearing this, a heat suddenly crept onto her face. In no minute, she rushed into her own room.

When Cristan heard the sound of shut door harshly, he pulled himself from the young woman in front of him and opened the door immediately. Unfortunately, there was no one in the living room.

Cristan rolled his eyes in annoyance and went back into his room with a grim face.

......................

Arissa stared widely in shock when she saw the numbers printed on her bank account. This is the very first time for her to hold such a great sum of money. And, this is just a beginning ...

In a jolly mood, she dialed a number and after a while, she heard someone picked up the phone across the line, then she asked, "Hello… is this with Belladona Design?"

Arissa gave out and explained well about specification that she needs for her bedroom. Soon, she will get the room of her dreams. A personal space for herself. Yeayyy….

Tomorrow, she will cash out the check and immediately send most of the money for her foster mom and the renovation of her orphanage.

.....................….

Arissa lay down on the floor inside her room while she was looking up to the ceiling. Tonight, one of her dreams will come true. A minimalist bedroom in Nordic style. One of her favorite…

..................….

In the morning…

On the crumpled bed, a woman rubbed her eyes lazily and covering her nude body with a blanket. She stared at the young man who has shared the same bed with her confusedly. Under the dim light, while morning golden sunray seeped out from the curtain into the room. While aside, Cristan's body was perfectly sculptured, forming a semi-silhouetted of his feisty features. Make any woman drooling and jaw-dropping of the real beauty from his body who had just made love to her last night. Hmm… she wished this day would never ends actually….

"Cristan ..."

The girl whispered his name seductively as she leaned her head on his broad shoulder with a worshipped gaze.

"This magazine? Is it yours?" Cristan asked her straightforwardly, showing the Fashion Blast magazine that he had seen back and forth.

Sandra nodded lightly.

"Do you like it? Just take it. I often get more from my office whenever I have a photoshoot in there. "

Sandra, part of a new student at the university where Cristan doing his part-time helper as an assistant tutor, she is also a freelance model. Currently, she is often called upon for doing photo shoots with Fashion Blast magazine that currently popular for the youngster and middle-class level. In the future, there is a possibility that she will sign a contract as a constant model soon.

Cristan seemed to think for a while before then, he asked, "When will you going to visit your office?"

Sandra replied, "More or less, in about 2 weeks, after I finished the mid-exam this semester. Why? Would you come with me? "

Cristan nodded briefly. His reaction welcomed by a very deep passionate kiss from Sandra.

"Are you sure, Cristan?"

"Yes…"

Sandra was so excited. She could imagine admiration and envy look from her colleagues when her friends saw Cristan as her gorgeous boyfriend. Just imagining it has made her jolt up and down happily inwardly. She didn't pay attention to Cristan's face which turned serious as he continued to observe the magazine thoroughly at his hand.

Fashion Blast. Finally…

It's time for me to set my feet in front of you!

...................

After taking Sandra home, Cristan closed the window because it's getting late at night. He was able to feel the gust of cold wind caress his face while the city view was crisp and mesmerizingly stunning with their tiny lights from afar.

Cristan's gaze accidentally landed on a door, which was slightly opened. Slowly, he opened it. Inside, he saw Arissa was sleeping on the floor with a smile on her face. Seeing this, Cristan shook his head and carried her body carefully. Then, placed her on the sofa. He also wrapped her with a fleece blanket so she would stay warm.

Seeing her beautiful face, who drifted asleep in her peaceful slumber, Cristan couldn't help himself to give a kiss on her cheek before he left but suddenly, Arissa's handheld him to move further.

"Thank you…." She whispered softly.

Arissa's eyes still closed. The sound of her breath is steady. Her words, just now, sound like a sweet lullaby on his ears. Heart-warming and comforts him when he was by her side.

Slowly, Cristan held her tiny hand, kissed the back of her palm before then returned it.

"You are welcome…"

Tonight, a long journey for them both has just started.