Chapter 2: Best Part of Me (Part 1)

I parked my motorcycle in front of an empty house. "So, this is your secret place you told me earlier?" I turned off the engine and parked this motorcycle in the garage.

We get off from my motorcycle and nodding my head. "What do you think?" I'm looking at her. She should know this place. This place is where I need to be alone. I hired someone to take care of this house whenever I don't like to visit this house.

The other reason, it's nearby to my dad's house. People will think I'm already moved to the elite residence, and built a mansion. It's true, but they didn't know about this house.

This small house, flanked by two abandoned houses. "You want to look inside?" She nodding her head. Alright, I lead the way to get inside the house. I told to the household to let the stray cats played at this garage. Besides, I opened a pet shop inside this house.

I opened the door. "Oh, Ms. Gabriela. I already clean the attic." She said. I took a deep breath and gave her a white envelope. "Thank you," she bow her head down, and leave.

"You're well respected here, Lobak. Does your family knows you live here?" I'm not blaming her if she asked me that way.

"None of them know I'm staying here." She nodding her head. We climbed the stair. After we reached the attic, then closed the trapdoor.

"Lobak…" I hold her hand and walked to the windows nearby. I clapped my hand. The lights turn on. "Wow… I…"

"I bought this house around… 1.2 billion Rupiah, and renovate the house, adding more level. First, I thought the attic was narrow." I said. "Is that… worth it?"

Rose walked to the telescope, and she touches it. "Oh, my God." I walked to the mini fridge and picked a can of Sprite and a bag of party sized snack. I put the beverage and the snack on the coffee table next to her.

She wants a date. I hope she doesn't mind if I'm ordering food. "What do you want for lunch?" I'm looking at her. "I already told her to filled snack at the mini-fridge. What if we… eating outside?" She's nodding her head.

Nice. Since this day was Sunday and the sky seems bright, I decide to bring her to where my favorite place. "There's a place you wanted to show me?"

I'm nodding my head. "I want to bring you to my… favorite food, then we… buy some groceries cooking snack together, and… Netflix and chill. Sounds like a plan to you, or… you wanted to do something else?" Rose shook her head.

"It's sounds amazing, but… I need to stop by at liquor store, is that okay?" She wrinkled her eyebrow, stared at me.

I was an alcoholic. "It's okay, babe. I know a place." Yeah, I'm regularly visiting this liquor store and a member. Probably, I will get a discount from them.

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I put my tray on the table, sit in front of her. "Where's your food?" I asked her. She puts the changed on the top of the small container to mix the sauce. She widens her eyes.

"Is that…" I'm nodding my head. Bitter bean. I like this kind of bean. Even though the smell wasn't good. It's delicious and healthy at the same time.

"You wanted to try?" She shook her head and closed her nose. Okay, I should order a hot coffee. "Wait here, okay? I want to order hot coffee." I grabbed the money, then walked to a nearby vendor. Don't eat bitter bean with your girlfriend.

"Mrs. Salimah, I want to order hot coffee, please." She nodding her head, then I go back to our table. Her food already arrived and I can smell what she order. Fuck my mouth.

"Can I… take a bite?" She nodding her head.

She puts 10 spoons of broth and doesn't forget about the meat. "Can I… take this?" I'm nodding my head. We shared our food to have a taste for each other.

"How about we… buy the groceries at this market!? I saw the traditional market there." I'm nodding my head.

This place is one of my favorite place. Food court with a fresh market. My family always visiting this place every once a week. We ate, then went shopping to the market next door, or just chilling, then leave. What a memory, isn't it? Now, I bring my girl, but without them.

I'm looking at the front of me. I should be more thankful for everything I have today. She's gone, and now someone replaces her place inside my heart. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Oh, God. I blinked my eyes, shook my head. "N-nothing." Shit. The place remains the same, the taste, and everything none changed much. "Here, take mine," she puts the remain broth on my plate. There's something inside my head.

We have already been together for 3 months. I never know everything about her, but she already knows about me, but not that closed. "What if… we play Truth or Dare while we waiting our food processed?" She nodding her head.

I keep drinking until it's empty. "Here's your… coffee." Mrs. Salimah's vendor is one of my favorite. All religions can eat here. I like the concept of this food court. "Where have you been!? Yesterday, they came here with your brother and his family."

I cleared my throat after I take a sip. "I'm busy, also I'm not living with them anymore." She hummed. Yeah, it's awkward.

Mrs. Salimah tapped my shoulder several times, then leave because one of her employee called her name. "You alright?" She touched my hand.

I hold her hand. "I'm fine. She just asking where I have been." The phone number. "The person who called you this morning… I think it's your friend. Her name is… Escobar or something like that…"

Rose nodding her head. "Let's eat fast. I… want to go liquor store." Okay, maybe she doesn't want to talk it right now.

TBC