May I Hope

Naura smiled and shook her head slowly. Take a sip of her hot tea. "It's not Mas Raihan who invites you to eat at the stall. But I really prefer to eat in a place like this. But it's not uncommon for him to invite me to eat at the restaurant or cafe he wants to go to. Yes, we like to try places to eat that look good," the girl explained.

"So, you guys often go to this place to eat. Are you close to my brother too? Have a crush, huh?" Rico joked with a small laugh.

Naruto suddenly shook his head. "No way!" she cried unconsciously.

Rico immediately stopped laughing, hearing Naura's answer. There was a feeling of relief in his heart. Until he smiled a little. Laughing at Naura, who spontaneously answered him.

Can it be interpreted that the girl has no feelings for Raihan? Can she have a little hope? If this girl in front of him had that feeling of love towards him?

Seeing Rico's smile, she seemed to laugh at him. Naura was very embarrassed and became embarrassed. "Oh, that's, um, ah, the thing is I don't like it. I only respect him as Mrs. Ratna's son and your brother. So, don't spread gossip," threatened the girl pretending to be fierce.

Rico chuckled amusedly as he nodded obediently. "Yes, Boss. It's okay with me." The boy made a respectful gesture to Naura, which caused the girl to frown.

The two of them ate quietly. Accompanied by laughter and small talk about Naura and Rico's activities so far.

Rico just wants to get to know the figure of a girl who has transformed into an adult person. Even though Rico knows that his sometimes-childish nature can't be lost.

"After this, where are you going?" asked Rico, driving his car and leaving the yellow rice stall where they had breakfast.

"Not. Let's just go home. I'll be in at twelve o'clock. I want to rest first. Where do you want to go after this?" asked Naura while turning to Rico, who was focused on driving.

"I mostly go to my brother's office. Just want to have a look. Do you want to join?" Rico offered while glancing over at him.

"Not. I just want to go home. After all, what would Mas Raihan say later if he knew we were coming together? Because I haven't told him we're friends," Naura said, shaking her head.

Rico nodded slowly. "Well, that's that then. Let me explain to my brother that we were friends when I transferred to your school. Even if only for a moment. It's okay, right? You don't think Raihan is jealous of me, do you?" guessed the man.

Naura spontaneously shook her head. "Of course not. Who am I to be jealous of Mas Raihan? Yes, that's impossible," he said with a small laugh.

The girl didn't want to get a big head hearing Rico's word just now. And the man laughed too. "Yeah, yeah. Because my brother is in love with his ex. The evidence so far has not been able to replace it. How many years has it been? Before I go to college, I guess," said the man with a focused gaze ahead.

Because the streets are starting to get crowded with people going to work. And he also had to go to the office immediately. If you don't want to, Papa will be angry.

Rico knew what his father meant by asking him to come to the office today. It was because he wanted to introduce himself to everyone in the office.

All this time, Rico has never appeared in front of his colleagues and office people. Also, not many know that he is the younger brother of the proud man of his father.

"Okay. I'll take you home first. Only after that do I go to the office. Even though I want a vacation to take a break. But my father still asked me to come to the office. After all, I wasn't doing anything there either," Rico said after they were silent for a long time.

Hearing Rico complains Naura can only shake her head. "It's still like that. He said he wanted to be the proud son of his parents. Yes, who knows? Indeed, father and Raihan are trying to introduce you to the world of work. I'll let you work later, don't be surprised." Cheer up the girl while smiling sweetly. Trying to cheer up this guy.

Hearing the words of the girl beside him, Rico nodded with a smile. Since long ago, it was Naura who always encouraged him. When no one believes in his abilities.

So how could he not fall in love with a girl like this? A girl who always thinks positively and believes in her abilities. Always motivating him, and most importantly, he never judges his wealth. Because in the past, Rico had hidden who he was from Naura. Claiming to be only a child of an underprivileged security guard.

He just wanted to know what a cute girl like Naura looks like. Are her attitude and nature genuine or just made up to get close to him?

Just like the girls at school used to, they only approach her because of their wealth alone. Also, they know their father, who is quite respected in this city.

When Naura was about to open the car door, Rico held his wrist. "Well, I'll pick you up from work tonight, okay? We went for a walk looking for dinner. But if you're tired, yeah, next time," the man offered with hopeful eyes.

Naura was confused because she already had an appointment with Raihan to visit the cafe that had just opened. Belongs to the guy's friend.

"Sorry. But admit that I already have an appointment with Mas Raihan. He took me to his friend's cafe, which had just opened. The day after tomorrow, we will meet. So, it's okay, right, if we don't meet tomorrow?" the girl said guiltily.

He also couldn't cancel his promise with Raihan. Because the man had made an appointment with him a few days ago. When Raihan was still in Jakarta.

Rico smiled wryly. Understand the condition of the girl. Because he couldn't force her to cancel it either.

"Okay. Because the day after tomorrow you have more time with me. I'm leaving right away, okay? I've been waiting for my father. Have a nice day, Nana," he said as he gently and affectionately stroked the top of the girl's head.

Naura froze, getting a soft stroke on her hair. She could no longer control her heartbeat, especially with her cheeks, which are definitely red right now.

"Y-yes. You be careful on the road. I'll go in first," said Naura, who immediately got out of Rico's car by hiding her face. Making Rico knit her brows, surprised by the girl's hasty attitude. As if avoiding it.

He was so embarrassed right now. "Hopefully, he doesn't see my blushing face. Oh, how hot it is!" Naura muttered as he waved his hand in front of his face.

Rico chuckled at Naura's behavior, which she was sure must have been embarrassed by what she had done earlier. "Can I get a big head, Na? Hopefully, it won't be one-sided," hoped the man who was still staring at Naura's back from inside his car.

After being out of sight, Rico started his car to head to the office.

***