"You're taking me back to a restaurant that I've never been to?" Cleo asked with an expression that seemed to feel guilty for some reason.
Harry who saw could only reply, "No problem. Because this place is close to the office," said Harry without feeling overwhelmed. Those who were still in the car and were looking at the restaurant building from the car also got a sneer from Dirga.
'What is not a problem? Sir, you had told me to find a place but you didn't help to find it at all!' Dirga irritated.
The two of them then got out of the car and Dirga asked permission to stop by another place for a moment. Cleo then glanced at him.
"Aren't you coming to lunch with us?" Cleo asked.
Dirga immediately was got a look full of meaning from his boss.
Felt that he can quickly understand the meaning. Dirga immediately smiled at Cleo.
"No, miss. I have business around here. So I can't go with you guys. Besides, I also don't want to interfere with you two," Dirga exclaimed on purpose.
Cleo looks a little confused.
"Interfere? Why do you think so?" She asked, not understanding.
Dirga smiled politely again.
"Nothing, miss. I just want to take a short walk around here," answered Dirga unconsciously. Cleo then looked back at him in surprise.
"So you actually have business around here or are you in the mood for a little walk around here?" asked Cleo, who could quickly catch the discrepancy between his first and second words.
Even though she can be very confused about what he said about being a nuisance. Harry then pulled Cleo to come with him into the restaurant.
"Come on! Don't linger. And just let Dirga do his own thing," said Harry, pulling Cleo's hand.
Cleo was a little confused by his actions. Cleo just followed him into the restaurant in silence. Received polite treatment like ever. Cleo repeatedly looked at Harry confusedly.
Harry provided a comfortable place for them to eat in peace. Enjoyed the gentle flow that spreads to all corners of the room to the light waterfall that flows downward.
Cleo felt that this atmosphere was too calm.
Indeed, she had started to get used to eating in a quiet place. But never liked it. Cleo tried to open the topic of conversation.
"I heard that you deliberately changed your lunch schedule with other people to be able to eat with me. Is it true?" asked Cleo, who had doubts about Dirga's words, which forced her to have lunch with Harry in the midst of her busy work.
Harry replied calmly.
"Did he tell you?" asked Harry.
"Yes. Looks like, this time you made him quite a hassled no matter what he was struggling with. Did you dislike your lunch opponent at the start, that's why you changed your schedule on purpose?" asked Cleo with a little curiosity.
Because only this reason that Cleo managed to conclude of surprised Harry's actions. Refusing to have lunch with a business associate just to be able to eat lunch with her. If not for that then for what?
"I can change my schedule at will. So you don't need to listen to Dirga. He's just lazy to work twice and the schedule is now a mess," said Harry.
Feeling that he should have spent more time to be able to find out more about habits to Cleo's mindset. Harry did not seem to be feeling a loss. Knew that there was no one in this town who didn't know how he performs in working.
Harry had never seen a business partner refuse to work with him just because he canceled an appointment.
And as Dirga said, Harry had never canceled any business promise. Harry had only done this once when he caught sight of her rushing to go from her course to meet Willy.
Harry had never done anything unusual before. Feeling that he was now someone else. Harry had to repeatedly ask himself whether he should continue this madness or not.
Experiencing himself had been hurt and cheated on, even be used arbitrarily. Harry certainly did not expect that he would suffer the same hurt.
When Harry still remembered how happy he had been with Aretta at that moment. Getting to know each other when they were still in college. Harry liked Aretta's personality who was polite and serious when she did anything or just talk.
Harry had been courting her for a month and was accepted right away. They ended up dating for about two years. Rarely fought or argued like a couple in general.
The Aretta Harry knew at the time of their first introduction was a kind and innocent-looking woman. So that Harry never thought that the woman would dare to betray him.
Worship him with another man. Until she said that she was not too serious about her feelings. And just wanted to fulfill her desire to have the most handsome man on campus and the one her friends wanted the most.
Harry was actually afraid that Cleo would do the same to him.
Harry still remembered how the woman's last words had been when all the guise was exposed. Aretta could only feel guilty for him and did a lot of defense. Justify all her actions and thought it happened because Harry could not make her heart settle and could not turn away.
Aretta said all of that coldly.
"I did love you. But my feelings have changed over time. It's like how our relationship somehow became so dull in just two years. I just want to find an escape for a while to be able to see the true contents of my heart,"
Aretta's words succeeded in making his heart fall to pieces. He who was not strong if he had to continue to get entangled more deeply in her honest but painful words. Choosing to try hard to get rid of all the trauma in various ways.
***