Two hours before the reading of the will

06 June 2014

It's been three days since they buried Alvin, his wife, and their eldest child. News about them spread throughout Indonesia. The owner of the second-largest retail business in Indonesia died tragically, filling many newspaper columns and online news pages. Also, broadcast on TV.

It's just that Fathia doesn't want to hear everything. The three of them still existed to the girl, still in an important meeting discussed in Pandeglang. Fathia still remembers the visit to inaugurate the new factory there.

A knock on her bedroom door made Fathia lift her face from the pillow. She didn't want to leave at all. Narti prepares and makes sure that the young lady eats properly just to eat even though it's hard to persuade him.

"Come in, Narti," said Fathia, slightly tightening her voice. She thought Narti went inside, but she got the wrong idea. It was Tian who entered with a sharp look at her. Without hesitation, the man, without permission, sat on the edge of her bed. Not far from sitting Fathia, who is now looking at Tian full of curiosity. "Tian," she squeaked softly to make sure that this man she knew was the same person.

"Why don't you want to eat this morning?"

Fathia lowered her face again. She nodded slowly in response.

"Eat, Fathia."

Again, Fathia gave a shake. "I just want to come with Mommy and Felice."

One thing from now on, Fathia remembers about Tian's treatment of her. Without hesitation, Tian picked her up. It makes Fathia scream, but Tian ignores it. Until Fathia sat in Tian's luxury car, then the man spoke. "We eat."

"But Fathia won't!"

"Eat, Fathia!"

Tian is upset because Fathia is stubborn even though she was worried about the girl's condition after her parents' accident. Where did Tian's words scare Fathia. All Fathia could do was grip the seatbelt strap to relieve her shock just now.

Along the way, Fathia did not speak. Same only with Tian. His strong arms gripped the steering wheel tightly without Fathia knowing. There was regret creeping into him heart because of the tone of his voice earlier. Until he turned off the roar of her car engine, indicating that she had arrived at her destination, the girl didn't want to say a word.

"We're here." Tian took off his seat belt and glanced at Fathia, also imitating his movements. "Sorry if I spoke harshly earlier."

Those words succeeded in making Fathia turn her head, making them finally meet. His sharp gaze changed with such a calm gaze. Fathia remembers that Tian always gave his look when he was between Felice and her fiancé. Yes. Tian is the fiancé of her sister. What Fathia feels, both feel the pain of losing the same person.

"Yes. Fathia also apologizes for causing trouble."

A soft caress Fathia received, making her close for a moment. Enjoy. "Felice said you like the champion porridge here."

Then Fathia's eyes widened, and finally, she chuckled. Smiling with joy because this made her sad a little less. "Thank you, Tian."

"We eat, okay? This afternoon there will be a reading of the inheritance certificate from Mr. Ronald. You must know Mr. Ronald, right?"

Fathia's smile disappeared right then and there.

***

The man shook the contents of his glass. The clear liquid with the addition of orange slices became his loyal friend tonight. His workspace is a mess. As long as he was busy taking care of the Claire Group, his room was never tidy. He has scattered various papers with lots of writing and numbers. His work screen is also still on as a sign that he struggles with work.

He smoked the cigar in his hand and exhaled loudly. His eyes were closed, enjoying the silence. Instantly the room was filled with smoke and a strong tobacco smell. He took another gulp of the glass he still had in his hand. He did this activity repeatedly—two things he likes in his busy schedule; wine and cigars.

"Tian."

The man was annoyed. The trouble came back. A glance at the Tag Heuer on his left arm was eleven o'clock at night. Tian didn't want to turn around because the footsteps were approaching him. The beautiful woman was not wrong.

"You're still working?" Mika walked gracefully, approaching the man sitting on the table's edge. Then she leaned back a little on the other side of the table. She watched the man who was still enjoying his cigar.

"What are you doing here?"

Mika smiled as sweetly as possible. Mika wanted to offer an activity that this afternoon had been late. If she remembers what happened that day, her emotions return. Very upset with the figure of a long-haired girl named Fathia.

Her steps continued towards this messy but sexy-looking man. What is the proper pronunciation to describe the mess of a Tian? Tian's hair is unkempt, not like it's always neat. The buttons on his shirt were not fully attached—revealing his chest, showing his chest covered with fine hair, not to mention the look in his eyes that were still sharp.

"Accompany you, maybe?" Mika deliberately uses make-up to attract Tian's attention. The scent of her perfume blended with the puff of smoke earlier. She used her fingers presumptuously to touch Tian.

"Stop. I don't want to be caught by Fathia again." The finger Tian held it. Tian also looked at Mika with an embarrassed look. Tonight he didn't want to be disturbed.

Mika chuckled silently. Her heart was even more annoyed when she remembered the name Tian just said. "That kid must be asleep."

Tian quickly detached himself from Mika. "Fathia won't sleep if I don't go to her room, Mika. Do you know it."

"She's not your daughter, Tian. She doesn't need a fairy tale from you!"

Mika is right. She talked about the facts that happened between them here. There is nothing wrong with deviating from her words. But somehow, Tian provoked his anger. Tian looked at Mika with an embarrassed look not long after he left the woman alone. Make Mika frustrated because of Tian's attitude. Even though what the beautiful woman said was true, Tian still couldn't lie about a single fact. The figure of a young girl who may have fallen asleep in her blanket is indeed lonely.

Fathia only has herself as a friend.

Tian remembered his past, especially the accident. An incident that Tian cannot forget until now. Which often bothered him like a nightmare at night.

"Fathia wants to be alone, Tian." Fathia looked at the graves of her parents. She slightly bent down and knelt to take a closer look. Fathia did not want to move away from the burial area. She still misses her parents and can't believe they have left Fathia forever.

"I'll accompany you then."

Fathia turned, and Tian did what she said. Kneel beside him. But Fathia didn't want to get any more mercy. So she said, "Tian, just go home. I want to be alone."

"I won't leave you alone."

Tian saw the sadness in Fathia's eyes. A little stunned because Fathia's eyes are as beautiful as dolls. Those eyes were a beautiful hazel color. But Tian immediately averted his gaze.

"Fathia is alone. No problem." Fathia smiled slightly. "Sorry, Tian. Fathia wants to be alone."

Tian insisted on staying by the little girl's side. Accompany him. Not only Fathia who felt lost. Alvin Clairine's family was to Tian, more than just family. Apart from Alvin and his wife, Tian also noticed another tomb. Felice's.

"Fathia misses," Fathia cried again. It doesn't matter if Tian is beside her.

"It's me, Fathia. Do not be sad." Tian seemed to say things that many lies—losing Felice when he started to feel love. In Tian's eyes, the girl is independent, beautiful, and has a polite and friendly personality. They are engaged and will be getting married in a few months.

Unfortunately, Felice left Tian forever. The accident made Tian sad and shaken. He also still remembers Felice's story on each of their dates if Felice loves her sister so much.

"But… but… it hurts, Tian." Tian heard the heartbreaking cry again. "Why can't I just go with them? Who am I with now?" Fathia's shoulders shook violently.

Right. Fathia is one hundred percent right. Who is she living with now? Felice had a lot to say about her extended family. In a way, Tian finally knows why Fathia is protecting her luxurious house.

"It's me, Fathia. Calm down."

Alvin Clairine's two daughters are beautiful. Felice is black-eyed and has a firm and high-spirited personality. Meanwhile, Fathia has a brown eye color and is more gentle. There is tenderness and warmth in Fathia's every action. Tian could feel the difference. "Is that true?"

Tian unhesitatingly nodded. He reached out his hand so they could hold each other. No. Tian needs a handle so as not to fall at any time. The tragic loss of the woman he loved and the person he looked up to in life, Alvin Clairine, was a massive blow to him.

"Let's go home," he said. It's the first time they have touched since two years of knowing Fathia. And now, the hands that hold each other will continue to guard Tian just like he promised Felice one time on their date.

Tian will take care of Fathia.

***

Fathia almost fell to the floor when she woke up wanting to go to the toilet but instead saw Tian sleeping on her bed. Right beside herself. Tian's habit of putting her to sleep, especially when Fathia missed her parents and sister, had not been done by the man for a long time, especially since Fathia graduated from high school.

The stiff-man was sleeping so soundly. Fathia vowed to remind herself to lock the bedroom door. She forgot, but he was angry. Once she arrived at the apartment, the only thing she could do was; slam the bedroom door violently. It doesn't matter if it breaks or hears Tian's exploding voice calling out to her.

All the way home, Fathia didn't want to talk anymore. She closed her lips. She doesn't want to argue or refute Tian's words. Apart from the sudden sadness, she felt that Tian, this time was right. Fathia is only the burden of Sebastian Sachdev Rendra.

Who is she? Only a little girl inherited a lot of treasure. Luckily Tian didn't just throw it away. She was cared for appropriately and well even though she was often left to work. Tian was watching from a distance. But what Tian said before Fathia got out of his luxury car made Fathia very angry.

"Never do as you please, Fathia. Follow me or I will leave you with the chaos going on."

Fathia's motion to pull the car door handle stopped. "It means?"

"Claire Group is in crisis. I shouldn't worry about this, but you," Tian pointed out, which made Fathia's hairs grow right then and there. It was as if Tian was giving a very harsh judgment of herself. "You live without thinking that I don't want anything to do with Claire anymore."

Fathia blinked twice. "I didn't ask Uncle to do this." Fathia's jaw tightened with emotion. Her fists were so strong that she felt a sting in her palms. "Uncle should bury everything Daddy left, including me."

Tian looked at Fathia in disbelief.

"I remember very well Uncle once said, I'm just a burden. Yes… I am a burden."

Without looking at Tian again, Fathia immediately walked down the parking area. Her tears fell uncontrollably. If only at that time she was not in a state of school exams, maybe Fathia chose to go in the car her father was driving. She died in an accident on the spot right then and there. She was thinking of nothing but being happy with his family in heaven.

It wasn't even that she felt this suffocating sadness.

Ah, Fathia doesn't want to bother. It's useless for her to think about this. Tian will still make her cornered even though Fathia's gratitude is not enough for him to give. Or is it already on par with the hurtful words that Tian has been saying lately? So instead of all her evil thoughts bothering Fathia, he chose to go to the toilet immediately.

How surprised Fathia was when she came out of the toilet. Tian was already awake. Sitting on the edge of the bed and now looking at him with a sharp and cold gaze.

"Sit down."

"Why? Want to piss me off again?" The girl diverted her nervousness by smoothing her hair and pajamas. Even though her heart still had annoyance, Tian's intimidating aura filled his room and suffocated.

"No."

Fathia feels relieved now. Her exhalation was also much lighter than before. So she is free to breathe air as freely as possible. Tian's hand then patted the other side, which means there is an order for Fathia to obey. Fathia followed the man's request with a bit of calculation, who didn't know what to think. Fathia feels that Tian has exceeded her limit if it's just a guardian.

"I'm sorry," Tian said after they had just been quiet. Even after Fathia sat tensely beside him, Tian could feel it.

"What Uncle said is true, really."

"Fathia." Tian felt almost desperate when he heard Fathia's words just now. His intentions weren't like that, but Tian always said the opposite for some reason. He was worried about the girl who left him alone in the restaurant. The girl's cell phone was also turned off on purpose, even though danger always lurks Fathia.

Tian did not count how many times he had repelled the threats aimed at this girl. Tian just wanted to make sure Fathia was safe. He had a life like Fathia's current age, free to go here and there without worrying about anything happening. But it's not an easy thing.

"Fathia wants to sleep again. Uncle can come out." Fathia got up from Tian's side. But Fathia's steps haven't moved away yet. Tian has pulled the girl. Hug her tightly. And accidentally, the two of them also fell onto the bed. Making Fathia just above Tian

The light brown eyes bulged in surprise at the situation she was in. "Let go, Uncle!" she hissed angrily. Instead of being released, Tian dropped Fathia right beside him. Pull it back in the arms to make it more attached.

"I still remember, if you are scared, only my hug can soothe you. Until you fall asleep. Forget?"

Fathia growled in annoyance. "That was five years ago! Fathia is big now! Fear no more!"

"Then I'm the one who's scared." Tian didn't care how much Fathia's struggle tested him. But he remembered the last message of an Alvin Clairine. He asked him to take good care of Fathia at the risk of his life.

"Fathia, please! My head is so dizzy."

"Dizzy don't hug me dong! Hug Mika over there!"

Tian chose silence and rested the tip of his chin on the top of Fathia's head. "Sleep, Nessa."

Fathia was silent. Her body suddenly stiffened. That call. A small call from Tian for her. It's been a long time since Fathia heard the call from Tian just now. Making a spark of fireworks in his chest started to appear, but she was also confused.

"What is Tian afraid of?" Fathia wanted to look up to determine whether this strange man had fallen asleep or not. But all he saw was a jaw covered in fine hairs. Fathia tried to touch him without hesitation, as usual. But now? She is afraid of overdoing it.

"Lots."

"One of them?" asked Fathia demandingly.

"You."

"Me? Tian is afraid of me?" Fathia sighed softly. "Not wrong? Those should have been my words—"

"Sleep." Tian lowered his gaze and found Fathia, who exactly looked up. Tian's memory of the beautiful little girl, once so fragile, now looks different. Her beautiful face dazzled the eyes of anyone who looked at her. The difference is that Felice, with an aristocratic line, also clearly shows her social strata. While Fathia with her elegance and tenderness.

Even though they are pretty far apart in age, when Tian got to know Fathia, the girl was only thirteen years old. Being in a relationship with Felice was fun for Tian. Although it is rare to meet the little girl in his arms, Tian believes that a Fathia Bernessia will become a star who can bewitch anyone who sees her when she grows up.

Without hesitation, Tian stroked Fathia's cheeks as white as marble. Be very careful when the surface of his hand touches Fathia's skin—letting the hairs of her neck run down her whole body mercilessly. Not to mention the girl's gaze seemed to add to the sense that she should have applied the highest possible limit.

"Nessa."