Far Away

Kimberly blinked slowly. When fully opened, the first sight he saw was Marco. With a worried expression, the man immediately threw a hug towards him. Hugging tightly, clear crystals flowed from the man's eyes to Kimberly's smooth cheeks.

"Why are you crying?" asked Kimberly in a hoarse voice, almost a whisper.

Marco let go of his arm. He wiped the tears from his cheeks and then smiled. "It's okay, and I'm just touched that you finally realized. If you know, my grandpa and I were worried because your condition was critical earlier."

Kimberly tried to smile back. "I'm fine now. The proof is I can open my eyes now. Where's grandpa, by the way?" asked Kimberly. She did not see the old man in her room.

"Opa is talking to the doctor who treats you out there. Maybe he will come in soon." Seeing Marco sitting right next to her, Kimberly asked questions again. Something had been bothering him for a long time.

"Can I ask you something?" great-grandson Kimberly.

Marco averted his gaze. He was staring into the woman's brown bread.

"What do you want to ask? If I knew the answer, I would answer it."

Kimberly took a deep breath. "When I was unconscious. For some reason, I felt that someone was always whispering right in my ear." Kimberly paused her sentence. "And I had a feeling that it was Nicholas's voice. I think the effect of the anaesthetic that was injected into me was so strong that I was hallucinating."

Kimberly laughed sadly. At a time like this, why did she miss Nicholas so much? Maybe because of that, too, he was hallucinating. Meanwhile, Marco was silent. He did not immediately respond to Kimberly's words. Choosing to grab Kimberly's wrist and squeeze it gently.

"You're not hallucinating, Kimmy."

"You mean?" Kimberly asked, confused.

"When you were unconscious, Nicholas was right here," Marco said with a look on his face that was hard to decipher.

Hearing Marco's words, Kimberly shook her head in disbelief. "No way. You must be lying. Besides, how did she know I was here?"

Again Marco was silent. The man seemed to think first before answering all of Kimberly's questions. And all she was doing now was sighing over and over again. "Marco! You heard my question, didn't you?" Kimberly insisted. She looked impatient, waiting for an answer from the man beside him.

Marco took a deep breath and finally answered. "When it was critical, the doctor mentioned that you had called Nicholas's name several times. The doctor also suggested that the person you have mentioned many times should be called to see you. Of course, Opa was confused. He then asked me who Nicholas was. Everything is without exception. You can guess for yourself how he reacted after that."

Kimberly closed her eyes. She knew how her uncle was. The old man was very strict and loved his family very much. He never allowed anyone to hurt or injure any part of Sanjaya's family. Hearing Marco's story, she could guess what happened next.

"So Nicholas is here?" Kimberly tried to confirm again.

Marco nodded. "Opa asked me to bring Nicholas to this hospital to see you immediately. When you wake up, Papa quickly brings Nicholas back to Indonesia. He hasn't even had a chance to see you open your eyes yet."

Kimberly sighed weakly. That means Nicholas called my name when I was unconscious. Kimberly then brought her index finger to caress her lips gently. What was kissing my lips to Nicholas? After all, Marco couldn't have done it.

Kimberly took a deep breath this time. She acted as if the oxygen supply in her chest cavity was running low. But I'd rather not meet her. I'm afraid my decision will be shaken.

"You're okay?" Marco asked to confirm when Kimberly just looked silent.

"I'm fine. There's no need to worry." Then, Arthur entered soon, accompanied by the doctor who treated Kimberly.

After explaining the operation results, Marco chose to take the doctor out. Leaving Kimberly and Arthur alone in the room.

"How are you feeling, Kimmy?" Arthur was sitting in the chair previously occupied by Marco. Kimberly turned to Arthur. "Pretty good. Opa heard that my surgery process went well too. I can't even wait to go home---"

"And meet your lover who doesn't know any manners, is that?" cut Arthur.

"Opa...." Kimberly sighed.

"Grandpa is telling the truth, right? How could you be in a relationship even to the point of getting engaged to a man from nowhere like that without Grandpa knowing!" Arthur's eyes gleamed sharply. He tried to contain his emotions.

Kimberly sighed softly. "I'm sorry Kimmya, grandpa. But Nicholas isn't the kind of man you think you are. He's a good man, even---"

"Even because he was too kind to hurt you? Calling you a slut? How dare he call Sanjaya's descendant a slut!" this time, Arthur's emotions could not be contained anymore. He did not accept that anyone hurt his beloved grandson.

"You must remember Kimberly Aurora, I will not allow you to have any contact with that man again. Never! You must also realize that in this world only Marco is worthy of being your companion."

Right after saying that, Marco went back into Kimberly's room. Hearing Arthur speaking in a tone full of emotion, he quickly approached and tried to calm down.

"Opa should rest first. Remember, Opa's heart condition has not recovered yet. Kimberly is the same, she must rest a lot. It is better if we discuss this kind of discussion again another time."

Kimberly felt saved by Marco's presence. The proof is that Arthur complied and chose to follow Marco out of his inpatient room. There was an uneasy feeling in Kimberly's heart. She felt so indebted to the man she had hated some time ago. Even though Marco was also forced to accept Arthur's offer of an engagement.

***

I don't know how often Edward has been heard swearing in his seat. Not without reason, he did this. After almost two hours of waiting, Nicholas did not show the slightest bridge of his nose. Where is that man? In all their ages working together, this was the first time Nicholas was late for work.

While waiting in boredom, it wasn't long before Nicholas's study door opened. The figure he had been waiting for finally came and immediately sat down in his work chair.

"Where have you been, only now to see the bridge of your nose? Did you know? I'm almost dry waiting for you here!" Edward grunted. He was pissed off now.

"I'm even planning not to come to work," Nicholas replied casually. The man even chose to open the documents on his desk one by one.

"Don't be crazy, Nicholas!" squeaked Edward. "Yesterday you didn't come to work. Didn't even give you any news. Don't let it happen again today. You know we have an important meeting this afternoon." N

icholas nodded casually. He continued to read the document in his hand.

"I remember. That's why I got off work today."

"By the way..." Edward moved his seat forward. "... what's why you couldn't be contacted for the past two days? I thought you were secretly committing suicide in your apartment," Edward joked, making Nicholas glare at him.

"Do you think I can kill myself?" Nicholas narrowed one eye.

Edward nodded confidently. "Of course, it's possible. Seeing your behaviour these past few days, you're like a human who lives timidly, dying of fear."

"Jesus, what other term are you using, Ed? Besides, even though I'm desperate, I can't possibly kill myself. I'm still sane enough to do something crazy like that."

"Says who?" Edward doubted. "In case you forgot, you even mentioned a while ago that you wanted to die if you didn't meet Kimberly. What a weak man!" Edward pouted later.

Nicholas snorted in annoyance, and Edward made fun of him again. "Can't you just go one day without making fun of me?"

"Unfortunately, you can't, Nicholas. You deserve to be humiliated after what you've done the last few days."

"As you wish," Nicholas replied lazily.

Edward chuckled at Nicholas, who was at a loss for words. A moment later, he leaned his body against the back of the chair. to cross her arms in front of her chest. "Then, what about Kimberly? You've got information about the woman."

Nicholas lifted his head. Put down the pen he was holding at first, then began to answer. "You know what? Some time ago, after we had lunch together. Arriving at the apartment, several big men ambushed me in the apartment. They threatened and told me to come along. At first, I didn't know where I was going because I remember when I got into the car, they injected something, so I was unconscious for a while. When I woke up, what I remembered was already in one of the hospitals in Singapore. You want to know who I met there?"

Edward shook his head resignedly. He didn't know who dared to commit such a crime. Nicholas opened his mouth again. "Arthur Sanjaya. It was the old man who brought me from Indonesia to Singapore."

Edward was quite taken aback by what Nicholas said. "So, what did that man do to you next?" Nicholas took a deep breath. "He talked about me hurting Kimberly. He also gave reasons why he had to take me to Singapore. Kimberly was in surgery when she was critical, and she called my name several times. That's why Arthur couldn't help having his men pick me up."

"That means you met Kimberly?"

Nicholas nodded. "I met her, even hugged and kissed her."

Edward shook his head in disbelief. "You're crazy! Does that mean Kimberly forgives you? Are you guys making up?"

This time it was Nicholas's turn to shake his head. "Unfortunately not. Kimberly was unconscious when I came and hugged her. At first I was quite desperate. Until it crossed my mind to kiss him. Right after that, whether it was a miracle or something, I'm sure Kimberly came to her senses. But before he could make sure he opened his eyes, Arthur ordered his men to bring me back to Los Angeles." Edward was even more surprised. What his best friend told him was enough to make him shake his head.

"Actually Arthur Sanjaya is a conglomerate or Italian mafia? Why is he so cruel, picking you up and then arbitrarily returning you to Indonesia like trash? Yes, even though you really deserve that kind of treatment."

Edward snuck a laugh into his words. Nicholas shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Maybe he was too mad at me. Until not allowing Kimberly to see me for a moment. But it doesn't matter, at least I know how things are there."

When they were both busy talking, suddenly there was a knock on Nicholas's door from outside. When he opened it, Nicholas saw his secretary had entered. But what surprised him entirely was the figure of a woman standing behind the secretary. "It's been so long since we met, honey." Nicholas and Edward stood together after hearing those words.