Chapter 31

Throughout her life, Ariana has never once traveled abroad. The farthest places he has visited so far are Bali and Lombok. That was when he went with Chacha and lastly when he married Samuel.

Of course Korea was the first country he visited and again it was with Samuel. If asked, does Ariana have a dream country? Of course there is. He once aspired to go to Switzerland or New Zealand. For some reason, for him these two countries are obligatory countries that he wants to visit if he has extra money.

As someone who lives in a middle-class economy, instead of wasting money on vacations abroad, the income and bonuses that Ariana has been getting from the office so far, she has spent more on orphanage needs. If most people appreciate their own efforts by going on vacation or giving expensive things, Ariana is very different. The woman felt very satisfied when she saw her siblings in the orphanage feel happiness evenly.

Ariana and Samuel had been awake since six this morning. Ariana even helped prepare all the husband's needs before the man left the hotel to do work.

"Today and tomorrow, it's likely that I will be outside until the afternoon. While I'm not there, you just wait at the hotel. It's okay, right?" asked Samuel when she and Ariana were now enjoying a breakfast that was ordered directly to the hotel room.

"Yeah, that's okay. Besides, if I go out, where are you going? I don't know Korean streets. Later, those who do get lost will get kidnapped."

"No one wants to kidnap you, Ariana," said Samuel. "They must lose. Your portion of food is a lot like coolies."

Ariana immediately glared. There's no denying that he has a big appetite. He wasn't even the least bit jaim when he ate breakfast, lunch or dinner when he was with Samuel. If her stomach still feels hungry, Ariana doesn't hesitate to increase her portion of food.

"It's also called growth period."

"What's growing?"

"Hair, maybe."

"Which hair do you mean?" chase Samuel. The man glanced mischievously at his wife.

"Ah, already ... already. Let's not talk about it anymore."

"You are not clear," the man sneered. Then finish breakfast. Then back to talking before actually leaving. "Anyway, while I'm not around, it's better for you to stay in your room. Later, when my work is all done, I'll take you for a walk."

Ariana immediately raised her head. Throwing looks of pleasure mixed with enthusiasm after hearing the promise Samuel had just made.

"Promise you'll take me for a walk?"

Samuel nodded. After all, what's so difficult if you just take a walk around the city of Seoul.

"Promise. When have I ever broken a promise?"

"So far, I haven't."

"No way!" said Samuel. "I'm the most abstinent whose name is broken promises. So you don't need to worry."

The man then rose from his seat. After receiving a call from Darwin, Samuel immediately said goodbye to Ariana to go out immediately.

"I'm going to work first, Esmeralda. Pray for today's meeting to go smoothly. If you need anything, just use the hotel services. Remember, if you can't speak Korean, try to use English to communicate. Don't even use the language of the heart, let alone body language. Later it won't even connect."

Ariana immediately pouted. Indeed, one day her husband could not make fun of her.

Throughout the day, Ariana seemed to be out of style when she could only laze around in the hotel room. There was nothing he could do besides watching television, eating some of the food he ordered on purpose. Then he played on his cell phone, exchanged messages with Chacha, until he finally fell asleep and woke up at five in the afternoon because his cell phone was ringing.

Still in an incomplete consciousness, Ariana tried to receive the call. As soon as he picked it up, he heard clearly the voice of a man who was not so familiar to his ears.

"Hello, good afternoon."

"Yeah, good afternoon," said Ariana. Actually he was confused who the person who contacted him at this time. Meanwhile, his phone number looks completely foreign and is not stored in his contact list at all.

"Is this true with Mrs. Esmeralda."

"Huh? No," said Ariana reflexively.

"So this isn't Miss Esmeralda, the wife of Luis Fernando?" asked the man on the other side.

Thinking for a moment, Ariana remembered that the only person who called herself a telenovela actress was Samuel, her husband. However, if you listen carefully, the voice of the man who called at this time was not Samuel's. Ariana memorized the voice of the narcissistic man who often teased her.

"No. I'm not Esmeralda." Ariana answered again. "Actually I am Rosalinda."

Laughter immediately sounded on the other side. Then it didn't take long for the man to respond.

"Ariana, this is Darwin, Samuel's cousin."

"Gosh. I'm sure this is the work of Samuel or someone close to her."

"Sorry if I confused you," said the man. "Where are you? Are you at the hotel? Me and Celina, Samuel's other cousin, are at the restaurant on the ground floor where you and Samuel are staying. Come here, let's have dinner together."

"Is Samuel there?" Ariana asked curiously. In fact, she was afraid to leave without her husband's permission.

"Samuel is still on her way. When she arrives, she will definitely come here right away."

Ariana was silent for a moment. Seemingly considering whether to accept the invitation that Darwin gave at this time.

"Ariana?" called Darwin one more time. "Hurry up here. Calm down, don't be afraid. Samuel won't be angry. If you don't believe me, you can call her to make sure."

Unconsciously Ariana nodded. Believing what Darwin said, in the end he agreed to her husband's cousin's invitation to follow her to a restaurant so they could have dinner together.

After showering and modestly grooming, Ariana hurriedly went to the restaurant on the ground floor. When he arrived, his eyes widened. Trying to find Darwin's whereabouts. Until not long, the waving of men and women in the corner of the restaurant immediately caught his attention and he was sure it was the person who had invited him to come.

"Sorry if I took so long," Ariana said when she arrived at the table where Darwin and another of Samuel's cousins were sitting there waiting for her.

"It's okay, just relax. We're both very new here too. Let me introduce myself, this is Celina. She's Samuel's cousin too."

Ariana's eyes then turned to the long-haired woman sitting next to Darwin. Holding out her hand, Ariana invited Celina to shake hands.

"Ariana."

"Celina. Are you Samuel's wife? I'm really sorry when you got married, Darwin and I couldn't come because at that time there was work that couldn't be left at all," explained the woman. Then asked Ariana to immediately sit down to join.

"It's okay. The important thing is the prayer. I think Samuel is going to meet a business relationship with you today," Ariana said, which she deliberately addressed to Darwin.

"This morning, I was with Samuel. It's just that, for the second meeting, it was specifically Palma's client and had nothing to do with the Salim group. That's why Samuel went alone. At least she would arrive at the hotel in a moment. While waiting, you just order food first ."

Ariana complied. As soon as she was handed the menu book, the woman slowly read the list of Korean specialties that were available there. Deciding on bulgogi and ramyeon, Ariana then invited Darwin and Celina to tell their story again.

Because basically it's easy to get along with and blend in, Ariana didn't have the slightest difficulty adapting to Darwin and Celina. While eating dinner, the three of them continued to talk. I don't know what the three of them were discussing until not long after, Luis Fernando finally came and joined in.

"You guys been here long?" Samuel asked Ariana when the man had taken a sitting position right next to his wife.

"Not bad. Maybe an hour ago. Have you eaten?"

Samuel shook her head. When he finished attending the meeting and reading the message Darwin sent, Samuel decided to immediately return to the hotel so he could join and enjoy dinner with his wife and two cousins.

"No time. That's why I want to order food.

What did you eat yourself?"

"Bulgogi and Ramyeon. Those are the only two that I understand and suit my tongue."

Samuel laughed. He knows that his wife prefers Indonesian specialties.

"Yes, I ordered the same as you."

While waiting for the food to arrive, Samuel also joined in the conversation with her two cousins. Initially, they discussed more about business and then continued about personal life.

"How was the first night in Korea? Was it fun?" Celina asked Samuel and Ariana.

"Troublesome," said Samuel. "Ariana is really restless sleeping. I'm getting dizzy myself."

"Oh yes?" surprised Darwin. "Why? You can't sleep?"

"Yeah. I'm having trouble sleeping," Ariana replied while nodding her head. "Maybe it's because I'm still adjusting, so it's a bit difficult to get a good night's sleep. In fact, last night I asked Samuel's help to buy sleeping pills or any medicine that had a drowsy effect. But she didn't even want to buy it at all."

"Too bad, Ariana." Samuel responded. "Besides, buying sleeping pills is a hassle."

"What a hassle? There's a drugstore on the ground floor of this hotel if you want to buy various kinds of drugs," Darwin replied.

"That's not the problem, Win. It's really a hassle to buy sleeping pills. You have to take it slowly and carefully."

"Be careful, why? It's not illegal drugs."

"Yes, I'm afraid that when I bring the medicine, I wake up."

"Damn it!" he cursed. He was serious but his cousin was even joking.

"But seriously, anyway. Maybe what makes it hard for me to sleep is because the temperature and the weather are getting colder at night. To be honest, I can't stand the cold."

Darwin nodded in understanding, he finally knew what Ariana's problem was.

"Ah, you are allergic to cold?"

"I'm not allergic either. But if it's too cold, my asthma sometimes relapses. So, you have to be smart about controlling your body temperature so you can stay warm."

"In fact, he has a husband who can help warm him anytime. Uh, he's even rejected," Samuel sneered.

"You are looking for opportunities in adversity."

Darwin and Celina laughed. Then one of them asked Ariana to talk again. Offer something that is felt necessary for the woman to try.

"If you want to warm up, I have something you might try."

Darwin then called the restaurant waiter. Requesting the menu again to order a few bottles of drinks so they can be enjoyed with Ariana and her two cousins.

As soon as the drink he ordered came, Darwin immediately opened the lid. Pour directly into the glass that is already available. Then let Ariana to try.

"Please drink Ariana. It's good to warm your body."

"Don't be crazy, Win," said Samuel. "Ariana never drank like this."

Ariana, who had no idea what her husband and cousin were actually discussing, made her curious. Want to know what kind of drink Darwin actually handed out.

"What is this?"

"That's soju. A typical Korean alcoholic drink," Darwin explained. "This drink can warm your body with just two drinks."

"Really?" Ariana looks enthusiastic.

"Seriously. Just try it if you don't believe it."

Without saying much, Ariana reached for the glass Darwin had filled. Drink it in one gulp. Then it didn't take long to taste the taste caused by the alcoholic drink.

"How?" he asked. "Delicious, isn't it?"

Ariana nodded. Darwin didn't lie in the least. The sweet taste of the drink makes him want to try again.

"Tastes good. Like fruit juice. Can I have some more?"

"You don't need much, Ariana," said Samuel. He became worried that his wife was up to anything. "Then you're drunk."

"You won't get drunk, Ken. You only drink a little," Ariana replied. Then without waiting for approval, the woman returned to drinking the soju that Darwin had refilled into her glass. Samuel just stared at her while shaking her head. "I'm not responsible if you get drunk."

Ariana didn't care. He kept on drinking the soju that Darwin offered him until he ran out of a full bottle without realizing it.

"Enough ... already ..." Samuel held back when Ariana wanted to open the second bottle. "Let's go back to our room. It's getting late. You should rest."

"Samuel ... one more bottle, please. I swear this is so good. I've never had something this good before."

"That's it. Let's do it tomorrow. I'm not even sure you'll be sane when you get to your room."

After saying goodbye to Darwin and Celina, Samuel hurried Ariana back to the room. With a slightly unsteady walk, the man led his wife until he finally arrived and immediately directed Ariana to immediately sit on the bed.

"What did I say, you must be drunk, Ariana. At this rate, who would bother? It must be me."

While grumbling, Samuel helped lay Ariana onto the bed. Making sure his wife was not acting up, he hurriedly went to the bathroom to clean himself.

As soon as he came out, he was taken by surprise. Ariana, who had been sleeping on the bed, now even shifted positions. The woman lay down on the floor not far from the bed.

"Gosh, Ariana. Why are you sleeping on the floor instead?"

Samuel hastily approached. Slowly lifted his wife's body, then put it back on the bed.

However, when the man was about to leave, Ariana grabbed Samuel's arm instead. Restraining the man's motion to leave, Ariana instead straightened her body. Smiling, the woman could be heard babbling.

"My husband, Samuel."

The smell of alcohol wafted out sharply when Ariana spoke not far from Samuel's face. With glazed eyes, the woman took her hand. Then he cupped Samuel's cheeks passionately.

"My annoying husband! You just used to make me a scapegoat." Ariana shook her head. Occasionally one of his hands gently patted Samuel's cheek. "I admit, you're really handsome, Samuel. But you're really annoying! I just wish I mixed your coffee with rat poison so you don't keep on nagging."

Realizing that his wife was drunk, Samuel didn't take any of the woman's words to heart. Holding Ariana's arm, Samuel tried to get Ariana to sleep soon, rest.

"Ariana, you're drunk. Instead of babbling incoherently, you'd better just sleep."

Ariana shook her head. Laughing, the woman spoke back. "I'm not drunk, Samuel. Just so you know, at first I was really stressed to be your wife. But the more you come here, you turn out to be really good. What if we just get married for real? I'm willing to be your real wife."

Samuel choked. What Ariana had just said made her flabbergasted. Is his wife telling the truth or is she just delirious because of the influence of alcohol?

"Ariana... you better sleep. The longer you talk, the more ----"

Samuel's sentence was stopped when Ariana without warning landed a kiss on Samuel's lips. Embrace affectionately. So deep that it even feels demanding.

Samuel knew that Ariana did this because of the influence of the alcohol she drank. But still, the kiss that his wife had just harbored managed to bring out a strange shiver in his heart. Like there is a vibration that is very difficult for Samuel to describe.

"Samuel, honey, it's been a long time since I was excited to kiss you," whispered Ariana while cupping Samuel's cheeks again. "Actually, I'm also confused, do you have the slightest feeling for me? Am I really not your ideal type? How can I make you want to look at me, huh?"

"Ariana," Samuel said again.

"Just so you know," interrupted Ariana. "If you're not annoying, you're one of my ideal husband criteria. It doesn't matter if I become Esmeralda as long as you're Luis Fernando. But I don't think you're the least bit interested in me. Is it because I'm an orphan?"

The woman's lips pursed. Still with glazed eyes, Ariana heard a heavy sigh.

Smiling again, the woman suddenly opened the coat that tightly wrapped her body. Maybe it's starting to feel hot because you've been wearing clothes up to layers.

However, Samuel immediately became wary when this time Ariana wanted to open the plain shirt that covered her body. Immediately, Samuel held Ariana's hand so she wouldn't continue what she wanted to do.

"Ariana, what are you doing?"

"Regarding your offer to make Mama's wish come true, I've been thinking about it the other day. So, how about it? Do we really need to test it for her child now?"

Samuel immediately widened her eyes hearing what Ariana had just said. Now, should he agree with what Ariana just offered? After all, an opportunity like this doesn't come twice, does it?