"But anyway, why do you insist on joining?". Damar felt strange about the behavior of this adoptive father. He preferred to hang out rather than exercise but he insisted to join the climb of Mount Rinjani.

"I want to advise a hard-hearted man". Bay made his point while being out of breath.

"Hehe. Am I a hard-hearted man?".

"Let's finish until Segara Anak first. It seems I'm still strong enough to get to that place". He said while stepping more excitedly.

.

Along with the cold night air in the mountains, the three of them were wrapped in thick jackets. The fire was lit to cook a simple dinner.

"I didn't know eating could be this good when we're up high".

Damar smiled in response to Bay's words.

When all their eating activities were over, they let the small bonfire stay burning, giving light in darkness with a seemingly friendly sky. Presenting the stars and the almost-full moon.

"You still like her?". Bay asked, glancing at the young man who started playing his guitar.

"I prefer to be called loving her, not just liking her".

"Still hard to let her go, huh?".

"What else can I do? I can still compose song lyrics by imagining Aruna".

"And I'm sure it's impossible for her husband to just let his wife go". Juan interrupted.

"They had an agreement to split up".

"Even if there's an agreement, I'm sure my boss always has a way to trap his wife. If you really knew that person, you wouldn't be able to refute my words. That man has another side which is so scary". Juan recalled the way Hendra beat him.

"That's why I'll stand for Aruna".

"Just stop like me and Syakila. Life must be realistic, bro!". Juan patted Damar's shoulder, pretending to be friendly.

"Can you shut your mouth and get rid of your hands?". Damar didn't accept it.

"I want to talk to Damar. You can listen but please don't comment". Bay mediated them.

"Fine.. Fine.. I'll freeze". Juan said with a resentful tone.

"If it turns out that letting go of that woman is the last option and there's no other way, what about you? What are you going to do?". Bay asked a question. Damar couldn't help but freeze.

"Don't do it. Don't hold on. Your life is too precious to keep thinking about one person. Just so you know, there's a mother who asks how you are every day, urging me to accept money and even all other offers so that I can take care of you as well as possible. In the past, the one who took care of you a lot was Aruna. I'm sure behind it all, there's a mother who entrusts her son".

"You're wrong. She cares about all her friends. Even before she met my mother, she'd cared about me a lot".

"Fine. Maybe that's why you're addicted to her".

Bay looked at Juan: "What do you think of that girl, Juan?".

"Yeah.. Just like you said. She also cares about her husband. Every morning she escorts that man to the car. She tidies his tie and then tells my boss to go home immediately. Even though after that she just sits behind the window all day long".

"If you continue your feelings and that girl can't let go of her relationship, you're no different from your mother. Think about my words".

Damar wandered in his mind. Bay's next words were about: if Mrs. HRD was willing to let go of her love for Damar's father, which brought that woman to devastation, Mrs. HRD would've been able to live a better life. She wasted many things, including Damar.

"But you aren't married either?". Damar asked, after finding a spot to stand and letting go of her.

"That's a choice, not because I don't want to let go of her who once captured my heart. Second, it could be because I find it difficult to get close to women. And the third one…". That man paused for a moment then smiled.

"It could be because my story has to be like this so I can meet her".

"What do you mean?". Damar was a little confused by that man's last words.

"If I get permission from her son, maybe I'll get married this month".

"Oh, you finally found your soulmate?".

"Yeah, that's right. I just need to persuade her son".

"I hope you succeed".

"Thank you. Now seems like a good time to persuade him".

"Don't postpone it or else you'll regret it".

"So how? Am I suitable to be your father??".

"You said yourself that you're my adoptive father. Why are you asking again?'.

"Hahaha.. Haha". Suddenly, Juan burst out laughing.

"I'm trying. Can you shut up?". Bay snapped at the owner of the laughing voice.

"Father?? Father?? Permission to her son?". Damar grumbled to himself.

"Don't tell me the woman you mean is Mrs. HRD?!".

"Hehe.. Can I marry your mom?".

"Damn it! No wonder you're following me here!!".

"Hahaha". Juan's laughter grew louder as they argued.

"Ah. How could you be with my mom?".

"Because she often chats with me. At first, she asked about you. After a long time, I realized your mother is funny".

"Why is it like this?!".

"Haha.. Come on, give him and your mother a chance?!". This time, Juan laughed at a serious conversation which turned out to be about the permission of a man who wanted to marry the mother of the Padangnese young man.

***

"Hen.. Take off your clothes". Aruna ordered.

They had argued before because Hendra, who was starting to shiver with a fever, was still hoping to drive the Jeep. Aruna struggled to persuade the stubborn man. Earlier, closing the roof of this orange car seemed quite difficult for Hendra.

And now she was helping him take off the wet clothes he was wearing. Then she also put on her small jacket which was left in the car because Hendra's jacket was wet from the rain on the beach.

"Your body is so hot.. What to do?". Aruna was anxious while turning on the Jeep.

"Don't worry. I'm fine". Hendra's words didn't match his expression.

That expression on his face suddenly changed drastically.

"Argh.. Hehe". That woman screamed in surprise then laughing. She almost hit the divider.

"Hey.. You really can drive a car or… Aruna.. Aaaa..". Hendra panicked because the car backed away so fast this time.

"Hahaha". That woman laughed when Hendra shouted at her.

"Calm down. I'm just experimenting for a moment while relaxing my arms and legs". Aruna calmed him down.

"Let me drive". Hendra asked Aruna to get out of the driver's seat.

"You can't!". That woman insisted on holding onto the steering wheel of the Jeep.

"Stubborn!". Hendra mocked.

"You're stubborn too. Since we're the same so shut up". Aruna put on a firm expression because she wanted to defend herself as a driver for now.

And the Jeep drove slowly, swerving slowly following the ability of the driver who tried to be careful. When it reached a flatter road, that girl could ease her tension.

Aruna had stopped at several points, waking up Hendra who was asleep while being delirious. She bought warm clothes and then wrapped that man's body, including buying medicine in the minimarket.

.

"Hen.. Do you need me to call a doctor?". She interrupted while tidying up the bed for him.

"No need to.. It's just a normal fever". He was sitting while holding his head.

"Shall we try my mom's way?".

"What do you mean?".

"Someone who's just exposed to rain, then his body becomes feverish or feels sick, better to take a warm bath before sleeping. Come on, I'll help you take a bath".