Love Amidst Shadows

Thin mist enveloped the expanse of tea leaves that had not yet sprouted. The chilling cold tickled and penetrated through the gaps between Tiara's fingers inside her thick jacket. She couldn't keep warming her hands continuously.

There were no tea plantation workers in that foggy morning since Tiara entered the terraced expanse, even though the sun had started to show itself behind the clouds. Tiara continued to walk slowly, parting the fog that lay on both sides. The road ahead was somewhat visible for about a meter, although not very clear.

The atmosphere of the thirty-five-hectare tea plantation only fueled her enthusiasm. Perhaps she would meet the working mothers carrying two baskets filled with tea leaves and their two-year-old toddlers wrapped in cloth slings, just like her visit some time ago. She could engage in conversation while listening to the melodious songs sung by the workers among them. Sometimes, in that way, Tiara didn't feel too empty in her current situation.

Tiara continued to walk along the narrow path on the side of the terraced expanse, nearing the hill. She paused for a moment as she saw a pair of individuals facing each other not far from where she stood.

The fog that had embraced the air throughout the early morning seemed to recede, allowing Tiara to see clearly. The two figures seemed to be at odds. One appeared as if trying to avoid, while the other seemed to want to approach.

The first figure made her freeze, reminding her of him. Must it be that every man with a similar tall figure, standing at two-point-three meters from the ground and with Leonardo DiCaprio-style hair, always made her heart flutter like this?

It seemed like they were having a disagreement, Tiara thought.

Tiara turned her body to the east, moving away from those who were in the west. The path ahead slightly inclined.

Tiara had to bend her knees more than before. With the help of a twig that accompanied her, she managed to climb to the top part of the plantation.

Voices of the working mothers could be heard from below. It seemed they were starting to gather at the foot of the hill.

Tiara took a deep breath and exhaled it with great enthusiasm, as if releasing all the burdens that weighed on her chest.

Suddenly, Tiara was hugged from behind, and a whisper in her left ear said, "Don't move!" accompanied by a gentle bite on her earlobe. Tiara was stunned. This voice?

A voice that had been absent for almost two years! She immediately turned around. And there he was! Standing in front of her, his strong hand still gently embracing her waist.

Tiara widened her eyes, displaying a look of utter surprise. Her body froze. Her eyes blinked rapidly, and her chest seemed to forget how to breathe normally.

Her eyebrows furrowed, and she slowly shook her head in disbelief at what was before her. However, the soft, melancholic brown eyes that gazed at her gently seemed to dispel the astonishment that had been evident on her olive-toned face.

Her black hair, swayed by the wind, partially covered her lips, tempting the large, tanned fingers of the man to gently brush it aside from the rosy lips without lipstick.

Tiara still couldn't believe what she saw, when she noticed a beautiful woman behind the man's back. The woman looked at them with a sad gaze. She remembered, it was the woman who was standing on the hill earlier. Was the man in front of her the pair she saw with that woman?

"She..." Tiara's voice trailed off. The man's eyes followed Tiara's gaze, then turned towards Tiara and reached for her chin, intentionally showing it to the woman.

Tiara's eyes met the man's. The dimples on his face displayed a row of clean, white teeth, capable of melting the confusion on Tiara's face.

She, like the man, began to disregard the presence of the angry woman in the distance.

Tiara gazed closely at the handsome man with a cleft chin, who was getting closer. Their heads met, releasing longing. Then, slowly but surely, her lips and the man's collided, wrestling in the mouth of longing.

Ten minutes ago,

Aryan began to groan, unable to contain his frustration and uncontrollable anger. He scoffed loudly, turning his body away from the beautiful woman in front of him. His face appeared visibly flushed, meanwhile the beautiful woman beside him pleaded.

"I'm asking... accept everything. Don't be like this," her cries began to break.

Aryan closed his eyes for a long time. He raised his head up and opened his eyes. Nothing could be seen, the fog still swept across the entire plantation. The perfect time to kill the woman and leave no trace of the problem. Just like what he had done when disguised in his enemy's territory.

He turned to look at the woman, her pale-red face starting to swell. He still remembered Mr. Budi forcing them to be alone here half an hour ago. Forcing them to attend the event at the peak and forcing them to be here in the chilly early morning.

"Don't force yourself. We can never be together," Aryan replied. The woman's eyes pleaded sadly, her nose starting to turn red. No tissues, a runny nose, and teary eyes, she wiped them with her hands only. Indeed, it was pitiful. But the more I pity, the more I get trapped, Aryan thought silently.

Aryan sighed heavily. He turned his face to the left, momentarily removing the image of the woman standing beside him. However, Aryan furrowed his brows. It seemed like he had mistaken someone. Was there someone else there, besides the workers, at this hour?

Aryan squinted his eyes, making sure of his sight. He turned away from his companion and unconsciously moved slowly towards the intended destination. He didn't hear the woman's calls that he left behind.

His gaze wasn't wrong. His thoughts weren't mistaken. Yes, it was Tiara! As the saying goes, love comes unexpectedly. Love indeed is a savior! A savior from an unpleasant situation.