Chapter 9 Hangout

Arriving at home, Aldrich immediately looked for Arthur in his room, but his father was not in that room. Aldrich got up from there and returned to the room.

"It's so quiet, where have they been?" murmured Aldrich.

Drrtt... drrtt... drrtt...

A WhatsApp message from Ghea appeared on Aldrich's cellphone screen. He immediately opened the message.

[ Aldrich sorry, I'm with Sisca, dad and mom have business at the hotel. If you want to eat just take the food in the fridge, okay?]

Then Robert replied to Ghea.

[Why all of a sudden, Sis? I thought today was your day off, so this morning we had breakfast together at home.]

[What time are you coming home? I want to talk to dad about something.]

[Maybe around 1 or 2 p.m. What do you want to talk about?]

[Let's talk about it later, bye Sis.]

[Bye, Aldrich.]

After WhatsApp with Ghea, Aldrich then laid down on the bed and he forgot his plan to look for Winnie at the Neptunus Cafe.

Feeling bored because he had nothing to do, Aldrich texted Edo and Jimmy.

[Edo, are you busy or not? If not, let's hang out at Fuchsia cafe, let's go.]

[Not long after, Edo replied to his WhatsApp.]

[I'm not busy, I'm just working on the thesis chapter III. Later, when I have done, I'll go to Fuchsia Cafe, ok]

[After all, it's still early in the day when you're working on your thesis, you're very diligent.]

[Yes, I really want to quickly become a graduate and look for a future wife.]

[I am sorry, it seems that all you have in mind is marriage and marriage. I have finished my thesis first, I want to WhatsApp Jimmy. See you.]

[See you too.]

After WhatsApp Edo, then he continued his chat with Jimmy.

[Jimmy, are you busy? If not in half an hour, we will meet at Fuchsia Cafe, okay?]

Ddrrtt... ddrrtt... ddrrtt...

Jimmy replied to Aldrich's chat.

[Okay, I am still on campus, I meet my lecturer, first ok.]

[Okay.]

After chatting with his two friends, Aldrich left the room and walked out to the garage, and started his car engine.

'While Jimmy and Edo were working on their thesis, there's nothing wrong with discussing it with them'. thought Robert.

Even though he wanted to discuss his thesis with Laura, but it always failed because it seemed that Laura was more concerned with engagement and marriage issues than college and thesis.

Approximately twenty-five minutes later, Aldrich arrived at the Fuchsia Cafe. It was only 10 am, but the atmosphere of the cafe was so crowded and a lot of people came from out of town, so it was a little difficult for Aldrich to find an empty parking space.

"What day is it? Why is the cafe so busy?" Aldrich muttered while looking for a parking space outside the cafe.

Finally, Aldrich found a place to park his vehicle across the street from Fuchsia Cafe. Less than ten minutes, Jimmy caught up with Aldrich with his motorbike (big motorbike) and they both entered the cafe.

Jimmy and Aldrich were forced to take seats on the second floor because the downstairs was filled with visitors from out of town.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk ... this cafe is really busy, even though the pandemic is still in the crowd here," Jimmy said while pulling a chair in front of him.

"Yes, who doesn't wear a mask anymore. Is today a red day, huh?" asked Aldrich, who forgot the day and date of the month.

"It's not a red day. But Monday is a holiday tomorrow, do you have any plans to go on a date with Laura or not?"

"Nothing," said Aldrich flatly.

"You asked me to meet you here. Did you invite Edo too?"

"Edo was invited. I am here because I want to talk about the thesis with you," said Aldrich while looking at the food menu.

"I thought you wanted to talk about our gig schedule at Neptunus Cafe, I've been waiting since yesterday afternoon, but no news from you," Jimmy grumbled.

"Sorry, sorry ... I have a lot on my mind. Next month, I was told to marry Laura by uncle Wallace," said Aldrich finally.

"What? Married? I didn't hear wrong? It's really fast, isn't it? Could it be that your girl is pregnant?" Jimmy's question irritated Aldrich.

"It's just a random thing to say, I never touch her," said Aldrich casually, but his heart felt hot and wanted to punch Jimmy in the face right then and there.

"I think Laura is pregnant, I'm just kidding."

"The joke isn't funny, you know!" cried Robert.

"What do you want to order? I haven't been able to finish looking at the menu, I just bought up all the food." Jimmy joked without responding to Aldrich's anger.

Aldrich was overwhelmed by this one friend, from the first his naughty nature was still there until now, and even seemed to be insensitive to other people's feelings.

"I order Beef Steak and Lemon Squash. What do you order? Let me order all of you," concluded Aldrich.

"I order Beef Schnitzel and Mojito," Jimmy replied.

"Look for it first," said Aldrich looking for the menu Jimmy was referring to.

It turns out that the food is listed on the middle page of the Fuchsia Cafe menu book, while the Mojito is listed on the very back page.

"The order you are looking for is there, I will go downstairs first while waiting for Edo to come," said Aldrich.

"Okay," said Jimmy.

Aldrich got up from table number 6 and then went down to the 1st floor to order foods and drinks to the waiter.

"Waiter, I order Beef Steak, Beef Schnitzel, Lemon Squash, and Mojito," Aldrich said.

"Alright, Sir," replied the waiter while taking down all of Aldrich's orders.

"Where are you sitting, Sir?" asked the waiter.

"On the 2nd floor, table number 6."

"Wait a moment for the order. I will take it there later," She said kindly.

"Alright."

After ordering food, Aldrich didn't go straight back to his table, but waited for Edo on the cafe terrace.

He had been waiting for Edo for so long, finally, the man appeared in front of Aldrich with a sweet and innocent girl.

Then Edo greeted Aldrich with a beaming face while the girl looked shy and afraid to meet new people. She brought her body closer to Edo while lowering her head.

"Hi, Aldrich."

"Hi," Aldrich replied to Edo, then he turned his gaze to the girl.

"Come on, go inside," said Edo to Aldrich, "Jes, come on in with me too."

"Who is that? Is she your future wife?" asked Aldrich curiously.

"I will introduce her to you later, okay? Now eat first ... Jimmy has come yet?"

"It has been a while, Do. We were sitting on the 2nd floor, table number 6, I have also ordered food for me and Jimmy," explained Aldrich, who kept looking at the sweet and innocent girl.

"Hey! Those eyes of yours, don't just stare at Jessica. Remember Laura," said Edo, reminding his friend.

"Don't worry ... I will not cheat on her again," said Aldrich casually.

"Well, you can't see a little clear girl." Edo shook his head

"Edo, I am hungry," said the girl who was called 'Jes' in a pitiful tone of voice.

"Okay, let's go in first. You must be hot too, right?" asked Edo softly.

The girl nodded to Edo.

"Do, I will go upstairs first. I am afraid the food will get cold."

"Okay ... I and Jessi will follow you there," concluded Edo.

After chatting for a while, Aldrich returned to his seat on the 2nd floor, while Edo ordered food and drinks for him also for Jessi.

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