Chapter 3 Bab 3

"Helena, don't forget, after this there is a photo shoot at HOT magazine," said Edrik.

"Yes." Helena only answered briefly.

"As usual, Saturday and Sunday schedule, you are free," said Edrik.

"Hey, find out a schedule, who will I be with tomorrow Saturday and Sunday?" Helena asked.

"Wait a moment." Edrik appeared to be opening a note.

On the table lay a note containing several lists of Helena's dating partners. Currently, Helena is sitting in the makeup room contemplating, having just finished filming and preparing to go home.

"How did I get to this point?" Helena muttered to herself.

"Next Saturday, you will be with Antonio, a man from Germany who happens to be on holiday in Indonesia," said Edrik, her assistant and friend, diverting Helena's attention.

"Good, I hope you get a lot of money," said Helena in an enthusiastic tone even though she actually felt empty inside.

"How long will you be like this, Helena?" Edrik asked in a concerned tone.

"Until I get bored of myself, maybe," replied Helena casually.

However, he actually knew that he couldn't keep running away from reality. Edrik just shook his head, seeing his master's always wild and uncontrolled behavior. After all the work was finished, Edrik took Helena home.

Along the way, Helena fell asleep in the car, trying to forget the life she was currently living. Even when he got home, he was still sleeping in a dream.

"You bastard. When I get home, I'll definitely have to carry him." Edrik grumbled and felt sorry for his fragile friend.

Edrik carried Helena gently to her room. As usual, Mr. Cakra, her father, was still waiting at the dinner table, in the hope that his beloved daughter would one day return to her old self.

"Sir, haven't you had dinner yet?" asked Edrik.

"That's it. I'm just waiting for my daughter to come home." Cakra answered while smiling.

"Have you rested, madam?" Edrik asked as he dragged a chair and sat in front of Cakra.

"That's it. Kartika is already asleep. The more I come here, I feel like Helena is like Kartika's shadow. They are both busy." Cakra said, after that he drank the little coffee left.

"Yes. They are almost the same. Maybe it was Mrs. Kartika who made Helena like that," said Edrik.

Kartika is Helena's continued mother. She is the same as Helena, Kartika is a model. It's just that, she's not an adult magazine model.

"Okay, I'll go back to the room," said Edrik.

Cakra just nodded his head. Cahra's nights are always quiet. He now chats less and less and sits alone with Kartika. Because when he came home from filming, Kartika always complained that he was tired.

*

*

*

That morning, our family atmosphere felt so warm when we gathered at the dinner table. Even though we are all busy with our own work, we always try to make time to have breakfast together.

"Helena, how was your day, girl?" Kartika asked with a smile.

"Yes, Mom," replied Helena briefly, but enthusiastically.

Not long after, Cakra's cell phone rang and he immediately picked it up.

"Hello, good morning," he said friendly.

Kartika began to wonder who would contact her husband in the morning like this.

"Good morning, Mr. Cakra. I'm Alex, the Wirya family's assistant. I'm telling you that the big lady from the Wirya Group is on her way to your residence," Alex's voice came from across there.

Hearing that, Cakra looked surprised, and I started to feel confused and worried.

"Is there something wrong?" Cakra muttered to himself.

"Why did the old madam suddenly want to come here?" Cakra thought with confusion showing on his face, "Does this have anything to do with my job? Or is this just an unexpected social visit?" Chakra muttered.

"What happened, Dad?" Kartika asked in a worried tone.

Cakra then answered, "Mama, the big lady from the Wirya Group is on her way to our house. I don't know the exact reason yet."

When they heard the news, both of them were shocked and confused. What should they prepare to welcome a big lady into their house? And what is the reason behind his arrival?

"Ah, I hope it's not a time bomb that will explode soon, making our hearts beat fast." Cakra's mind panicked.

"What for?" asked Kartika.

"I don't know," said Cakra.

Helena seemed indifferent to the chatter going on around her. He was still enjoying the breakfast served in front of him. After finishing eating, they then sat together in the living room, while Helena started to gather her things to leave.

"Helena, are you going?" Kartika asked, frowning.

"Yes, Mam. Usually I spend my days off taking care of personal matters," said Helena.

He could feel that Kartika didn't seem to agree, but for him, weekends were the time he had been waiting for so he could unwind.

"Okay, but after Wirya's family comes, then you can go." Kartika said firmly.

Helena sighed, annoyed, but unable to avoid the order. In Helena's heart, Kartika is not just a mother who controls her life, but a figure she respects as well as a teacher who has taught her many things about modeling and life. He learned a lot from Kartika, therefore he was unable to assert his desires.

"Okay, I'll go to my room first," said Helena, trying to get away.

"You can't go to your room. Sit here until they come," Kartika ordered firmly.

Returning, Helena could only snort in annoyance and feel constrained. Not long after, Grandma Liona and the Wirya family arrived in front of Cakra's residence, making Helena have to postpone her plans for a while longer.

"Good morning," said Grandma Liona.

"Good morning, madam," replied Kartika very friendly.

Kartika got up from her seat. He walked over to Olma Liona, and he chatted briefly with Grandma.

"Welcome, madam," said Cakra.

They also accompanied Oka to sit in the living room. Helena shook Grandma Liona's hand and forced a smile on her lips.

"You must be surprised, why did I suddenly appear here?" asked Grandma.

"Yes, Madam. What's wrong?" asked Kartika.

"I want to marry your daughter to my grandchild," said Grandma with a smile.

"It's an honor for us," said Cakra.

Cakra and Kartika stared in amazement at Helena, they couldn't believe that Helena could win the heart of a top Wirya group leader.

"How? Are you ready?" Grandma Liona asked Helena.

Meanwhile, Helena was silent.

"That's bad. If I marry his granddaughter, I definitely won't be able to be free. I still have a lot of dates scheduled. What should I do?" Helena thought.

He really felt like he wasn't feeling right inside, but on the other hand, he really wanted to marry the sole heir of a conglomerate family, plus he was still of royal blood.

Cakra and Kartika started to worry when they saw Helena was silent. They were afraid, Helena rejected the proposal from the noble family.

"How is it, son?" asked Grandma Liona.

Helena was silent, her eyes looked alternately at her parents. Various questions and anxieties mixed in his mind.

"If I marry, my freedom will be lost. But... if I marry him, at least my future is guaranteed. Can I really accept this marriage?" Helena muttered to herself.

In the end, Helena smiled faintly, overcoming the doubts in her heart.

"Yes Madam, I do," he answered softly, bowing his head.

"Good. Then I will discuss it with the extended family, I will convey further news when the proposal ceremony approaches," said Grandma Liona.

"Yes, Madam," said Kartika.

"Not Madam, but Grandma. Grandma Liona," said Grandma, smiling broadly.

"Okay Grandma," said Cakra.

"Okay, then, I'll take my leave. Thank you for the answer," said Grandma Liona as she got up from her seat.

Helena, Kartika, and Cakra got up from their seats and followed Grandma Liona out of Cakra's residence. After they left, the Cakra family cheered with joy, but in a corner of Helena's heart, there was still a deep anxiety. Is this the right move? Can he really give up his freedom for a better future?

"Aaaaaa, Mama never imagined that my daughter would marry a nobleman," said Kartika, pinching Helena's cheek in exasperation.

"Mama, actually I don't feel ready to get married myself, but it would be a shame if I missed this opportunity," answered Helena, uncertainly.

"You are indeed a smart child," praised Cakra, Helena's father.

The three of them looked happy, but it turned out there was one person who couldn't smile, Zena. The girl is struggling hard to get some rupiah to pay for Halimah's treatment.

Unexpectedly, fate brought them all to one place, the hospital. Zena was seen sitting in the hospital yard, deep in thought. At the same time, Edrik left the hospital, having just had his routine health check-up.

"Helena? Is that Helena? Didn't she say she wanted to meet her date? Why is she here now?" Edrik muttered in surprise as he continued to observe the figure of the girl who was sitting listlessly.

Apparently, Edrik thought wrongly, what he saw was Zena, not Helena. Without thinking, Edrik approached Zena, who he thought was Helena. Not long after, a nurse came calling Zena's name.

When Zena left, Edrik realized his mistake and felt guilty because he might have just made Zena even more sad. This destiny teaches them the meaning of life and creates an unexpected bond between them.

"Ms. Zena, you are called Doctor Pras," said the nurse.

Zena immediately turned and nodded at the nurse.

"Yes, ma'am. Thank you," answered Zena. With unsteady steps, Zena got up from her seat. He felt his heart beating fast, afraid of the news he would receive from Doctor Pras.

"Is Mother's condition worsening? Should I prepare my heart to accept the harsh reality?" Zena thought, until tears began to flow down her cheeks without realizing it.

Meanwhile, Edrik, who saw Zena leaving, became curious.

"Zena? So the woman's name is Zena. But why does her face look so similar to Helena? Only, she looks uglier and thinner," muttered Edrik to himself.

His curiosity peaked, he decided to follow Zena.

"I have to follow him. Who knows, this might be useful someday," thought Edrik as he adjusted his distance so as not to be noticed by Zena.

After walking down the hall for a while, Zena finally met Doctor Pras. With a heavy feeling, he opened the door

the young doctor's office and asked in a trembling voice, "Doc, how is my mother?"

"Mrs. Halimah is better. The operation went smoothly. However, now you have to immediately pay off the hospital bill to get further treatment," said Doctor Pras.

"Yes, I know, but until now I haven't managed to collect the money needed, Doc," said Zena with a sad face.

"I understand, but it's an obligation," replied Doctor Pras with a sympathetic smile.

"Okay, Doc, if that's the case, I'll excuse myself," said Zena.

Doctor Pras nodded, and Zena got up from her chair to return to her mother's treatment room. In Zena's mind, guilt was starting to creep in.

"Am I an unfilial child? Why haven't I been able to help mother cure her illness?" Zena muttered to herself.

Meanwhile, Edrik, who had been following behind Zena, began to become interested in the girl's life story.

"So, the woman is facing financial problems?" Edrik muttered while smiling sarcastically.

Still following Zena's steps to Halimah's treatment room, after learning more about Zena, Edrik decided to leave the hospital.

Not long after, Zena arrived at Halimah's treatment room and immediately entered the room. There, he held his mother's weak hand tightly and lay on the bed.

"Mother, get well soon. Zena misses your smile and the warmth of your embrace," whispered Zena in a low voice and with teary eyes. He felt that he had really lost the mother figure he had relied on for so long

Not long after, Koh Atong appeared from behind the door.

"Zena. How is Halimah?" he asked anxiously.

"Oh, mother is better," replied Zena, relieved. Zena was shocked and immediately turned towards the source of the sound.

"Oe brought you lunch. Hope you like it," said Koh Atong as he put the package on the table.

The two of them chatted again, trying to forget the worries on their minds. Meanwhile, Helena is now driving her car to the apartment she often shares with her boyfriend. But this time, Helena was calling Edrik. Not long after, the call was connected.

"Drik, where are you?" Helena asked in a slightly panicked tone. "Hospital.

"Normal. Why is that?" Edrik asked, surprised by Helena's nervous voice.

"To the apartment now. It's important," said Helena firmly.

"Okay," answered Edrik, feeling that there was something important that Helena wanted to discuss. Helena arrived at the apartment first before Edrik arrived.

Helena threw herself on the sofa and took a deep breath. Thoughts and emotions mixed inside him, preparing himself to explain everything to Edrik.

"What dream did I have last night? Arriving at a conglomerate's room, a nobleman again," muttered Helena.

In the midst of the confusion and worry that enveloped him, he tried to convince himself that all this was just a nightmare that would soon pass.

Not long after, the apartment door opened from the outside, Edrik appeared and he immediately sat in front of Helena.

"What is it?" asked Edrik.

"I will marry the sole heir of the Wicitra group family," said Helena flatly.

"Wow, that's crazy. That's really lucky," said Edrik.

"I don't know. I still have to finish work with my dates who have already filled the list," said Helena desperately.

"It's easy. Everything will definitely go according to plan," said Edrik with a sly smile.