Hot Night With CEO

Footsteps Darian’s shoes echoed on the shiny floor as he made his way back to his apartment, reluctantly leaving behind the long drama he had created to spend more time with Fahira. If only Fahira hadn’t sulked and insisted he leave, he would have refused to part with the girl who now occupied all his attention.

Tick. The sound of Darian’s apartment key opening the door was heard. He placed his shoes in their designated spot and headed to the fridge. Pouring cold mineral water into a glass, he sipped it slowly. Before he closed the fridge, his eyes were drawn to two bottles of alcoholic drinks that were usually available there. Darian seemed to be contemplating something. He took out his phone from his pants pocket and searched for someone’s contact.

Darian:

“I have something for you. I’m waiting for you at my apartment now!”

He typed the message before his phone died due to low battery.

While waiting for his friend to arrive, Darian entered his room and took off all his clothes, heading to the bathroom. Darian stood under the running shower, letting the water merge with every pore of his body. After neglecting his duties as a Muslim for so long, Darian felt something different after praying together with Fahira’s family earlier. An indescribable feeling seemed to fill the void in his soul. The feeling that had been missing seemed to have found its way back.

Darian wrapped a towel around his waist after turning off the shower, then turned on the tap to perform ablution. He spent a considerable amount of time reciting the appropriate supplications for each step of ablution, from rinsing his mouth to washing his feet. Darian didn’t even realize that he still knew all the prayers by heart.

Darian opened the walk-in closet to find a sarong, a traditional long-sleeved shirt, a prayer mat. He had placed them at the farthest corner of the closet, a door he rarely opened. He sat there for a moment, holding all the prayer items in his arms. He had completely forgotten when the last time he performed his prayers was. Slowly but surely, Darian dressed in the traditional clothing, his heart beating fast. He stared at himself in the mirror, examining his new appearance. A sense of shame washed over him. Darian’s hands trembled as he laid the prayer mat on the floor.

He stood there for quite some time, facing the qibla, silently reciting the intention for the afternoon prayer in his heart.

The sound of the takbir echoed in Darian’s luxurious bedroom.

Darian was so focused in his prayers and devotion that he didn’t realize tears streaming down his face. He immersed himself in prayer for about ten minutes, reciting the shahada, sending blessings upon the Prophet, glorifying God, and reciting remembrances, all while self-reflecting. He acknowledged all the sins and transgressions he had committed throughout his life.

“Forgive me, O Allah!” Darian pleaded, trying to entreat the One who turns the hearts of humans to open the doors of forgiveness for him. His tears flowed freely, blending with his lengthy supplications.

Ding. The sound of the doorbell interrupted Darian’s concentration. “It must be David!” he murmured while undressing and folding the clothes, leaving only his boxers on. Walking towards the front door, Darian put on a casual t-shirt.

“You missed me, huh?” David teased, following Darian’s footsteps towards the mini bar.

“I have something for all of you!” Darian said, taking one world-class alcoholic drink bottle after another and placing them on the table.

“Are you sure, Darian?” David couldn’t believe his eyes, getting such expensive drinks that he couldn’t afford even in a year’s salary. David’s eyes sparkled as he read the famous brands printed on each bottle Darian presented to him.

Darian then went to the fridge and took out two more bottles. “Just take all of them!” Darian left the remaining drinks there.

“Are you not crazy anymore? You’re still my wicked friend, right?” David inquired, not wanting to take his eyes off the bottles in front of him.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“I’m actually sane now, that’s why I’m getting rid of all of this!” Darian replied calmly, pulling a chair to sit beside David.

“Don’t tell me you’re doing this just for a woman?” David prodded, looking at Darian with a sharp gaze.

“I’m doing this for myself,” Darian answered, indifferent to David’s changing expressions.

David’s hand reached out to touch Darian’s forehead. “Normal!” David mumbled after checking Darian’s body temperature. He was becoming more and more puzzled by his friend’s behavior.

“Maybe you’re possessed by the spirit of this apartment?” David scratched his head, pretending it was itchy, and looked around the room.

“There’s no dumb spirit here! It’s the devil!” Darian replied calmly.

“Where is the devil, so I can make him drunk. He’ll be delighted to get such expensive drinks!” David teased, opening one of the cold bottles that Darian had just taken from the fridge. He poured half a glass and sipped it slowly, enjoying the sensation of the expensive drink with his eyes closed. It wasn’t the first time Darian had given him such drinks, but having this much personally made David’s heart leap.

“And there’s the devil sitting in front of me!” Darian chuckled softly.

“Oh, you’re calling me a devil? Where’s the handsome devil like me?” David teased. “By the way, if I’m a devil, then what are you? The devil’s friend. So, devil to devil, we shouldn’t insult each other!” David continued with a hearty laugh.

Darian was clearly defeated by David’s words, and he waved his hand in front of David’s face.

“Go away, take all of these with you!” Darian dismissed David, then began placing the bottles of alcohol into a box neatly.

“Who’s the woman who kidnapped you yesterday? Come on, introduce me to this super girl who managed to make my wicked friend change?” David kept on asking, curious about the girl who could transform one of Darian’s bad habits. David’s hands were resting on his chin, watching Darian carefully as he packed the drinks.

Uninterested in responding to David’s continuous questions, Darian promptly ushered him out of the apartment. How could Darian share with David that the girl was Fahira? What’s worse, Darian’s love had not yet been reciprocated. He didn’t want to pressure Fahira to give an answer right away about his invitation to introduce her as his girlfriend to his mother. He wanted everything to unfold naturally.

Darian realized that Fahira still had doubts about his feelings. She needed proof of his sincerity.

***

“Do you have a special relationship with that foreign guy?” Ariel interrupted Fahira while she was mopping the floor.

“His name is Mr. Darian,” Fahira replied firmly with annoyance. She knew exactly what was on Ariel’s mind, especially after he had shown his disapproval of Darian earlier.

“You should be polite to someone older, Dek, especially since Mr. Darian is your boss at the office!” Fahira explained while continuing her task.

“Why not Dr. Gavin, Fahira? He’s more polite, gentle, and attentive to you!” Ariel honestly said, making Fahira sigh deeply as she stared back at Ariel.

“Listen me, there’s nothing romantic between Mr. Darian, Dr. Gavin, and me. We’re just friends!” Fahira explained, interrupting Ariel before he could say more.

“Now go take a shower; you’re stalling!” Fahira didn’t want to argue with Ariel, as she was still uncertain about her own feelings.

With lazy steps, Ariel went to his room. He really didn’t like the idea of Fahira choosing Darian over Gavin. In his opinion, Gavin was more suitable to be with his sister.

***

This morning, Ariel was finally going back to school after almost three weeks of being absent due to illness. He was excited to be back in the school atmosphere, especially to see his teachers and friends again. Walking side by side down the stairs with Fahira, Ariel spotted Gavin’s white Fortuner approaching them. Ariel didn’t waste the golden opportunity to bring them closer together. He greeted Gavin politely and approached Damar, Fahira’s ride-hailing driver, who was waiting on his motorbike right in front of Gavin’s parked car.

“Damar, you go ahead; Fahira will go with her boyfriend!” Ariel whispered, causing Damar to smile significantly while glancing between Fahira and Gavin before leaving after saying goodbye to Fahira. Fahira just stood there in shock, realizing Ariel’s little conspiracy with the ride-hailing driver.

“What’s gotten into you?” Fahira scolded Ariel with irritation.

“Ariel, let’s go!” Ariel called out, opening his helmet visor to say goodbye to Fahira and Gavin.

“Come with me, Fahira!” Gavin invited her with a gentle smile, and Fahira could only respond with a stiff smile, feeling flattered by the sweet gesture of the bespectacled man.

“I hope I’m not being a bother, Doctor,” Fahira said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Ariel, you go first, Fahira!” Ariel intervened, holding Fahira’s hand and kissing it before kissing her cheek as well and saying goodbye. Suddenly, Ariel’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw a luxury jeep from a distance entering the apartment complex.

“Fahira, hurry up, you’ll be late! Take care of Fahira, Doctor!” Ariel said, pushing Fahira into Gavin’s car before closing the door. Gavin smiled significantly at Ariel before circling his car to take the driver’s seat.

“Yes! I did it!” Ariel cheered in his heart as he mounted his motorbike. “Let’s go!” he shouted with a sense of victory after making sure that Gavin’s car had left.