Episode 11

At precisely seven o'clock in the evening, Arimbi finally asked Bara to escort her home.

Having felt quite full from the meal that Arimbi had treated him to, Bara amiably agreed with a joyful smile adorning his face.

It was a rare occasion for him to enjoy such a luxurious meal, reminiscent of the times when he was a wealthy young man.

Seeing the man's smile, Arimbi began to tease Bara with her light-hearted jokes.

"What's with that smile you've been sporting? Are you happy because you've got to know me, Bara?" Arimbi inquired, prompting Bara to scratch his itchless head.

For some reason, when faced with Arimbi, the smooth-talking charm he once used to woo the ladies at night seemed to vanish into thin air.

Hence, when teased by Arimbi, all Bara could muster was a stiff smile.

In reality, at that moment, Bara's heart was pounding fiercely, especially since during their meal, Arimbi had playfully fed him using her spoon, leaving Bara to imagine, quite amusingly, that they had indirectly exchanged saliva.

Once again, Bara smiled fondly at the thought, eliciting Arimbi to nudge his arm to snap him back to reality.

"Bara... why aren't you responding to my question? You're smiling and laughing to yourself – perhaps you thought of something funny?" Arimbi asked, peering closely into Bara's face, which only intensified his admiration.

"Umm... Arimbi, let's go, I'll take you home now. We wouldn't want your father to scold you for returning late," Bara said, evading Arimbi's gaze. Quickly, Arimbi rose to her feet, and they both started their walk side by side, illuminated by laughter and content smiles.

Arimbi didn't forget to hand over the payment she had promised Bara.

The beautiful woman had asked Bara to withdraw money earlier that day, and now she handed the cash over to him.

"Here, this is the money I promised you, Bara. I've now paid you in full," Arimbi stated, placing a stack of bills in Bara's hand. However, Bara felt the sum was too generous and disagreed with the amount.

"Arimbi, I can't accept this. I really didn't want to be paid. Take it back; I promise, whether or not you pay me, I will still invite you to meet up often," Bara said while returning the money into Arimbi's hand.

But Arimbi refused to take the money back until Bara insisted and even threatened her, which led her to reluctantly accept it again.

"Bara... thank you for being my friend. And remember, when we arrive at my house, just leave straight away because I can't invite you in," Arimbi explained as she climbed onto Bara's motorcycle, while he started the engine, setting off toward the Sanjaya family home.

"But why can't I come in? I'd like to meet your father and stepmother," he objected.

"Don't, Bara... they aren't welcoming folks, especially to an Ojol driver like you. I'm sure Diva has already been filling their heads with nonsense about us," she replied.

"Is that so? But... that could actually be a good thing, Arimbi, as if your family knows me as your love interest, it will make it easier for us to carry out our plans," Bara reasoned, sparking deep contemplation in Arimbi.

She was certain that her stepsister Diva had likely slandered her to their father, and revealing her relationship with an Ojol would surely invite outright condemnation from Adi Sanjaya, who had always detested her association with anyone of a lower economic status.

***

Meanwhile, at the luxurious residence of Adi, the patriarch of the house was currently giving an attentive ear to his stepdaughter's words.

Five years of fathering Diva had fostered a strong father-daughter relationship...

Being a charming and heart-winning woman, it was no surprise that Papa Adi listened so intently to his daughter's words...

While Diva sensed the opportunity to further sway her father, she began plotting to undermine the old man.

Fortuitously for her, Arimbi hadn't yet come home that day, and, added to her skipping work, Diva seized the moment to taint her stepsister's reputation, with her mother Lina signaling a thumb-up in support of her daughter's intentions.

"Papa, do you know where Arimbi is right now?" Diva asked as she started spreading her venomous tales.

"No... I don't know where she's gone; her phone is unreachable too," Papa Adi responded, clueless about his daughter's whereabouts.

"Really, Pa? No wonder Diva also couldn't reach Arimbi's phone. But Pa, this morning when Diva came home, I ran into Arimbi at our gate. She was talking to an Ojol driver claiming to be her boyfriend," Diva inflicted her poisonous words.

"What?! Don't joke, Diva. It's impossible for Arimbi to date an Ojol driver. I don't believe her tastes have declined to your accusations," Papa Adi retorted in disbelief, dismissing his stepdaughter's claims.

However, Mama Lina joined in the manipulation, egging Papa Adi to doubt and despise his own daughter.

"Pa... perhaps there's truth in Diva's words, because Mama overheard a commotion at our gate this morning, and the security guard tried to prevent the Ojol driver from entering, which angered Arimbi, Pa."

"So... all of Diva's claims are true, Ma? How can my daughter be seeing a poor Ojol driver? I won't allow it," Papa Adi declared, visibly irate.

"But, Pa, I don't think Arimbi will listen to what you say. She seemed rather infatuated with him," Diva continued her attempt to poison the old man's mind.

"No, I won't permit it. But if Arimbi continues to be as stubborn as usual, then this time I will have her leave the house," Papa Adi resolved, utterly swayed by the venom spread by Diva and Lina, who exchanged silent, smug smiles, acknowledging their shared deceitful victory.

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