The Price of Sainthood
Crotchless

The sound of the twang of a spoon dyed the atmosphere of dinner at Narendra's residence. There were five people sitting around the dining table. The warm chat became a rodent of familiarity, and occasionally the sound of laughter was heard simultaneously.

Narendra looks very happy. He is also good at melting the atmosphere. The words of praise he repeatedly uttered to Alisha. Certainly without the element of intentionality because that's the reality about his daughter.

However, there is someone who does not like the situation as it is now. Who else if not Lara? Although his face was smiling, his heart was screaming with anger.

Lara who felt trapped in this condition did not seem to know if there was a pair of eyes that had been quietly watching her. Dante. The young man immediately moved following Lara after the girl bidding goodbye went to the room.

Obviously no one is suspicious of the attitude of Dante who suddenly wants to approach Lara, considering the two are indeed preparing all the needs for getting engaged. Only Alisha's eyes were silently staring at Dante's back with an unwilling look.

However, the girl hurriedly responded to the question of the papa cheerfully so as not to arouse suspicion.

"Wait." Dante said to Lara after feeling that their distance was quite safe from the dining room.

Hearing Dante's voice, Lara stopped her steps and looked back to make sure.

Justright. There was Dante who was stepping towards him. The young man's gaze still remained the same as usual. Cold as the temperature at the north pole. Lara turned her body slowly then asked lazily.

"Tumben nahan me? What's up, heum? Kangen huh?"

"PD is that, by the way. There is no shame at all" said Dante who is now standing right in front of Lara.

Shaking her chest, Lara turned her face away while turning the lazy eyeball. Of course he understood Dante's innuendo was referring to which direction. However, he deliberately decided the veins of shame in order to maintain his pride which only remained a little.

"Why should I be ashamed? You are the same as me. Liars. Clever theatricality," sizzled Lara. How could he speak that? Dante doesn't even dispute that. Sure oes. During the meal together, Lara secretly observes Dante. The young man was so good at theatrics. He acted as if nothing had ever happened. He did not even mention his sins to Alisha.

Wh-wh-what for? Didn't Dante have the courage to call off the engagement?

Alright. If so, Lara also did not want to go before him. Let's just say Dante has no intention of canceling their engagement. That's very good for him. Let them marry without love. At least it can help lift his degree. In the Narendra family he had nothing. However, by becoming Robby's son-in-law, he will surely inherit everything because Dante is their only child. That's sweet, isn't it? Unknowingly Lara even smiled because she was so happy. And it was caught clearly by Dante's vision.

"That smile? Happy again, huh?" satirize the young man.

Lara who woke up then cleared her throat slowly. Damnit. He was caught in the chestnut. He hurriedly put on a flat expression to cover up the panic.

Dante who was able to read Lara's bad intentions revealed a smile full of irony. Approaching her face towards Lara's ears, she then whispered softly.

"Your secret is in my throat. So .. be careful. I cough a little, then you'll run."

Lara glared at Dante who was smiling sideways. His throat swallowed with difficulty. Her hair was like standing. He shuddered in horror. Although spoken in a slow tone, but the threat of Dante is really deadly. In his eyes Dante was now like a poisonous snake that could kill him at any moment.

***

The sound of Dante's footsteps that sounded approaching was successful in attracting the attention of three people who were still sitting at the dining table. Somehow Alisha breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Dante was approaching Lara not so long ago. He even thought Dante and Lara would pass a lot of time for the two.

The girl hurriedly averted her eyes as her eyes skimmed with Dante. Do not let the young man know if he feels anxious as long as Dante approaches Lara.

"Chat it already? Where's lara? Don't you guys have any plans for both roads?" ask Helena.

Dante shakes. "No, Aunt. Lara says she's tired and wants to get some quick sleep tonight."

"Owh, that's it." Helena nodded in understanding.

"Yes, if so, Auntie. I want to go home first" said Dante. There was no longer any reason for him to remain there even if he wanted to.

"Owh, okay. Thanks to Dante, you have brought Alisha home" Narendra said. He looked at his daughter and gave an order. "Honey, take Dante to the front, yeah."

"I–iya, Pa," reply Alisha. I don't know why she suddenly felt so clumsy. When walking to the outside of the house, he chose silence.

"It's like silent mode on, nih," Dante quipped as they passed through the main door.

The clueless Alisha looked at Dante with a frown. "What the hell?"

"Yes, you. Suddenly a pendiem."

Not intending to respond to Dante's words, Alisha instead advised the young man. "Be careful on the road, yeah. Don't need to mention. Safety first."

Dante stops the move and Alisha spontaneously follows him. The two of them stood face to face, and were now looking at each other.

"You're upset with me?"

"No." Alisha shakes her head as a form of denial. "Don't you really want to go home?"

"Yes, anyway. I don't want to rush either."

"Continue, what was the saying from earlier?"

Dante speechless. The innocent face of Alisha when asked makes her feel anxious and not willing to rush home.

For some reason, his love for the girl became more intense. He always felt a longing. Although Alisha had to stay at his house, but that does not mean every time they always meet. There are boundaries between them. There are norms that cannot be broken.

In the eyes of the family, Dante remains Lara's future fiancee. Niken and Robby take great care of Alisha and her honor. They did not allow Dante to be presumptuous to Alisha even if only a little.

"Yes. I'm already saying goodbye, but that doesn't mean I want to go home." Dante paused his words and looked Alisha in the eye. "Al, can you please, let's have a little chat?"

"Chat what kind of trouble? Mama and Papa are inside, Dante. Lara also entered the room from earlier. I don't feel good about them, then they think we have nothing."

"It's not good, Al? Isn't that good?"

Mata Alisha buy. "Bab, Dante! What's so good?"