The Price of Sainthood
Must be!

The dinner with the two families lasted a long time because it was accompanied by planning the match between their sons. Parents and prospective female fiancees look happy, while other sights are seen from prospective male fiancees.

Yes, Dante felt uncomfortable being there, but could do nothing. It was like being trapped even though it all started of its own accord. He doesn't talk much. Just forced a smile and occasionally replied while nodding when questioned by his future in-laws.

There were a lot of questions crammed into his brain. I don't know why he feels like everything that's been going on lately is related. Starting from Alisha's change of attitude, the girl's rejection of her, also this matchmaking event. Could this be just a coincidence? Or is it something intentional?

I don't know. Dante can't be sure yet. He did feel there was something strange with this fast and easy matchmaking process.

How not? Like him, Lara had also refused this matchmaking desperately. So, how can the girl show readiness when she also has no other choice? Lara even looks very happy at the moment. Very far from his expectations that think the girl who will be his soul mate will present with a face wrapped in sadness.

It's totally beyond belief.

***

Lara's gaze could not be separated from the figure opposite her. Youth with a bright color blazer jacket that accidentally inched part of his arm. The same figure as the young man who had some time ago had gotten acquainted with him, but this time with a much different appearance. This time he looks very classy with everything that is expensive. Guaranteed, girls' eyes won't blink once they see it.

Unfortunately, Lara accepted the matchmaking was not purely because of charm. He has other intentions behind it. Of course this is a big plan that many people do not know about. Including his parents.

At least that covert plan treats the disappointment a little. Because, the young man named Dante who will become her husband was apparently a cold man who was difficult to conquer.

If other men immediately bend their knees to him in just one blink of an eye, Dante just does not show his attention even though Lara has shown her charm. Beauty and beauty of appearance mean nothing at all.

However, Lara didn't break charcoal. He had a myriad of ways to attract Dante even though the young man felt compelled.

***

Time rolled very slowly for Alisha as she passed the days without Dante beside her. It's been a week since the painful event happened. Alisha looks better than ever. He is stronger and stronger after going through a heavy process without a loved one.

Why does it feel heavy? Obviously, because he had to change habits drastically. The existence of Dante seems to have a big impact on his life. Indirectly Dante has made it so dependent. So that when Dante is not around, Alisha becomes confused. The girl felt her days were empty. And if Dante's face came back to his mind, he could only shed tears.

Luckily, Alisha is surrounded by good people who are able to strengthen themselves. Not only mother and friends, but the presence of the helper named Mayang and her husband named Brian was also able to divert it from sadness.

Such a well-matched couple were very good people. They never looked at caste in association. Helping without wanting a reward. Absolutely sincere from the heart.

Mayang who was pregnant was not even reluctant to visit Alisha and her mother in their rented. While Brian the husband is always on standby to accompany his wife. The sad circumstances of the contract where Alisha lived did not dampen their spirits at all. Many times Mayang offered to help, but Alisha always refused.

Reason simple. Alisha doesn't want to take advantage of the kindness of people like them. He believes, with great effort, he will succeed in living a decent life and elevating the degree of his birth mother.

Again he had to strengthen himself because every place he passed had his own memories with Dante.

"could. I should be able to. I have to be as happy as Dante is with Lara." I don't know how many times Alisha tried to strengthen herself. It's as simple as that happy benchmark. I saw Dante happy.

Somehow he was sure that Dante and Lara were happy. Light only. Which young man could resist Lara's charm? The girl was perfect and had everything. It is very unbalanced if he is compared to Lara.

If only he wanted to be selfish, maybe now he is happy with Dante even without the blessing of Dante's parents. But unfortunately, the words of Lara at that time made her full and soul as her brother thrashed. If required to sacrifice love or brotherhood, then Alisha chose to sacrifice love because her instinct is to love Lara, either as a friend, or as a brother.

"Do you know who Dante is?"

That time, after Robby finds Alisha to warn her to stay away from her son, Lara finds Alisha with a tear-filled face.

"He is my future husband" Lara continued with a fiery look. "He left me for you! What a lack of me, huh! What's my fault for being dumped by my parents and my future soul mate! And kamu–" Lara accused Alisha of anger. "You deliberately lured Dante into falling in love with you. For what? To complete my suffering! You've taken Papa's heart! Suddenly came as a child! Then you'll take Dante too? Take, Alisha! Take everything! I could be alone. I don't need you all!"

"Well!" Alisha prevented Lara who had turned her body from leaving. Honestly, she does love Dante, but Alisha doesn't want to hurt Lara. Everything just happened before he even knew it all. Lara's bitter cries further added to Alisha's chest tightness. Alisha wants to restore the situation as before despite having to sacrifice her feelings.

"I don't want it all, Lara." Alisha who started crying clasped Lara's hand tightly so that the girl would not leave. "I don't want Papa. I don't want treasure. I don't want Dante either. I just want our relationship to improve like everyone else, Lara. I want you first."

Alisha paused her speech due to the uncontrollable crying. He wiped his tears and set his breath so he could speak calmly.

"I'll stay away from Dante for you, Lara. I would even avoid Papa whenever the man invited me to meet. But I beg you, forgive me." Alisha pleaded as she cupped her hands in front of her chest. And ... The play began.

Alisha rubbed her face violently. Every time he remembered the event, his tears were always filled without being asked. He went back to pedaling his bicycle ontel strongly. The delivery of cakes with a short distance he traveled with a bicycle trampling to reduce expenses.

The scorching sun that afternoon did not even manage to dampen his spirit. Even because she was so excited, Alisha did not see a hollow road in front of her. He hit the hole just like that to make his bike goosebumps and he almost fell.

Although he remains safe, but unfortunately not so with his luggage. The medium-sized cardboard box containing the customer's order cake fell into the street in an inverted position. Some are still safe in the box, but some are scattered in the middle of the road.

Luckily, the pastry was packed in thick clear plastic, so it didn't break and could still be saved. Alisha breathed a sigh of relief as she examined the first pouch she picked up.

However, just as she was about to pick up some of the others, Alisha gasped when suddenly the car horn sounded from behind and was startling. Alisha who was in a crouching position did not even have time to save herself because the luxury car seemed to appear suddenly. Maybe because Alisha is too focused on her luggage so she does not realize it.

In a state of desperation and helplessness, Alisha could only scream while covering both ears using her palms. Both of his eyes also had a closed reflex. Resigned, he could only curl up in the middle of the road.