Rebound: Nuance of Love

Copyright©2015 Evida Suntoyo

All rights reserved

Published by Indo Romance

Bogotá, Colombia

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Contents

"Are you serious?" Winnie almost jumped out of her seat.

"I have to do this, otherwise I'll lose him forever!" Tia replied with conviction as she observed the wedding invitation in her hand.

"But he's getting married!" Winnie tried to reason with her.

"And I'm going to stop him!" Tia nodded.

"You know, you're wasting your money and PTO days to chase some guy who is in love with another woman? On top of that she's our co-worker, and these two would have never met in the first place if it wasn't for you!" Winnie shook her head in disbelief.

"He's not just some guy. He's the love of my life, we've known each other since we were kids. I know you advised me so many times to be honest to him about my feelings and I realize too that it was my fault because I've always hesitated. Even after he began dating Daniyati, I was afraid to confess to him. That's why I'm not going to make the same mistake again. I'm not going to throw away my last chance to tell him that I've always loved him." Tia explained.

"You're crazy...you've lost it....." Winnie shook her head. "Isn't she crazy?" Winnie looked at her boyfriend sitting at the desk next to her.

"She's off the chart crazy!" Ronald agreed.

"Winnie, I can't stand here and do nothing while the love of my life ties a knot with another woman. I'm going to fight for him until the very end." She said with determination.

"I don't agree, I still think you're crazy, but if you're going to make it to Bali before his wedding this weekend, you better start looking for flight reservations, otherwise it'll cost you an arm and a leg." Winnie shrugged.

"Ugh, you're right." Tia sat back on her chair picking up her desk phone she dialed a number that was written on a post it stuck on her screen, "Hi, I need to book a flight to Bali for tomorrow. This afternoon? I'll take it!"

"This afternoon?" Winnie looked at her baffled.

"Winnie, I need to run, I saw that Mr. Ahmed hasn't been in the office all day, I'm sure that there won't be any staff meetings today. Do me a favor and tell my boss that I'm down with a cold and I need to go home. Please...please...please...." Tia clasped her hands in a begging gesture.

"Oh, fine! Now that we've agreed how you've gone crazy, I suppose there's nothing I can do but help you." Winnie exhaled while shaking her head.

"Thanks..." Tia hugged her while running out of the office.

* * *

Ahmed paced back and forward in the living room of his apartment, he held the wireless phone in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other. He pressed redial, but the phone rang and rang. He took another sip at his drink before dialing again. Finally somebody answered the phone.

"Hello..." Ali's voice sounded annoyed. "What is it Ahmed? Can't you call at a better time?"

"I desperately need to talk to someone." Ahmed argued.

He could hear Ali grumble, "Make it quick! At last the kids are sleeping. Between our state duties, our kids and the press, Mita and I at last have some alone time, and I intend to make the best out of it."

"How can you speak so coldly to your brother?" Ahmed sulked.

"Look Ahmed, it's not that I'm being unsympathetic to you. But you've been ranting about this Daniyati issue for months now, ever since she started dating that Jason guy. How many times have I told you to either try to win her back or let her go? But you didn't do anything about it, you did nothing but complain to Hafiz and me, and that's not going to help you in any way."

"I know but she's going to get married tomorrow."

"Good, then it's settled. Forget her!" Ali replied curtly.

"How can I forget her? She was the best thing that ever happened in my life."

"Well, you should have thought about that before bidding the project here in Jothar, knowing that it would consume all your time. She felt abandoned and lonely, she even came here to look for you, and you sent her back to Singapore without giving her the time of day. You would cut communications for months at a time with her, only concentrating on your job. Didn't Mita warn you that something like this would happen?" Ali preached.

"Brother, but I was trying to expand the company, I wanted it to grow, and she had her responsibilities towards the company too." Ahmed defended.

"Listen Ahmed, no matter how busy I am, I always make time for my family, and especially for my wife. Like now, I need to make time for her, I can't keep her waiting alone on the bed......"

"I don't understand why she couldn't have more patience and perseverance, at the end of the day my success would be her success. I know that I didn't do a good job at giving her the sense of stability about our relationship, but she should have understood, that I never had anybody else but her. I never looked at any other woman." Ahmed explained. "Ali, can you and Mita talk to her? Ali.....Ali....?" Ahmed frowned when he heard giggles and sighs instead of Ali's answer.

Ahmed threw the handset to the couch, cursing his brother under his breath. Ahmed took another gulp at his whiskey, he put the glass down on the coffee table, he threw himself on the couch, kicking and punching at the air. Grabbing a cushion he covered his face, muffling his own shouts. Suddenly Ahmed jumped from the couch, he rushed into his room, taking out his suitcase he threw in whatever clothes he could grab his hands on.

He picked up his cellphone, "Mama, I'm going to take a trip out-of-town." He called his mother.

"Ahmed, where are you going?" She asked.

"On a vacation, to take off some steam, I need your help to send someone to clean my apartment while I'm gone."

"But Ahmed, how long are you going to be away? What about work?"

"Mama, I'm sure the company can survive without me for a few days, but I have to do this. Bye...."

He hung up the phone, before quickly exiting his apartment, closing and locking the door behind him. In front of the building he hailed a cab and jumped in.

"Where to sir?" The taxi driver asked.

"The airport." Ahmed replied without thinking twice.

* * *

Ahmed got off the plane with his carry-on luggage, the hot and humid ambient was familiar to him, but there was this strange and mystical scent in the air that allured him.

He took out his cell phone from his pocket, dialing the office, he realized that even in his most desperate moment, he can't simply let go of his baby and leave it in the hands of others. "Dodi, I won't be coming in to the office today and tomorrow, and maybe next week too, but I still don't know for sure. What do you have there?"

"Everything is good here, sir. One of the Project Managers, Tia left the office early today, she said that she was sick with a fever." The voice from the other side reported.

"Who's filling in for her tasks?" Ahmed asked.

"I am sir."

"Okay, if anything comes up, call me!"

"Yes sir."

He put his phone in his pocket and walked out of the airport, grabbing the first available taxi he gave the name of the hotel where the wedding reception would take place, and where Daniyati was staying.

* * *

Ahmed read the sign with the name of the hotel. It wasn't a luxurious five-star hotel, the property consisted of several bungalows built between a wide areas of trees. Looking all over for the front desk, he saw an opened building towards his right hand side, he smiled as he walked to it.

"Good afternoon, sir." The young woman who was on duty greeted him putting both palms together in front of her chest.

"I'd like to book a room." He replied.

"I'm sorry to tell you that we don't have any rooms available at the moment. All rooms have been reserved by a group for a wedding ceremony." She replied with a kind smiled.

Ahmed gently hit the front desk with his fist, "Did all the guests check in?" He insisted.

"No, but the rooms have been reserved, and they haven't been released yet." She replied.

"So there is a possibility that some rooms will become available later today?" He asked wistfully.

"One room, yes." She nodded.

"What time will the room be released...., if the guest doesn't show up?" He chased.

"Three o'clock."

Ahmed looked at his wrist watch two forty five, fifteen minutes more. "Can I sit in the lobby while I wait to see if the guest or guests check in?" He asked while pointing to the couch in the corner of the room.

"Be my guest." She smiled.

"Thank you." He said as he walked to the couch and restlessly sat down, he grabbed a magazine from the side table and tried to read, although his mind couldn't quite focus on the articles.

* * *

Tia hopped off the taxi, the driver took out her suitcase from the trunk and put it on the ground. "Thank you!" She replied as she handed him the fare.

"Thank you, miss." He smiled to her as he walked back to the driver seat and drove away.

Tia observed the hotel looking for the front office, seeing the view, she couldn't help but shriek with joy. She saw a man walk in front of her, from the name tag on his shirt she could see that he was an employee there. "Excuse me." She called out, "Can you tell me where the front office is? I have a reservation here."

"Ah, of course, follow me." He replied, "May I help you with your bag?"

"Thank you..." She replied.

The man picked up her suitcase and walked in front of her. Tia followed closely after him. Her eyes shined as she saw the front office. The staff led her to the desk, putting her suitcase on the ceramic floor.

"Good afternoon." the receptionist greeted her.

"Good afternoon, I'm Tia Chang, I have a reservation." She said.

"Certainly, you're just in time, we were about to release the room," The receptionist explained, glancing to Ahmed who was looking towards the front desk with an upset face. "Although the published rate is per person, but the room price is for double occupancy, so you will have to pay the two pax coverage."

Tia sighed, this mission was going to cost her a lot of money.

Ahmed observed the young woman who was checking in, he recognized her from someplace, he finally realized who she was, and he slammed the magazine in his hand to the desk and walked towards her.

"Good afternoon Miss Tia Chang, how is your fever doing?" He asked tapping her shoulder from behind.

Tia turned, she became pale when she realized who he was, "Mr. Ahmed...." She said looking guilty.

"So you skipped out on work to come here."

"I'm sorry. Look I have a good explanation for this..." She tried to fix the situation.

"Actually, you don't need to tell me your reason, all you have to do is let me have the hotel room and I'll let you off the hook." He bargained.

"No!" Tia insisted, "I came all this way and spent so much money for a reason, and I'm not about to give it up for anything in the world, not even if it would cause me to lose my job!"

"Is that so?" Ahmed's brow arched. "And what reason is strong enough for you to risk losing your job over?"

"Love!" Tia replied with security, "I have to stop Jason from marrying Daniyati."

"You're here to stop the wedding too?"

"Too?" Tia looked at him in surprise.

Ahmed glanced at the two hotel employees who were looking at them, "Come here for one minute," He said while grabbing her wrist and dragging her away.

"I can walk by myself." She protested, almost falling forward.

Feeling that they were far from the employees, he stopped and turned to her, "You're saying that you're here to stop Jason and Daniyati from marrying, why?"

She looked at him suspiciously, but she considered that this maybe her one and only opportunity to reason with him, "Jason is my childhood friend, I've always had feelings for him but I never dared to tell him about it, because I didn't want to damage what we had, but this is my last chance, sir. If I don't tell him now, I'll never get another chance, please....please....don't make this difficult for me." She begged.

"Hmmm......" Ahmed rubbed his chin, "Okay, since I'm also here to stop Daniyati from marrying that man, I understand how you feel. Maybe we can help each other out."

"How do you propose we do that?" She looked at him hopefully.

Ahmed thought for a while, "I definitely need to stay here, if I go to another hotel, I would never get a chance to talk to her, because if I hang out here all day without being a guess in the hotel I might get arrested for stalking. On the other hand, if you succeed in winning Jason's heart and stop him from marrying Daniyati, she'd be heart-broken, and guess who'd be there to console her..." He smiled devilishly.

"You're right!" She agreed, "What do you suggest?"

"Simple, we'll share the room." He decided.

"What....?" She looked at him in disbelief.

"We both have to be here at the hotel to increase our possibilities to talk to them, and since there's only one room left in the hotel, we'll have to share it."

"How do you pretend I can win Jason's heart by sharing a room with another man?" She shrugged her shoulders and put her hands on her waist.

"That's all small details, come on, let's check in." Ahmed grabbed her wrist again to drag her back to the front desk.

"Hang on a minute, I never said that I agree." She pulled him back.

Ahmed looked at her, his business senses told him that he had to convince her first before he can start his plan to win Daniyati back, "Listen, if you'd share your room with me, you get to keep your job, and I'll pay for your expenses during your stay here."

Her eyes gleamed, "That sounds reasonable. I agree, but only if I get to use the bed!"

"Fine!" He replied with annoyance, "Now let's continue with the check in."

They walked back to the front desk, "We'll take the room!" Ahmed said to the receptionist while handing her his credit card.

"Um, you said that you're going to pay all of my expenses, right?" Tia asked as they arrived at the bungalow.

"Yes, that's right!" Ahmed affirmed.

"Okay, then what are you waiting for? Tip the guy!" She said while gesturing to the hotel employee.

Ahmed gave her an evil look while taking out his wallet and giving a one dollar bill to the attendant. He waited until the bell boy left before closing the door, "Hey, we don't have much time, we have to do something drastic to stop the wedding tomorrow." He said to Tia.

"What do you mean the wedding tomorrow? The wedding isn't for another three days." She replied.

"In three days?" Ahmed repeated. "Then why did you have to skip work?"

"Oh, that? It's because I bought the promotional flight, when you need something cheap, you can't be picky about the time frame."

"Huh! I don't know why I have so many lazy and irresponsible people on my payroll. I have to improve the selection process" Ahmed mumbled, he dropped his carry-on bag on the couch then said. "Okay, let’s go!"

"Where to?" She questioned.

"I forgot to pack my underwear, I have to go out and buy some! I can't go looking for Daniyati if I'm not fully confident with myself" He replied calmly.

"Why do I have to go with you to buy your underwear?" Tia complained.

"I'll need someone to carry my shopping bags. And who better than someone who is already employed by me." He peaked at his wrist watch, "It's three thirty Thursday, the last time I checked you're still in your work hour."

"But...but..."

"Do you want to keep your job?"

"But you said...Oh, fine!" She pouted while walking to the door, opening it and stepping out.

Ahmed followed behind her, he locked the door and pocketed the key, looking from left to right he urged her to walk faster.

"Why are we acting like thieves?" Tia asked.

"I don't want Daniyati to see me just yet, I'm not ready." He whispered.

"Why are you whispering?" She asked again.

"Stop asking so many questions! Move it!" He hushed her with his hand.

Ahmed dragged her a few meters away from the hotel before stopping a taxi and hopping in. "Take us to the department store." He said to the taxi driver.

* * *

Tia wished that the earth would swallow her whole as she stood by Ahmed's side while he was picking out boxers. She turned away to not seem so conspicuous that she was with him.

"Hurry up! What's taking you so long?" She nagged.

"I'm done, let's go to the cashier and pay. Here, take the basket!" He passed the basket over to her.

"This is embarrassing." She mumbled.

"You should feel honored,” Ahmed mocked walking beside her through the department store aisle. Suddenly he caught sight of Daniyati and her fiancé, "She's here!" He exclaimed.

"Where?" Tia tried to see what he was talking about.

"There, twelve o'clock and heading our way." He looked to see if they could slip and hide anywhere, but they were at the women's lingerie section with nowhere to go but forward or back. "Quick, act natural and authentic, pretend that you're choosing something! Maybe they won't notice us." He ordered, pushing Tia who was pale with nervousness at seeing Jason by the forearm to face the rack and taking the basket from her hand.

"Ahmed...?" He heard Daniyati's familiar voice calling him.

Ahmed spun to face her putting on a big smile, "Daniyati, fancy meeting you here."

"Jason, this is Ahmed, my e..my boss, I've told you about him before." She told Jason, "Ahmed, why are you here?"

"Me? I'm here because...because....." Ahmed searched his mind for a good excuse, he remembered that the hotel was reserved by her group, so he had to justify the reason he's staying there, "I'm here for your wedding, yeah...I'm here as a guest to attend your wedding."

"Did we invite you?" Jason looked with disbelief and suspicion.

Tia hurriedly grabbed a piece of lingerie and tried to cover the side of her face with it.

"No...no...you didn't, not me, but you did invite my girlfriend, yeah she is a friend of yours and I'm here as her plus one."

"Girlfriend?" Tia, Jason and Daniyati asked almost spontaneously.

"Yeah, I'm sure you know Tia Chang, I think she's a childhood friend of yours Jason." He said while grabbing Tia who was trying to slip away.

"Tia, I thought you weren't coming..." Jason said when he saw her.

"Hi Jason, Hi Daniyati, yeah I changed my mind." She replied while smiling awkwardly, she threw the lingerie in her hand to the basket that Ahmed was holding.

Daniyati's face turned pale as she glanced at the basket in Ahmed's hand, "Ah, you're here on a weekday........, to accompany your girlfriend..............., and the two of you are shopping....... for under garments, how sweet."

"So when did the two of you started dating?" Jason interrogated.

"Us? Oh about what was it, a month ago?" Ahmed looked at Tia.

"Yes, a month ago." Tia parroted.

"Tia, usually you tell me about everything, how come you never mentioned that you were dating the big boss of the company you're working for?" Jason interrogated.

"Well, that's because...you know....Ahmed can explain that better....." Tia decided to throw the ball at Ahmed.

"Well, of course we decided to keep quiet about it, because we didn't want the other staff to start talking and gossiping, you know, that would disturb the work atmosphere and it can affect the productivity..." Ahmed invented while putting his arm around Tia's shoulder.

"That's right!" Tia nodded, "It happened exactly the way he said it"

"Huh! Interesting." Jason looked at them sharply.

"Enough about us." Ahmed cut, "What are you guys doing here, in the department store?"

"Oh, we're buying some supplies for tomorrow, we're going on a tour to one of the smaller islands." Daniyati explained.

"One of the smaller islands?" Ahmed eyes shun, "Which island?"

"Lembongan." Jason said.

"He's going to go diving." Daniyati explained.

"And do you dive too?" Tia asked.

"No, I'm going to wait in the island, I'd probably go snorkeling near the beach." Daniyati said

"Ah....." Ahmed nodded while rubbing his chin seeing his opportunity.

"We'll go first." Jason said, "We'll see you at the hotel then. Tia, we need to talk."

"Of course.....you can just find me, or I'll find you..." She smiled.

After they walked away, Ahmed dodged Tia with his elbow, "See, there's our chance, we need to arrange to go the island tomorrow."

"Yeah you're right, as soon as we arrive at the hotel, we should ask the people at the front desk for information."

"Good!" He nodded. "Let's go to the cashier and pay."

"Okay..."

Ahmed took out the clothing from the basket and put it on the counter, turning to her he commented, "Didn’t I tell you to act natural and authentic?"

"Yes, why?" She asked.

"There's no way on earth anybody is going to believe that you're a 36 C!" He said lifting up the lingerie she threw in to the basket while looking at her chest.

"Pervert!" Tia covered her chest with one arm and snatched the lingerie from his hand.

"No..no...no....didn't I say that I'll pay all your expenses?" He snatched it back while smiling audaciously.

* * *

"I can't believe that we're here in Bali and you made me eat KFC!" Tia mumbled while sitting at the back seat of the taxi.

"Well you saw it yourself, that was the easiest place to go!" Ahmed defended, "And remember, we're here for our mission, not to waste time eating in restaurants."

"Ugh, you're just cheap, that's all." She pouted.

* * *

"Let's go to the reception." Ahmed said as they arrived back at the hotel, "Don't forget to bring the bags."

"Yes, boss!" She responded.

"Good evening..." He saluted the receptionist.

"Good evening, sir." The receptionist greeted her by placing both palms together in front of her chest.

"We're interested to know about a small Island that is off the coast of Bali." Ahmed explained, "I think you need to go there by boat, and it has a place where you can go diving and snorkeling."

"Certainly, sir. I think you are talking about Lembongan Island, you can reach it by cruise boat from The Marina in Benoa, or you can charter a boat at Sanur Beach."

"Hmm....Did you reserve a tour for the bride and groom to be?" He leaned over the counter.

"Let me see...." The receptionist said while opening her thick agenda. "Yes I did..."

"Can you reserve a seat for me and my lady friend here for the same boat for tomorrow?" He asked.

"I can't reserve for tomorrow, sir. Their office is closed already. I can call them first thing tomorrow morning and reserve for the next day."

Ahmed sighed in disappointment, "That won't be necessary."

"If you want to go to the Island tomorrow, the best thing to do is to go to Sanur Beach and find a boat."

'"I see." He nodded, "I suppose that's the best way to approach it." He said to Tia, "Come on, let's go back to the room."

"But I want to go and see if I can find Jason." She argued, "I want to talk to him."

"Okay, then I'll see you later, I'm going to shower and take a rest, and I don't think this is a good time for me to talk to Daniyati, not after meeting her and her fiancé at the department store. And at sunset like this is the ambient where lovers like to be romantic with each other, something we should rather avoid seeing."

"Ah, I don't plan in wasting my time!" She rebutted stubbornly.

Ahmed shrugged, "Suit yourself."

"Here, you'll need your gear after you've showered." She said putting the shopping bag in his hand.

* * *

Tia walked in the hotel complex, she didn't know which room Jason was staying in, and she considered that it wouldn't be a good idea to look for him there.

She walked to the swimming pool, from the distance she could see his familiar silhouette, excitedly she jumped forward to call him when she realized he wasn't alone. His future bride was with him. From her spot she could see him pulling Daniyati close and kissing her lips. Tia felt a painful pang in her chest.

"Of course he'd be with her, what did I expect?" She said to herself, "They came here to have their wedding ceremony."

She realized that Ahmed was right, the scenery, the surrounding, it all reflected romance, naturally they would be all ardent with amour.

She stepped back and headed to her room. Ahmed had left the door closed, but he didn't lock it. She opened the door gently and entered dejectedly. She could hear the shower in the bathroom running. Tia threw herself on the bed, lying face down and sulking.

She let her thoughts drift remembering her fond memories with Jason, she had all the chances in the world to confess to him, but regrettably she threw them all away. And now it was almost too late to win him back.

She heard the rustle of the bathroom door opening as Ahmed stepped out from the bathroom covered with only a towel around his waist.

"What are you doing?" She shouted her face becoming red, then she started throwing everything she could grab at him.

"Hey stop that!" Ahmed barked as he dodged the flying objects. "Stop throwing things."

Tia extended her hand, and without realizing it, she grabbed the coconut shell mint bowl that was on the table, as she threw it at him, Ahmed deflected by pivoting to his right causing his towel to slip off.

Seeing him in his birthday suit, Tia opened her mouth to scream, realizing the ruckus she was about to cause, he quickly snatched the towel to cover his modesty before jumping to her side and clasping her mouth with his hand and holding her firmly against his body.

"Are you out of your mind?" He hissed. "Do you want everybody to come here to see what's going on?"

His words got through to her. When she stopped wriggling, Ahmed asked, '"Have you calmed down?"

She nodded.

"Do you plan to scream again?" He asked again.

She shook her head.

He let go of her, "You should have given me a heads up that you were already in the room. I didn't know that you were here!"

"You were right." She said softly, "It was a bad idea to find him at this hour."

"Good, that's why next time you should listen to wise old Mr. Ahmed!" He said, taking his bag and entering the bathroom to put on his clothes. "Okay you should take a shower and let's call it a day. Tomorrow we have a long day ahead of us."

Tia nodded, agreeing with him, she chose her clothes and carried it to the bathroom. Tia closed the door and locked it. She covered her face with the palm of her hands in shame remembering the incident that happened a few minutes ago in the bedroom.