Chapter 4 [3] HER FATHER

Seconds before the will was read.

06 June 2014

It's been three days since Alvin, his wife, and their eldest child were buried. News about them spread throughout Indonesia. The owner of the second-largest retail business in Indonesia died tragically, filling many newspapers and online news pages. Also, broadcast on TV.

It's just that Fathia doesn't want to hear everything. To the girl, the three of them still existed in an important meeting discussed in Pandeglang. Fathia remembers that their visit was also intended for a new factory inaugurated soon.

A knock on her bedroom door made Fathia lift her face from the pillow. She didn't want to leave at all. To eat, Narti prepares and ensures that the young lady eats appropriately even though it's hard to persuade her.

"Come in, Ma'am," said Fathia, slightly tightening her voice. She thought Narti went inside, but she got the wrong idea. It was Tian who entered with a sharp look at her. Without hesitation, the man, without permission, sat on the edge of her bed. Not far from sitting Fathia, who is now looking at Tian full of curiosity. "Tian," she squeaked softly to ensure that this man she knew was the same person.

"Why don't you want to eat this morning?"

Fathia lowered her face again. She nodded slowly in response.

"Eat, Fathia."

Again, Fathia gave a shake. "I just want to come with Mommy and Felice."

One thing from now on, Fathia remembers about Tian's treatment of her. Without hesitation, Tian picked her up. Makes Fathia scream but is ignored. Until she was seated in the car that she knew belonged to the sharp-eyed man, only then did Tian speak. "We eat."

"But Fathia won't!"

"Eat, Fathia!"

For the first time, Tian used his authoritative voice. Making Fathia shrink her guts suddenly. All he did know was tightening his grip on the seat belt already wrapped around his body.

Along the way, Fathia did not speak. Same only with Tian. His strong arms gripped the steering wheel tightly without Fathia knowing. There was regret creeping into his heart because of the tone of his voice earlier. Until she turned off the roar of the car engine, indicating that she had arrived at her destination, the girl didn't want to say a word.

"We're here." Tian took off his seat belt and glanced at Fathia, who was also imitating his movements. "Sorry if I spoke harshly earlier."

Those words succeeded in making Fathia turn her head, making them finally meet. The eagle-like eyes had been replaced with such a calm gaze. Fathia remembers that Tian always gave her that look when she was between Felice and her fiancé. Yes, Tian is the fiancé of her sister. What Fathia feels, both feel the pain of losing the same person.

"Yes. I also apologizes for causing trouble."

A soft caress Fathia received, making him close for a moment. Enjoy. "Felice said you like the champion porridge here."

Then Fathia's eyes widened, and finally, she chuckled. Smiling with joy because this made her sad a little less. "Thank you, Tian."

"We eat, okay? This afternoon there will be a reading of the inheritance certificate from Mr. Ronald. You must know Mr. Ronald, right?"

Fathia's smile disappeared right then and there.

***

(now)

The man shook the contents of his glass. The clear liquid with the addition of orange slices became his loyal friend tonight. His workspace is a mess. As long as he was busy taking care of the Claire Group, his room was never tidy. Scattered various papers with lots of writing and numbers. His work screen is also still on as a sign that he is still struggling with work.

He smoked the cigar in his hand and exhaled loudly. His eyes were closed, enjoying the silence. Instantly the room was filled with smoke and a strong tobacco smell. He took another gulp of the glass he still had in his hand. He did this activity over and over again. Two things he likes in his busy schedule; are wine and cigars.

"Tian."

The man was annoyed. The trouble came back. It was eleven o'clock at night when he glanced at the Tag Heuer on his left arm. Tian didn't want to turn around because the footsteps were approaching him. The beautiful woman was not wrong. However.

"You're still working?" Mika walked gracefully, approaching the man sitting on the table's edge. Then she leaned back a little on the other side of the table. Watched the man who was still enjoying his cigar.

"What are you doing here?"

Mika smiled as sweetly as possible. She offered another activity that had been postponed. If she remembers what happened that day, her emotions return. Very upset with the figure of a long-haired girl named Fathia.

Her steps continued towards this messy but sexy-looking man. What is the proper pronunciation to describe the mess of a Tian? His hair was not neatly arranged, as usual, and the buttons on his shirt were not fully attached-revealing his chest, which was covered with hair, not to mention the look in his eyes that were still sharp.

"Accompany you, maybe?" The woman who had taken the time to put on make-up made this man want to look at her longer as close to Tian. The scent of her perfume blended with the puff of smoke earlier. She used her fingers presumptuously to touch Tian.

"Stop. I don't want to be caught by Fathia again." The finger Tian held it. Tian also looked at Mika with an embarrassed look. Tonight he didn't want to be disturbed.

Mika chuckled silently. Her heart was even more annoyed when she remembered the name Tian just said. "That kid must be asleep."

Tian quickly detached himself from Mika. "Fathia won't sleep if I don't go to her room, Mika. Do you know it."

"She's not your daugther, Tian. She doesn't need a fairy tale from you!"

Mika is right. She talked about the facts that happened between them here. There is nothing wrong with deviating from her words. But somehow, Tian provoked her anger. Tian looked at Mika with an embarrassed look not long after he left the woman alone. Make Mika frustrated because of Tian's attitude. Even though what the beautiful woman said was true, Tian still couldn't lie about a single fact. The figure of a girl growing up who might be curled up in her blanket must be lonely.

Fathia only has herself as a friend.

Tian remembered his past, especially the accident. An incident that Tian can not forget until now. Which often bothered her like a nightmare at night.

"I want to be alone." Fathia looked at the graves of her parents. Slightly bent down and knelt to take a closer look. Fathia did not want to move away from the burial area. She misses her parents and can't believe they have left Fathia forever.

"I'll accompany you then."

Fathia turned, and Tian did what he said. Kneel beside her. But Fathia didn't want to get any more mercy. So she said, "You can go home. I want to be alone."

"I won't leave you alone."

Tian saw the sadness in Fathia's eyes. Slightly stunned because Fathia's eyes are like a doll's. Those eyes were a beautiful hazel colour. But Tian immediately averted his gaze.

"I'm alone. No problem." Fathia smiled slightly. "Sorry, Tian. I really wants to be alone."

Tian insisted on staying by the little girl's side. Accompany him. Not only Fathia who felt lost. Himself too. Alvin Clairine's family was, to Tian, more than just family. Besides Alvin and his wife, Tian also noticed another tomb. Felice's.

"I miss you so much," Fathia cried again. It doesn't matter if Tian is beside her.

"It's me, Fathia. Do not be sad." Tian seemed to say things that many lies. Losing Felice when he started to feel love. The girl, in Tian's eyes, is independent, beautiful, and has a polite and friendly personality. They are engaged and will be getting married in a few months.

Unfortunately, Felice left Tian forever. The accident made Tian sad and shaken. He still remembers Felice's story on each date if Felice loves her sister so much.

"But... but... it hurts, Tian."

Tian heard the heartbreaking cry again.

"Why can't I just go with them? Who am I with now?" Fathia's shoulders shook violently.

Right. Fathia is one hundred per cent right. Who is she living with now? Felice had a lot to say about her extended family. In a way, Tian finally knows why Fathia is so protected in her luxurious house.

"It's me, Fathia. Calm down."

Alvin Clairine's two daughters are beautiful. Felice is black-eyed and has a firm and high-spirited personality. Meanwhile, Fathia has a brown eye colour and is more gentle. There is tenderness and warmth in Fathia's every action. Tian could feel the difference. "Is that true?"

Tian unhesitatingly nodded. He reached out his hand so they could hold each other. Not. Tian needs a grip so as not to fall at any time. The tragic loss of the woman he loved and the person he looked up to in life, Alvin Clairine, was a massive blow to him.

"Let's go home," he said. This is the first time they have touched since two years of knowing Fathia. And now, the hands that hold each other will continue to guard Tian just like he promised Felice one time on their date.

Tian will take care of Fathia.

***

Fathia almost fell to the floor when she woke up wanting to go to the toilet but saw Tian sleeping on her bed. Right beside him. Tian's habit of putting her to sleep, especially when Fathia missed her parents and sister, had not been done by the man for a long time, especially since Fathia graduated from high school.

The stiff-man was sleeping so soundly. Fathia vowed to remind herself to lock the bedroom door. She forgot, but she was angry. Once she arrived at the apartment, the only thing she could do was; slam the bedroom door violently. It doesn't matter if it breaks or hears Tian's exploding voice calling out to him.

All the way home, Fathia didn't want to talk anymore. She closed her lips. Don't want to argue or refute Tian's words. Apart from the sudden sadness, she felt that Tian, this time was right. Herself a burden to Sebastian Sachdev Rendra.

Who is she? Only a little girl inherited a lot of treasure. Luckily Tian didn't just throw it away. He was cared for appropriately and well even though he was often left to work. Closely monitored from afar. But what Tian said before Fathia got out of her luxury car made Fathia very angry.

"Never do as you please, Fathia. Follow me or I will leave you with the chaos going on."

Fathia's movement of pulling the car door handle stopped. "It means?"

"Claire Group is in crisis. I shouldn't worry about this, but you, "Tian pointed out, which made Fathia's hairs grow right then and there. It was as if Tian was giving a very harsh judgment of herself. "You live without thinking that I don't want anything to do with Claire anymore."

Fathia blinked twice. "I didn't ask Uncle to do this." Fathia's jaw tightened with emotion. Her fists were so strong that she felt a sting in her palms. "Uncle should bury everything Papa left, including me."

Tian looked at Fathia in disbelief.

"I remember very well Uncle once said, I'm just a burden. Yes... I am a burden."

Without looking at Tian again, Fathia immediately walked down the parking area. Her tears fell uncontrollably. If only he were not in a state of school exams at that time, maybe Fathia chose to go in the car her father was driving. She died in an accident on the spot right then and there. Thinking of nothing but being happy with her family in heaven.

It wasn't even that she felt this suffocating sadness.

Ah, Fathia doesn't want to bother. It's useless for her to think about this. Tian will still make her cornered even though Fathia's gratitude is not enough for her to give. Or is it already on par with the hurtful words that Tian has been saying lately? So instead of all her wrong thoughts bothering Fathia, she immediately chose to go to the toilet.

What a surprise after Fathia finished dealing with the toilet, the man who had been sleeping on the side of the bed had woken up. Sitting looking at Fathia without hesitation, a stiff impression was seen in Tian's eyes.

"Sit down."

"Why? Want to piss me off again?" The girl diverted her nervousness by smoothing her hair and pyjamas. Even though her heart still had annoyance, Tian's intimidating aura that filled her room was suffocating.

"No."

Fathia feels relieved now. Her exhalation was also much lighter than before. So she is free to breathe air as freely as possible. Tian's hand then patted the other side, which means there is an order for Fathia to obey. With a bit of calculation, Fathia followed the man's request, who didn't know what to think. Fathia feels that Tian has exceeded her limit if it's just a guardian.

"I'm sorry," Tian said after they had just been quiet. Even after Fathia sat tensely beside him, Tian could feel it.

"What Uncle said is true, really."

"Fathia." Tian felt almost desperate when he heard Fathia's words just now. His intentions weren't like that, but Tian always said the opposite for some reason. He was worried about the girl who left him alone in the restaurant. Plus, the girl's cellphone was deliberately turned off even though the danger lurked around her.

Tian did not count how many times he had repelled the threats aimed at this girl. Tian just wanted to make sure Fathia was safe. Like Fathia's current age, being free to go here and there without worrying about anything happening. But it's not an easy thing.

"I want to sleep again. Uncle can come out." Fathia got up from Tian's side. But Fathia's steps haven't moved away yet. Tian has pulled the girl. Hug her tightly. And accidentally, the two of them also fell onto the bed. Making Fathia just above Tian

Those light brown eyes stared at her in surprise at his situation. "Let go, Uncle!" she hissed angrily. Instead of being released, Tian dropped Fathia right beside him. Pull it back in the arms to make it more attached.

"I still remember, if you are scared, only my hug can soothe you. Until you fall asleep. Forget?"

Fathia growled in annoyance. "That was five years ago! I'm big now! Fear no more!"

"Then I'm the one who's scared." Tian didn't care how much Fathia's struggle tested him. But he remembered the last message of Alvin Clairine. Asking him to take good care of Fathia at the risk of his life.

"Fathia, please ! My head is so dizzy."

"Dizzy don't hug me dong! Hug Mika over there!"

Tian chose silence and rested the tip of his chin on the top of Fathia's head. "Sleep, Nessa."

Fathia was silent. Her body suddenly stiffened. That call. A small call from Tian for him. Which he hadn't heard in a long time. A fireworks spark in her chest started to appear, but she was also confused.

"What are you afraid of?" Fathia wanted to look up to make sure whether this strange man had fallen asleep or not. But all she saw was a jaw covered in fine hairs. Fathia wanted to touch him without hesitation, as usual. But now? She is afraid of overdoing it.

"Lots."

"One of them?" asked Fathia demandingly.

"You."

"Me? Tian is afraid of me?" Fathia sighed softly. "Not wrong? Those should have been my words-"

"Sleep." Tian lowered his gaze and found Fathia, who exactly looked up. Tian's memory of the beautiful little girl, once so fragile, now looks different. Her beautiful face dazzled the eyes of anyone who looked at her. The difference is that Felice, with an aristocratic line, also clearly shows her social strata. While Fathia, with her grace and tenderness.

Even though they are far apart, when Tian got to know Fathia, the girl was only thirteen years old. Being in a relationship with Felice was fun for Tian. Although it is rare to meet the little girl in his arms, Tian believes that when she grows up, a Fathia Bernessia will become a star who can bewitch anyone who sees her.

Without hesitation, Tian stroked Fathia's cheeks which were as white as marble. Be very careful when the surface of his hand touches Fathia's skin. Letting the hairs of her neck run down her whole body mercilessly. The girl's gaze seemed to add to the sense that she should apply the highest possible limit.

"Nessa."