DRIVING ME CRAZY (ENGLISH)

CHAPTER 1 : Flashback

Paris, 08:15 Am.

A girl tied her hair carelessly, wearing a soft pink scarf made by herself, then grabbed a thick white fur coat that she hung in her wardrobe, with a black bot, she was ready out of her mink apartment and welcoming winter that's been coming a few weeks ago.

Mikaela Cindy, the beautiful girl will meet her helper angel today, right on her 24th birthday. She's been making an appointment after almost a year not meeting that man. Taking a taxi, Mikaela headed to one of the famous cafes on the streets of Paris.

It has been seven years since his father went forever and left her alone in this world.

In the past, she was a girl who had sufficient before her father went bankrupt and was died because of heart attack.

In the past, she was a Princess for her father. A lucky girl, given her wealth, an intelligence and a face that makes many men chasing her.

But now, she is nobody, but only an ordinary girl who tries to lives her days very ordinary. It turns out that a pretty face will not be enough in this world, she must struggle to face the rigors of life.

Now Mikaela only lives with Salma, a woman who already Mikaela considers like her own mother, because since childhood, that old woman who raised Mikaela, since her mother died they became very close, someone who always coddle Mikaela, who never leaves her in difficult times.

In just minutes Mikaela has arrived at the café, the street is not stuck, unlike her hometown. Many people choose to walk or take the bus instead of carrying their own vehicle.

A waiters greet her, as already knowing that Mikaela is coming. Waiters took Mikaela to the top floor. Unroofed floor, with ornate flowers and greenery surrounding it.

Rendy! I miss you!" Mikaela shouted happily hugging a man who she considered as her brother.

"Happy birthday, Princess." He said to reply Mikaela's embrace.

"So where is the gift for me? You do not forget, right?" Mikaela took off her arms.

"Where can I forget your birthday, your gift will get to your house tomorrow."

"Thank You." Mikaela smiled for joy.

"And also, congratulations on your graduation, sorry I could not attend last month."

"No problem, as long as ..."

"Tomorrow you'll receive it, your graduation gift."

Mikaela was stunkling.

Oke. The man is Rendy Leonard Sandjaya.

Who doesn't know that man now? Handsome CEO, the only heir of his father's company, Mister Sandjaya.

Mikaela is already acquainted with Rendy since high school, Rendy is a senior to her. His father was one of the most wealthy and most influential people in Indonesia, no wonder now Rendy became a success like this, he inherited the intelligence of his father. And Rendy is Mikaela’s Archangel helper.

***

Flasback on

Seven years ago..

"Danu said, we only given one week to empty this house, Miss."

After Mikaela's father dies and his company goes bankrupt, Mikaela has no more, except insurance money from her father. Her house and estate were seized by the bank. While closing her eyes, Mikaela tried to strongly confront all the bad things that overpower her.

"Salma, I'll give half the insurance elbow to you and Tarjo. You can open a pastry shop in the village later."

Salma approached Mikaela and sat beside the girl. "I want to go with you, you know that I dont have anyone else?"

Mikaela knows, Salma was the widow of one child. Her daughter had died of dengue fever before Salma worked at her home. Salma's child should be older than Mikaela.

"But I can not give you a salary anymore."

"I do not need a salary, Miss, I already consider you as my own daughter. I will take care of you like my child. Please, let me following wherever you go."

Mikaela cried again. Either time Mikaela was crying this week, but his tears did not dry up as well, making Mikaela tired. She hugged Salma closely. "Everywhere?"

"Yes, everywhere," Salma started to tears.

"Alright, let's go from here, from this House."

***

Then, Mikaela decided to leave by taxi she went to Danu's house, someone who would help Mikaela withdraw his insurance funds, as well as Martha's lawyer, Mikaela's father. Not just asking for help, Mikaela will also refuse the assistance that Danu will give to her, which is a small rented house that Mikaela lived alongside Salma. According to Mikaela Danu already helped her a lot and Mikaela did not want to bother the man who was his father's good friend.

Dont know what Danu to do with Rendy, but Mikaela saw Rendy when he reached Danu's house.

"What are you doing here?"

"I just visited." He answered casually.

Mikaela does not want to respond, someone like Rendy, and remembering how amazingly Rendy's father, of course it will always be related with the lawyer. Rendy probably offered a job on Danu who had just lost his job after Mikaela's father's company went bankrupt.

"Well, I’ll go then. Don't forget to let me know." Rendy farewell and left a message to Danu.

After Rendy left, without a stale Mikaela expressed what it meant to Danu.

"Where are you going to go, Dear?"

"I do not know, but I must be safe, because I’m with Salma."

"You're still in school, at least stay in my house, and finish up your school. I will be responsible, after all my wife will be very pleased with your courage."

"Thank you uncle, but this city is too painful for me, I can't stay here with bad memories."

Danu just sigh, he knows it's very heavy for Mikaela.

"Uncle, don’t worry, I would definitely continue my school well, I already have money insurance is not it? Even I would later go to my dream college."

"You have to promise me to continue your study, because your father has been messaging to guarantee your life and you have to promise to let me know when you can calm yourself."

"I promise uncle. Can I ask for one more help?"

"Whatever I will do to help you."

"Can you take care of my school? I mean my resignation from school, right now. And do not give me anyone my address, just say I moved school."

"What is the best for you?"

"I guess for now, yes. I beg you, Uncle."

"Well, I'll help you."

***

"What are you doing here?"

When she came out of Danu's house, Mikaela saw Rendy standing leaning on his car.

"Waiting for you, what's more?"

"You needs something?"

"Come with me for a while." Rendy attracted Mikaela's hands into his car, Rendy also told Salma to sitting in the back seat.

"What happen?" Mikaela confused, didn’t know where Rendy would take her.

"You will know later."

"If you just want to take me to their place, I don't want it."

"You mean Darren and Daffa? Where might I bring you to Singapore now?"

"I don't want to meet them."

"Please meet them."

"Even you? Darren told me to go see Daffa and accept his love, and you also told me to do that now?"

"I'm not saying you should accept Daffa's love."

"I'm going to go, I don't want to meet them, I don't know what I would do if I met them. I love Darren, but Darren did not want me, he just want me to be Daffa's side who lying because of coma."

"I know." Rendy busy driving his car.

"I'm going to leave this town."

Heard that, sentence Rendy Reflex stepped on his crump.

"Where you wanna go, Mikaela?"

"I can not stay here anymore, too many memories are painful for me."

"Where you wanna go?" Rendy repeats his question again.

"Everywhere, I'm with Salma."

"Go to Paris."

Mikaela frowned his forehead.

"Go to the place where Darren and Daffa cannot reach you."

"What do you mean?"

"Go to Paris, continue your study there, I'll take care of everything."

"No, thank you, but I don't want to burden you. My insurance money was just enough to continue my school until college, I had to find a decent place to stay for us and to eat."

"I will take care of it, all. I will take care of it."

"No."

"Then, where you wanna go?"

"Please, drop us here."

"Then, Darren will be attacking you before Daffa. Look, and prove it."

"He will still meet me wherever I go."

"No, I'm the one who will guarantee it."

"But ..."

"For your good, go, and return if you are ready."

"I will pay you." said Mikaela finally, there is doubt in his speech.

"Yes, well, pay it if you've been successful."

Mikaela smiled, maybe it was a tough decision for her, but where else did she have to leave? She promises to pay everything to Rendy someday. Definitely.

In that day, Rendy took care of everything that Mikaela needs with the help of his father's closest man. Even Rendy sent one of them to accompany Mikaela to Paris.

In Paris there was a residence for Mikaela, and the next day, she was enrolled in one of the pretty good schools in Paris.

Rendy really kept his promise. After several months in Paris, she did not hear from Darren at all. Rendy did not give news about the twins, Darren and Daffa. Mikaela will continue to live his life like any other ordinary girl. Without anyone, without his best friend. Although there was an empty sense in her heart left someone she loved. Darren.

Flashback off

***

"So, what is your plan after this?"

"I'm going to work, I may not continue to bother you."

"Where are you going to work?"

"You do not have to worry, I've put some applications in the company here, so you can calm down."

"You're very independent now."

"Of course, I'm so grateful to you, if without your help, I'm sure--"

"How about aunty Salma?" Rendy cut Mikaela's speech.

"She gained weight." Mikaela's whisper is shaking.

"I'll also send gift to Salma."

Their order was up to the right time, Mikaela was hungry since the morning didn't get breakfast. He ordered a big size cheesecake and one cup of hot chocolate.

"You haven't changed."

"Really?"

"Yes, still like a kid, your boyfriend doesn't complain you, huh?"

"Hey, you just want to know if I have a boyfriend or not? The answer is no."

“Really? But you're so pretty."

"I never thought about it for the past seven years, I was busy with my college."

"But there are some men who approach you."

Mikaela frowned her forehead. "Where did you know?"

The man cleared his throat. "I just guessed it. Finish your cake."

"Rendy?”

"Yes?"

Actually Mikaela wanted to ask him something, but she hesitated, whether to question him or not.

"Yes, Darren was engaged."

Without hearing what Mikaela would ask, Rendy could have guessed the question.

"Oh, it turned out."

"Where did you know that news?"

"Daffa contacted me a month ago, he preached his marriage."

"Are you okay?"

"Sure."

"I forgot to thank you."

"For what?"

"Bring me together with Daffa a year ago. Since then, we often communicate, our relationship has improved, this is all because of you, and then because you I can apologize to him for our past. And now we can be good friends. "

"Are you glad?"

"Of course."

"Then when you will back to Indonesia?"

"I dont know yet."

"Are they already living their lives? Daffa is married, Darren is engaged, and he will marry soon."

And I'm still stuck in the past. Inner Mikaela.

Yes, Mikaela's feelings are still the same as seven years ago. But what can she do? She was the one who leave her first love. At that time, Mikaela was still very young, still seventeen years old and had to bear a very heavy burden. What else can she do besides going to leave all his burdens?

"I want to work first, I want to restore my debt to you."

"Work in my company."

“No. I don't want to work because of someone's help, I want to make money with my own hard work, and then change yours."

Rendy chuckled. "Well, if you're tired, just come to me."

"By the way, how about you? Why you’re not married yet?"

"I'm still young Mikaela, twenty six years old."

"And you've been very great at your age, Ren. Sometimes I feel jealous."

"I only do my father's business."

"It’s same. You've got everything."

"Spending your food, my time is not much, I have to come back to Singapore this afternoon, there is something important there."

"Wow, you're just arrived last morning and will be back to Singapore this afternoon?"

"Why not?"

"What do you do here then?"

"Of course meet my sister." Rendy wiped out a darling Mikaela head. He looked at the girl's face after a year of not meeting because of one and two things that did not allow him to meet Mikaela.

He missed that girl, too bad.

TBC ......