DRIVING ME CRAZY (ENGLISH)

CHAPTER 12 : A Little Worries

Traffic jam had became a very common sight in Jakarta. Horns shouted everywhere. Hoping on a little road gap for a vehicle to move forward. Darren massaged his temples, because he had been stuck in traffic for more than an hour.

His father's driver picked him up at the airport right when he arrived, but what could he say, he shouldn't be surprised anymore with this traffic jam even though he spent more than half his age in other countries.

Darren leaned his tired back, looking outward, filled with only cars to the right and left. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and chose to close his eyes.

Unable to sleep, he opened his eyes again, looked for a cellphone in his pocket, and contacted someone.

"Good afternoon, Sir."

Greeted someone on the phone.

"Have you come to my office?"

"Of course, sir, Darren."

The woman's voice a little chuckled, like teasing Darren. She was Anna.

"Good for you, stay there until I return."

"Hmmm, you are really my most troublesome friend, at night calling me all of a sudden you tell me to come to your office." Grumbled Anna.

"Hey, where are you talking now?" Darren was  worried that someone was listening to Anna’s talk.

"Of course in your office, on the table that has been prepared for me until your secretary is healed."

"Where is she?"

"Don't worry, she won't hear, I'm far from her."

"That's not what I mean, I don't like it when my employees gossip during work hours."

"Don't worry, I've been watching her. She is very diligent."

"Hmm .. How's the hand?" There was little doubt when Darren asked that.

"It's a bit swollen, and it looks like it's still hard to move."

Darren was silent, not knowing how to respond.

"Don't worry, I'll help her. It looks like she's so special to you."

"Don't get me wrong, she's my employee, of course I only did it because I didn't want her work to be interrupted and messy."

"Yes, yes, yes, how unique you are."

"Besides, she helped Caroline yesterday, I just returned the favor."

"You explained in great detail, even though I didn't ask. Hmm .. well, looks like she needs help. I'll help her first."

"Okay."

"Bye, Darren."

Darren closed his cell phone immediately.

That's right, what was Darren worried about? He only felt a little sorry for Mikaela for having to work with swollen hands. After all, Mikaela was like that because she helped Caroline. Naturally, Darren had a little sympathy for her.

Darren's consciousness returned to his surroundings, apparently he was free from the traffic jam. The car was already moving at medium speed, heading to his house.

Once arrived, Darren got out of his car.

His mother and father were waiting right in front of the door. Darren hugged them tightly in turn.

"Are you tired, dear?" Ema asked, who did not want to release her arms from Darren.

"A little bit, Mom."

"Let him in first, he looks short of breath, you hug him too hard." said Brata. "You never hugged me that hard."

Ema let go of her arms and hit Brata's arm slowly. Darren just smiled at the behavior of his parents who, although they were old, were still intimate. Darren hoped thatCaroline and he would be like his father and mother later.

Ema immediately led Darren to the living room, there were already warm drinks and some cakes for Darren.

"Where are they?" Darren asked, looking at a quiet house.

"They will arrive soon." answered Ema understood who was asked by Darren.

Shortly thereafter, a voice called out to Darren cheerfully.

"Darren!"

Darren turned to the sound. "Shine." He rose from his seat and moved to embrace the cute girl with wavy blond hair.

Behind the girl, Daffa was seen smiling.

"You don't call me first if you want to come. I can pick you up." said Daffa.

"It's okay, the driver has picked me up."

They sat down again together. Ema told her maid to make drinks for Daffa and her daughter-in-law, Shine. "

"How are you, Shine?"

"I'm fine."

"You look a little full now, are you pregnant?"

Shine blushed. "Of course not!" she objected quickly.

Darren chuckled. "I'm just kidding, you can't get pregnant if you haven't honeymooned yet." teased Darren.

" Daffa is so bad, he's very busy, so there's no time to go for a honeymoon."

Brata and Ema only listened to the conversation of their three children with a smile, their faces seemed happy to see their children getting very close.

Yes, they already considered Shine as their own child. Since they brought Shine who was 12 years old to their home. And now the girl really became their child because she was married to Daffa, although there were several reasons why Daffa married her when she was 19 years old.

"I have offered him for a honeymoon to my villa in Thailand, I even book tickets for you guys."

"Really?"

"Yes, but it seems he has more important matters than that." Darren looked at Daffa meaningfully.

Likewise Daffa also looked at him.

"You just enjoy your time, we want to go for a while." said Brata, blinking one eye while sipping his hot black coffee.

"Dad, mom, remember your age!" Shouts Shine saw the two couples leave while embracing each other in front of them.

Ema giggling, amused by Shine's scream.

"Shine." Daffa's voice called his wife inside.

Shine turned around with a look of dislike.

"Can you leave us alone?" Daffa continued speaking as softly as possible.

"No!" said Shine.

"There's something I want to talk to him." Daffa's eyes pointed at Darren.

"I don't want to. I want to hear it too."

Knowing his wife's stubborn and childish nature, Daffa approached and gently stroked Shine's hair.

"What do you want? Vacation? I'll take you on vacation." Daffa coaxed, smiling softly at Shine.

Darren sat quietly watching them both. He really liked the scene when Daffa was seducing Shine who, as usual, was very spoiled, stubborn and indisputable. Darren smiled sarcastically in his coffee glass, he was really interested in how his twin would succumb to Shine, his spoiled younger sister  who remained spoiled even though she was now married to Daffa.

"You're just lying, you promised me after marriage you would take me to a Europe trip, but you were busy taking care of something that I didn't know about." Shine's face looked very upset.

Darren increasingly enjoyed it.

"That's because the time is not right yet. Alright, let's go to Japan this month." Daffa did not change her tone even though Shine was already angry at her.He was used to being gentle with Shine, for him Shine's nature could not be opposed hard.

"Really? You promise to take me there?" Shine's eyes sparkled.

Finally, Daffa can smile with relief. "Yes, but next week I have business in Singapore, maybe a week after that."

Shine sighed lazily. Her face poked again, showing her dislike. "I want it tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow."

"Please, Shine, I still have a lot of work to do." Daffa complained.

"So you prioritize your work more than your wife? So why did you marry me?" Shine raised his tone. As usual.

She was typical of a girl who was  annoying and very stubborn. That's what Darren caught, but he loved Shine like his own younger sister.

"You will go tomorrow with him." Darren decided to intervene. He gestured to Shine that Daffa would definitely take her  on a vacation.

"Darren ..." growled Daffa.

"I'll take care of your business here, go with Shine. I'm already dizzy to hear your debate."

"Is it true?" Shine took Darren's hand.

"Did I ever lie to you?"

"No, you never lied to me like someone." said Shine, glancing at Daffa, who was holding his forehead.

"Besides, you grow fussier after marriage." Darren embraced Shine, who was only shoulder to shoulder.

Shine bit her lip and glared at Darren, amused Darren to see it.

"Please go now, he wants to talk to me."

"Alright."

And so Shine, she always obeyed Darren and always denied Daffa. From the beginning until now, she had not changed.

Shine walked off leaving them listless. Daffa sat back on the sofa followed by Darren.

"She's very obedient huh." taunted Darren.

"When?"

Darren shrugged, not understanding what Daffa meant while taking his cup of coffee to finish.

"When will you terminate Mikaela's employment contract?"

Darren stopped his hand movements, the feeling of wanting to drink his coffee disappeared instantly, he returned to put the cup calmly.

"Let her go Darren, I'll give her a job, I'll hire her in my new office with Rendy." said Daffa seriously.

"Do you still love her?" Darren asked with a smile.

Daffa looked away, looking the other way. "I already have a wife." he argued.

"And I know very well why you married Shine."

Learning from Darren's calm nature, Daffa looked back at Darren.

"Just forget our past." said Daffa weakened.

"You want to share the girl with Rendy? Hmm ... I mean, I know you guys have been sharing with each other, and you also want to share women with him?" Darren smiled sarcastically.

"I consider her as a friend. Forget the past. I just want her to work with me."

Darren was embarrassed. His mood was completely destroyed when Daffa discussed Mikaela.

"You know how I am best, right? I am a very professional person at work. How can I terminate a contract suddenly?" Darren smiled then leaves Daffa.

Daffa looked at Darren sharply. After hearing the story about Mikaela from Rendy, Daffa was increasingly worried about the girl, and increasingly afraid that Darren would hurt Mikaela deeper. Whatever it was he must try to keep Darren from Mikaela.

***

Caroline tapped her heels on the floor while waiting for the elevator that would take her to the upper room, precisely where her lover worked.

Today she was asking for permission to take the night shift because she wanted to meet someone. Not Darren, but Mikaela. She wanted to ask the condition of her new friend.

The elevator door opened, Caroline was greeted by the smiles of several employees accompanied by a nod that signaled they respected Caroline. Actually she felt reluctant and uncomfortable being treated like that, but Darren was a person who considered himself great and had to be respected, on the other hand the man was also very concerned about his employees.

The elevator carried Caroline upstairs, humming herself, thinking about how Darren's office employees were being rigid to her, did she look fierce and scary?

When she arrived, she stepped gracefully into Mikaela's room in her expensive black boots. She was like seeing a woman she knew with Mikaela.

"Anna? What are you doing here?" Caroline frowned when she saw Darren's friend on campus in the room. She knew Anna when Darren introduced her as a friend. And several times Caroline had met Anna. Anna even had come to the engagement party.

"Hey, Caroline, how are you?" Anna ignored Caroline's questions and instead reached out to hug Caroline.

"I'm fine. What are you doing here?" Caroline repeated.

"I helped her." Anna pointed Mikaela, who was not aware yet of Caroline's presence. "You know that her hand still hurts, Darren told me to help her with the important documents." Anna continued.

"Darren did it?"

"Yes, you know that he is a man who doesn’t want to have loss, especially when he's dealing with his company."

Caroline laughed, she totally agreed what Anna said. "You are right."

"And you? What are you doing here? Your lover is going to Indonesia right?"

"Yes, I know, I'm here to help him, it turns out you are already here. Thank God you helped her." Caroline looked happy.

"No problem, Darren paid me for it, and he told me everything that happened to you yesterday."

Caroline looked at Mikaela who was busy with her computer. "Look, she hasn't noticed that I'm coming. I'll say hello."

"All right, I have to continue my work." Anna sat back down and struggled again with her computer.

While Caroline walked toward Mikaela,she patted her shoulder slowly.

"Do not be too serious." said Caroline, smiling at her.

"Mrs. Caroline?"

Caroline's beautiful face was sour when she heard Mikaela calling her Mrs.

Realizing this, Mikaela corrected it immediately. "Uh, um, Caroline."

"You really.." Caroline revealed the angry face she had made.

"Sorry, you're so beautiful, your aura is so strong." Mikaela said sincerely. "So I accidentally—"

"After insulting me and then you praise me?" cut Caroline quickly.

Mikaela smiled happily, Caroline's face lit up again.

"Why are you here? Mr. Darren is not here."

"Yes, I know he went to Indonesia."

Mikaela felt stupid giving information to Caroline who must have known whatever Darren was doing and wherever he went.

"Hey, What are you thinking about? How are your hands?"

"Oh, this is better. Maybe." hearing that question, Mikaela reflexively raised her hand, showing Caroline that her hand had improved.

"Maybe?"

"In a few days it will recover."

"You've said that many times. I came to see you, to take you to lunch." Caroline crossed her arms.

A graceful aura emanated from her face, very beautiful. For a second Mikaela was completely hypnotized by Caroline. She was nice, beautiful, elegant, rich, smart, all the goodness of women was in Caroline.

"Alright, please wait until I finish my work." Mikaela smiled warmly.

She realized that she could not defeat Caroline. And she had no intention of that. She only hoped that Darren would live happily with Caroline.