Stealing The Wife's First Kiss

"I don't want to.. I want to come..". The wife objected and started whining.

"Come on, Honey.. We'll take a walk later in another place".

"Calm down, Hendra. Our security unit is ready. We guarantee the safety of both of you". The mayor spoke again.

"No! Only we can measure the conditions that we face".

"Leona, bring Aruna back to the car".

"Hen.. Hendra..". The girl whined. Her voice was more disturbing.

She was being forcibly pulled by Leona, but her face was still staring at the blue-eyed closely. It was as if she didn't want to be taken away by the woman who was pulling her.

Hendra closed his eyes. It means that he was experiencing anxiety. This time he had to ignore Aruna's wish.

The device attached to the ear said there was suspicion from Raka and Praditya's teams out there.

Several drones flown by Praditya across the ceiling of the construction site caught three suspicious spots.

Buildings have begun to be vacated as a first step for the dream city development project. There was someone on the back of the building. There were three points with the same peculiarity.

Why was that person alone at the top of an empty building? Raka mobilized his team to ambush them before the CEO of the Wenceslas Group arrived at the location.

Along the way, Riswan didn't stop talking. He shared his dreams, including why he refused the library made by the Wenceslas Construction's architect.

"Musashino Art University Museum and Library, Japan". Riswan shrieked, showing that he was very excited.

"So you want to create a museum and library at the same time like Musashino?". Hendra countered the mayor's enthusiastic expression.

"No! I didn't think that way. On the contrary, if you've been to Musashino, we know that at first glance, the library building is only a combination of wood and glass. But if you look carefully, all the wood inside the glass turns out to be bookshelves. The architect, Sou Fujimoto, used bookshelves in every frame of the building, including stairs and walls. I think Sou is a smart architect". The mayor's eyes lit up.

"Ah, because you're an architect, you understand such details. To be honest, I don't really understand."

"That's not the main point. Since our people have low reading interest, we need to create a library that is packaged casually like a cafe. But in every corner, there are books tucked in, so that it attracts their attention and they feel compelled to enjoy it". Riswan's sighed deeply, so deep in his words.

"Or you should draw it yourself". Hendra made an offer.

"Unfortunately, I don't have time to draw now".

"What if you translate your wishes to our architects, I can schedule them to come to you or you come to the Wenceslas Construction center".

"Wow. Brilliant idea.. I always like the way this CEO solves problems. You can catch and find a solution quickly. I haven't even thought about making such a request".

The soft whisper from the device in his ear came back. It voiced an information: "One of them turned out to be only a prank. The other two were security units from the mayor. Riswan was quite observant".

What a relief.

The reporters also began to step aside because they found that the CEO didn't want to talk much except for matters related to his meeting with the mayor and the DPRD.

The journalists were shackled because most of the DPR, including Riswan, hoped that they would be the sources. Hendra stepped back, smiled, and redirected to the topic of building the dream city when asked about his marriage.

"Can I bring Aruna to walk with me?". The blue-eyed pressed the device in his ear, making requests to the people who were working in the central information technology room.

"I think it's pretty safe at this point. You can take her out". Praditya gave some happy news.

.

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"Stop frowning.. You already come with me now.. Try to pay attention to that! This place will turn into a playground". Hendra finished the site survey with Riswan, then he came to Aruna who was alone. She was allowed to get out of the car but her face was still gloomy.

"Then what about the people in this market? I know this place used to be a market but now this place is empty. Where are they?". The curiosity began to divert her anger.

"Of course they've been moved to a more proper place. This place was too shabby. You know that mosque?". Hendra turned his gaze to a mosque tower.

"Yes!". This girl replied briefly.

"There's a new modern market nearby. Maybe it's not that crowded right now. But later, the tower that you'll see will no longer be just a mosque dome. There will be five towers from each of the religions practiced in this country lined up there side by side and confirm our diversity".

"After they pray, they can enjoy the culinary. Fruits, vegetables, and cheap souvenirs from the local market which has been transformed into a clean and tidy modern market by developing 17 SDGs programs continuously, intact, and fully".

This girl's eyes lit up even more at Hendra's explanation.

"Responsible consumption and production. Do you know what SGDs number is this?".

"12". Aruna replied excitedly.

"Responsible consumption and production". This girl added. Hendra smiled happily. Someone with a spatial-visual intelligence but had an interest in the social and philanthropy worlds were two things that were hard to imagine.

"That is one example. We'll build the market alongside a recycling center which is right near the market. Rotten vegetables and plastic waste will be put in different containers and recycled in a modern way at the recycling center".

Those sparkling eyes now looked at Hendra who was giving her an explanation. Her mind began to create spaces of spatial imagination about recycling centers, towers, and their contents, including the arrangement of ornaments that would decorate the places Hendra described.

"Hendra, if I can give input, in front of each tower should have the same gate, and the plants that adorn it should be the same too. The plants have to be shady so that when people pass through the place, they won't feel hot. They'll breathe in more oxygen".

"Why should the gates be the same?".

"I don't know.. In my imagination, the same gate is the first step that means we believe we're different, but we come from the same place because the earth we stand on is the same. It's just that we have different beliefs, ethnicities, cultures, customs, and languages." Aruna added.

"Such a smart input". Hendra gave a sincere compliment from his heart.

"You're the great one".

"You rarely compliment me".

"This time, I mean it.. But you can't be arrogant".

Hendra smiled. His dimples were back on his cheeks: "Why did you suddenly call me great?".

"You don't need to do charity to many people. You don't have to provide time to volunteer. But your job can massively influence many individuals towards a better change, whether it's economic, socio-cultural, and even their personal habits".

"Wow, you can read it that far".

"Of course. I learned a lot about voluntary social organizations, including philanthropy."

"You know why I, who was 18 years old, could dare to build a start-up with zero capital?".

"Isn't that very naive and reckless? Hahaha.. It was difficult and I went through a lot of stupid things because I didn't have a tutor like the other friends. I run it self-taught, assisted by my loyal friends. Such incredible 2 years. It all started because I wanted to give opportunities to the women at the place where I volunteered. My dream was as simple as that".

"And my next dream is to be a businesswoman. Yeah, like you who can do much to the grassroots."

Mahendra listened carefully to Aruna's explanation. This kid looked even more special.

"You know the meaning that I conveyed when we stared at the ceiling of your bed? About why don't you use the helicopter to form bigger dreams?".

"You can take advantage of your current situation to build bigger dreams".

This girl was silent.

She stared at the empty expanse of sky before her and the man rubbed the girl's back.

"Destiny will take you to different places, now it is up to you to make it a foothold or return to your comfort place. It all depends on you, my honey". He whispers as he sniffs on Aruna's fragrant hair. 

This girl is still silent, as Hendra expected. She remains on her choice to shut herself up completely, untouchable and incomprehensible. 

"It is time for us to go back, right? Surely the mayor is waiting for you." They walk slowly hand in hand. In the past Aruna wouldn't let them walk side by side, because hearing affectionate words such as my darling or my honey made her horrified. But lately she let the blue eyed man call her with that endearments.