Chapter 24 - Arjuna

Part 1.

Credit to Alifa el-A and You Tube

Sudah kudaki gunung tertinggi

Hanya untuk mencari dimana dirimu

Sudah kujelajahi isi bumi

Hanya untuk dapat hidup bersamamu

Sudah kuarungi laut samudera

Hanya untuk mencari tempat berlabuhmu

Tapi semakin jauh ku mencari

Cinta semakin aku tak mengerti

Akulah Arjuna

Yang mencari cinta

Wahai wanita

Cintailah aku

Mungkin kutemui cinta sejati

Saat aku hembuskan nafas terakhirku

Mungkin cinta sejati memang tak ada

Dalam cerita kehidupan ini

Everything is beautiful when you are in love. The feeling is indescribable. Every new day brings new colors and surprised me in various ways. I am relief truth be told and we both can move on with our lives.

That evening we were all dressed up for dinner. It was a surprised Hans said. Ok. Aku ikutkan kehendak dia saja. I know he will always think the best of everything.

Pipero Al Rex is a one star Michellin restaurant located on Via Torino which roughly takes about 20 minutes drive from Marzio Campo Hotel. Upon arrival we were greeted by the owner, Alessandro,  at the door and he proposed to tailor a tasting menu around our tastes and dietary requirements. He asked if there were any culinary prohibitions so that their creation could be appreciated to the fullest extent possible. 

It has a very intimate atmosphere with very beautiful designed plates and tables.  The food is inventive and the pasta is amazing! Their dishes were really creative, had an excellent presentation and tasted really delicious. You really feel that the chef has put a lot of time and effort in creating the menu. The staffs too, make you feel very welcome and they are very attentive and professional.  

The restaurant has a very limited seating and reservation is advised.

Pasta carbonara was delicious.

One perfect green olive presented in a small, clear box. Elegant in its simplicity but so complex in flavors. The olive when popped into my mouth suddenly became something totally different with a fusion of three other delicious flavors bursting out.

My other favorite dish was the cuttlefish and pea. Came to a point I realized I was too engulfed taking pictures of the food that Hans asked me to stop what I was doing. Feeling embarrassed I did as I was told and just enjoy my 10 course dinner with Hans. For dessert, we got a specially made big pie with candle light on 1 plate, which we split between the two of us. Super romantic.

Part 2.

On the way back we asked the driver to stop by the Colosseum. The view is beautiful at night. We stepped out of the car and walked a bit to experience one of the ancient wonders of the world. Colosseum is located in the heart of Rome.

“It’s huge!” I shriek in excitement. 

“Indeed. Perhaps tomorrow we’ll visit again and head to The Roman Forum?” suggest Hans.

“Sure. I love that and after we check out a few flea markets around the city?” I suggested as Hans wrapped his arm around me.

“Love the idea.” Hans replied.

Walking in the beautiful weather, I asked Hans.“Can I asked you something?”

“Sure. Boleh saja. So it’s my turn kena drill lah ni ya?” He kissed me on the side of my face. Aku tersenggih.

“Ha..ha..very funny…..seriously, what happened to you. I mean after you got shot.” I am curious to hear his side of the story.

We stopped and faced the huge Colosseum. Hans took a deep breath. “I thought you never asked. Frankly speaking Ghazz wasn’t a good shooter. The bullet went straight to my shoulder and it missed my heart. He sped off and your kind neighbor heard the commotion came out to help me. There was no time to wait for the ambulance as I was bleeding profusely. He drove me to Putrajaya Hospital and I told myself not to pass out. Started reciting surah Yassin out loud and finally they brought me to the operating room.” He looked at me and smiled.

“You boleh senyum lagi bila you cerita? You are mentally fit. Kalau I agaknya…..dah lama pengsan or maybe nyawa-nyawa ikan.” I command his brave act.

“Next thing I was in the ICU recuperating from the surgery. They took out the bullet and for weeks I had to go for physio therapy to regain my strength. When I was in the hospital all I could think off was you, babe. I want to recover fast, leave the hospital and start looking for you. With the help from the police we traced Ghazz in Budapest and I know that will be my destination.” Cerita Hans.

"Dad arranged for my discharged sooner than expected as I was gaining much popularity among the female nurses and doctors." He looked at me, I guess looking for a sign of jealousy perhaps....hahaha...."...he was afraid with that kind of attention my whereabouts can be leaked and reached to Ghazz's acquaintances."  

“I met your mother and the rest of your family. You mother was a such delight and now I understood where you got the kindness and patience character. When I told her that I will be going after you, we went over to your house. She told me that you kept your passport in a safe deposit at Public Bank. We search all over the house for the keys and finally we found them in your dashboard compartment. Next was a tedious task going to the court and we were granted court order for the bank to allow us to get access to your safety deposit box. And I found your passport and took it with me to Budapest.”

"Mama is my stepmother. I haven't told you before this.....but my biological mother passed away when I was 8......" I explained to Hans.

"Really? I am sorry about your mother, I mean your biological mother. Tell me more about her..." Hans was apologetic.

"Nah.....perhaps one day when the time is right....." I looked up to the sky wondering how mysterious life can be.

Anyway, Hans was so relaxed and calm bila bercerita. Each an every word came out from his mouth was perfectly arranged and sentenced. We walked back to the car and the driver opened the door.

“Let’s head back to the hotel and I will continue later, okay?” his hand was on my waist. I nodded and gave him a kiss. He looked at me with gleaming eyes and locked me tight in his arms. I drowned myself in the feeling of loving him and immersed in the fantasy that finally I found my soul mate, my friend, my love of life.  I just had an urge to scream out loud to the world….."THIS IS HIM! THIS IS MY ARJUNA!” and for the first time of my life, love just comes naturally without my acknowledgement.

Part 3.

Back at the hotel , I went straight to change into my oversize T-shirt.  Ever since I was rescued by the Hungarian Police and Hans I could not get myself to look at another lingerie or a negligee. It’ll give nightmares.

“Hmmm….you’re sleeping in my t-shirt again tonight?” sounded of his disapproval.

I was already sitting on the bed and waiting for him to join me. “But I like this t-shirt so much…..ok, ok, I will let housekeeping collect for dry cleaning tomorrow. I promise.” I put up my right hand and gave him the scout’s honor sign.

He walked over to the closet and changed his clothes. “Here, wear this instead. Take off the one you’re wearing. Habis semua t-shirt I you pakai….” He seems not happy with it.

“I am sorry tapi I suka oversized t-shirt. It is so comfy and wearing yours, I feel you are always with me.” I replied back at him.

“I am here always…..”

I cut him off before he could finish his sentence, “Ahhhh……but when I have both, it double my pleasure....….hehehe…” I crawled closer to him and gave him a kiss on his lips. He closed his eyes. “I love you, Hans…”

That night Hans told the rest of the story, how he saw Ghazz in the street of Budapest, he saw pictures of me in Ghazz’s arms, hugging and kissing from the police surveillance camera. He did not know what to make out of them. He was confused and had so many unanswered questions building at the back of his mind. But when he saw me at the clinic all he wanted to do was to hug and hold me in his arms. He refrained from doing it since he saw how shocked I was to see him there. He was scared of losing me again…..

When he finished he pulls me closer and I could feel the strength in his arms as he wrapped them around me, to trap me in his never ending warmth. As he embraces me, I can feel the life in him, the blood pumping in his veins, and the warm breath coming off his lips.

And I let him love me……..his way.

Tomorrow we will be our last day in Rome before we fly off to Positano. A few more places to visit and a bit more shopping to do. I love Rome.