Chapter 48
48 The Pinnacle Of Comedy
“I’m here, are you still long?”
[Wait a minute, I still have work to do. I thought you wouldn’t make it this fast. If I take too long, you better get back to work. I don’t want your secretary to be angry.]
Arthur chuckled amused at Kalea’s long words and was worried about his work. Even though he had finished all his work today so he could go home early. It’s already five o’clock in the afternoon, but Kalea is still on campus because her job is to be a substitute lecturer. That’s why Arthur offered to pick up the sugar baby.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be waiting for you.”
[Uh ... okay.]
Arthur hung up the call, he was waiting for Kalea in the car parked in the campus basement. He massaged his forehead which was a little dizzy, his workload was getting heavier especially when he was the only one who took care of it without his father’s help anymore. After taking Kalea to the penthouse, he had to continue her work later. “I guess I’ll just stay,” Arthur muttered quietly.
Arthur turned to the right when someone knocked on the passenger seat window.
“... Luna?” Arthur looked at the girl a little surprised, while Aluna smiled sweetly and asked him to open the car door for her.
Arthur really wondered, how could Aluna know if he was there? Hadn’t he been in the car all this time without getting out at all, no one should have recognized him, right? Arthur put that thought aside and opened the car door for Aluna.
.....
“Hi, Arthur!” Aluna said so cheerfully and sat down on the chair beside Arthur. That should be Kalea’s place for today.
“Hey, can I ask you something?” Arthur asked with a faint smile.
“Sure, why?”
“How did ... you know I was here?”
“Hm? From your license plate! I didn’t expect to meet you here. Did Lea tell you to pick her up?”
“No, I offered to pick him up,” Arthur replied. He didn’t expect Aluna to memorize the license plate of his car, isn’t the girl beside him a little scary? No, Arthur had faced this kind of woman many times.
“Arthur, why didn’t you reply to my message again?” Aluna asked as she pulled Arthur’s arm into hers. Arthur was no longer surprised, he turned his head and their gazes met.
“Oh, sorry. I’ve been quite busy lately,” Arthur replied simply. A cliched answer that he always gave to every woman who asked why their messages were not answered by the man.
Aluna pursed her lips, slightly disappointed by Arthur’s answer. “You said you were busy but there was time to pick up Lea,” the burgundy-haired girl complained.
“She’s my sugar baby, after all I don’t do it often,” Arthur said while stroking Aluna’s hair gently. Aluna was envious; how could Arthur have noticed her best friend?
Why didn’t she find Arthur first? Why Kalea?
“But you have to reply to my messages, kay! I really miss you, we can only talk intimately on the cellphone. You always refuse my invitation to meet,” Aluna squeaked still pursed her lips, looking cute but for some reason it didn’t make Arthur’s heart tremble at that girl.
Arthur admits that Aluna is very cute, but to be honest, Aluna is not his type.
Arthur chuckled amusedly, then nodded just to make Aluna no longer whine. “Okay, I’m sorry. By the way, is Lea still long on her affairs?” Arthur asked, trying to change the subject.
“I don’t know, I went straight home after collecting my assignments. Lea must be busy with her job as a substitute for Mr. Garren,” Aluna replied. She rested her head on Arthur’s broad shoulder.
“You’re not home? What if Lea sees you here with me?” Arthur asked with the intention of wanting Aluna out of his car.
“Don’t worry, Lea must be still long. Besides, I still wanna be alone with you, can’t I?” Aluna asked with a pitiful face and sparkling eyes like a chihuahua dog. Most men definitely can’t stand it because they think Aluna is very cute.
Arthur? The man was not in denial, Aluna was adorable in his eyes. However, for some reason Arthur became curious about what if it was Kalea who had an expression like the one Aluna was doing now.
“What do you want to do with me, hm?” Arthur asked, looking at Aluna so intensely, from the eyes to the girl’s red lips.
Arthur had guessed. Aluna suddenly kissed his lips and wrapped her arms around Arthur’s neck. The man didn’t refuse the kiss at all, but instead returned it. He held Aluna’s waist so that the distance became closer. Aluna was very happy, she felt like there were butterflies in her stomach. She wanted to feel more, Arthur’s touch, the man’s play that her best friend had ever felt.
She wanted to feel it too.
Aluna’s hand began to drop until it was near the man’s virility. However, Arthur held Aluna’s hand and broke the kiss. Aluna was a little disappointed, she looked at Arthur questioningly. “Looks like Lea will come soon,” Arthur said while rubbing Aluna’s lips, which were a little messy from the kiss earlier.
Alana is annoyed. She really didn’t want Kalea to know that she liked Arthur and intended to have him completely.
“Arthur,” Aluna called.
“Hmm?”
“Why are you trying so hard to make Lea happy, when your relationship is only about money and sex?” Aluna asked. After she noticed Arthur and Kalea’s closeness, how Arthur treated her best friend so attentively made Aluna jealous. “You don’t really love each other, do you?” Aluna asked, sounding demanding Arthur’s explanation.
Arthur was slightly taken aback by the question, he was silent for a moment. Slowly, a faint smile appeared on the man’s handsome face. “Do you think I love Lea?” Arthur asked back.
Aluna looked at Arthur in disbelief. “Y-you love her?”
“I asked, Luna.”
“Of course I don’t know. That’s ... how you feel,” Aluna squeaked, her face sad. She didn’t want to accept the fact that Arthur really loved her best friend.
“My relationship with Lea is only limited to that, it’s written in the contract. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with making Lea happy because I really like to treat any woman well,” Arthur replied, everything he did was according to the contract and there were no lies in those words. Because seeing Kalea who is quiet, experiencing sexual harassment from her previous workplace, and having to work hard from a young age to support her family, of course, Arthur wants Kalea to be more secure and comfortable when she is with him.
Even though he didn’t know how Kalea felt, did the girl feel comfortable when she was with Arthur. However, he had tried to do well.
Aluna smiled bitterly, she was slightly against Arthur’s answer. “You said you liked to treat women well, but you must have hurt women, right?”
“Sure, you should’ve known that too. Didn’t Lea tell you from the start that I was an asshole?” Arthur asked, bringing his face closer to Aluna. A thin grin etched on his lips made his handsome face now look a little scary.
Aluna bit her lower lip, but she still dared to meet Arthur’s gaze. “I don’t care about that.”
“Lying, indeed my words sound like bullshit.” Arthur is a gentle man, treats women with kindness and attention but at the same time hurts the hearts of many women,” Arthur said, further clarifying his ingrained nature. The man caressed Aluna’s cheek gently. “Hey, wasn’t I just being nice to you guys? Do I also have to take responsibility for all that woman’s feelings? No, right?” Arthur asked, looking at the intimidating Aluna.
Aluna shook her head slowly, Arthur’s words were true. The man smiled sweetly until his eyes looked like just a thin line. “I’m glad you got what I meant.”
Arthur turned his face away, returning to his original position. He checked his cellphone, making sure that Kalea hadn’t called him yet. While Aluna looked down with clenched hands. “Making you like me will be very difficult,” Aluna muttered, sounding faint.
“What?” Arthur said, turning back to the girl. Aluna still doesn’t want to get out of his car.
“I already like you too much, Arthur. I don’t care that you’re an asshole and have tons of women ready to satisfy you. But I really like you!” Aluna said it so passionately that it made Arthur widen in disbelief.
Arthur couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore. He laughed so hard that his stomach hurt, while Aluna looked at him strangely because the girl thought there was nothing funny about his words. Hey, Aluna is confessing her love to Arthur, but why is Arthur laughing at her?
“I-is anything funny?” Aluna asked with teary eyes, her heart was hurt because Arthur seemed to think her feelings were just a joke.
“Sorry, sorry. I’m just amazed by your ambition,” Arthur replied as he wiped his tears from laughing too much. “You don’t care if I’m your best friend’s sugar daddy?” Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow with a crooked smile on his handsome face.
“You guys don’t love each other, I don’t think it’s a problem.”
“If we love each other?” Arthur asked again.
She seemed silent for a moment. She returned Arthur’s gaze. “As long as you’re not married, I’ll snatch you from my own best friend.”
Wow, Arthur didn’t hear wrong? This is the pinnacle of comedy.
Arthur was amazed, he had often met a woman like Aluna, but he was still amazed. “You really are selfish, aren’t you. Willing to destroy friendships for a jerk like me,” Arthur said sarcastically.
Arthur’s cell phone rings, Kalea calls him. The man quickly picked up the call.
“Hello? Are you done?”
[Yeah, are you still in the basement? I’m just making sure. If you’re already home-]
“I’m still here, come here. I can’t wait to see you.”
[... why say that so abruptly?]
“Hm? Am I not like this?”
[Argh, it’s up to you. I’m walking over there.]
“Okay.”
Kalea hangs up the call.
“You still wanna be here?” Arthur asked Aluna, who was still in the car alone with him.
“I’ll go,” she answered slowly. “Bye, Arthur! See you later!” The girl briefly kissed Arthur’s cheek, she smiled sweetly before getting out of Arthur’s car.
Arthur took a deep breath, it was really exhausting to deal with an ambitious girl like Aluna. Not long after, the man could see Kalea, who was walking a little faster towards his car. Arthur watched the girl with the brunette hair until Kalea got into the car.
“Sorry for making you wait so long,” Kalea said feeling guilty. She immediately put on her seat belt. Her eyes were completely rounded when Arthur suddenly kissed her lips. Though her heart was still beating fast from walking fast and tired after finishing with her job. “W-why did you suddenly kiss me?!” Kalea protested after Arthur broke the kiss and returned to his original position.
“Hm? There’s no reason, I just wanna do it,” Arthur replied very casually with a sweet smile.