Alter My Fate

"Has young Havi not returned home yet, dearest?" inquired Mrs. Saras, her tone laced with a quiet concern as she addressed her husband.

"Doesn't seem so, love. That boy's likely still relishing his little adventure, I'd wager," replied Mr. Ridho with a faint chuckle.

"That Havi... One would think he'd been off gallivanting across the globe for years," said Mrs. Saras with a fond smile, her mind lingering on his earlier escapades.

"Perhaps it's for the best, love... Let young Havi have his freedom for a while. Can't have the lad buried in his books all the time," Mr. Ridho chimed in, his tone light yet thoughtful.

The couple's conversation came to an abrupt halt as their gaze settled upon a familiar figure making his way toward the house.

But he was not alone. By his side strolled a woman of striking beauty, her poise and grace lending her an air of quiet sophistication that was impossible to ignore.

"Assalamu'alaikum... I'm home, Dad, Mom," Havi announced warmly as he stepped through the doorway, his voice carrying a mixture of joy and anticipation.

"Wa'alaikum salam," his parents responded in unison, their tones harmonious and welcoming, their eyes lighting up at the sight of their son.

Havi paused for a moment, his smile deepening as he gestured toward the young woman at his side. "This is Diana," he said, his voice tender, almost reverent.

Diana offered a polite, graceful nod, her presence radiating a quiet charm that filled the room. Mr. Ridho and Mrs. Saras exchanged a glance, their curiosity piqued as they took in the poised and elegant figure standing before them.

"Dad, Mom, this is Diana. She's my friend who.." Havi began, though his words were cut short as Mrs. Saras, her face suddenly aglow with recognition, interjected with spirited fervor.

"My word, child! Could it truly be you? Aren't you the very student who ranked first across the entire province?" Mrs. Saras inquired, her voice lilting with a genteel enthusiasm, her eyes alight as though they had just discovered some hidden treasure.

"I—I am, madam... My name is..." Diana faltered, her usual poise momentarily abandoned beneath the warmth of Mrs. Saras's effusive reception.

She inclined her head ever so slightly, her voice tinged with the quiet elegance of someone unaccustomed to such unabashed praise.

'Oh, heavens, Diana... Who knows, this might be your future mother-in-law... Do try not to make a fool of yourself', Diana chastised herself inwardly, her thoughts a whirlwind of panic cloaked in outward calm.

Her cheeks flushed the faintest shade of rose, betraying the turmoil beneath her composed exterior.

She straightened her posture, summoning every ounce of grace she could muster, though her trembling hands betrayed her.

"Now, now, my dear, there's no need to be so nervous," Mr. Ridho said, his warm laughter filling the air as he observed Diana's fidgeting. "Come in, won't you? Make yourself at home."

His voice carried a reassuring kindness, the sort that could ease even the most frayed of nerves. Yet, Diana's unease refused to abate entirely.

She hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, her movements careful, as though each step held the weight of a thousand unspoken expectations.

Unbeknownst to Havi, his parents had long been familiar with Diana's face. A face that had graced the pages of newspapers on multiple occasions, heralded for her remarkable achievements.

But it wasn't only her brilliance that had caught their attention. While Mr. Ridho and Mrs. Saras often admired the striking features of their only son, they could not deny the equal allure of Diana's beauty.

She was, after all, Havi's fiercest rival, yet carried herself with a grace that left an indelible impression.

Even their neighbors had once remarked, with an air of playful conspiracy, "Mr. Ridho, Mrs. Saras, don't you think Havi and Diana make quite the pair? A handsome young man and a brilliant young lady. Surely, destiny must have a hand in this."

And though neither had admitted it aloud, Mr. Ridho and Mrs. Saras had often stolen glances at Diana's photograph in those papers, silently committing her features to memory.

The thought had crossed their minds more than once. What if, one day, these two remarkable individuals could set aside their rivalry and form something deeper, something lasting?

And now, as Diana stood before them, her presence both a surprise and a quiet confirmation of their long-held hopes, Mr. Ridho and Mrs. Saras could not help but feel that perhaps the heavens themselves had answered their unspoken prayers.

"My dear," Mrs. Saras began, her voice tinged with a warmth that carried the slightest hint of amusement, "I believe I've seen you before, in the newspapers I borrowed from the neighbors. You and Havi… well, you look rather splendid together. Handsome and beautiful, if I may say so."

The words, unguarded and unfiltered, hung in the air for a moment, their weight more profound than Mrs. Saras had perhaps intended.

Havi's ears reddened almost instantly, his usual composure faltering as he glanced away, his hand reflexively brushing through his hair in an attempt to mask his embarrassment. Diana, meanwhile, seemed to freeze, her wide eyes betraying a mix of astonishment and shy delight.

"Mom!" Havi exclaimed at last, his voice tinged with both exasperation and disbelief. "You can't just… say things like that."

"Oh, come now, Havi," Mrs. Saras said with a playful smile, entirely unrepentant. "It's only the truth. Don't they, dearest?" she added, casting a knowing glance at her husband, who chuckled quietly from his seat.

"Indeed, they do," Mr. Ridho replied with a twinkle in his eye. "Like a pair of newlyweds standing together, wouldn't you agree?"

That sent Diana's cheeks flaming a shade of crimson so vivid it rivaled the roses in the nearby vase.

She lowered her gaze, her fingers nervously clutching the hem of her blouse, while Havi cleared his throat, desperate to change the subject yet unsure how.

The room, alive with the warmth of lighthearted teasing, seemed to hold its breath as the unspoken undercurrent of possibility lingered between the two young souls.

The remark struck a chord between them, a teasing note that neither Havi nor Diana could entirely ignore. Almost involuntarily, their eyes met his, wide with surprise. Hers, hesitant yet soft.

The moment hung between them, charged and delicate, until, as though by some silent agreement, both quickly looked away, feigning interest in the floor or the wall.

And yet, despite their best efforts, they couldn't help but steal glances, their eyes darting back to one another in shy, furtive movements that betrayed the quiet pull they felt.

Mr. Ridho and Mrs. Saras, watching the exchange unfold, burst into a warm, knowing laughter. Their mirth filled the room like a gentle melody, one borne of affection and amusement.

"Ah, such innocence," Mrs. Saras murmured to her husband, her voice low but laced with delight.

"Indeed," Mr. Ridho replied, his smile broadening. "They haven't the faintest idea how endearing they are."

As the middle-aged couple exchanged a fond glance, their hearts swelled with a quiet satisfaction.

They had lived long enough to recognize the seeds of something special. Something that, if nurtured with care, might one day bloom into the love they had once dreamed of for their son.

"My love, you've just reminded me of the singer A. Rafiq," Mr. Ridho said, turning to Mrs. Saras with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Oh? And what about A. Rafiq, dearest?" Mrs. Saras inquired, tilting her head curiously.

"Well," Mr. Ridho replied, suppressing a grin, "I suddenly feel like singing." Clearing his throat theatrically, he broke into song, his voice light and teasing: 'Lirikan matamu menarik hati...'

He even mimicked the dramatic gestures of the famed singer, his exaggerated performance earning bursts of laughter from Havi and Diana.

The usually composed Diana, now clutching her sides, found herself dissolving into giggles at the sight of this unexpectedly spirited father figure.

"Daddy, please!" Havi managed to say through his laughter, though he couldn't hide his amusement.

For Diana, the tension that had gripped her earlier melted away completely. She was at ease now, her nervousness replaced by a sense of warmth and belonging she hadn't anticipated.

Havi, observing the scene unfold, felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. It struck him suddenly, his father, with his sharp wit and playful humor, wasn't the stoic man he had always imagined.

And his mother, usually the picture of discipline in his eyes, carried a warmth and lightheartedness that softened her demeanor.

If Diana hadn't visited today, Havi realized, he might never have seen this side of them. He might never have discovered how effortlessly his family could bridge the gap between formality and affection.

Looking at Diana, her laughter still ringing in his ears, he couldn't help but feel that her presence was a gift. A blessing he hadn't fully appreciated until now.

After spending some time getting acquainted with Havi's parents, Diana found herself, much to her surprise, gently coerced into joining them for lunch.

Now, with her stomach impossibly full from the abundance of dishes served, she felt as though even breathing had become a challenge.

Yet, as she leaned back slightly, a hand instinctively resting on her overfilled stomach, she couldn't suppress a smile. The warmth that radiated from Havi's family was undeniable. A lively, genuine affection that seemed to fill every corner of the room.

Diana couldn't help but compare it to her own home. Her family, wealthy in every measurable way, lacked the casual, heartwarming dynamic she saw here.

The laughter, the playful teasing, the effortless way Havi's parents made her feel at ease, all of it felt refreshingly foreign to her.

Perhaps we have much to learn from them, Diana mused, her heart softening as she watched Mr. Ridho regale everyone with another one of his witty remarks, much to Mrs. Saras's feigned disapproval.

Havi, seated across from her, caught her eye and gave her an encouraging smile, as if sensing the myriad of thoughts running through her mind. Diana smiled back, her initial nerves long forgotten.

While the weight of her full stomach pressed against her, the warmth she felt in her chest was far more significant.

For the first time in a long while, Diana felt that wealth wasn't measured by riches, but by the richness of connection. And in this, Havi's family had taught her something priceless.

Mr. Ridho, who had been observing Diana intently for some time, couldn't help but notice the small plastic pouch she clutched in her hands, as though reluctant to part with it. His curiosity finally got the better of him.

"My dear Diana," he began, his voice filled with gentle inquiry as he gestured toward the pouch. "Forgive me for asking, but what is that you've been holding so tightly?"

"Oh, this?" Diana replied, glancing briefly at the pouch before stealing a quick look at Havi beside her, as though seeking his approval to explain.

Havi, ever quick on his feet, interjected smoothly. "Ah, Dad, it's nothing to worry about. Diana's collecting a sample of sap from a tree for her school project. The thing is, the tree's become rather rare these days, so I thought I'd take her to Wira Falls. You know, just on the off chance we'd find one there. And, well, turns out we did!" he added with a triumphant smile, hoping to ease any concern.

"Hmm, I see," Mr. Ridho replied thoughtfully, leaning forward. "And what kind of tree might this be, exactly?"

"It's called Artocarpus elastica," Havi answered, deliberately opting for the scientific name to avoid further questions.

"Artocarpus elastica?" Mr. Ridho repeated, his brows furrowed in confusion. "What sort of tree is that?" He turned to his wife, as though seeking her assistance in unraveling the mystery.

"Oh, don't look at me, The Havi's sr.!" Mrs. Saras exclaimed, throwing up her hands. "You're the one with a middle school diploma. I only finished primary school, so how should I know?" she said with a shake of her head, earning a chuckle from Diana.

Havi cleared his throat, sensing the need to steer the conversation away from their lack of botanical knowledge. "Let's not overthink it, shall we, Mother? The important thing is Diana managed to get the sample she needed."

His tone was light, but beneath it lay a trace of unease. While he was glad to deflect his parents' curiosity, the truth of their journey, and the risks it had involved, remained a weight on his mind.

Havi couldn't shake the flicker of worry gnawing at the edges of his mind. If his parents, in their innocent chatter, happened to let slip even the smallest hint to their neighbors, it might spark a cascade of unintended consequences.

The discovery of a valuable resource hidden deep in the forests of Desa Loban could invite unwanted attention. Harvesting on a large scale, he knew, would spell disaster for the fragile ecosystem that surrounded them.

He had plans. Carefully thought out and quietly nurtured. The ancient forest held secrets he was determined to protect, not only for the sake of preservation but for something deeper, something personal.

He'd confided in Diana, trusting her with his vision and cautioning her against involving others, particularly her uncle.

Havi's reasons were not unfounded. Diana's uncle, though a kind man, was unlikely to take a high school student's word seriously, especially when weighed against the heavy shadow of his current struggles with depression.

Havi feared his words might be dismissed as childish whimsy, or worse, as an attempt to distract from the very real pain her uncle was enduring.

So he had brought only Diana to the forest, determined to prove the truth of his claims with her by his side.

And now, as he glanced at her, her brow furrowed slightly in thought, the faintest hint of curiosity still lingering in her eyes. He felt a surge of reassurance.

"You understand why we need to be careful, don't you?" Havi asked her quietly, his tone measured yet earnest.

Diana nodded, her gaze steady. "I do. If word gets out, it won't be long before that forest becomes just another exploited resource. I don't want that, Havi."

Her words stirred something in him. A quiet sense of admiration that he couldn't quite put into words.

For all her brilliance, for all her accolades, Diana had a humility and understanding that felt rare and genuine.

"Thank you," he said simply, his voice soft.

"For what?" she asked, her tone light yet curious.

"For trusting me," he replied, his eyes meeting hers. In that fleeting moment, a quiet understanding passed between them, unspoken yet undeniably present. A bond forged not by circumstance, but by choice.

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