The Estuary of Desire Baruna
Eps. #63 Seeking Their Existence

"How, Om? Did Rendy get any information about Diaz and Floretta's whereabouts?" Baruna inquired about a task that Arkha had given her before, to her trusted assistant.

"No, Baruna. To this day, my men and I continue to search. And ... the police are also still investigating to be able to find their whereabouts" said Rendy.

That afternoon at Arkha's company office. Baruna, Arkha and Rendy were talking together about their work in Arkha's study. In between, they also talked about the disappearance of Diaz and Flo after the incident that night.

That day, more than two weeks passed after the night Alfin lost his life and Daniel was also successfully secured by the police. However, until then, no one knew where Diaz and Flo were.

"Where else are we going to find them, Rendy? Are you sure that you've searched and searched all over the place?" Arkha chimed in. He realized, since two weeks after the incident, Baruna did look a little chaotic. Baruna looks cranky and more often daydreaming. Losing track of the lover who is still so loved, makes his son as desperate and not eager to live his day.

"Already, Boss. My Fruit has even combed to the opposite islands. The scene at that time was not too far from the port, it could be that they crossed by sea ship and went far from this city," said Rendy again.

"I don't want to know how, Om. We have to find them. If necessary, I will also go with your men to find them!" baruna said firmly. There was a bit of disappointment in his heart because until then, Rendy had not received any information about the whereabouts of Diaz and Flo, although he and his men had made various search efforts.

Based on the missing persons report made by Arkha, the police also carried out a search, but until then also have not managed to find their tracks. Based on the data at the port, no clue was found that Diaz and Flo had entered the port area to cross to another island.

During this time Baruna was also eager to join the search. But Arkha always forbade it. Arkha does not allow his son to join the search for Diaz and Flo. He entrusted all of that to Rendy and her men.

"No, Una. You don't have to come looking for them. Trust everyone in Rendy's Om. Papa's sure they'll find Diaz and Flo soon enough" Arkha said. Surely he did not want his son to join the search, he wanted Baruna to focus more on his work.

"What was the reason they ran away that night?" Arkha pressed his forehead. He does not think for what Diaz and Flo escape like that, while after Daniel's arrest, the police have frozen all his network, so it is certain Diaz can be free from police pursuit.

"It looks like Diaz is afraid you'll sue him, boss. The hatred he instills against you and this company that makes it that way" Rendy said.

Arkha only shook his head at the explanation of his assistant.

"It's all just a misunderstanding, Rendy. I have no desire to sue Diaz. I honestly feel sorry for them. Diaz misunderstood me. Had they not escaped like they are now, I would have helped Diaz rebuild his ruined workshop, even if I could have helped Diaz rebuild Rivaldy's Company" Arkha said, still very sorry Diaz who holds a grudge against him due to a misunderstanding of him.

Arkha, Rendy and Baruna looked very serious about discussing their plans to continue the search for Diaz and Flo until without feeling, the time was getting late.

"My work's done, Pa. I'm allowed to go home early. I'll try to get to the harbor to find out, maybe there's another clue I can find about Diaz and Flo there" said Baruna.

"Please, Una. Hopefully this time you are lucky to find information there," said Arkha did not reject the wishes of his son. "And whatever you can later find there, you do not forget to tell papa or Om Rendy. Papa doesn't want you to act on your own anymore, because it could endanger your own safety!" Arkha confirmed his advice.

"Good, Pa!" Baruna nodded and did not argue.

"Oh yes, Una. Papa just remembered. Tonight papa invited papa's business partner, his name is Om Andreas. He's with his daughter coming to dinner at our house. Papa wants you to accompany them, too" Arkha said, hoping his son would accompany him to dinner with his co-worker.

"Ready, Pa! Before eight o'clock I must have arrived home" said Baruna obediently.

Baruna hurried out of her office. Riding his big motorbike, he headed to the city's largest port which was also not too far from the private port owned by his papa company.

Arriving at the port, Baruna immediately met several officers and asked any questions about Diaz and Flo. However, no one he met could provide the information he was looking for.

With a lethargic face, Baruna then left the port and headed to a beach in another area. The beach is not too far from the port.

Baruna put her foot on the white sand. Without a definite purpose, he continued to walk along the beach area that is increasingly crowded with people to see the beauty of the scenery at sunset.

Until he arrived near an estuary, Baruna stopped her steps. On the sand he sat alone and looked at the expanse of the sea before him. His mind was glaring far away, and the only person he had always thought of was Floreta, the girl he still loved so much.

"Where are you right now, Flo. Why do you have to leave this city and leave me here?" Baruna rubbed her face. He recalls, in that place for the first time he expressed his love for Floretta.

"I love you, Flo. I hope our love will bring you back to me. Until I will wait for you. All my life I'll always remember you." Such is the hope and promise that is always in its heart.

Baruna's eyes glazed over, there was a puddle of tears that she couldn't contain. Abandoned by the woman he still loved made him feel sad and lost in spirit.

The sun had now set and the orange hue in the sky had turned dark.

Baruna still did not move from the beach and still sat there pensive.

Drrrt! Drrrt! Drrrt!

Baruna touched her pants pocket and felt her phone vibrate the sign of someone calling her.

"Yes, now I'm home, Pa!" baruna concluded after receiving a call from Arkha. He remembered that his father had told him to come home before eight.

Without a second thought, Baruna hurried away from the beach to get home.

Arriving home, a warm smile Pearl was already on standby welcoming Baruna at the doorstep.

"At last you got home on time, Una. Om Andreas and his daughter have just arrived" said Pearl that their guest had arrived before he came home.

"Yes, I'm sorry I'm a little late, Ma. The streets are quite crowded, fortunately I use a motorbike so I can get home faster" said Baruna gave an excuse.

"It's okay, honey. The dinner will also begin. Now let's go straight to the dinner table, yeah!"

Pearl took his son's hand and led him straight to the dining room where Arkha, Ardila and two of his guests were on standby in their seats to wait for him there.

"Well, this is the one we've been waiting for!" arkha exclaimed when she saw Baruna and Pearl had entered the dining room.

"Una, meet this Om Andreas papa's business partner, and this is Jessica's daughter." Arkha introduced his companion to Baruna.

"Hi, Baruna." Andreas immediately stood up from his seat and reached out to Baruna.

"Hi, welcome to our house, Om." Baruna shook Andreas' hand in a friendly manner but his focus was on the beautiful girl who also stood next to him and was recognized by the princess by the man named Andreas.

"Hi, Baruna. How are you?"

The girl smiled sweetly and greeted Baruna kindly.

"Jessica!?" Baruna's eyes were round, he did not expect that Jessica, the girl who had been his date, was the daughter of his papa business partner.

Jessica immediately hugged Baruna, then both cipika cipiki without feeling awkward and look very familiar.

Arkha smiles. "Well, you know each other already" he said happily. There is hope in Arkha's heart so that his son can be close to Jessica so that he can momentarily forget Flo who until now has not been known to exist.

"Baruna and I went to the same university in Sydney, Om. But Baruna was so smart, she could finish college much earlier than I did" Jessica said, telling everyone she knew Baruna well.

"You're overreacting, Jess." Baruna smiled blushingly.