Between Two Choices

Chapter 4: Turning Point

A few days after the family gathering full of surprises, Liana felt as if her life had started spinning in a circle she couldn’t control. Arga continued to play his part perfectly, but there was something weighing on her heart. She couldn’t ignore the strange feelings that arose every time Dimas was around.

Liana spent several days trying to convince herself that it was all just a coincidence. Arga was part of the plan, and Dimas—though intriguing—was her sister’s friend. However, the feeling didn’t go away.

One afternoon, Liana decided to meet with Arga again, this time with no other reason but to talk. They met at the same café, the place where they first met.

As soon as Arga arrived, Liana immediately noticed his relaxed expression. He wore a blue denim jacket and a white shirt. The slight smile on his face made Liana feel nervous, but she tried to remain calm.

“Why did you want to meet?” Arga asked, sitting across from Liana and giving her his full attention. “Is there something you need to talk about?”

Liana took a deep breath. “I just... feel like we need to talk. About us.”

Arga looked at her seriously. “Okay, what’s on your mind?”

Liana lowered her head for a moment, trying to find the right words. “Arga, I feel like... something’s not right. I know this is all just pretend, but the past few days I’ve been feeling... confused.”

Arga remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

“I don’t know why, but the longer this goes on, the harder it gets to tell what’s real and what’s not,” Liana continued, her voice slightly trembling. “Especially since Dimas came.”

Suddenly, Arga leaned back in his chair, as if processing what Liana had just said. He grinned slightly. “So, you like Dimas, huh?”

Liana was startled by the question. “That’s not what I mean. I... just feel like there’s something strange between us. I can’t lie to myself. We’ve gotten too close for this to just be pretend.”

Arga was silent for a moment, and there was something in his gaze that Liana couldn’t understand. “So, you feel like I’ve started to feel too real for you?”

Liana swallowed. “I don’t know, Arga. I don’t know what to say anymore. I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

Arga took a deep breath and ran his hand through his hair. “Liana, I’ve said from the beginning that this was just pretend. But you’re right—over time, things have become more complicated. I can’t pretend anymore either.”

Liana looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Arga smiled widely, but this smile was different from the one he usually showed. This time, it felt more genuine, deeper. “I said this was all just pretend, but I’ve started to feel more than that. I’ve started to feel comfortable around you, Liana. So yeah, maybe this isn’t just a show.”

Liana felt her emotions stir. Her heart raced faster than she wanted. “Are you serious?”

Arga nodded. “I’m not saying I’m in love with you, but I’ve started to feel like there’s something more than just pretending here. I can’t deceive myself.”

Liana closed her eyes for a moment, trying to calm herself. But her heart kept pounding, and her thoughts were spinning quickly. How could this happen? How could she start feeling like this, when from the beginning she only wanted a game?

“I don’t know what to do, Arga. I can’t... choose between you and Dimas,” Liana finally said, her voice full of doubt.

Arga just smiled slightly. “It’s not an easy choice, huh?”

Liana looked at Arga, trying to read his expression. There was something in Arga’s eyes that suggested he was also struggling with his feelings.

“I know I can’t force you to choose,” Arga continued. “But you have to know one thing. I won’t be able to keep pretending if you still feel like this.”

Liana remained silent, processing Arga’s words. Deep down, she felt confused and scared, but also... relieved. Maybe, at last, this feeling needed to be expressed.

“Arga, I don’t know what I should do. I don’t want to hurt you,” Liana said quietly.

“If that’s what you’re worried about, don’t. We’ll take this one step at a time, as honestly as possible, okay?” Arga replied, his voice soft this time.

Liana could only nod slowly. She felt as if a new door had opened in front of her—a path full of uncertainty, but also full of possibilities.

A few days after that meeting, Liana felt her mixed emotions growing stronger. Arga never spoke again about their relationship, but Liana felt more comfortable being around him. They continued meeting, talking more about personal things, and it was getting harder to maintain the distance they had set at the beginning.

However, these growing feelings were met with a more complicated reality. Dimas was never far from her thoughts. On the other hand, Dimas had begun showing more interest in her. Every encounter with Dimas felt like a test for her heart.

Liana found herself at a crossroads. Arga, who was always there for her—albeit in the context of pretend—and Dimas, who was increasingly capturing her heart’s attention.

In the end, she knew that this decision couldn’t be delayed any longer. She had to choose between the comfort and tension that lay before her.

But who would she choose? And would her feelings be strong enough to face it?

Days passed quickly, and Liana became more immersed in her confusion. Every time she met with Arga, there was something that made her feel comfortable, as if there was an unspoken bond between them. But on the other hand, every time she met with Dimas, her heart seemed filled with unspoken curiosity. It felt like two worlds running parallel, and Liana didn’t know how to bring them together.

One afternoon, Liana decided to meet Dimas, just to talk and understand him more deeply. She felt there was so much she didn’t know about him. Dimas always seemed so calm, as if nothing could disturb his peace. But Liana wanted to see more than just the surface.

Dimas invited Liana to take a walk in a park near his campus. The weather was clear, and the breeze blew gently, creating a peaceful atmosphere. They sat on a park bench facing a small lake. Liana felt an odd sense of comfort being near Dimas. They talked about various things—about college, future dreams, even small things like favorite foods or movies they had recently watched.