The sleek black luxury car moved slowly along the winding road to Puncak. In the silence of the car, David occasionally stole glances at Elara, who was gazing out the window with a small smile.
"Just like the old days," David murmured with a smile.
Elara turned, her eyes sparkling. "Yes, like when we were still dating."
Night on the Villa Balcony
After Alisha fell sound asleep, David and Elara sat side by side on their room's balcony. The cool mountain air and rustling pine leaves created an intimate atmosphere.
"Remember our first meeting?" David suddenly asked, his hand finding Elara's.
Elara giggled. "How could I forget? In the campus convenience store, I was standing confused in front of the ice cream freezer."
David smiled meaningfully. "Butterfly brand chocolate ice cream, on discount but still couldn't afford it."
"And you were watching me from the end of the aisle," Elara added, her eyes sparkling with memory. "I thought, what a strange man, watching someone in difficulty."
"But my heart was touched," David said softly. "Seeing you return the ice cream with a resigned yet graceful face. That's when I knew I wanted to get to know you better."
Remembering the Past Together
"Both of us were orphans who understood the true meaning of struggle," Elara said while looking at the stars. "I grew up in an orphanage, you had to work since childhood."
David nodded, his eyes distant. "But it was those difficult times that made us both determined to never experience poverty again."
"And look at us now," Elara looked at David full of affection. "From two orphans who had nothing, now we have everything."
David took a deep breath. "But the most precious thing is that we have each other. We have Alisha. We have the family we always dreamed of."
Proven Loyalty
"You know," David said suddenly, "last year I bought the Butterfly ice cream company."
Elara was shocked. "What? The company that..."
"Yes, the company that made the ice cream you couldn't buy back then," David replied with sparkling eyes. "I bought it not as an investment, but as a reminder of our journey."
Elara looked at him with teary eyes. "David..."
"Every time I see the Butterfly logo, I'm reminded of the strong woman who didn't give up despite her circumstances. The woman who is now my wife."
They sat in comfortable silence, hands still clasped.
"We've been through so much together," whispered Elara. "From a pair of poor students to where we are now."
David raised Elara's hand and kissed it gently. "And I would choose you again in every lifetime, Elara. Our difficult past didn't break us, it strengthened us."
Deep Understanding
"Sometimes I still wake up at night," David confessed in a low voice, "feeling like all this is a dream. An orphan from a fishing village, now having everything."
Elara hugged his arm. "Me too, David. Sometimes I still feel like the little girl from the orphanage who doesn't deserve this happiness."
"We deserve it, Darling," David affirmed. "We worked hard for this. And most importantly, we supported each other through all the challenges."
They fell silent for a moment, enjoying the night quiet accompanied by cricket songs.
"We can't change the past," Elara finally said, "but we've proven that the past doesn't determine our future."
David nodded, his eyes shining with pride. "And we'll make sure Alisha grows up with stories about her parents' struggles, not to make her sad, but to teach her about strength and perseverance."
The Next Morning
As the sun rose, David and Elara still sat on the same balcony, now with golden light illuminating their faces.
"Thank you for reminding me of all this," whispered Elara.
David looked at her full of love. "Thank you for being the woman who didn't give up just because she couldn't buy ice cream. That's the woman who fell in love with me, and that's the woman who's still here with me."
The journey back to Jakarta was filled with new warmth. Although nothing had changed physically, something deeper had bonded between them. Two souls who were once lost had now found their home again - in each other's embrace.