CHAPTER 4

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Rose opened the paper bag and started storing the groceries in the fridge, and she noticed that Aslan was doing the same. She wasn't sure whether they should share their groceries or not, considering that they had bought their various items separately.

For the first time in her life, she was living with a man in the same apartment. She knew that she wasn't being hypocritical as a resident of Jakarta, and she had also lived abroad. Living together before marriage carried negative societal stigmas, not to mention going against norms and religious values. She wasn't pretending to be a saint when it came to sex, as she had engaged in it with her ex-boyfriend before.

In reality, living together with a partner had enjoyable aspects. It wasn't solely about sex—no, not at all. While it couldn't be denied that they engaged in it, it wasn't the primary purpose of being together. She had also lived with Oscar for months.

Based on her experience, she felt that there were more positive aspects to it. She could get to know her partner better, their habits, and it opened her eyes to whether they were compatible living together. Yes, she could definitely deal with that.

She learned more about each other, had small arguments, figured out what needed improvement, whether they were aligned in terms of vision and mission. Thankfully, she and Oscar both worked, often coming home late, engaging in pillow talk before sleep, discussing their daily lives, talking about problems, and having discussions on various topics, all while cuddling. This was necessary so that in their future married life, she and her partner wouldn't be taken by surprise.

"How long do you think this country will remain in lockdown?" Rose asked as she placed the beef in the freezer.

Aslan shrugged. "I don't know, hopefully, life returns to normal soon."

Aslan looked at Rose. "But I feel safe because I'm currently living with a doctor. At least if I get infected, there's someone to take care of me."

Rose laughed and glanced at Aslan. "I'm just a cosmetic doctor, Aslan. I don't handle things related to viruses like this."

Aslan sighed. "But at least you've completed general medical education, Rose. You must know more about medical knowledge than I do, who's only involved with wine."

Rose smiled. "That's true."

Aslan placed the canned food in the glass cabinet and neatly arranged them. "At your cosmetic clinic, what kind of plastic surgeries do you perform?"

"Well, there are definitely plastic surgeries, and in fact, there are many of them."

"What drives people to undergo plastic surgery?" Aslan asked curiously.

"Plastic surgery is a trend nowadays, and the surgery schedules at my clinic in Jakarta are very busy. The reasons vary; some want to enhance their appearance. Many people are born with a natural, attractive nose, while others may have asymmetrical features. The same goes for the eyes, chin, and other areas. These are addressed by professional doctors."

"Do you perform plastic surgery?"

"No, I'm only an aesthetic doctor, so I don't have the authority to perform surgical procedures. I only handle beauty treatments like peeling, thread lifts, fillers, and botox. There are some plastic surgeons who collaborate with me. They are specialized surgeons in plastic surgery."

"I see. So, you're the owner?"

"Yes, I'm the owner of the beauty clinic."

"Wow, I didn't know that. It turns out they're two different things."

Aslan then pondered for a moment and looked at Rose. "Do you think there's anything that needs changing in my face?"

Rose smiled and gazed at the handsome face before her. "Your face is already perfect, Aslan. Why would you want to change anything?"

Aslan chuckled. "Thank you for saying my face is perfect."

"You're welcome."

Aslan had stored all the groceries in the cabinet and opened a can of Coca-Cola, taking a sip. "Have you ever had plastic surgery?" Aslan asked, curious.

"Not so far. I've only had lip fillers to add a bit of volume."

"No wonder your lips are very attractive."

Rose laughed and glanced at Aslan. "What's your opinion on women who undergo plastic surgery?" Rose asked Aslan.

"It's perfectly fine, as long as they have the means for it. Nowadays, it's a trend in society. It's about wanting to look beautiful, perfecting their physical appearance. Looking beautiful is a necessity for every woman, isn't it?"

"Yes, you're right, as long as it's done by the right doctor."

"Basically, every woman wants to look beautiful. If it makes her feel comfortable, why not?"

"If you had a girlfriend or wife, would you allow them to undergo plastic surgery?" Rose asked, wanting to know Aslan's stance on the matter.

"Tentu saja. If there's a facial feature that's less than perfect, I'll finance it," Aslan replied.

Rose then laughed. "Good, you're every woman's dream."

Aslan also laughed. "Thank you."

Aslan and Rose exchanged glances for a few seconds. "Can you cook?" Aslan asked, changing the topic of conversation.