I sat on the back porch, sank in the endless thoughts and chimeras.
The wind caressed my face which instantly soothed me, I closed my eyes for a moment.
It wasn't truly a while, I slept for more than half an hour. I woke up at 30 to 7 o'clock.
"Did you sleep well?", Ryan said, he was right beside me.
In a trance, I walked into the room without responding to his question; my energy and my soul haven't completely returned.
When I got myself to the room, I still couldn't fight the eyes from falling back asleep.
The Adzan (Call for Praying) of Maghrib woke me from a deep sleep that I wasn't planned.
***
Right after greeting (the last order of praying), I heard Aunty Lusi's voice behind the door reminding me to get ready to go to the opening new branch of Da Lusi.
I was wearing a pastel long-dress and peach scarf Ryan gave me. Applying some basic simple make-up to cover a slightly pale face.
Ryan was standing behind the door when I opened the bedroom door. He looked at me for a moment and smiled.
"Ara, you're beautiful tonight", he said while reaching his iPhone 11.
"That means I'm not always pretty," I thought.
"Come on, let's take a photo!", He continued while doing a wefie.
After capturing some pictures, we headed for the veranda in which his parents were waiting.
"Let's go now, the opening is almost about to start", Auntie Lusi said as she walked ahead with Uncle Sofyan.
Uncle Sofyan just smiled when he saw his wife stepping in a hurry, just like my father who is calm amidst the panic of my mother.
Indeed, Allah is Just in every matter, including in choosing a life partner for people.
For a moment, some thoughts crossed my mind. I was truly curious about my future life partner figure, someone who is destined for me. Whether he will be as patient and perfect as my father; the question will be answered as time passes.
My reverie finished off when Ryan clicked his fingers in front of my face.
"Hopefully, Sayed Ryan Idroes is my destiny", I thought, unconsciously staring at Ryan's face who was right in front of me.
Building hopes and imagining them as a reality made me happy. Everything about Ryan is always influencing me. Unconsciously, I smiled as I traced his face. I didn't want to lose him, but I didn't have any confidence to hold on him.
"Why you're smiling ?", He asked.
"There's no other reasons than I want to do so", I replied and smiled again.
"I see. Let's go!", he said.
Ryan held my hand and followed his parents. I don't know what obsessed me, I did nothing to ward off when he was holding my hand.
No, I just couldn't refuse even though I had many reasons to avoid him.
I untied his hands naturally in front of his parents because I didn't want to be misunderstood. However, they didn't consider our relationship as something which aroused suspicion, as if nothing had happened.
"Ara goes with Ryan!", Uncle Sofyan commanded before leaving with Aunty Lusi being escorted by his driver, Mr. Ali.
I just nodded slowly and Ryan also didn't show any sign of objection.
***