There isn't a single day that isn't cloudy, and for some reason, the dark clouds seem to follow me around. Over and over, until I can't hide anywhere else.
I saw my reflection in the big mirror; the black dress with diamond shards made me unable to recognize myself; I couldn't believe I was now in the boutique of a famous Indonesian designer, standing in front of the big mirror wearing the dress he designed.
"How do you think it turned out? If I see it, it'll be fantastic the show is at night, right?"
In response to the designer's question, I could only nod stiffly and smile stupidly.
Rafan told me after lunch that he had to attend a colleague's party tomorrow night, which was held in a ballroom of a five-star hotel, which was sure to be attended by many successful conglomerates in Jakarta, as well as a number of popular artists who were invited.
Rafan took Seno and me to this boutique as a result. He instructed us both to select the dresses and suits that we thought would be appropriate to wear to the party.
"Wow! Mr. Seno is very cool "As soon as Laras saw Seno emerge from the fitting room wearing a red suit, he gave a thumbs up.
"Oh, yes! Haha "Seno responded with a happy smile and a glance at the glass in front of him.
Seno, who appeared to be happy cursing his design, made the designer smile with satisfaction.
Rafan, on the other hand, sat silently with a blank stare, which drew the designer's attention to him.
"Do you want to try now or later, Mr. Rafan?" asked the male designer in a friendly manner, which caused Laras and Seno to look at Rafan, the two employees seemed to have forgotten that Rafan, their boss, was also present.
"Yes, are you ready?" Rafan replied flatly.
The designer nodded, "Yes sir, according to your order, let me help," and rushed to Rafan's side, assisting him into the dressing room.
Laras and Seno both smiled as they looked back at their reflections in the glass, especially Seno, who was stroking the coat he was wearing.
"Mr. Rafan is very kind, right, this is the first time I have bought clothes with him" said Seno which made Laras smile a little, this is the first time he has seen Seno this soft, usually firm and disciplined.
Without further ado, both of them were busy with their own clothes, especially Laras who paid attention to every detail of the dress she was wearing.
Fifteen million rupiahs…
WHAT ?!!
Laras's eyes almost popped out as soon as he saw the price tag attached to the dress.
Crazy! The price of this dress even beat her salary in a month.
Instantly my body froze, wearing this dress was like a burden to me, especially when I saw the price tag attached.
Who the hell is wearing such expensive clothing? I immediately thought of my father, mother, brother, sister, and I, who worked tirelessly but could never make as much money, let alone half the price of this dress.
I remained standing there, staring blankly at myself and the dress I was wearing.
"Wait a minute... Mr. Rafan!"
All eyes are on him as he walks out with his cane, looking charming in a white suit with a matching bow tie, his visuals are undeniable, Rafan is indeed charming with everything attached to his body.
"If the dress I'm wearing is this pricey, it has to be... Perhaps as much as a house." Laras, who was now staring at Rafan from head to toe, muttered in his heart.
"How so?" Rafan inquired, his face almost expressionless.
"Cool! Pak Rafan appears to be more attractive "Seno exclaimed with glee.
"You're so cool," the designer added.
The girl could only sigh softly and purse her lips while Laras was present.
Rafan gave a curt nod. "Okay, then please wrap this one as well as the one they're wearing," Rafan explained, to which the designer immediately nodded while opening the suit Rafan was currently wearing.
"All right, please wait for me."
Rafan, Seno, and Laras sat in the boutique's waiting room while the designer ordered his employees to pack their groceries. Laras' face was angry from now on, and his heart hesitated to say anything about the dress that Rafan bought for his employees because it was too much to say. He is hesitant to attend a party in such an expensive gown, but he is also unsure how to speak so as not to offend Rafan or misinterpret what he means.
"What exactly is it?"
"Yes? Are you addressing me?" Laras was taken aback when Rafan asked a question with a straight face.
Rafan nodded briefly before remaining silent while waiting for Laras' response, which was now even more awkward.
"Mmmm… No, it's okay, sir," Laras answered awkwardly.
There was no conversation after that, everyone was busy with their own thoughts until the designer came back to them while carrying their ordered paperbags after almost twenty minutes of them waiting there.
"We're sorry for making you wait too long, here's your order" said the designer who immediately handed Seno a large paper bag in which there was a large box.
"Thank you Mr. Rafan for visiting here, we are waiting for your next visit" said the designer to Rafan, Yes, only Rafan.
Laras walked beside Rafan who was now walking with his cane, while Seno had already walked towards the luxury car that Rafan had.
"We went straight to the office; I still have to check some files today," Rafan stated emphatically.
"All right, sir."
As soon as they arrived, Laras opened the car door and carefully seated Rafan in the passenger seat. Once he felt She's boss was safe and comfortable in his position, Laras closed the door and went in through the next door and sat right next to Rafan, with Seno now sitting in the front, right next to Rafan's private driver.
Even though it was already half past five o'clock in the afternoon, the black sedan slowly began to leave the expensive boutique. It turned out that we had spent quite a bit of time there choosing clothes, nearly three hours, all because Seno was fickle in choosing a suit.
"You help me later, we seem to be working late again tonight," Rafan said to which Laras only nodded.
As I previously stated, working overtime is completely natural for me, so the boss should understand.
Thirty minutes have elapsed.
When the three arrived in front of their office lobby, Laras and Seno once again assisted Rafan in getting out of the car.
"Do you want to go straight home, Seno?" Rafan asked when he got down from there.
"No sir, I still have some work to do"
Seno helps Rafan enter his company, which is now deserted because they arrived at office hours.
"Laras!"
Laras turned her head towards the source of the voice her heard a that moment her body froze with a shocked and stiff face.
Aldi?!
Laras immediately walked towards where Aldi was standing in her work uniform which her knew because it was clearly written the name of the company where her young brother worked there.
"What are you doing here? how come you're here?!" Laras asked repeatedly as soon as her arrived in front of Aldi.
"I have work here, my boss just called me if there are some broken air conditioners in this office"
Laras' heart skipped a beat. He kept looking at Aldi, watching him from top to bottom who was carrying a large bag that Laras believed contained his work tools.
"Work ?" ask Laras
"Yes, the technician works at this hour, how can you fix the air conditioner if there are still people working, it will be disturbed"
"Alone ?"
"No, I'm with friends too, but you've already gone upstairs, you work here, it's good, isn't it?"
Laras did not answer, but his eyes continued to stare intently at her young brother, the expensive dress was ringing in her brain again.
People like us will never get fifteen million rupiah, no matter how hard we work.
"I go first," Aldi said as he walked past her, carrying a large bag. She entered the office excitedly, an office with many floors, and no matter which floor her young brother had to work on, Laras could see her young brother's back slowly drifting away, her heart sinking.
In this world, many people label prices, whether for goods, food, drinks, or people.
How many are there?
What will the cost of my label be ?