Evan: "Hi… Lia. Angga and I want to invite you to lunch together today. Can you?"
Lia: "Hmmm... sorry I can't, Van. I have worked at home to preparing some orders."
Evan: "Ahhh... okay. But, we want to talk with you again."
Lia: "Next time, Van. Sorry."
Evan: "Oh…it's okay. Thank you and sorry if it bothered you, Lia."
The call ended.
"Why, Sweety?" Sekar asked as soon as the child finished the call.
"Evan inviting me to lunch, Mom. Hehe, I said that next time. It's a bit busy today."
"Oh well, why don't you just say yes? There is Bagus with Aji who helps us."
"Next time, Mom. It's okay, because there are still many opportunities," answered Lia casually while continuing her activities of packing flowers.
Lia couldn't deny that there was a hint of joy when Evan asked her to have lunch together. Because that means she will be able to meet the young man again. However, Lia didn't want to accept the invitation, because she still had work to do.
Even though her mother had allowed her to go, Lia didn't want to do it because she realized that her presence was needed. Moreover, the incoming many flower orders from customers. So, she had to help even though Bagus and Aji were already there to help.
---
Cut flowers that have been packaged, one by one neatly arranged on a pickup truck. Not to forget ten boxes of wet oasis were also transported because they were part of the order.
After making sure everything was entered in the right amount, the driver covered the trunk of his car with a tarp so that it was not exposed to direct sunlight or anticipated when it rained.
The location of the customer is still one city. It is located in a different area which is quite far away, so it can take more or less an hour's journey. Even so, the cut flowers will last long until they arrive at the location because the quality of the flowers belonging to the Lia's family includes superior seeds.
"Okay, I'm ready, Mom. Have you brought all the flowers too?"
"Yes, Lia. This is the note and you must give it to Mrs. Azam. She already gave me a down payment. So, you just take the rest for the money. It's all written here and I've also told Mrs. Azam if you want to come with the flowers," explained Sekar in full to the girl before leaving.
"Okay, Mom. I'll go now."
"Yes, Sweety. Be careful always and let me know if anything happens."
Lia nodded in understanding, then kissed the back of her mother's hand respectfully before half running towards the passenger door of the pickup car that was ready to leave.
It was already half-past nine in the morning, the sun was starting to warm up and Lia was ready to start the journey to deliver flowers to Mrs. Azam—one of the owners of a well-known florist in the neighboring area.
For flower delivery, Lia's family usually asks Mr.Nilam—driver online for help. However, due to many of orders, they called the rental pick-up driver to make it more practical and easier. Besides being able to be transported once, the condition of the flowers also remains safe until the destination.
The journey that Lia and the Driver went through was quite smooth. Because apart from being early, the quiet atmosphere of the road made the cargo free from obstacles. In the Flower City, rush hour occurs from six to eight in the morning. Where, at that time, people were moving together to go to work and the children were also starting to go to their respective schools.
Now and then, Lia talk with the driver to fill the silence between them. And once in a while, she looks at the phone screen to see if some messages or calls come in or not.
When she opened the list of phone calls, Lia immediately remembered Evan who had called her this morning. There was a bit of a bad feeling because she had refused the young man's invitation to have lunch together. Moreover, so far Evan and Angga have been kind to her and her family even though they haven't known each other for long.
Then suddenly, Lia found a thought if maybe she could do something to make up for her bad feeling. And what immediately popped into her mind, she also felt that if she had to replace Evan's offer today with an invitation to eat together another time.
Then without realizing it, Lia's mind was completely focused on Evan. Everything becomes quite clear if she admires the young man.
Because since her meeting with Evan at the hospital at that time, Lia consciously knows that she can't forget what happened to her at all. In that case, of course, especially at the heartbeat which became unusual the moment hse suddenly came face to face with the young man.
Evan's gentle gaze had succeeded in stealing space in her heart that had never been opened to any young man. That's what makes Lia can't stop thinking about Evan. Because what happened next from that first meeting was the image of the young man that she could never seem to get rid of from her heart and mind.
Lia believes in love at the first sight. But honestly, she had never felt it. Until in the end, a strange feeling appeared when she met Evan. Then even though Lia wanted to deny it, these feelings only made her mind keep on focusing on the young man.
Two corners of Lia's lips lifted. And as if there was an invisible force that invited her to share her happiness, her smile had just grown unconsciously.
Of course, this has instantly make the Mr. Driver confused who drove her. And maybe because he was worried that something was wrong with the flower owner's daughter's brain, he quickly asked,
"Miss Lia? Miss Lia, why? Why are you smiling to yourself? Are you okay?" asked the man who immediately made Lia realize.
"Uh, I'm oaky." The girl replied a little embarrassed.
"Ah, because you smile with no reason. So, I asked you to know."
"Haha, I'm Okay. Don't worry. I just remember about funy moment."
"Okay-okay. I just passed the gate, Miss. So, it's turn right after this, right?"
"Yes sir. Whe turn right, then left, then straight, and then stop in there. I make sure first, whether the car can enter or not. You see, sometimes some people park their motorbikes in the alley."
"Okay, Miss."
---
The car continued to drive through the traffic in the fairly quiet area. And not long after, Lia and the driver arrived at Mrs. Azam's house. Their arrival was immediately greeted by the host.
After unloading the cut flowers, assisted by one of Mrs. Azam's employees, Lia, and the driver were asked to sit for a while enjoying the drinks that had been prepared for them.
Mrs. Azam is a regular customer who always entrusts her flower needs to Lia's family. Even though she had to pay shipping costs for the goods she ordered, she didn't have the slightest objection. Because the flowers given to her are always good and never disappoint.
"Miss Lia, I received a call first," said the driver when his cell phone rang.
"Yes, Sir."
"Lia, please drink this tea first."
"Uh, yes, Mrs. Azam. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Sweety. Em, how about your college?" asked Mrs. Azam kindly.
"Fine, Ma'am. I'll be entering the seventh semester soon."
"Well, then it won't be long before this graduation." That's what the florist owner commented.
"Yes, Ma'am. Your prayers are what I need." The girl replied with a sweet laugh.
"Sure, Sweety. And when I see you, I remembers that in your area there is a plan to build a supermarket."
Lia frowned at the information. Because she has not even heard at all about the news. Not even a group of friends discussed it. Usually, if there is new information, they are the first source that Lia gets. But recently, she had not heard any new information.
"Sorry, Ma'am. I don't even know if that information exists. My friends too. Usually, they always know when there's new news."
"Oh, I forgot. This information has not been disseminated because it is still in the process of negotiating land to reach an agreement," explained Mrs. Azam.
"So that means it's still in the process of deliberation, right, Ma'am? Haven't agreed yet?" asked the girl again curiously.
"Not yet, Sweety. At that time, it was still in the process of presenting as well as an offer from the CEO of the company that wanted to establish the Supermarket."
"May I know, where is the location, Ma'am?" asked Lia.
"You know the vacant lot behind the Charity Orphanage? That is where the Supermarket is planned to be established." Thus Mrs. Azam continued to provide information.
For a moment Lia contemplated hearing the name of the orphanage being mentioned. Not without reason, but because Lia knows the place very well.
As a child, Lia together with Ares and Mother and Father often came there. Just to give a little donation and also introduce it to the orphanage children at that time, most of whom were the same age as them. Thus, intimacy began to be established and they became friends.
However, it has been almost a month that she has not had time to go there because there are indeed several tasks that she must complete. Moreover, her father's condition has not fully recovered. Regarding donations, Sekar still always gives even though she can't come directly, she will transfer them.
Maybe because of that, Lia has not heard any news about the Supermarket construction. In addition, Mrs. Azam also said that the information had not been disseminated to the public.
"Hmmm… in my opinion, the construction of the supermarket will have a good impact on the surrounding community. For example, the opening of new job vacancies, besides that at my place there is no supermarket," answered Lia in the end.
"Yes, Sweety. The development of an area will indeed have a good impact on the surrounding community, but ... one thing that makes a little mind, the location of the Supermarket is indeed planned to be on a very large vacant land. But that doesn't mean you won't use another land even though there's already a building."
"What do you mean Mrs. Azam?"
"Yes, the Orphanage… the plan will be evicted."
"What? Evicted?"
***