Crazy Thing
Alice:
I've hired a Weeding Organizer for our wedding. Today the invitation is ready, next Monday we can get married. The event will be held at my house. What do you think?
Noah had just woken up from his sleep after he drove Alice home late at night because the streets had just been deserted at ten o'clock at night—and the distance between his house and Alice's was pretty good too. As a result Noah only got home at half-past midnight, fortunately, Aunt Nur was already asleep, so there was no need to answer the series of questions that would surely be shown for him. And this time, Noah's sleepiness disappeared when I read Alice's chat.
His phone vibrated again.
Alice:
How many invites do you need? Want to invite your friends? Your family?"
This time it wasn't sleepiness that hit Noah, but a headache. Though they had time to chat on the street all night, not a single question from Alice arose about their marriage. Didn't mention the invitation or anything, the next time she's booked the building.
Noah:
Alice, are you serious?
You didn't say anything to me.
Noah sat on his bed, trying to collect his life.
Alice:
I thought you agreed to the points in our contract yesterday? All decisions regarding marriage are in my hands, you forgot?
Meanwhile, on the other side, Alice was at the invitation printing press, looking at the rows of invitations that suited her. She doesn't want the wedding to be too extravagant, but it's not embarrassing for her friends, family, or office associates to attend. Even though it was only a contract marriage, Alice wanted everything to be complete. Her life principle is if not better, then better not.
Alice's cell phone rings, a call from Noah. Alice winced at the sight and was forced to press the green button while holding the object to her ear.
"Alice, where are you?"
"Hah?"
"Yeah, where are you?" Noah's voice was hoarse, it was obvious he had just slept.
"Looking at the invitations, let me know how many people you want to invite. Let me prepare."
"Share your location."
"Excuse me? What for?"
"Don't think it's weird, Alice, I know it's a fake wedding, but I have to help you. What if Aunt Nur asks about the progress of our marriage and I can't answer anything?" Alice got goosebumps when she heard Alan mention 'our wedding', it sounded so intimate and Alice didn't like it. "Al … hello, Alice?"
"No, too much noise makes it confusing." Alice immediately answered firmly. For Alice, life was about being in control, and she didn't want her life to be controlled by anyone much less by a stranger like Noah she had only known for a few days. "Just tell me how many people you will invite, the discussion is over."
Connection lost.
Noah looked at his email confused, Alice said discussion when Noah thought that it was a one-sided debate and didn't give him the chance to speak at all. Noah finally decided to take a shower, getting ready to go to work.
****
The crazy things that Alice did via chat were nothing compared to the uproar that the girl had created in the office where Noah worked. Noah just came into his office and saw that their attention was all on Noah. "Sir, congratulations," said Sintya, an office girl whose job every day is to deliver coffee and tea to Noah's room.
"Congratulations?"
"Whoa, Bro! You're crazy, you don't talk to me anymore, huh?" Danish, his best friend since college, suddenly grabbed Noah from behind and hit him hard on the shoulder. "You've never had a crush, once you got one you immediately got Alice Grizelle's class. You're crazy, Bro, silly!"
Noah frowned. His attention then turned to an envelope with a gray ribbon in Danish's hand, with the names Noah & Alice engraved on it. Noah immediately grabbed the object without permission and read the contents inside. It had her and Alice's names written on it.
"Where did you get it from?"
"Rachel."
Without wasting any time, Noah walked over to Rachel's room. The girl was having fun with her friends and as soon as she saw Noah's appearance, Rachel waved. "Can we talk for a minute?"
"Wait, guys." Rachel immediately pulled over and followed Noah.
"Okay, maybe you will ask why suddenly the invitation is in the office. So before you ask, I'll explain first that Alice called me in the morning and said there was an online motorcycle taxi to my house to deliver an invitation to your office friends. Well I told you, didn't I? Alice is impulsive, everything she wants must be obeyed then things will get more complicated." Rachel showed the invitation in her hand.
"I know you must not have told Alice about this, right?"
"She didn't tell me anything."
Rachel shrugged. "Nice to meet Alice," she patted Noah's shoulder, "you're facing my friend, but you can still back off, the event hasn't started yet." Whether those words were supposed to be encouraging or disheartening, Noah instantly confirmed.
"No, I've already signed the contract."
"So, there's no other choice, right?"
After all, Noah is a man who will always be committed to his words and behavior.
****
From numbers 1 to 10, approximately the progress of Noah and Alice's wedding preparations is already at number 8. Alice deliberately uses the services of an expensive and well-known wedding organizer in Jakarta. She wants everything done quickly, but still with the best quality. Alice was in her office, among the piles of folders piled up. The girl moved her fingers, typing a message to Noah.
Alice:
Noah, this afternoon at 5 can you go to Jenay's boutique? I'm sharing the location, I want clothes fitting. Already made an appointment with the vendor.
Noah was not fast-responding, making Alice repeatedly have to check her WhatsApp just to see her status changed online. Right after that, the message got a reply.
.
.
.
To be continued . . .