12

"Take the cloth first for you to be the bridesmaid later, at my house."

Ghina said when they were on their way home. Tera just nodded briefly, still focused on driving Gina's motorbike.

"Tera," Gina called again. "I think Gio likes you."

Tera furrowed her brows hearing Ghina's utter nonsense, just because Gio lent Tera his jacket, doesn't mean the guy likes her, right? Yes ... although the reason is very inviting many questions from anyone who hears it.

"You don't have to start at it again," Tera said then.

Gina tapped Tera lightly on the shoulder. "It looks like it."

"What does it look like? Don't look at him just borrowing his jacket. The reason is illogical."

"Seriously, Ter." Ghina shook Tera's shoulder in exasperation. "I can judge times, you know for yourself that my assessment of people who like you is never wrong."

Tera chuckles in disgust because Ghina's words are always true. Annoyed, Tera honked at a motorcycle that suddenly overtook her in a hurry. "Hey!"

Gina who heard it then laughed loudly. "Besides, what if he likes you? That's good though."

"What's good, anyway? He and I are far apart! Like oil and water, they can't be together!"

"Why are you so pessimistic, anyway?" said Gina.

"No one is pessimistic, bitch!" Tera stopped because she was hit by a red light. "Who are you going to invite next?"

Ghina chuckled when she found out that Tera was trying to divert the conversation. "People who I know, of course. But, if you want to know whether Adi was invited or not, don't worry, he was invited."

"Earlier you were talking about Gio, now out of nowhere talking about Adi. that's so unclear!"

*

Tera entered the hotel in slow steps. Her eyes looked around carefully, there were several people she knew who were chatting excitedly with the other herd.

Today Ghina and Naufal will tie the marriage knot between them. Tera, who was invited to become one of her bridesmaids, had to come to Bandung, where the event was being held because Ghina was originally from Bandung. Tera must be willing to put aside her grudge to be present at her best friend's wedding. The grudge she carried for 7 years. The place of birth that should be the place where Tera longed for when she traveled, became a place that Tera was very afraid of if she had to return. Fear of having to meet again with people who became her dark past. Afraid that she would have to deal with the trauma that Tera had tried to close tightly.

Tera had promised herself that she would never set foot again in the place where she was born. Tera was determined to continue to go as far as possible from where she came from, she promised she would never have to deal with the people who had been her nightmare while she was asleep.

But, Ghina didn't allow her to keep going on a journey to find her true self like what she had been talking about all this time. This time, after 7 years, Tera had to return to Bandung. Tera did not know what surprises would come. She just hoped everything was going well.

Tera's friends watched Tera's presence carefully. The girl was carrying several large paper bags while walking toward them. Maybe in the form of a gift that Tera will give to Ghina and also her future husband who will become a legal husband in a few hours.

"It's such an honor you're not late today." Dea quipped Tera as soon as the girl arrived in front of her friends.

Grinning, Tera answered. "I set the alarm."

There's no way Tera was late or didn't even come to Gina's wedding. It can be serious. This is her best friend's wedding, Gina doesn't want to get any excuse from Tera. This day is very sacred for Ghina and her partner, Tera doesn't want to destroy it because she can't attend.

"Is that for Gina?"

As if remembering, Tera lifted her paper bag. She nodded. "I'm going upstairs, I want to see Ghina. Have you been to her room?"

Simultaneously they nodded, then Tera said goodbye to go first.

"I was annoyed when I got married she didn't come," said Dea suddenly. Making everyone who was staring at Tera's departure then looked at Dea. "I still don't know why she didn't come, she didn't even tell me why she couldn't come."

Anne groaned inwardly. She could have told her why Tera didn't come at that time. Because apart from Ghina, Anne knows all of Tera's problems. Tera herself told Anne everything. But, that problem has been around for a very long time. Almost 7 years ago, Dea and her husband's marriage was held. If Anne or Tera explained again why Tera couldn't attend her friend's wedding, it would feel like complete nonsense.

*

"Terra!" Ghina exclaimed happily seeing Tera who was wearing a simple kebaya walking towards her. "I thought you weren't coming." The pout then.

"Here." Tera gave Ghina a 'deposit' in other words, a coercive gift that Ghina wanted. Completely ignoring Ghina's words which were in the form of subtle satire because Tera was almost an hour late for her appointment.

Gina gladly accepts. Her eyes sparkled with pleasure when she saw the contents of her paper bag.

Just like humans in general. Tera and Ghina like to collect perfumes with a variety of flavors and scents, from soft ones that make the nose shrivel at the smell, Tera and Ghina have it all. And Ghina asked Tera to buy her, with little coercion, perfume from a country that Tera had visited before.

Incidentally, a few days ago, Tera went to Australia to attend a book publishing from her company. Tera was asked to be a representative because the book she was working on was related to the newly published book.

"My mom gave you a greeting. She said sorry she couldn't come, she was in Singapore, taking care of the moving house."

Ghina glanced at Tera, then nodded in agreement. "Wenda has sent a chat too. Where do you guys want to move to? Or do you want to go back to Indonesia?"

Tera sat on the sofa in the hotel room where Ghina used to do her makeup and also to change clothes. "Stay still in Singapore."

"Then why move?" Ghina closed her eyes as the makeup artist resumed her delayed activities.

"The place now has only two rooms. If Puti goes there, I have to sleep in the tv room, it's not comfortable," said Tera. "My mom said, it's better to find one with at least 3 rooms and one small one than me or Puti sleeping outside." It's clear again.

Gina nodded in understanding. "Did you find it?"

"Yep." Tera took a snack that was on the opposite table. Now it's 9 am, and she is out of breakfast, while the event will start at 10 which begins with the Ceremonial consent and continues at 7 pm for the reception. "Can I go downstairs? I want to eat, but I haven't had breakfast yet."

"Very customary." Gina huffed in annoyance. The plan is that Ghina will ask Tera for help to bring flowers that Ghina will hold. Even though the reception was going to be at 7 pm tonight, Ghina had to talk to Tera about this now. Persuading Tera is very difficult, swear to God!

Without saying goodbye, Tera walked away from Ghina's hotel room. She would have breakfast at the hotel's restaurant because there would be no food for the Ceremonial ceremony. Even though Tera was sure that the WO had prepared everything, it still felt impolite if she tasted the food made by the expensive chef before the owner of the show started.

The restaurant is very luxurious in terms of the hotel's 4-star rating. Gina is not kidding to choose a super-rich husband. Tera saw that there were several tables occupied by a group of men wearing Batik. Tera thought they were the same age as her because the men's faces looked mature. Regardless of the men who simultaneously looked at her. Tera sat at an empty table, reading the menu. Her stomach could not stand the thought of the food that would enter her stomach.

Tera chose a healthy menu for her breakfast this time, with a cup of warm plain tea. The waiter nodded briefly and then said goodbye to making the food Tera ordered.

While waiting for the order to arrive Tera opened her cellphone. There were several incoming emails and some chats that Tera wanted to throw her cell phone away from.

"I just saw your make-up like this. It fits you so well."

Tera looked up. Seeing that there was Gio in front of her, smiling evilly watching Tera intensely.

Today Tera is wearing a simple kebaya that she sews herself at her regular tailor. The batik cloth that she had tied in such a way covered her legs, as well as the hair she had curled and put aside a few strands of hair that were not carried away or that Tera had left on purpose. With very beautiful gem earrings, and supernatural make-up. Tera is charming. No matter what makeup Tera uses, the face of the woman in front of her will be very beautiful, wearing or not wearing make-up though.

"Thank you." Tera couldn't help but curse in her heart. She should have paid close attention earlier when she entered this restaurant. How could Tera forget that Gio will be invited by the groom?

"You're welcome." Gio smiled widely.

Naufal and Gio were best friends in high school. Because the theory of the earth is very small, Gio does not think that Naufal's mate is Tera's best friend who is in front of him. When he found out that Naufal was getting married that night, he immediately rushed to Naufal's house to force his best friend so that Gio could become a close relative who was present from the start of the Ceremonial. He didn't want to waste the chance to see Tera any longer. With a small bribe, Naufal agreed with a heavy heart, because he said the invitation for the Ceremonial consent had already exceeded capacity. Naufal thought Gio was not in Indonesia seeing how busy the superstar was.

Then seeing Tera walking leisurely into the hotel restaurant alone, of course, Gio was happy. He did not regret having agreed to Daffa's invitation to drink coffee at this delicious hotel. Because Gio had insisted on staying in the lobby to check one by one the people who came, who knew one of them was Tera. But, even without him looking for it, the woman still came in front of him, fate was as funny as that.

"Mr. Gio?"

Gio stopped his thoughts and saw Tera who was looking at him confusedly. "Sorry ... what were you talking about?"

Tera couldn't help but roll her eyes lazily. "Mr. Gio's friends are already gone."

Gio saw the table he previously used with his friends was empty, leaving behind the plates and glasses they had just used. Where are his friends?

"The show will start soon," Tera glanced at the clock on her cellphone. 9 o'clock 45 minutes. "You can go to the rooftop now. Because maybe everyone is getting ready for the event now."

"How about you?"

"I'm here, eating."

Gio frowned in confusion. "You're not coming?"

Tera shook her head. "I don't like events like this if I'm being honest. Ghina already understands, she just insisted that the important thing is that I attend, see her wearing wedding clothes and be betrothed by her future husband. That's more than enough. She won't be surprised if I don't attend the Ceremonial event, that's not my vibe."

"Why don't you like events like this?" Gio leaned forward, looking interested. Staring at Tera who is feeding her healthy food in a graceful way.

Tera shook her head. "Mr. Gio can go upstairs now. The show is about to start."

"I'm more interested in talking to you than listening to Naufal's Ceremonial."

Tera glared uncomfortably. Unlucky. She said a lot of words that she shouldn't have said to the person in front of him.

"So why don't you like events like this?" Gio repeated his question.

Tera just stared at Gio flatly, while chewing his chicken slowly.

"I can keep a secret," said Gio again. Seems to be convincing Tera.

Tera doesn't care if the reason is to people. Because her friends already know Tera's personality. Tera also didn't care if Gio leaked it. She just wasn't comfortable talking to Gio. Tera thought the excuse she used would be enough to make Gio go from her sight, but it didn't.

"Terra?" call Gio. Tera kept her flat face that looked adorable in Gio's eyes.

"I'm just uncomfortable seeing the crowds."

"I'm sure the reason isn't that simple," Gio replied, his eyes blinking like a child asking for something.

Tera snorted inwardly. Maybe this was a surprise he didn't expect to come as soon as he set foot in Bandung.

Meeting Gio was a misfortune.