Grandmother's condition

"Excuse me—good morning." Alice and Aunt Uti turned to find Noah already standing at the door, looking cool in a gray shirt.

"Wow, her future husband is coming, come here and eat. Auntie has cooked a lot."

"No need, Auntie, we're in a hurry. Want to come to Nadia's seven-monthly event." Alice cut Aunt Uti's words, not wanting Aunt Uti to give too warm a welcome. Alice didn't want Noah to feel too close to her. She had to put firm boundaries that they were only contract partners. "Come on, are you ready?"

Noah nodded.

"Take my car. You can take the car, right?"

Again the man nodded. Alice gave her the keys to her Fortuner. "So, can we go now, Darling?"

****

The whole way, they were both silents. Accompanied by the song La Vien Rose from the music player in the car. Now Noah can't concentrate because the scent of Alice's perfume is so strong and disturbs his sense of smell. "Nadia is the wife of my half-sister, coincidentally today coincides with her seven-month pregnancy. So the time is right to introduce you to my extended family," Alice said with a sigh. Noah tried to glance at her, it was obvious the girl next to him was nervous.

"Relax, Al, you're that nervous?"

"Ha?" Alice gasped, "n—no."

Noah just smiled amusedly. "Where to after this?"

"Just go straight, on the right side, there will be a white house that is the most striking. That's my grandma's house."

Alice was right, the white house and the most conspicuous on the side of the road because it had three floors with high pillars in the Greek design style. As soon as Alice's car appeared, a security guard opened the gate and saluted. "Just stay here, Mr. Udin will park it later."

Luxury cars looked neatly lined up in the courtyard.

Noah obeyed, he got out of the car, handed the key to a man dressed as a security guard with Udin's name embroidered on his right chest. "Take it, sir."

"Yes sir."

"Noah," before stepping into the house that looked intimidating from the outside due to the height that stood firmly like a royal palace, Alice paused for a moment while looking at Noah. Without another word, she hooked her arm between Noah's. "Let's be more convincing."

Noah was silent for a while, but he was just following Alice's game. Walking into the halls, the sound of fountains gurgling from a distance was heard, combined with the chirping of birds. From the outside, the building looks like a palace, but when you go inside, the atmosphere turns beautiful. There were vines on the walls, the roof of the doorway was lined with a pergola with morning glory flowers adorning the sides. Ebiet G Ade's music sounded melodious. "My grandparents are big fans of Ebiet G Ade," whispered Alice. Noah just nodded.

"Oh, Alice? Come, here? Thought it wouldn't come!" Alice saw her cousin, Safira, a girl with long blonde hair appear with a sinister smile. "Who?"

Alice smiled back meaningfully. "Yeah, coincidentally today my schedule is not busy so as a good family member, it's supposed to come right?" her answer sounded meaningful, she ignored Safira again and ushered Noah into the hall. Her extended family gathered there.

Alice's arrival brought to silence, they all turned to the door with their mouths open.

****

"Alice? Where have you been? Mommy misses you so much!" Alice's attention was drawn to a middle-aged woman whose hair was already slightly graying, "not seen for a long time." She was about to hug Alice, but Alice dodged, showing a gesture that she didn't like being touched.

That woman was Pattie, her stepmother. A woman who is considered a fairy godmother in the Grizelle family for being able to give birth to a male descendant in her father's bloodline, but Alice, her is like a witch who snatches her mother's happy life.

"Alice? Where have you been? Have you forgotten your family? The remark came from Aunt Yosi, the wife of his uncle. "When you're at the top, you can't see the bridge of your nose, but when you're downstairs, it appears right away."

"Oh don't worry, Auntie, I'm not here because I'm still downstairs. I came still wearing stilettos that cost 80 million, Hermes bag a billion and also with good news," Alice paused, giving dramatic effect before sharing an important piece of information. "I'm getting married, tada! This is Noah, my future husband." Alice introduced Noah with a proud and affectionate voice. "Next week I want my entire extended family to come to my wedding."

The news of course made Aunt Yosi and other family members gasp.

"Alice?" Alice turned and saw her grandmother sitting in a wheelchair, looking helpless, her voice shaking. The last time Alice came to the house was five years ago and Grandma's condition was still healthy. "Alice? Alice, Grandma's granddaughter?" she repeated. "Granddaughter Eyang wants to get married? Who with?"

Alice immediately approached, Grandmother tried to reach her. The girl knelt, letting Grandmother hold her face. Feel the nose and cheekbones. "You can't see anymore, Grandma's eyes are blurry, Alice… are you healthy?" Alice tried to stop herself from crying. Eyang's condition was quite shocking. All this time she thought that her grandmother was fine.

"Who is Alice's future husband?"

Noah crouched down next to Alice. Grandmother touched Noah's face and smiled. "Take care of Grandma's granddaughter, yes, please guide her child."

Alice bit her lip again, this time the girl begged herself to be strong again, not to cry, not to look weak in front of her own family. A close family who felt so foreign because never once was by her side.

****

"Hey, Sis, thank you very much for coming to my event." Alice couldn't hide the hateful gaze she gave Hito. If gaze could kill, perhaps by now Hito was already lying on the floor. They were five years apart, Alice was 26, and Hito was 22, but even though he was young, the man had much more experience than her.

.

.

.

.

To be continued . . .