Cocooned

LINDA RECEPTION

Lord, please forgive your servant.

This morning, while all the guests were solemnly praying, my eyes could not blink staring at Val's back. The girl hypnotized me ever since she entered the Wood Hand Church with four other bridesmaids, accompanying Linda in a super fancy wedding dress.

Ave Maria's song that's reverberating right now, is making my imagination come alive. I think I saw St. Michael led the cupids into the church. They circled around Val and released love arrows, but the girl did not turn her head at all.

My fingertips were cold and trembling, I couldn't wait until the wedding procession was over to meet her.

As soon as the blessing was over, I immediately darted to the exit and waited for Val there. But until the guests came home, I did not find either Val or Jaya. Disappointment makes my shoulders wavy.

I walked to the parking lot and drove home. Yes already, later in the afternoon I can still meet him, because tomorrow morning I have to leave for Jakarta again to pursue the project deadline. I don't know what I'm going to talk to Val about, I just want to see him one more time before I leave.

*****

I was at Susan's house an hour ago, but by 16:45, she had not yet come down from her upstairs room. Anxiously, I squeezed my own hand. Looks like I'm gonna be late, die! Linda can grab my hair until I have to buy a wig, if until the show is chaotic because one of her bridesmaids is late. Linda's perfectionist attitude was indeed one that made me obedient - if not to be spooked - there, first.

The sound of high heels clashing with the stairs from the wood made me turn and stunned. It was not because of the girl's beautiful appearance, but her clothes. Susan was wearing a Tinkerbell dress designed by her sister!

My jaw is like it's coming off its hinges. "You ... Him?" my stutter.

Susan laughed as she joked, "Me Jane, you Tarzan." I think she finally realized that I wasn't laughing, because now she's looking at me with a frown, "You okay, Ter?"

"My brother didn't tell you anything?"

"No." Susan was surprised when she saw the numbers on her watch. "Oh, Ter, hurry! Linda could be hysterical if we're late!" susan's hand in her hand dragged me out. We said goodbye to Susan's parents and immediately darted away.

I think there was an auto-pilot button in my car, because without trying, twenty minutes later we arrived. Susan immediately darted out and into the reception hall as soon as the car stopped in the lobby. While I continued driving, parked the car in a nearby parking area. I didn't rush out and chose to be in the car for a while. In silence, I tried to decipher the contents of my mind filled with many questions.

So ... The girl my sister wants to betroth is Susan?

Has Susan been waiting for me all this time?

But does Susan like Jaya?

Is that really me or Jaya?

Despite being in the middle of a party and surrounded by college friends and acquaintances, I felt empty. I'm no longer looking for either Susan or Val, for what? I feel like this is karma. Now I know how Jaya felt when I gave Susan to her, when she liked Valerie.

My hands continued to feed the small cakes into my mouth without really enjoying the taste. While far ahead of the stage, Linda and my friend were having a wedding kiss.

"Woi, are you okay? You look depressed" Jaya said, patting me on the shoulder.

Surprised by the sudden greeting, I turned my head and found an unusually wide grin painted on my best friend's face, or perhaps it was just my hallucination because my mood was bad.

"Is that clearly visible on my face?" tanyaku. A piece of Black Forest measuring 2cm x 2cm again filled the space in my mouth, the sweetness mixed with a little rhum made me feel better.

"Your hair is like Frankenstein." Laughter Jaya fishing mimic sebalku who since I tried to hide. How not, after patiently waiting for this day, it turns out I found something I did not expect.

I know, maybe I'm the one who's less grateful. I mean, what's Susan's lack? She is beautiful, good at cooking, and gentle. It's chatty, but it's because he cares. Then, where would my objection be if he was the one whom I was betrothed to?

The thing is, I don't have chemistry on Susan— - something that pops up in my chest, that makes my fingertips vibrate to touch her, and the longing to see her again when I just parted ways.

"If you don't ngenes-ngenes terribly, Ter. Come with me, we gather around the corner, where the bridesmaids are. Who knows after this you can drive one of them home to be introduced to the family." I haven't commented yet, Jaya embracing on the shoulder dragged me away.

"Ladies, meet my friend Terry. Well, Terry, meet—Susan and Valerie, of course. It's Nadia, Amanda and Dea."

My eyes widened, it felt like I wanted to go home now and shake my brother. Maybe also immediately take your brother to see a specialist so that his brain can be dissected so I see the contents. In front of me right now, stood five bridesmaids in golden Tinkerbell suits. Should I date all five to know which girl I'm betrothed to? I don't mind, they're all beautiful.

The girls immediately surrounded me, they were aggressive enough that I didn't need to talk. Like artists, they ask 1001 questions about my work, where do I live, lover (?).

The mic's rattling precedes the MC's breaking of the saxophone chanting Ed Sheeran's Perfect. In an inviting tone, the man in the pink suit said, "For fellow single fighters are expected to come forward. We'll be throwing flowers soon. The prize is tempting, so don't miss it. Come on singles, get close to the stage!"

A feisty shout from below the stage welcomed the MC's invitation. The girls pushed me to the center of the stage along with a bunch of other people from several directions. Before drifting with the flow, I could see Jaya's hand holding Susan's fingers.

The song is a cheerful change of voice, accompanying hysterical singles to get a bridal bouquet, which he says can make someone find his soul mate. In the middle of the crowd, I looked left and right, then around, but Val was nowhere to be seen. My jaw tightened with worry, where did he go?

I decided to rush out of the crowd, but the lack of one single person would not bring the event to a halt. I looked for her to the corners of the room, to the reception, to the women's toilet. But he was not found, nor was my phone picked up. Anxiety runs my way to make the chest tight and stomach heartburn.

Then I saw him standing down there, alone on the lobby terrace. Oh, please, Val, don't go home now.