Days After You's

Chapter 14 - New Year

I looked at Stella knocking on the door of the B-30 unit. On the last day of the year, she looked so cheerful and energetic. Whereas from morning until noon he was busy cooking beef wellington and klapertaart in large portions to be distributed to family and neighbors. Starting from the grandparents who live in front of our unit, the janitors and security who have to keep working on this holiday, Naomi and Kevin, until the one to bring during the new year event later. When you think it's going to drain all his energy, he just seems to get more upbeat in the afternoon.

The door in front of us opened. Naomi smiled as she looked at us from behind the door, "Ah, Stella, Mr. Luiz. Good afternoon."

"Naomi, happy last day of the year!" Stella exclaimed, "I made some food for you and Kevin. I'd love to invite you guys to dinner again today to celebrate the new year together, but Luiz and I have to come to a family event today."

"Oh this is a lot. Kevin would have loved to eat all this. Thank you, yeah."

"Yes, same Naomi."

I also gave a parcel of red and white wine in a bottle to Naomi after she returned from putting the food inside. I ordered that pretty much from one of my friends who is a wine and alcohol entrepreneur to give to friends and family as a new year gift.

Naomi's eyes suddenly widened as she received the parcel, "Ah...? This one..isn't it very expensive huh?"

I was surprised to see Naomi's reaction. If he could stay in this apartment, two bottles of wine like this shouldn't come as a surprise to him. I also did not buy anything too expensive.

I nodded slowly, "Not really. I just happened to buy it for our relatives so I figured why not all of you. You've also accompanied Stella a lot during this time."

Stella nodded, then whispered, "Yes. And Naomi, don't let your husband see it."

"Hidden, I'm afraid she has a keen sense of smell in this drink" Naomi laughed softly, though her eyes dimmed, "But really, thank you for all this. I hope the party with your family goes well. And happy last day of the year is also Stella, Mr. Luiz. Kevin still hasn't woken up from his nap, otherwise I'll call him here."

"It's okay, Naomi. Greetings to Kevin. See you next year!" Stella said with her signature grin, while I followed with a brief greeting, "See you later."

After we finished handing out food and wine to the people we knew around the house, Stella and I returned to our unit. A breath was freed from my mouth, although using the lift it was achy and went back and forth from the fifteenth floor to the other floor to pick up and deliver the wine and food.

"Luiz, all that wine is gonna fit in the car?" Stella asked when we were just in. He pointed towards the sixty sets of wine in the living room that were planned to be given to our families and relatives at the new year's event at Stella's parents' house tonight.

I glanced at the parcels for a moment before walking towards the sink and turning on the tap to wash my hands, "I've called my sister-in-law to help bring some in her car later. He'll be coming in the afternoon with my brother and his son. All of them also want to come look around because they have not stopped by for a long time."

"Oh, right. Sister Esther was sick at the wedding, she had not stopped by but had to go with her husband after she recovered. Only our parents came to visit at that time."

"Hm. That's just that once."

Stella laughed softly, "You know what else, it's because you told them yourself that you'd rather visit them than come here, Luiz."

Thas right. I'd rather I go to people's houses than those who come here. There is no particular reason but it has been so since I first decided to live alone here. My father and mother had understood my nature long ago so they naturally did not question it, but for Stella's father to really listen to my desire not to visit and not protest at all I can say enough to surprise me. Looks like she really entrusted Stella to me.

On the other hand, my sister Esther who used to never hear me that, used to come to visit here often. But already from two years ago, he had not stopped by at all because he was busy. She and her husband started participating in a social organization and often went out of town and country for it so she rarely got to come home. He said that he wanted to come with me and mom after the wedding but he was sick that day. And once she recovered, she had to go with her husband overseas before returning a few months ago.

"Luiz I go get ready first then. If it's too late in the afternoon, Esther's sister will come to the hunt" Stella said to the stairs.

I nodded, "Okay. I'm gonna take a shower soon, too."

Two hours passed. At exactly six o'clock, the bell at the front door rang.

Stella, who was now wearing a plain blue knee-length dress, went to open the door with light steps. Unlike when dealing with mother, he did not feel depressed at all when with my brother.

"Hello sister Esther, Brother Bram, hello dear Ale. Let's go in."

"Hi, Stella. How are you doing? You look cute in that dress. Oh and look at this apartment, not much has changed since I last visited here. Luiz was a bachelor and now he is married. How quickly time passes."

"Esther take off your shoes first."

"Oh yeah, I forgot because I was too excited."

"Mama endong!"

From the stairs, I could hear voices from the front door even before the three people stepped in. My sister Esther, her husband Kak Bram, and their five-year-old son Alejandro stepped out into the living room.

Esther's sister holding little Ale turned to me, "Luiz, how are you?"

"Hello Luiz," Bram, who was almost as quiet as me but much more friendly, grabbed my shoulder and smiled. By then Esther had gone to another room with Stella, going around and asking all these things as if she had just come here for the first time. Their laughter echoed all the way to the living room.

"Your brother misses coming here, he said he wants to see what your apartment looks like now."

"He must be disappointed then. Not much has changed."

Bram's sister circulated a glance, "Hmm, it looks so, but the atmosphere is not as dark as it used to be."

I gave 'greetings' to Bram without making a sound and he laughed.

"Hey, I didn't mean to offend your taste" Bram said.

I hope so. Because people who still live in their in-laws' homes after marriage, have no right to criticize the homes of people who seek to live alone. Or both because I'm married now. Yes, Brother Bram and Sister Esther lived with both of my parents in the mansion from the moment they got married.

"It's okay. Brother Bram, thanks again for helping."

"of course. It's nothing."

After Little Esther and Ale were satisfied eating the cookies that Stella made, and me and Bram had also put all the wine parcels into the car with the help of some janitors who happened to pass by, we also leave.

The new year's event Stella's parents had prepared was not as festive as the Christmas celebration my mother had prepared, but it feels much better because it does not invite music players who are obviously strangers or fancy cakes that are in the end almost untouched until the end of the event.  We ate dinner, prayed and heard grandfather's talk as part of the closing year. Since Grandfather was the most senior member of the family between these two great families, all of them were naturally very respectful towards him and willing to put an ear to his every piece of advice.

After that, the whole family went out to light fireworks to welcome the new year.

"Luiz, does your family also light fireworks during the new year?" Stella asked as she held the fireworks in her hand. The light from the sparks illuminated half of his face.

I nodded, holding my own fireworks in hand, "Yes. But usually we go to the field near the house for that."

"Ah, because your house is quite clinging to another house huh."

"That's how."

The Stella family mansion is located on a plateau quite far from the city center with only a few houses around, so walking just a few steps you can find enough field to light fireworks without having to worry about dirtying the roof of another house with the ashes of fireworks.

My parents and Stella and the rest of the family were standing in the surrounding area waiting. The whole big fireworks still haven't been lit, I just forced Stella to wait for the countdown time of the new year by turning this on.

"Luiz, what are your hopes or resolutions for the new year? If I want to be a more mature person, I want to be able to finish my whole new cookbook and make things easier in the future. Ah, and if I had time I'd love to learn a new language too."

New language? That's catchy. Something I didn't expect from a Stella.

I thought for a moment before replying, "I hope that the whole business of the company will be streamlined."

"That's it?"

"And so that I don't meet annoying people again on business trips."

I also hope that all will be well between me and her until the deadline of our marriage contract arrives and for me to be able to reduce my awkwardness around her, but I don't have to tell him all that.

Stella laughed softly, "May all our hopes be granted then."

Unbeknownst to me, the countdown by the other family members had begun. I helped Stella stand up with my bare hands.

"6..5...4..3..2..1! Happy new year!!!"

Everyone was crying and hugging each other. Fireworks of various shapes began to glide into the sky, like filling a plain canvas of dark blue with floral patterns of various colors.

"Happy New Year, Luiz!" Stella Excited.

I nodded, "Happy New Year, Stella."