Hot Couple: Inara's Love Story

Love at First View

In early February, exactly three weeks after Ari and Zia's wedding reception, I went back to wandering -- I mean: doing an escape. In the past, my escape was only on music, movies, novels, and games. Those four things became my escape that led me into the imaginary world. Finally I tried to pour those fantasies in the form of fiction. From there I started to become a writer.

I knew I would never become a billionaire by writing. But, by writing, I can make my own money. With that money I could start my adventure, a journey that took me to new places, new people, and new experiences.

Before starting a new adventure - - my mother asked me to go to Bogor, to the house of my other aunt, youngest aunt, my mother's sister. I went there to deliver my mother's souvenirs, typical souvenirs from Lampung: krak, sambal lingkung, and typical Lampung coffee. I was just a little while away, I decided not to stay there. I left before anyone wondered about my privacy.

At lunchtime, I walked into Dinata Resto, a two-story restaurant with a different concept between the first floor and the second floor. The first floor is an indoor area, made more simple and blend with nature. While the second floor with a more classic concept, where visitors will be presented with wall hangings and chandeliers that give a romantic impression, especially at night. I was sitting at the left corner table, on the first floor.

While waiting for my order, I opened the plastic map I was carrying, looked around at the design of the house I had long dreamed of - a place to return to if I was bored with my adventures one day.

"Oh, my goodness!" I stood up straight from shock.

A waiter accidentally spilled a drink on my desk. "Sorry, Ma'am. I was not intentionally. Sorry." he said begging.

I quickly saved the contents of my map from the water spill. "It's okay. My file's not wet."

"Go clean, Mom!" the command of a man who knew was already standing beside me. "Please ma.af," he said, suddenly he pecked when he saw my face. "Hey, you... Inara?" he asked a moment later.

I think he's the owner of the resto or at least the manager. I judged him on the way he gave orders to the waiter, as well as from his dapper appearance, a suit that I believe is quite expensive.

I was silent for a few seconds. "Yes, yes" I replied, somewhat hesitating, between answering and not.

I who usually behave indifferently, jutek, and judes on the opposite sex who are familiar, this time even a little flabbergasted at the foreign man in front of me. Eits, not because of his dapper appearance or his expensive suit, but because he is similar and handsome Reza Rahadian.

Yeah, Reza Rahadian, the actor I judged for his acting and good looks. I don't think I need to describe her at length. You're pretty much browsing on google if you don't know who Reza Rahadian is. But this one had rather long hair, exactly Reza Rahadian in the mask of an Eastern, male lead character in Strawberry Surprise. A bit long, not a longish like Tristan, Reza Rahadian's mask in the movie Shops Ex. Especially the Rosid kribo, big no. I'm amused to see Reza Rahadian with such strange hair.

After first seeing her figure on that day, for the first time I felt something melt inside my body, my blood seemed to rustle. God, how about I meet a real Reza Rahadian? Hm....

"Please move the table first, In." His hand was pointing to the table in front of us. "I apologize for the inconvenience" the man said. And it was the first time someone called me In, but I strangely didn't mind.

I circled my gaze to the other empty table that was at the right corner. "Can you move there?" my question was pointing to the table I wanted. "I don't like sitting in the middle. More comfortable in the corner."

He's agreed. And as soon as we sat down at the new table, my order came.

"Please bring me the same dish, yes. Don't forget the mineral water" he told the waiter. "Eh, sori. Can I sit here?"

Yep, she came to her own senses, and I just nodded in agreement. He's correct. Even if it's his restaurant or he works there -- doesn't mean he's free to sit with guests, right?

"Oh yeah, I'm Reza" he said again, shaking hands with me. My mouth was round hearing him say his name. "Why?" he asked with a surprised expression.

Spontaneously I said, "It's okay. I thought it was just your face that looked similar. It's your name too." I immediately welcomed his handshake.

Like a magic, there was a vibration that I felt when our hands touched. I don't know, but that's how I feel. His hand grip was so friendly, but it also implied the firm demeanor of a man. It was the first impressions at the beginning of the encounter that made me give the stranger a chance to get to know me.

"Mmm.. mean? Similar who?"

I fluttered, "Ee, that, my favorite actor, Reza Rahadian," I said, then I smiled.

"Sori," he said while holding back a laugh. "Actually I don't know who the actor you mean. But let me guess, he must be handsome, right? That's why you like it."

I'm telling you, Reza Rahadian is handsome, right? Which woman said no?

"Well, in other words, do you think I'm as handsome as Reza Rahadian?" ask him with confidence.

I'm nodding. "Yeah, eleven - twelve. Mmm.. No, it's twelve, you know" I said, and I told you honestly. He is handsome, as handsome as Reza Rahadian.

"Thank you..," he said, lengthening the last syllable. "Reza Dinata, that's my full name."

"Reza Dinata's. Then this is your resto?"

She shook her head. "This is my mom's restaurant. Because he's sick right now, so I'll take care of him."

"Ok, I see. But it seems you already know me. Where do you know him from?"

Reza could not help but laugh. "That's...!" yells. "When I asked you to talk in her recipe Ari and Zia, boro-boro got acquainted, you didn't even look at me."

"Ohuk!" I choked, I swiftly took some water and quickly drank. "That's you?" my many. I laughed too. "Sori. It's your fault too, pretentiously judging like a singing contest jury."

He smelled a smile. "It's ok. Then I also apologize because that day I know best" he said.

I laughed even more at his words, especially when he gave emphasis when saying the word pretentious. While he looked at me closely, like someone who was enjoying the beauty that was presented specifically for him. The way is so relaxed, as if it is normal to sit while looking closely at someone who was first sitting chatting with him. But, do I feel like her gaze feels meaningful, or am I just overconfident? I don't know. And, actually, I was starting to get nervous. I think he realized that even though I was trying to cover it up.

"Sori. I didn't mean to laugh at you. I just feel funny because you remember everything that happened that day."

He shook his head again. "No problem. I'm glad to see you laughing."

Geez, he's making me even more nervous.

Relax, Nara. Don't make the wrong move. "Ehm, by the way, how come you can be at Ari and Zia's reception? Your friend? Uh, or his family? I mean... Ari's family or Zia's family? Sori, kuralat again, I mean, are you from Zia's father?"

Hmm. It was so relaxing that she heard my babble.

"I'm Ari's friend, college friend. He used to go to college here. The rest of you know, right, about your cousin's husband?"

Oh my God, I can only have a beard. Honestly, it felt like his words were slapping me. I don't deny and I don't agree, let him think that I know about Ari. In fact, I don't really know anything about my cousin's husband.

"Hey, Miss Wanderer," he said -- stunned me. She's the only foreigner who calls me Miss Wanderer. "You told me about you."

I cleared my throat again. "Add one more person who called me Miss Wanderer. What story do you want? You yourself seem to know a lot about me. You asked my cousins, right? They also have bad stories, huh?"

I'm second-guessing. While he only smiled slightly while shaking his head. "Not at all," he said.

"Thank God they don't tell bad things. So now you're the only one who's told me about you. You must know enough about me. Just mending you the story. You're a real person, born where, or whatever, whatever you want to tell."

Reza stopped her lunch, and began to tell her, "I'm an only child. My mother is from Palembang, I was also born in Palembang. But when I was seven we moved here, because my parents were separated. My mother couldn't stand my father's rude attitude, like KDRT. So he asked for a divorce, then brought me here, joined his friend to work in a food stall. Not long after that, they decided to get married. So, I had a new father, he loved me, and, he gave me his last name, Dinata. Then they get out of where they work, and build their own business, new business, this resto. Well, unfortunately my father was short-lived. Sori, I mean... emm... You understand, right? My father died at the age of eight of their marriage. Yeah, maybe it's my destiny not to feel a father's affection until adulthood."

He paused the story and drank some of his mineral water. He was thirsty after a long serocos. While I was just acting like a good listener.

"My mother is no longer married. He focused on raising me and focused on running his business until he advanced and could have many branches in several cities. Now I am twenty-eight years old, and my mother is now sick with her old age. Therefore, as a child, I was obliged to take all the responsibilities. That's the short story of my life." He also ended his story.

Honestly, I actually kind of feel "weird" about this conversation. It's a little too personal to tell a stranger, especially at the first meeting. But I kept listening, because -- once again - because I behaved like a good listener.

A few seconds later, he half yelled, "Geez! I forgot, I have a meeting soon" he said, patting his forehead. "Sori, I have to go." He also stood up. "Oh yeah, you don't have to pay for the food, In."

A while I was a bit dumbfounded, there was a kind of unwillingness for him to leave, a foreign feeling that I immediately shook off. "Okay, it's okay if you have business. I'm going too, okay. I'm done eating it too." I smiled and stood up. "Thanks for lunch."

"Urwell's. Uh, can I have your contact?" ask him suddenly.

I who was just about to leave immediately turned around. "Mmm. next time, yeah. If fate brings us together again. Bye, Reza Rahadian."

I smiled, waved my hand and walked away.