Instant Match

S2 - E10

Vega has finished taking private painting classes. After escorting his painting instructor away, Vega found Pak Jun who seemed busy giving command to some servants heading to the dining room.

"Sir Jun, is there a banquet today?" ask Vega.

"Mistress Vega, it's not really a banquet, it's just that Miss Renata and Miss Renava and Miss Velan are currently preparing a special meal for all existing family members" replied Jun.

"Velan?" Vega was flabbergasted to hear the name Velan mentioned by Pak Jun.

"Velan, Voren's wife?" ask Vega again.

"Oh, Miss Velan is Mr Voren's wife? Forgive me for not recognizing Mr. Voren's wife, Madam," said Mr. Jun bowed deeply.

"Why is Velan here, Mr Jun?" ask Vega.

"Miss Renata and Miss Renava invited him" replied Jun.

"Oh so, all right, where are they? I want to say hello to them" Vega said.

Pak Jun nodded and took Vega towards the kitchen. Vega saw that Velan and his two stepchildren were busy in the kitchen.

"Renata, Renava, Velan," Vega greeted them with a wide smile.

"Tante," said Renata and Renava.

"I-mom," Velan gasped back at Vega's greeting.

Veran was not ready to meet his mother-in-law. Still fresh in the memory of Velan when he found his mother-in-law met Soraya. With ease the woman gave full support to Soraya who would replace Velan as Voren's wife. But Velan obviously had to be professional.

"What are you guys working on? It looks like a hell of a thrill" Vega said.

"We'll make a special dish. Aunty can wait until we're done cooking" Renata said.

"Well, really, I want to get involved in your project" Vega said.

"Thank you, Auntie, but we want to focus on learning to cook with Velan," Renava refused Vega's request.

"Oh so," said Vega.

"Please wait a minute, Auntie, we'll let you know when everything's ready" Renata said.

"Alright, I'm really looking forward to it" Vega said before leaving the kitchen.

...~...

Velan had already finished preparing the dish that he was going to serve. His two sisters-in-law stared in amazement as Velan filled the bowl with the results of the cooking cooked by Velan. Renata and Renava only become foremen to supervise Velan who deftly prepare all the dishes.

"Done," Velan said enthusiastically.

"Well, that's very aesthetic" praise Renata and Renava, applauding.

"I can't wait to taste it!" said Renata.

"I will ask Mr. Jun to tell everyone in the house to gather in the dining room" Renava said.

Velan was really tense when the cuisine he made was on the dining table made of black marble. Behind the dining table are Alena, Rendarto, and Vega. Somehow their presence all made Velan remembered the national level cooking competition jury that aired on one of the private television stations. The judges with a firm and determined nature while tasting the dishes of the contestants.

The dining room door opened, the figure of Alren who came with his secretary really made the atmosphere in the dining room more tense.

"Father," Renata and Renava immediately welcomed their father's presence.

"Thank you for coming, Papa," Renava said after embracing Alren.

"Papa just stopped by, because you said you were going to serve a special dish" Alren said expressionlessly.

Alren stepped towards the dining table, before sitting in his chair, the middle-aged man took the time to give a gentle embrace to Alena and also Rendarto.

"Mom, Papa, are you all in good health?" ask Alren.

"We feel very healthy, Alren," said Rendarto.

"Alren, you should be worried about your own health, you're not young anymore" Alena said.

"Mom, believe me, age is just a number to me" Alren replied confidently.

Alren immediately sat in his chair quietly.

"Alren, My husband," said Vega, looking down slowly. "Your presence is really a surprise now, thank you for taking your time, my husband," Vega said.

"Even though I'm very busy, but as much as possible, I always take my time to gather with my family" Alren said.

Velan could see that his father-in-law was indeed a man who cared about the family. The super busy man still had time to come to see his family. 

"Where's Voren?" ask Alren.

"Voren of course is still busy, my husband" replied Vega. "Well, isn't that right, Velan?" Vega reviewed her smile on Velan.

"Right, ma'am," replied Velan briefly.

Alren directed his gaze towards Velan. In Velan's mind, this could be his last time hanging out with the Lazaro family before he finally retires from this family. Therefore, Velan must certainly give a good impression.

"So, what special dishes do you serve, Renata, Renava?" alren asked towards his two daughters.

"Papa, thank you for your enthusiasm, me and Renava are so happy to learn something new with sister-in-law! The dishes taught by sister-in-law are so special that we want our families to taste them together" Renata replied.

"Sir Jun, please serve the dish," Renava said.

Pak Jun and a few servants immediately served Velan's cooking on the dining table. All eyes were on their bowls. The dish is a soup with many vegetables and topping tuna suwir. There are spongy balls that appear on the surface.

"This dish is very unique," said Alena when sneaking soup sauce.

"Right, it was the first time I saw him" Rendarto commented.

"Velan, can you explain what you're serving?" ask Vega.

"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain this dish I served. The name of this dish is Kapurung and is a special dish from my mother's village" Velan explained.

"Why are you serving this food to us?" ask Alren.

"I serve special food because usually Kapurung served during family events or celebrations. Everyone will help each other to cook this food because there are three elements that must be prepared, ranging from processing sago flour, processing vegetables, to cooking fish. And all those elements will merge into one when served in a bowl! At its core how a good teamwork for one purpose, roughly like that philosophy of Kapurung dish in my personal opinion," Velan explained at length.

"Right, Papa, Renata and I helped prepare this vegetable" Renava said.

"Then we made these chewy balls together" Renata continued.

Alren took a spoon and began to taste the dish. Same with other family members.

"Hmm, this is delicious," Praise Vega.

"The fruit is really fresh" praised Renava.

"You're really very good at cooking, Velan," said Renata.

"Newly this time I tasted this dish and I loved it" Alena chimed in.

Velan could only smile. But he was still wary of his father-in-law who did not comment at all. Did the man not like the dish that Velan served?

"Is there any more?" alren asked making everyone stunned as the middle-aged man wanted a second bowl.

...~...

The meal with the Lazaro family was over. Alren said goodbye to all members of his family because there was still much to be taken care of by the middle-aged man.

Alren directed his gaze at Velan. The man reviewed a friendly smile towards Velan before leaving.

Velan was relieved that he could at least leave a good impression before the Lazaro family. 

"Velan, can we have a little chat?" ask Vega towards Velan.

"Okay, ma'am," replied Velan.

"Where are you going, Velan?" ask Renata.

"I want to talk to mom, sister," replied Velan.

"Oh, okay," said Renata.

Velan followed Vega's steps, which led Velan into his private room. There are many paintings in the room.

"Velan, I'm really surprised to see your presence" Vega said.

"Mother, I was also surprised when Sister Renata and Sister Renava invited me here" Velan said.

Vega looked at Velan affectionately. Vega clasped Velan's hand.

"Velan, even if you're no longer Mom's daughter-in-law, I hope we'll still keep each other on good terms" Vega said.

"Mother, shouldn't everyone be nice?" ask Velan.

Vega reviewed her smile.

"Thank you, Velan, I'm really sorry, I'm just a parent trying to support Voren's decision as a form of Mother's trust in Voren" Vega said. 

"Mom doesn't want to be a defiant parent, and selfish to her own child."

Velan clenched, though her heart was so sliced by a very painful reality. 

"Thank you, ma'am," said Velan.

Vega hugs Velan, Vega is actually so heavy must release Velan as the first daughter-in-law of the Lazaro family. But he can what?

Velan tried not to cry anymore. He just wants to be remembered as a good son-in-law.

...~...