LOVE THE EXPATRIATE

9. The Scattered Sunscreen

Edward has just returned from Stockholm, Sweden after meeting at headquarters with the CEO and the entire worldwide Zafora network. The results of the meeting decided that Zafora would take on the primitive concept for the fashion trend next year. The concept of androit and biometrics was also mentioned in the meeting forum.

But seeing the growing echo-fashion trend just buzzed by environmental activists and fashion observers, then inevitably Zafora must also take part in this issue. If you want to stay in the world fashion world.

And the primitive concept is most appropriate to realize the echo-fashion trend, because the basic ingredients of their products will be taken from natural fibers, not woven with machines, and when the product is no longer used, and when the product is no longer used, the waste is environmentally friendly. And it looks like the Asian division of Zafora will play a big role this year as a contributor as some of the basic ingredients are found on the continent such as bamboo and pineapple fibers.

And therefore, today Edward held a meeting with designers and ikat weaving craftsmen from several regions to discuss the cooperation of procurement of raw materials for their products.

The man was watching the presentation of a craftsman from Nusa Tenggara when his smartphone creaked on the table. The Russian woman called him. It activates the busy mode and focuses again with the presentation in front.

“Good morning, Mikaila. Sorry, was meeting with a ikat weaving craftsman. So can't take your call” said Edward on the sidelines of a coffee break.

“Good morning too, Ed. Oh yes, I'm sorry for the other day refusing your invitation to fine dining.” sounds Mikaila's voice across.

“It's okay, Mikaila. I went accompanied by my relatives, our brand model.”, Edward said as he picked up a cup of coffee at the cofee table.

“Who, Ed? Must be pretty huh? "

“Why ask that? Do you feel like we're committed so you need to know my past, Mikaila?” he said while sipping his coffee.

Edward attempted to make jokes by mimicking the woman's question as they argued in bed the other day.

“You want revenge huh? " Mikaila laughed from across.

"Oh yeah, still wanna dinner with me, Ed?”

“Hmmm..not really.” Edward replied as he chewed the muffin.

“If you'd like, I'd like to invite you to dinner tonight at my apartment. Think of it to make up for your disappointment.”

Edward thought for a moment. But he was actually happy with the invitation. He has not dated that woman for two weeks.

“By also."

"Okay, see you later, Edward."

"Oh yes, what do you want me to bring?” ask Edward.

“Which for sure I don't want you to bring your model.”

Edward laughed at Mikaila's response.

“Ya already, at half six in the afternoon I came.” he said ending the conversation because Adrian told me that the meeting would be resumed soon.

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Mikaila's eyes sparkled as she opened the door. Edward stood in front of the apartment with his most charming smile. He looks handsome wearing a pale blue shirt combined with cream wool pants and black pantofel. British men always look neat in every atmosphere. Even if it's just an unofficial dinner at home. But it looks like the man is angry with the air of Jakarta so he does not wear his suit.

"Please come in, Ed."

Mikaila let her guests in and was met with Edward's nod.

“Cubeli from the store next to the outlet earlier.”

Edward handed a bouquet of roses, gysophilla, and lavender to Mikaila as soon as he entered. While a bottle of champagne in a paper bag he put it on the bar table.

“Thank you. You can also be romantic, Ed.” said smiling as he kissed the flower.

Mikaila stuffed the bouquet into a glass vase that she had filled with water. The flower was brought to the dining table which has now moved to the balcony. To move the table, he called two clining services who were cleaning the floor of the corridor this afternoon. After the white tablecloth he developed on the table, he put flowers in the pot.

“Kutdead a minute, Ed. I'm grilling steak.” he said to Edward who was standing watching a painting. He also went to the pantry.

“Cubant ya.” Edward followed the woman from behind.

“Sit only. Just stay plating kok.” he said firmly make the man also obey and wait on the sofa.

“Evening is ready!.”

Mikaila exclaimed a while later while carrying two dishes to the balcony.

Appetizer that Mikaila called as salad Indonesian was a plate of hodgepodge. Edward checked the contents of the plate with a fork. He found several pieces of potatoes and tofu, boiled eggs, lettuce, carrots, and cucumber shavings watered with peanut dressings. For the final touch, there is a sprinkling of fried onions and a piece of shrimp crackers as a topping.

“Lumayan. To appreciate local wisdom.” he said after his first feed.

The man opened the champagne he was carrying earlier and poured it into a cocktail glass that had been filled with ice cubes. Then he tasted a little of his drink.

“It turns out to enjoy dinner while seeing Jakarta at dusk like this, it is very fun, Mikaila.” said Edward who got a nod from Mikaila.

"It's the quality time."

The breeze from the bay of Jakarta was soothing to them.

“Oh yes, how was the result of a meeting with a ikat craftsman this afternoon, Ed?” asked Mikaila while bribing a piece of potato.

“We've made a deal. They make raw materials for us" Edward said, sipping his drink again.

"But there must be training for them first. Because Sweden has determined its own motifs and colors.”

“What color will be trend next year, Ed?” ask Mikaila.

“Like this.” said Edward as he touched the turtleneck the woman was wearing.

“Maroon color.?” Mikaila looked at her own clothes while frowning, but then she laughed.

“Not. It's not maroon, it's marsala red. The color trend of the world for next year is dominated by old colors that tend to be dark. Like marsala red and tosca green.”

“Iya, Edward.”

At first Mikaila thought Edward just wanted to be funny, but now she knew that the man had never joked in his words.

“We want to apply those colors to their ikat weaving. Exotic fabrics will look more elegant."

"During this time the craftsmen always weave the fabrics with static motifs and colors. So they don't have much choice.” said Edward as he ended his opening meal.

“It’s the great job, Ed.” said Mikaila while getting up to the pantry to immediately prepare the main dish.

For the main course, Mikaila cooks wagiyu-type meat steak marinated with white wine, grapefruit squeeze, salt, and rosemary leaves. The woman roasted it with medium ripeness and served it with mushroom sauce, chickpeas, asparagus, and french fries.

After eating, Mikaila cleaned the pantry and cutlery. While Edward was still at home leaning on the balcony fence while enjoying his drink. After the pantry was clean and tidy, Mikaila returned to the balcony while carrying two bowls of dessert.

Mikaila doesn't cook anything special for their dessert. Edward only served a few niches of vanilla ice cream with mango slices.

“Thank you for dinner, Mikaila.” said the man received his dessert.

“Thank you back, Ed.”

“Oh yes, when was the last time you came home and met your family, Mikaila?”

Mikaila stopped her ice cream feed to hear Edward's question. He let out a long sigh and his gaze glared far into the bay of Jakarta. I had expected, sooner or later the man would definitely know his identity. With a smile, he looked at Edward.

“I haven't been home since I left Moscow six years ago.” Mikaila said.

“Surely there is a thing why you do not go home during that.” said Edward turned his head.

“Because there is nothing I can hope for there anymore, Ed.” said the woman was still laughing.

“Are your parents gone, Mikaila?” ask the man again.

“My father is still alive, but I feel like he's been dead a long time in my life. My mother..."

The atmosphere was suddenly silent as Mikaila stopped her speech.

"I don't know where he is now..”.

Edward realized Mikaila's sentence was a bit quivering. She saw the woman's eyes glazed over. And before his tears fell, he quickly grabbed the woman. Mikaila sobbed in the man's arms. He poured out all his tears in Edward's chest. The woman that the man had seen so far was very confident, this time looking weak and fragile.