Restore Your Smile

Meet Camer (Prospective In-Law)

The end of the month has arrived. It's time for James to face Mr. Adipratama and fulfill his promise. Although the answer was clear and they had been made for almost a month, he still felt obliged to convey it to his father Celine. For that this Saturday, replace James who headed to the city of Celine by plane.

Celine picked up James at the airport. Then they had lunch first. After that, they came together to the Adipratama residence.

As before, their arrival was awaited by Mr. Adipratama. Mbok Yani escorted the two to the living room. When they entered, Mr. Adipratama was already sitting on his couch. They also said hello to the old man.

"Please sit down, " said Mr. Adipratama. James and Celine sat on the sofa opposite Celine.

"Celine, Papa wants to talk to this young man. Can you get out first? Maybe accompany Mbok Yani to prepare drinks and snacks?" papa Celine said.

"Celine can be here, Pa?" Celine asked back. After all, he also wanted to know what his father would talk to his lover.

"Please. As long as you don't talk until you're allowed to talk! Agreed?" Mr. Adipratama put forward his terms.

"Agree, " replied Celine firmly.

"alright. So what's your decision, Young man?" Without further ado Mr. Adipratama immediately asked James.

"Honestly, I've been in a relationship with Celine this month, Om. Thus, it is clear that I do not want my lover to be betrothed to someone else, " replied James firmly.

"Hm .... How serious is your relationship with my daughter?"

Celine was a little surprised by the question. However, he was also curious about the answer James would give.

"Seriously to be taken to the wedding stage, Om." James replied with a straight look to Mr. Adipratama. Celine blushed at James' reply.

"Good! What plan?" ask Mr. Adipratama again.

This time James was stunned. He hasn't thought about that detail. They had never discussed their future plans at all.

"Honestly, we haven't discussed that much detail, Om." James replied while glancing at Celine.

"alright. I will help you make your plan more organized. You answer it according to your personal opinion. Celine, let this young man answer! Do not argue even if you disagree with his opinion! Understood?" ask Mr. Adipratama.

"Understand me, Pa, " replied Celine. He could only look at James anxiously.

"When are you planning on marrying Celine?" ask Mr. Adipratama to James.

"Maybe two or three more years, Om. Five years late. Because Celine is only 21 years old, "James replied.

"Where will you be domiciled after marriage?" ask Mr. Adipratama again.

"As a man, of course I want Celine who follows me to live in my city. But I also understand, he will be the heir to a big company that is in this city. So, we'll talk about it later."

"Hmmm .... You should talk about it clearly from the beginning. Because it is useless for you to connect, if in the end no one wants to give up because of the importance of their respective careers. Many couples break up because of this." Mr. Adipratama gave advice.

James nodded in agreement. After being opened like this, he only realized that the topic would later become a fierce debate between himself and Celine. With Celine's position and her struggle all along, it was hard to ask Celine to relent to follow her.

But what about his ego as a man? What about his job? Should he give up and start a new career in this city? Honestly, he's not ready to let go of everything he has right now.

"So, in the span of time you date until marriage, there is nothing you want to do to strengthen your bond?" Again Mr. Adipratama asked his question.

"I mean Om?" james did not understand.

"You don't have any plans to have a proposal or engagement first? As I have said before, many of the businessmen are vying to tie Celine up to be part of their family. What about you? Your time shows your seriousness by hanging my daughter only at the courtship stage?" sindir Tuan Adipratama.

James swallowed his mouth. The topic is getting harder. Honestly, he can't answer it himself. What he knows if it is a matter of application or engagement, parents must intervene. He has not discussed this issue with his parents.

"Back from here, I'll talk about it with my parents, Om, "James replied at last.

"Your target is personal?"

"Six months to the next year, Om."

"good. How are you planning after this? Go straight home today as before, or want to stay?" Mr. Adipratama changed the topic.

Unknowingly James heaved a sigh of relief. The difficult topic has passed.

"After this, I'll find a hotel near here, Om. Tomorrow I will return to my city, "he replied.

"No need. Stay here only. There are a lot of empty rooms. Mbok Yani, please take this young man to the guest room!" pinta Tuan Adipratama on Mbok Yani who from earlier stood behind Mr. Adipratama.

"Well, sir, " replied Mbok Yani.

"Follow Yani to your room and rest! We meet later at dinner, " Mr. Adipratama told James.

"Come, son James. Please follow Mbok, "take Mbok Yani.

"Celine accompanied Bang James yes, Papa .." Celine's permission as she stood up.

"Yes. In between, "sahut Mr. Adipratama gave his permission.

James stood up as well. "Excuse me, Om.." James said.

"Yes. Please, " replied Mr. Adipratama.

The three of them came out of the living room to the guest bedroom where James was going to lie down tonight.

...****************...

He was laying himself on a soft mattress, which he believed had a price of tens of millions of rupiah. From earlier his eyes had circled the bedroom which was almost three times the area of his room at home.

This room is equipped with a bathroom and interior facilities are quite complete, such as a TV, sofa, and a small refrigerator. Anyway, the circumstances and design are exactly a five-star hotel room.

He sighed. He is not used to this kind of situation. His low self-esteem still thrashed his brain, although he was repeatedly kicked out of his head.

James got out of bed. It's free to try to sleep with this kind of mind. He better flush his head and let the cold water wash his mind.

At about six in the afternoon, the room was knocked on.

"James ...." Celine's voice called out her name from behind the door.

James opened the door to his room, letting Celine in. Without hesitation, Celine immediately gawked and sat down on the nearby sofa.

"Where? Bang James comfortable with this room? A bed?" ask Celine.

James smiled at the attention of his lover.

"It's safe, Lin .... But Bang James had not slept. Usual .... If the bed is new, it is a little difficult to sleep. You are not yet familiar. Later tonight, we meet again, "he replied with a grin.

Celine smiled back. He knew James didn't want to worry him. He continued the purpose of his conversation.

"Yes already .. we go to the dining room yuk. It's dinner time. Papa's been waiting there, "take Celine.

James nodded, then took Celine's hand. They descended the stairs and headed towards the dining room located on the first floor.

In the dining room, there is a long table like the one in the houses of noble families in the story or TV. Mr. Adipratama sits on the very end of the table. Behind him, looks mbok Yani standing with ready standby condition.

"Sore, Om .... Afternoon, Mbok .." greet James.

"Sore, Son James .." replied Mbok Yani with a smile.

"Noor .... Please sit down." Mr. Adipratama also returned James' greeting.

James took a position in the chair to the right of the Adipratama lord, while Celine sat in the chair to the left of her papa.

"Can I serve you, sir?" ask Mbok Yani.

"Yes. Please well, Mbok, " replied Mr. Adipratama.

Prok Prok !! Mbok Yani clapped his hands twice.

After that, came the waiter pushing a small wheeled table. On the table there are some dishes that are still covered with food cover. Behind the servant, tailed a man who seemed to be the Chef, judging from his uniform.

The waiter served a plate of fresh vegetables in front of Adipratama, Celine, and James in turns. After the session, the Chef introduced his choice of menu.

"The appetizer I chose today is Caesar Salad with salt and pepper calamari. Please try .... Hopefully according to taste, "he said.

"Please eat the food. Don't be shy, " Mr Adipratama told James. He then took the fork that was already located in front of him and put the green vegetables into his mouth.

"Yes, Om. Thank you, " replied James awkwardly. He could only stare at the food in front of him. He knew the food in front of him included a vegetable salad. But he just found out that this food has a long name that can make the tongue sembulant.

He glanced at Celine who was also looking at him with an anxious look. Celine could only nod her head at him while smiling awkwardly, coding for James to eat his food. James finally helped lift his fork and ate the grass food.

After the salad plates of these three people were empty, came the waiter to lift the dirty dishes and replace them with other dishes.

"For the Main Course, I chose Corn Fed Chicken Breast with Pickled Ginger Gravy and Sticky Rice." The chef introduced the next menu.

Back James was dumbfounded to hear such a magical name. All he knows is, this is processed chicken meat that is somehow cooked.

His sense of inferiority returned. Does Celine enjoy food like this every day? Seen once their status differences only from the menu of food they eat. James knew these types of menus only existed in high-end restaurants. Compare with him who has only bought folk food such as seblak or pecel catfish.

James tightened his jaw. Did he not choose to fight? Why is he still worried about this? Didn't Celine and her father never insinuate the difference in status between them? So why should he be less? James cursed himself in his heart.

"As a Dessert, I chose Glazed Lemon Tart which is not too sweet, but still gives a fresh taste in the mouth." The chef promoted his final menu choice as a dessert.

Everyone enjoyed the show in silence. Until finally after finishing eating, Mr. Adipratama wiped his mouth with a napkin and said, "Thank you for the choice of his menu, Chef."

The chef smiled with satisfaction, saluted and withdrew from the dining room. A waiter re-entered the dining room by pushing a small wheeled table. He then carried the dirty dishes on the table, then left the room.

"How's the food? Does it match your taste?" ask Mr. Adipratama to James.

"Yes. The food was good, Om, " said James with a wry smile.

"It is good then, " replied Mr. Adipratama.

Sorry, Om. I lie. To be honest, I can no longer remember the taste of the food I had eaten. The food just passes in the mouth, James said in his heart.

I really couldn't enjoy dinner. Both in terms of atmosphere, as well as in terms of dishes. He's too foreign to all that. Can he keep up with Celine? Will he get used to all this one day? Honestly, at the moment he is not confident to answer.

...****************...