"Got home a bit late, Lea?" Mrs. Anna greeted her daughter, who had just arrived, strolling into the living room where she was sitting, holding a women's magazine. "Oh, yes, Mom. Adelle's house just stopped her for a moment earlier. Had something to do," Lea replied, trying to act casual and carrying her bundle of clothes as if they were files from the office that she sometimes brought home to review when her work got busy. "Oh... well, next time you come home late, let me know, okay? So I don't worry in waiting," Mrs. Anna advised her eyes back to examining the magazine in her lap. "Yes, Mom. Sorry... I just stopped by briefly to pick up a file she had left. I needed a copy, so I dropped by. Thought it wouldn't take long, but you know how it is, chatting until you lose track of time." "Huuu... you!" Lea then excused herself to her room, relieved that her mother didn't suspect what she was carrying and she didn't have to meet Grace because her younger sister hadn't returned from h
"Not even one?" Daniel repeated with a booming voice.He was contacting several friends from his circle who might have extra tickets for the masquerade party on Saturday. He regretted not knowing about Lea's plan last night. If he had known earlier, he would have secured a ticket for himself. But, being so close to the event, it wasn't easy to find one. The remaining possibility was to hope that someone couldn't make it and would inform about auctioning their ticket.However, sometimes, many of them pretended to be busy and didn't have time to inform about their absence. This made Daniel's chances of getting a ticket even smaller."Damn! It's so hard to meet up with Lea," Daniel grumbled. He then blamed the situation where Lea met her crush before being introduced to him by Amanda.Amanda, his cousin, had been friends with Lea for a long time, and Daniel should have known Lea first. However, reality often deviates far from expectations. Now, as a consequence, he had to compete with th
"Hikz, so you really can't get the tickets, Fred? Huwaaaaa ... I wanted to join, you know,""Oh, I've looked everywhere, Honey. There are none left. The tickets are really limited, and you can't just buy them anywhere. If it's not from their circle, it's impossible to get," Freddie replied with a tone full of regret. He felt uneasy delivering the bad news to his girlfriend, but if he didn't do it soon, Grace would be even more disappointed and keep hoping."But Sist Lea got one," argued Grace. She was truly jealous of Lea's luck, effortlessly getting a free ticket from her colleague."Yeah, that's a different case, Jo. Your sister just got lucky; her friend couldn't make it, so she got the ticket," Freddie explained with regret. He knew Grace had relied on him, with his many connections, to get anything she wanted, especially just entry tickets to a costume party. Oh, dear! Grace was genuinely disappointed this time."You just go home! I'm so frustrated! I might as well go to sleep!"
"Do you want to join me at my regular MUA, Lea? I'll wait for you at home if you do." Amanda's voice on the other end of the phone offered assistance.Lea thought for a moment. Amanda's regular makeup artist must be really good. She felt like getting dolled up there. But if she did, she'd have to go to the party's hall with Amanda, and she preferred to go alone."Lea? Why so quiet?" Amanda called out to Lea, who had been silent for a while, not answering her question."Oh, um, no need, thanks. But I already asked Grace for help, hehe; just let Grace do something for me. I'm not in the mood to leave early anyway," Lea finally replied, trying to sound casual so that Amanda wouldn't suspect her hidden agenda."Grace is pretty good, too; she knows how to do your makeup. Okay, then. We'll meet directly at the venue, right?""Okay... don't bother looking for me. You two enjoy yourselves with Alvin. I might end up being a disturber if I stick around with you too much. Especially Alvin; he se
Finally, Lea left her house at precisely 7:00 PM. Grace and Mrs. Anna saw her off with lots of advice and suggestions to behave gracefully, not be rude, and avoid unnecessary conflicts with others.Lea arrived, shaking her head at Anna's panic, her mom, and her sister. "Seriously, it's like I'm a troublemaker or something. You're making such a big deal out of it," Lea protested.Mrs. Anna responded that her daughter indeed tended to create trouble. "Sometimes, you're too quick to get emotional, Lea. You should be more patient when dealing with new people.""That's right! Remember what happened with Shane? Even though we warned you, you still caused trouble in the end!" Grace chimed in, responding to Lea's protest."That's different. It was Shane who caused trouble first. I just responded appropriately," Lea insisted."Well, that's still considered creating trouble. An elegant woman can control her emotions. She stays calm even if others bother her. The most important thing is self-ima
A few moments earlier...The girl in the purple and black dress with a feathered mask seemed alone in her chair. Sipping from a tall, clear glass of iced lemon drink taken from the buffet table, she placed a straw on it, probably to make it easier to drink. Like herself, the girl chose to wear a mask that made it challenging to drink directly from the glass.Shane had been observing Miss Purple since their eyes met a few moments ago. As he idly watched the room, he felt he couldn't recognize anyone as a friend.Until a Caribian-costumed man approached the girl, Shane continued to observe. The woman's gestures indicated that she wanted to keep a distance from the Caribian man, almost making Shane feel uneasy, tempting him to approach and separate them.Fortunately, the man eventually gave up, retreated politely, and rose from the chair before Miss Purple.Then, Shane noticed another masked man with a golden bell mask watching Miss Purple, seemingly about to approach her. Shane interven
"Damn! Where is she, Amanda?" Once again, Daniel grumbled.Amanda, scanning the entire room and examining every corner where Lea usually chose to sit at such parties, shook her head in confusion.In her hand, her phone continued to emit the ringing tone while calling Lea's contact. However, after numerous attempts, a response was still waiting. Amanda became anxious because Lea had assured her earlier that she would come here alone, as she mentioned while still at home.Alvin glared disapprovingly at Daniel. Oh no... Lea was missing, but now a guy was trying to replace her and disturb his time with Amanda."Let me call her home first," Amanda suggested, trying to devise a solution.She then fiddled with her phone to dial Lea's home number.Several rings were heard before a familiar voice, Grace, answered the call from the other side."Yes, it's Grace. Can I help you?""Oh, Grace. It's Amanda...," she said."Oh, Sist Amanda. What's up?" The girl sounded surprised."Did Lea leave a long
Lea, driving her car quickly to get home, finally arrived in less than thirty minutes. Grace, lounging on a lazy chair on their porch while playing with her phone, eagerly greeted her sister's arrival, surprised as it was still too early for the end of an elite party."Hey, why are you back so soon? What's up?" Grace interrogated her sister when Lea exited her car and walked towards the porch."Nothing much. Just felt like coming home, no fixed time to leave, you know," Lea replied casually. She wanted to go to her room and give her heart and mind some rest."Yeah, whatever. But if it were me, I'd wait until the event's over. Or wasn't it fun there?" Grace guessed randomly. Her curiosity always annoyed Lea."I'm just not in the mood. It's not lively enough. Only made one acquaintance, and then he left early. It's annoying, and we didn't even exchange names," Lea finally vented her frustration.Grace widened her eyes, "Huh? You made an acquaintance, and he left without even knowing you
"Don't run around, darling. You'll fall."Lea tried to catch up with Gina who was running around in the middle of the yard; although it was a little tricky because of her bulging belly, she still tried to catch up with the princess. Shane, who saw this from inside the house, immediately ran out and approached them in a hurry."Honey, don't bother Mommy," Shane said as he grabbed Gina and carried her in his arms."Dad, how come the others haven't come yet? It's been a long time," Gina said playfully.At only five years old, Gina is already brilliant. Neither Lea nor Shane expected their first daughter to be as talkative as her mother, but as wise as her father."Later, soon the others will come. That's why Gina must be a good girl. Don't be naughty and don't run around, poor mama," Shane continued, pointing at Lea.Lea smiled back as she stroked her growing belly. She was truly thankful that her second pregnancy had not been like her first. Even though it was her second pregnancy, Lea
"Oh my, aunt. Anyway, Lea doesn't want to be dressed up like that, ah. Mom, please tell Aunt Dina. I just want flawless makeup, like Grace usually has. That's my final decision!" Lea said emphatically. She had yet to expect that there would still be complicated problems on the wedding day."But this is a good MUA, you know, Se. As a bride, you can't have flawless makeup makeup, it can be less amazing later. Oh my, Grace. Here, tell your sister!" Mrs. Anna called to her youngest child, who was busy with some bridal accessories for her sister."Sizt Lea, please, no need to protest here and there. Just accept it. It will be good." Grace said, reassuring her sister, who did not like makeup at all. All her life, she only wanted to be made up by Grace, and that, too, with many demands, must be subtle, not be minor, and must be as natural as possible.Lea took a deep breath and let it out harshly. The MUA seemed indifferent and continued preparing all her equipment, which had been thoroughly
"So what's the date?" asked Lea on the other end of the line."The 25th," replied Shane, looking at the calendar he was holding.Shane's extended family on his mother's grandmother's side, had many customs and beliefs in the village. They asked for Shane's and Lea's birth dates and then calculated the most appropriate wedding day, which they believed would guarantee the couple's happiness.At first, Shane and Lea laughed it off, but thanks to Mrs. Kate's coercion not to disappoint the elders, they agreed when she said the twenty-fifth of April was their wedding date."That's exactly one month from now, isn't it?" asked Lea. There was both excitement and fear in her voice. Excited because the time was getting closer for her to be side by side with Shane. But she was also afraid because she still had a lot of preparation to do.Lea and Shane agreed not to use a wedding planner because they wanted to care for everything themselves. From choosing the decor for their reception room in the
"Mommy's sick. So I'm out of the office today," Shane told Lea, who immediately became anxious in her office."Duh, what's wrong with Aunty?""Meriang malarindu, wkwkwk. Papa left her with Grandma two days ago. I had to stay there and meet some distant family." Shane explained the chronology."How come Auntie didn't come?""Mom wasn't feeling well before Dad left. That's why she decided to go alone. Eh, Daddy made her even more sick.""Hmm ... then I'll stop by on my way home. What does Aunty usually like to eat? Let me bring it with me."Lea offered. "That's okay. You don't have to bring food. Mommy's the type who doesn't like to eat out anyway. You'd better cook for her here. It'll be more special. Uh, but if you're not tired. I just got off work." Shane replied as he was."Hmm ... never mind. I'll think about it while I'm there. Okay, I'll go to work first. It's already the bell," Lea said, although it wasn't yet. It's still a while. It's just that she hung
After expressing their feelings to each other, Shane and Lea finally stop lying about their feelings. Yes, they are getting married!A chat message that came to Lea's phone that night spontaneously kept her awake all night.It was a poem from Daniel that read beautifully, he said,Dissolved in an increasingly entangling lonelinessWhen your body can no longer be held tightlyDark shadows in the futureAs if the promise of wounds of despair will unfold aloneFor without you, oh idol...Maybe it's good for me to goRelease the weariness that reignsFor there seems to be no place hereWhere no shadow of you is always clearJust a shadow, without a body, without a soul..."Lea squeezed her cell phone, trying to feel the man's heartache on the other side. Then, she could not answer anything. Just an apology with a crying emoticon, which she sent as a form of regret.Amanda had called him earlier in the day and told him that Daniel was planning to go abroad after his time in the city jail t
Meanwhile, Lea, who had been grabbed again by the tall, bald man with many tattoos on his arms, tried to escape but could not move at all. He knew that the thug's strength was no match for him."Go after him! Martin's son can't escape!" The heavy baritone voice of the thug blocked Lea's movements by twisting her hands behind her back. His voice was grim and sinister. Lea shuddered at the sound.When she saw Shane running away, she also understood that this was Shane's attempt to survive and that he would surely come back to save her somehow."Ah, shit!" Lea cursed as she was pushed into the black APV and locked from the outside. Meanwhile, the thugs seemed to be helping to chase Shane."What did he say? Martin's son?" Lea thought, alone in the car.Who is Martin? Is that the name of Shane's father? Is that why they were kidnapped? Does it have something to do with Shane's father? There were many questions in Lea's mind, but she couldn't find any answers.She was surprised when a phone
All these instructions rang in Lea's ears. The tension was overwhelming, making it difficult for her mind to work. All she could do was nod her head uncertainly.Shane looked at Lea and hissed softly, "Take your shoes off. Hurry up. You can't run fast in those heels!"Lea immediately obeyed Shane and took off her shoes, now standing barefoot. Oh, how strange she must look. A balloon dress underneath with bare feet. Damn it! It was good that the dress was short and allowed her to run fast and unhindered.Then things got out of control again. The sound of footsteps and shoes rubbing on the tiled floor began. Racing against her heart, which seemed pounding, Lea tried to focus her ears. She had to gather her strength in one place, in both hands, which were in a pose ready to swing the chair leg forcefully at the neck of the first person to enter later.One--two--hears the jingle of keys being inserted, then the doorknob is turned, and jeglekk, the door opens. Shane's eyes signalled as if
81. Getting closerTheir eyes met. Lea's brown irises met Shane's bluish irises, which stared at Lea's two thick eyebrows, which, even with makeup, seemed to be connected in the middle."When you wear makeup, don't you have to shave that middle eyebrow?" Shane's index finger stroked the middle of Lea's eyebrow above her nose. There was a fine line of hair that met there. It was very special to him.Mubarak! Lea pushed Shane's body away spontaneously."Okee... your comment ruined the atmosphere! That's annoying! You can't be so insulting about everything I do, huh?" Suddenly angry because, for a moment, she thought Shane was going to say something cute or at least not absurd. But he did!Shane gasped in shock. Even though he made a typical comment, that's a fair question, isn't it? She wondered."What the hell? Why the sudden anger? Who insulted you?" Shane protested, not understanding."Ish! What a block of ice!" Lea swore as she turned to face Shane. She crossed her arms over her che
80. Escape PlanShane turned to the girl who was scowling behind his back."Duh, sorry..." he said later, realizing that his words were a bit inappropriate for their situation."Tumbenan can apologize? Kesambet, huh?" said Lea with a smile."Oh my God! It's hard to talk to you. I'm as stiff as a block of ice. If I soften, you'll say it's kesambet. What do you want?" Shane shook his head, unable to understand the mindset of a girl who, unfortunately, no matter how complicated, still filled so much space in his heart that it left no room for other girls.For a moment, their eyes met. If only silence could solve it. Lea wanted them both to shut up and understand each other's feelings. After all, every time they argued, the result was always an endless, heated debate."I think it's better if we don't talk to each other," Lea replied sceptically.Shane spontaneously frowned and stared at Lea's two thick eyebrows, which she liked because they seemed to be set in the middle. Lea was unlike o